Weekly Spartan Blog: December 1-5, 2014

Spartan PRIDE

Supporting our school community core values.

Day of Understanding:  December 1-3 (See schedule below)

The goal of Day of Understanding is to strengthen the climate of our school by bringing us together through open and honest communication.  Keith Hawkins, our presenter and leadership trainer for this activity is a National Youth speaker and Leadership Consultant.  He has been speaking across North America for almost two decades. He speaks to a half million students and educators each year.  He will be here to speak to our student body on December 2 and lead a large group activity where student leaders facilitate small groups in two sessions on December 2 and 3.  

Day of Understanding will assist us in creating an environment that will give students a chance to share how they feel and why they feel that way.  Each student will have a chance to hear and learn about each other so they realize that we are in this together and we can help each other be our best every day.   When this happens a positive culture is established.  We desire a culture that is more than just the individual parts. We strive for relationships that are healthy, strong and support all members of the learning community.  We believe that if we can create a healthy school climate, all students can thrive!   

Parents are welcome to attend the All-School Assembly scheduled for 8:15-9:15 a.m. on Tuesday, December 2nd.

Spearfish Middle School

Weekly Faculty Bulletin

December 1-5, 2014

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

• Preparedness  • Respect  • Integrity  • Determination  • Excellence  

1)     FLEX Block 3 START/End Dates:  December 1-19

2)     Parents as Partners, 6-7 p.m. in the SMS Library, Monday, December 1, 6-7 p.m.

3)     End of 1st Trimester Grades Due, Monday, December 1

4)     Math Dept. Meeting, Monday, December 1, 3:25 p.m. in the SMS Conference room

5)     Day of Understanding Activities (DOU):  December 1-3, 2014

Teaching and support staff will need to accompany their students to the gym for small group activities.  Your role is to be visible, and supportive of student needs during the activity.  Those with students in classes during the DOU activities will be in their classrooms.

Day #1:  Spartans 4 Spartans Leadership Training:  Monday, December 1, 1-3:15 p.m. in the multi-purpose room (gym, if available)

Day #2:  -All School Assembly:  8:15 a.m. in the gym (Please get your students their as quickly     as possible after the 8:10 bell)

-Grade Level DOU Small Group Activity:  Tuesday, December 2, 2014

- 6^th grade and 7^th grade Maroon (4-side), 9:30-12:15                                              

^^^Students should use the bathroom, if necessary and find their small group (Group # assigned can be found on the windows at the end of the grade level hall way).  Teachers should each have a master list with them.
  
 Day #3:   Grade Level DOU Small Group Activity Wednesday, December 3, 2014

-:8^th grade and 7^th grade White (2-side), 8:15-11:15 a.m.                                            

 ^^^Students should find their small group upon entering the gym.  (Group # assigned can be found on the windows at the end of the grade level hall way).  Teachers should each have a master list with them.

6)     1:00 p.m. Early Release, Wednesday, December 3^rd

Agenda:  K-12 Curriculum Meeting.  Meet in the HS Auditorium as soon as possible after students are released.

7)     Building Leadership Team Mtg., Wednesday, December 3, 3:25 in the SMS Conf. Room

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

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

Upcoming Activities December 8                        School Board Report, SMS at 5:30 p.m. December 9                        Team Leader Mtg., 7:30 a.m. (date change from Dec. 2nd) December 11                      Staff Mtg., 7:30 a.m. (date change from Dec. 4th) December 11                      Technology Committee Meeting, Thursday, Dec. 11th from noon to 3 p.m. in conf. rm. Dec 8                                 7/8 Choir Concert, 7-8:30 p.m. Dec 18                               7/8 Band Concert, 7-8:30 p.m. Dec 22 – Jan 2                   No School Jan 5                                    School Resumes Jan 14                                  P/T Conferences,  3:45-7:00 p.m. Use your gifts faithfully, and they shall be enlarged; practice what you know, and you shall attain to higher knowledge.                                                                                                                                                       -Matthew Arnold