Friday Focus #6: 9.30.2011

We are almost halfway through the 1st trimester (27 out of 63 days).  So far, it has been a great year.  We have had very few disciplinary issues (please knock on wood right now) and overall attitude and morale seems high!  Please continue to do what you do best!  Keep up the great work and have a wonderful weekend!

• There will be a Child Abuse Prevention Training held on Wednesday, October 12 from 4 - 8 PM in the Media Center at CHS.  Anyone wishing to attend in order to complete your 4-hour requirement, please email Paula Klosterman.  If you are unable to attend this session, but still need your training, see Jason... there is another option that carries a $30 fee. 

• Last night, a sub-committee of the Race to the Top team discussed the teacher evaluation tool.  As part of ODE and RtTT requirements, we are in the process of revising this tool.  Part of the requirement is to use student growth as part of the measure used to evaluate teachers and administrators. This is still in the very early stages of development and we will keep you posted as we progress. 

• A Thank You Card was received from Matt & Kathy May and family expressing their "sincere appreciation for all [our] thoughtfulness and support in so many ways".  The card is posted across from the mailboxes on the bulletin board. 

• Netbooks are begin rolled out next Thursday to all Freshmen during 2nd period.  Students should report to 2nd period and will be CALLED DOWN after attendance.  They will be gone most/all of the period.  The freshmen have received a copy of the user agreement.

• Tech Tuesday next week: "Organizing all of those GREAT online resources & SHARING them!"
• I am looking for interested staff members to present on Tech Tuesdays... its very easy and low pressure.  Any tech topic of interest to others is welcomed.  Post ideas & needs below!

• Don't forget... parent-teacher conferences are next Wednesday from 4:30 - 7 PM. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...
10/4   Wally Ellinger

Upcoming Events

10/5    My College Options Survey during Advisory (details later) 

10/5    Parent Teacher Conferences, 4:30 - 7 PM
10/6    Netbook Distribution 2nd period

10/7    Spirit March

Friday Focus #5: 9.23.11

• On Wednesday morning, we are going to have a brief meeting for those teachers involved in the Freshmen Netbook program.  The meeting will be held at 7 AM in the Media Center.  ALL ARE INVITED to attend!  On the agenda: Deployment Timeline, Expectations, User Agreements, Ideas for Implementation, etc. 

• Please remember to be checking grades during advisory.  Refer to Friday Focus #1 or #4 for details.  We would like some sort of documentation from all advisory teachers on the September 30th of your grade checking methods during advisory.  Turn in to the office at the end of the mailboxes in the labeled bin. 

• I am looking for someone to do Tech Tuesday this upcoming week.  I will be out of the building, so unless I have a volunteer, we will cancel this week and start up again on October 4th.

That's it this week!  Hope to see you at the game!  Have a great weekend!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

9/27   Jon Clouse

9/29   Matt Miller

Upcoming Events

9/23    Spirit March

              Pep Assembly

9/28    Netbook Meeting, Media Center, 7 AM

9/30    Spirit March

10/5    My College Options Survey during Advisory 

10/5    Parent Teacher Conferences, 5 - 7:30 PM

10/7    Spirit March

CHS Faculty 2011-2012

What a GREAT looking group!

A HUGE thanks to Amy Sutter for setting this picture up and for putting together the final product you see above.  Also, thanks to Megan for snapping the camera and to all of you who participated in the picture.

Sad News

Many of you have probably heard already that Travis (12) & Tyler (9) Heistan's father passed away earlier this week.  While Jerry was ill for quite some time, I don't believe this was expected.  Clearly, the boys are struggling with their loss.

Arrangements are as follows:
Viewing will begin @ 12 noon on Friday, September 23rd with the Funeral to follow @ 2 PM at Cisco Funeral Home.

FREE DONUTS... Staff Meeting Reminder

7 AM Wednesday Morning...

Lecture Hall...

Staff Meeting, Picture, and donuts!

Senior Meeting

We were supposed to have a meeting for seniors during advisory with our Herff-Jones rep for graduation info.  He is scheduled to come today to take ring orders and really still needs to do the presentation while he is here.  Therefore, we are going to have the meeting still... it will be during 5th period today.  He is going to shorten the meeting a little, so seniors will miss approximately 20 minutes of 5th period.  

Sorry for the inconvenience...

Also, announcements at the beginning of 5th period.  Seniors will have to catch announcements via the web later.  We will get on the PA to call seniors down and prompt announcements. 

 

Foggy Tech Tuesday

Our 1st 2-hour delay occurred today, September 20th.  With the delay, here are a couple of reminders about our delay schedule:

• We have three different 2-hour delay schedules and we alternate between the three.  Today, we are on the GREEN schedule.  Click here for a copy of the schedules. 
• Senior (afternoon) Tri Star will RUN ON TIME.  Teachers will not see Senior Tri Star students in the period that is moved to the end of the day.  That is 3rd period on GREEN, 2nd period on WHITE, and 1st period on BLACK. 
• Junior (morning) Tri Star classes are cancelled on a 2-hour delay.  Juniors should report to CHS by 11:15 AM for their 4th period class.  Because of our delay schedule, those Junior students will be released at 1:25 after their 5th period class. 
• We have NO ADVISORY on the 2-hour delay schedule.  

If you are not receiving the Leader Alert messages for delays and cancellations, please visit http://goo.gl/OC8W6 to sign up.  You can choose to receive phone calls on any phone and also have the option to receive text messages and emails.  

Unless we are cancelled, we will plan to have Tech Tuesdays on delay days beginning at 9 AM.  

Spirit Week

Teachers & Staff should feel free to participate in SPIRIT WEEK activities... especially the dress up days.  If you need a reminder, here is the schedule for the rest of the week:

Team Tuesday... wear your favorite team shirt/jersey
Wacky Wednesday...  duct tape?
Throwback Thursday... dress in your favorite decade!
Superfan Friday... BULLDOG wear!

In addition, if you would like to wear jeans, just donate a dollar to the jeans fund for a good cause.

Google in the Classroom

Came across this document (its a Google presentation, sort of like a Powerpoint Google style) at a conference a while ago.  Thought I would share it with everyone.  Some of the ideas are worth spending some time on, while others... not so much.  Definitely worth looking at, especially if you are in the netbook group.  I have embedded it below, but for more powerful viewing options, visit this site: http://goo.gl/mZkcY.

Friday Focus #4: 9.16.11

• NWOET is hosting a fall technology conference on October 10th.  I have approval to take a handful of teachers (1st come, 1st serve).  Email Jason or comment on this blog post and you will be added to the list.  For details on the conference including sessions, click here.  I think we would leave around 7 AM and return by 5 PM. 

• Tech Tuesday next week is 'Microsoft Live' with Keith Gudorf.  

Remember, Tech Tuesdays are from 7 - 7:20 AM or 2:30 - 2:50 PM and are always optional.  CEUs are available!

• Our Technology Coach, Betsy Crites, is available for coaching on Monday & Fridays.  To schedule an appointment for technology coaching, email Betsy.Crites@CelinaSchools.org.  Betsy can help with a number of things and is best at helping you come up with ideas for integrating technology into your classroom. 

• Next week is Spirit Week and we will have many different dress-up days and other activities, including a Pep Assembly on Friday.  I know this sometimes is distracting to the classroom environment, but we will work to keep interruptions to a minimum.  

When we have any Assembly, please continue to help us monitor students before, during, and after.  If your room is near an exit, please help guard the door so students don't leave!  If your room is near a restroom, please check it for students before heading down!  Thanks for the great job you all do in supervising these events!

• Next week we will have a brief staff meeting on Wednesday @ 7 AM in the Lecture Hall.  We will have a short meeting and then will have a staff picture taken.  Please plan to attend!  Donuts or Fruit or both?  Do you guys want coffee?  Comment below please!

• Study Sessions will begin next week.  Feel free to recommend and advertise these to your students.  The structure will be slightly different than past years.  Here are the times: 
• Monday, Wednesday & Thursday from 2:30 - 3:00 (location based on teacher scheduled)
• Tuesdays from 2:30 - 3:30 in the Media Center
• Thursday evenings from 6:00 - 7:30 PM in the Media Center

• The Special Ed staff is going to discontinue their practice (that was trialed this school year) of giving EVERY teacher EVERY 'IEP at a glance' for the entire building.  It was too much paper for them and for the regular ed teachers.  Instead, we will go back to the old way of giving each teacher the 'IEP at a glance' for students in their room.  Their will be a 'master list' in the teacher workroom in the office.  

• Referrals for struggling students are starting to roll in... As always, this is a team approach.  Ideally, all teachers are monitoring grades in their classroom and will attempt several interventions (including, but not limited to parent phone calls, before/after school help, study sessions, etc.) before referring a student from their classroom to the office.  If a student does not respond to your interventions, please fill out the guidance referral sheet (found under the documents tab on the staff blog), submit to the office, and either a counselor or administrator will meet with the student and take further steps. 

In addition, as noted in Friday Focus #1, we are asking all advisory teachers to do weekly grade checks for students in their advisory.  The form you use is up to you... samples are found under the documents tab.  If you notice that a student begins to struggle, please fill out the referral sheet (as noted above).  While you may not know specific classroom interventions for your advisory students, you can still fill out the referral sheet.  When we receive these, we will talk with the classroom teachers as well as the students. 

The BOTTOM LINE is this... we want in place a safety net to help catch ALL kids before they fall through the cracks.  It never hurts to have many people watching out for the same students!  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

none

Upcoming Events

9/19   CHAMP Meeting, 7 PM, Media Center

9/20   Tech Tuesday: Microsoft Live, room 117

9/23   Spirit March

          Pep Assembly, alternate schedule
          Tailgate Party before the football game

Tech Tuesday: Google Chrome Rocks

If you weren't able to make it to Tech Tuesday this morning, there is still time!  This afternoon, we will cover Google Chrome again... you will learn what makes Chrome [one of] the best web browsers around, for both your work and personal life.  Hope to see you there! 

Friday Focus #3: 9.9.11

Now that we have gotten through some super hot weather followed by very frigid and rainy weather, we can handle it all!  I know this is a crazy time of year with lots of 'extra' activities like Spirit Marches, Pep Assemblies, extra long announcements, meetings, etc., but remember... its the 'extra' stuff that sometimes hooks the student.  We have a very positive school culture and demonstrate in many ways that we are student focused.  Keep that in mind as you prepare lessons and sometimes deal with interruptions.  Students need to connect with their school in some way in order to be successful.  You guys as teachers, counselors, secretaries, aides, and custodians do a great job of this already... connecting with students.  KEEP IT UP!  It's why we're here!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

• We would like for every teacher/staff member to participate in the Words of Wisdom.  If you have not yet recorded yours, please stop down and see Megan.  No pressure, but Brad Siebert memorized his!

• A big thank you to Keith Gudorf for doing this week's Tech Tuesday.  If you don't know how to do World Client now, you should have come to the meeting!  

Tech Tuesday CEU's from last year and this year will be placed in mailboxes by Tuesday morning.  If you think any of them are incorrect, let Jason know. 

Next week's Tech Tuesday will be titled "Why Google Chrome Rocks".  We will be covering some quick tips on how to make Google Chrome the best web browser you have ever used... including how to play ANGRY BIRDS from your computer!  Remember... Tuesday mornings from 7 - 7:20 AM and afternoons from 2:30 - 2:50 PM.  CEU's available. 

• Just a reminder about the procedure for Special Ed testing... if a student has the accommodation "tests read", then we must read the test to the student.  Standard procedure is that the student takes the test in the regular classroom and will then have the test read to them (regardless of whether or not the student completed the test) either during intervention (if they have one) or during advisory.  If they are having the test read during advisory, the regular ed teacher should write the student a note to report to room 105 during advisory.  There, the test will be read to them... even if it is already completed.  The only exception to this rule is if the test is read to the student in the classroom.  Regular ed teachers should follow up with the student the following day to verify that they were in the testing room.  THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP WITH THIS PROCESS! 

• We will be starting a new personal leave request process -- going paperless!  Megan has set up an email form that you need to complete.  When you send the email, it will automatically be sent to Megan, Jason, and Sue Cook.  As long as you send the email at least 2 days prior to the requested date, there is no need to call the sub hotline.  If it is within the 2 day time frame, you WILL need to call the sub hotline.  We hope this will streamline the process (and save paper in the meantime!).  A Google Doc with instructions for sending the email is under the documents tab on the staff blog. 

• Parent-Teacher conferences are quickly approaching... October 5th from 5 - 7:30 PM.  Megan has already placed conference cards in your mailboxes.  Please have these returned to Megan by September 23rd.  Every teacher needs to complete 8 cards.  I will have an electronic version of the conference report each teacher turns in after conferences are completed.  The link to that will be put out later.  

• Be sure you know how to send your lockdown email.  We will be doing a drill very soon (probably next week).  We will send out an actual date/time later. 

• If you are able, stop in at a sporting event sometime.  The students appreciate this more than you might think.  They especially like it when you mention it the next day! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...
Randy Baker (9/16)


Upcoming Events...
9/9   Spirit March
        Pep Assembly -- ALTERNATE SCHEDULE (view under the Schedules tab)
        REMEMBER TO UPDATE GRADES IN PROGRESSBOOK
        PAY DAY!


9/10 ACT


9/12 Freshmen Ring Meeting during Advisory


9/13 Tech Tuesday -- "Why Google Chrome Rocks"


9/14 Blood Drive -- ALL DAY 
        Department Chair Meeting @ 2:30


9/16  Spirit March

Tech Tuesday #2: World Client

Don't forget... today's Tech Tuesday topic is "World Client".  Keith Gudorf will be presenting us with the ins and outs of using our new email program.

As always, Tech Tuesdays are optional and CEUs are available.  Every Tuesday from 7 - 7:20 AM and 2:30 - 2:50 PM.   Room 117 or 119.

Friday Focus #2: 9.2.11

Here goes round 2 of the Friday Focus.  You can easily find archives of the Friday Focus by looking at the 'Labels' section of the blog found under the advisory calendar on the right hand side.  Click on the label 'Friday Focus' and it will bring up all of the Friday Focus posts (English teachers -- help me figure out how to make Friday Focus plural please!).

• What a great start to the school year.  There seems to be such a positive energy and focus in this building... one that has always existed, but seems even more prevalent this year.  Thanks for your individual contributions to this culture.  I continue to hear great things from the students about our teachers and their class time!  Keep up the great work!  

• On that note, I also heard some really great feedback from parents about Open House.  Thanks to everyone for meeting with parents and investing time in the process!  My only wish is that we could get more parents to attend.  If anyone has ideas, please let me know!

• If you haven't already (and as of 11:30 AM on Thursday, that would be everyone), please sign the card in the office for the May family.  We were able to purchase $200 in gas cards from last week's Jeans Fund donations.  Remember that Matt is a teacher at the Middle School (see Friday Focus #1 for more info).  The card will be with the Jeans Fund envelope on Friday. 

• Next Wednesday, we will have a a faculty meeting @ 7 AM in the Lecture Hall to review our Safety (lockdown) Drill procedures.  The meeting will end by 7:20 AM and is mandatory.  Please make arrangements to attend (refreshments will be provided). 

• Tech Tuesday next week will cover 'World Client' and will be hosted by Keith Gudorf.  Keith will go over how to navigate the new email program, including notification of new messages, creating distribution lists, and other tips & tricks.  Tech Tuesday is open to everyone and is held from 7:00 - 7:20 AM or 2:20 - 2:50 PM in room 119.  As always, TT is optional and CEUs are available. 

• Teachers... please turn in a set of your classroom rules and/or expectations to Phil by the end of next week.  This will aide us in dealing with disciplinary incidents from your classroom.  

• We are always looking for teachers/advisories to participate in the Week in 3 Words.  If you, your advisory, or your class would like to film clips for Week in 3 Words, let Megan or Jason know and we will come record. 

• Remember, we are still looking for teachers to read Project Wisdom announcements.  Stop down anytime to see Megan...

• The 'Healing Fields' are back in the area.  About 5 years ago the Healing Fields were organized in Maria Stein in honor of the 9/11 tragedy.  The Healing Fields will be hosted this year in Bryant, Indiana at Bearcreek Farms.  For more information, click on the links below.  If anyone would like to take a group of students, please see Jason.  We will not be taking large groups like we did last time. 

About the Healing FieldsHealing Fields Schedule of EventsHealing Fields Pamphlet

Stay cool today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...
Lisa Sorrell   (9/7)


Upcoming Events...
9/2   Spirit March
9/5   NO SCHOOL
9/6   Tech Tuesday -- "World Client"
9/7   Faculty Meeting -- 7 AM in the LH
9/9   Pep Assembly