The Monday Message
Office of the Principal; Monday, June 1, 2015
Quote for the Week!
“Around here, however, we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we're curious...and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” ~ Walt Disney
Duty Roster for the Week
Duty Roster
Monday - I Group on duty
Tuesday - (All Teachers on AM & Dismissal Duty)
Wednesday - (All Teachers on AM & Dismissal Duty)
Thursday - No Duty (PD Day ~ EL Institute at CATS)
Friday - No Duty (EL Institute at CATS)
The Week Ahead
Make-Up Exams, Field Day, Awards Day
Monday Schedule - 1-2-3-5-6
Tuesday Schedule - Crew, Field Day
Wednesday Schedule - 4 - Awards Ceremonies (By Grade Level)
Monday (1st) - SPED Promotion Ceremony (9:00-10:30am, Cafe'), Admin Mtg (1:30-2:30, Cafe'), Check-Out Processes, Teachers and Staff can wear jeans
Tuesday (2nd) - Crew, Field Day (8:20-10:45), EOY Luncheon (11:45-1:45pm, Cafe'), Check-Out Processes, Teachers and Staff can wear appropriate shorts
Wednesday (3rd) - Awards Ceremonies (8:30-10:40, Cafe'), Check-Out Processes,
Thursday (4th) - Expeditionary Learning Summer Institute (8:30-4:00pm, CATS)
Friday (5th) - Expeditionary Learning Summer Institute (8:30-4:00pm, CATS)
Email: rsjackso@lexrich5.org
Website: http://www.lexrich5.org/IrmoMS.cfm
Location: Columbia, SC
Phone: 803-476-3600
Facebook: facebook.com/irmomiddleschool
Twitter: @irmomiddle
Final Exams
May 26th ………….Math,SS
May 27th ………….Math, SS
May 28th .…………ELA, Science
May 29th…………..ELA, Science,Explor.Classes
June 1st ...…………Exploratory Classes
June 2nd…….........Make-up Exams
June 3rd……..........Make-up ExamsTuesday, May 26, 2015, 08:15 PM
Irmo Middle School, Wescott Road, Columbia, SC, United States
IMS Expeditionary Learning Summer Institute
Thursday, Jun 4, 2015, 08:30 AM
Center for Advanced Technical Studies (Chapin, SC)
Tasks to Complete This Week!
2. Make sure your gradebooks are up-to-date and accurately reflecting EOY averages.
3. Everyone report to duty as scheduled. See roster here.
4. Read the Monday Message in its entirety (including the articles linked and inserted).
June Staff Birthdays
Barry Green, June 2nd
Will Green, June 2nd
Betty Stephenson, June 6th
Beth Ayers, June 9th
Gwen Edwards, June 10th
Mary Catherine Brown, June 16th
Donald Lorick, June 17th
Patricia Kimball, June 21st
Erica Crumlin, June 22nd
Aimee Slagle, June 22nd
Pam Smith. June 22nd
Lorna Hipps, June 23rd
Please join me in wishing these staff members a happy birthday.
1. Rachel Long - Last Friday, a parent whose student has had a unique middle school experiences paused for a moment to acknowledge the efforts of Dr. Long for always being supportive and results oriented with her student. She stated that because of Dr. Long's efforts, her student now has a renewed interest in school and enjoys coming to IMS everyday. iAM so proud of Dr. Long for being one example of excellence this week. Please join me in recognizing Dr. Long for being GOLDEN. Let's give her a huge iAM shout out.
2. Wendy Jones, Judy Deans, Kerra Mays Fowler, Lisa McNeil, I'esha Odom - Friday afternoon, these loyal employees sprang into action decorating our cafeteria for the 8th Grade social. They put up lights, signs, balloons, table centerpieces, and other decorations. Because of their selfless acts, our students were able to enjoy the annual 8th grade formal. iAM so proud of these ladies for being one example of excellence this week. Please join me in recognizing Windy Jones, Judy Deans, Kerra May-Fowler, Lisa McNeil, and I'esha Odom and the numerous other teachers and student helpers for being GOLDEN. Let's give them a huge iAM shout out.
3. Mrs. Floyd, Mrs. Jensen, Ms. Odom, Mrs. Koon, Mrs. Mays-Fowler, Mrs. S. Inabinet, Mrs. Coker-Choplin, Ms. Garrett, Mrs. A. Davis, Mrs. Deans, Ms. W. Jones, Mr. Hiller, Mr. and Mrs. Hilton, Mr. and Mrs. Waters, Mrs. Smith-Oypio, Ms. Fronhoeffer, Mrs. Smiley, Mrs. Harrison, Deputy Eastman, Mrs. Major-Murphy, Mr. Sava, Mr. Hutto, and Mrs. McNeil - These individuals gave selflessly of their time on Friday night to chaperone the 8th Grade Social. During the evening, they practiced active supervision by taking tickets, checking ID's, mingling with the students, taking pictures, dancing, serving food, and helping them contact their rides at the end of the evening. This evening went off without a hitch. iAM so proud of our 8th Grade Social Chaperones for being examples of excellence this week. Please join me in recognizing them for being GOLDEN. Let's give them a huge iAM shout out.
Attendance Update (Staff) - Last week the teacher attendance rate was 97% (9 absences) and the entire staff attendance rate was 97% (18 absences). Outstanding job! We met our attendance goal again this week. Enclosed for your review is the May attendance data. Take a moment and see how your team/department did.
With the short week ahead, and everyone focusing on field day, awards day, and the EL Summer Institute, it is absolutely critical that everyone make every effort possible to be present each and every day. I will join you in those collective efforts. When you need to be out, please follow the proper "new" protocols and prepare excellent plans for your students. Remember, if you are on duty, that needs to be communicated to your substitute as well.
Check-Out Processes (Reminder)- It is the expectation that all staff personnel assist in the checkout processes. Remember, because of the EL institute, everyone must be checked out by 5pm on June 3rd. If you have any questions, see Mrs. Major-Murphy.
Reminder - Half-Day Schedules
Rigorous and Engaging Instruction - With three days of school remaining, It is a must that all teachers do the following:
1. Keep all students in class and adhere to the 10/10 policy.
2. Provide all students with challenging and engaging instruction.
3. Refrain from getting snappy with students. It will cause a distraction. Use de escalation strategies.
4. Provide multiple opportunities for assessment, reflection, and competition. Redirect their energies.
The Magnet Minute & EL Corner
Tuesday - Remember, students report to Crew for Field Day. This will be an excellent opportunity for you to close out the year with your Crew. See Mrs. McKenzie for strategies and protocols that can be used.
Summer Institute Materials (Reminder)
-Three examples of student work (the finished product that resulted from your project)
-The documents that you provided to kids in order to guide them through the process (i.e. project description, rubric, supporting documents, slides, etc.)
From Mr. Thur
IPAD Return Reminder
If an IPAD has been provided to you for Oral Administration testing, and you have not done so already, can you please return to myself or Mrs. Wise.
Last few IEP meetings
There are a select few IEP meetings these last few days. Please check your calendar daily to see if you are an invited team member, and if so, the time and location.
From Mrs. Inabinet
From Mrs. Young
Closing Thoughts
Have you ever found yourself in a project or involved in an event that wasn’t going well? It’s never too late to decide to turn things around. But you have to decide and then act to turn things around.
What people remember is how you finish. How you finish is how you are remembered and is where your reputation is made. "It doesn't matter how you start, what matters is how you finish." ~ Andy Andrews
You may have heard the parable about the five seagulls sitting on a pier. If one decides to fly away, how many seagulls are left? The answer is five. Why five and not four. Because deciding is not doing. You have to act on your decision to make something happen.
Everyone loves and remembers a Cinderella sports story. It happens in the last two minutes of a basketball game. It happens with a “hail Mary” pass in the last seconds of the football game. It happens in a grand-slam home run in the ninth inning of a baseball game.
These teams could have been absolutely horrible the entire game but in the end execute a game winning play. Do you remember much of the start of the game? No, what you remember is the game winning play.
Apollo 13 was one of the greatest triumphs of the NASA space program since the manned landing on the moon. Nobody remembers the successful and almost perfect launch. As a matter of fact the national television networks didn’t even televise the launch because it had become routine. The event that caused the spacecraft to abort the mission is noteworthy, but what made the story memorable? What people remember is the extraordinary effort that never diminished until the astronauts splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. They had a 5% chance of making it to earth safely.
It’s natural to be unmotivated when you are failing. Pick yourself up by your bootstraps because you are still well positioned for success. Think of the examples. Be an example. #FinishSTRONG!
The three days (plus the EL Summer Institute) are going to speed by everyone so please commit to making them count. Let’s all feel great about what we’ve accomplished so far this year…it’s been amazing…but we’re not done yet!
What do you need to do to finish STRONG? How can I help you? Remember, We are Crew, not Passengers!
Robert S. Jackson, Ed.S., Principal