EAST PAULDING MIDDLE SCHOOL
April 30, 2018
We Aren't Done Yet
Although students may expect us to "quit", "roll the ball out", or "punt" every day, we must be diligent and consistent in our classroom management, and we must continue to plan and provide instruction that is engaging, meaningful, and structured. We should not be in a mode where we have resorted to showing movies or allowing students to use technology free and at will. If your instructional plans involve showing a movie, please speak with an administrator prior to moving forward with those plans.
When our basic expectations begin to waver, student behaviors and our frustrations grow.
To me, the month of May is just as important as the month of August. When students arrive in August, we are fresh and excited to kick off the new year. When May arrives, it is important that our students experience the same. Have no doubt that I realize the challenges the end of the year brings because I know that we are all at the point of exhaustion. I want to encourage you to lean on each other, and use your expertise to finish the year strong.
Start Strong - Finish Strong
UPCOMING EVENTS
As you can see below, there is A LOT happening in the month of May. It will be important that we are organized and that we communicate often. If you are unsure of something, please ask.
4/30/18 - 6th ELA 2 & 3
5/1/18 - 6th Math 1 & 2
5/2/18 - Milestones Make-up Day
5/2/18 - 9th Lit EOC 1
5/3/18 - Milestones Make-up Day
5/3/18 - 9th Lit EOC 2 & 3
5/4/18 - 9th Lit EOC Make-up Day
5/4/19 - Leadership Team Meeting 7:30 am in 816
5/7/18 - 9th Algebra EOC
5/7/18 - Faculty Meeting - 4pm - Cafeteria
5/8/18 - 6th Grade Field Trip - Group 1
5/9/18 - Career Day
5/10/18 - 6th Grade Field Trip - Group 2
5/10/18 - Band Concert - PTSA Meeting
5/10/18 - Science Teachers PLC w/Sarah Graham -DWIC
5/11/18 - 6th Grade Field Trip - Group 3
5/11/18 - Literacy Retreat - DWIC
5/14/18 - Posting Window Opens - Post Grades!
5/14/18 - 5th Grade Visit
5/14/18 - Chorus Concert - EPHS - 7:00pm
5/15/18 - 5th Grade Parent Night
5/15/18 - 8th Grade Olympics
5/16/18 - Promotion Retention Meetings - 816 During Planning (Math/ELA Only)
5/1718 - 8th Grade ELA EOG Retakes
5/17/18 - Holly Hill Retirement Celebration
5/17/18 - 7th Grade Olympics
5/18/18 - 6th Grade Olympics
5/18/18 - 8th Grade Math EOG Retakes
5/21/18 - Yearbook Distribution Day
5/21/18 - Potential Fire drill
5/22/18 - Election Day
5/22/18 - 8th Grade Field Trip
5/23/18 - 8th Grade Picnic
5/24/18 - Awards Day and 8th Grade Walk
5/25/18 - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - 2 HOUR EARLY RELEASE
Why is this picture important to our SIP?
STRATEGIES AND INITIATIVES
The picture below is the same, but the message is different. In the next few weeks, we will know whether or not we were able to successfully help our targeted students grow on the Milestones. I am excited and nervous all at the same time, but I am looking forward to sharing our progress!
EOY Information
We will discuss the items below during our May 7th Faculty Meeting, but I wanted to make sure you were already thinking about them.
1. Please make sure to Post Grades on Monday, May 14th. After Monday, you will need to post grades each morning and afternoon to ensure that admin has access to the most up-to-date student progress.
2. Olympic No-Go's - By May 10th, we will provide each grade level with the list of students who will not be allowed to participate in Olympics due to either grades (failing 2 or more classes) or behavior (7 or more assignments of ISS and/or OSS). If you know of any student who will definitely be on the list, please go ahead and begin gathering work for them to complete.
3. Schedule Adjustments - We will have several days in which we will run alternate schedules during the month of May. The schedules will be provided as we get closer to the specific days.
May 9 - Career Day - Non NBI Schedule
May 15, 17, 18 - Olympic Day Schedules
May 21 - Yearbook Distribution Day (7th and 8th will Flip Schedules)
May 23 - 8th Grade Picnic (7th and 8th will Flip Schedules)
May 24 - Awards Day - Non NBI Schedule
May 25 - Last Day - 2 Hour Early Release
4. Awards Day Information - I sent some information out on Thursday about Awards Day, and I made some hurried decisions about some dates. Please see the dates/deadlines below regarding Awards Day. I apologize for the errors. The template and a description of our awards is attached to the newsletter email.
May 16 - The names of any and all award recipients must be provided to Mrs. McDaniel on the Awards Day template.
May 18 - Award Invitations will be sent home to parents.
May 22 - Any student who did not receive an Awards Day Invitation but has since earned one, must receive an invitation, and the homeroom teacher must contact parents via phone.
*Please let me know when your grade level is meeting to discuss awards, and I will do my best to be there. I want to make sure we are all on the same page for the operational part of our Awards Day.
5. Computer Labs and Technology - Unfortunately, our labs are unavailable throughout the month t of May due to testing (EOG make-ups, EOCs and make-ups, and RI/MI assessments).
Teacher Appreciation Week
Summer Refresh Update
Update - I will have more information about next year's room numbers by the end of the week. I will also be meeting with the construction team in mid-May. From that meeting, I am hoping to learn additional specifics about packing and moving. If you have questions, please send them my way.
Please begin packing items that you will not be using the remainder of the year. I cannot encourage you enough to begin the process of taking personal items home.
The construction/refresh team will be on our heels at the end of post-planning, and there will be NO ACCESS to the building beginning May 31. Below are a few notes of importance:
- Everything will need to be packed in boxes.
- As you begin packing items, make sure they are packed in boxes and labeled with your room #. We will communicate any room changes prior to post-planning.
- The company completing the refresh will move all boxes and items into large storage containers that will be located on our campus. They will return the items to the correct room # once the refresh is complete.
- Any and all personal items or items of value must be taken home. This includes mini-fridges, microwaves, lamps, etc.
- All school technology (laptops, tablets, document cameras, etc) will need to be returned to the Media Center for inventory and secure keeping.
- Many of you have accumulated a lot of "things" over the years. Some of these "things" that you have saved for that rainy day may now be considered trash. This will be a great time to eliminate any trash by simply labeling it as such (trash). Free disposal at your service!
If you have specific questions, please let me know. Mr. Jacobs will work on obtaining boxes for our classrooms.
Milestones
18-19 Stop-Bullying Campaign
I honestly believe that our society will always struggle with bullying. However, that doesn't mean that we can't empower our students to rise above the challenges of being bullied or being pressured to bully. My goal with our Stop Bullying campaign will be to create a student led culture that focuses four major points. How will you help promote this message?
1. Students having the STRENGTH to withstand any bullying that comes from others because their daily life at school is filled with kindness and acceptance from their peers and love, encouragement, and positive relationships from their teachers.
2. Students having the COURAGE to stand up to any bullying they witness, demanding better from their peers, and not allowing anyone to be a victim of bullying in our school.
3. Students bringing HONOR to our school, but more importantly to themselves as they lead the change needed to create a culture of acceptance and kindness.
4. Finally, students will learn to NEVER SURRENDER to bullying; not giving another person power over how they feel about themselves or how they treat others.
2018-2019 Clubs and Extra-Curriculars
Also, if you are willing to support your idea and sponsor the club, we are in desperate need of people who are willing to take on those leadership roles. School leadership is not limited to making building level decisions. School leadership also includes providing opportunities for students.
Attendance Information
Below is our attendance data for the entire month of April. It's not great, but it is much better than previous months. I am looking forward to improvements school-wide in the 2018-2019 school year, and I hope that you are as well.
REMINDER: If you need to leave for any reason prior to the end of the work day, please speak with Mrs. Raley, Mr. Jacobs, or Mr. Alverson for approval.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
5/17 - Debbie Irvine
5/18 - Shannon Cole
5/19 - Adrienne Kennedy
5/21 - Holly Hill
5/24 - Brittany Graham
5/31 - SUMMER VACATION
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Contact Information for Tom Alverson
Email: talverson@paulding.k12.ga.us
Website: http://www.paulding.k12.ga.us/Domain/29
Phone: 678-350-8027
Facebook: facebook.com/eastpauldingmiddleschool
Twitter: @epmsraiders