Warrior Beat
Student Focused-World Class
Word for the Warrior....
Hello Warriors,
We are almost to mid-term. Please remember that by the end of January, we have set a goal that each grade level department will have come to consensus around common grading practices.
It has been articulated that the goals of our Transforming Teaching and Learning Action Team are the following:
*to develop shared knowledge and research-based best practices regarding grading among JSMS Staff
*to design school-wide grading practices that ensure a “guaranteed and viable” approach to grading that accurately reflects what students know and are able to do
At the end of last semester, in an effort to create a more equitable grading scale for students that would best support the communication of what students actually know and can demonstrate, the team recommended the following:
*Menu of Recommended Best Practices to Consider:
A grade should reflect student progress toward mastery
No grade entered lower than a 60 or an M, I or * for missing
Retakes
Corrections/Points
Revisions
Total Point Grading System
Weighted Grading System
Grading practices will be aligned to subject specific best practices.
Grading scales will focus on student learning and mastery, rather than behavior.
*Recommended Practices to be Extinguished by the end of 2017:
Use of the 0
100 Point Scale where all assignments are weighted the same
*Actions:
In order to provide a more mathematically balanced grading scale, if teachers are using a 100 point scale, the lowest grade inputted into PS will be a 60.
If a teacher chooses not to give a 60 for a missing assignment, an * , M or I can be given to indicate a missing assignment.
Next Steps:
*Way of the Warrior Action Team should develop criteria for an O, S, N and U that would include work completion. Way of the Warrior Team should provide specific report card comments that could accompany the O, S, N and U that could capture classroom behaviors/work ethic. These recommendations could be given to Becky Clark to add to report card drop downs.(FYI: The WOW Team have already met to begin working on this.)
*By the end of January, all grade level departments will use consistent grading practices from classroom to classroom.
*By the end of May, all content departments (6-8)will use consistent grading practices (Example: All ELA teachers 6-8 will have common grading practices).
FEEDBACK:
We are almost to the 4.5 week point of the nine weeks. The Transforming Teaching and Learning Team: Grading, will meet tomorrow to confirm the tool we will use to gather data and feedback based on the mid-term reports. If you have questions that the team needs to consider, please send those questions/feedback to any of the following people: Holly Flora, Luke Holt, Rachael Wagner, Norie-Anne Young, Abbie Kilgore, Hunter Graybeal, Abbie Kilgore, Leslie Hardin, Nancy Weaver
Questions to Consider:
-For students who have turned in all work, by entering a 60 rather than grades lower than that, are averages reflecting more accurately what students know?
-For students who have NOT turned in all work (missing work), are those students still failing even though we are entering a 60, I, M or *? If not, why? Are they passing quizzes and tests that bring their grades up even though they are missing assignments?
We will continue to meet as a team, gather feedback from staff and work together to determine best practices that accurately communicate student learning to students and to parents. We will also continue to work to develop practices that allow students to demonstrate growth and mastery in a way that supports hope and confidence, while at the same time, does not lower our expectations for students.
Proud to be a Warrior,
Holly
Week of the Warrior
MONDAY: January 29th
-Transforming Teaching and Learning Action Team: Grading-3:00-4:00 JSMS Conference Room
- 8th grade teacher recommendations due in Powerschool
-6th and 7th Grade TVAAS Meetings (LA/SS/Math-First half of planning, Science-Second half of planning
-Baseball Tryouts 3-5, players should meet in room 341
- Sevier on Stage Forensics will meet in Mr. Graybeal’s classroom on Monday after school until 4:00.
TUESDAY: January 30th
-8th Grade TVAAS Meetings (LA/SS/Math-First half of planning, Science-Second half of planning
- High school planning classes begin for 8th grade
-Baseball Tryouts 3-5, players should meet in room 341
- 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 31st
-Innovative Solutions to Classroom Management Cohort-3:45-5:00-DBE
- High school planning classes begin for 8th grade
-Baseball Tryouts 3-5, players should meet in room 341
- 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: February 1st
-DI practice after school on Thursday, until 4:00
-Baseball Tryouts 3-5, players should meet in room 341
- 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: February 2nd
Save the Date:
- Softball Try-outs - Feb. 5th, 7th, 8th - 3-5pm - Must have a current sports physical on file
- 8th grade parent meeting at DB - Feb. 6
- Junior Clinic Honor Band at RNR – Feb. 9th & 10th
- Science Olympiad Bowl February 3rd at DB
-Our annual All-City band concert is coming up on Monday, February 19th. This will involve every band student in KCS 6-12 (somewhere between 600-800 kids).
JSMS JAM...
Data Conferences
Please remember to email admin and InDeS the dates for your NEXT data conference on your unit tests, benchmark, assessments by the end of the day on Monday.
We have received dates from the departments below:
JSMS Data Conferences:
8th Grade Math 2/1 Unit Test
8th Grade SS-2/8 Unit Test
7th Grade SS-2/1 Unit Test
7th Grade LA-2/1 Benchmark
JSMS Action Teams
As we have worked in developing the processes at JSMS, we have developed a shared leadership model that depends upon the JSMS Leadership Team as the guiding coalition of the school. Using school data, staff surveys, parents surveys and SWOT analysis, the team has determined the work of our school. As we have continued to develop the work of our school, our Action Teams have grown and increased to align to encompass a variety of areas. Previously, we have invited all to participate in action teams as desired. While I would still like to ensure that anyone can attend any action team at any time, to ensure that all voices are heard, I would like to ask that each one of you sign up for at least one Action Team. Later this week, we will invite everyone to sign up via a Google form. Some of you have been consistent members of teams and we will go ahead and sign up those of you who have consistently participated on specific teams. You will notice that there are just a few new teams listed below. Again, you can certainly be on more than one action team, but to ensure that we have representation, we ask that everyone sign up for at least one. These meetings count toward your six additional hours of PD.
Scheduling/Tribe Time/Clubs
Staff Communication
New Teacher Mentoring
Transforming Teaching and Learning: Grading
Culture Club
Data Team
Technology
Supervision
Athletics
Family Engagement
CALLING ALL MATH 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 MATH 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!
JSMS AMO Targets
Science Standards Resources Available
To support educators in the transition to the new Tennessee Academic Standards for Science in fall 2018, TDOE 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.
This information was shared with JSMS Parents in the Weekly Warrior Update...
WARRIOR WHOOP!
Please congratulate our participants for the 2018 Geography Bee!
Junior Clinic Band Try Outs at JSMS-
Congratulations to the students below for trying out and placing in All-State East Junior Clinic Band Tryouts! GO WARRIORS!!!
Blalock, Sam Trombone1
Estes, Hannah Grace French Horn1
Maynard Micah Tuba1
Miller,Ella Percussion1
True,Ryan Bari Sax1
Dixon,Kate Alto Sax1
Homoky, Henry Percussion1
Jenkins, Anna Marie Bass Clarinet1
Lyttle, Katie Faye Bass Clarinet2
Marlow, Izzy Tuba2
Steadman, Luke Baritone2
Thorneloe, Lindsey Tenor Sax2
Height, Lane Flute2
Adedokun, Joshua Clarinet3
Adinolfi, Olivia Tuba3
Burton, Ashley Trombone3
Galloway, Brianna Bass Clarinet3
Hall, Conner French Horn3
Pushkas, Balagopalan Baritone4
Eldridge, Sean Percussion4
Smith, Lynasia Trombone4
Carter, Carson Trombone5
Escoe, Wesley Tuba5
Willams, Aidan French Horn6
DeBord, Sara 8Alto Sax6
Hammond, Grayson French Horn7
van der Biest, Sofia Flute8
DeFord, Karlie Flute9
Nottingham, Millie Clarinet9
Wasik, William Trumpet9
JenkinsAnna , Marie Clarinet10
Jarjoura Jerome, Trumpet11
Tolley, Ginessa Clarinet16
Hilton, MillieClarinet17
Addair, Lucy Clarinet17
Galloway, Brianna Clarinet18
Colhoun, Alyssa Clarinet19
True, Ryan Clarinet23
Probs, tAnna Grace Clarinet24
Salyer, KaAnna Clarinet24
Dean, Damon TrumpetAlt 1
Graves, Isaiah PercussionAlt 1
Chandler, Graham French HornAlt 1
Moss-Griffiths, Jocelyn BassoonAlt 1
Grim, Carter BaritoneAlt 2
Harris, Anna Brooke Alto SaxAlt 2
Herron, Olivia TromboneAlt 2
Sevier’s Rock Star
LeAnn Franklin epitomizes the essence of hard work. Her focus gives her the capacity to handle processing jobs at a speed and quality beyond the boundary of any one normal human. In spite of the tremendous workload, she always places the good of Sevier before herself and does so with a smile. LeAnn has a calming, patient, attitude. On more than one occasion I have seen her talk with parents that are going through hardships, listening to them and empathizing with their situation.
I think that due to these reasons, and many more, that LeAnn should be held as a prime example of who we strive to be as part of Kingsport City Schools. As a result, I would like to pass forward the honor of this week’s Golden Rock Award and the commendation of a job well done.
-Lucas Trent