The Monday Message
Office of the Principal; Monday, February 15, 2016
Quote for the Week!
Duty Roster
Click here for the Duty Roster
Monday - Teacher Professional Development Day - No duty needed
Tuesday - R Group on duty (PK Jones, PM Duty)
Wednesday - M Group on duty (G. Hutto and K. Mays-Fowler, PM Duty)
Thursday - O Group on Duty (V. Sava, PM Duty)
Friday - M. Group on Duty (I. Odom, PM Duty)
The Week Ahead
February is African American History Month
Monday 2/15/16 - Teacher Forum (8:30-11:30 @ Chapin MS), Work in Classrooms (1:00-3:30pm)
Tuesday 2/16/16 - Tacky Dress Day, Crew (8:20-8:50), Admin Mtg (9:00-11:30, Cafe'), No Team Mtgs (get caught up in your classrooms), Department Mtgs (3:50pm, Department Chair Classrooms)
Wednesday 2/17/16 - 70's Dress Day, Crew (8:20-8:50), International Digital Learning Day, Principal's Mtgs (11:30-4:30, DO)
Thursday 2/18/16 - Favorite Character Dress Day, Crew (8:20-8:50), Crew Leader Mtg (3:50pm, FCR), School Renewal Plan Committee Mtg (3:50pm, Media Center),
Friday 2/19/16 - Neon Dress Day, Grounds Maintenance (park vehicles away from the curbs), Cultural Competency PD w/ Dr. Elam (8:30-10:00am)
Saturday 2/20/16 - Irmo Middle Tedx Event (12:00-2:00pm, Cafe')
Email: rsjackso@lexrich5.org
Website: http://www.lexrich5.org/IrmoMS.cfm
Location: Columbia, SC
Phone: 803-476-3600
Facebook: facebook.com/irmomiddleschool
Twitter: @irmomiddle
Tasks to Complete This Week!
Tasks to Complete This Week!
1. All certified staff attend D5's Teacher Forum. Support staff, report to IMS and work in areas.
2. Update your gradebooks (weekly). I will be running a gradebook report this week to see where we stand.
3. Attend Tuesday's department meetings (after school).
4. Incorporate at least one of the Global Themes into your classroom activities, lessons, etc.
5. Everyone report to duty as scheduled. See roster here.
6. Read the Monday Message in its entirety (including the articles linked and inserted). Also view the video clips, reflect, and adjust your practices where needed.
District Five Teacher Forum
2. Sessions will begin promptly at 8:30am
3. There will be sign-in sheets by school. All certified personnel must attend and sign in.
4. Support staff are to report to IRMO MIDDLE.
5. Because of the number of certified employees in the district, there will be a shortage of about 600 parking spaces. IMS staff should meet at the school and then carpool. Arrange this with your teams and departments well in advance.
6. Dr. Hefner expects everyone’s enthusiastic support
7. Click here for additional information
Monday, Feb 15, 2016, 08:30 AM
Chapin Middle School
Data Team Fishbowl
The Fishbowl allows observers of an actual, authentic Data Team meeting to be active listeners - making notes of best practices in collaboration and data discussion - and then, at the end, allows observers to offer positive, constructive feedback about what they have seen and heard during the session.
The Fishbowl consists of the Data Team conducting a meeting in real time with current data. The observers are fellow teachers and Data Team Facilitators from other teams in the school who surround the outside of the Data Team.
Administrators are an important component of a successful Fish Bowl, as well; their participation signals a culture of support and sets the school’s expectations.
Click here for the link to mandatory reading documents
Tuesday, Feb 23, 2016, 10:00 PM
Media Center, Irmo Middle School
SD5LRC Summer Professional Development Calendar
Monday, Jun 6, 2016, 12:00 AM
Various SD5LRC Locations
February Staff Birthdays
Regan Moore, February 6th
Alicia Gordon, February 20th
Awatif Ismail, February 23rd
Chris Ranly, February 29th
Please join me in wishing these amazing IMS staff members Hauʻoli lā hānau (Happy Birthday in Hawaiian)!
1. Irma Richardson- All year, whether she is on duty or not, Mrs. Richardson goes out of her way to make sure students and parents start their day on a positive note. She opens car doors, hands out peppermints, wishes parents a great day and extends love and affection towards our students. Last week, we had a parent to acknowledge the hard work that Mrs. Richardson is doing. He acknowledged he was having a bad day but when we encountered Mrs. Richardson's cheerfulness, he couldn't help but change is emotions and embrace a positive outlook for his day. iAM so proud of the work that Mrs. Richardson is doing both inside her classroom and around our campus. Regularly, she tells me "I love my job." Please join me in recognizing Mrs. Richardson for the outstanding work that she is doing at IMS. She definitely embraces new thinking, acquires new practices, and obtains new results. Let's give her a huge iAM shout out.
2. Marilyn Constante - This past week was Bus Driver Appreciation Week. Mrs. Constante took it upon herself to create little searcy bags to distribute to our bus drivers. She wanted to let them know how much we sincerely appreciate their work. iAM so thankful the many things that Mrs. Constante does on a daily basis. She routinely goes out of her way to make sure our school functions effectively. Please join me in recognizing Mrs. Constante for the amazing work she does. This is another example of embracing new thinking and acquiring new practices in order to obtain new results.
3. Tina Stevens and Team! - Mrs. Stevens has put in a lot of work over the past few weeks in preparing for and organizing the Valentine's dance. The event was well attended by students and staff personnel. In addition, Mrs. Stevens sent out an email thanking the following individuals for helping out - Mrs. Redick, Ms. Bellucci, Mr. Fanning, Ms. Dobbe, Dr. Gary, Mr. Noble, Mrs. Hilton, Mrs. Major-Murphy, Mr. Hutto , Mr. Sava, Mr. Jackson, Mrs. Day, Ms. Frohnhoefer, Ms. Cozzoli, Mrs. A. Inabinet, Mrs. S. Inabinet, Officer Eastman, Mr. Cioffi, Ms. Blau, Mr. Hutchins, Mrs. Richardson, Mr. Winfree, Mrs. Moore, Mrs. Thacker, Ms. O'Reilly, and Mrs. Burton. iAM so thankful for Mrs. Stevens and everyone mentioned about for your tireless work for kids. I am confident that we would not be able to do any of what we do without your enduring support. Please join me in recognizing everyone listed above for their dedication to children.
4. Alicia Gordon - This past week, Mrs. Gordon had an amazing learning experience going on in her classroom. The learning target was for students to understand the importance of algorithms to robots.Students made sandwiches (programmers) that their partners (robots) had to duplicate using their written instructions (pseudocode). She even shared some images of the engaging, hands-on learning. iAM so proud of Mrs. Gordon for raising the bar in her classes. Routinely, she uniquely creates experiences that foster inquiry and problem solving in her classes. Please join me in recognizing Mrs. Gordon for continuously embracing new thinking and new practices in order to get new and improve outcomes. Let's give her a huge iAM shout out.
In-School Suspension - Teachers, it has been brought to my attention that we are not submitting assignments for students assigned to ISS. We need your help in making sure students keep up with their class assignments while serving an in school suspension. If we don't provide them with work to do for the entire time students are assigned to ISS, it weakens the consequences and encourages students to repeat the behavior. Moreover, they get further behind in their classes which impacts academic performance. I am asking all teachers to check the ISS roster when it is sent out and submit assignments to Ms. Jones in a timely fashion. If you have any questions about this request or some ideas on how to streamline this process, feel free to see any of the administrators.
Holding Students After-Class - Teachers, it has come to my attention that it is routine practice to hold students after class to finish a test or project. Please refrain from doing this as it leaves kids unsupervised in the hallways. Also, it interferes with the start of the next class. If you have a long assessment, coordinate your planning with Mr. Hutto or your grade level administrator.
Closing Thoughts
Our closing thoughts are centered on the the notion of developing an excellence supply kit.
As I sat and contemplated the closing thoughts for this week's message, I couldn't help reflecting on Ms. Frohnhoefer's presentation that we all heard two weeks ago. In particular, I wondered if were required to go through this experience, what would we take with us to ensure that our experience was successful. For many of us, the notion of this type of experience is way out of our comfort zones. For others, they would simply plan accordingly and enjoy the adventure.
I couldn't help but draw a simple parallel for our daily experiences at IMS. Some of us come to work everyday with an positive and infectious attitude. When you encounter them throughout the day, you are immediately infected with their positivity. Others, you sense immediately the weight they are carrying and wonder, what you can do to help them. I then wondered if we could develop an excellence supply kit for teachers and staff, what would it contain. What would be in your kit? Here are some thoughts from my weekly professional reading:
TOOTHPICK
Reminds us to look for the good qualities in our students. You may be the only teacher who says something positive to them that day.
RUBBER BAND
Reminds the teacher that they have to be flexible. Things don't always go the way we plan,
But flexibility will help to work it out.
BAND AID
Reminds the teacher that sometimes we do more than teach, that we help heal hurt feelings, broken dreams, and lend an ear to a problem.
PENCIL
Reminds us to be thankful and we should list our blessings daily, but also encourage our students to list their blessings and to be proud of their accomplishments.
ERASER
Reminds us to allow students to know we are human and make mistakes just like they do, and it's ok. We must all be able to learn from our mistakes.
CHEWING GUM
Reminds us to stick with it and encourage our students to do the same. Even the impossible task or assignment can be accomplished by sticking to it.
MINT
Reminds us and our students we are worth a mint. (We may not be paid a mint, but are worth one.)
CANDY KISS
Reminds us that everyone needs a hug, kiss, or warm fuzzy everyday. (All teachers, students, parents, and even administrators)
TEA BAG
Reminds us we need time to relax, go over our blessing, and take time for others. Family, husbands, wives, friends, children need quality time together.
We all must be willing to show our students how much we care! They have a authenticity radar and know immediately when someone does not have their best interests at heart. Assemble your excellence kit and go to work! Conquer your adventure and enjoy the experience of a lifetime.
Let's have an amazing week of teaching and learning.
Robert S. Jackson, Ed.S., Principal