Warrior Beat
Student Focused-World Class
Word for the Warrior
As we near the mid-term, we will begin the in-depth work of identifying how we are supporting all students. As student advocates, Marty Meade and Angela MIller will be working hard to support our most at-risk students. We will be running failure reports each 4.5 weeks to look closely at how our students are performing both individually and in courses and grade levels. Administration, counselors and our student advocates will be meeting each 4.5 weeks to identify which students are in need of support and will be working hard to create plans for support. We will be in close contact with you regarding these students. Marty and Angela will be meeting individually with students to follow up with them to help support them in doing better, whether that means supporting them in work completion, making phone calls home about attendance, assigning them to tutoring or in other ways.
This work aligns with our weekly planning when we identify how we can help support students who are not proficient. This is where the rubber meets the road. This is where teaching really happens. As we dig into this work, it will continue to require us to collaborate and work as a team to determine how to support students who need extra time and attention. This is where our norm, "we will talk about only that we can change" will really matter. This year, we have more "in-house" supports than ever for our students. We have before and after school tutoring (even with a late bus), we will have an assigned person for "homework help" who can help ensure that work is complete if needed, we have student advocates who will be working directly with at risk students and we have a daily Tribe Time that provides additional time for reteaching for those in need. We may find it advantageous as we continue to expand our Jr. Tribe Time offerings to identify a person per grade level who can provide a "Power of I" time for students. If this is done, then we can assign students to "Power of I" during Jr. Tribe Time if this would be the best option and if work completion and organization is the root cause of failing grades.
I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for our students as we continue to find ways to support our students to new levels of success. As we talked about in our faculty meetings last year and in alignment with our learning about supportive grading practices, in our support, we aspire to instill hope and confidence. This does not mean that we simply find ways to pass students for the sake of passing students, inspiring hope and confidence for ALL students means finding opportunities to support students in meeting the high expectations that we set. Our work is in the support....and the pride and hope and confidence that students feel as a result of that hard work is the by product.
Thank you for all you do! Your work at Sevier matters....and like I have said before....this is hard work, and it requires teamwork and collaboration, but I am confident is the RIGHT work!
CONNECT-CHALLENGE-SUPPORT-EMPOWER-CELEBRATE! WE are John Sevier!
Proud to be a Warrior,
Holly
Week of the Warrior
Monday, August 29
Teacher Survey/Feedback Action Committee-3:00-Holly's Office
Cross Country Practice 3-4:15
Volleyball Practice 3-5
6th Grade Red Boot Meetings
CAST Announcements for SEVIER on Stage announced on Monday Afternoon
Tuesday, August 30
Cross Country Practice 3-4:15
Cheer Practice 3-5
Student Council Meeting 3-3:45/Mrs. Wagner’s Room (344)
Sequoyah Scribe NEWSCAST Staff meeting 2:45-4:45/Room 340
Volleyball Game at TA Dugger/4:30
Swim Practice at DB 3:15-4:15
Wednesday, August 31
7th Grade Math Planning Day
Cross Country Practice
Team & Individual Sports’ Pictures 3:00/Practice until 4:15
Cheer Practice 3-5
Dance Team Practice 3-5
Volleyball Practice 3-5
Newspaper Staff Meeting 2:45-3:30, Editorial Session until 5:15/Room 340
FALL SPORTS PICTURES 3 PM
(Volleyball, Football, Cross Country, Dance & Cheer Teams)
Thursday, September 1
PROGRESS REPORTS
7th Grade Science Planning Day
Cross Country Meet at Holston Home for Children/Greenville/Bus Leaves at 3
Volleyball Home Game Versus Unicoi at 5 Pm
Sequoyah Scribe NEWSCAST staff meeting- 2:45-4:45/Room 340
JR Varsity Football at Church Hill 5:30/Meet at CHMS at 5:00
HONORS Chamber Orchestra Auditions 2:05-3:30/Those who came to the meeting must show up at 2:05 in the Orchestra Room
Swim Practice at DB 3:15-4:15
Friday, September 2
Volleyball Practice 3-5
7th & 8th Grade Red Boot Meetings
NO Cross Country Practice
Swim Practice at DB 5:00-6:00
SAVE THE DATE:
Monday, September 5 LABOR DAY/NO SCHOOL
September 8th “WARRIOR INVITATIONAL” WARRIORS PATH STATE PARK
The JSMS Jam
September Faculty Meeting
Our next faculty meeting will be on September 12th. Our plan is to continue having instructional faculty meetings (rather than informational) based on Transforming Teaching and Learning: Grading. This will be a continuation of our focus last year on standards based grading. This will begin in OCTOBER. We were planning on beginning that work in September (based on the Reeves book that we read this summer); however, I have had MANY requests for a Google Classroom training. I have also had requests for Edulastic training. As a result, this will be the focus of our September meeting. You may choose which training you attend.
If you are on the committee that helps plans these faculty meetings (or if you would like to JOIN!), we will move our planning meeting to September 8th since we will be planning the October meeting instead of September meeting.
Mission/Mantra Team
A big thank you to our Mission/Mantra Action Team! As a part of aligning our Vision and Mission work, we have a new mantra/slogan that helps support of Vision of Being Student-Focused, World Class and in supporting our mission of supporting college and career readiness. Our piece of the pie that we can cling to every day that will serve to remind, challenge and inspire our daily work will be:
CONNECT, CHALLENGE, SUPPORT, EMPOWER, CELEBRATE!
Laurie Norris is creating a graphic for us that will have these words surrounding a picture of a "world." We also asked her to include "World Changing Warriors" as a part of the graphic. Stay tuned.
Our thinking in the mantra/slogan was that as we work, we must first CONNECT. Unless we build relationships first with students, little else matters. Then, we CHALLENGE. We challenge all students to take ALL students to the next level, but not without SUPPORT. Then, we EMPOWER students to the next level by ensuring that they are equipped academically and socially and also with the soft-skills needed such as responsibility, organization, etc. Finally, we CELEBRATE the success of our students!
CONNECT-CHALLENGE-SUPPORT-EMPOWER-CELEBRATE!
Dress Code
I have had several of you ask me recently whether track shorts are a part of the student dress code. They KCS handbook states they are acceptable. That being said, if you feel that any shorts are disruptive to the learning process, then you have the professional discretion to send a child to change clothes. I realize this is vague. Please remember that the dress code exists to support the learning process. If you feel that the clothing is disruptive or disrespectful, then use your judgement and we will have the student change clothes. If you don't think it is, then it is probably ok.
Lunch Detention
It is important that everyone adhere to the new Lunch Detention procedures. Many people are still sending students to LD without first scheduling them to come. I am going to ask Mr. Stokely to send the procedures again.
Technology
While Rick is out, the ASC is helping provide tech help for us. Yay! Hope Parnell will be present from 7:00-10:00 each day and will cover the morning office hours and focus on student devices. Matt willl work every other afternoon on work orders, or more if needed depending on the number of WOs.
Do you need a Spanish tutor?
Taylor Shakespear, Mrs. Hubbard's son-in-law, would like to offer free tutoring after school to students taking Spanish or to Spanish speaking students who are struggling in their academics. If you have any need in these areas you may contact Taylor directly at tshakepear@k12k.com .
KCS Elementary 1/2 Mile Race
John Sevier Middle School Cross Country teams will hold a KCS Elementary 1/2 Mile Race on Thursday, September 8 at 4 p.m. at Warriors Path State Park. The starting line is on the soccer fields.
Students in grades K-5 are welcome to participate. Medals will be awarded to the Top 3 female and Top 3 male students. Registration is $5 per student and all proceeds benefit the JSMS Cross Country program.
To register, please contact Julie Potts at jpotts@k12k.com or sign up on race day!
ASC News
4th Annual "Star Spangled Banner" Movement and National Anthem "Sing-a-Long"
(We will do this on the morning announcements.)
The American Public Education Foundation team requests that you consider participating in the 4th annual "Star-Spangled Banner" Movement, a National Anthem 'Sing-A-Long.'
WHEN? Friday, Sept. 9, 2016 at 1:00pm EST
- Hashtag: #OhSayCanYouSing
- Website: www.theapef.org (see the home page & "Educate" tab)
TEAM Training
Vicky Treadway, associate principal at Lincoln Elementary, is offering an optional TEAM training opportunity. The same training will be delivered on two different dates and times (Thursday, 8/25 from 3:30-4:45 and Thursday, 9/1 from 3:45-5:00). Please click on the file below for details. The training is open to all teachers, though new teachers may find it most beneficial.
TNReady Parent Resources from the TDOE
The State has provided new resources you can share with your families that they hope will foster greater understanding about TNReady. The 2016 TNReady Parent Guide and supplemental Guide on TNReady Supports for Students with Disabilities walk through many of the questions the State has received from parents. These guides outline changes to timing and structure. There is also a one-page handout that explains, at a high level, the role of assessments.
These guides can all be viewed online at the TNReady.gov website by going to the new TNReady Parent Resources page. The State website also includes a new FAQ page which provides additional information for parents and educators.
Celebrations and Recognitions
*Thank you to our JSMS Chorus for singing at Open House! The performance was WORLD-CLASS...especially considering that we have only been in school for 4 weeks!
*Thank you to our PTA for being present at our PTA Open House for our membership drive and in selling our JSMS Proud to be a Warrior t-shirts!
*Congratulations to our JV and Varsity Lady Warriors Volleyball team! Both teams had wins this week and played hard!
*Varsity Football won over the Cyclones this week! The JV team lost, but played hard and put up a good fight! We are proud of our Mighty Warrior football team!