Panther Notes
Week of December 7
Words of Wisdom
I hope everyone had a safe and restful Thanksgiving Holiday. We have three weeks before our winter break. We need everyone doing their best to keep the focus on teaching and learning.
Canvas Learning Management System is Now Available to All DPS Users
All teachers have the optional ability to deliver courses to their students through Canvas, a Learning Management System (LMS) within Home Base. Canvas will be available to DPS users at least through the end of the 2015-16 school year. The DPS Media & Educational Technology created a course for all DPS staff called "Getting Started with Canvas" and will provide PD sessions on the upcoming early-release days. Please email Jerry Williamson, DPS Media & Educational Technology, with questions.
NCFE RELEASED ITEMS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL SUBJECTS (FALL 2015)
The NC Department of Public Instruction has released the following items from previous administrations of the North Carolina Final Exams (NCFE). These test items may be used by school systems and charter schools to help acquaint students with NCFE items. The released items may not reflect the breadth of the standards assessed and/or the range of item difficulty found on the NC Final Exam. These materials must not be used for personal or financial gain.
Expectation Reminder
- Teachers should be here by 7:10 a.m.
- Everyone must sign in daily.
- Students should not be in the halls without a pass. Teachers should be using their agenda books.
- Grades should be updated weekly.
- Lesson Plans should be on your desk daily.
- Parent phone calls should be made weekly about behavior and academics.
- Students should not be left unattended for any reason.
PLC and PLC Expectations
Mondays will be ELA and Social Studies during 1st planning periods in the PLC office
Tuesdays will Science and Math in the PLC Office.
The focus will be on student data, standards and pre and post assessments.
PLC Expectations
Norms will be established for each PLC
Everyone will participate
Everyone will be on time.
James E. Shepard Magnet Middle School
Email: ericka.boone@dpsnc.net
Website: shepard.dpsnc.net
Location: 2401 Dakota Street, Durham, NC, United States
Phone: (919) 560-3938
Twitter: @JESHEPARDMIDDLE
Dates To Remember
December 7
Staff Meeting - Required for all 2:45 p.m. in media Center.
December 8
Magnet Tour-
We will have parents who will be touring the building with future students. 8:00 a.m.
Home Basketball Game vs Lucas MS at 4:00 p.m. $3.00
Mitchell, Sims, Butler-James, Sims are working the game. Please report at 3:30 p.m.
December 9
Early Release Students get out at 12:30 p.m. All staff will remain here for training. Meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m.
December 10
Home Basketball Game vs Carrington MS $3.00 at 4 p.m.
Kithcart, Boone-Graves, Teal, and Perkins are working the game, Please report at 3:30 p.m.
Upcoming Events
December 14
Staff Meeting
December 15
NCCU Choir will be performing at Shepard at 1:00.
December 16
Mid Year Assessment - Reading
8th Grade ESL Night at 6:00 p.m. in the media center.
December 17
Mid Year Assessment - Math
Decemeber 18
Mid Year Assessment - 8th Grade Science
Winter Break
December 21 to January 4
Basketball Schedule
WINTER 2015 - 2016 SPORTS SCHEDULE BOYS & GIRLS BASKETBALL
4:00 p.m.
Tuesday 12/01/2015 4:00 PM Rogers-Herr
Thursday 12/03/2015 4:00 PM @ Lakewood
Tuesday 12/08/2015 4:00 PM Lucas
Thursday 12/10/2015 4:00 PM Carrington
Tuesday 12/15/2015 4:00 PM @ Githens
Thursday 12/17/2015 4:00 PM @ Brogden
Thursday 1/07/2016 4:00 PM Neal
Tuesday 1/12/2016 4:00 PM Lowes Grove
Thursday 1/14/2016 4:30 PM @ DSA
Tuesday 1/19/2016 4:00 PM @ Rogers-Herr
Thursday 1/21/2016 4:00 PM Githens
Tuesday 1/26/2016 4:00 PM @ Lucas
Tuesday 1/28/2016 4:00 PM OPEN
Monday 2/01/2016 TBA Conference Tournament ($5.00)
Wednesday 2/02/2016 TBA Conference Tournament ($5.00)
Shepard Social Committee News
The Shepard Social Committee has put together these dates for staff gatherings. We would like all staff to participate if possible. There will be incentives for teams who have the most people present at each event. We are also asking all to donate a one time contribution of $15 to fund some of our celebrations and events (birthdays, parties, etc). Please see Ms. Wiggins for details on payments.
Please mark your calendars. Come out and have some much needed fun!
Dates for Outings
December 10th
·Basketball Game (Tail gate in a classroom)
December 11th
·Christmas Party
January 29th
·Karaoke Night
February 29th
·Movies
March 21st
·Dave and Busters
April 29th
·Laser Tag
May 2-6
Teacher appreciation week
·GAG Awards
Teachers and staff vote on each other for funny awards
June 10th
·End of Year Celebration
BARNES & NOBLE Educators Holiday Shopping Event
Barnes & Noble at 5400 New Hope Commons is holding a holiday shopping event for educators on Saturday, Dec. 5. Educators will save 25 percent on books, toys, games, music, movies and more and 10 percent off café consumables and select Nook devices both in store and online. Contact Barnes and Noble with questions at 919-489-3012.
End-of-Course Released Forms
2012-13 Released Forms
The State Board of Education’s Framework for Change: The Next Generation of Assessments and Accountability provides for the modification and improvement of state assessment and accountability policies and practices. As part of this new direction, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) Accountability Services Division/North Carolina Testing Program has released one form of the test for each grade level and subject tested in the 2012–13 school year.
These materials and the information contained within must not be used for personal or financial gain. Released test forms will not be used as part of routine test administrations provided by school systems
Released test forms may be used by school systems to help acquaint students with valuable test taking strategies in summative assessment situations. These strategies may include managing time, following directions, understanding reading selections, and thinking through how to select the correct answer. Released test forms may be used by parents and the general public in gaining a greater understanding of how the NC Standard Course of Study for English Language Arts and Mathematics and the Essential Standards for Science are measured.
The paper-and-pencil versions are available in a pdf format. These contain the same multiple-choice and gridded response items as the online version, but they do not contain the technology-enhanced items (TE). TE items require students to manipulate the item and can only be completed in an online environment. Therefore, students will see the following text for TE item numbers in the released paper-and-pencil versions: "The paper-and-pencil versions of the assessment cannot display TE items available only online."
The paper-and-pencil versions of the actual assessments administered to students at the end of the semester or the school year will contain multiple-choice items that align to the same content standards as the TE items.
The online versions are also available here in pdf format. Schools can access the released forms in their online interactive format through the secure NCTest online platform. NCTest is available to school and district users only.
The answer keys for paper-and-pencil versions of the end-of-course and end-of-grade released forms were updated in July 2015 to include the item number, item type, correct answer (key) and the aligned standard.