Weekly Spartan Blog: September 30-October 4, 2013

Spartan PRIDE

Supporting our school community core values.

Dear SMS Supporters:

Homecoming week has arrived!  I have included some basic information about activities planned for the week.  If you plan to have your child checked out of school to watch the parade with you, please make a call to the office to make this arrangement.  Additionally, all students who are not in the parade will be expected to remain under the supervision of SMS staff during the parade.  Once the parade is over students will come back to the school to wait for the dismissal bell and  bus pick up.  If want check your child out of school early, you will want to do this prior to the parade on Friday.

 

Homecoming Week 2013, Sept. 30- Oct. 4th

Spartans vs Douglas Patriots

THEME: Military

Music: Pirates of the Caribbean

Dress up days:

Monday: Sports Day

Tuesday: Pirate Day

Wednesday: Favorite Movie Character Day

Thursday: Class Color Day

8^th grade:  Animal Print

7^th grade:  Neon Blue/Blue 

6^th grade:  Neon Green/Green

Staff:  Hot pink/pink

*Thursday* 7:00 pm Coronation followed by pep rally in gymnasium

Friday: (Maroon & White Day)

-10:50 a.m.:   Pep rally, SMS gym

-See attached bell schedule

-Parade 1:45 p.m.

A. Staff and students not participating in the parade will watch the parade along North Avenue between Taco Bell and the Stop light next to the hospital.

B.  If your grade level or activities teams are planning a float for the parade, sign up in the high school office with Robi.  Parade participants will be release approx. 30-45 minutes early to organize at the parade route.  (I will provide more detail when I receive it).

-Parade Organizer – Tammy Wood

Tailgate The Spearfish Booster Club and the National Guard will sponsor a tailgate prior to the football game in theYoung Center Parking Lot north of the football field starting at 5:00 PM. Hamburgers, chips and bottled water will be served on a donation basis!!!

6:00: Spearfish Spartans Football vs. Douglas Patriots

Note:  Please share & discuss the game behavior expectations with students this week.  Look for the expectation in the tomorrow’s announcements.

Parents as Partners is scheduled to meet again on Monday, October 7th from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the SMS Library.  I hope to see you there!  The main topic is "The role of homework in learning"  and how parents can assist their child.

Spearfish Middle School

Weekly Faculty Bulletin

September 30-October 4, 2013

“Empowering all students to succeed in a changing world.”

• Preparedness  • Respect  • Integrity  • Determination  • Excellence     

1)      Homecoming Week

-Dress up days, All week (See attached info.)-

-Assembly at 10:50 a.m. (Friday)

-Parade Release at 1:45 p.m. (Friday, see attached schedule)

2)     7th Maroon Orienteering, Big Hill Trails, Monday, September 23

3)     Office Remodel Project Continues, Please communicate with students regarding the remodel project

4)     Communicate alignment of lesson plans to the curriculum standards on your teacher web pages.  -This is tied to the K12 accreditation process.

5)  1 PM Early Release:  Wednesday, October 2nd   

A.     All teachers will meet in Professional Learning Communities to review achievement data, begin the SMART goal process and discuss formative/summative assessment.

B.     ***Integrating CC literacy standards training in Mr. Syman’s room with Ms. Nehl.

***Training is available to all non ELA and math teachers.  Encore teachers are all planning to attend.  Social Studies and science will need to let me know if you are plan to attend the training.

10) FLEX Time Deadlines:  All teaching staff must play a role in either intervention or enrichment

A.                    Student registration deadline is  Tuesday, October 1st on the computer.

B.                         FLEX Enrichment Block begins October 7^th:  FLEX Time Schedules will be             available no later than Monday morning, Oct. 7th.  Schedules will be provided in START Time teachers mailboxes.  (maybe by Friday)

Student Registration:  A web link to a Google form registration document on my web page.  You'll have to schedule time in the labs/mobile labs to get all students registered.

Upcoming Activities: October 8                     Team Leader Meeting, 7:30 a.m. in the conference rm. (moved due to homecoming week) October 7                     1st Enrichment Block Begins October 7                     6th Gr. Mammoth Site Field Trip, Southern Hills Mammoth Oct. 7-Nov. 8              AdvancED: Parent, Student & Staff Survey Dates Monday October 10                   Faculty Meeting, 7:30 a.m. in the library (moved due to homecoming week) October 16                   Parent/Teacher Conferences at Middle School, 3:30 pm – 7:30 pm October 16                   Student Birthday Celebration during lunches for Oct. b-days.

Sometimes you just have to take the leap, and build your wings on the way down.

                                                                                                                   -Kobi Yamada

 

Weekly Spartan Blog: September 23-27, 2013

Spartan PRIDE

Supporting our school community core values.

Every Student Learning Everyday
I am proud of our students for their efforts early in the school year.  Teachers have establish clear expectations for learning in their classrooms and students have responded.  There will be times, however, when students need additional time and support.  The Spartan Learning Lab is the structure that will support students.  A teacher may assign or students can make the decision for themselves to get extra help before school, after school, and during lunch time.  Additionally, FLEX time can and will be utilized to support student learning needs.  Students with habitual/chronic late work issues may also be assigned to stay for help on our 1 p.m. early release dates and/or designated Saturday school.  Student learning is our purpose.  We desire to see every student learning everyday.  To accomplish this it will require a team effort among students, teachers, parents and administration.

Parents as Partners
The first Parents as Partners meeting was held last Monday night.  The minutes were shared through an email message.  If you did not receive a copy of the minutes, please stop or give me a call.  We had a great discussion about the back to school open house, 6-8 transition, the new schedule and the inverse power of praise.  We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting scheduled for Monday, October 7th at 5:30 p.m. in the SMS Library.  Note the time change to 5:30 p.m.  The primary topic at the next meeting:  The purpose of homework and the role parents can play.

Spartan Learning Lab, (system of support)
 

Our fundamental purpose is student learning.  In support of our purpose, the Spartan Learning Lab (SLL) has been developed to provide the time for students to complete class work deficiencies and to gain understanding of necessary concepts required for mastery of content.  A deficiency might include, but not limited to, incomplete or failed homework assignments, projects or any assigned task important to the learning process.  SLL will be available before school (AM), after school (PM), during lunch time, during flex time, and on designated early release days and Saturdays.  The levels of support included in the SLL structure are outlined below:

Level 1:  Classroom Teacher:  class time, before and after school (Expected of all students and staff).

 

Level 2:  Optional Spartan Learning Lab AM/PM:  before school 7:56-8:10 a.m. M-F in the 

teacher’s classroom and after school from 3:20 – 4:00 in the teacher’s classroom or the ALAC room. 

*When a student has habitual deficiencies all Spartan Learning Labs are required.

 

Level 3:  Lunch SLL:   (6^th: 11:48-12:18, 7^th: 10:59-11:29; 8^th: 12:37-1:07) in the ALAC room.  Students are to report to the ALAC room at the beginning of their lunch period.  They will be excused to retrieve their lunch and will return to the ALAC room.  If students complete their missing work satisfactorily prior to the end of their lunch period, they will be dismissed.   

Level 4:  Afterschool SLL: from 3:20 – 4:00 p.m. M-F in the teacher’s classroom or the ALAC room.   Student will assigned to afterschool SLL, based on habitual deficiencies following participation in the previous levels of SLL. 

Level 5:  FLEX Time (SLL) –The primary purpose of flex time is teacher and/or student initiated time to re-visit classroom specific learning outcomes to ensure master of skills outlined in the curriculum.   Utilization of FLEX time for homework/assignment completion is an appropriate intervention only after other levels of SLL have been attempted.

Level 6: Early Release and/or Saturday School SLL*:  Students will be assigned by classroom teachers, in consultation with administrative team, to SLL Early Release or Saturday School based on habitual deficiencies following participation in the previous levels of SLL. 

Required)

*Early Release, Saturday School are only for students who have continued deficiencies even after extensive use of levels 1-5.

Note:  If students willfully refuse to engage in SLL in a meaningful way, we will respond with a required meeting involving the student, parent(s), teaching team, guidance and administration to develop a plan.

SMS Remodel Project Set to Begin

This letter is written to inform you of the Spearfish Middle School pre-construction meeting outcomes established on Wednesday, September 18, 2013.  The pre-construction meeting provided an opportunity for the school district staff to meet with contractors and define expectations and timelines for the project.  The following plans were made to support successful completion of the project by January 2014:

·         Phase I of the project is scheduled to begin on September 25^th.

·         Construction staff parking will be designated to the west side of the main office parking lot near the storage shed.

·         A large trash bin will be located in the southeast corner of the parking lot.

·         All construction staff will be required to sign in/out and wear company shirts for ease of identification.

·         The work requiring demolition and significant noise will take place during non-student contact time.  We will make every effort to minimize the disruption to our school day.

·         The main doors located on the west side of the school will remain accessible throughout the first phase of the project.

·         The north doors leading into the commons have been designated as the alternate access doors to the school when Phase II of the project begins.  (Please pay attention to signage.)

Changes completed by September 25^th:

·         Ms. Doll-Dunn, Guidance Counselor, will be relocated to the main office (formerly the principal’s office).

·         Ms. Potter, Guidance Counselor, will relocate to an office in the main hall across from the library.

·         Mr. Baier, Principal, will relocate to an office in the library.

·         Construction area designated with a temporary plastic wall to minimize dust from keep others out of the area.

Project will be completed in four phases:

1.      Phase I construction includes a complete redesign of the former guidance office.  The space will be re-purposed as the main office.  (Scheduled for completion six weeks from start date.)

2.      Phase II construction includes a re-design of the main entrance vestibule.  Scheduled for completion 2 weeks after the start date.  (approximate start date is Nov. 15^th)

3.      Phase III construction includes remodel of the current main office area.  Office space will be re-purposed to include a testing room and two guidance offices. Schedule for completion is 2 weeks from start day.  (approximate start date is Dec. 1^th) 

4.      Phase IV construction includes redesign of the space to include a conference room and supply closet in the current main office area. Scheduled for completion 2 weeks from start date.  (approximate start date is Dec. 20^th)

      We will strive to keep families informed as this process unfolds and to minimize any disruptions to our primary purpose, student learning.  Once the project is completed, we will have a more efficient, safer school.  The physical structure and layout are important parts of a safe school environment.   Additionally, we know the best way to create a safe school is to build a caring, connected community of students, families, and teachers.  Thank you for your support and patience during the construction period.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 717-1215.

k   

Upcoming Activities: Sept. 30-Oct. 4:                        Homecoming Week (Includes modified schedule for Friday) October 2                     1:00 p.m. Early Release           October 4                     Homecoming assembly at 10:50 a.m. and Parade Release at 1:45 p.m. October 8                     Team Leader Meeting, 7:30 a.m. in the conference rm. (moved due to homecoming week) October 7                     1st Enrichment Block Begins October 7                     6th Gr. Mammoth Site Field Trip, Southern Hills Mammoth Site October 10                   Faculty Meeting, 7:30 a.m. in the library (moved due to homecoming week) October 16                   Parent/Teacher Conferences at Middle School, 3:45pm – 7:00pm October 16                   Student Birthday Celebration during lunches for Oct. b-days.

 Brain Rule #4:  “We don’t pay attention to boring things.”  (Neither do kids)                                                                                                                                                                        -Brain Rules, John Medina