The Monday Message
Office of the Principal; Monday, December 8, 2014
Quote for the Week!
The Week Ahead
Black Week - Classes Meet 1-2-3-4-5-6 / International Human Rights Month
Monday (8th) -8th Grade IGP's, Board Meeting (7pm, CATS)
Tuesday (9th) -G40 StuCo Mtg (7:30am, Rm. 812), 8th Grade IGP's, District Leadership Mtgs (4:00pm, Designated Locations)
Wednesday (10th) -World Human Rights Day, Principal's Inductees Visit to IMS, 8th Grade IGP's, CHP Advisory Board Mtg (6:30pm, Cafe')
Thursday (11th) -Crew (8:20-8:50am), International Mountain Day, Middle School Principal's Mtg (8:30am, DO), 8th Grade IGP's, Baby Shower for Mrs. Cunningham (4pm, Teacher's Lounge), C-Team Basketball (H) vs. Chapin Middle (5:00pm, Gym)
Friday (12th) - Operation Santa, Grounds Maintenance (move vehicles off the curb), 8th Grade IGP's, Wrestling Tournament (5:00pm, Gym)
Email: rsjackso@lexrich5.org
Website: http://www.lexrich5.org/IrmoMS.cfm
Location: Columbia, SC
Phone: 803-476-3600
Facebook: facebook.com/irmomiddleschool
Twitter: @irmomiddle
Semester Exams
Year-Long Classes
Dec. 15th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ….. .ELA(1),Science
Dec. 16th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. .ELA(2), Science
Dec. 17th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reading Day/Exploratory
Dec. 18th . . . . . . . . ……. . . . . . .Math, S.S.,Exploratory
Dec. 19th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …………. . . Math,S.S.
Monday, Dec 15, 2014, 08:15 AM
Irmo Middle School
December Staff Birthdays
Anna Inabinet, December 5th
Barry Lee, December 7th
Sandra Jensen, December 10th
Adam Jones, December 16th
Kerra Mays-Fowler, December 19th
Kathy Jackson, December 20th
Leisa McNeil, December 20th
Floyd Geiger, December 22nd
LaToya Young, December 24th
Joe Cioffi, December 28th
Vicki Williams, December 29th
Please join me in wishing these staff members a happy birthday.
1. Mrs. Regan Moore- This past week, Mrs. Moore's class participated in #givingtuesday in her science classes. She worked with her students in giving terracycle materials to Sandy Hook Elementary, ten meals to Americans facing hunger, adopted 900 square feet of protected land for wildlife, two years of clean water to a community in need, gave a bay chicken to a family in need, planted one tree in an American forest, and other acts of giving. Mrs. Moore's contributions along with her classes countless acts of service align with EL Design Principles (Service and Compassion and The Natural World)- Way to go Mrs. Moore. Join me in giving Mrs. Moore and her students a shout out.
2. Mrs. Danielle Major-Murphy, Mr. Glenn Hutto, Mrs. Brandi Clarkson, Mrs. Sheila Inabinet, Mrs. Tina Stevens, Mr. James Fanning, Ms. Debbie Cullinan, and Mr. Chris Ranly and the entire Custodial Team - For the past few weeks, these individuals worked diligently in preparing for our Interim Pickup Night. The met individually, discussed options, communicated with the staff, informed the parents, and coordinated setup with Mr. Ranly and team, and facilitated the evening (which was a huge success). Parents stated "we should do this at least two to three times per year." - Way to go Mrs. Major-Murphy, Mr. Hutto, Mrs. Clarkson, Mrs. Inabinet, Mrs. Stevens, Mr. Fanning, Ms. Cullinan, and Mr. Ranly and the entire Custodial Team. Join me in giving them a shout out.
3. Mr. Will Green, Ms. Clare Bellucci, and Ms. I'esha Odom - Last Tuesday, Mr. Green, Ms. Bellucci, and Ms. Odom along with eight students presented their Monarchs and Milkweed project to the Irmo Town Council. The students were absolutely fabulous. Our Board Chairwoman (Mrs. Beth Watson) was in attendance and commented "wow, the IMS students are amazing. They were incredible. We are so excited about iAM." Way to go Mr. Green, Ms. Bellucci, and Ms. Odom. Join me in giving them a shout out.
4. Mrs. Odessa Hilton and Miss. Mina Heidari - Earlier this semester, Mrs. Hilton and Mina entered the Sonoco ReThink contest earlier this year. We are proud to announce that Mina won the Middle School division winner. We are so grateful for Mina and Mrs. Hilton for entering their creative “upcycled” projects in this fun annual contest sponsored by the Midlands Recycling Partnership (City of Columbia, Lexington and Richland County, Keep the Midlands Beautiful and Sonoco Recycling) and the Habitat ReStore. Way to go Mrs. Hilton and Mina. Join me in giving them a shout out.
Please join me in giving each of these individuals a big IRMO MIDDLE shout out!
Duty Roster for the Week
Duty Roster
Monday - I Group on Duty (Hutto PM)
Tuesday - R Group on Duty (Major-Murphy on Duty)
Wednesday - M Group on Duty (Young on Duty)
Thursday - O Group on Duty (Inabinet/Sava on Duty)
Friday - O Group on Duty
Reminder - At the request of several teachers, everyone is receiving a remind message on Thursday evening of each week, calling attention to the Friday duty assignments.
Tasks to Complete This Week!
2. Attend Tuesday's Leadership Team Meeting (leadership personnel only).
3. Incorporate the topics specified in the weekly calendar in your lesson plans and activities. Make sure you are making specific connections to the experiences of our students as well as cross curricular planning and connections.
4. Everyone report to duty as scheduled. See roster here
5. Review in its entirety Thursday's Crew lesson to prepare.
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.
Attendance (Student) - Reminder
Continue to take your attendance "daily" during every class period. Any abnormalities, please notify Ms. Crumlin. If you have students who are accumulating excessive absences, please notify your administrator so we can begin to take the necessary actions. Remember, everyone is expected to record attendance every class period so we know where students are located. We don't want an issue where we can't find a student because someone didn't take attendance.
Attendance (Staff) - Update
Our staff attendance has been down for the past three weeks. This past week (December 1-5), the teacher attendance rate was 96% (13 absences) and the entire staff attendance rate was 95% (35 absences). Our goal remains 97%, so we fell short in accomplishing our goal this week. Below are the November attendance results for your review. As always, it is absolutely critical that everyone make every effort possible to be here each and every day. I will join you in those collective efforts. When you need to be out, please follow the proper protocols and prepare excellent plans for your students. Remember, if you are on duty, that needs to be communicated to your substitute as well.
Student Dress Code - Reminder
Now that the weather has turned colder, students are wearing hoodies and other head gear, especially inside the building. Let's be consistent. Headwear is not allowed in the building. Ask students nicely to remove their head wear while inside the building. When outside, they are permitted to wear head wear but be watchful. They are putting in their earbuds and listening to music outside which violates our personal electronic device policy.iAM Diplomats, Expeditionary Learning Protocols, Global Connections
This Wednesday (12/10/14 from 8:15am-11:00am), a group of first year principals will be on our campus visiting our classrooms, observing instruction, and taking to available teachers and staff members about what makes a successful leader and how we are transforming into a whole school magnet. These are my expectations for Wednesday:
1. Wear grey iAM shirts with black pants
2. Make sure your diplomats are full operational
3. Make sure LT's, agenda, and look ahead information is posted, unpacked, referred to throughout the lesson, and debriefed at the end of the lesson.
4. Everyone adheres to our Teacher Behavior Commitments
5. Make sure your classroom space is neat, clutter free, and in order.
6. If they ask you any questions or take a moment to answer their questions honestly and professionally.
7. If you want a visitor to come and see your class for a specific lesson, let Mrs. Clarkson know by sending her an email.
Mrs. Clarkson will be sending out the classroom observation schedule and Mrs. Stevens will be coordinating the iAM Ambassador assignments. Let's all work together and shine like pure gold!
November Staff Attendance Summary Report
The Magnet Minute & EL Corner
Crew: Here is the link to this week's Crew lesson, which will be taught by team leaders prior to Thursday morning.
6th Grade: We are putting together the curricular framework and support structure for next year's sixth grade addition. We are brainstorming alot of ideas as it pertains to location in the building, courses offered, teachers, schedule integration, clubs, and many others. If you are currently brainstorming ideas that you think would be amazing additions, please share those with any administrator or Mr. Schedler. You can discuss in person or send your thoughts via email.
What are you doing to integrate our magnet theme? A stroll through the hallways indicates that teachers across campus are integrating global connections into activities, lessons, units, enrichment/homeroom activities, and team procedures and norms. As we segue into October, please remember to document any global connections you make by uploading lesson plans, activities, and evidence of student work (pictures, documents, etc.) in this Google Drive folder -Magnet Theme Sample Lessons.
No entry this week!
No entry this week!
Closing Thoughts
As you prepare for exams and subsequently winter break, I want everyone to read extensively the EL Protocols documents linked here (and inserted below). As we return from winter break, the accountability for using EL protocols, initiatives, and note catchers and making "intentional" global connections in "all" classes will intensify. We will continue to model these practices and protocols in pd sessions, meetings, and other opportunities for professional interaction. When we return from the break, we will outline how this will be implemented with fidelity. As you look ahead for the next ten days of classes, I want everyone to center their thinking around this piece that was shared at this year's Expeditionary Learning National Conference.
“Watch your thoughts, they become words;
watch your words, they become actions;
watch your actions, they become habits;
watch your habits, they become character;
watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
What we think, we become!"
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Don't let our setback cause you to sit back. Each one, teach one, so we can all reach one. We Are Crew, Not Passengers; Together We are Smarter!
Robert S. Jackson, Ed.S., Principal