Weekly Spartan Blog, November 26-30, 2012

Spartan Pledge

Supporting our school community core values.

I apologize for the late post this week.  I was ill much of the weekend and on Monday.  Too much Thanksgiving turkey.  I hope you had a restful holiday break with family.

Our students are back in the swing of things.  With the new trimester comes a "fresh" start and a chance to make positive changes in work habits, personal choices and/or attitude.  Your child should be starting a new encore class this trimester as well.  Take a few minutes to visit with your child about what he/she is planning to do to maintain or change a plan for success.

Drama Club coming to Spearfish Middle School!

Drama Club is designed to provide an introduction to the theatre arts. Beginning in early January, the club would meet two times per week for 12 weeks after school in the middle school commons. The activity would include an introduction to the theatre arts, creative movement and expression and development of intrapersonal skills and interpersonal relationships. The activity would include a culminating performance in late March.  More information to come, including a student/parent meeting to established expectations and program goals.

Continuous Improvement
Spearfish School District engages in a continuous improvement process to create the best conditions possible for learning.  In addition to achievement goals in reading and math, our schools work to develop a safe, healthy and welcoming environment for all stakeholders.  The survey you took last month will provide insight and perspective to helps celebrate areas of strength and strategically plan to improve areas of concern.  As we compile the results, we will share results with you.  Thank you for taking the time to complete the AdvancED survey.

Spearfish School District Annual Report, 2012
http://spearfish.k12.sd.us/District/Annual_Report/Annual%20Report%20Fall%202012.pdf

Upcoming Activities:

Nov. 28                         Building Leadership Team Mtg., 3:15-4:30 p.m.

Nov. 29                         Team Leader Meeting, 7:30-8:00 a.m. in Conference Rm.

Dec. 3                           Parents and Partners Mtg. 6-7 p.m., SMS Library

Dec. 3                           7^th & 8^th Gr. Choir Concert, SHS Auditorium, 7-9 p.m.

Dec. 3                           SMART Board Training (a.m./p.m. sessions)

Dec. 5                           Early Release for PD, 2 p.m.

Dec. 6                           Staffing Meeting, 7:30 a.m. in SMS Library

Dec. 10                         7^th and 8^th gr. Band Concert, 7:30-9:30 p.m. in HS Auditorium

Dec. 11                         District Technology Mtg., 3:45 p.m.in HS DDN rm.

Dec. 12                         Building Leadership Team, 3:15-4:30 p.m.

Dec. 14                         7^th Grade Dance, SMS Commons, 4-6 p.m.

Dec. 20                         Team Leader Meeting, 7:30 a.m. in conf. rm.

Dec. 21                         1 p.m. Early Release, Christmas/Holiday Break

Dec. 24-Jan. 1               Christmas/Holiday Break

Jan. 2                            School resumes

All leadership begins with self-leadership

                                                                      -Noah benShea

Spartan Blog, Week of November 19-23, 2012

Spartan Pledge

Supporting our school community core values.

Holiday Break
The Thanksgiving Holiday is quickly approaching.  I hope everyone takes some time to reflect on truly what we should be thankful for this season.  Freedom (democracy), family, faith, community and much, much more.  It is my hope that each of you has a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday.  We will have a 1 p.m. early release on Wednesday, November 21st. 

Celebration Assembly on Tuesday
Students won the Student Council led community food drive competition between students and staff. Consequently there will be a pie throwing exhibition on Tuesday afternoon at 2:55 p.m.  Two students from each grade have been selected to throw pies in the face of Mr. O'Dea, Dean of Students and Mr. Baier, Principal.  Additionally we will be celebrating successes related to Spartan PRIDE and unveil the new school motto created by and voted on by the student body.  

Trimester One Completed
We will finish the first trimester of the 2012-13 school year on Wednesday.  Be sure to visit with your child about completing missing work and completing the requirements associated with trimester one.  Next Monday we begin the second trimester.  Class schedules will change as your child rotates to a new exploratory class.  Be sure to check the Parent Portal for details on your child's schedule or contact the guidance office if you have questions.  Thank you for your support in my first year as the principal at SMS.  I have so much to learn about your children and the education system in Spearfish.  I am certainly not doing everything well, but I hope that you see and understand that every child's success is important to me.  I will continue to work with staff, parents and students to create the conditions for a safe environment and high levels of learning.  

Professional Development Time
I recognize the monthly early releases and other professional development days for the teaching staff creates challenges for you with day care and routines you've established.   Thank you for your support of this time.  You must know that the time is well spent and needed for our faculty to learn and grow together.  At SMS, we are embarking on the journey to function as a professional learning community. “...A Professional Learning Community is a collaboration of teachers, administrators, parents, and students, who work together to seek out best practices, test them in the classroom, continuously improve processes, and focus on results.” Rick DuFour, 2002.   

     
     Our Fundamental Assumptions are: 
      1.) We can make a difference:  Our school can be more effective. 
      2.) Improving our people is the key to improving our school.
      3.) Significant school improvement will impact teaching and learning. 

     The ONE Thing... 
       a Professional Learning Community there is focus on “learning” rather than   
      “teaching” as the fundamental purpose of our school.

      Three Big Ideas
      Focus on Learning, Collaboration, & A Focus on Results 

     Four Corollary Questions that guide the work:

1. What should students know and be able to do as a result of this course, class, or grade level?
   
2. How will we know that the students are not learning?
   
3. How do we respond when students do not learn?
   
4. How do we respond when students learn more?
   

Question 1 – What are the essential outcomes that we expect students to learn?
Question 2 – What assessment will we use to determine if the students have learned?
Questions 3 & 4 – How will we intervene when students do not learn or learn more than anticipated?

 
There are Six Characteristics of a Professional Learning Community:

1) Shared mission, vision, values, goals
What distinguishes a learning community form an ordinary school is its collective commitment to guiding principles that articulate what the staff of the school believes and that govern their actions and behaviors.

2) Collaborative Culture 
Professionals in a learning community work in teams that share a common purpose. They learn from each other and create the momentum that drives improvement. They build within the organization the structure and vehicles that make collaborative work and learning effective and productive.

3) Collective Inquiry 
People in a learning community relentlessly question the status quo, seek new methods of teaching and learning, test the methods, and then reflect on the results
  
4) Action Orientation / Experimentation 
Members of professional learning communities constantly turn their learning and insights into action. They recognize the importance of engagement and experience in learning and in testing new ideas.
 o They reflect publicly on their beliefs and challenge each other’s beliefs.  
 o They share insights and hammer out common meanings.  
 o They work jointly to plan and test actions and initiatives.  
 o They coordinate their actions, so that the work of each individual contributes to the common effort

5) Commitment to Continuous Improvement 
Members of a learning organization are not content with the status quo and continually seek ways to bring present reality closer to future ideal. They constantly ask themselves and each other: 
o What is our purpose?
o What do we hope to achieve?
o What are our strategies for improving? o How will we assess our efforts?

6) Results Orientation
Professionals in a learning organization recognize that no matter how well-intentioned the efforts, the only valid judgment of improvement is observable and measurable results. Assessment and re-evaluation are the keys to continued improvement. 

 Adapted from Richard DuFour and Robert Eaker (1998), Professional Learning Communities at Work

Upcoming Activities: Nov. 26                         Trimester Grades Due (End of the day) Nov. 28                         Building Leadership Team Mtg., 3:15-4:30 p.m. Nov. 29                         Team Leader Meeting, 7:30-8:00 a.m. in Conference Rm. Dec. 3                           Parents and Partners Mtg. 6-7 p.m., SMS Library Dec. 3                           7th & 8th Gr. Choir Concert, SHS Auditorium, 7-9 p.m. Dec. 3                           SMART Board Training (a.m./p.m. sessions) Dec. 5                           Early Release for PD, 2 p.m. Dec. 6                           Staffing Meeting, 7:30 a.m. in SMS Library Dec. 10                         7th and 8th gr. Band Concert, 7:30-9:30 p.m. in HS Auditorium Dec. 11                         District Technology Mtg., 3:45 p.m.in HS DDN rm. Dec. 12                         Building Leadership Team, 3:15-4:30 p.m. Dec. 14                         7th Grade Dance, SMS Commons, 4-6 p.m. Dec. 20                         Team Leader Meeting, 7:30 a.m. in conf. rm. Dec. 21                         1 p.m. Early Release, Christmas/Holiday Break Dec. 24-Jan. 1               Christmas/Holiday Break Jan. 2                            School resumes

It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan

                                                                                                                            -Eleanor Roosevelt

Make it a great week,

Shane

Spartan Blog, Week of November 12-16, 2012

Spartan PRIDE

Supporting our school community core values.

SMS Ideal Community:  It is important to look for and identify evidence that supports our “Ideal Community.”  Ideal community represents the vision for our school.  The faculty developed a description of "Ideal Community" during workshop week in August.
All of the descriptive words used to describe what we desire in a school community were put together in a "Wordle."  Words included in the SMS Wordle are community, excellence, collaboration, student-centered and so on.  It was quite obvious this past Friday at the Veterans’ Day Program we were seeing our "Ideal Community" in action.  Much of what we desire for behaviors from adults and students were on display.  A true partnership with the community existed.  The generation gap closed for a few moments on Friday.  Young people were put in a position to honor and thank the generations before them for their service to our country.  I believe young people understand the value and sacrifice of others for their freedom.  However, without leaders who are willing to empower young people to voice their beliefs, the strong voice of our youth goes unheard.  Thank you Paula Farley, Kathy Wolff, Marilee Woodard and Abi Feekes for your leadership; it matters!

National Bullying Awareness Week, theme of "Stand Up" (to bullying), November 12-17

This week we will work create additional awareness around the importance of developing and maintaining a positive, safe and supportive environment.  I plan to read a brief announcement each day of the week.  I have included a link to resources/videos that may be of interest to you.  Our teachers will take a few moments this week to lead a discussion with students about the importance playing an active role in preventing bullying by living our the core value in Spartan PRIDE and being a positive peer.

Link to resources:  http://www.pacerteensagainstbullying.org/#/home.  I encourage parents to take time to visit with your child as well about the importance of respect and tolerance.  Tolerance has many interpretations.  The goal is to respect and appreciate all people.  Even those who have different interests, beliefs and backgrounds. 

End of Trimester Approaching

November 21st marks the end of the trimester.  Be sure to engage your students in discussion about the importance of finishing strong.  The trimester grade is a strong indicator of success for the first 1/3 of the school year.  It represents a check point for students.  If grades don't reflect our best effort, it will be important to develop a plan for improvement.  Conversely, if the your child's grades are excellent, what might be the plan to see it through.  

Coming Events: 

Upcoming Activities: Nov. 20                       Tentative Date for Food Drive Assembly (pie throwing) Nov. 21                       End of First Trimester Nov. 21                       Early Release, 1 p.m. for Thanksgiving Holiday Nov. 26                       Trimester Grades Due (End of the day) Nov. 21                       12:50 pm – EARLY Dismissal for vacation Nov. 22-23                  Thanksgiving Vacation                                                                                                 Nov. 28                        Building Leadership Team Meeting, Wed., Nov. 28th, 3:15-4:30 p.m. Nov. 29                        Team Leader Meeting, 7:30-8:00 a.m. in Conference Rm. Dec. 3                          Parents and Partners Mtg. 6-7 p.m., SMS Library Dec. 3                          7th & 8th Gr. Choir Concert, SHS Auditorium, 7-9 p.m. Dec. 5                          Early Release for PD, 2 p.m. Dec. 6                          Staffing Meeting, 7:30 a.m. in SMS Library Dec. 10                       7th and 8th gr. Band Concert, 7:30-9:30 p.m. in SHS Auditorium Dec. 11                       District Technology Mtg., 3:45 p.m.in HS DDN rm. Dec. 12                       Building Leadership Team Dec. 14                       7th Grade Dance, SMS Commons, 4-6 p.m. Dec. 20                       Team Leader Meeting, 7:30 a.m. in conf. rm. Dec. 21                       1 p.m. Early Release, Christmas/Holiday Break Dec. 24-Jan. 1            Christmas/Holiday Break Jan. 2                           School resumes

It’s the greatest compliment to be humble.  You want to be the best you can be, but not compare yourself with others.  I’d just like to be seen as someone maximizing my own talents.

                                                                                                                            -Hakeem Olajuwon