Warrior Beat
Student Focused-World Class
Word for the Warrior....
Hello Warriors,
For the last five years, each school in our system has worked in alignment to a school vision and mission that has been identical to our district vision and mission. Districts often grow and evolve based on their current reality. Over the last five years, it was determined that it was important for consistency and also important in order to develop and refine our processes that all schools have the same vision and mission. Now that we have a clear district structure for how we do work in KCS and strong strategic plan, schools are now being charged with considering the unique needs of each building. Each school Leadership Team is charged with developing a school vision and mission that will drive the work of the school, while still working in alignment to the district goals.
Thursday in our Leadership Team Meeting, the JSMS Leadership Team (LT) began this work for Sevier. The link below outlines the work that will take us through the remainder of the semester. On Thursday, our LT worked to identify our "current reality" at Sevier. We were also charged to think about how things would be different for students, teachers, families and for our school structure if our vision were to be realized. These are steps one, two and three in the process we will use to ultimately articulate our vision/mission.
We got off to a great start. You will see when you click on the links below that lots of time and effort was spent considering what would exist that would support our school culture in terms of relationships. Our school culture is critical and foundational for any meaningful work. In fact, Peter Drucker is famous for stating that "culture beats strategy every time."
As we closed out our time together in our Leadership Team on Thursday, I asked that all members continue to think and reflect over our work to see if we had captured a full vision. I would like ALL of you to take a look at the slide presentation and begin thinking of what you might add. Is there anything you believe would strengthen our vision?
As I reflected on our product thus far, it became clear by our product that our work in the last three years has focused on culture. Now that we have received our first solid data based on the new standards, as one suggestion, I would like all of us to consider how we might use our student data to add to our vision in terms of what would be different for students, teachers and school structures if our vision is realized. Please be thinking of how teachers might be using and responding to data to drive instruction. Think about how we may involve students in that process as well. What might be different in our school structures as we work to continue to grow students to proficiency and beyond? As I reflected on what we could add, it was clear to me that this piece was missing. Please be thinking about what we want to strive towards as WE decide how to best use our data to drive our instruction and grow as a school.
In addition to our Google Slide presentation that served as the agenda for our Leadership Team, I will also invite you to a folder of “artifacts” that include our school data so that you can review our data in order to make suggestions to our vision. This will be discussed on Thursday in Collaborative Planning Meetings. This is the same data reviewed previously. If you have run custom student reports, please also feel free to share based on what you have learned based on that as well!
Leadership Team Visioning/Agenda Google Slides
Artifacts for Current Reality including JSMS Data:
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1ERHBu2sXnhnpuftAnBi9YiHvVcAHCcN1
Here is looking toward a great week together!
Proud to be a Warrior!
Holly
Week of the Warrior
MONDAY: January 22nd
-JSMS Way of the Warrior Action Team Meeting 3:00-4:00-JSMS Conference Room
- Girls Indoor Soccer
- Sevier on Stage Forensics will meet in Mr.
Graybeal’s classroom on Monday after school until
4:00.
TUESDAY: January 23 rd
- Girls Indoor Soccer
- The Geography Bee will be held today January 23 rd
after school in Mr. Utsman’s room (236). Any
interested 6th , 7th , or 8th Grader may participate.
- Science Olympiad Practice 3-5
- Student Council meeting Tuesday 3:00-3:30 in Mrs.
Wagner’s room. Athletes, actors, and writers dress
out from 2:45-3:00, attend meeting until 3:15, and
then join team.
WEDNESDAY: January 24 th
- Girls Indoor Soccer
- Golf Parent meeting in the wellness room at 5:30
- Boys soccer meeting will be on THURS Jan 25 at
7:25 in the wellness classroom. This is only for
those that have signed up.
- There will be a Jr. ROTC meeting each Wednesday
after school. The meetings are 3:00-4:00. Please
see Ms. Moore in room 106 if interested.
- There will be a Sequoyah Scribe staff meeting from
2:45 to 3:30 pm in room 340. All staff members are
required to attend. The editorial staff and newscast
staff will meet until 5:15 pm.
THURSDAY: January 25th
-Weekly Planning Collaborative Meeting (We will also have data conferences that were missed last week as a result of the Snow Day.)
- Girls Indoor Soccer
- Science Olympiad Practice 3-5
- Natural Helpers meeting 2:50-4:30pm
- Sevier on Stage Forensics will meet in Mr.
Graybeal’s classroom on Thursday after school
until 4:00.
FRIDAY: January 26th
-RTI DATA CONFERENCES-COLLABORATIVE PLANNING TIMES (LA FIRST HALF/MATH SECOND HALF)
- Girls Indoor Soccer
Save the Date:
- Softball Try-outs - Feb. 5th, 7th, 8th - 3-5pm - Students must
have a current sports physical on file to try out.
- 8th High School Planning Parent meeting at DB - Feb. 6
Warrior Whoop:
JSMS JAM...
NEWS FROM NICK
JSMS Revised Duty Schedule-
Teachers, the hallway transitions team has reviewed the duty roster and made some adjustments. You can view the updated roster as well as the lunch duty roster with these links. Look for your name and your location as some have changed. If you are unable to be in your location on your assigned day, please make arrangements for coverage.
AM/PM Duty
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1N-I1Geg3MMYzASZ4KlUSO7hES-nPQamiCAOFav8tepY/edit?usp=sharing
Hall/Lunch Duty
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10BCozA049a_SARhMtFskEMWOZvoVoWxt6IjYoOHEkl4/edit?usp=sharing
Also, just as a reminder, please be in the halls outside your door when the students are in the hall, including the morning. I have noticed many classrooms recently that are unsupervised and the teacher at the other end of the hall. This has lead to some issues in the classroom that could have been prevented with supervision. If you are not able to be outside of your door, please lock your door and have students line up in the hall so that they can still be supervised by other teachers in the hall. Students should not be in the classroom without an adult in the classroom or just outside the door.
Lastly, please follow the times on the schedule for dismissing students from class to lunch and at the end of the day. We had students sent to the cafeteria 5-6 minutes early on Thursday and Friday. Please double check the dismissal time for lunch for that current day to make sure students are not ending up at lunch too early and please hold students until the bell at 2:45 for dismissal.
Thank you for being patient with our new schedule. I have heard many positive comments about having the additional class time. We will keep working through these adjustments as they come!
CALLING ALL LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHERS....WOW (Way of the Warrior) Awards
Please remember to submit names for the WOW awards each week. Sometimes, unless we are intentional, we focus more on those students who are NOT making the right choices more than the ones who DO. Recognizing those who do the right thing MATTERS. It matters to those students and it creates a culture we we learn to see the positive and so do students.
This week is the week LANGUAGE ARTS teachers will be submitting WOW names. Begin thinking about the two students you would like to nominate and look for the email from Mr. Roebke with the attachment to fill out.
Fire Marshal
THANK YOU!
JEANS for STREAM Day
- We are planning to hold a JEANS for STREAM Day
next Friday January 26th. Please help spread the
word that any employee who wishes to donate $5
may wear jeans. In previous years, these
donations have helped us fund several scholarships
for our disadvantaged students in the district who
wanted to attend STREAM Camp but could
otherwise not afford this opportunity.
JSMS AMO Targets
The information below (in addition to the calendar) was shared with parents in the Weekly Warrior Update...
Crochet Club Collection
Geography Bee
- The Geography Bee will be held Tuesday, January
23rd after school in Mr. Utsman’s room (236) Any
interested 6th, 7th, or 8th Grader may participate.
FATZ Pancake Breakfast
- FATZ pancake breakfast tickets may be reserved
online at www.sevierband.org or purchased at the
door. Adult $10, Child $6
- Golf Parent Meeting
- Golf Parent meeting Wednesday January 24th in the
wellness room at 5:30
JSMS Yearbooks
If you would like to receive a JSMS 2017 Yearbook
please turn your order form and money in to your
homeroom teacher
Boys Soccer Meeting
- Boys soccer meeting will be on THURS Jan 25 at
7:25 in the wellness classroom. This is only for
those that have signed up.
Jr. ROTC meeting
- There will be a Jr. ROTC meeting each Wednesday
after school. The meetings are 3:00-4:00. Please
see Ms. Moore in room 106 if interested.
Grandparents 24/7
All families are welcome and encouraged to join us for the Sevier Family University on February 12th- 12:00pm-1:00pm. This university is just for our families. Learn how to help your child using Canvas and Google Classroom. Location: Sevier Middle School (room based on attendance) Please RSVP to Debbie Moore at 378-2406.
An additional session will be held for families unable to attend the afternoon event. This session will be in the evening on February 15th- 5:00pm-6:00pm
Stay tuned for our Sevier Family University class addressing teenage development and behaviors. Coming in March.
News from the ASC
Science Standards Resources Available
To support educators in the transition to the new Tennessee Academic Standards for Science in fall 2018, the department has released two new documents: the TN Science Standards Reference and the TN Science Standards Implementation Guide.
The TN Science Standards Reference is an exploration of all three dimensions of science instruction: science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas. This document contains progressions of learning for each discipline, connections to the Framework for K-12 Science Education, and content support for each standard in grades K-8, biology, chemistry, and physics. The TN Science Standards Reference adds to the initial support offered by the TN Science Standards Implementation Guide, which includes activities, readings, and questions designed to provide a deeper understanding of three-dimensional science instruction for participants in a series of professional learning sessions. Please reach out to Brian.Caine@tn.gov with questions.
Since we are all now living in the Google world, I wanted to share a quick way everyone can add the KCS Professional Learning Calendar to their "Other Calendars". Everyone will be able to see the calendar with a simple click of a button and be aware of live updates as they are made and can look ahead in the year. This will replace the 10 day PL Calendar typically sent.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TnP8coW70cUnlW0gLTJ6H4Oy5FNS8Sbw/view
Application Open: Performance Level Descriptor Committee
TDOE is currently accepting applications for the Range Performance Level Descriptor Committees for grades 3-8 in social studies as well as for grades 3 and 4 in English language arts. Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs) are statements that describe the knowledge, skills, and abilities expected of a student at each performance level of the TNReady assessment. Educators who are chosen to participate on these committees will write Performance Level Descriptors alongside fellow educators. Applications are available at the links below.
- ELA Grades 3-4
- Social Studies Grade 3
- Social Studies Grade 4
- Social Studies Grade 5
- Social Studies Grade 6
- Social Studies Grade 7
- Social Studies Grade 8
Opportunity: My name is Derek Voiles, and I'm a seventh-grade teacher in Hamblen County and a member of the Tennessee Department of Education's Teacher Advisory Council.
My fellow Teacher Advisory Council members and I are working together to support new teachers with a day of free peer-led professional learning. On Saturday, Jan. 27, we'll host a New Teacher Summit at LMU's Cedar Bluff campus (421 Park 40 North Blvd., Knoxville) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET. This professional learning opportunity is planned specifically with new teachers in mind. Sessions will be developed and led by teacher advisory council members and include topics that appeal to all grade levels and content areas, such as student engagement and classroom management. Facilitators include Nancy Miles (2017-18 First Tennessee Teacher of the Year) and Kristin Burrus (2017-18 Southeast Tennessee Teacher of the Year). Participants who attend all sessions will receive a certificate of participation.
Registration is currently open to all new teachers who are teaching in a public school in east Tennessee. This opportunity is ideal for teachers in their first or second year of teaching who eagerly seek out professional learning opportunities and display exceptional leadership potential. There is no registration fee, and lunch will be provided. Please share this invitation and registration link (here) with new teachers to register by Jan. 22.