Staff Update Week of April 29th

Magic Gives Back Show on Saturday

Important Dates

5/1-            Band Concert

5/7-            PTSO Staff Cookout

5/9-            7th Grade Zoo Field Trip

5/10-            PTSO School Dance

5/14-           5th Grader visit EMS

5/14-           5th Grade Parent Night

5/14-           Choir Concert

5/15-            6th Grade Zoo Field Trip

5/16-           Band/Choir Assemblies (2nd period

5/17-           8th Grade Honors Breakfast

5/17-             PBIS Quarterly Incentive Day

5/20-            8th Grade Swings and Things Field Trip

5/21-            "Northern Lights" Assembly 2nd period

5/22-          Last Day of School

Important Information

State Testing

Monday and Tuesday- 6th Grade Math Testing

Wednesday and Thursday-  8th Grade Science Testing

Here is a link to the Math Testing Groups (Science groups are the last tab on the bottom)

**  I will be pulling students for Math make-ups Monday and Tuesday.

**  Here is a list of students that need to make-up their math tests

Student Engagement

Please make sure you are keeping your students engaged and busy in your classrooms.  I know we are all tired and ready for summer......so are the kids.  We need to make sure the kids are doing some type of meaningful work.  The school year is not done yet......3 more weeks.

Limit student bathroom breaks.  Keep them in your rooms. 

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

Engaging Students with Challenge Based Learning

3 Sneaky Ways Perfectionism is Holding you Back

 Staff Update Week of April 22nd

NESS 2024

Thank you everyone who came out to help out and show your support.

Important Dates

5/1-            Band Concert

5/7-            PTSO Staff Cookout

5/9-            7th Grade Zoo Field Trip

5/10-            PTSO School Dance

5/14-           5th Grader visit EMS

5/14-           5th Grade Parent Night

5/14-           Choir Concert

5/15-            6th Grade Zoo Field Trip

5/16-           Band/Choir Assemblies (2nd period

5/17-           8th Grade Honors Breakfast

5/17-             PBIS Quarterly Incentive Day

5/20-            8th Grade Swings and Things Field Trip

5/21-            "Northern Lights" Assembly 2nd period

5/22-          Last Day of School

Important Information

State Testing

Math Testing begins this week

Here is a link to the Testing Schedule

Here is a link to the Math Testing Groups

*  4th and 5th periods will switch on all 7th Grade Testing days.

End of the Year

The last day of school has been changed to 5/22

Therefore the 8th grade field trip had to be changed.

We are now planning on taking our 8th graders to Swings n Things on 5/20

All three grade levels will be at EMS on 5/22.  We will plan some activities for that last day, but I do NOT want grade levels mixed up.

We will talk at PLCs

Room Changes

I believe I have spoken with everyone that will be changing rooms next year. 

Everyone has been great about this.  Thank you.

You will have time on 5/23 and 5/24 to start moving your items.

Rooms 216, 214, and 212 will be "Large Group Rooms" next year.  You will have the ability to reserve these rooms if you would like to use them.  These rooms will be decked out with modern furniture and other supplies to allow more team activities and such.  More info to come later this year.

Classrooms

Every classroom will be getting new student desks for next year.  More info to come at a later date.

NESS

Thank you to everyone who came out to help and show support to our students for a great cause.  Huge shout out to Angela Minichello and Ellen Murfey for organizing the event.  Also, thank you to Casey Cook for everything you have done with NESS the past 13 years.  Well done!

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

Dont Click Here.  This is definitely not a secret link or anything.

28 Ways to Quickly Check for Understanding

 Staff Update Week of April 8th

Important Dates

4/16-          Fire Drill 1:40pm

4/17-           Staff Meeting 7:30am

4/18-           Tornado Drill  8:45am

4/20-          NESS Dance

Important Information

State Testing

EMS AIR Testing Dates.  

ELA Testing Groups.  

Momentum Award

Again, congratulations to everyone for earning a Momentum Award.

MOMENTUM AWARD

The momentum award is for districts and buildings that have demonstrated outstanding improvement in achievement while also continuing to show growth. The momentum award is for districts and buildings that have improved their performance index by 3 or more points from 2021-2022 report card to the 2022-2023 report card AND received a value-added progress rating of 4 or more stars. Districts and buildings are not eligible for this award if they received an overall rating of 5 stars. 
Momentum District Award List
Momentum Building Award List 

NESS

Angela Minichello was interviewed by Channel 5 News on Saturday morning about NESS.  Nice job Angela!

NESS on Channel 5 News

Taking Students Outside

As the weather warms up, feel free to take your classes outside.

Make sure you let the office know you are going outside and do NOT prop the door.

Hallways During Testing

If you are not proctoring an AIR test, please make sure you are in the hallways during class changes to help keep students quiet.

Please help the 6th grade teachers by keeping 8th graders out of the 6th grade hallway on Tuesday during 6th grade ELA testing.

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

AI and Differentiation

60 Second Strategy: NAEM Tracker

  Staff Update Week of April 1st

Welcome our newest Laker

Important Dates

4/1-            No School

4/3-            First Day of State Testing

4/5-            8th Grade Field Trip (Natural History Museum)

4/8-            PD Day-  Solar Eclipse 

4/16-          Fire Drill 1:40pm

4/17-           Staff Meeting 7:30am

4/18-           Tornado Drill  8:45am

4/20-          NESS Dance

Important Information

State Testing

When are we testing?:    EMS AIR Testing Dates.  

Please help keep students quiet in the hallways.  

Please continue to encourage students to try their best on the tests.

ELA Testing Groups

Here is a link to the ELA Testing Groups.  Please use this list so you know who should be in your classes.  6th and 7th grade will be testing both AM and PM.  8th grade is testing only in the morning.

PBIS

Another shout out to our Tier 1 and Tier 2 PBIS teams.  Great work everyone!

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

Better Ways to Measure Student Progress

27 Super-Smart, Teacher-Tested Closing Activities

 Staff Update Week of March 18th

Important Dates

3/21-        PBIS Day (know the 3 Rs)

3/22-        PBIS Quarterly Incentive 

3/22-        Fire Drill 10:22am

3/25-4/1    Spring Break

4/3-            First Day of State Testing

4/5-            8th Grade Field Trip (Natural History Museum)

4/8-            PD Day-  Solar Eclipse 

Important Information

Election Day (Tuesday)

The building will be used on Tuesday as a voting site.  Therefore, the following will need to take place:

-  Gym closed for all classes (Joe and Brett.....please move your classes)

-  Track and Tennis......Gym closed for practices.

-  Locker rooms closed to students all day.  (coaches, please make sure students get anything they need for school/sports out of locker room on Monday.....keep lockers locked)

-  8th Graders will need to stay in the Lobby in the morning prior to school (no gym)

-

PBIS 

The State Support Team will be at EMS on Thursday to review our Tier 1 and Tier 2 supports.  They will be coming around asking questions.  Make sure you are able to discuss what we do to support PBIS.  

Here is the adjusted bell schedule for March 22nd.  Thank you Amy Clendenning and the PBIS Team for putting together a fun afternoon for the students.

PLCs

Just a reminder....Any staff member is welcome to attend any PLC.  Just let me know if you would like to attend one of the meetings and I will make sure to get you coverage so you can attend.  Having these frequent PLCs allows me to cancel many of our staff meetings.

6th Grade Meetings-  Tuesdays 5th period

7th Grade Meetings-  Wednesdays  7th period

8th Grade Meetings-  Thursdays  1st period

State of the Schools

On Monday evening, the district will be hosting the "State of the Schools".   Each school will have a table and a few students and staff members present to talk about the great things happening in their buildings.  Thank you Stephanie Royko, Kirk Dressel, and Casey Cook for organizing students, setting up the table, and spear heading this event.

State Testing

The month of April will be filled with State Testing.  Here is a link to the EMS AIR Testing Dates.  Please encourage students to try their best on the tests.  Make sure students are out of the hallways and there are minimal distractions throughout the day.  Please keep in mind that there will be some small group testing happening on days that are assigned testing days.

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

How to Aggregate Test and Quiz Scores

Let Students Choose Their Grading Criteria

 Staff Update Week of March 11th

Important Dates

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

Bathrooms

Starting on Monday, the upstairs bathrooms will be closed (locked) in the mornings.  The downstairs bathrooms will be monitored by staff members.

PBIS Assembly on 3/22

For those of you that like to plan ahead, here is the adjusted bell schedule for March 22nd

Congratulations

Congrats to Karla Schwenk for winning the coveted "Last Teacher Stuck at Conferences Award".  Way to go Karla!

Food Fight 

Starting Monday, the Superintendent-Student Advisory Council will be collecting money to support  End 68 Hours of Hunger.  If any students bring money to be donated, please send them down to the office.  

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

sorry.....nothing for you this week

   Staff Update Week of March 4th

Three weeks until Spring Break

Important Dates

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

AIR Tests

These are the dates for AIR Testing.  Tested area teachers are currently working on groupings for testing.  More information will be shared prior to Spring Break.

Concerts

Good luck to our Band and Choir students this week in their Winter Concerts.  Monday at 7pm are the Band concerts and Tuesday at 7pm are the Choir concerts.  Thank you to Katie Michalski and Stephanie Black for your hard work getting the students ready for these fun events.

Hallways

Just a monthly reminder.....please be present in the hallways between classes.  Help keep the peace.

Family Bingo Night

The PTSO is putting on their annual Family Bingo Night on Friday, March 15th.  It was very successful last year and everyone had fun.  Please consider bringing your families.  There were a lot of great baskets last year.

Conferences

Just a reminder....If a student is not doing well in your class, please reach out to their parents prior to conferences and make sure they are aware they have the opportunity to come talk with you.

Good Professional Reading (or Watching)

The Value of Mailing Encouraging Notes to Students

What is Deeper Learning?  Who are the Deep Learning Teachers?