Staff Update Week of February 26th

Please help promote the Magic Show Fundraiser

Important Dates

2/27-      Fire Drill 9:35am

3/4-        Winter Band Concert 7pm

3/5-         Winter Choir Concert 7pm

3/6-         Parent Teacher Conferences 3:30-7:30

3/13-      8th Grade Field Trip (Maltz Museum)

3/13-        End of 3rd Quarter

3/21-        PBIS Day (know the 3 Rs)

3/22-        PBIS Quarterly Incentive 

3/25-4/1    Spring Break

4/3-            First Day of State Testing

4/8-            PD Day-  Solar Eclipse 

Important Information

Magic Show Fundraiser

Please help the PTSO and promote the Magic Show fundraiser.  If you have social media, please consider sharing the details on our platform.

Parent Teacher Conferences

Please reach out to parents that you feel need to attend conferences.  Please be sure to discuss positive experiences you are having with their child as well as what the student can do to improve in your class.

3rd Quarter Grades

The last day of the 3rd quarter is March 13th.  If students are getting a D or an F in your class, make sure you email the parents and make them aware now.  I know parents have plenty of ways to check their child's grade......however they don't.   An email documents that you made the attempt to make them aware.

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

60-Second Strategy:  The Hot Seat

6 Differentiated Instructional Strategies for Middle School

  Staff Update Week of February 12th

Important Dates

2/14-      Valentine's Day

2/16-       PTSO Rick Smith (Magician) Assembly 2pm

2/19-      Presidents Day (No School)

2/21-      Staff Meeting 7:30am

2/21-    PTSO Meeting 6:30pm

2/27-      Fire Drill 9:35am

Important Information

Magic Show Assembly

Here is a link to the adjusted bell schedule for Friday.  

The show will start at 2pm sharp, so we will start dismissing students by grade level to the gym around 1:50

Please plan on sitting with students in the bleachers.

Super Bowl Squares    

Super Bowl Squares    

When the numbers were drawn, I realized we were missing a row.  I got creative on the bottom row.  Good Luck

AIR Testing Schedule

The month of April is filled with AIR testing.  

Here is a link to the "Tentative" AIR Testing Schedule

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

18 Books for Reluctant Middle School Readers

60 Second Strategy- Pass the Marker

 Staff Update Week of February 5th

Important Dates

2/9-        Valentine's Day Dance (Units) at EMS

2/14-      Valentine's Day

2/16-       PTSO Rick Smith (Magician) Assembly 2pm

2/19-      Presidents Day (No School)

2/21-      Staff Meeting 7:30am

2/27-      Fire Drill 9:35am

Important Information

Teaming

I have spoken with all PLCs about teaming next year and some of the benefits and obstacles we will face.   We are already doing many of the important aspects of teaming.  

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)

Middle School Team Building

Making Deep Thinking the Norm

  Staff Update Week of January 29th

Important Dates

2/1-         8th Graders to North (TBA)

2/9-        Valentine's Day Dance (Units) at EMS

2/14-      Valentine's Day

2/16-       PTSO Rick Smith (Magician) Assembly 2pm

2/19-      Presidents Day (No School)

2/21-      Staff Meeting 7:30am

2/27-      Fire Drill 9:35am

Important Information

PLCs

Core subject teachers and Special Education teachers are currently meeting weekly in PLCs.  Other teachers are joining the meetings when they can.  If you would like to join one or more of the grade level PLCs, let me know and we will get you coverage.

Field Trips

We are in the process of setting up field trips for our students.  6th Graders will be going to the Zoo in May (thank you Justine Ianiro).  8th Graders have three field trips set up for the spring (thank you Stephanie Royko).  Does anyone want to step up and organize a field trip for the 7th graders?

Extra Curriculars

Students love to see staff at their sporting events or other extra curriculars.  Thank you to those who stop by to see your students.  The girls basketball team plays at home this Thursday.  I have some connections and will provide free popcorn to anyone that attends!  

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.

Praising Students

Thank you for continuing to recognize positive student behavior.   Here is a relevant study from Carol Dweck about the behavior we should be recognizing.

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

Keeping the Door Open to Collaboration

The Power of Believing you can Improve

 Staff Update Week of January 15th

Important Dates

1/15          MLK Day- No School

1/24         Staff Meeting 7:30am   Canceled 

1/25-        Fire Drill  9:35am

Important Information

Trauma Sensitive Schools Training

Training will be done during PLCs this week.  Thank you Casey for organizing and setting up the schedule.  Training will take the full 45 minutes, so make sure you are on time

Connectedness Survey

Social Studies teachers will be giving students a Connectedness Survey this week in their classes.  This survey is to make sure all of our students connect with at least one adult in our building.  Thank you Leah for organizing this.

8th Grade Class Photo

The annual 8th grade class photo will be taken on Tuesday, January 15th.  This will be done at the beginning of 1st period in the gym.  We will call 8th graders to the gym over the announcements.   

Group Pictures

Group pictures will be done after the 8th grade class photo in the gym.  Thank you Jack for organizing.

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

Selecting Instructional Strategies That Students Can Master

The Magic of Mistakes

 Staff Update Weeks of January 1st and 8th

Yet another reason why I do not go to the mall.........

Important Dates

1/4          Return to School

1/15          MLK Day- No School

1/24         Staff Meeting 7:30am

1/25-        Fire Drill  9:35am

Important Information

Welcome Back

Happy  New Year.  I hope all of you were able to find some time to rest and enjoy the holidays.  May your new year be filled with joy and good health.

Chromebooks

We are starting a new process for students that do not have Chromebooks.

Students that are waiting for their Chromebook to be repaired will need to go to Mr. Cramer's room each morning and sign out a Chromebook.  They will return it to him at the end of the day.  This way we can make students receive a Chromebook.

Students that did not bring a Chromebook or did not have it charged will go to the cafeteria in the morning to sign out a Chromebook with Kellie Zabivnik.  At the end of the day, students that needed to sign out a Chromebook will return them to the ADP room with Nick Stankus.  

This process will help us monitor who is borrowing the Chromebooks and monitor any damage done to them.

Students that need to borrow a Chromebook from the cafeteria will receive lunch detentions.  This will increase to after school detentions if particular students are consistently borrowing Chromebooks.

Phones

Please make sure students are keeping their phones in their lockers.  If you catch a student with a phone, issue a consequence.  We will discuss this in PLCs.

Hall Passes

Please make sure you are giving students a pass anytime they leave the room.  This includes going to the nurse.

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

Instruction

The best part of my job is getting into classrooms and watching instruction take place.  We have  outstanding educators at EMS.  Keep up the good work.  

Do not be afraid to try something new!   

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

Using Student Data to Inspire Goal-Setting

Quick Instructional Videos 

  Staff Update Week of December 18th, 2023

Important Dates

12/20     Staff Meeting 7:30am   

12/20     Band/Choir Concert (2nd period in Gym)

12/20       PTSO Meeting 6:30pm

12/21      PBIS 2nd Quarter Incentive 

1/4          Return to School

1/15          MLK Day- No School

1/24         Staff Meeting 7:30am

Important Information

Thank You

Thank you to everyone for all their hard work this first semester.  It has been great continuing to work with everyone.  I know everyone is ready for a break.  I hope you get the opportunity to relax and recharge over the holidays.

Last Week of Semester 

Please make sure you are keeping your students engaged this final week.   Do not give your students "free time".     You need to be instructing students and working with them to keep them actively learning.  

Engaged kids = behaved kids. 

Locker Clean-Out

Monday-  First Floor

Tuesday-  Second Floor

Please help monitor students and make sure they are cleaning out their lockers.

We may extend homeroom a few minutes.....I will let you know.

Keep an eye out for extra Chromebooks in students' lockers

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.

Bookbags

Students are not permitted to carry bookbags around school.  This includes 8th period.  Do not allow students to carry them or enter your room with a bookbag

*  Keep in mind there are a few kid with medical needs so they are permitted to use them.

Band/ Choir Concert

On Wednesday, our band and choir students will be performing in the gym 2nd period.  This will take the entire period and may go slightly into 3rd period.

Please sit with students in the bleachers and make sure they are behaving.

We will not be running an adjusted bell schedule.

PBIS 2nd Quarter Incentive

Thank you to Amy Clendenning and the PBIS team for organizing the Holiday Carnival Events.  Information and schedules have been emailed to you.  

PBIS Ambassadors will be excused from classes all day to help run the events.

We will not be running an adjusted bell schedule.

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

60- Second Strategy:  The Hot Seat

6 Non-Education Books with Lessons for Teachers