Staff Update Week of February 3rd , 2025

Important Dates

2/3-               8th Graders meet with HS Counselors (3rd period)

2/7-               Special Needs Autism Dance

2/14-            Valentines Day

2/17-            President's Day.  No School

2/25-           Fire Drill  1:40pm

Important Information

Gifted Training Update

Latest News:  All core teachers will be required to complete 5 hours of training prior to the end of the year.  We will discuss this in PLCs

At Risk/ Possible Failures

We are a few weeks into the third quarter.  Please make sure you are communicating with parents if students are not performing well in your class.  Here is a link to the At-Risk/Failure Sheet

Cell Phones

I am starting to see a rise in students with cell phones in their possession during the school day.  Please remind students to keep them in their lockers or face the consequences.

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

EMS Super Bowl Squares

 Staff Update Week of January 27, 2025

Important Dates

1/28-           Career Day

1/29-            Fire Drill 2:22pm (Note time change)

1/29-            EMS PTSO Dine and Donate (Marco's Pizza)

1/30-            8th Graders visit North (time to be determined)

1/30-            8th Grade HS experience Night at North

2/14-            Valentines Day

2/17-            President's Day.  No School

2/25-           Fire Drill  1:40pm

Important Information

Video Recording (Monday)

EMS Video Schedule
Time	Location	Notes
8:30-8:35	Main Office	Action Shot of Morning Announcements
8:35-8:45	Guidance Office	Interview (Ms. Cook) and action shots with Counselors
8:50-9:00	Room 118	7th Grade PLC in Action
9:05-9:15	Rooms 101 and 102	Autism Units in Action
9:25-9:35	ADP Room	Interview- Mrs. Michalski
9:40-9:50	Room 118	7th Grade Science- Mr. Johnson
9:55-10:05	Room 201	6th Grade ELA- Mrs. Ianiro
10:10-10:20	Room 219	8th Grade Social Studies- Mrs. Rockwell
10:35-10:55	Room 202	6th Grade PLC in Action
11:10-11:20	Cafeteria	6th Grade Lunch, Interview with Mr. Eberly
11:25-11:35	Library	Maker Space and Interview with Mr. Dressel
11:45-11:55	Main Office Hallway Area	Transitions - Main Hallway by Office
12:00-12:10	Gymnasium	PE Class- 6th Grade- Mr. Rhomberg
12:10-12:30	extra time if needed	extra time if needed- Additional Interviews

PLCs this week

6th and 7th grade PLCs have been moved to Monday this week.

Career Day (Tuesday)

1st-3rd period (8th graders only)

Thank you Leah for your hard work setting this event up.

8th Graders to North

Thursday, 11:30-12:30

The 8th grade team is working on creating groups

High School Experience Night at 7pm at North for Parents.

*  we may try to have a trip to South later in the year for students that are committed to going to South next year.

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

40 AI Tools for Teachers

 Staff Update Week of January 20, 2025

Important Dates

1/20-             MLK Day.  No School

1/24-            Quarter 2 Academic Awards (1st-3rd periods in Cafeteria)

1/28-           Career Day

1/29-            Fire Drill 8:46 

1/29-            EMS PTSO Dine and Donate (Marco's Pizza)

1/30-            8th Graders visit North (time to be determined)

1/30-            8th Grade HS experience Night at North

2/14-            Valentines Day

2/17-            President's Day.  No School

2/25-           Fire Drill  1:40pm

Important Information

New Bell Schedule

The new bell schedule starts this week.  Scott is working on getting the bell's reprogrammed.  Bells will be turned off until this is done.  I will keep you posted.

North HS Visit (8th Grade)

8th grade students will be visiting North HS on January 30th.

Students will be bussed over in groups of about 30 between 11:30-12:30

8th grade team will discuss in PLC this week.

2nd Quarter Academic Awards

We will be recognizing students that achieved a 3.0 or above and/or students that raised their GPA by at least .5 (.5 I club) on Friday

1st period-  7th Grade

2nd period-  8th Grade

3rd period- 6th Grade

Thank you Leah and Jaimie for getting this organized.

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

Breaking Up Lectures to Improve Student Learning

11 Reasons Why Teaching MS is the BEST job Ever

 Staff Update Week of January 13, 2025

Important Dates

1/14-            Specials Teachers Meeting 7:45am  Art Room

1/17-            Ice Cream Party for Fundraiser

1/20-             MLK Day.  No School

1/23-            Fire Drill  8:45am

1/23-            8th Grade HS experience Night at North

1/24-            Quarter 2 Academic Awards (1st-3rd periods in Cafeteria)

1/28-           Career Day

1/29-            EMS PTSO Dine and Donate (Marco's Pizza)

2/14-            Valentines Day

2/17-            President's Day.  No School

2/24-           Fire Drill  1:40pm

Important Information

Parent Communication

Just a friendly reminder that Parent Communication is an essential part of our jobs.  Although we provide many ways for parents to monitor their student's progress (Schoology, Powerschool, etc), many parents do not take advantage of this.

If students are missing multiple assignments in your class, you need to reach out to them and let them know.  A simple email can make parents aware of the missing assignments and perhaps get the student to complete their work.

Positive Phone Calls

Please try to contact parents when students are to be commended for the outstanding work they are doing in your classroom.  There is not one parent that would not want to hear great news about their child.  This message gets passed to the student and encourages him/her to continually put their best foot forward

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

Selecting Instructional Strategies That Students Can Master

The Magic of Mistakes

  Staff Update Week of January 6, 2025

Important Dates

1/6-                Staff and Students Return

1/20-             MLK Day.  No School

1/23-            Fire Drill  8:45am

1/22-            Smiles Program (Dental Care at school)

1/23-            8th Grade HS experience Night at North

1/24-            Quarter 2 Academic Awards (1st-3rd periods in Cafeteria)

1/28-           Career Day

1/29-            EMS PTSO Dine and Donate (Marco's Pizza)

2/14-            Valentines Day

2/17-            President's Day.  No School

2/24-           Fire Drill  1:40pm

Important Information

Return to School

Our students have a tendency to forget rules and expectations after being out of school for a couple of weeks.  Please plan on reviewing our "non-negotiables" and other expectations with students upon their return.

Monitor Halls

Please stand at your door between periods.  Not only does this help curb negative behavior, but it is also a nice gesture to greet students as they enter your room.

Gradebooks

Reminder, 70% of a student's grade should be based on assessment.  Cut the fluff.   

You should have at least one assessment grade per week in your gradebook.

This will be discussed further in PLCs

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

Quick Instructional Videos (Try something new.....)