Midweek Updates: 2.28.12

UPDATES:
Acura Folders: These are the folders that contain the 'IEP at a glance' and/or profile pages for Special Ed students...

• These should be returned by Friday.
• Do NOT take anything out of the folder.  
• Turn these into the clear bin at the end of the mailboxes. 
• The special ed teachers will reload these and distribute according to 3rd trimester schedules sometime next week.  

Red Folders: These folders contain Special Ed progress reports and must be completed by regular ed teachers. 

• These will be placed in your mailbox by next Tuesday, March 6th. 
• They should be completed by the regular ed teacher based on progress during 2nd trimester. 
• These Red Folders need to be returned to the clear bin at the end of the mailboxes by March 13th.

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP IN COMPLETING THESE IMPORTANT TASKS! 

Students missing exams:

Sometimes students have to miss exams for one reason or another.  Remember... students MUST be here during their scheduled exam time unless they are a Tri Star student (see exam schedule) or they have worked out other arrangements with the office.  The office will notify you if a student is to make alternate arrangements (usually this comes in the form of an email from Megan or CJ). 

Students who are ill or otherwise need to take the exam in the office should have their exam brought to the office and clearly labeled. 

Here are just a few quick updates...

• Remember to turn in the 'salmon' colored sheets for special ed exams.  These should be completed and returned to Renee Kramer's mailbox by the end of the day TODAY (Feb. 28). 
• We are looking for readers again for Special Ed exams.  Anyone who is willing to read for a special ed exam, please email Megan (by noon on Wednesday) with your planning period and we will add you to the schedule.  Simply report to the media center at the VERY beginning of the period and we will assign you a student(s) to read to.  YOU WILL BE PAID FOR TWO PERIODS OF COVERAGE!
• This Thursday, Friday & next Monday, we are going to have special Jeans Days to support Service Learning Day.  All money will go to the SLD fund.  
• Don't forget to fill out the inservice survey if you have not done so already! (http://goo.gl/DybR5)
• Please note that TODAY is the last full advisory period this week.  Tomorrow we will be on the Pep Assembly schedule -- students will report to advisory after 5th period for attendance.  PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL CALL STUDENTS DOWN OVER THE P.A. WHEN WE ARE READY.  Thursday & Friday we will be on alternate schedules for exams.  Please remind your advisory students of this today and let them know that we will report to advisory at the beginning of the day next Tuesday, March 6th for the beginning of 3rd trimester. 
• In light of the tragedy in Chardon, Ohio yesterday, we would ask that everyone take a moment this morning to review your lockdown policies and procedures.  

THANKS FOR READING... HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Friday Focus #22: 2.24.12

End of 2nd Trimester
Next week marks the end of the 2nd Trimester.  Remember that we will be on an adjusted schedule on Thursday and Friday (see schedules tab at the top of the staff blog).  Grades will be due by 9 AM on Tuesday, March 6th.  Probable failures are due by 9 AM on Monday, March 5th.

Don't forget to turn in your Special Ed testing sheet ASAP for exams!  



Inservice Day
Monday, March 5th is an inservice day.  We will be running breakout sessions in the morning with some structured 'on-your-own' activities for the afternoon.  The list of morning sessions will be available first thing Monday morning.

Have a great weekend!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

2/27   John Higgins
3/2     Wendy Mitchell-Payne
3/2     Aaron Alig

Upcoming Events

2/29    Pep Assembly
3/1     1st day of 2nd Trimester Exams... follow exam schedule
3/2     2nd day of 2nd Trimester Exams... follow exam schedule
3/5     Inservice Day
         Probable Failures due by 9 AM
3/6     First Day of 3rd Trimester
         GRADES DUE BY 9 AM
         Band Contest Preview, 7 PM, Gym

Friday Focus #21: 2.17.12

E-Tech Wrap
Many of our teachers attended a session at the e-Tech conference this week.  I know many of you came back with great ideas and mind-opening concepts.  Please share your thoughts, take-aways, and any links to resources in the comment section below.

In light of the futuristic thinking keynote speaker from Monday, here is a link to an article from Google titled:
Here Are The 17 Radical Ideas From Google's Top Genius Conference That Could Change The World

The eTech Ohio website will be posting video and conference handouts/materials soon.  Here is the address: http://www.etech.ohio.gov/conference/index.dot.

Self-Reflect: Student Engagement
When we had our visitors from St. Marys last week, one of the main things we brought up as a topic of discussion was the length of the class period and how we hold students' attention for more than an hour.  For those of you that have been around during the schedule change, you know that we spent a lot of time talking about doing at least 3 distinct things during a lesson.  Every 20 minutes (give or take) we need to change our activity in the classroom.  Students need to be engaged in order to learn...

One of the first things I look for when I walk into a classroom is whether or not students are engaged.  Its easy enough to see and any one of us could walk into a classroom and observe whether or not students are engaged in the learning process.  The tell-tale signs are obvious --

• are they sitting up or do they have their head down?
• are they participatory learners?
• are they actively learning?

The list could go on... think about and reflect on your own classroom and your own practice.  Are you dividing up your lessons?  Are your students engaged?  Do your students look forward to coming to class or do they dread it?  

Most of our students are engaged during class time, but I challenge each of you to take some time in the next few days to reflect on your own practice...  Talk with your co-workers about it... talk with an administrator.  We learn and grow best when we reflect on and discuss our own practice!   

THANKS FOR READING!

have a great 3-day weekend...  enjoy your time off!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

2/20    Sheila Baltzell
2/24    Marcia Smith
2/24    Todd Topp

Upcoming Events

2/20   No School -- President's Day
2/25   PAY DAY
          Progressbook Grades Updated
2/29   Pep Assembly 
3/1     1st day of 2nd Trimester Exams... follow exam schedule
3/2     2nd day of 2nd Trimester Exams... follow exam schedule

Friday Focus #20: 2.10.12

Attendance Policy
Just a quick written reminder of our discussion from Wednesday's faculty meeting.  The only change in our attendance policy is that students going over 7 days of non-medically excused absences will lose credit only for the days missed beyond the 7 instead of completely losing credit for the course.  You can find these unexcused absences in Progressbook.  Donna will be updating these on the 5th & 20th of every month.  Remember... students are to receive zeros for work due or tests/quizzes missed on unexcused days.  Thanks for your help and understanding with this policy update.


Other Faculty Meeting Notes: 

• MTV's Made will be making an episode featuring CHS Junior Elizabeth Hogg.  Filming will start sometime next week. 
• Attendance Policy update (see above)
• St. Marys visit...  feedback was great from visiting teachers.  They appreciated the honest feedback from the staff and students.  Thanks for your help!
• Remember to help monitor hallways in-between classes as much as possible.  This really does help cut down on hallway problems!
• Student cell phone use needs to be appropriate and timely.  Students are not to make phone calls during the school day from their cell phones.  If a student is using the phone inappropriately or fails to follow your instructions to put the phone away, refer them to us as you would any other disciplinary problem.  
• Confidentiality: students should not be retrieving a teacher's mail.  If a student worker needs to make copies for a teacher, send them to the office to speak with the office personnel.  We can ensure that the copy machine is clear of any confidential information before the student uses the machine. 

Scheduling for 2012-2013
We are currently planning for next year's courses right now.  Any new ideas for courses should be discussed with your department chair and/or Jason by the end of next week!  Course Description books will be out soon!


Week in 3 Words

Over the course of the last year, the week in 3 words has been a popular addition to the announcements.  Recently, we had an issue with a couple of somewhat inappropriate inside jokes.  This week's version of the week in 3 words has a very positive message -- that is the overriding concept & intent behind the production.  Thanks to those involved this week.
I am looking for more ways to incorporate themes into the week in 3 words... i.e. feature a department a week to highlight your students, your content area, etc.  Let me know if you have an idea or would like to participate with one of your classes.


HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

2/14     June Scott

Upcoming Events

2/13-15  eTech Conference, Columbus, various teachers out of building
2/16   2nd Trimester 'early' grad meeting, 7:30 AM, LH
2/20   No School -- President's Day
2/24   Pep Assembly
2/24   PAY DAY & GRADES UPDATED IN PROGRESSBOOK

CHS Faculty Meeting 2.8.12

DON'T FORGET OUR STAFF MEETING TODAY -- 7 AM, LECTURE HALL

On the agenda:

• St. Marys visit
• MTV update
• Attendance Stuff -- here is a useful link to a blog post: http://goo.gl/CtO5S
• Discipline & Hall Traffic

Stay tuned for a summary after the meeting...

Friday Focus #19: 2.3.12

Staff Meeting
Don't forget... staff meeting on Wednesday morning for all teachers in the lecture hall.  We will begin at 7 AM.  Donuts & Coffee will be provided!

Trimester Visitors
On Tuesday (2/7/12), we will have a team of representatives from St. Marys High School as part of their process in preparing for their transition to trimesters this upcoming fall (see Friday Focus #18).  They will be spending 1st period in the office asking questions about how we operate under the trimester.  During 2nd & 3rd period, they will be out and about, visiting classrooms and talking with teachers.  If you have a plan period during 2nd or 3rd, please be willing/ready to share your insight on the trimester.  Remember, St. Marys has made the decision to move forward... its not a matter of if for them!  Try to think of things that will help them in the transition... i.e. what have you done to make 65 minute periods work, how do you fit your curriculum into 60 days, how much homework do you give, etc.  If you feel uncomfortable with the teachers coming into your classroom or you don't have time to meet with them during your planning period, please let me know and I will be sure to pass it on to them!

Thanks for your willingness to help them!

Scholarships
Scholarship application return rate is a little low this year...  if you have seniors (especially in advisory), please encourage them to complete & turn in applications.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

2/6      Dave Scott
2/6      Kim Smith
2/8      Tyler Foulkes
2/8      Warren Gregor

Upcoming Events

2/4     Homecoming Dance, 8 PM, CHS
2/7     St. Marys Visit
2/8     Staff Meeting, 7 AM, Lecture Hall
2/13-15  eTech Conference, Columbus, various teachers out of building
2/16   2nd Trimester 'early' grad meeting, 7:30 AM, LH