Warrior Beat
Student Focused-World Class
Word for the Warrior
Happy New Year Warriors!
I hope everyone had a well-deserved and restful holiday! I hope all of you were able to take some time to just breathe, relax and spend time enjoying and loving those close to you.
As we prepare to return to work together, I want to share some thoughts that I had about returning to school.
Toward the end of last week, I started feeling the anxiety that can sometimes emerge when I focus on the THINGS that I have to do. As I started preparing to come back to work, I began feeling overwhelmed. I thought maybe that just writing down everything that I was worried about or that I knew I had to do would help. It didn't. Then, I thought maybe that getting back to my office and getting started on that "to do" list would help. While it did take the edge off, it still didn't do the trick.
On Friday night, I woke up in the middle of the night thinking. While awake, instead of focusing on what I had to do, I instead reflected on my purpose. In those few moments in the still of the night, focusing on my purpose provided me with needed clarity. This clarity allowed me to experience the positive dose of motivation and HOPE that I so much needed. While the items on my "to do" list are important...and some of them even urgent...they are THINGS. This was what brought me to a point of clarity...
Each day when we come to work, our purpose is to simply to love people. Our purpose is people… not things…not "to do" lists. Loving people is where our passion lies. If we are not in this profession to love our kids, then we are in the wrong profession and need to find our way out. But, what I know and admire most about our Warrior family...is that WHAT WE DO BEST…is love our kids. We come to work each day because we are committed to our "tribe." And it is through this passion of loving people deeply, that we have found our purpose.
When we focus on loving our students first, we will seek first to build relationships with them...ALL of them. When we focus on loving our students first, we will naturally seek to understand who they are and we will use what we know to connect with them out of love and will support them holistically. When we love our students first, we will naturally do the work necessary that will support student growth. When we focus on loving students first instead of focusing on the “stuff,” we will naturally have more patience and motivation to go the distance and persevere for them even when it seems that some have given up. Why? It’s because this is what loving kids is all about. It’s what loving SEVIER kids is all about. Focusing on loving kids first doesn’t lower the expectation of our work. It actually raises the expectation. However, when our focus is on our purpose, then work doesn’t overwhelm us, it motivates us! Focusing on our PURPOSE fuels and ignites our passion. And when we are in touch with our passion and our purpose, we have more energy, motivation and hope to go the distance.
There is much to do this semester...but there is nothing more important that we can do than focus on loving our TRIBE.
Proud to be a Warrior,
Holly Flora
Principal, JSMS
Week of the Warrior
Monday, January 2nd
Boys Basketball Practice 9:00-11:00
Girls Basketball Practice 3:00-5:00
Tuesday, January 3rd
Cheer Practice-3:00-5:00
Boys Basketball Game versus Rogersville City- JV Boys at 5:00 and Varsity at 6:00
Girls Basketball Practice 3:00-5:00
Wednesday, January 4th
Girls' Basketball Game versus Liberty Bell JV at 5:00 and Varsity at 6:00-bus will leave at 3:30 and will return at 8:00
Boys Basketball Practice 3:00-5:00
Dance Team Practice 3:00-5:00
Cheer Practice 3:00-6:00
Thursday, January 5th
Pep Rally during Tribe Time
JV Girls Basketball Game 4:00 at JSMS versus RNR
JV Boys Basketball Game 5:00 at JSMS versus RNR
Varsity Boys Basketball Practice 3:00-4:30
Friday, January 6th
Snack Bags on Sale at 7:00am in the Large Gym-$5
Tribe Classic-9:00 am-DB Dome
Boys Basketball Practice 3:00-5:00
Saturday, January 7th
JV Tournament-Boys and Girls
Monday, January 9th
Sevier Versus Liberty Bell 4:30/5:30--Winner will take 1st place in the conference! WE NEED A LARGE TURNOUT FOR THIS GAME! COME SUPPORT OUR WARRIOR TEAM!
The JSMS Jam...
Tribe Classic
On Friday, January 6th, JSMS and RNR will be attending the TRIBE CLASSIC. Both schools will go to the Buck Van Huss Dome at Dobyns-Bennett High School to watch our Girls and Boys Varsity Basketball teams face each other in the Tribe Classic. Cheer, Dance and the Sparkle Squad will also perform. Students will be bused to DB beginning at 8:15. The game will begin at 9:00 and will end at approximately 11:45. Students will be bused back to Sevier after the game.
Tribe Classic Information for Staff and Students:
*Staff may wear jeans on the day of the Tribe Classic with a Tribe Classic Shirt/DB Shirt/Sevier Shirt.
*All part-time IAs will need to work from 7:00-12:00 on the day of the Tribe Classic in order to assist with the selling of Snack Bags and with supervision at the Tribe Classic.
*Students may bring $5 to purchase a snack pack before school to take to the game. The Snack Pack includes a drink, candy and pretzels. Snack Packs will be on sale between 7:00-7:35 in the large gym. There will be no concessions sold at the game and so if your child would like a snack, please make sure to send $5 to Sevier on Friday morning to purchase a snack pack in the large gym between 7:00-7:35.
*If you would prefer that your child stay at Sevier instead of attending the Tribe Classic, please call the front office at Sevier at 378-2450 and we will be happy to make other arrangements for your child.
* Students do not need to bring their backpacks to school on Friday.
Tribe Classic Schedule:
7:45-Students go to first period and remain there.
8:15-Students will begin being dismissed by Grade Level over the PA System. Athletes will be dismissed first.
8:50-9:00-All students seated for opening activities.
9:00-Girls Game
10:30-Boys Game
11:45-12:00-Return to Sevier-6th Grade Dismissed first, then 7th, then 8th---Please return to first period upon return to Sevier. Students will eat lunch in the classroom.
12:10-6th Grade 1st Lunch Pick up
12:20-6th Grade 2nd Lunch Pick up
12:30-7th Grade 1st Lunch Pick up
12:40-7th Grade 2nd Lunch Pick up
12:50-8th Grade 1st Lunch Pick up
1:00-8th Grade 2nd Lunch Pick up
**Please have students stay in first period to eat lunch. Students will stay with first period classes for the relocation drill.
Relocation Drill
When students return to Sevier, following lunch, our school will participate in a Relocation Drill. Every two years, schools are required to practice a Relocation Drill. In case of an emergency that would require students to relocate from Sevier to another location, the Kingsport Renaissance Center serves as the Relocation Area for Sevier. This drill is much like a fire drill. Since students will already be in first period, we will travel with first period classes during the relocation drill. An announcement will be made for students to begin the relocation drill. Teachers will walk students quietly in lines out of the building, down the sidewalks and will enter the Renaissance Center to report to assigned locations. Once all students are seated and accounted for, students will return to Sevier for the remainder of the school day. The Relocation Drill should not take a long time, but is necessary in order to ensure that in case of an emergency, all teachers and students are prepared. Our Relocation Drill will take place between 1:30-2:00. During this time, we will not be able to answer telephones, as all staff will be participating in the drill. Also, students will not be able to check out during this time. Again, this drill is to ensure that students and staff are prepared in case a relocation is ever necessary.
Relocation Drill:
1. Maps will be distributed to all teachers and staff with clear directions explaining which entrance and which locations each grade level will use within the Renaissance Center.
2. At 1:30, Holly will make an announcement that the Relocation Drill is in progress.
3. Nick, Leila and Marty will be out front and will lead the groups to the Renaissance Center. Marty will go with 6th Grade. Leila will go with 7th Grade. Nick will go with 8th Grade.
3. Counselors will also go ahead of the group and will be positioned at each entrance to the Renaissance Center.
4. Holly and Brad will remain at the school and will ensure that the building is empty and will follow the last group out of the building.
5. Students are to remain SILENT for the entirety of the drill. It is imperative that they remain quiet and orderly EVEN when they are in the Renaissance Center.
**Apparently during the last relocation, students damaged the center. I was not aware of this until just recently. In order for the Renaissance Center to continue allowing us to use the site for Relocation, this has to go well. The drill should not take long. Once we are all seated and quiet, we will give the all clear to return to the building. Students need to remain quiet until they have EXITED the Renaissance Center. Thanks!
All classes may return to first period for the remainder of the day. For teams and grade levels who choose to have students return to another period, that is no problem at all. Just let the office know what your plan is in case students are needed. 7TH GRADE WILL REPORT TO THE AUDITORIUM FOLLOWING THE RELOCATION DRILL FOR THE NINE WEEKS EXPECTATIONS MEETING
Hall Passes
Hall passes have been made for all teachers and everyone should have one in your mailbox. Your passes are red and have your name on it. IF students are in the hall at anytime, they should have a pass. If you are concerned about lice, have students hold the pass in their hands instead of putting it over their heads. In this way, we should be able to quickly identify students who do and do not have permission to be in the hallways.
New Lunch Schedules
1st lunch will be Sci and SS
2nd lunch will be Math and LA
Supervision
Please make sure that you read and follow the revised duty schedule and pay attention to the hallway and lunch duty schedule. In order to ensure that students are meeting our behavioral expectations before and after school, in the hallways and moving to and from the lunchroom it is necessary that they are supervised. A new schedule has been created that we believe will greatly improve transitions. It is important that everyone do their part. In addition to student safety being compromised when adults do not show up for duty, please consider how it is perceived by your co-workers when you do not do your part for duties. Supervision is probably not something any of us would identify as our favorite part of our jobs, but it is necessary. I truly believe that a higher adult presence in the hallways during transitions and to and from lunch will create a more orderly environment that I believe will also carry over to the classroom. If students are transitioning in an orderly fashion, they should not have the opportunity to be riled up in the halls/bathrooms, get involved in drama, etc and then have to get it together once they enter the classroom.
January 3rd In-Service Day Schedule
8:00-10:00- Poverty Simulation in the Large Gym
10:00-12:00-Way of the Warrior Action& Recognition Teams Presentation-Library
12:00-1:00-Lunch on Your Own
1:00-3:00-Grade Level Collaboration Time
Road to Success
During the last Intervention Data Conferences, teachers shared that there are students in Road to Success that they would rather have in Tribe Time AND that there are students in Tribe Time that may be better served in Road to Success. Because of this, we will wait until the 2nd Nine Week Failure reports have been run for each grade level and will wait for us to have our meeting with Counseling and with our Student Advocates (Marty and Angela) to create a list of potential candidates for Road to Success for 3rd Nine weeks. Once we have this list, we will have a grade level meeting with each grade level to discuss the students who the grade feels would benefit most from Road to Success. We will schedule these grade level meetings for approximately our third week back from school. Until that time, all students will attend Tribe Time.
Geography Bee
The Grade-Level Geography Bee will be January 10th and the School-Wide Geography Bee will be January 12th.
For the grade-level bee on January 10th:
6th graders meet in Mrs. Utsman's room
7th graders meet in Mrs. Tipton's room
8th graders meet in Mr. Mallick's room
Students will be notified at the end of the grade-level bee if they advance to the school-wide bee. The top two winners from each grade level will advance to the school bee. The School-Wide Bee will be in Mrs. Utsman's room on Thursday.
VIF
Dr. Ailshie selected Sevier MIddle School and Washington Elementary to pilot our VIF Global Initiative in an attempt to support relevant and meaningful curricular connections for students. We appreciate this trust and the support provided. We are especially grateful for the teachers who have volunteered their time and support in this initiative. Any change causes a certain degree of anxiety and uncertainty. Thank you for supporting our Global Team as they support and lead us through this work. Having spent several hours of training with VIF, I am reassured that this work will be slow and with support. There have been no expectations at this point that we have learned about that have caused us to believe that a greater or additional amount of time or stress outside of what is currently on our plate. What IS available is support for us in making connections from our curriculum to real world scenarios. Our next faculty meeting will allow us to complete Module Two for VIF training.
IA Meeting
A meeting for ALL Instructional Assistants will be held from 10:00-10:30 on Monday, January 9th. This is in an effort to have quarterly IA Meetings to keep all IAs up to date and informed as well as provide an opportunity for IA input.
*Debbie Hash is the IA representative serving on the JSMS Leadership Team. If there is ever a need or suggestion that you would like for the Leadership Team to address, please see Debbie. Also, the minutes of each Leadership Team are recorded and emailed to the faculty following each meeting.
Marty Mead's Schedule
Marty is currently functioning in two roles. She is serving as our family liaison and as a student advocate (so is Angela). As family liaison, Marty supports students with clothes, families with food, follows up with families regarding student needs, goes on home visits, etc. As student advocates, Marty and Angela meet regularly with students who are failing classes to follow up on progress, communicate with parents about tutoring, missing work, etc. They also work as liaisons with teachers about missing work for students, etc. In order for her to best support both of these roles her current schedule will be as follows:
Family Liaison Work: 7:30-10:30
Student Advocate Work: 10:30-2:45
There may be times when you communicate with Marty during times that she is focusing on student advocacy. If so, that is fine, but please know that she may need to wait to actually follow up on that work until the next morning.
Trophies/Awards
We have the trophy case in the lobby showcasing the awards won thus far this year. The table in the office has trophies and awards on it that are dated. We would like to update this table. If you have a trophy or award that you would like to showcase in the office, please give that to the front office staff and we will update that table to represent recent honors of all kinds. Thank you!
Low SES/Minority/High Ability
As we have discussed previously, the ASC has established a focus on identifying students in our Low SES and Minority sub-groups who are high-ability that we can support and challenge into higher level classes. We know that students from low SES groups have limited home support. Please be thinking about how we can support these students to succeed in challenging courses in non-traditional ways to ensure that we are providing every opportunity for these students to succeed. Most importantly, we need to continue to be on the lookout for students who can be pushed up into honors classes that are not currently in honors classes and be successful.
Chinese
Ms. Jessie Xiao will be teaching Chinese to interested students during the second semester. She will be housed in the library classroom. Please join me in welcoming "Ms. Jessie" into our Warrior Family.
From the ASC...
Upcoming Events:
JANUARY 2017
- Mon. 1/2 - NO SCHOOL & ASC Closed
- Tue. 1/3 - In-Service Day, NO SCHOOL, ASC operating under normal schedule
- Tue. 1/3 - BOE Meeting - TN Room (ASC), 6 p.m.
- Wed. 1/4 - School Back in Session AND College/Career Shirt Day
- Thu. 1/5 - Report Cards
- Fri. 1/13 - Insight KCS - Transportation/D-B/ASC, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Mon. 1/16 - Martin Luther King Day, NO SCHOOL, ASC operating under normal schedule
- Tue. 1/17 - BOE Work Session, TN Room (ASC), 6 p.m.
- Mon. 1/23 - Fri. 1/27 - Board of Education Appreciation Week
Seeking Tennessee State Teacher Fellows (STFs)
Hope Street Group, the nonpartisan nonprofit that connects classroom teachers with their peers and decision-makers across Tennessee and nationally, will soon be recruiting its next cohort of Tennessee State Teacher Fellows (STFs). The STF program is designed to develop the competencies of teacher leaders, providing them with tools to engage their colleagues and generate solutions for education challenges. Fellows are teachers or instructional coaches who remain in their schools full-time and contribute 10-15 hours each month to Hope Street Group activities including data collections, professional learning sessions, and partner meetings. They receive a $3,000 stipend for the twelve-month Fellowship, with the opportunity to extend into a second year to deepen their work. Interested teachers can learn more by visiting the Hope Street Group webpage. Click here to register now to participate in a 45 minute informational webinar on January 10 at 8 p.m. The application period will be January 16 - February 10, 2017. If questions about the Fellowship, please contact Keilani Goggins or Celia Gregory.
Classified Staff Training Opportunity
Please announce these upcoming training opportunities for non-teaching staff:
TOPICFACILITATORDATETIMELOCATIONTO REGISTER, CONTACT
Google Drive BasicsKevin SurgenerJanuary 10, 20179-10:30 a.m.ASC Computer LabStephanie Potter, x-5193
Google Drive Basics Kevin SurgenerFebruary 21, 20179-10:30 a.m. ASC Computer Lab Stephanie Potter, x-5193
Google FormsLaurie NorrisJanuary 24, 20179-10:30 a.m.ASC Computer LabStephanie Potter, x-5193
Google FormsLaurie NorrisFebruary 7, 20179-10:30 a.m.ASC Computer LabStephanie Potter, x-5193
TDOE Seeking Textbook and Instructional Materials Advisory Panelists
The department will begin accepting applications for advisory panelists to serve on the statewide textbook and instructional materials review for Section C. The materials to be reviewed are in the following subjects: science; PE/wellness and health; fine arts (art, music, theater arts, dance, and media arts); CTE arts, A/V technology and communications; and anatomy and physiology. Panelists will gain a deeper of Tennessee standards and will be tasked with the evaluating instructional materials bid for statewide adoption. Application information may be found here. The application window closes Jan. 6. Compensation will be based on numbers of materials reviewed by each panelist. There will be two days of training in Nashville on April 29 and 30 and possibly two additional days in Nashville for publishers’ hearings and commission meetings (dates TBD based on need). If questions, contact Alison Gower.
Feedback Sought re: World Language Standards
The TDOE is seeking feedback on current K–12 World Language Standards for all grade levels and courses. All world language educators, instructional coaches, school administrators, and district-level supervisors are encouraged to complete the survey by January 13, 2016. Survey results will drive revisions of World Language Standards, which will be implemented in classrooms during the 2019-20 school year. If you have questions, please contact Kadie Patterson@tn.gov.
Nominations Open for 2017 Outstanding Social Studies Teacher Awards
Nominations are now open for the 2017 Tennessee Council for the Social Studies (TSCC) Outstanding Social Studies Teacher Awards in the areas of elementary level (grades K-6), middle level (grades 5-8) and secondary level (grades 7-12). Award winners will be recognized at the TSCC State Conference on March 9-10, 2017 in Gatlinburg, TN. For more information and eligibility guidelines, please click here. Contact Patsy Brooks if questions. DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS IS JANUARY 16, 2017.
KCS EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Is there a KCS employee that you would like to see recognized for her/his outstanding work?
This year, there is a new way to highlight the work of these outstanding educators! The KCS Employee Recognition Initiative serves to award those that go above and beyond in their service to the students, staff, and families of KCS.
How can you nominate an employee for this honor?
Simply submit a nomination form to your principal/supervisor by clicking here!
Do You Have an Innovative Idea?
KCS has a new Innovation Tool is up and running. I have been encouraged to use any and all available methods to communicate that our district is seeking your ideas and that this tool is active for use. It can be accessed here.
Warrior Whoop! (celebrations and recognitions)
**Hunter Mullins, Lydia Elam and Angela Miller---what outstanding solo performances by our teachers! We are VERY fortunate to have outstanding teachers who are ALSO outstanding performers! We also want to acknowledge all of their hard work and support of students to make our concert a success!
**Thank you so much to the Sevier families who support our musicians by encouraging practice, taking students to and from rehearsals and concerts, attending concerts and even helping us set up and tear down after concerts! We could not do what we do without your support and we appreciate you!!
**Girls and Boys Varsity Basketball Teams were the Christmas Tournament Champs over our Holiday Break! SO EXCITED about their hard work, success and good sportsmanship!
**Thank you to David Flanary for creating a new 2 Hour Delay Schedule for us! Thank you to Vicky Stoops for creating a new plan for an Early Dismissal plan!
**Thank you to Judy McSwain for filling in for Sabrina in her absence for the last year. Nobody (including Sabrina) realized that this interim would extend for a calendar year. While Judy loves Sevier, she is committed to being available for her family when school is not in session and I know that we all understand and commend her for that. Due to that, she will continue to sub and be a familiar face around Sevier, just not in the secretary role. Join me in letting her know just how much she is LOVED and how much we thank her for the work she did for us within the last year! Erika Slaughter will be filling this role in a full-time capacity for Sabrina beginning in Janauary.
**Thank you to Marty Meade for planning and organizing our Poverty Simulation this Tuesday! Thank you to our Way of the Warrior Action Team and our Celebration and Recognitions Action Team for leading the second half of our morning!