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

 

Staff Update Week of October 6, 2025

Important Dates

10/8-                        Picture Retake Day

10/8-                           8th Grade Field Trip- North Manufacturing Expo

10/8-                        Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:30-7:30

10/16-                        7th Grade Field Trip-  Zoo

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

10/17-                        End of 1st Quarter

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

Important Information

Willoughby Student   

By now, everyone is aware of the tragedy that occurred with a student at Willoughby Middle.  Many of our students were friends with Brody or knew of him.  

This is going to be a difficult time for the students and staff at WMS.  Please reach out and offer your support in ways you feel comfortable.  

Please be vigilant and watch over our students' well being.

Gina Kevern sent out an email on Saturday with a link to make donations and a link to Brody's obituary.

I am guessing that many students will still paint their faces this week to show support for Brody and WMS.  Please do not ask students to remove the face paint.  

Observations

For those of you that are being Formally Observed this year, please make sure you get an observation scheduled sometime during the first semester.  You will need to answer pre-observation questions prior to our pre-conference.

If you are not on a full evaluation schedule for this year, just let me or Dave know when you like one of us to stop in to observe a lesson.  No need for any paperwork.  Same day notice might be possible depending on the drama of the day.

This does not include the "Learning Walk Observations" which I will discuss this week in PLCs.

Ranger Report

Please be sure to check the Ranger Report when you arrive at school.  It is important that everyone knows the coverages for the day.

Pajamas

Pajamas are not permitted unless it is an announced "Pajama Pant Day"

Parent Teacher Conferences (10/8)

Jaimie will share a list of parents that have signed up for conferences with each of you.

Safety Week

Thank you for taking the time to talk with your students about various scenarios and helping keep everyone safe.  Please continue to have these conversations when appropriate.  

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

One Page Chart to Support Every Student Every Day

 

Staff Update Week of September 29, 2025

8th Grade Band members at the HS Football game Friday night.

Important Dates

9/29 -  10/3            Safety Week

9/29-                        ICAC Assemblies (1st-3rd periods)

9/29-                        Fire Drill 2:23pm

10/8-                        Picture Retake Day

10/8-                           8th Grade Field Trip- North Manufacturing Expo

10/8-                        Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:30-7:30

10/16-                        7th Grade Field Trip-  Zoo

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

10/17-                        End of 1st Quarter

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

Important Information

Safety Week

Monday-  ICAC assemblies in Gym 1st, 2nd, 3rd periods

                -  Fire Drill 2:23pm

Tuesday-  Barricade Drill

                -  I will make an announcement letting everyone know it is a drill

                -  Barricade door.  Admins will go around and check each door

                -  Keep door barricaded until I make an announcement that the                                 drill is complete

Wednesday-  Evacuation Drill

                -   I will make an announcement letting everyone know it is a drill 

                -  I will instruct everyone to exit the building quickly and safely

                -  Students are to meet in the parking lot

Thursday-  Situational Drill

                 -   I will make an announcement letting everyone know it is a drill                   -   You will have to make a decision based on the announcement                             whether you will evacuate or barricade the room

                -  This is NOT a table top drill.  Everyone is required to either                                 barricade or evacuate

Friday-     Tornado Drill (during homeroom)

*  It is important for all staff to talk with students after the drills and explain what to do and why we do it.  

FLEX Time

Flex time is an opportunity for teachers to help students get caught up and/or reteach struggling students.  Students that are not working with a teacher should be working quietly on their own.

In order to assist core teachers with coverage, I have made a few changes to homeroom and 8th period coverages.

Here is a link to the 8th period and homeroom coverage changes.

If you are covering a FLEX class, do not take students to the gym or outside.  They need to stay in a classroom and work on something productive or simply be quiet.  Having some students go to the gym and others not go to the gym makes it challenging for teachers to keep the struggling learners focused.

(8th grade you are fine to do your grade check system)

Parent Teacher Conferences (10/8)

I will be sending an email out to parents this week so they can sign up for conferences.

Please sign up for a conference with yourself to provide yourself a break during conferences.  Please do this asap before I send the link out.

Parent Teacher Conferences-  Sign Up Form- 10/8/25

Please let me know if your name is missing or if your times are not correct (traveling teachers)

Learning Walks- Literacy IPG

Due to a grant the district received for Literacy, I am required to complete Learning Walks (observations) on over 50% of our teachers.  I will talk about this in PLCs this week.  

These observations are non evaluative.  It is just data I need to gather.  Here is a link to the form I need to use.  I feel the form really just records good teaching practices.  

Please understand that I am not expecting to see all of these Indicators in each observation.

These Learning Walks should take about 15-20 minutes.  There is nothing you need to do.  

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

Nothing this week.

 

Staff Update Week of September 22, 2025

If anyone actually gets an answer, please let me know!

Important Dates

9/24-                        Writing Revolution Day

9/29 -  10/3            Safety Week

9/29-                        ICAC Assemblies (1st-3rd periods)

9/29-                        Fire Drill 2:23pm

10/8-                        Picture Retake Day

10/8-                           8th Grade Field Trip- North Manufacturing Expo

10/8-                        Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:30-7:30

10/16-                        7th Grade Field Trip-  Zoo

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

10/17-                        End of 1st Quarter

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

Important Information

Writing Revolution Day

Here is a link to the schedule for the day.

Please make sure you are prepared.

RIMP Training

Monday, September 22nd

RIMP Writing Training with Julie Bonacci in room 214

1st period-    Harth

2nd period-  Minichello 

3rd period-  McQueen

5th period-  Murfey

6th period-  Dishong

7th period-  Stenger

8th period-  Miller

School Report Card

Each year, the state posts district and school report cards.

Here is a link to our most recent report card.

Last year, we were graded as a 3.5 Star School

This year, we received a 3 Star Rating.

Our goal is to be a 4 Star School.

We will discuss the School Report Card this week in PLCs

Academic Planning Forms

Everyone is doing a nice job with the Academic Planning forms.

When placing a link to a google doc, please make sure you change the permission to "Share with Willoughby Eastlake".  This will make it much easier to view so I dont have to keep asking for permissions.

You can also simply post a picture of your assessment.  Here is a great example:

Notice that the "assessment" is only two questions.  This shows the teacher exactly which students understand the concepts and which students dont.  The questions are state released questions (rigorous).

Many of you are utilizing "Authored Assessment" questions from the state much more frequently this year.  THANK YOU!

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

ODE Report Card Resources

 

Staff Update Week of September 15, 2025

Important Dates

9/24-                        Writing Revolution Day

9/29 -  10/3            Safety Week

9/29-                        ICAC Assemblies (1st-3rd periods)

10/8-                        Picture Retake Day

10/8-                        Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:30-7:30

10/17-                        End of 1st Quarter

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

Important Information

Barricade   

Just a reminder to plan a time barricading your room prior to safety week.

Growth Plans/ HQSD

Please make sure your Growth Plans and HQSD are completed by September 30th

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

7 Ways to Get Math Students to Show Their Thinking

Advise From Middle School Students and Teachers to Educators

 

Staff Update Week of September 8, 2025

Important Dates

9/12-                        Ranger Spirit Day

9/24-                        Writing Revolution Day

9/29 -  10/3            Safety Week

9/29-                        ICAC Assemblies (1st-3rd periods)

10/8-                        Picture Retake Day

10/8-                        Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:30-7:30

10/17-                        End of 1st Quarter

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

Important Information

PLCs

Officer Dave will be attending PLCs to answer any questions you may have about Safety Week or safety in general.

*  Electives.....you will be meeting Monday and Friday this week 8:15-8:45

**  Another reminder to please complete your Academic Planning forms prior to PLC meetings.

Patriot Day (September 11th)

I will read an announcement at the beginning of 1st period and have a moment of silence.

Please talk about the events of that tragic day with students and the meaning of Patriot Day.

Public School Works    

Just a friendly reminder to complete your annual Public School Works training.  One can never know to much about the different types of fire extinguishers.

MAP Testing

I appreciate everyone's patience as we work through the joys of MAP testing.  I promise it will be much smoother for the Winter Testing Session.

OTES-  Growth Plans and HQSD

I am still waiting on a finalized list to see who needs to be formally observed this year.  In the mean time, please start working on your Growth Plans and HQSD.  Remember.....work smarter, not harder.  (AI)

SmartPass

Reminder.....if you would like limitations put on certain students, please bring it up during PLC so we can make the changes.  Things seem to be going very well with SmartPass and most of the other schools in the district are now using it.  (we are trailblazers)

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

100 Great Resources for Middle School Students

3 Simple Ways to Boost Student Motivation

 

Staff Update Week of September 1, 2025

Jack is happy because he loves The Writing Revolution, but he wishes more of his colleagues would focus their lessons on it, so he talks about it during lunch everyday.

Anyone that sends me an email by 2nd period Tuesday with a Because, But, So sentence based on the Browns (or Steelers) will win a prize. 

Important Dates

9/1-                        Labor Day (No School)

9/3-                        Picture Day

9/29-                        ICAC Assemblies (1st-3rd periods)

10/8-                        Picture Retake Day

10/8-                        Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:30-7:30

10/17-                        End of 1st Quarter

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

Important Information

Safety 

We will have our annual Safety Week the week of September 29th.  We will be reviewing our safety protocols this week during PLCs.   Here is a basic run down of what the week will look like

Monday (9/29)-  ICAC Assemblies 1st-3rd periods, Fire Drill afternoon

Tuesday (9/30)-  Lockdown Drill/ Barricade

Wednesday (10/1)-  Mass Evacuation

Thursday (10/2)-  Situational Drill

Friday (10/3)-  Tornado Drill

CTE

Kirk Dressel and the rest of the CTE team will being working with 7th and 8th grade students this week for Career Connections.  

ICAC Assemblies

The Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce (ICAC) will be talking to our students on 9/29.  This will be done in grade level assemblies as we have done in the past.  

EMS Clubs

I will be sending an email out to parents later this week detailing many of the clubs and activities we offer here at EMS.  If you are interested in starting a new club, please come talk with me.  There might be supplemental money available.

PLCs 

Reminder....Please make sure you are completing your Team's Academic Planner each week prior to your scheduled PLC meeting.

Supplementals

Just a friendly reminder to complete your supplemental applications.  They are found online.  

Dangers of AI

Although I feel strongly that educators need to embrace the use of AI, there are some areas of concern.  The link below is a video from the Today Show about about parent's suing Chat GPT over it's role is assisting their son in ending his life.  Unfortunately, this is something we need to be mindful of.

Today Show Video

PBIS Team

Thank you for a great Kick Off assembly.  The connect four game as a big hit and the students had a lot of fun.

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

Station Rotation Instructional Strategy (Video)