Staff Update Week of December 15, 2025

First Lego League competed against other schools this weekend.  Thank you Kirk and Janine for working with the students.  They had a lot of fun.

Important Dates

12/17-                        Music Assembly 2nd period

12/17-                        Locker Clean Out (upstairs)

12/18-                        Locker Clean Out (downstairs)

12/19-                        End of 2nd Quarter

1/5-                            Start of 3rd Quarter

Important Information

Student Behavior

Please make sure everyone is monitoring the hallways between classes, before school, and after school.  Lets stop students from making poor decisions before they happen.

Hallways

Hallways look great.  Just a reminder to make sure everything is cleaned up by Thursday at 3pm.  Thank you

Thank You

Thank you for a great first semester.  I hope everyone has a great winter break.  See you in 2026

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

Classroom Management Strategies for Defiant Students

Staff Update Week of December 8, 2025

Kevin Rhomberg, former Major League Baseball player and Joe's dad, talks to our 7th and 8th grade students.

Important Dates

12/11-                        7th Grade Mini-Career Day (7th/8th periods)

12/11                           8th Grade Assembly-  Officer Ward w/ Axl (8th period)

12/12-                        Fire Drill 2nd 10:23am

12/17-                        Music Assembly 2nd period

12/17-                        Locker Clean Out (upstairs)

12/18-                        Locker Clean Out (downstairs)

12/19-                        End of 2nd Quarter

1/5-                            Start of 3rd Quarter

Important Information

Informal Observation

For anyone that is not on the Formal Evaluation cycle this year, I need to come observe you teach a class.  Please let me know if you would like me to stop in for an informal observation sometime in December.

Home Sporting Events

We have two home basketball games this week.  Please consider sticking around and watching a game.  Our students love to see their teachers there cheering them on.

Student Engagement

Only two weeks to go.  Please make sure you are keeping students engaged in your lessons.  Student down time is where problems begin.  Dont be the weak link.  Keep the kids busy learning.

The hallways look great.  It sets a nice tone for the building as we near Winter Break.  Like last year, please have the hallways cleaned out by Thursday, December 18th at 3pm.  Thanks

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

ChatGPT prompts for Educators

 

Staff Update Week of December 1 , 2025

Dave volunteering to wear the "bite suit" as part of a Career Connections assembly with Axl the EPD K9

Important Dates

11/18-                        Winter Band Concert 7pm

11/24-                        Fire Drill 1:35pm

11/27-12/1                Thanksgiving Break

12/5-                           Pretzel Fundraiser Ends

12/11-                        7th Grade Mini-Career Day (7th/8th periods)

12/12-                        Fire Drill 2nd 10:23am

12/17-                        Music Assembly 2nd period

12/17-                        Locker Clean Out (upstairs)

12/18-                        Locker Clean Out (downstairs)

12/19-                        End of 2nd Quarter

1/5-                            Start of 3rd Quarter

Important Information

After School Staff Meeting

Mark your calendars.  We will be having an afterschool staff meeting on January 15th from 3:15-4:15.  Katy Nagaj will be leading this meeting.  More details to come at a later date.  All teachers are expected to attend.

*  Before everyone rushes to get their "sick days" in for that day, keep in mind that you will most likely need to make up any time you miss at the meeting.

MAP Testing

6th Grade ELA-  December 8

6th Grade Math-  December 15

7th Grade ELA-    December 11

7th Grade Math-    December 16

8th Grade ELA-    December 11

8th Grade Math-    December 9

Testing will not affect any Elective Classes.  PLCs will decide testing times on these dates.

Three Weeks

Only three weeks until winter break.  Please make sure you are communicating with parents if you students are not completing assignments or receiving poor grades.

Do not wait until January to let parents know their student is not doing well in class.  

The At Risk/ Possible Failure List still shows some parents that were not communicated with for quarter 1.   This is your job.  Make sure it gets done.

Classroom Discipline

Just a reminder.....if students are not following your classroom expectations for behavior, please issue them consequences.  If lunch detentions are not solving the problem, then please issue after school detentions.

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

6 Ways to Maximize Turn and Talk

Differentiated Instruction Strategies for Gifted Students

 

Staff Update Week of November 17, 2025

2025 Fall Choir Concert

Important Dates

11/18-                        Winter Band Concert 7pm

11/24-                        Fire Drill 1:35pm

11/27-12/1                Thanksgiving Break

12/19-                        End of 2nd Quarter

Important Information

RIMP Progress Monitoring Day (6th Grade Only)

On Tuesday, November 18th, Julie Bonacci will be meeting with 6th grade teachers associated with students on RIMPs.  Here is the schedule for the day.

Dishong	8:45-9:15	1st period
Murfey	9:45-10:15	2nd period
McQueen	10:30-11:00	3rd period
Stenger	11:15-11:45	4th period	* Take lunch 5th period
Minichello	12:00-12:30	5th period
Harth	1:45-2:15	7th period

Alice Training 

Please take a few minutes this week to discuss the importance of ALICE procedures with your students.  Safety needs to be on the top of our minds at all times.

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

7 Smart, Fast Ways to do Formative Assessment

 

Staff Update Week of November 10, 2025

Looks like snow is coming our way.

Important Dates

11/10-                        First Quarter Awards 1st-3rd Periods

11/10-                        Smiles Dental Program 

11/11-                        Mini Career Day (8th Grade) TBA

11/13-                        ALICE student training assembly 8th period

11/18-                        Winter Band Concert 7pm

11/24-                        Fire Drill 1:35pm

11/27-12/1                Thanksgiving Break

Important Information

First Quarter Awards

We will call students down to the Cafeteria via announcements

Like last year, any students that do not receive a 3.0 or above will go back to class.  Students that received above a 3.0 will receive a donut and hang out in the cafeteria .

1st period-  7th Grade

2nd period-  6th Grade

3rd period-  8th Grade

Band (all grade level practice)

Katie will be taking all band students 8th period on Friday 11/14 and Monday, 11/17.  This will help prepare them for their concert on 11/18.  Thank you for your flexibility.

Alice Training (Students)

We will be having an ALICE student training assembly on Thursday, November 13th, 8th period. 

Presenters will review ALICE procedures with students.  

Please sit in the bleachers with your students to ensure they are paying attention.

Please make sure you review with students what they learned on Friday in your classes.

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

Nothing this week

 

Staff Update Week of November 3, 2025

Jail the Teacher

Important Dates

11/4-                           Professional Development Day

11/5-                            Fall Choir Concert 7pm

11/10-                        First Quarter Awards 1st-3rd Periods

11/10-                        Smiles Dental Program 

11/11-                        Mini Career Day (8th Grade) TBA

11/13-                        ALICE student training assembly 8th period

11/18-                        Winter Band Concert 7pm

11/24-                        Fire Drill 1:35pm

Important Information

Jail The Teacher

This was my first Jail the Teacher experience.  My expectations were a day of ciaos and raising maybe five hundred dollars.

I was wrong.  For the most part, students were well behaved and we raised $2614.  Great work to everyone involved.  Big shout out to Amy Smith and Mackenize Clark for their hard work organizing this event.

PD Day

Please make sure you are following the Professional Development schedule which was sent out last week.

All staff members who work directly with students (WETA and WECP) are required to complete the special education modules assigned for the PD Day.  

You must print out the certificates of completion and turn them in to me (or Jaimie) prior to the end of the day.

Alice Training (Students)

We will be having an ALICE student training assembly on Thursday, November 13th, 8th period.  More details to come next week.

Jack B Teaming Meetings

Jack B is has been rescheduled for 11/5.  He will be at EMS to meet with PLCs on Wednesday morning.

1st period-  7th Grade PLC    (Rick Johnson's Room)

2nd period-   6th Grade PLC   (Justine Ianiro's Room)

3rd period-   8th Grade PLC   (Amy Smith's Room)

** Do to these meetings taking place, there will be no PLCs this week

At Risk/ Possible Failure

If you had any students receive a D or an F in your class the first quarter, please make sure you update the  At Risk/ Possible Failure spreadsheet.  I

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

Electives Increase Student Engagement

Social Studies Activities

 

Staff Update Week of October 27, 2025

 Congrats to Dr. Grabski for winning the Best Trunk award at the PTSO's Trunk or Treat 

Perhaps if Mr. Dressel would have handed out candy instead of books, he would have won. (What a Nerd!)

Important Dates

10/27                           PBIS during Flex Period

10/28-                        Jack B Teaming Meetings (TBA)

10/29-                        Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:30-7:30

10/31-                        Vision and Hearing Screenings

10/31-                        Jail the Teacher Fundraiser (TBA)

11/10-                        First Quarter Awards 1st-3rd Periods

11/10-                        Smiles Dental Program 

11/11-                        Mini Career Day (8th Grade) TBA

11/24-                        Fire Drill 1:35pm

Important Information

Parent Teacher Conferences

I know everyone is very excited about Parent Teacher Conferences this week!  Like the last round, Jaimie will provide each of you a list of parents that have signed up.  Thanks Jaimie.

Jail The Teacher Fundraiser

Friday, October 31st, the 8th grade team will be hosting a Jail The Teacher fundraiser to help raise money for 8th grade field trips! Each period, students will have the opportunity to bring in CASH only, no coins, to "jail" their teacher for a specific amount of time. After collecting students' money, you will bring the money along with your class to the big gym. Mrs. Smith will be at the door collecting and counting money ($1 = 1 minute). Students will then be able to participate in different Halloween and/or Christmas activities such as a movie, coloring pages, word searches, and creating decorations to decorate the halls again. Popcorn will also be sold at specific times for $1. Teachers will have to sit in the "jail" during their time with no phones, Chromebooks, etc. (We know this will all be terrible for us) When your time is up, you will take your class back to their normal period. We suggest incentivizing the kids to bring money by telling them they will have to take a quiz or something less desirable during the period if they do not bring enough money to jail their teacher the entire time.

Jack B Teaming Meetings

Jack B is back in town.  He will be at EMS to meet with PLCs on Tuesday afternoon.

6th period-  7th Grade PLC    (Rick Johnson's Room)

7th period-   8th Grade PLC   (Amy Smith's Room)

8th period-   6th Grade PLC   (Justine Ianiro's Room)

* 8th grade teachers, take your planning period 8th period (instead of team planning)

** 6th grade teachers, we will get your flex classes covered.  We may need to move all 6th graders down to the gym. 

At Risk/ Possible Failure

Thank you Casey for putting together the At Risk/ Possible Failure spreadsheet.  If you have students listed on the sheet, please make sure you are communicating with their parents.  Please include notes on Interventions and Reason Failing.

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

What is Collaborative Problem Solving?

 

Staff Update Week of October 20, 2025

Everyone be sure to say "thank you" to Rick.

Important Dates

10/23-                        Fire Drill 9:35am

10/24-                        PBIS Assembly 8th Period

10/24-                        PTSO Truck or Treat Night

10/28-                        Jack B Teaming Meetings (TBA)

10/29-                        Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:30-7:30

10/31-                        Vision and Hearing Screenings

10/31-                        Jail the Teacher Fundraiser (TBA)

11/10-                        First Quarter Awards 1st-3rd Periods

11/10-                        Smiles Dental Program 

11/11-                        Mini Career Day (8th Grade) TBA

11/24-                        Fire Drill 1:35pm

Important Information

Parent Teacher Conferences

An email will be going out to parents on Monday with a link to sign up for conferences on 10/29.  Please use the link below to sign up for a conference to provide yourself a break.

Parent Teacher Conferences 10-29

Jail The Teacher Fundraiser

8th Grade team is working on details.  Info will be sent out soon.

First Grading Period

Please make sure your grades are  completed in PowerSchool by Midnight 10/20

If a student is not performing as well as they should be in your class, please find time to discuss your expectations with that student.  

PBIS Assembly Friday

We will not be running an adjusted bell schedule.  We will dismiss from 7th period.  Plan on losing about 10 minutes of 7th period for the assembly.  Thank you PBIS team for your hard work and dedication.

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

Setting Up an Engaging Launch for a New Unit in Middle School

 

Staff Update Week of October 13, 2025

Congrats to Casey Cook for earning the coveted "Last Teacher Stuck at Conferences Award".  She broke a 25 year EMS record with a final conference ending around 8:05pm.  Way to go Casey!

Important Dates

10/16-                        7th Grade Field Trip-  Zoo

10/16-                        8th Grade Field Trip-  Chagrin River Park

10/17-                        End of 1st Quarter

10/23-                        Fire Drill 9:35am

10/24-                        PTSO Truck or Treat Night

10/28-                        Jack B Teaming Meetings (TBA)

10/29-                        Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:30-7:30

10/31-                        Vision and Hearing Screenings

10/31-                        Jail the Teacher Fundraiser (TBA)

Important Information

Parent Teacher Conferences

Thank you for providing valuable feedback to parents about student progress (or lack of progress).  I will be posting a link for the next round of conferences sometime next week.

Jail The Teacher Fundraiser

The 8th grade team will be running a Jail The Teacher Fundraiser on 10/31 to help raise money for the annual 8th grade Niagara Falls trip.  More info to come as we get closer to that date.

End of Quarter 1

Please encourage students to "finish strong" as we wrap up the first quarter.  Per Casey's email:

-  Grades completed in PowerSchool-  10/20 at Midnight

-  Grades pulled from PowerSchool-  10/21

-  Report Cards posted -  10/22

Halloween

The following information will be sent to students and parents on Monday:

Student Halloween Costume Expectations 

In an effort to enjoy and celebrate Halloween at EMS appropriately, respectfully, and in  accordance with school rules, we ask that students use the following guidelines when selecting  a costume:  

1. Staff members must be able to identify students. Students are not allowed to wear  masks/coverings that cover the entire face. 

2. Costumes that are provocative, revealing, sexual in nature, or employ questionable  props are not permitted.  

3. Costumes that depict violence, alcohol, or drugs are not permitted. Fake weapons are  not allowed. 

4. Costumes that could be offensive or perpetuate a stereotype of someone’s culture,  gender, heritage, or religion are not permitted.  

5. Costumes should not hinder your ability to participate in your classes, including P.E.  Costumes may not disrupt or impede traffic, or present issues of safety in the hallway.  

Students wearing questionable costumes will be asked to change into normal school attire and  issued school consequences. If you have any questions regarding the appropriateness of your  costume idea, we encourage you to speak with Mr. Eberly

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

Browns vs. Steelers