January 8, 2007 Weekly Announcements

Monday
January 8
2:30, Staff Meeting, Room 415

Tuesday
January 9

Wednesday
January 10
7:35, Meeting with 8th grade advisory representatives, main office

8:00, Pupil Accounting Audit, Office Conference Room - Char

2:30, District Professional Development

Thursday
January 11
7:30, Middle School Principal's Meeting, Milwood

7:35-8:54, Extended Advisory Time (Follow 1st Week Schedule)

2:30, Technology Department Meeting

Friday
January 12
8:00, READ 180 Training, Special Education Staff

2:30, PE Department Meeting


The following link, http://www.ciconline.org/monthlycalendar, will get you to a monthly calendar of cable television shows that are educational in nature. They can be recorded for use in your classrooms as supplements to instruction.

Randy Mayfield, one of our evening custodians, has taken a transfer to the CEC. We will see a new face in the building beginning this week I'm told. Randy was in over break to see that the rabbits were fed, he has been a very dependable staff member here for a number of years.

We will be revisiting school-wide behavior and tardiness as areas of focus during our staff meeting on Monday. These were topics identified by staff and the PBS team for review and reteaching prior to break.

We welcome Eric Cadena as a long-term substitute in Music/Drama. He will be subbing for Pam McIntosh who is out on an extended leave. Eric is a secondary music teacher who just graduated from WMU.

I would like to see all the 8th grade advisory representatives at 7:30 on Wednesday in the office conference room, to reinforce the tardiness message. I would then like to see the 7th grade advisory representatives on Wednesday the following week to irenforce the same message.

The special education staff will be out of the building on Friday with READ 180 training. I know this presents a challenge for everyone in the building, but they want the system to be implemented appropriately here. We'll do the best we can with substitutes.

We will have DIBELs testing on January 15. Make-up testing for DIBELs will be on Wednesday, January 17th. Karen has provided information to staff who will be helping with the testing effort.

Wednesday afternoon was identified as a District Professional Development. Please check with your department to determine if there are any meetings you are responsible for.

December 18, 2006 Weekly Announcements

Monday
December 18
1:00 - 3:30, Holiday Reception - Room 415

2:30 - KEA Meeting, Mr. Wine's classroom

3:00, PBS Team Meeting, Office Conference Room

Tuesday
December 19
7:30, Secondary Principal's Meeting, West Main

2:00, Meet w/Central Office re: Academy Program, Ad. Bldg. - Kevin

3:00, Basketball w/Portage Central, 7th grade away, 8th grade home

Wednesday
December 20
10:00, Meeting w/Dr. Brown, re: Administrator PD - Kevin

2:00, Ice Cream advisory recognition, Food Drive, Cafeteria

Thursday
December 21
7:40 - Video Meeting with 8th grade advisory classes

Friday
December 22
1:30, 6th grade school party, cafeteria


Ruth, Char and Kevin cordially invite everyone to our Holiday reception in room 415 Monday afternoon. We want to thank everyone for all their hard work this school year. Stop by after your shift or classes are through and have a holiday dessert and pick up your gift.

Jan passed information along that we are finally getting our overdue library books back to a reasonable situation. Thank-you to everyone who has helped get information to students and reinforced this concern.

We will announce the 5 classes who led us in the food drive during the Morning Show on Tuesday. We'll recognize those advisories at 2:00 on Wednesday in the cafeteria.

Those of you who want to get into the building over the break, see Ruth about a key or check with Barbara about the custodial hours we'll have during the break.

On Thursday I will have a video meeting with 8th graders regarding the new requirements for 8th graders to move on to high school. Please tune into channel 90 if you are an advisory teacher in 8th grade. I would like to have the 8th grade advsiory representatives present in the studio when I have this conversation. They should bring any questions that their classmates might have so that they can all be clarified.

December 18, 2006 Weekly Announcements

Monday
December 18
1:00 - 3:30, Holiday Reception - Room 415

3:00, PBS Team Meeting, Office Conference Room

Tuesday
December 19
7:30, Secondary Principal's Meeting, West Main

2:00, Meet w/Central Office re: Academy Program, Ad. Bldg. - Kevin

3:00, Basketball w/Portage Central, 7th grade away, 8th grade home

Wednesday
December 20
10:00, Meeting wDr. Brown, re: Administrator PD - Kevin

2:00, Ice Cream advisory recognition, Food Drive, Cafeteria

Thursday
December 21
7:40 - Video Meeting with 8th grade advisory classes

Friday
December 22
1:30, 6th grade school party, cafeteria


Ruth, Char and Kevin cordially invite everyone to our Holiday reception in room 415 Monday afternoon. We want to thank everyone for all their hard work this school year. Stop by after your shift or classes are through and have a holiday dessert and pick up your gift.

Jan passed information along that we are finally getting our overdue library books back to a reasonable situation. Thank-you to everyone who has helped get information to students and reinforced this concern.

We will announce the 5 classes who led us in the food drive during the Morning Show on Tuesday. We'll recognize those advisories at 2:00 on Wednesday in the cafeteria.

Those of you who want to get into the building over the break, see Ruth about a key or check with Barbara about the custodial hours we'll have during the break.

On Thursday I will have a video meeting with 8th graders regarding the new requirements for 8th graders to move on to high school. Please tune into channel 90 if you are an advisory teacher in 8th grade. I would like to have the 8th grade advsiory representatives present in the studio when I have this conversation. They should bring any questions that their classmates might have so that they can all be clarified.

December 11, 2006 Weekly Announcements

Monday
December 11
2:30, Staff Meeting, Room 415

Tuesday
December 12
7:45, Meeting - Vivian, Maria, Kevin

2:40, New Intern Meet and Greet, Room 415

3:00, Basketball, Hillside - 7th grade away, 8th grade home

Wednesday
December 13
7:30, meeting with 7th grade advisory representatives, main office

2:30, Social Studies department Meeting

Thursday
December 14
2:45, Civil Rights Program Planning, Gail's Room

Friday
December 15
Backwards Day- School Spirit Day

8th period, 7th grade school party


Our external evaluators, Rick and Helen, will visit our school on Thursday.

I received comments and suggestions from a few staff members on ideas to improve the effectiveness of school parties. We'll take all of those comments into consideration as we work on adjustments for this week's 7th grade party. Please remind students of the requirement to be referral free for two weeks and to have all over due library materials returned. We'll work on coordinating the information from the two lists.

I would like the 7th grade advisory classes to identify a representative and send that individual to a meeting with me on Wednesday, morning at 7:30 in the main office.

This is the last week of our school food drive, do what ever you can to promote this within your advisory class. The top five advisories will be invited to an ice cream sundae party on Tuesday December 19, at 2:00.

This past week, Tuesday, our instrumental students and choir had an outstanding performance in the gym. Rana will run a brief highlight this week during the morning show, Tuesday. She will also run the full performance 6th, 7th and 8th periods on channel 90, Wednesday afternoon if you'd like to tune in to the full program.

I had a call from HR asking about required meetings at our school. I believe the concern came about because of the department meetings I've added to the weekly announcements. I am putting the meetings that were given to me by the department chair at the beginning of the year on the weekly calendar. For the most part those meetings are voluntary, you may turn in a time sheet if you meet afterschool on a day that wasn't mandatory.

The Kalamazoo Gazette is an instructional resource that is available to any teacher for use in their classroom. They are circulating the flyer that indicates how you get the newspaper on specific dates. Remember to indicate you need a sponsorship if you respond. The forms are on the counter in the office.

December 4, 2006 Weekly Announcements

Monday
December 4
2:30, Professional Development, Room 415

Tuesday
December 5
3:00, Basketball, Portage West, 7th grade away, 8th grade home

7:00, Holiday Concert, Gym

Wednesday
December 6
7:30, meeting with 8th grade advisory representatives, office conference room.

2:30, Science Department Meeting

6:00, 8th Grade, KAMSC informational meeting, KAMSC

Thursday
December 7
7:30, Middle School Principal's Meeting, Maple St. - Kevin

2:30, Technology Department Meeting

2:45, Civil Rights Program, Meeting w/K. Brown, Office Conference Room

6:00 Aristotle's Architects Parent Night

Friday
December 8
1:30, 8th grade school party

2:30, PE department meeting


We'll do our weekly drawing from last week on Monday morning at 7:40 on the Morning Show and then again on Friday as we usually do. This will be a make-up from our snow day on Friday.

All of the department meetings listed come from the master schedule that was created when teachers did initial planning at the beginning of the year.

We are working on the holiday food drive over the next two weeks. Items whould be collected in advisory classes and brought to the office where they will be counted and collected. Ice cream sundaes for the top five advisory classes.

We will have visitors in the building on Tuesday as part of a GEAR-UP evaluation.

We are meeting with K. brown this Thursday to firm up some of the details for our February program. If you are a social studies or and English teacher and you would like a class or two to work on brief historical narratives or monologues please let me know before Thursday. We have to decide how to get the student created skits ready for production. Members of the planning committee are needed in this discussion on Thursday.

We will continue our work with PBS during professional development on Monday afternoon, 8th grade teachers will also work

The band and orchestra students will have a rehearsal on Tuesday at approximately 1:00. We will set-up after the basketball game again in the gym for the performance Tuesday night.

Please continue to remind 8th graders that their attendance at Friday's party is contingent on "no referrals" and all their overdue library books turned in. 8th grade teachers will be needed to help with supervision in the cafeteria. We will have some students

November 27, 2006 Weekly Announcements

Monday
November 27
7:30, Parent Meeting - Kevin

8:30, Due Process/504 Meeting - Kevin, Ellen, PJ, Mary

2:30, School Improvement Team Meeting, Room 415

Tuesday
November 28
1:30, Due Process Hearing, Ad. Bldg. - Kevin, Maggie
2:00, Due Process Hearing, Ad. Bldg. - Kevin, Ellen

2:30, Classroom Libraries Workshop, Library

3:00, Boys Basketball, Maple St. - 7th grade, home; 8th grade, away

4:00, Meeting w/K. Brown - Kevin

6:00, Parent Advisory Meeting, Room 415


Wednesday
November 29
7:35, Meeting w/ 8th grade Advisory Reps, Office Conference Room

Thursday
November 30
8:00, BEB training, KRESA - Kevin, Mary, Maggie, Andrea

3:00, Basketball, Portage North, 7th grade away; 8th grade, home

Friday
December 1
Jersey Day

We have established dates for class parties - 8th grade, December 8; 7th grade, December 15; 6th grade, December 22. These events will take place last hour of the day in the cafeteria and will require that any student attending be referral free for a two week period prior to the event. This means the referral policy begins immediately for 8th graders.

We will begin collecting for the Holiday food drive. Again we will use the advisory classes as the primary vehicle for collecting. More information will follow.

Classroom teacher have a wonderful opportunity to get reading material for their classrooms. You simply must attend the Tuesday afterschool workshop in the library. You can get up to $250 worth of material for your room.

We will do EdPerformance testing the next two weeks, Diane put a schedule out to everyone. A copy is pasted to my office door if you are unsure. Some of you will use laptops in classrooms and some will test on laptops in the reclaiming room, refer to the schedule. We hope our wireless system can handle the testing volume.

Our external evaluators Rick and Helen will be here this Friday, as they begin their process.

We have a school improvement team meeting this Monday. We will be discussing grading in the connections classes as one part of the agenda.

Friday is Jersey Day another school spirit day.

If you have an 8th grade advisory please be sure to have a representative attend our meeting on Wednesday morning in the main office.

We will maintain our policy that a parent needs to attend basketball games with a student, through the boy's season. Our first games begin this week.

November 20, 2006 Weekly Announcements

Monday
November 20
2:30, KEA Meeting, Room 415

3:00, PBS Team Meeting, Room 415

Tuesday
November 21

Wednesday
November 22
1/2 Day of school

PM Schedule


A master calendar was given to everyone earlier last week. Diane and Karen pulled together all the various dates and meetings and put it all in one location. Wednesday is identified as a pm schedule for a half day. If you can't locate the calendar, I have posted the dates and meetings on calendar link on my blog.

PM 1/2 Day Schedule
7:35- 7:47 Advisory
7:51 - 8:29 5th period
8:33 - 9:11 6th period
9:15-9:53 7th period
9:57-10:35 8th period

Clarification about card marking, Teachers don't grade Advisory and Connections classes are currently graded with credit/no credit. We will take up the topic of grading connections for the next marking period, at our school improvement meeting on Monday, November 27.

I had an e-mail from a Delton parent complimenting our 7th graders on their conduct and sportsmanship during the scrimmage Thursday afternoon.

We'll do our weekly drawing on Wednesday during our abbreviated advisory period.

We welcome Jo Johnson and Katharine Suttles who will team teach in Pam Souter's English class through the holiday break. Pam's doctor has extended her leave through to January.

If you didn't see Molly's letter - she'll be out until after Holiday Break on a medical leave. Ryland will take over leadership for after school program until then.

November 13, 2006 Weekly Announcements

Monday
November 13
8:00, Parent Visitation - Kevin

9:45, Meeting w/Mentors - Kevin, Jeremiah

1:00, Meeting W/NDK Program, Kennedy Center - Kevin

2:30, Staff Meeting

Tuesday
November 14
7:30, Administrator Walk-Through Training, Milwood

Wednesday
November 15
9:00, Meeting w/SLD Center - Kevin, Karen

Thursday
November 16
7:30, Meeting with 8th Grade Advisory Reps.

Friday
November 17
No School
Comp Day for Conferences


I will be meeting with the NDK providers, Monday, to determine our continued participation in the NDK process as a school.

Apparently our Gazette article is pushed back to be included in the Gazette's special on promise week activities in December, we'll see.

I will overview the walk-through training that district administrators will be trained in at staff meeting on Monday afternoon. We'll have 20 or so administrators visiting classroom on Tuesday morning.

A reminder that we are closing in our United Way campaign. All pledges must be turned in by Monday, November 20. We will draw for a "dinner out" certificate for those who turn their pledges in on time at KEA on the 20th.

Tuesday, we will have a team of staff attending the KAMSC application workshop. We want our school to be able to provide help to students who are capable, so they have a chance to get in.

The staff team from KRESA that reviewed our implementation of PBS last week found a high degree of understanding among staff and students regarding our PBS implementation. It also appeared that teacher did a nice job of communicating the changes in the Student Center last week. Operations in that area were improved.

We will be without the services of an assistant principal on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Vickie and Carol had previous arrangements.

We are in the process of planning for the remodel of the library. This will involve the demolition of our current book room. I want all teachers to be aware that we'll have to relocate book room materials at some point or make decisions to toss dated curriculum material. Jan will post some drawing of the media center reconfiguration.

Conference Attendance Fall 2006

Conference Attendance Spring 2005-2006

Total Enrollment 620
Number of Conferences Held 218
Percentage 35%
___________________________________
Minority Enrollment 400
Conferences Held 119
Percentage 29%
___________________________________
Non-Minority Enrollment 220
Conferences Held 99
Percentage 45%
___________________________________
Conferences Wednesday 10/18/06 5-8 pm 114 conferences
Conferences Thursday 10/19/06 12-3 pm 45 conferences
Conferences Thursday 10/19/06 5-8 pm 51 conferences

November 6, 2006 Professional Development

Professional Development

Monday, November 6, 2006

Introductions/Candybars

Recovery Program

SPED - Assessment and Grading

PBS - Student Center Procedures, Referral Process

Walk-Through Training - Overview

Advisory Grievance - Informational

November 6, 2006 Weekly Announcements

Monday
November 6
7:30, Middle School Principal's Meeting, Hillside - Kevin

7:50, Morning Show Special Edition

12:15, Evaluation of WMU Teacher Preparation Programs, Berhard Center - Kevin

2:30, Professional Development

Tuesday
November 7
1:30, Meeting W/Dr. Brown - Kevin

Wednesday
November 8
9:00, Student Placement Meeting, Ad. Building - Kevin

Thursday
November 9
11:00, Flu Shot Clinic

7:00, Board of Education Meeting

Friday
November 10
Hat Day

Monday morning we will have a special edition of the morning show at 7:50. I need to speak directly with the students about changes they will see in the cafeteria immediately. These changes are a result of students throwing food in the cafeteria on a number of occasions.

Our building is a center for voting on Tuesday. We will gate the hallway leading to the girls locker room for the day. 8th graders will use the 7th grade entry and exit doors on Tuesday. Some students going to band and technology classes will have to use the hallway, we want to deter as much student traffic around the voting area as possible.

The county health department will host a flu clinic on Thursday from 11-1 in our building. Any staff or residents who would like a shot can get one in the school office for $23.

On Tuesday we will have a photographer from the Gazette taking pictures for a story they will run later in the week. The story is to accompany a feature on the PROMISE. I am told by the Gazette reporter who I spoke with at conference time that this will be a positive article.

On Fridy we will have a site visit from the PBS team at KRESA. They will give us feedback about the implementation of our PBS program and will speak with some of the staff members.

Friday is hat day, the 8th grade advisory representatives have chosen a number of school Spirit Days over the semester. This is the first one. Please convey this information to your advisory students. Staff participation is encouraged.

Dr. Brown will recognize our school for making AYP at this Thursday's Board of Education meeting.

Karen and Diane are in Lansing this Monday attending a workshop with the Department of Education. The new school improvement directions from the department are going to be shared.

October 30, 2006 Weekly Announcements

Monday
October 30

Tuesday
October 31
9:00, Due Process Hearing, Milwood Office - Kevin
10:00, Due Process Hearing, Milwood Office - Kevin
3:00, Meeting w/K. Brown, Office Conference Rm. - Interested Drama Staff

Wednesday
November 1
9:00, Engineering Program, Field Trip to Stryker
1:00, Eaton Company Mentors, Orientation
3:00, District PD

Thursday
November 2
7:30, Middle School Principal's Meeting, Hillside - Kevin

Friday
November 3
No School - District PD


We are scheduled for PD both Wednesday and Friday. If you are unsure of your PD assignment for Friday, please see me.

Please remind interested students in your advisory class that dental forms must be returned by this Friday if students are to get scheduled for the service. Dental examinations are scheduled for November 8.

Reminder that Ruth placed United Way pledge forms in everyone's box Friday. We have to collect those forms over the next two weeks.

Patricia Chalmers sent me a e-mail reminding me that gradebook is a requirement for all teachers. She said they have gotten calls from parents who say they are not seeing any grade information posted for their student. Now that we have parents viewing gradebook from their homes the importance of keeping updated information is a priority.

8th grade recovery letter

October, 2006


Dear Eighth Grade Parents and Students,

The main focus of the Kalamazoo Public Schools is to ensure that all students learn and succeed in school. Beginning this year, we are implementing an extended learning plan for eighth grade students who are not meeting grade level objectives in the area of English Language Arts and/or Mathematics. We will carefully monitor your student’s progress at the end of each marking period and inform students and parents if intervention is deemed necessary. Students who receive a failing grade in two or more marking periods will be required to take a recovery course/s beginning the second semester (January 2007), and/or be required to attend summer school before moving on to high school in the fall of 2007.

It is our hope that the recovery program and summer school will assist students in mastering grade level objectives needed to be successful in higher grade levels. Upon successful completion of the recovery program and/or summer school, students will be promoted to high school. Detailed information about the recovery program and mandatory summer school will be sent out to identified students at a later date.

Retention may also be recommended if other interventions are unsuccessful, and only as a last resort, by the parent, teacher, and/or the building team. Prior to retention, a meeting will be held with the parent, student and school administration/designee to explain the need for retention and
to review the EDP (Educational Development Plan) for the upcoming school year.

At the high school level, we have adopted a “no repeat” procedure. Students who fail core required courses will need to make up the credit during summer school, through NovaNET® or through the after school program (On Track) offered through Community Education. Please contact your counselor for additional information. There is a cost for high school credit retrieval.

Home Access Center is a valuable tool in monitoring your child’s progress in school. We encourage you to regularly login to Home Access Center, attend conferences and contact your child’s teachers regarding your child’s progress in school.

Working Together in the Best Interest of Children,


Patricia Coles-Chalmers, Timon Kendall,
Assistant Superintendent Director of Secondary Education

October 23, 2006 Weekly Announcements

Monday
October 23
2:30, School Improvement Team Meeting, Rm. 415

Tuesday
October 24
8:00, Instructional Leadership Meeting, West Main - Kevin

3:00, Meeting w/Mrs. Brown, Office Conference Room - Kevin, Gail, Others

3:00, Basketball, Hillside - 7th away, 8th home

6:00, Parent Advisory Meeting, Rm 415

Wednesday
October 25
10:00, Meeting w/J. Mack - Kevin

2:30, Meeting w/probationary staff, rm. 415

3:45, Football at Portage North

Thursday
October 26
2:30, PBS team meeting, rm. 415

Friday
October 27
7:45, Meeting with substitute principals - Kevin, S.C. staff


We have a School Improvement Team meeting Monday, Dr. Cooley and Dr. Burt from WMU will join us for this meeting. We will process feedback regarding conferences and connections classes as part of our agenda.

The annual United Way campaign has kicked off, Ruth will put the pledge cards in your mail box. I hope everyone will consider a donation to this year's campaign. It is not the amount that matters it is the level of participation we can develop in the building that matters more.

We will meet with Mrs. Brown who is an experienced drama person this week. We are going to talk about the prospect of doing a school play, "Brown -v- the Board of Education." Anyone who is interested is invited to our exploratory conversation on Tuesday after school in the office conference room.

A reminder that you have a two week window to do honor roll recognitions with your team. See Karen or Diane if you need an clarification. Maria McCarty is available to help you also if you are trying to find a place to host a recognition.

The PBS team will meet Thursday after school, we will establish our PBS team goals for the coming year.

I have posted a copy of the letter that was sent out to all 8th grade parents last week. It outlines the process for a "recovery" program. This is to be a program for 8th graders who are failing there classes. there is still a need for greater detail. Mr. Kendall will present the program to us on November 6, during PD.

October 16, 2006 Weekly Announcements

Monday
October 16
11:00, Reporter from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Visit

2:30, KEA Meeting Rm. 415

Tuesday
October 17
7:30, Secondary Principal's Meeting, West Main

3:30, Girls Basketball, 7th grade away, 8th grade home

Wednesday
October 18
8:15, Meeting w/M. Lambert - Kevin

11:00, Due Process Hearing, Office Conference Rm. - Kevin, Maggie

3:00, Due Process Hearing, Administration Building - Kevin

3:45, Football, Maple St., away

5:00, Parent/Teacher Conferences


Thursday
October 19
1/2 Day of School, 10:35 dismissal

11:00, Staff Luncheon, Rm 415

Friday
October 20

A reminder that all KCISF mini grant applications are due October 19, Online application information is at www.kcisfkidsfirst.org.

We finish MEAP testing this Thursday. Each team will have some team time at the end of testing, before dismissal. We wanted to do the IPOD drawing for MEAP attendance at this time. I got one for each team so I'd like the reinformcement to come from teachers on their teams. See me if you have questions.

We will have a staff luncheon on Thursday at 11:00 in room 415. There will also be a dinner available to staff Thursday night at Mt. Zion.

Remember to follow the simple directions Diane and Karen gave about collecting MEAP materials and turning them in.

There were two pieces of information that were mailed out from the administration building over the weekend. One letter gave parents the passwords to access their child's grades, attendance and schedule. The other letter was sent to all 8th grade parents. It outlined a district strategy to provide students with a recovery process when they are failing their classes. Mr. Kendall will present this information at our next staff meeting time.

October 9, 2006 Weekly Announcements

Monday
October 9
6:45, debriefing meeting, rm.415, all staff, voluntary

2:30, Staff Meeting, rm. 415

Tuesday
October 10
10:00, IEP, office conference room

2:30, Meeting w/Dr. Brown - Kevin

3:00, Girls Basketball, Maple St., 8th home, 7th away

Wednesday
October 11
8:00, Meeting w/external evaluators - Kevin

3:00, Intern Meeting, K-Central - Kevin

3:45, Football, Hillside, home

Thursday
October 12
3:00, Girls basketball, Mattawan, 8th home, 7th away

Friday
October 13
1/2 day of school, 10:35 dismissal

end of first marking period


Druing the next two weeks, MEAP testing, we will run the morning show everyday, so that the daily schedule is shared and discussed before the day begins. We will try to begin as close to 7:35 as possible.

Wednesday is a district PD day. You should be aware of any department obligations for professional development.

Thursday is Picture Day we will outline the process for students to have their pictures taken, Monday night at staff meeting.

Richard Wood and Helen Burz will visit with me on Wednesday and will probably walk the school. They are the external evaluators we have relied on for the past two years for our restructuring work. Their analysis has been a significant part of school improvement effort.

Final grades must be posted by 7:30 a.m. Monday, October 16 so that we can have report cards run for parent/teacher conferences.

Announcements week of October 2, 2006

Monday
October 2
2;30, Professional Development, Rm. 415

Tuesday
October 3

Wednesday
October 4
9:00, Meeting w/Dr. Cooley - Kevin, Karen, Diane

3:45, Football at Portage Central

Thursday
October 5
7:30, Meeting w/Middle School Principals, Milwood - Kevin

3:45, Cross Country at Portage West

Friday
October 6

Vickie Winfield will be an administrative sub Monday and Tuesday, Carol Weber will be back with us on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

The district will be mailing out the Home Access codes to parents in the next week. Please be prepared by keeping current grades posted in gradebook.

September 25, 2006 Weekly Announcements

Monday
September 25
2:30, School Improvement Team Meeeting, Rm. 415

3:45, Cross Country, Mattawan - Away

Tuesday
September 26
3:00, Girls Basketball, Portage Central, 7th home, 8th away

6:30, Parent Advisory Meeting, Rm. 415


Wednesday
September 27
Count Day

3:45, Football, Portage West, Home

Thursday
September 28
8:00, KCISF Programs Committee meeting, office conference room - Kevin
1:00, Fire Drill


Friday
September 29

Please be sure that I get the copy of your "Department Doodles" from Friday's meeting.

We will hold our first school improvement meeting of the year in the success center at 2:30, Monday. This is a voluntary meeting, however it would be nice to have representation from all of our teams. We will meet no longer than a hour this first meeting date.

Please remind students in advisory that they are to purchase a ticket to the basketball game in advance from Mrs. Griffin in the student center at lunch time. Tickets are $1.

Our first football game is this Wednesday. There is no admission to football games, but students may not wait in the school for a game. They must be in a program area if they are staying after school, in the building.

I will get all staff a memo outlining attendance and tardiness procedures, so that we can have greater clarity, Friday's PD brought out this issue. Reminder, Wednesday is count day. To be Promise eligible a student must be in attendance by count day.

Teachers who do not have a functional phone should use their emergency call buttons to contact the office if they are in need of assistance in a classroom. We are working to resolve the problem across the building.

September 22, Staff Development

Outcomes

Review of school culture
Clarification of referral process
Outline of MEAP testing process
Support new technology learning
Identification of department leadership and curriculum development progress

Agenda

8:00 Breakfast/Introduction
8:30 Technology Station I
9:10 Technology Station II
9:45 MEAP WorkShop
10:45 School Culture Review
11:15 Lunch
12:00 PBS Review and Problem Solving
1:30 Department Meetings

Vocabulary

Differentiated Instruction
PBS
SWISS

Feedback

Staff conversations
Department task form

September 18, 2006 Weekly Announcements

Monday
September 18
2:30, KEA Meeting, rm. 415

2:45, Meeting w/J. Longpipper - Kevin

Tuesday
September 19
7:35, Morning Show

10:00, Meeting w/D. Jones - Kevin

Wednesday
September 20
7:45, Disaster Drill

Thursday
September 21
7:35, Morning Show

Friday
September 23
No School - Professional Development Day

______________________________________________
Carol Weber will be with us again this week as assistant principal in Jim's absence

Matt agreed to serve as a KEA rep. and Tony said he'd help Matt out, Tony has 8 years in as a building AR. You need to confirm who will be your representative to make it official - so teachers should plan to attend the KEA meeting on Monday afternoon.

Monday we will conduct a hall sweep after one of the passing times to reinforce "to class on time" behavior. Students will be taken to the cafeteria, where they will be issued an afterschool detention. Their detention slip should serve as their pass back to class.

We ran out of printer ink in the ID machine, so there are some students who have not been issued an ID. We will start to reinforce IDs as amandatory item when everyone has been issued one.

We will have technology and MEAP topics as a focus for our professional development day on Friday.

All classrooms should be entering attendance in the TAC, if you are experiencing any problems let Char know. A hard copy should be generated and turned into Char for the first 4 Fridays, Thursday this week because of PD.

We are scheduled for a disaster drill on Wednesday at 7:45, this will take put just a few minutes. It will be announced over the PA and we'll move to the disaster locations in the hallways, kids sit down and get quiet. Once a hall is in place you'll be dismissed back to class. We have to conduct 2 of these drills a year along with 8 fire drills.

Please discuss Friday as a non-student day with your classes, I believe many parents did not get this information as the calendar came late this year.

Late tickets will be issued to students who are late after lunch because of lunch lines. Please dispose of them as you get them.

September 11, 2006 Weekly Announcements

Monday
September 11

1:00, Meeting w/WMU MSW interns - Mary, Kevin, Maggie, Ellen, Cheri

2:30, Staff Meeting, Room 415

Tuesday
September 12


Wednesday
September 13

8:00, GEAR-UP Leadership Meeting, West Main - Diane/Karen/Kevin

Thursday
September 14

10:00, Attendance Meeting - Kevin/Cheri/Char

1:00, Fire Drill

Friday
September 15

8:00, GEAR-UP Annual Meeting, Fetzer Center - Kevin/Diane/Karen

We will use our standard schedule with a 25 minute advisory period from this point forward, bells should ring at the scheduled times.

Reminder have Open House scheduled for Thursday, Spetember 21, from 6:30-8:00.

If you are a KEA staff and have the slighest interest in serving as a union rep. please let me know, we haven't had one for the past couple of years and we really should have a representative.

Here is a link to a Boston Globe article on teacher blogs, CLICK. It is becoming a popular communication tool among teachers. I see that a number of you are using this as a communication tool also.

English teachers should see Jan in the library to set up an orientation day for your classes. We will do the student IDs at the same time we overview the procedure for checking out books. I'd like to see all classes scheduled by the end of the week so we can use the IDs in lunch lines.

We are getting bettter but we will still have some kids coming late to class after lunch, please admit them on their word until we get the system working better.

I am trying to identify all the bad phone lines in the building. There is a map on my office door, circle your room and write your name if the phone is not working. We have submitted work orders and I'm trying to get this work done as soon as possible.

September 4, 2006 Weekly Staff Announcements

Monday, September 4
Labor Day

Tuesday, September 5
1st day of school - 1/2 day - advisory all day
9:00, video announcement
10:00 Assembly
12:00, Meeting with Building Mentors, Office Conference Room
1:00, Special Education Para educators meet at Ad. Bldg.
1:30, Meeting on Connections Curriculum - Kevin, Karen, Diane, Maggie, Ellen

Wednesday, September 6
Cafeteria Rotations
9:00, 6th grade team
9:22, 7th grade team
9:45, 7/8 team, Aristotle's Architects
10:07, 8th team, Techno Titans
10:29, 6/7 team, Cyber Knights

Thursday, September 7
10:00 Fire Drill

Friday, September 8
7:35, 1st weekly raffle, Morning Show

________________________________________

• We will meet all students outside on Tuesday morning and bring them into the building teacher by teacher, you can pick up your name stick in the student center, if you don't already have it. In the event of rain we will meet students in the respective grade level lobbies. Teachers should be in the grade level entry areas by 7:30.
• Beth sent an e-mail out with brief outline of 1st day assembly, we will plan to dismiss directly from the gym to buses. Students should bring dismissal items to assembly.
• On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we will follow the modified schedule for extended advisory, this was an item in your teacher handbook. This will allow advisory teachers to cover the first week lessons.
• I still have to receive a signed handbook acknowledgement form from each teacher so that we are clear about all teacher expectations and procedures.
• On Wednesday we have a tight schedule to bring teams into the cafeteria and review procedures we will use at lunch beginning on Wednesday. We need teams to be prompt and to adhere to the scheduled timeline.
• If we are running late at lunch this first week (highly likely) an announcement will be made over the PA excusing students to class.
• I would like to receive a copy of all team minutes and a schedule of when your team is planning to meet. I received minutes from Team 7/8 and 6 regarding last weeks conversations. It would be best if you could e-mail me those notes.
• We will be setting up a schedule to have student pictures taken over the next week and a half for student IDs.
• We will begin the breakfast program on Wednesday.
• Make sure to collect planners and schedules before going to the assembly on Tuesday.
• We will call teacher' classes over the PA to the assembly at approximately 10:00.
• Mark and Chris will try and get around Tuesday morning to be sure that everyone can tune into the video announcement at 9:00.

Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please.
Mark Twain

August 29, 2006 Staff Development

Topic: Same Page, Technology, Staff Expectations

Outcomes:

Staff understanding of school procedures
Knowledge of how to create a web log
Staff understanding of the Discipline process


Instructional Plan:

Large Group overview
Team Rotation to learning stations
Individual readings of material
Questioning of content

Vocabulary:

Web Log (Blog)

Feedback:

Completions of expectations acknowledgement

August 28, 2006 Weekly Announcements

Monday
August 28
Teachers work in rooms, all day

Custodial Interviews, 8-10:30 - Kevin

Tuesday
August 29
8:00, Building Professional Development, Meet in Room 415

Wednesday
August 30
District PD, Teachers should plan to report to the district site for their curriculum area.

8:00, GEAR-UP Meeting, West Main – Kevin, Diane and Karen

10:00, Meeting w/science teachers, new lab

12:00, Meeting w/SPED staff, Student Center

6:30 – 8:00 Back to School Ice Cream Social

Thursday
August 31
Teachers work in Rooms all day

3:30, Phone Conference - Kevin

Friday
September 1
Labor day break - check with Kevin for weekend hours or arrange to get exterior key for weekend entry

• Staff should wear back to school shirts to Ice Cream Social and on the 1st day of school. We'll pass them out at PD this week.

Summer Staffing Update

Chad Yager, Resignation
Kim Porco, Resignation
Gary Swartz, New Hire, SPED
Phil Hopewell, New Hire, SPED

Randy Thomas, Resignation
Rana Findling, New Hire, Video Comm.

Randy Rochester, Transfer to Winchell
Julie Jenkins, New Hire, Science

Added Technology Teacher
Robert York- Returning from leave of absence

Added Art Teacher
Domenic Centofanti, New Hire, Art

Added 1.0 PE Teacher
Jane Hunter, Voluntary Transfer

David Bowlby, Custodian, Retired
Barbara Horton, New Day Custodian

Conference Attendance Spring 2005-2006

Total Enrollment 570
Total Number of Conferences Held 157

Percentage 27%
___________________________________
Minority Enrollment 368
Conferences Held 74

Percentage 20%
___________________________________
Non-Minority Enrollment 202
Conferences Held 83

Percentage 41%
___________________________________
Wednesday 3/15/06 5-8 pm 97 Conferences
Thursday 3/16/06 12-3 pm 46 Conferences
Thursday 3/16/06 5-8 pm 14 Conferences

Professional Development Dates Summer 2006

Teachers will be scheduled on the following dates for summer staff development:

June 16 - Curriculum Development
June 19 - RAP Training
June 20 - RAP Training
June 21 - RAP Training
June 22 - Curriculum Development

August 21 - Team building, Team Effectiveness, Developing Classroom Learning Expectations
August 22 - Positive Behavior Supports, "How we handle behavior in the building," Advisory Curriculum, Student Planners
August 23 - Staff Expectations, Staff Handbook, Technology Usage, Inclusion
August 24 - Healing Racism, New Teacher Orientation
August 25 - Healing Racism

August 28 Work in rooms
August 29 Building PD, Teacher Expectations, "Same Page"
August 30 District Curriculum, PD
August 31 Work in rooms