Weekly Spartan Blog: September 30-October 3, 2014

Spartan PRIDE

Supporting our school community core values.

We had a nice turn out for our first Parents as Partners meeting of the school year.  The discussion and presentation focused on our action plan to create a culture of respect and excellence.  Student Council Leaders, Kolin Baier and Taylor Hersch, delivered an outstanding presentation to our parents and teacher reps.

As discuss in a previous blog, one of our significant steps in our plan is the Expect Respect Curriculum.  The students described the roles of perpetrator, recipient and bystander in disrespect and/or bullying situation.  They shared the stop phrase we use to communicate our expectations in response to disrespectful behavior.  The stop phrase agreed upon by students and staff is "STOP." This may be accompanied with the palm out hand gesture.  See the link below to review other actions steps in our plan.  We are very excited about the Day of Understanding scheduled for December 1 and 2.  This activity, sponsored by the Spearfish Foundation for Public Education, is focus on leadership development and capacity building.  In the spring, we will be training selected incoming 8th grade students to serve as mentors for next year's 6th grade class.  See action plan below:

Our next meeting is Monday, October 20th from 6-7 p.m. in the SMS Library.  The main topic of discussion will be Essential Study Skills needed for success in middle school.  We will share skills that our staff will be utilizing with students to help prepare them for high school and beyond.

Culture of Respect and Excellence Action Plan:  H:\Web Site\Creating Culture of Respect Action Plan 2014.pdf

Spearfish Middle School

Weekly Faculty Bulletin

September 29-October 3, 2014

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

• Preparedness  • Respect  • Integrity  • Determination  • Excellence    

Math PLC Team utilizing the instructional design process to impact student learning                            

(See link)     https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/guide-instruction-with-cfas

1)       FLEX Block 1 Begins:  Monday, September 29th

2)       1 PM Early Release, Wednesday, October 1^st -Meet in the SMS Library at 1:15 PM

Agenda:  1) 30 minute writing workshop  2) Teacher work time on SLOs & SMART Goals

3)       Spartan Learning Lab, Early Release, Wed., Oct. 1^st  from 1:00-3:30 p.m. (Names to Kevin)

4)       BLT Meeting, conference room, Wednesday, Oct. 1, Conference Rm,  3:20-4:00 p.m.

5)       Staff Meeting, 7:30 a.m. Thursday, October 2nd in the library

-May postpone/cancel  (We’ll discuss in on Oct. 1)

6)       Newspapers in Education:  Pick up your papers on Wednesday morning from the Lounge. 

7)   Saturday Spartan Learning Lab (If needed), Saturday, October 4^th 8 AM-Noon

-Get Names to Kevin by Thursday.

    11)    FLEX Block 2 Course Descriptions Due:  Monday, October 6th

Upcoming Activities October 7                              Team Leader Meeting, 7:30 a.m. in the conference room October 8                              PBIS Team Meeting, 7:30 a.m. in the conference room October 6-10                        Homecoming Week & and Dress Up Days! …a staff favorite. October 10                            Homecoming Pep Rally (Full class periods and No Flex) October 10                            1st Trimester Midterm October 15                         Parent Teacher Conferences 3:45 – 7:00 p.m. October 17                            Scholastic Book Fair at SMS October 18                            Spartan Learning Lab Saturday School, 8-Noon October 20                            Parents as Partners, SMS Library, 6-7 p.m. November 5                          1 PM Early Release

Make it a great week,

Shane

Weekly Spartan Blog: September 22-26, 2014

Spartan PRIDE

Supporting our school community core values.

Summer has returned!  The weather has definitely been more supportive of physical education classes outdoors and fall activities.  I have been impressed with our students' attitude and effort in this first month of the school year.  Midterm is only two weeks away and it will be a good check in time to see how your child is progressing.  We will not be sending hard copies of midterms unless a parents does not have a parent portal account. 

Field Trip Week has arrived:  6th and 7th grade students have field trips scheduled this week.  We live in a fantastic place that allows us to investigate an explore the great outdoors.  6th grade will be going to the Vole Buffalo Jump and the 7th grade will be traveling to Big Hill for orienteering.

I hope to see parents at our first Parents as Partners Meeting of the year.  Open the link for details.
Meeting topic is Developing a Community of Respect and Excellence.
http://www.spearfish.k12.sd.us/~sbaier/Parents%20as%20Partners%20Flyer%20Sept.%202014.pdf

We will be serving pizza and refreshments.  Please join us.  If you have questions, please feel free to contact me at 717-1215 or by email at sbaier@spearfish.k12.sd.us

Spearfish Middle School

Weekly Faculty Bulletin

September 22-26, 2014

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

• Preparedness  • Respect  • Integrity  • Determination  • Excellence    

1)       6th Grade Field Trip, September 22, 8:30am – 11:30am at the Vole Buffalo Jump

       Suksorf-Wangeman Team

2)       Assessment Team Planning Session:  Monday, September 22^nd in the conference room, 12:15-3:15 p.m. 

3)       Parents as Partners, Monday, September 22^nd, 6-7 PM in the SMS Librar

Agenda:  Developing a community of respect and excellence (pizza and refreshments served)

4)       Week #2, Newspapers in Education:  Each Core Classroom in each grade level will receive 5 papers for “Read on Wednesday” once per week.  You can pick up your papers on Wednesday morning from the Lounge. 

5)        7th Grade Orienteering Field Trip, Wednesday, September 24^th at Big Hill

6)       6th Grade Field Trip, September 24, 8:30am – 11:30am at the Vole Buffalo Jump      Aberle-Hinch Team

7)       6th Grade Field Trip, September 25, 8:30am – 11:30am at the Vole Buffalo Jump  Opbroek-Blain Team

8)       Writing Team Meeting:  Thursday, September 25^th, 3:25-4:00 p.m. in the conf. room

9)        No School, Professional Development Day for teachers, Friday, September 26^th

-Meet in the library at 1:15 PM

       *East side crosswalk

Upcoming Activities October 1                              1:00 p.m. Early Release     October 1                              BLT Meeting in the conference room, 3:20-4:00 p.m. October 2                              Staff Meeting, 7:30 a.m. in the library October 7                              Team Leader Meeting, 7:30 a.m. in the conference room October 8                              PBIS Team Meeting, 7:30 a.m. in the conference room October 6-10                        Homecoming Week & and Dress Up Days! …a staff favorite. October 10                            Homecoming Pep Rally (Full class periods and No Flex) October 10                            1st Trimester Midterm October 15                         Parent Teacher Conferences 3:45 – 7:00 p.m. October 17                            Scholastic Book Fair at SMS October 20                            Parents as Partners, SMS Library (Time to be determined)

Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.

                                                                             -Malcolm Forbes                         

Make it a great week,

Shane

d