Maverick Minutes
Week of 2/22-2/27
The Comedy of Errors
On that same morning, Dr. VanHeukelum contacted me that he was in the area and asked to stop by and pop in rooms to see the great things you are doing. I love that people want to come see what you are doing…I will always welcome visitors. It was also a morning that we had planned to surprise our students with the drug dogs…and many of you were surprised (We cannot announce those visits)! The only thing that may have topped the day off was a school wide picture! Thank you for the comedy of errors or just another fun day in the life of middle school. Please note, Faculty Meetings are always at 8:15 on the third Thursday of the Month…making the next one, March 17th! The appropriate Remind 101 is shown above and I moved important dates in the sequence of the newsletter for your convenience!
Important Dates for 2/22-2/26
2/22: Benchmark
2/23: Benchmark
2/23: Principal Meeting
2/23: Basketball @ CCGriffin
2/24: Grade Level Meeting
2/24: Turn in for Spring Fund. Extend HR
2/25: MTSS @ 2:30
2/25: Basketball Playoff begins at HiRMS
2/25: Benchmark
2/26: Battle of the Books
2/26: Bus Evacuation Drill in the am (See Dr. Vague's email for direction)
Registration Time!!!
We will begin scheduling early this year to hopefully tell you your schedule and have a smooth Open House. I want to highlight some areas of questions that you may have and will do this weekly until we are finished. If you have any concerns, let me know.
- We will include Spanish as an option, but do not have the allotment yet for it. I don't want to get it later and not have knowledge of those students who want it.
- The wheel of Encore has changed due to testing. We will explain it in grade level mtg.
- MavTime will be at the beginning of the day and we will highlight it before you leave for summer.
- We hope to have I-Ready students selected in August instead of October to serve those students without delay.
- We will hand schedule all students again and balance the classes so that no team feels as if they are the "low" team in the building.
- More to come in the coming weeks as we finalize things…
The following student meetings will take place after students receive their registration form in Homeroom that morning.
- Monday, Feb. 29 - Scheduling Assembly during 6th & 7th grade Encore times
- Thursday, March 3 - Registration forms due back to HR teachers
March Madness Begins!
Additionally, I have asked Dr. Vague and Mrs. Tyson to work on getting your college experience highlighted to be posted outside of your door. I would like for you to talk with the during MavTime that week about any questions they have about colleges or your experiences.
More information will be discussed in grade level with a specific agenda for that week outlined for your purposes.
The week we will capture is March 14-19.
Around the Ridge
Frog Legs Anyone?
A Skype to Remember...
Timerson, Mathes, Smith and Alspaugh talked with parent and Lead Pastor of Venture Church David Henderson. Currently, he is in Ethiopia teaching, speaking, and bringing light (solar power lights with USB ports) to the people living on the islands in Ziway. David and his wife Mendy currently have four 6th graders that go here. Lindsay, twins Garrett, and Tia, and Lemi.
Name That Tune!
Skype cont.
Professional Development Presenters Needed
Welcome Mrs. Carolyn Valentine
Mrs. Valentine joins Mrs. Kurtz on the 7th grade Two-Woman Team after Ms. Harrell returned to graduate school. Stop by and say hello and welcome! Here is a bio to get to know Mrs. Valentine! Welcome to The Ridge Mrs. Valentine!
I have lived in Concord for most of my life. I went to Concord High School, and during that time I had the opportunity to travel to England, Ireland, and Mexico. After graduating in 1997, I was a music major at Appalachian State University before transferring to UNC-Charlotte to study Elementary Education with a concentration in English and Communications. During the summer of 2000, I lived in Brisbane, Australia. While there, I taught in the public schools and worked with youth programs. Several years ago, I also had the opportunity to travel to the Dominican Republic. I worked with a group out of S.C., to build an orphanage near Bani, Dominican Republic.
I started teaching 4th grade at New Salem Elementary (Marshville, NC) in January of 2002. In 2004, I transferred to East Union and began teaching 7th grade ELA. At that time, I began working on my Master's Degree in Secondary English Education from the University of Phoenix. During my time at East Union, I taught grades 6, 7, and 8.
I love to read, listen to music, and am a big sports fan. I am excited to come back to Cabarrus County and be a part of the Hickory Ridge family!