Friday Focus #14: 11.30.12

Here we are... in that wonderful period of time between Thanksgiving and Christmas break.  Typically a shorter series of school days, this year we have 19 between the two breaks... that is one-third of the 2nd trimester!  That means we must work even harder to keep students on task and focused.  Sometimes it is the subtle things that make the difference in this task...

• Be in the halls between classes and greet students at the door: a simple enough concept, but hard in practice.  I know that five minutes between classes is valuable time that you need to meet with a student or make an adjustment to your lesson, but it really is vital that you make an effort to do this as often as possible... really at least twice a day. 
• Continue to expect a certain standard of behavior: 
• don't let students sleep during class...  (please DO NOT let them sleep... wake them up, warn them, give them a 15 minute detention, and if it persists, report it to the office)
• don't let them go to their locker without a pass... 
• don't let them use their cell phone inappropriately....  etc. 

Thanks for reading...  here are a few more important items to note: 

Lockdown

The lockdown drill went fairly well yesterday.  Unlike the 'practice' drill we did right before exams, this actual lockdown drill was our yearly requirement for the state of Ohio.  Some people were confused by the difference between a practice lockdown and a lockdown drill.  Here it is... 

During the practice, we will give verbal directions over the PA to send the lockdown email, lock your door, BUT CONTINUE TEACHING.   

During the lockdown drill, we will use the phrase: "Please proceed to lockdown the building."  This means shut off the lights, lock and close your door, send the attendance email, and get your students to a location that cannot be seen from the door (tell them to be quiet).  

Make sure you leave directions for your substitute if you are out so that they know what to do in the case of a lockdown (or fire/tornado).   Remember to remain in lockdown until the 'ALL CLEAR' papers are under your door.   PLEASE RETURN THESE 'ALL CLEAR' papers to the office. 

Destination Data

In a continuous effort to use and share more data, I will continue to add things to the 'Destination Data' tab here on the blog. 

 The most recent addition is a rough spreadsheet on the acheivement gap on the sophomore administration of the OGT between Student's with Disabilities (IEP students) and Non-Disabled Students.  This data goes back to 2008 and is broken down by content area and is listed in percentages.  I have also added columns for averages.  

The average gap between these groups is: 45%.  This is significant.  

Many of you have heard me use the phrase recently: Improvement Year 3.  Essentially, this means we will be getting more attention from the state, namely the State Support Team 6 (SST6).  You will also be hearing us talk a great deal about the Ohio Improvement Process (aka: OIP).  Don't worry... this is nothing terrible and it fits in with Race to the Top, FIP, SLO's, Curriculum Mapping, and the new evaluation system.  Sounds like a lot, I know, but let's take baby steps!  We are currently revamping our OGT intervention plan for sophomores, giving more attention to at risk students, especially in reading and mathematics, as this will help us get out of School Improvement status.  

Stay tuned for details and more info, but this is enough for now!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Birthdays

11/27   Mary Jo Alig

12/1     Mary Meyer

Friday Focus #10: 10.26.12

“With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts."

Eleanor Roosevelt

Co-Teaching Webinar
Next week ON MONDAY there is a 'webinar' on co-teaching sponsored by SST6.  The webinar will feature Marilyn Friend, the featured speaker at last year's co-teaching two-day inservice in May.  This session is open to ANYONE interested in co-teaching.  It will take place from 3:30 - 4:30 in the lecture hall.  There are stipends available to those attending through the SST6.  Please email Jason by noon on Monday if you are interested.


FIP
Next Wednesday is our next FIP inservice.  We will not be having a faculty meeting prior to the inservice as we originally discussed.  Instead, we plan to begin promptly at 7:10 AM in the lecture hall.  Be sure to watch Module 2 prior to Wednesday morning!




Remind 101
Trying something new.... I have created a Remind 101 account for CHS Staff.  Info is on the right hand side of the blog.  Sign up to receive LIMITED messages regarding school events via text message.



Tech Tuesday
Next week's Tech Tuesday will be Online Learning.  This will mostly be an open discussion about Online Learning, its future in our educational system, and how we plan to proceed at CHS.  Come with ideas, thoughts, and an open mind!  For more information, see the info found in last week's Friday Focus regarding 'Changing High School'.

Also, don't forget that you can request or offer to present a Tech Tuesday topic here or you can see upcoming topics here.   These links can ALWAYS be found under the Tech Tuesday tab at the top of the blog.


Calendar of Events
Remember that Calendar Info can be found on the right hand sidebar of the blog... updated regularly...



Happy Birthday
10/29   Bruce Boley
10/30   Dave Maurer
11/2     Wendy Gabes
11/2     Ryan Jenkins

Friday Focus #5: 9.21.12

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are." 

John Wooden

What a great week this has been...   you really can feel the excitement in the air -- especially today.  Thanks for helping to make this a special week for our students and our athletic teams.




Building Goals Follow-Up
Please make sure you read the follow-up post from the building goals meetings and complete the survey.  Here is a link to the post and the survey: http://goo.gl/qUkm1
If you are still unable to log into your Celinaschools Google account, please email Sheila Baltzell.



FIP Reminder
Don't forget to complete your FIP module BEFORE Wednesday 9/26.  For help with logging in and finding the module, use the eyes on the right.



Faculty Meeting
We will have a 20 minute faculty meeting on Wednesday 9/26 @ 7 AM in the lecture hall.  This is the 2-hour delay day...  the meeting is separate from the inservice activities.  We will be hearing from Kevin Mast regarding the ALICE training for lock-downs.



Advisory
Please remember to issue passes BEFORE activities that take place during advisory.  Also, please try to help us limit the amount of hall traffic during advisory!



Tech Tuesday
Next week's Tech Tuesday will be 'Remind 101': an easy and free way to remind your students about important classroom activities in a format that suits them!  Come listen to Ashley Lefeld show you how to use the service and what she has used it for in her own classroom.  Room 119 on Tuesday!



Upcoming Assembly
On October 9th, we have the distinct privilege of hearing from motivational speaker Kyle Maynard.  More on the schedule and format, but here is a video to give you a little preview:








Calendar of Events
Remember that Calendar Info can be found on the right hand sidebar of the blog... updated regularly...



Happy Birthday
7/23   Ryan Parrish

Friday Focus #3: 9.7.12

"I touch the future.  I teach."  

Christa McAuliffe

What a long short week it was last week!  Not sure how you all felt, but I felt like there were two Mondays last week...  turns out there were none!  Hard to get in a groove in a week like that!
But, today is Monday and we have a fresh start to a new week.
I know the Friday Focus is late, but.... better late than never!  I don't have a great deal of info to include this morning, but here are some items of note...

Project Wisdom
This month's theme for PW announcements is: Respecting Ourselves and Others.  If you haven't recorded your PW, please consider stopping down soon or scheduling a time with Kassie to record.
Also, if you have a student or ANYONE else in mind that would be good for a PW, please let us know. It is nice to have a wide range of participants!
If you are a coach or activity advisor... please have your captains and/or seniors record an announcement before your season is over.   Consider taking the camera to the practice field or just have the students come to the office.


FIP
Don't forget to login to the FIP website and watch the first module.  Print your certificate at the end and give it to Kelly Black or Kim Uhlenhake.  This should be completed by September 26th (2-hour delay inservice).


AAA Inspections
AAA will be here on Thursday doing student vehicle maintenance inspections.  Please encourage your students with vehicles during advisory to sign up for an appointment.  If they have their car inspected, they get a free lunch and a chance to win prizes.  Inspections are during lunch and advisory. Sign up is in the office with Kassie.


Tech Tuesday
This week's Tech Tuesday will feature the Classroom Management software found on the FRESHMEN netbooks.  This was requested by several teachers and will be led by Keith Gudorf.  We will meet in room 119 at 7 AM or 2:30 PM.  Consider attending one....  especially if you are using the FRESHMEN netbooks in your classroom.


Calendar of Events
Remember that Calendar Info can be found on the right hand sidebar of the blog... updated regularly...



Happy Birthday
none

Friday Focus #2: 8.31.12

The start of this school year has been a very positive one so far.  Thanks to everyone for helping make the beginning of this year positive!  I continue to see good energy and attitude from students and staff alike!

I was just discussing our 'expectations of students' with a couple of different groups over the last few days.  Our conversation centered around the idea that students will live up to the expectations that are set for them.  These expectations might come from home, school, or both.
Our students will live up to those expectations set before them...  Why not expect the best.  Set the bar high... because if we don't, who will?  We must know that 4 years... or 10 years... or 20 years... from now, WE HAVE DONE ALL WE CAN for the students.
And through everything you do... in your classroom, in your planning, in your test creation, in your conversations at lunch, in your reflection of the day's lesson... remember that we must do what is best for the students!
I know you all work hard to ensure we offer the best we can... KEEP IT UP!
I said to the parents at Open House on Wednesday night that we take a lot of pride in our school and we have confidence that we have a great system with great teachers to offer their son or daughter.  I meant every word of it!
Keep up the great work!

Below of some items of information:

Netbooks
Distribution went well... we should have just over 400 students walking our halls with netbooks now.  Hopefully everyone is finding ways to implement the netbooks into the classroom.  Here are some things I have seen this week:

• Students looking up their grades and assignments on Progressbook
• Students doing presentations of a project they completed completely on their netbooks
• Students completing an assignment in class using the online textbook

If you have had students with netbooks in your classroom, please post to the comment section something you have used the netbooks for in your classroom...

Walkthroughs
As some of you have noticed, I have begun doing 'walkthrough' visits in classrooms and will continue this practice as much as my schedule allows.  You will notice I am on my iPhone while in your room.  I am only making notes about my visit in regard to time, name, and location as well as anything I might wish to discuss or remember at some point in time with the teacher.  I hope to give written notes on some occasions that may include reflective questions, but I will not ALWAYS be able to give written feedback!  If you wish to discuss my visit to your room or to see my notes, feel free to let me know!  I enjoy this part of my job and hope to make it a more regular habit.



Tech Tuesday
Remember that Tech Tuesdays will begin on September 4th.  Click on the tab at the top of the page to find the calendar and to request a topic or offer to present for Tech Tuesday.  Please share your knowledge with your colleagues!

Next Week's TT Topic: Getting Started with FIP modules, with K. Uhlenhake & K. Black, ROOM 118

Calendar of Events
Remember that Calendar Info can be found on the right hand sidebar of the blog... updated regularly...



Happy Birthday
9/7    Lisa Sorrell