The Monday Message
Office of the Principal; Monday, May 2, 2016
Quote for the Week!
William A. Ward
Duty Roster
Click here for the Duty Roster
Monday - I Group on duty (PK Jones, D. Major-Murphy PM Duty)
Tuesday - R Group on duty (G. Hutto, PM Duty)
Wednesday - M Group on duty (R. Crothers, PM Duty)
Thursday - O Group on Duty (R. Jackson, PM Duty)
Friday - O Group on Duty (I. Odom, PM Duty)
The Week Ahead
Monday 5/2/16 - Admin Mtg (9:30am, Cafe'), G20-SLT Mtg (3:50pm, Bob McCloy's classroom)
Tuesday 5/3/16 - National Teacher's Day, World Press Freedom Day, Crew (8:20-8:50), Team Meetings (During planning periods, designated classrooms), Faculty Meeting (3:50pm, Cafe'),
Wednesday 5/4/16 - Crew (8:20-8:50), School Leadership Executive Institute (Mr. J. off-campus), Principal's Meeting (12:00-4:00pm, DO Board Room),
Thursday 5/5/16 - Cinco De Mayo, African World Heritage Day, Crew (8:20-8:50), School Leadership Executive Institute (Mr. J. off-campus)
Friday 5/6/16 - No Homework Day, PBIS Meeting (8:30am, Odom's classroom), Teacher Appreciation Cookout (11:30-1:30pm, Staff Lounge)
Saturday 5/7/16 - Greenhouse Cleanup (8:00-12:00)
Email: rsjackso@lexrich5.org
Website: http://www.lexrich5.org/IrmoMS.cfm
Location: Columbia, SC
Phone: 803-476-3600
Facebook: facebook.com/irmomiddleschool
Twitter: @irmomiddle
SCPASS (Science and Social Studies)
Wednesday, May 11, 2016, 08:30 AM
Irmo Middle School, Wescott Road, Columbia, SC, United States
Tasks to Complete This Week!
Tasks to Complete This Week!
1. Prepare for SCPASS and EOC Exams
2. Teach like a champion all week long.
3. Continue working with your underperforming students so we can meet our goals.
4. Attend Tuesday's Faculty Meeting (3:50pm, Cafe')
5. Incorporate at least one of the Global Themes into your classroom activities, lessons, etc.
6. Everyone report to duty as scheduled. See roster here.
May Staff Birthdays
Wesley Coston – May 3rd
James Fanning – May 14th
Renee Williams – May 17th
Nicholas Godfrey – May 17th
Kaitlyn Fugel – May 25th
Elisa Miller – May 28th
Michelle Eichelberger – May 30th
Hannah Goeckner – May 31st
Please join me in wishing these amazing IMS staff members Sretan rođendan
(Happy Birthday in Croatian)!
1. iGrow Team (Thacker, Moore, Herring, Cozzoli, Crocker, Farrell, Garrett, Cunningham)- The iGrow team has been on fire all year long. Friday night, they hosted their Garden Party and Book Launch as a celebration of their learning expedition. We had an amazing turnout of students, parents, staff, and community members. I received rave reviews from everyone all evening. iAM so proud of Team iGrow for their relentless commitment to excellence. When we met with Myra Brooks (Atlantic Regional Director for EL Education) last Thursday, she provided us with some incredible feedback. She stated that the book created by the students and iGrow team and assembled by Mr. Schedler was the best high quality product she has ever seen with a school's first expedition. Team iGrow has definitely embraced new thinking and new practices. Because of their persistence, they accomplished amazing results. Please join me in giving Team iGrow (Thacker, Moore, Herring, Cozzoli, Crocker, Farrell, Garrett, Cunningham) a huge iAM shout out.
2. RIchard Schedler- Mr. Schedler came through for us once again. As sixth grade was working through the plans for their celebration of learning, they consulted Mr. Schedler for ideas and assistance. As he always does, he immediately jumped into action, connecting them with the right industry professionals, helping the students assemble their book, arranging for the delivery of truckloads of mulch, and assisting with the setup and takedown (helping Chris Ranly). iAM so proud of the work continuously done by Mr. Schedler. He is a dedicated professional and a valued member of our staff. Continuously he embraces new thinking and new practices and always gets new and improved results. Please join me in recognizing Mr. Schedler for his amazing work. Let's give him a huge iAM shout out.
3. Haley Calore and all Orchestra students - Trending again this week is Mrs. Calore and our Orchestra students. Saturday, they participated in the Music in the Park Festival at Carowinds. Ms. Calore and our orchestra students performed in an exemplary fashion and as a result, won two SUPERIOR ratings, two 1st PLACE ratings, and BEST OVERALL ORCHESTRA. iAM so proud of the work being done by Mrs. Calore and our orchestra students. Continuously they represent our school in a distinguished manner. This is evidence of continually embracing new thinking and new practices in order to get new and improved results. Please join me in giving Mrs. Calore and all orchestra students a huge iAM shout out.
4. Custodial and Student Nutrition Teams - We experienced a challenging week with standardized testing at IMS. As was the case with schools all across the state, testing ran very long which required alternate schedules. This pushed back lunches, required special schedules, and adjustments in the cafeteria. Mr. Ranly and his team along with Mrs. Burton and her team immediately jumped into action and made sure the teachers and staff had everything we needed to expedite lunches and get students back on schedule. iAM so proud of our custodial and student nutrition teams. Continuously they represent our school in a distinguished manner and will do whatever is asked to service the needs of our school and community. This is evidence of continually embracing new thinking and new practices in order to get new and improved results. Please join me in giving our custodial and student nutrition teams a huge iAM shout out.
Community Service (Saturday May 7, 2016) - We have a local church coming to IMS to help rejuvenate the greenhouse. We would like for as many hands as possible to help. If you schedule permits, please confirm by sending an email to Mrs. Regan Moore.
Grading and Gradebooks - Interims will go home Thursday during Crew. Please make sure your gradebooks are updated and reflect the current averages for all students. Also, it is critically important that all teachers keep gradebook current and that parents are kept abreast of their child's performance.
Leave Requests During Standardized Testing (Reminder) - As we approach the standardized testing season, I want all staff members to know that your daily attendance is instrumental in creating an optimal testing environment. To ensure that we provide the best and most familiar environment for students during testing, I will not be approving any personal leave on these dates:
May 11, 12 - all teachers and staff
May 16, 17, 18, 19 - teachers administering EOC exams
If any employee has a pressing or emergency situation, let's discuss that in person so that I can help provide guidance.
Closing Thoughts
Our closing thought this week focuses on the concept of finishing strong. In the video below, you will see an amazing feat of determination by a runner. You see, during the entire race, her team had fallen too far behind to have any chance of winning. Despite this bleak outcome, she ran the hardest race that she could. How did she fare?
This made me think about our students, grading, and overcoming obstacles. When I spoke to a few students at the 6th grade garden party Friday night, I asked them how they were doing in their classes. They responded "in most classes I am doing well, but I am having problems in math and science." I replied, you still have time, keep working at it. They responded "my teacher said it was too late so I gave up." I couldn't help but imagine how troubling this was for them and their families. When we sanction giving up or commit students to failure, this becomes really easy for them give up and repeat this behavior in their adult lives.
As I contemplated this dilemma, I turned to my weekend reading for reflection and understanding. I ran across a wonderful story that I am sharing with everyone. It is entitled Never Give Up.
Never Give Up
One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and begin to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that fell on his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.
Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and totted off!
Moral: Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick is too not to get bogged down by it. We can get out of the deepest wells by never giving up! Don't give up on our students. We must encourage our students to continue working hard, shake off failure, and persevere through impossible situations. They must learn to overcome all obstacles (homework assignment, assessments, extra work provided by the teacher) and to keep running (working) until the end!
Let's have an amazing week of teaching, learning, and testing. We are Crew, not Passengers!
Robert S. Jackson, Ed.S., Principal