SMS Update!
May 2, 2016
Here's What's Happening...
The SMS Update is created to keep the staff of Strongsville Middle School up to date and in the loop as our school continues to evolve and take shape. It is important that we're all on the same page as we move forward to the 2016-2017 school year.
If you have questions, concerns, suggestions, or are looking for clarification to a rumor you may have heard, please feel free to contact: Steve Deitrick, Kelli Izzo, or Mike Vukovich. If we don't have the answer, we'll find it for you.
Master Schedule
The master schedule is still in the works as we continue to look at ways to best fit the needs of our students. Now that AIR Testing is over with, the counselors and I will be locking ourselves into a room to iron out the schedule.
Staffing
Team Leaders Needed: Please talk among your team members to determine who will be the Team Leader. Team Leader comes with a stipend, release period for team 'to-dos' and various responsibilities. Please submit those names to me by May 9. If your team cannot agree to one person, then I will interview those who are interested.
For encore teachers, once team time is determined for encore teachers, I will have more details in the May 9 SMS Update.
We will meet at Center Middle School at 3:20, for our staff meeting on May 4, to work within our interdisciplinary teams. Encore teachers, please meet with your content area colleagues to continue planning for next year. Please use the same room assignments from the Early Release day. I realize most 6th grade core teachers are not able to attend this meeting. I will look at another day in May where we can all meet to continue prep work and answer any questions you may still have.
Current elementary encore teachers, please attempt to make arrangements with your building principals in order to be at CMS at 3:20 to meet with other encore teachers.
Intervention Specialist Assignments are now updated.
Disclaimer: For moving purposes, it is important that we find a home for everyone's supplies. For planning purposes, it is important that people have a direction going into next year. But, please understand, while we have every intention to keep assignments/rooms in place for next year, they may be subject to change pending summer retirements, resignations, etc.
7th Grade:
Innovators: 105
Globetrotters: 102
Pioneers: 132
Seekers: 129
8th Grade:
Crusaders: 130
Dragons: 204
Pirates: 131
Vanguard: 203
Encore:
Art: 128
ELA: 107
FCS: 211
Music: 121
PE: Upper Media
PLTW: 207
SFS: 111
Tech: 124
I/S: 208
Room Assignments
Disclaimer: Office spaces and perhaps even room numbers are subject to change. My hope is, that does not happen. Your flexibility and patience is greatly appreciated.
Upcoming Trainings
Packing For the Big Move
- "No Box" Challenge!- We have one MS teacher who needs Zero boxes for her move. Can you do the same? Aside from textbooks and supplemental materials, take as little as possible. Now is the time to downsize and purge- especially with the increased use of technology to store files, lesson plans, assessments and other pertinent information. .......Free yourself from clutter!!!!
- Teacher laptops- If you use a laptop in your classroom as your primary computer for daily operations, you may want to consider taking it home with you over the summer. The tech department will have a plan to move all technology over to SMS, however, it may be easier for you to know exactly where it is at all times.
- Access to the New Building: The target date for staff to be permitted into the building is Aug. 1. I will keep you posted as we get closer to the start of school. That date may change based on accessibility.
- Labels & Stickers: Moving supplies will be dropped off soon. Labels and stickers will be distributed by building secretaries in order to conserve supplies. Slap the label on the box (Name & Room Number) and the sticker to designate which floor your box will go (1st- Green, 2nd- Blue, 3rd- Orange)
- No Existing Furniture: Remember, there is to be no existing furniture brought to the new building.
Curriculum Matters
We will continue discussions on What Honors Level Work Looks Like at our May staff meeting. We will work within our interdisciplinary teams and a small portion of the meeting will be used to gather your input. At some point during your meeting, please stop in the lower media center and answer the questions (from the April staff meeting) on the large post-its.
Shout Outs!
- The Art Department: Lisa, Karen, Heather, Kim & Carla for their work with aligning their curriculum this week.
Important Dates
- May 4: Combined Staff Meeting at Center @ 3:20 (Work in Interdisc. Teams)
- May 13: SMS Golf Outing @ Mallard Creek
- May 20: Last Day!!!
- May 23: 6-8 ELA PD Session