SMS Update!
May 9, 2016
Here's What's Happening...
The SMS Update is created to keep the staff of Strongsville Middle School up to date and in the loop as our school continues to evolve and take shape. It is important that we're all on the same page as we move forward to the 2016-2017 school year.
If you have questions, concerns, suggestions, or are looking for clarification to a rumor you may have heard, please feel free to contact: Steve Deitrick, Kelli Izzo, or Mike Vukovich. If we don't have the answer, we'll find it for you.
Master Schedule
The master schedule is still in the works as we continue to look at ways to best fit the needs of our students.
Targeted Standards:
Sort of like Support Class, we will be working to streamline IEP services to students and target their needs in Math and ELA and other various areas.
Staffing
Team Leaders Needed: I am still looking for Team Leaders for most teams. Team Leader comes with a stipend, release period for team 'to-dos' and various responsibilities. Please submit those names to me as soon as you can. If your team cannot agree to one person, then I will interview those who are interested.
For encore teachers, once team time is determined for encore teachers, I hope to have more details in the May 16 SMS Update.
Disclaimer: For moving purposes, it is important that we find a home for everyone's supplies. For planning purposes, it is important that people have a direction going into next year. But, please understand, while we have every intention to keep assignments/rooms in place for next year, they may be subject to change pending summer retirements, resignations, etc.
Room Assignments
Disclaimer: Office spaces and perhaps even room numbers are subject to change. My hope is, that does not happen. Your flexibility and patience is greatly appreciated.
Upcoming Trainings
Opening Events @ SMS
I have been told that the main parking lot is scheduled to be surfaced and completed the week of Aug 15-19. It is not feasible to have a large number of people on-site during that week as there will be nowhere to park. So.... we may hold Orientation, for all grades, 6-8, on Saturday, August 20. It would be split up into three, 2-Hour sessions- one for 6, 7 & 8 grade. The sessions would entail a welcome in the Auditorium, schedule/packet pick-up in the Commons, self-guided tours around the building & conclude with a debriefing and perhaps Q & A in the gymnasium. We will be looking for staff as well as student (8th grade student council???) volunteers to help throughout the day. I will have a sign-up sheet in next weeks SMS Update.
First Day of School:
I've heard some ideas from people as to how we should begin our school year and what the first day of school should look like. The idea I like best entails students spending the day with their team (and encore classes) simply getting to know one another, doing team-building activities, learning the building, modeling SMS rules, tech expectations, etc. If you have input as how this would look in more detail, please email me or give me a call.
Curriculum Matters
If you are interested in becoming a member of the BLT for next school year, please email me or give me a call.
SLO and Scoring:
Many, many teachers have expressed the desire to have a common scoring template to be used for SLO scoring that depicts student growth. Two 8th grade teachers used a 'growth template' to score their students and issue them a grade based on their growth. I like it!!! If you are interested in helping create a uniform scoring system for SLO Post-Tests, please let me know.
Important Dates
- May 11: 7:40 6th Grade Team Time @Muraski
- May 13: SMS Golf Outing @ Mallard Creek
- May 20: Last Day!!!
- May 23: 7-8 ELA PD Session