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