Warrior Beat
Student Focused-World Class
News from Nick
Week of the Warrior:
Monday, March 21th
Vertical Meetings at RNR-3:15
Track Practice 3:00-4:30
Lady Warriors Varsity and JV Softball Game-JSMS versus Colonial Heights at CH-4:30
Varsity Baseball Game: JSMS versus Unicoi at Hunter Wright Stadium-4:30
Chamber Choir-2:50-3:30
Tuesday, March 22th
Student Council Meeting-Mrs. Wagner's Room-3:00-3:30
Lady Warriors Varsity and JV Softball Game-JSMS versus TA Dugger at JSMS-4:30
JV Baseball Game: JSMS versus TA Duggerl 4:30 at TA Dugger
Wednesday, March 23th
Track Practice 3:00-4:30
Softball Practice: 3:00-5:00 Players should be prepared for indoor or outdoor practice.
Baseball Practice: 3:00-5:00 Players should be prepared for indoor or outdoor practice.
Newspaper Staff Meeting - 2:45 – 3:30 pm. Editors will meet until 5:15 pm
Newscast Staff Meetings -2:45 – 5:15 pm
Thursday, March 24th
Track Meet hosted by Liberty Bell at Kermit Tipton Stadium in Johnson City. Buses will leave Sevier at 3:00 pm and parents should pick runners at 9:30 pm at the JSMS bus stop. We will NOT be stopping for food on the way home, so students should pack a snack or bring money for the concession stand.
Softball Practice: 3:00-5:00 Players should be prepared for indoor or outdoor practice.
JV Warrior Baseball Game-JSMS versus RNR @ RNR-4:30
Chamber Choir-2:50-3:30
Friday, March 24th
NO SCHOOL SPRING BREAK
JSMS News:
DR. AILSHIE AND A MYSTERY GUEST TO VISIT SEVIER
HEADS UP: We have been told that Dr. Ailshie and a mystery visitor will be vising JSMS classrooms on Monday, March 21 from 10:30-11:15. Please know that we will be doing walk-throughs during this time. This is all I know. I do not know who the visitor is, but we need to be ready for them to observe. Please remind students about expectations of hallway behavior during this time and please let them know that we have visitors in the building.
MARCH 21st VERTICAL MEETING
Because we will be on Spring Break the 4th Monday of this month, we will have our Vertical meetings with RNR on March 21st. Please plan to be present next Monday for these meetings. Math teachers will be held at JSMS in Brian Winstead's classroom. All other vertical meetings will take place at RNR.
MARCH 22nd-WALK OF THE WARRIOR
Walk of the Warrior-JSMS will be having a family engagement event on March 22nd from 5:30-7:00 for families of rising 6th Graders. An informational session will take place in the JSMS auditorium from 5:30-6:30, followed by a reception in the atrium where teachers, coaches, extra-curricular sponsors, student leaders, counselors and administrators will be present to answer specific questions.
GOOGLE PERMISSION FORMS
Forms will be placed in your mailbox this afternoon about Google Apps for Education. The forms will need to be signed by parents and returned to their homeroom teacher ASAP.
CALLING A LOCK DOWN FROM ANY PHONE
During our tabletop meeting a at the beginning of the semester, we discussed having the ability for teachers to make lockdown calls from any phone in the building. We have confirmed the instructions for being able to do this. From any school phone you should be able to access the intercom system using the instructions below. You may want to print these instructions and place them by your phone.
Dial 6010,
wait for a strange dial tone sound,
Dial 0*
SAVE THE DATE!
We will be having our RTI Math and Reading Data Conferences on April 5th. Again, LA will meet during the first 45 minutes of your planning times. Math will meet during the last 45 minutes of your planning times.
Hallway Picture Clings
We have wonderful athletic picture clings hanging in our hallways. We would love to have add clings in the hallways that represent the great work going on in our classrooms and other extra-curricular classes. If you have pictures of current teachers and students that you would like to see hanging in the hallways that represent our work, please send those pictures to Holly. THANKS!
Express Car Wash and JSMS Support
Don't forget that you can wash your car and support JSMS at the same time! Use the code 1200 at Express Car Wash (Stone Drive near Target) before you pay and 30% of the sale will automatically go to JSMS PTA. Use the code each time you have your car washed!
Important Evaluation Information
Administrators will no longer have access to entire self-scores in the observation portal. All teachers will now have to enter self-scores by logging into the portal on teh TN Compass site. Please go ahead and register and log in to expedite this process. Go to http://tdoe.tncompass.org to register.
News From the ASC
NEW
Friendly Reminder
Please remember and share with KCS staff that, according to the Employee Handbook, the use of scented perfumes, lotions, etc. is discouraged in all KCS buildings. Spring is a time when allergies really flare up, so anything we can do to reduce allergens in a building is appreciated!
NEW
Learning Sessions Announced
The Tennessee STEM Innovation Summit will be held May 17-18, 2016 in Nashville, TN. Summit sessions are designed to provide attendees opportunities to interact with educational leaders and practitioners who are seeing success with integrating STEM practices in their classrooms and communities.
For more information or to register, click here.
Last Day for the Spring Grounds and Maintenance Survey!
Please distribute the second semester Grounds and Maintenance Survey to your staff. Remember, this is completed twice each year as a part of the KCS Strategic Plan. Please ask staff to have this done by today, Friday, March 18.
For the survey, please click here.
Pre-K Screenings
Pre-Kindergarten Screenings for the 2016-2017 school year will be held on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 between 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., located at the Kingsport Civic Auditorium. Screenings only and NOT registration.
Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten Registration for the 2016-2017 school year will be held on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 from 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. at all KCS Elementary Schools.
2016 Essay Contest
Every year, the TDOE hosts an essay contest to honor talented teachers through student voices. This year’s contest celebrates how great teachers inspire their students daily with the prompt: "My teacher has inspired me to …" All Tennessee public school students in grades kindergarten through twelve are eligible to participate. The complexity of the essay will vary by age; K–2 students should record their thoughts on video. One winner will be selected from each of the following grade bands: K–2, 3–5, 6–8, and 9–12, and the winning students and honored teachers will be celebrated during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 2-6.
All submissions must be received by the Tennessee Department of Education office by 5 p.m. CDT on Friday, April 8. For contest details, click here.
Contact Educator.Communications@tn.gov if you have questions.
SCORE Information Meeting: March 22
Apply for the 2016-17 Tennessee Educator Fellowship by April 8
"The SCORE Educator Fellowship has been a great opportunity to learn about policy and participate in policy conversations at the state and local level. Networking and collaborating with like-minded teachers from across the state has been an incredible learning experience. I have had the opportunity to attend a Day on the Hill and see legislative sessions in progress, learn about the history of education in Tennessee, participate in conversations with legislators to ensure they understand how important progress is for our students. It is reassuring to know there are legislators and politicians who are involved with educational policy and care about the state of education in Tennessee. Being an advocate for our students and sharing teacher voice bridges policy and practice. However, there is still work to be done! If you are a passionate teacher leader and would be interested in advocating on behalf of Tennessee Students, then consider applying for the SCORE Fellowship." - Amanda Cole, 5th grade, John Adams Elementary School
Tennessee Educator Fellowship 2016-17 Tennessee Educator Fellows Application
There will be an information meeting on Thursday, March 22 at Adams Elementary. Details will be forthcoming. For more information and/or question, please contact Amanda Cole at acole@k12k.com.
Teacher License Renewals, Conversations & Advancements
The Educator Licensing division of the Department of Education is now accepting applications for license renewals, conversations and advancements that expire in 2016.
Going forward, renewal applications can be submitted as of September 1st of the year preceding date of expiration. Applications will not be accepted before then. As such, applications for license renewals, conversions and advancements for licenses that expire in 2017 will not be accepted until Sept. 1, 2016.
For more information visit the TN Department of Education's Educator Licensing webpage.
The Original Harlem Globetrotters: March 22
The world famous The Original Harlem Globetrotters will be playing at Freedom Hall on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at 7 p.m.
Employees, students, and everyone with Kingsport City Schools (family/friends) can take advantage of an exclusive discount and save up to $7.00 off each ticket!
To take advantage of this discount or for any questions, please contact Derek Gensburg at (602) 707.7037 or Gensburg@harlemglobetrotters.com. Tickets are limited based on availability.
*The Kennedy Elementary Dribblers will be performing again this year during half time!*
JEANS for STREAM Day: March 24
Thursday, March 24 will be a district-wide JEANS FOR STREAM DAY!
With a $5 minimum donation any KCS employee may wear jeans to work! The money collected from the JEANS FOR STREAM DAY will be used to help fund scholarships for students who would not be able to attend the KCS STREAM Summer Camp (rising 2nd—6th grade), KCS X-STREAM Summer Program (rising 7th—9th grade) or the new KCS X-STREAM Design Summer Program (rising 10th – 12th grade) without assistance.
The cost at the elementary, middle and high school level per student will be similar to last year. We would like to make the STREAM experience more available to all students who are interested. Each school/department will have an envelope to secure donations.
Please contact Amy Doran, Jim Wernke or Val Love with questions. If paying with check, please make checks payable to the City of Kingsport with KCS STREAM Camp in the memo line.
WGU Tennessee Tenn-K Scholarship
Between now until March 30, Tennessee residents can apply to receive one of 10 "Tenn-K" scholarships to WGU (Western Governors University) Tennessee, each valued at $10,000. Click here for additional information outlining the award, eligibility requirements, an how to apply. Application deadline is March 30, 2016.
KCS Accepting Zoning and Tuition Applications
KCS is currently accepting Zoning and Tuition Applications for students in grades K–12 for the 2016-2017 school year.
Parents who would like to request their child attend a different city school instead of one for which their child is zoned, must apply for a zoning exception. Parents of students who are not legal residents of the City of Kingsport must submit a tuition application to attend Kingsport City Schools. Parents or legal guardians must apply annually for their child’s tuition and zoning status, even if they attended Kingsport City Schools during the preceding school year.
Applications are available in-person at the KCS Administrative Support Center, 400 Clinchfield Street, second floor, downtown Kingsport or online at k12k.com or by clicking here. Application deadline is April 30, 2016.
KCS Now Accepting Hall of Fame Nominations
KCS is currently accepting nominations for the 2016 class of the Kingsport City Schools Hall of Fame, which will be inducted in July, 2016.
Established to honor and recognize employees that have made significant contributions to KCS and its students, the Hall of Fame serves as the keystone award celebrating the district’s history of excellence. Nominations will be accepted through May 1, 2016. The nomination form and additional information can be found on the KCS website at www.k12k.com.
Celebrations and Recognitions
*Thank you to our counseling department for all of their work in supporting our students to be "World Changing Warriors." did you know that on the first Friday of each month, all JSMS students participate in "lunch bunch?" Students are assigned tables. A community volunteer is present at each table and leads each table in conversation topics. This time provides students a chance to get to know students they may not interact with on a daily basis and provides quality conversation designed to empower and inspire students. If you are interested in volunteering as a table volunteer, please call our office and ask to speak to Counseling. We are always looking for volunteers! This week, San Francisco 49er and JSMS alum, Daniel Kilgore, volunteered! Once a Warrior, Always a Warrior!
*A big thank you to our counselors and teachers for completing a successful week of testing! Our students were troupers and did a great job!
*Baseball and Softball teams both had wins last week!
*Our Mathcounts team participated in the state competition in Nashville this weekend and made us proud as always!
*Thank you to our PTA and all volunteers for sponsoring another dance that students thoroughly enjoyed!
Proud to be a Warrior,
Holly Flora
Principal, JSMS