Inservice Day & Other Stuff

Good Morning... Here are a few very important midweek items of note.  There will be a full Friday Focus this Friday.

• We are currently in the process of planning the next inservice day, scheduled for Monday, March 5th.  Right now, we are brainstorming sessions & presenters.  

If you have an idea for a session you would like to see offered OR you would like to present a session, please email me ASAP.  Some of the best sessions from the November inservice came from teacher suggestions and were presented by our own staff members!

• Also...  just a heads up -- we will be having a staff meeting next Wednesday, February 8th for some informational stuff.  Please plan to attend this 7 AM meeting in the lecture hall.

• Week in 3 Words will make a return THIS week.  I will be in the cafeteria during 4th period on Thursday to record.  If you or your class have any ideas for Week in 3 Words, let me know...

• If you have not yet completed the Student Centered Tech Tools survey from Friday Focus #18, please do so now...  

With no Friday Focus last week, we missed a birthday...
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO
1/29    Aaron Bowsher

SLD video for Teachers -- unrated version PART I

Because our network acts up sometimes... some of you have had difficulty viewing the video in the Friday Focus.  Therefore, I have uploaded it here (in 2 parts) in a more raw version.  Heck... might have been easier to type out all that info -- but the video was more fun! 

PART I

PART II

Friday Focus #18: 1.20.12

Trimesters...
If you haven't already heard the news, St. Marys high school (our beloved neighbor and rival) has made the decision to change their schedule to the trimester schedule.  This is a very quick decision and they are hoping to implement the change in time for next school year.  They have not followed the same process we did to arrive at their decision...  and they have a limited time frame to gear up for the transition.  They have seen the value in the alternative schedule and are gearing up for the switch.

I have been in conversation with their principal, Dave Lewis, about the change.  They are very interested in visiting our building and learning more about how the trimester schedule works from all angles.  I am sure they will want to talk with our teachers to learn more about adjusting the curriculum and adjusting to the longer periods.  I will keep you informed of any visits or help they may need...  just wanted to give you all an early heads up!

Technology
Celina City Schools  has been chosen to present at a regional summit held at Wright State University Lake Campus with area leaders, businessmen, and politicians about our use of technology and how it is changing how we educate our students.  Each grade band (elementary, middle, and high) are working on a short presentation showcasing our technology.  I am working on our portion of the presentation and would like to make it student-driven.  Right now, I would like to develop a list of some of the technology tools that are student centered that we are using in the classroom right now on a regular basis (i.e. graphing calculators, movie maker, glogster).  If you use something technology based, please complete the form found at the end of this post.  We will be using this to feature technology used with our students!

Scheduling Time...
Don't forget to fill out the Teacher Scheduling Worksheet by the end of the day TODAY!

If you have any ideas about changes or new course offerings, see your department chair soon OR Jason very soon!

Tech Tuesday
Next week, Sheila Baltzell will be leading a session on SIRS, Social Issues Resources Series.  This is an online research service (we purchase it) that many of our students already use. 

It has a really wonderful Pro and Con format that helps students see both sides of any given issue/topic. 

Searches return quality articles from: magazines; journals; newspapers; websites; images; editorials; encyclopedias; and blogs.

Remember, Tech Tuesdays are from 7 - 7:20 AM and 2:30 - 2:50 PM in room 117.  We are always looking for volunteers!

Service Learning Day Update


HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!  ENJOY THE SNOW!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

none...

Upcoming Events

1/20     Pep Assembly
1/20     Teacher Scheduling Worksheet due


_______________________________________________________________________

P-T Conferences & Pep Assembly

Two quick things...

#1 --> Don't forget to fill in the parent-teacher log form...  remember that it is found on the staff blog under the tab at the top of the page labeled "Parent-Teacher Conferences"

#2 --> I neglected to add 'Pep Assembly' to the schedule of events in the most recent edition of the Friday Focus...  so -- I am adding it now!  Pep Assembly schedule this Friday, January 20th.

Hope your evening went well tonight.

Friday Focus #17: 1.17.12

Scheduling Time...
That's right, its time to begin the scheduling process for next school year, already.  The first step in this process is to collect information from teachers about scheduling preferences for the 2012-2013 school year.  Please fill out the Teacher Scheduling Worksheet by the end of the day on Friday to help us in the schedule building process.

Also, please be aware that department chairs will be in the process of finalizing course offerings and descriptions over the course of the next month.  If you have any ideas about changes or new course offerings, see your department chair soon!



Don't forget to post your New Year's Resolutions on last week's Friday Focus comment section if you haven't done so already!


Tech Tuesday
No Tech Tuesday this week...

Next week, Sheila Baltzell will be leading a session on SIRS, Social Issues Resources Series.  This is an online research service (we purchase it) that many of our students already use. 

It has a really wonderful Pro and Con format that helps students see both sides of any given issue/topic. 

Searches return quality articles from: magazines; journals; newspapers; websites; images; editorials; encyclopedias; and blogs.

Remember, Tech Tuesdays are from 7 - 7:20 AM and 2:30 - 2:50 PM in room 117.  We are always looking for volunteers!

Parent-Teacher Conferences
Remember that Parent-Teacher conferences (Round 2) will be TOMORROW NIGHT from 4:30 - 7:00 PM.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

1/17      Carol Bader
1/20      Craig Broering

Upcoming Events

1/18     Parent-Teacher Conferences 4:30 - 7 PM
1/20     Teacher Scheduling Worksheet due

Friday Focus #16: 1.6.12

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I hope each of you had an enjoyable and restful Christmas Break.  From my conversations with many of you and in my own opinion, this was a much needed break and mental vacation!  Hopefully we have all come back revived, refreshed, and ready to get back at it!
Last year, I asked everyone to reflect for a moment on their New Year's Resolutions...  although I know many of us don't always partake in this practice of making resolutions at the New Year, it is healthy every now and then to set goals and to think about things we wish to improve.
Of course, it is difficult sometimes to remember our resolutions, so in case you forgot your 2011 resolutions, check here: http://goo.gl/m1LUn -- this was the post from the staff blog from last January... about 15 of us posted our resolutions here.
Add your 2012 New Year's Resolutions in the comments at the bottom of this post.


Tech Tuesday
Maybe one of your Resolutions is to become more tech-savvy or to share your expertise with others...
Stay tuned for a Tech Tuesday announcement for January 10th.  I am still looking for volunteers to fill the month of January with great tech ideas we can use in the classroom.

Parent-Teacher Conferences
Remember that Parent-Teacher conferences (Round 2) will be on Wednesday, January 18th from 4:30 - 7:00 PM.  You must have your conference request cards turned in by the end of the day today (Friday 1/6/12)!

Service Learning Day
Service Learning Day 2012 is fast approaching (4-27-12).  We are in the process now of planning Service Projects for that day... as a reminder (and FYI for our new staff members), our entire student body is out in the community on that day serving in some way for 3 hours in the morning.  We are constantly in need of new projects and activities for our students.  If you have any ideas, please talk to Megan or Jason.

MTV's MADE
Don't forget that MTV's MADE will be here on Monday and Tuesday next week to follow Elizabeth Hogg around for the day.  They will be in the school at some point and will be wearing a visitors badge.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

1/9      Chris Sutter

Upcoming Events

1/16     Martin Luther King Day -- NO SCHOOL
1/18     Parent-Teacher Conferences 4:30 - 7 PM