Busy is when your schedule owns you!

Winfield Middle School

Sept 28 – Oct 2

Do you own your schedule? Or does your schedule own you?

 My brother sent me this shot of the bridge. The years it took to build it remind me that overnight success takes five years.  We are on that path!  Keep the focus and goal in mind.

We are just about done with the Homecoming 2015 festivities.  I am still impressed by the attitudes, cooperation and flexibility of staff and students alike.  Thank you for allowing me out of the building on Thursday.  Special Kudos go to our counselor, who does so much more then just counsel!

Will we be able to review the  Peer Mistreatment Handbook with students in Ac Lab next week?

Friday 9/25

Assembly details here

The Motivational Quotes/ posters and flyers will NOT need to be brought down to the gym today.

Please begin to decorate the hall above the lockers near your classrooms.  Work with neighboring teachers on a rough plan, please.  Feel free to act individually or in concert with others on a theme or message.

6^th hour has coverages

Saturday 9/26

Softball Tournament at Troy at 8:00am

10:00am Parade begins at the Middle School and convoys to the High School

10:30 – 12:30pm Carnival/Dunking Tank, Booths in the back lot at the High School

1:00pm Homecoming Kickoff

Monday 9/28

Binder Team Work

Crider will be presenting to the 6^th graders in Cosby’s social studies class

Volleyball at Home @ 5:00pm

Cross Country at Elsberry by 4:00pm

Tuesday 9/29

Crider will be presenting to the 6^th graders in Cosby’s social studies class

Football v Louisiana at home @ 5:00pm

Wednesday 9/30

Crider will be presenting to the 6^th graders in Cosby’s social studies class

Quick fundraiser assembly during Ac Lab

Fall Fundraiser Kickoff details here on their flyer

We would like to get additional books for the library, sound equipment for the gym and depending on the amounts earned, Student Activities.  Great Prizes are also available for top sellers.

Softball at Elsberry @ 5:00pm

Primary has Collaboration day and lots of subs being used

Thursday 10/1

Crider will be presenting to the 6^th graders in Cosby’s social studies class

Middle School Leadership Team at 7:15am in Daughtery’s Room

MS Softball Party

Volleyball to host Hannibal @ 5:00pm

Student of the month Nominations for Board of Education

Intermediate has Collaboration day and lots of subs being used

Friday 10/2

Crider will be presenting to the 6^th graders in Cosby’s social studies class

Upcoming Events

See this district calendar maintained by Stacy Diederich for up to the minute details

Early Release

October 7

Dessert first, PBiS Report Back, Content Binder Time, (evaluate, planning, needs, etc) Co-Teaching Time to plan, Exit Survey on Google Sheets

Co-Teacher Time next PD session

New Teacher Bio

Parents have asked for some way to get to know our new staff.  Linked here, you will see a brief Bio from Mr. Crump.  Feel free to begin and think about what yours might look like when it comes around. We will begin with the staff new to the building this year. 

Staff introduction Schedule till Winter Break - Please submit a bio and photo.  I can help with the photo but you would probably write a better bio than me.

Crump – Sept 24

Davis – By Oct 8^th

Harmon – by Oct 22nd

Farhat – Nov 5^th

Stroud – Nov 19^th 

Conclusion

Thanks for the great start to the year. Feel free to share feedback, preferences and ideas on how to continue to grow our students and ourselves, even thinking outside the box.  For instance, the 6th graders may even consider something just for the new cohort of current 5th graders!

October begins this week!  WOW.

Tom  

Peer Mistreatment or Bullying?

 Peer Mistreatment or Bullying?

From sunrise to...

Thanks for the building support while I had to miss Thursday.  Mixed emotions surround those types of events and I wish that on no one.

Instead of a Google Docs for this activity, please just email where you went during your Early Release time a few days ago on Wednesday.  Possible choices were, Co-Teaching, U of I at the High School, Mandated Reporter Training or other…???  Send me a note describing where you went …

Examples of Great Communication

Terri gave our building a great shout out when leaving here on Monday after the binder meetings.  She mentioned the contributions of the new staff and continued support of our prior teachers are creating a pleasant environment for her and the students.  Well done.

Random: How could we get to the point where we may really hear, “There is too much communication coming out of that middle school?”  But what aspirations!

Parent Communication
What would be the best way for us to connect with parents?  Let's explore possible methods for us to keep parents in the loop.  Of course, we would never really hear, "too much communication from the middle school," but that would be an admirable goal. Please be thinking of how you might best communicate the SWBAT components to parents for the week.  Let's develop a plan for that to happen.  Possible Ingredients Weekly - Consistent - From Teachers or Teams - Google Docs..??? (This is still a work in progress.  Staff input is important here)

Friday ( September 18^th)

End of the progress cycle. Grades due Sunday at 5:00 pm please.

Saturday

Troy 7^th grade volleyball tournament, at Troy Middle School

Monday

HOMECOMING - BLACK OUT DAY

Binder teams – Best lessons, Student work, eValuate Data, department contribution to parent communication

Progress reports to go home with a letter from the superintendent regarding military issues

Middle school weekly blog regarding parent details – please consider the best way for you or your team to contribute

Tuesday

HOMECOMING – TWIN DAY

Administrators meeting at Central Office at 9:00 am – guests, junior achievement  

Football to Bowling Green – 5:30 PM

Volleyball to Montgomery County – 5:30 PM

Wednesday $$$

HOMECOMING – DRESS LIKE A HERO (no cape)

We are a week out from the end of the month and our first round of data should be just about ready for submission.

Computer training at CO at 1:00 PM

Softball at Wright City 5:00 pm

PEPSI with the PRINCIPAL at the Middle School – Topic: Communication

Thursday

HOMECOMING – SUPERHERO WITH CAPES

Mandated reporter training  after school at Intermediate library

MS Softball at Van Far 5:00 PM

Friday

HOMECOMING – CLASS COLOR DAY 6^th white, 7^th red, 8^th black

Ac Lab Challenge assembly hosted by Ms Gracey – details to follow

Saturday

HOMECOMING PARADE at 10:00  Clubs, Groups, Teams, Grades etc  are invited to participate.

Softball Tournament at Troy High School 8:00,  9:45, 11:30 till 1 pm

High School Homecoming at the High School – Kick off at 1:00

... Sunsets, we are all so very busy.  Thank you for all you contribute to the success, culture and positive attitude around the building.  Choosing the positive over the negative results in such a dramatic beneficial impact on our campus and students.  Thank you.

Upcoming Middle School Events

Crider Presentations on Healthy choices in the 6^th Grade social studies classes. Stroud ensure your students get these sessions as well please.

PD Request for Co-Teachers to invest some time together planning (Two weeks off, September has 5 Wednesdays)

https://carousel.dropbox.com/photos/cc/FYUkLZo3rDsqmi7

What motivates kids? Social Currency!

 Social Currency?

  

Heard in the halls, “I get to be the football manager!  That is the coolest thing ever!”

Very inexpensive currency right there

September 14-19, 2015

Social Currency - Middle School students are often enthused and motivated by the amount of "social currency" they can earn form their teachers and each other.  Deposits and withdrawals are tallied continuously and mentally by each student. Motivations shift from extrinsic to intrinsic after sufficient social capital has built up.

We are on a fine path to becoming that school using social currency for student deposits to help influence behaviors.  Acts of integrity are seen often.  Ms. Dixon even came down today to award one of our students with a special shout-out for a bus situation.  Warriors of Wonder have been submitted and praise offered.  Students seem respectful, especially when we use the phrase, “in a minute, but not yet…” Students even hold the door open for others every now and then, all acts stemming from a well-funded social capital account.

 

Thanks for the shout Ms Dixon!  We really appreciate it.

Monday

Binder Team Agenda

                We will work on our goals, student data, eValuate, and best lessons presented recently.

CC to Bowling Green

Softball hosts Troy at 4:30

Volleyball hosts Bowling Green @ 5:00 here

Tuesday

We will have our first PBiS Meeting of the year:  Topics will include Training, Tier 1 Rewards and

Let’s move the meeting to Daugherty’s Room for computer use.

Sped Training at Central Office

Board Meeting

Football Game against Troy at our house -  Start time 5:00 pm –

 Wednesday

                Early Release Day

                                Our Wednesday Guest Speaker has postponed so we will build our agenda as follows:
 NEW PLAN
Co-Teaching Training for all Co-Teachers and Sped Teachers at Central Office
All other teachers to High School for UoI work with our RPDC Rep Tom Hairston
Please let me know which you plan on attending 

1.       Dessert First - Technology, Google Class, Google Docs etc

2.       PBiS Details

3.       Content/Binder Time – Planning, collaboration, eValuate, planning, Dates or what your team may need specifically

4.    Exit survey-binder report on Google Sheets

                Softball @ Warrenton Jr High at 4:30

Thursday

                Volleyball at Warrenton @ 5:00

                Softball hosts Elsberry at 5:30

Friday

                Jeans Day – Yeah!

Saturday

                7^th Grade Troy Volleyball Tourney at 9:00

Upcoming

                Homecoming and Spirit Week is next week, Sept 21-26…  Assembly, fun outfits, daily

                WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO BUILD A FLOAT FOR HOMECOMING.

                                IDEAS? Clubs, library, Stuco, WJHS, Yearbook, Cheer... ???  Grade Level

                Red Ribbon on Radar for October

 

Things are getting busy! Anything I forgot?

The district has have a big district calendar that the AD office maintains.   

It has all kinds of things on there.  You can even link it to load to your calendar.

From @googledocs to @googleclass???

T: What is your favorite class?  

S: Lunch!

 

Lunch time for students is talk time, relax time, story time and fun time.  It's also one of my favorite times to work with big portions of the student body, every day! 

 

Blog #8  Drills,10% and From Google Docs to Google Class!?

Winfield Middle School is becoming “that” school.  I will start saving Bens for our impending celebration. The students have also asked that the "Gray become Pink."  You may have heard “Pink is the new Gray” referring to me turning my gray pink!  If we meet goals, such as attendance, behavior and academics, my gray will go Pink and Mixs’ non-gray will go purple.  We have not finished articulating the goals yet.  With our current climate, I see us reaching goals!  Great start.  Thank you.

Summary To Do List:

1.      Exit Slip from NEE**

2.      Building Goals Action Steps in department from Goals*

3.      Club Sign up in Ac Lab***

Lock Down, Intruder Drill or Stay Put?

The Intruder Drill took 2:01 minutes.  The longest part was taking the walk through the buildings.  Lights were off, doors were locked and the Deputy gave the PE Dept a great shout for completing the drill so quickly!  Today’s Intruder Drill is separate than the Lock-Down Drill, that keeps everybody in their present location and NOT out in the halls. We also may do another variation called “Stay Put status” for a sustained situation where a distant threat may exist but we can proceed teaching while remaining diligent. Doors would be locked but we could continue with lights on working. Students would be released through the office intercom.  Please let me know if that is clear.

Friday, September 4^th  will be the end of the first 10% of the school year.  We have laid out great routines. Students are engaged and teachers are creating lessons that allow the students to participate, interact, talk and wrestle with the content.

Dessert First: After Ms. Guile read her excerpt Wednesday, we went right into the NEE indicator activity.  Thanks for being patient while we worked out the details on the skits.  It was great to see examples depicting the various levels of the indicators.  It was also fun to let everyone contribute and share in various roles and capacities.  Please ensure you complete the feedback on the Google Docs.  I took over the part Beth and Sheri were supposed to do.  Sorry.

Speaking of Google Docs:  Ms Hines has set up a Google Class for all our staff work, trying to keep up with Daugherty.  Let’s look there for our mutual cloud documents.  We can use it like a college class blackboard.  Try this link from the Chrome Browser and see if you can join our class. https://classroom.google.com/u/0/c/MjA3MDY1NzAz

To join a new class when logged in as Firstlast@winfieldriv.us   CLASS CODE: uuyoz6

Daugherty is already in!  Other buildings are watching us and trying to keep up.  Let’s not get too far ahead but steadily work though our details.

Club Day Details:  We are still trying to align details surrounding our Club Days but we don’t want to rush into something not yet completed or thoroughly planned.  Let’s have the 8^th graders pick their club preferences, both teachers and students on Monday, 7^th on Tuesday and 6^th on Wednesday.  See the new Google Class forms above for details.  Our current best, but not perfect day, is the last Wednesday of the month.  Students may go to a club if they are pre-registered, in good standing and have all their assignments finished. ***

As teachers, we bring out all the stops and try to really enjoy ourselves.  Buffalo anything, Mexican everything and homemade desserts!
 

Tardy Tally – Please do NOT use SIS to log tardies at this time.  Please, use a separate grade book till notified otherwise.

UPCOMING AGENDA

Friday:  Our PBiS rep is slated for today.  Details will follow.

Labor Day: Be careful but have fun.  No binder team this week.

Tuesday: I will have an admin meeting at central office.  It may take a while.  We have a guest from NEE.  We may try and gather more details on the UOI and our corresponding obligations.

*Wednesday:   HIGHJACKING:  We are not able to meet Monday and I will be in meetings most of Tuesday.  Would Binder Teams meet on Tuesday and do one thing, please? Review this document together and if teams are able to finish action plans great!  If Binder Teams are not able to finish action plans, I may need to meet with teams on Wednesday.  If your team gets the PLANNING portions completed at the bottom of the page, we could cancel our Wednesday High- jacking meeting!  Just let me know ahead of time.

First football game, also at Home v Warrenton. Wed PM

Thursday: Building Action Plans are due to Central Office.  Those are the lower portion to these goals we looked at Wednesday.  Please look into tabbed portions and adjust it accordingly.   Thanks.

There is also a Superintendents Parent Meeting on Thursday at Central Office at 6:00pm.

Friday: Currently clear

Upcoming:  PBiS for Sept 15^th, AM in the Library.  Details to follow.

**NEE Summary Room Notes here and link to EXIT SLIP:  

1.2 Cognitive Engagement

1. Ineffective; give instructions; students left to work w/o appropriate guidance

2. Appropriate, MOST students; active engagement (perhaps one student at a time, but all may answer) 

3. Effective, ALL students; allowed work time and students engagement required/needed; different strategies 

5.1 Affected Engagement

1. Few strategies, lack of care, students appear to do what they want

2. Some success, includes a 'few' students that are engaged; external motivation?

3. Multiple strategies, student centered, appear motivated; intrinsic motivation; inspiring lesson

5.2 Behavioral Engagement

1. Few; teacher may be unprepared; ineffective time management

2. Some; procedures given (no processing time); teacher is managing time rather than understanding

3. Most; students know routines/ procedures; working and on task; teacher monitors & checks for understanding;   uses transitions effectively

7.4 Formative Assessment

1. Seldom; poor quality assessment with no time for re-teach or 'think-time;' teacher may not observe understanding

2. Occasionally/ Quick; assessment given, but students are left to their own; no follow-up

3. Often; checked for understanding multiple times; had a visual; ALL students involved

Tom McCracken

Ancora Imparo