The Falcon Files
Your Weekly Falcon Updates for Staff
August 30, 2019
Words of Inspiration
Every child deserves a champion--an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.
-Rita F. Pierson
Check out this short Ted Talk by Rita Pierson to hear more.
A Special Applause To....
Please give Rachel Cornett a high 5 when you get a chance. We are definitely in on the job training with discipline at the moment.
Thank you ALL for supporting us as we learn through trial and error. Our first discipline act went straight to in-school suspension....really?!! Again, thank you!
Professional Learning On The Go
Enjoy!
Professional Library for You!
This week I am going to highlight Innovators Mindset. I think I have read this book 3 times and done a book study on it twice. It kind of has a cult following and George Couros is an author I follow and have seen a couple time at conferences. The book might blow your mind but try to pull just one thing from it, discuss it with others, and ponder how it might be beneficial for your learners. Here is a description of the book.
Description from Libib.com:
Kids walk into schools full of wonder and questions. How you, as an educator, respond to students' natural curiosity can help further their own exploration and shape the way they learn today and in the future. The traditional system of education requires students to hold their questions and compliantly stick to the scheduled curriculum. But our job as educators is to provide new and better opportunities for our students. It's time to recognize that compliance doesn't foster innovation, encourage critical thinking, or inspire creativity--and those are the skills our students need to succeed.In The Innovator's Mindset, George Couros encourages teachers and administrators to empower their learners to wonder, to explore--and to become forward-thinking leaders. If we want innovative students, we need innovative educators. In other words, innovation begins with you. Ultimately, innovation is not about a skill set: it's about a mindset. The Innovator's Mindset is for you if: You are a superintendent, district administrator, or principal who wants to empower your staff to create a culture of innovation You are a school leader - at any level - and want to help students and educators become their personal best. You are a teacher who wants to create relevant learning experiences and help students develop the skills they need to be successful. You'll be inspired to: Connect with other innovative educators Support teachers and leaders as learners Tap into the strength of your learning community Create ongoing opportunities for innovation Seek more effective methods for measuring progress And, most importantly, embrace change and use it to do something amazing.
For The Week of September 2nd...
Monday September 2nd
- No School!
Tuesday September 3rd
- PICTURE DAY!!! Staff picture will be at 7:15 in the gym. Pictures will be on the stage this year. Please come in the gym, up the stairs, and then exit in the back of the stage into the hallway.
- Keep encouraging those that have not completed their Responsible Use Form on Final Forms to do that. I will be pulling kids during lunch to complete that.
Wednesday, September 4th
- 7th Grade TBT
Thursday, September 5th
- 8th Grade TBT
- 6th Grade TBT
Friday September 6th
- Spirit Day (Yes Jeans!)
Please Announce to Students
All Grades
*Snap-On Cases MUST be on computers at all times. If they do not have them on, warning first, then an after school detention, then up the discipline matrix. Why? The cases protect our warranty which is void if they are not on. This is new policy for us all. Please help me spread the word. If you have questions, please ask Rachel or myself.
*Pictures are this Tuesday, September 3rd.
*Fundraiser starts September 11th. More info on that. May have to push this back a day or two.
*MAP Schedule has been set for the fall. September 9th we will do ELA, September 10th is Math, and on the 11th, we will have Patriot Day in the morning and Science MAP in the afternoon. You can find a detailed schedule HERE. It is also located in our shared drive.
*We will give student t-shirts out on Patriot Day.
*Final Forms for Students - We are 66% compliant (compared to 20% two weeks ago). We have 283 signed, 61 students unsigned, and 80 families not on yet. We are getting there. Thank you for your help getting our unsigned done!
Interactive Notebooks with Jen Henderson
Fall Kick-off Pep Rally
Fight Song Challenge
Info For The Staff
*Pictures are on September 3rd, the day after Labor Day.
*Staff Picture at 7:15. Wear your middle school half zip and jeans.
Helpdesk - A reminder to please send your technology requests to helpdesk@cmfalcons.org. There is no need to send an email to helpdesk, Michael, and David. In fact, it makes it more confusing on their end as to who needs to provide support. They are making a concerted effort this year to be more timely and responsive to helpdesk tickets. The start of the year is always tough but as they fill out their Tech Team and the Oaks Interns, they need their process to be clear. Thank you for your attention to this.
*Don't forget to fill our YOUR Final Forms before September 13th. Here is a tutorial if you need one.
*Final Forms for Students - We are 66% compliant (compared to 20% two weeks ago). We have 283 signed, 61 students unsigned, and 80 families not on yet. We are getting there. Thank you for your help getting our unsigned done!
*F.L.E.X day(s) Follow-up - David Moss is working on completing your PD certificates for your F.L.E.X. day activities from this past summer. Per the F.L.E.X. Day Activity Requirements, you should have completed this reflection form for EACH activity. If you have not done so, you have until September 6th to complete.
#fuelthepositive Website - The goal is to fill every day of the school year with something positive happening at CM. It can be a video, a picture, a written piece or other creative ways to tell our story. We need your help!! Please share what you see! Getting too many positive ideas is not a bad thing!! Please send your picture/video/etc. to David Moss and include a brief description.
Our day to post things is Tuesdays. 1st Tuesday is Admin, 2nd Tuesday is 6th Grade (Kate is with them), 3rd Tuesday is 7th Grade (Nicolin is with them), and 4th Tuesday is 8th Grade (Tammy and Robyn are with them). You all can decide if one person is responsible for the media that day....maybe do it once a month? Tell our story! It helps our culture!
*Don't Forget About Our Gold Standards - I would like to have these done by next week. We need to create our statements using these words: Respect, Community, Fun, Positive, Empower, Engaged, Communication, Family, Support, Safe. I would like to have 4 or 5 statements by next week. An example would be: Take time to create meaningful relationships or Smile, laugh, have fun….know you are appreciated. Please help me. I believe these are all of our standards....not mine. The link is above and you have editing rights.
*Social Media - We are on social media just FYI. I am a fan and have shared a few things going on around here. If you have anything going on you would like me to share, let me know! Text me a pic along with a description. I will be glad to post for you. If you are on here, please tag! Our instagram is @clintonmassiemiddle . Our Twitter is @cmfalconsmiddle . We are on Facebook too. Search Clinton-Massie Middle School to like our page and follow. I would also like to develop our school webpage this year. Any way we can share our story is powerful! Our district hashtag is #fuelthepositive so please use that when posting about our school! I am a huge Twitter fan. I learn, share, and network here. Feel free to ask me about my Professional Learning Network!
Birthdays
Kathy Miller - September 2nd
Jennifer Gantz - September 3rd
Kate Eddington - September 25th
Kim Dorgan - September 27th
Our Gold Standards
Email: lorinda.ottaway@cmfalcons.org
Website: cmfalcons.org
Location: 2556 Lebanon Rd, Clarksville, OH 45113
Phone: (937) 289-2932
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Clinton-Massie-Middle-School-169983643627883/
Twitter: @CMFalconsMiddle