Launch
News and Notes for East Middle Faculty & Staff
Red Ribbon Week is October 24th – 28th
Monday 24th - We will hand out pledge cards 6th period
Tuesday 25th - Don’t Get Mixed Up In Drugs (mixed match day)
Wednesday 26th – Team Up Against Drugs (wear your favorite college or pro team shirt)
Thursday 27th – Sock It To Drugs (crazy sock day)
Friday 28th – Wear RED Day
Monday, October 31st is Halloween. We are encouraging all staff and students to wear ORANGE & BLACK.
Parent Teacher Conference Night is Tuesday
Friday I attended a conference for my Sam. He struggles with some very common barriers to his learning; organization, motivation, perseverance. I knew as soon as his teachers called to meet what our topic of conversation would be and I arrived eager to problem solve and most importantly share with his teachers what strategies had worked for him last year. The conference went very differently than I had hoped.
The first 15 minutes of the conference was a round table litany of how Sam had frustrated and failed each teacher's expectations. When I offered some strategies that had worked in the past, I was met with "We don't do those kinds of things for our AP kids usually." When I asked how they support kiddos with similar struggles, I received defensiveness and more reasons why Sam needs to "fix it" to be successful in their classes.
I was not a principal or a teacher champion at that point, I'll admit. I was a mom feeling like the only player on "team Sam" and became really worried that if I could feel animosity toward my son in a 15 minute conversation, what must he feel day in and day out? This short conference did significant damage to my trust that Sam is in nurturing, loving hands when he steps off the bus. I left the building in tears.
Why do I share this with you?
- I left believing East Middle teachers are more empathetic than this- I've seen it. You are.
- I am certain that you know how to win the trust of parents as partners and you understand the power in that for kids.
- I trust you will plan carefully for difficult conversations this conference night and remember we win nothing if parents do not leave trusting us to do what is best for their kids.
- I never want a parent leaving our school feeling like I did Friday. Let me know if you would like some coaching around a tough conversation or if it will help to have Mr. Roettger or myself attend.
What's going on this week?
SGGs, PGPs, Self Reflections due. Create your folder with these things in it and share it with me on Drive.
Data teams informal and on your own this week; let Mr. Roettger or me know if you would like for us to attend
Leader in Me Regional Coaching Day- East Middle is hosting in our library. Library unavailable today. We will have guests from other districts in the building.
Tuesday- conference night 4:00-7:00
Ms. Dugle to visit East classrooms and data teams: writing focus and feedback
Stevi Quate from PEBC to visit for Thinking Strategies feedback
Jennifer Seravallo Reading Strategies webinar in Ms. Gift's room 4-5. 6th ELA required; anyone else welcome to join and learn with us!
Band Concert in EMS gym 7:00
Wednesday- no team leader meeting today
Stevi Quate to visit for Thinking Strategies feedback
Cox at CO to work on CSIP 3:00
Thursday
Cafeteria Plan Benefits enrollment in Launch Pad today during planning periods
Moby Max webinar in library 4-5
Calendar Committee mtg CO 4-4:30
Friday
No special news yet