Weekly Spartan Blog: March 2-6, 2015

Spartan PRIDE

Supporting our school community core values.

In celebration of a successful 2nd Trimester and an amazing science fair, we will be hosting two celebrations this week.  First, we will hold the science fair awards assembly on Tuesday, March 3 at 8:30 a.m.  Second, we are planning to celebrate student success from 2nd trimester on Friday, March 6 at 2 p.m.   Parents are welcome to attend either or both events held in the gymnasium. 

I am proud of our students for the hard work perseverance and grit they have shown with the successful completion of the science fair projects.  I am certain that many projects will be recommended for the Regional Science Fair on March 23 at the School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City.  Congratulations to students!  Thank you to parents and teachers for your support of students and their learning.

We are looking forward to an exceptional 3rd trimester of learning.  We are so bless to have amazing students and staff to work with in our school community.

 S4s Peer Mentoring and Academic Tutoring Program Registration 
-6^th and 7^th grade and Encore teachers will find 5 blue invitation documents in your mailbox. You may give the “invitation” to students that you feel would be good a candidate for a leadership role. Students will then need to complete the registration process. This includes a questionnaire and two teacher references. They can pick up forms from Mr. Baier, Mr. O’Dea, Ms. Potter or Ms. Murphy. Registration Deadline is March 25^th.

Spearfish Middle School

Weekly Faculty Bulletin March 2-6, 2015

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

• Preparedness • Respect • Integrity • Determination • Excellence

2) Team Leader Meeting, Tuesday, March 3, 2015 in the conf. room at 7:30 a.m.

Agenda: -End of Year Celebration? - Summer School (Parent letter and dates) -Spartan Learning Lab and ICU use -Q and A time

3) Science Fair Awards Assembly, March 3^rd (See attached schedule)

4) Early Release 1:00 Professional Development and SLL Early Release, Wednesday, March 4^th. -Agenda already sent out for the Early Release

- MTSS Exploration Meeting (SMS Team) at Creekside Elem. at 2:30 p.m.

5) March Staff Meeting, Thursday, March 5 at 7:30 a.m. in the SMS Library

Agenda: SMARTER Balanced Update B) AdvancED Systems Review Report Out C) Investigation of a 1:1 laptop initiative in 8^th gr.

6) 6^th & 7^th Grade Student Registration Forms for next year Due in the office on Friday, March 6

7) Trimester 2 Grades Due: March 4th

· FLEX Block 5 Course Registration (3/2-3/6) Deadline: Friday, March 6^th.

See link on Mr. Baier’s webpage to access student FLEX registration

· 3/16: Beginning of Block 5

· 4/2: End of Block 5

8) End of Trimester Celebration on Friday, March 6 in the gym (See attached Schedule)

9) SLL Saturday School, Saturday, March 7, 8 a.m. - noon

10) SMARTER Balanced Q and A: See link below

http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/educationonline/2015/jan/Page1.html

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

March 10   Girls’ Science, School of Mines

March 11   Early Release 1:00 Spring Break

March 11   Deadline for Environmental Learning Forms from parents
March 12, 13   No School Spring Break
March 13-14   Drama Club Performance, Matthews Opera House, 7 p.m.
March 18   Scheduling Meeting, 3:25 p.m. in the conf. room
March 20   Regional Science Fair
March 21   Solo Assemble Contest, SMS
April 2   Early Release 1:00 Professional Development
April 3-6   No School, Easter Break
April 8   Peer to Peer Mentor Training, 7th grade leaders, 8-11 a.m. (tentative date)
April 8-17 6  th Grade SMARTER Balanced Assessment Window
April 15   P/T Conferences Middle School (scheduled)
April 20-30   7th Grade SMARTER Balanced Assessment Window

Wear the old coat and buy the new book.

-Austin Phelps

Make it a great week!

Shane

Weekly Spartan Blog: February 23-27, 2015

Spartan PRIDE

Supporting our school community core values.

 

Spearfish Middle School has amazing students.  I have the pleasure of observing students do great things in the classroom, in activities and during unstructured times during the day.  Our students have shown tremendous leadership in the commitment the school goal of creating a culture of respect and excellence.  Whether it is physical education class, an art project, science fair, or anything in between, our students work hard and accomplish great things.  One of the strengths of our school is the caring and dedicated teachers and staff.  They do things for students everyday that demonstrate the above and beyond commitment.

The end of the 2nd trimester is Friday, February 27th.   Grades will be posted after March 3rd on the Parent Portal and mail to students who have a failing grade, D's or grades the represent under performance.  

We are looking forward to the End of Trimester Celebration scheduled for Friday, March 6th at 2:35 p.m.  We have an exciting celebration assembly where students will participate in a Rock-Paper-Scissors Tournament, the Dance Teams will perform, the Drums Alive FLEX group will perform and an appearance and challenge from the Spartan 4 Spartan Leaders will take place.  Parents are welcome to attend.

Letters will be sent to students who fail a core class in the 2nd trimester with expectations for the parents and student to meet with teachers to develop a plan for success.  Summer School criteria will also be explained in the letter.

Please avoid scheduling appointments during the testing windows provided.  

 

Test	Testing Window
6th Grade Smarter-Balanced -Governor’s Lab -Library Lab -1mobile labs	April 8 – April 17
7th Grade Smarter-Balanced -Governor’s Lab -Library Lab -1 mobile labs	April 20-April 30 *track meet, April 24
8th Grade Smarter-Balanced -Governor’s Lab -Library Lab -Up to 2 mobile labs	May 1-May 15 *track meet, May 5 **Music Festival, May 6 ****HS Transition Day May 7th (afternoon) *track meet, May 8
D-STEP Science Test Window for Science March 31-April 18, 2014	***April 14 and maybe 15
Spring STAR Testing Window	April 15 – May 15 8th Gr. = April 20 - 23
*No Testing due to track meet **No Testing due to Music Festival ***Science D-STEP depends on computer specification and length of test on computer ****No testing due to HS transition Day.  1:30 -3:15
Algebra high school equivalency test	May 15 and 20

 

Spearfish Middle School

Weekly Faculty Bulletin February 23-27, 2015

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

• Preparedness  • Respect  • Integrity • Determination • Excellence

1)      Block 4:  February 3-24 (8^th band/choir included)

2/24: End of Block 4

2)     Week February 23, Window for 6th and 7th Grade Registration (Counselors will set time with each grade level)

3)     7th/8th Grade Band Pops Concert, Feb. 23, 7:00 p.m. in the SHS Auditorium

4)     FLEX Block 5 Course Descriptions are Due, Feb. 24^th (includes 8th Band/Choir)

5)     Scheduling Committee Meeting, Wed., Feb. 25^th, 3:25 p.m. in the Conf. Room

6)     Science Fair at BHSU, Friday, Feb. 27^th.

7)     End of 2nd Trimester, Friday, February 27^th   (Grades Due:  March 3)

8)     Block 5:  March 16-April 2 (Includes 8^th band/choir)

·         2/24: Block 5 Course Descriptions Due

·         3/2-3/6: Register for Block 5

·         3/16: Beginning of Block 5

·         4/2: End of Block 5

9)     Building Capital Outlay Requests:  Deadline is March 1st.  You must complete the Purchase Order form with appropriate information for your request to be considered.  (Request must be depreciable items (desks, equipment etc…, including software).

10) SMARTER Balanced  Q and A: See link below

http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/educationonline/2015/jan/Page1.html

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

March 3                Trimester 2 Grades Due at 3:00 p.m.

March 3                Science Fair Awards Assembly (30 min., at 8:30 a.m.)

March 4              Early Release 1:00 Professional Development and SLL Early Release

March 4                MTSS Exploration Meeting (SMS Team) at Creekside Elem. at 2:30 p.m.

March 6                End of Trimester Celebration at 2:35 p.m. in the gym

March 6                7^th and 8^th Grade Registration Forms due back in office.

March 7                SLL Saturday School, 8 a.m. - noon

March 10             Girls’ Science, School of Mines

March 11            Early Release 1:00 Spring Break

March 11             Deadline for Environmental Learning Forms from parents

March 12, 13     No School Spring Break

March 13-14       Drama Club Performance, Matthews Opera House, 7 p.m.

March 20             Regional Science Fair

March 21             Solo Assemble Contest, SMS

April 2                 Early Release 1:00 Professional Development

April 3-6              No School, Easter Break

April 8                   Peer to Peer Mentor Training, 7^th grade leaders, 8-11 a.m. (tentative date)

April 8-17             6^th Grade SMARTER Balanced Assessment Window

April 15                 P/T Conferences Middle School (scheduled)

April 20-30           7^th Grade SMARTER Balanced Assessment Window

In life what we catch isn’t always what we bait our hook for.

         -Noah benShea

Make it a great week!

Mr. Baier