Friday Focus #7: 10.5.12

“Good teaching is more a giving of right questions than a giving of right answers."

Josef Albers

Levy Signs
There are levy yard signs (and wires) in the office across from the mailboxes in the office.  If you live in the district, please consider placing a sign in your yard!


Faculty Meeting
JUST A REMINDER -- We will have a 20 minute faculty meeting on Wednesday 10/10 @ 7 AM in the lecture hall to go over some of the evaluation documents and procedures.  This will be very informal and maybe informational!  You can find those documents on the staff blog under the tab 'Documents'.


Tech Tuesday
Next week's Tech Tuesday will be VOKI: Voki enables users to express themselves on the web in their own voice using a talking character. You can customize your Voki to look like you or take on the identity of lots of other types of characters… animals, monsters, anime etc.  Carol Bader & Chris Sutter will be leading this session in room 118 on Tuesday morning and afternoon.

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.



Study Tables
Please send Phil an email if you are interested in working study tables or if you have questions. 

FROM LAST WEEK: 

We have secured funding for a limited amount of study tables.  We will begin ASAP... the times will be from 2:30 - 3:00 PM Monday through Thursday and from 7 - 8 PM on Thursday evening.  Study tables will be hosted in the Media Center.  We would ask that teachers in charge keep a sign-in sheet so we can track attendance.  In addition, based on attendance and need, we can add time as we see a need (i.e., we can extend 30 minutes if necessary).  

Kyle Maynard Assembly
On October 9th, we have the distinct privilege of hearing from motivational speaker Kyle Maynard.  This assembly will begin at 8:30 AM and will last for approximately one hour.  For this assembly, we will be placing chairs on the gym floor (like we did for Rachel's Challenge two years ago) so that ALL students and staff can sit.  We would ask that everyone attend this powerful assembly.  The schedule can be found under the 'Schedules' tab at the top of the page (Special Assembly Schedule).


Parent-Teacher Conferences
As a reminder, we DO NOT NEED the hard copy of the parent-teacher conference log sheet -- just log your conferences under the 'PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE' tab at the top of the blog.  If you turned in your hard copy and need it back, please let me know.


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



Happy Birthday
10/10    Connie Opperman
10/11    Jason Andrew
10/12    Kim Koesters

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

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 #14: 12.16.11

Tech Tuesday 12.20.11
New eBooks on the Celina High School Card Catalog

Sheila Baltzell will be showing staff how to:

• create a user account
• search for the 44 new ebooks
• read online
• check-out
• read from your online device
• check-in 

At this week's department chair meeting, we discussed several items of importance that are worth mentioning here. Hopefully your department chair will bring these items up for discussion within each department.

• Formative assessment -- this is a Race to the Top committee that is working on using formative assessment K - 12.  More on this later. 

• New Teacher Evaluation system:  This is still in the early phases, but this new system will take into account student growth as 50% of the teacher (and principal) evaluations.  There are two messages here that are important to take away: 

1. teacher input is a big part of this entire process
2. this is not as scary as I thought it might be at first!  

Look at the linked document above for a little more information.   Again... more on this later.  

• OGT results & Intervention Stats:  Our students did really well in the fall administration of the OGT.  Check out scores (remember they are confidential) in the public share folder [titled "Fall OGT Scores"].  The 'intervention' link is a summary of how many students passed each subject area that went through the OGT intervention / advisory program.  This is just proof of how effective advisory intervention has been.  Good job to those involved!

• Student survey results from May of 2011 can be found by clicking the word student. 

• ODE and the Chancellor of Higher Education released a report this week that highlights the percentage of Ohio students (by high school) that have to take remedial level courses in Math and Reading.  That report, and older versions, can be found here: College Remediation reports.

• In follow up to the previous bullet point, ODE has begun to piece together Math & English College & Career Readiness expectations.  Click the links to learn more. 

Don't forget that CEUs from the 11/23 inservice day are available in the office.  

Remember the Themes for next week & note the addition on Wednesday: 

Tuesday, December 20th --> Christmas Socks Day [last day for toy drive... $1 goes to jeans fund]
Wednesday, December 21st --> Christmas Jewelry Day [$1 goes to jeans fund]
Thursday, December 22nd --> Christmas Sweater Day (Ugly is Optional!) [$1 goes to jeans fund]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

12/21   Alicia Sneddon

Upcoming Events

12/18   Band Concert @ the Fieldhouse, 3 PM
12/20   Staff Christmas Luncheon
12/21   StuCo Christmas Assembly
12/22   Blood Drive
12/22   Club Photo Day
12/22   Staff Christmas Party -- Club 211
12/22   PAY DAY... Don't forget to update grades in Progressbook!
12/23 - 1/2  CHRISTMAS BREAK!
1/3      First Day back to reality

Have a great weekend!

Friday Focus #13: 12-9-11

On Wednesday, December 14th, we will be administering a survey to all students during advisory after announcements.  The surveys will be in your mailbox later today.  Instructions can be found by clicking here.

Parent-Teacher conferences for 2nd trimester are (believe it or not) right around the corner -- JANUARY 18TH from 4:30 - 7:00 PM.  Conference cards will be distributed soon.  Instructions can be found here.

In case you didn't notice, we now have a green screen.  Essentially, this allows us to place any image or video in the background of a recording video or image taken in front of the green screen.  I have one license for software that we are using in the office for announcements and we are working on finding another program so others can use the screen.  If you want to learn more or you think you have an idea for using the green screen, see Jason.  The guidance conference room is the 'green room'.

We are always in need of readers for the Words of Wisdom.  Please see Megan if you would like to record one or if you know of someone that would be good to feature on Words of Wisdom (we are always looking  for any staff member, alumni, community member, famous person, etc.)!

Every teacher needs to begin to become familiar with the new Common Core Standards.  Curt Shellebarger (Curriculum Director) recently sent out an all-staff email with instructions for finding subject specific standards.  In case you lost that email, or you just need a quick link, click here and you will find specific content standard links on the left hand side of the page.  More on the Common Core and its impact later!

CEUs from the Inservice Day on November 23rd are available in the office next to the envelope for the Jeans Fund.  If you attended the inservice, stop by and get your CEUs!

Every year, Student Council does a number of fundraisers to help raise money for the StuCo Santa fund -- the main one being Dime Wars.  This year, they will be trying a new fundraiser: beginning on Monday during class changes, they will be playing a Chipmunks Christmas song -- the same one over & over.  Students and staff can donate money to stop the playing of the music [it really is an annoying song].  If a certain number is reached, they will stop playing the song.  (sounds fun!)

In an effort to help raise money for the Santa fund & the Toys for Tots campaign, we will be having some dress down days between now and Christmas break.  We have created 5 theme days... if you meet 2 of the 3 criteria each day you can wear jeans on these days.
#1 -- dress to the theme
#2 -- pay $1
     OR
#3 -- bring a toy for the 'Toys for Tots' campaign

Themes: 
Wednesday, December 14 --> Christmas Tie Day (I have plenty if anyone needs to borrow one!)
Thursday, December 15 --> Christmas Hat Day
Friday, December 16 --> Christmas T-Shirt Day [last day for Santa fund]
Tuesday, December 20th --> Christmas Socks Day [last day for toy drive... $1 goes to jeans fund]
Thursday, December 22nd --> Christmas Sweater Day (Ugly is Optional!) [$1 goes to jeans fund]


Tech Tuesdays

Tech Tuesdays next week will be 'Using Twitter for PD'.  Believe it or not, the same tool that movie stars use to tell their fans when they are getting coffee or breaking up with their significant other is also one of the greatest PD tools available for educators.  Learn how to use Twitter to make you a better educator.

Week in 3 Words

Thanks to those of you that have participated in the Week in 3 Words.  Many of you have either helped by recording during your advisory/class or by doing your own '3 words'.  Let me know if you would like to do any recording...

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

12/16   Jared Rolfes

Upcoming Events

12/13   Payment for Christmas Party due
12/13   Messiah Choir Performance @ St. Paul's UMC, 7:30 PM 
12/14   Tri Star Visits (Sophomores)
12/18   Band Concert @ the Fieldhouse, 3 PM
12/20   Staff Christmas Luncheon
12/21   StuCo Christmas Assembly
12/22   Blood Drive
12/22   Club Photo Day
12/22   Staff Christmas Party -- Club 211
12/22   PAY DAY... Don't forget to update grades in Progressbook!
12/23 - 1/2  CHRISTMAS BREAK!
1/3      First Day back to reality

Updates 11-29-11

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving Break!  Looks like we had a relatively smooth transition into the 2nd trimester.  Just a few quick reminders and informational info:

1. If you are in need of desks, please email Megan.
2. Tech Tuesdays will resume next week with a session on Evernote.  This electronic note-taking app has many uses from taking notes in class to organizing your personal life!
3. The updated lunch schedule can always be found on the blog under the 'Schedules' tab. 
4. If you have a survey from the staff development day, please place it in my mailbox.  CEUs will be distributed later this week. 
5. Gateway has asked us to administer a survey to our sophomore and senior students.  The survey takes about 50 minutes.  We discussed this survey at our department chair meeting in early November and decided that this week would be the best time to administer the survey.  Today, we will ask sophomores to report to the lecture hall immediately after attendance during advisory.  These sophomores will be late to 5th period.  If the students are done after advisory, they will be released.  Students released during 5th period will have a pass.  Seniors will take the survey tomorrow on the same time schedule.  Senior tri star students will be asked to take the survey Friday morning beginning at 8:00 AM. 
6. Grade cards will be distributed today during advisory period.  Grade cards will be placed in advisory teacher mailboxes by lunch time today. 
7. We mailed home magnets with our Bulldog News web address and our phone number to all high school parents this week.  We will also be placing one in your mailbox this morning.  Enjoy!
8. Tri Star Orientation is this Friday for sophomores.  The time schedule will be distributed later today. 
9. We had originally scheduled a pep assembly for this Friday... that assembly has been cancelled and will be rescheduled.  

Have a great (short) week!

Assembly Schedule & Tech Tuesday

The assembly schedule was posted under Friday Focus #8 on the staff blog last Thursday afternoon.  It is accurate.  I will also be linking a Google Doc under the Schedules menu across the top of the staff blog later today.

Also, Tech Tuesday for this afternoon will be postponed and rescheduled for NEXT MONDAY after school.  Please vote on the NEW poll on the right sidebar for the next Tech Tuesday topic for next Tuesday.

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Friday Focus #8: 10.13.11

Good morning.  Not sure how everyone else feels, but I sort of think short weeks go slower than long weeks.  This was no exception!  Regardless, no matter how you spend your day tomorrow, try to get re-energized for the next run of 5+ weeks until the end of the 1st trimester and break from school!

Just a couple of quick notes and reminders today:

• Remember that grades should be updated in Progressbook by the 10th & 25th (Pay Days) of each month.  Of course, you can update more often (and most of you do), but this is just a good guideline for those checking grades to know that they are the most up-to-date.  

• OGT Make-up week is approaching.  More details will be coming from the guidance office next week. 

• Tech Tuesday this week... check out the poll on the right hand side of the blog.  I will do a Tech Tuesday based on the vote.  Winner to be announced Monday afternoon. 

• If you haven't yet completed the bloodbourne pathogens training, I think Friday is the deadline.  To help you out, click here to access the online training. 

• Blog troubleshooting: I have deleted the old feed and recreated it.  I also took down the password protection on the blog and made it visible ONLY TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE LINK.  The blog is STILL PRIVATE... as long as no one shares the link.  You no longer have to log in to read the blog.  You will not be able to find the staff blog unless you know the exact address -- a search engine will not find it.  I am hoping this will also help in the email subscription option.  I think it wasn't sending the email because of the password protection.  SO... TRY SUBSCRIBING AGAIN if you want email notification of blog posts.  

• The Homecoming Assembly Schedule for Wednesday is as follows: 

1st period     7:25 - 8:30

2nd period    8:35 - 9:40

ASSEMBLY 9:45 - 10:15 

3rd period    10:20 - 11:25

4th period     A     11:30 - 12:00

                    B      12:05 - 12:35

                    C      12:40 - 1:10 

5th period    1:15 - 2:20  

 

 

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

10/20  Erika Draiss
10/21  Lynne Ray
10/22  CJ Puthoff
10/22  Toma Hainline

Upcoming Events

10/14  No School
10/19  Homecoming Assembly
10/19  Picture Retakes
10/22  Homecoming Dance, 8 - 11 AM
10/24  OGT -- Reading
10/25  OGT -- Math
10/26  OGT -- Writing
10/27  OGT -- Science
10/28  OGT -- Social Studies
10/28  Pep Assembly 

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

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

Welcome Back Assembly

Don't forget that we have a welcome back assembly today.  We will follow the pep assembly schedule (see schedules tab on the blog).  Please take attendance and then WE WILL CALL THE STUDENTS DOWN!

Friday Focus #1: 8.25.11

Trying something new this year... the Friday Focus (a [semi]-weekly communication to the staff) on Thursday or sometime before school starts on Friday!  So here goes... this year's 1st edition, distributed simultaneously via email and the infamous (and, to some, mysterious) staff blog!

• We are nearly done with the 1st week of the 2011 - 2012 school year... thank goodness its a short one!  So far all has been very smooth.  Thanks so much to all of you for your efforts in making this a smooth transition into the year! 

• This Friday will mark the 1st Spirit March of the new school year.  For everyone new to the building, the Spirit March began last school year.  It goes like this... we begin 1st period Friday morning like any other morning.  Then, shortly after the Pledge of Allegiance, the Marching Band will begin making their way to the west end of 3rd floor hallway.  At that time, they will begin playing the fight song and will march down the hallway.  They travel from 3rd west to 3rd east, then to 2nd floor (east to west), then first floor (west to east), then down south senior hall toward the science wing and back down north senior hall, finishing with a left turn toward the choir room. 

Even though it involves lost class time (but not much time), please consider sending your class into the hallway to cheer them on!  

The Spirit March truly is like nothing else... gives me goosebumps just thinking about it!  THANKS TO THE CHS BAND for participating in this!

• Also on Friday morning, we will be taking the Senior picture... Seniors should follow the band as they march by... eventually we will just walk out the doors by the CAPT building to the track to take their class picture.  Following the picture, we will hold their class meeting in the lecture hall.  Plan to have them out of class almost the entire period.  

• If anyone would like to participate in this week's version of 'Week in 3 Words', please stop by the office prior to 4th period on Friday.  The theme this week is '1st week in 3 words'.  

• If you have not yet heard, Matt May's wife, Kathy, has been diagnosed with cancer.  Matt is a teacher at the Middle School and the High School swimming coach.  Matt & Kathy along with their 5 children need all the prayers and support we can give them.  We will be purchasing gas cards for the May family with the jeans fund this week (for new teachers, the jeans fund is a $1 donation made by staff on Fridays for wearing jeans... money is turned in to Megan or CJ).  In addition, the Mays have set up a webpage on the Caring Bridge website to share their story and Kathy's progress.  The web address is: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kathymay1.  

Here is a message from Jenny Dippold (East Elementary Guidance Counselor): 

We are also going to be setting up a schedule to bring in meals.  We are going to organize it using mealtrain.com.  Other than lots of prayers, having meals brought in something Kathy would like.  However, she wants to wait until after her appts. at Ohio State this week.  (She goes on Monday, Tuesday and Friday.)  If you are interested in being a part of the "meal train", let me know and I will contact you once we have it going.  THANK YOU! 

• Next week, we will begin Tech Tuesdays.  

Tuesday's topic (8/30): Navigating the Staff Blog

Please consider attending if you are unsure of how to login, maintain access, comment, or have any other general questions about the staff blog and its use. 

Tech Tuesdays will be held in room 119 from 7:00 - 7:20 or 2:30 - 2:50.  They are optional, but CEUs are available.

• Please remember that we are asking that all advisory teachers check on student grades weekly.  We would like for you to use some sort of tracking sheet.  I have included the link to a grade tracking sheet Erika Draiss created.  I know others of you have created/used similar documents.  Anything is fine, but please use something.  We would like to collect these (or get a copy) at the halfway point and at the end of the trimester (9/30 & 11/22).  If you have another grade tracking sheet that might be shared with others, please email it to me and I will add it to this list.  

http://goo.gl/Tqkqg 

 Also, the 'Guidance Referral' form is still an active document.  Please use this to let the office staff know if a student continues to struggle.  Here is the link: 

http://goo.gl/086mh  

• Remember that our 1st fire drill of the year will be on Monday 8/29 around 9:45 AM.  We will be distributing an attendance sheet that we will ask everyone to use to take attendance during the drill.  We would also ask that you assemble your class in a line outside (to help keep order and to take attendance).  

• From the Guidance Staff: 
• Thanks for your patience in schedule changes.  Most changes are completed... the only changes that might occur now will come from mistakes or misplacements.  
• The counselors will be scheduling Advisory period meetings soon with various grade levels for beginning of the year information. 

• Don't forget Open House is next Wednesday from 6:30 - 7:30 PM.  Schedule can be found in Opening Day information, under the schedules tab on the staff blog, or by clicking here. 

• Also next Wednesday, Student Council will be holding a Welcome Back Assembly during advisory period.  Schedule to be released later in the week.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

Lisa Brunswick (8/21) -- belated... sorry!

Derek Wenning (8/30)

Upcoming Events

8/26   Spirit March

8/30   Tech Tuesday, room 119

8/31   Welcome Back Assembly during Advisory Period

8/31   Open House from 6:30 - 7:30 PM

9/2     Spirit March

9/2     Senior Night

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!