Monday Memo
March 18, 2019 @MMSCougarPride
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Send Dara pictures to district email if you'd like us to Tweet something. Our followers are increasing every day!
Congrats to Cast and Crew of the Wizard of Oz!
Discipline tracker link and attendance reminder
https://goo.gl/forms/MHamjfUpUAP6PcOG3
Remember to please use the document linked above for significant discipline issues with students. Please consult the 1-pager (scroll down for attachment) to see when to consult an administrator. This is part of our data tracking for our district and also helps us to keep better/ more accurate records of incidents. Please be mindful of tier 1 teacher interventions as per the SOMSD Code of Conduct.
Reminder-Please keep accurate period attendance. This is important data for us.
Greetings and Updates from Ms. Gronau
Happy Monday MMS,
The Spring seems like it is upon us now. As the weather warms up, there are a few items you're encouraged to think about to maintain student engagement, support their mental health and foster an environment that nurtures their academic growth. These items come from a keynote I attended last month. Linda Darling-Hammond was the speaker (pictured here)!
Our students' neural networks are enhanced by: social interaction, green space, physical activity, mental activity, mindfulness, and emotional/cultural well-being.
Our students' neural networks are impaired by: stress, anxiety, loneliness, sleep disruption, diet, toxins, identity threat, discrimination.
While I know that some of the above is not controlled by the school/individual teachers, I urge you to think about what you are able to control in your classrooms/on your teams. We had a wonderful discussion with team leaders and I'd be happy to continue to the conversation with you!
A few notes
-Tomorrow is PLC meeting day.
-Please be sure to stay up to date with end of year items--SGOs, benchmark administration and grading, and organizing your Domain 4 evidence. A memo is forthcoming.
-Please remember to send updated lesson plans every Monday or every other Monday. *Inclusion plans are due on Wednesdays. Please note differentiation and intervention in your plans.
-All staff are invited to the Welcome to Middle School Event next Thursday, 3/28 at 7:30am in the auditorium. This is for incoming 6th grade families.
Quote for the week: That it will never come again is what makes life sweet. --Emily Dickinson
March 20, 2019 TLC Agenda
Focus Items
Team Building Question-What part of your content do you enjoy teaching the most? What do you get excited about each year?
TCRWP Turnkey-NJSLA Test Prep Unit (Dara/ELA teachers)
ScIP Meeting
SGOs
Preparing for summatives/Domain 4 Evidence
Calibration Activities
More on Data Wise
MMS Master Calendar Update/Review-Upcoming Author Visits
Appreciations-End the meeting with hearing from at least 3-4 team members for things we appreciate about one another on the team.
Logistics/Operations
CONFIRMED Moving Up Ceremony-9am on Friday, June 21, 2019 with certificates distributed to 8th graders on 6/24
MMS Idol = May 3rd (3:15 - 5:15pm)
Poetry Grammy = June 14th (AM)
Battle of the Classes = June 14th (PM)
Pool Party Proposed Dates = June 21st for 6th Grade
MMS Core Values: Effective Effort * Inclusiveness * Kindness * Team Work * Learning
(to be reinforced during advisory, convocations, and Cougar Awards/celebrations)
Action Items
Please be sure that team folder or drive is regularly updated with the following items:
-Team agendas and minutes
-Student intervention (behavior, academic, attendance)
-Trackers
-Use of PRIM
-Best practices/common practices your team is implementing or plans to implement
-Interdisciplinary work your team is implementing or plans to implement
-Article(s) resources your team reads/discusses
Next Steps/Notes
March 20, 2019 TLC Agenda Items
Grade Level Student Intervention Meeting
Other Reminders
Protocols for your consideration. The links below are great resources for upcoming team meetings.
Protocol for supporting collegial/professional visitation https://www.nsrfharmony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/appreciative_inquiry_0.pdf
Protocolos on understanding perspectives https://www.nsrfharmony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/barriers_bridges_0.pdf
Data-Driven Dialogue https://www.nsrfharmony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/data_driven_dialogue_0.pdf
Student Work Observation https://www.nsrfharmony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/observer_as_learner.pdf
The 5 Keys to Middle School Child Resilience and Success
The 5 Keys to Middle School Child Resilience and Success
The MMS faculty and staff ask that you support our work with your child in the following ways:
1) Encourage a Growth Mindset-Having a growth mindset fosters resilience. Use the language of yet. I don’t understand this “yet.” Emphasize the importance of hard work as opposed to innate intelligence. “I did well because of my effort. I’ll do better next time.”
2) Encourage 1-2 Good Peer Relationships-Friends should be a source of support. Often our middle schoolers try to maintain large groups of close friends and that is challenging for anyone of any age! Encourage your child to have 1-2 solid and supportive peer friendships and keep it light and simple with the larger groups.
3) Ensure 9-11 Hours of Sleep Please! Sleep is the best way to foster resilience. Research shows that kiddos this age need 9-11 hours to be at their best. When your child is well-rested, everything is better. Technology is the #1 enemy of sleep! As a school community, we recommend that you keep technology out of your child’s bedroom at night to encourage healthy and consistent sleep.
4) Encourage Coping Strategies-Coping is personal. Everyone does it differently. Encourage your child to think about healthy ways to relax and give them permission to do it!
5) Facilitate Time/Connection with a non-familial adult-Good connections with non-familial adults are very important for your child. They hear things differently from non-familial adults. Encourage your child to participate in a club or activity. Children need our perspective. They are always changing and growing. As adults we can attach a growth mindset to their personality development and their peer interactions.
Maplewood Middle School Remind App Code @k92d29
This year, the MMS Principal has added a school-wide "Remind App" as another way to communicate with families. Many of your child's teachers will share Remind class codes for you and your child to stay up to date about class events and assignments. As needed, the MMS Principal will periodically use the Remind App to share important info with our school community. Our Maplewood Middle School school-wide code Remind code is listed above (@k92d29). The link below explains how to begin getting notifications. It's a simple way to stay in touch. Join us!
https://help.remind.com/hc/en-us/articles/203179887-How-do-I-join-a-class-