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

Friday Focus #25: 3.21.12

OGT Week Summary
Thanks to everyone for helping to make this past week a successful one!  As I mentioned in our faculty meetings, we could not make OGT week as smooth as we do without a lot of help from EVERYONE involved!

Almost all testing data from the FRESHMEN PRACTICE TEST has been entered.  We should have scores available by the end of April.  Note to English, Math, Science and S. Studies teachers: make up tests will be given to department chairs later today... there are about 8 - 10 short answers that need to be graded by the same graders...  please do so and return to your department chair ASAP!

SOPHOMORE (and junior/senior) test results will come out in late May.


Registration

Counselors will hold pre-registration meetings on Wednesday, March 28 during advisory period.  The meetings will be held for current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors via video.  Advisory teachers will have registration materials for students by Wednesday morning (maybe before).  Please distribute these materials prior to playing the video.
Students will have access to the course description book online only.  Each teacher will receive a hard copy of the book.
Registration day is Thursday, April 5th.

High School 101
Remember that High School 101 is on Wednesday, March 28 from 6 - 8:30 PM.
Schedule of events:
6:00 - 6:20 Introduction to parents in the lecture hall
6:20 - 8:00 Tours and Meetings with Departments
8:00 - 8:30 Activity Fair in the Gymnasium

Activity Fair Info: All activities advisors should plan to have a table with information about their group/organization/team in the gym from 8 - 8:30 PM on High School 101 night.  Please email Megan if you plan to set up a table!

Advisory
Please remember some of the basic rules and expectations for advisory period as we reconvene advisory classes this week:

1. Students are ONLY allowed to leave if they have a pass.  The student needs to obtain the pass prior to arriving at advisory. 
2. While it is OK to allow students to talk or work together, try to keep them on task.  I have many students that tell me they want to work on homework, but it is often too noisy. 
3. Continue to do grade checks on students.  This is a great help in monitoring student grades and keeping them accountable. 

Faculty Meeting
We will be having a short faculty meeting on Tuesday @ 7 AM to review evacuation procedures.  Meeting should be short!
  

Hunger Games 
The English Department has been reading the Hunger Games with their English 9 classes this year.  Since the movie version of this hit young adult novel premieres next Friday on the big screen, we are going to take the Freshmen class to see the movie at the Celina Movie Theater on Monday, March 26 in the morning.  The freshmen will be leaving at the beginning of the school day and will return prior to the start of 4th period.  Please plan accordingly.

The English department will be chaperoning this trip and we will need help covering classes.  If you have a freshmen class 1st - 3rd period, you may be asked to cover one of the English teachers classes while they are on the field trip.  We will let you know who/when!

On Monday, all freshmen advisory teachers passed out permission slips during advisory (they will be in your mailbox later today).  We are also asking all freshmen to pay $5 to their advisory teacher to cover the cost of the movie.  Both the permission slip and the money is due TODAY: Wednesday, March 21.  Please turn money and permission slips to the office by the end of the day on Wednesday.


We will also be taking a small group of Seniors on Monday...
A list of Freshmen not attending and a list of Seniors that are attending will be emailed Friday afternoon.  These students will also show up in your DASL attendance on Monday as 'Field Trip'.

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

3/23     Jetta Mutter
3/26     Phil Metz
3/26     Rich Nuding
3/27     Amy Sutter
3/28     Lisa Burgoon
3/31     Hallie Craven

Upcoming Events

3/19-22  OGT Make-up Testing
3/27       Faculty Meeting @ 7 AM in the lecture hall 
3/28       Pre-Registration Meetings during Advisory (pre-recorded)
3/28       High School 101, 6 - 8:30 PM

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 #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

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

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

Fire Drills & Open House

Thanks for your cooperation in yesterday's fire drill.  All in all, a pretty smooth drill.  The attendance worked well for the most part... just remember that you should take attendance once you are OUTSIDE.  Write down any students who are NOT present outside but should be.  If you were unable to complete attendance before the drill (or you forgot who was absent), write down any students that are missing.  Always error on the side of caution.  It does no good to hand in your fire drill attendance as you are walking out the door (defeats the purpose!).  Remember... one more fire drill within the 1st ten days of school but after September starts.

OPEN HOUSE is tomorrow night.  Refer to the schedule tab on the staff blog and click on the 'Open House Schedule'.  All parents are to report to the lecture hall from 6:30 - 6:40 PM for a brief introduction to the evening.  After this, parents follow their child's schedule -- 5 minutes with each teacher, 5 minutes between classes, no advisory.  We will announce class changes.


Please share something you do (or plan to do) on Open House night.  I am certain new teachers would appreciate the input from their veteran peers.  

COMMENT BELOW!