Week at a Glance
September 21 - 25, 2015
Sayings from Skinner
Radloff Raiders --- Thank you for your patience with the long, drawn-out processes of the staffing transition. At long last, we can begin to move forward and get "down to business" with 2015-16.
Some BIG questions to consider this week as you are "in the thick" of instruction and meeting with our parents:
- WHY am I teaching this particular lesson?
- WHAT do kids really need to know deeply -- from this lesson, this topic, this unit?
- HOW is my lesson/activity getting each student to be engaged and active in the learning process?
As we are in the HEART of teaching and learning, it is imperative that we really examine what WE are doing and what our STUDENTS are doing? We must examine our practices and efforts to make sure we are structuring our instruction to get kids active and engaged.
I hope you each have a GREAT week and some wonderful conversations with parents during Early Release. Let's make the most of every moment, Raiders -- -and do the work I know you were born to do!!!!!!!
News You Can Use
Read Carefully So You Can Be "In the Know"
1) Kudos, Congratulations, and Other Matters of Good News:
Please let me know all that's going on -- -anyone have KUDOS or congratulations to share??? Just email them to Sarah to put in the "Week at a Glance"
From Barbara Clark: "Kudos to Marie Flint from the Carter team for spending long hours after school organizing our big team's field trip to JA BizTown."
2) CAPS FOR A CURE is September 25th!!! Wear $1 TO WEAR A HAT. Students and faculty alike are encouraged to participate!! All donations welcome! Hat wearers will purchase $1 stickers for the privilege to wear a hat for a day!! More details will be coming -- and if you have any questions, see Amy Winkeljohn.
3) Early Release
Please remember that our early release conference days are full days. Employees are expected to work 8 hours each day. If someone needs to leave for their own child's conference, please make sure your AP knows and that you sign in and out if it's during regular work hours.
4) Lunch Trays
We continue to work to find a system that is agreeable to all. Please keep in mind that there are certain constraints we cannot change: size of cafeteria, limited staff in cafeteria (they are down 4 people currently); times within which we can serve lunch, number of students who eat. What we can control is how students and adults act during the processes. Please monitor students as they gather their trays, keep them from huddling up, help them know WHAT to do if they accidentally knock trays over or drop them, then, as the tray line dwindles, step into the cafeteria to monitor students in line. Above all, please watch the schedule. When folks are "off" with times coming to and leaving the cafeteria, it creates issues. Ron Moore and Andrea Murray will be working with the Faculty Senate to see what else we might do to streamline this matter -- let's put "TrayGate" to bed.
5) Safety in the Parking Lot
Please remember that if you drive across the front of the school from the bus lanes -- go slowly and give other cars (entering from Shackleford at the main school entrance) the right of way. Again, a couple of "near misses" this past week!!!
6) RBES Goals and Evaluation Processes
All RBES Goals (2 per certified employee) should be entered and ready to go (with all sign-offs by Friday, Oct. 2); Brief Observations are in full swing and all Evaluation processes are well underway. Work with your primary evaluators with any questions.
7) Vertical Team Meetings this week but no CAT Sessions due to Early Release
All Vertical Curriculum Teams will meet Monday, September 21, at 8:15. CATs will not meet this week, but will be back in full force next week. This should allow all folks the time to get in as many Early Release conferences as possible.
8) Survey Season is Upon Us!
Teachers -- you'll receive the Gallup Engagement Survey via email sometime this week -- this is the "best friend" survey that we've traditionally taken in the spring; please take 3 minutes to share your insights on how engaged you are with the work we're doing!
Also . . the Parent Perception Survey will open on Wednesday, September 23 -- I will share more details about this for you to include with your parents in your newsletters, and we'll have a flyer for you to share with them at Early Release -- also, we'll have folks to assist them with the survey in the Media Center during both days of Early Release, so please encourage them to stop in and complete the survey while they are at Radloff! It is important for us to get as much participation as possible from parents.
Louise Radloff Middle School
Radloff Reads, Radloff Reaches, and Radloff is READY!!!!
Email: sarah_skinner@gwinnett.k12.ga.us
Website: radloffmiddle.com
Location: 3939 Shackleford Road, Norcross, GA, United States
Phone: 678-245-3400
Events of the Week
Monday, September 21
8:15 a.m. -- Vertical Team Meetings -- please meet in same locations as last time--district coaches will be in all meetings
8:50 a.m. -- Counselor's Meeting
9:30 a.m. -- ELT
8:15 -- Intervention Team
4:30 p.m. -- Cheerleading tryouts
Tuesday, September 22
9:30 a.m. -- Advisement (due to Early Release)
6:00 p.m. -- District-wide Title 1 Parent Meeting
Wednesday, September 23
8:15 a.m. -- School-wide Morning Tutoring
Early Release Schedule/Grab-n-Go Lunch
Thursday, September 24
8:15 a.m. -- School-wide Morning Tutoring
Early Release Schedule/Grab-n-Go Lunch
Friday, September 25
8:00 a.m. -- GUFG Meeting
8:15 a.m. -- ELT-LT Meeting in Staff Development room
CAPS for a CURE fundraiser
Raider Palooza #1 during all Connections Classes
9:30 a.m. -- ELT
HOMECOMING at MHS -- 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 19
8:30 a.m. -- Dance Team Practice
9:00 a.m. -- SECME Teacher Training (see Wayne Dail for those who want info!)
10:00 a.m. -- Saturday with Skinner
12:00 p.m. -- Dance Team Parent Meeting
Sunday, September 27
7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. -- Family Astronomy Night
Future Events to Come:
Tuesday, September 29th --- School Pictures -- SMILE!
Wednesday, September 30th -- JLC Parent Night
Thursday, October 1 - Friday, October 9 -- BOOK FAIR in the Media Center
Monday, October 5 ---STEM/eClass and Literacy Consortia Meet -- come and join in the "think tank" work!
Thursday, October 8 -- 6:00 p.m. -- Hispanic Heritage Family Night