Spartan Gazette
Indian Mound Middle School
Greetings From Brett Jondle
‘Things Kids Want!”
Throughout the years, for some reason, students, particularly middle level adolescents, have been labeled as “challenging, lazy, unmotivated, and loud” by much of society. What I have found is that working with middle school students involves the implementation of the simple “Golden Rule” of treating these youth how we, as adults, would want to be treated. For May’s newsletter [as has been my tradition], I wanted to share twelve simple ideas to live by when working with your child as well as share with all of you what we are doing this month at Indian Mound Middle School that connects with Angela Maiers, an Educational Consultant who has written two books, The Passion Driven Classroom and Classroom Habitudes.
1. Greet me each day: “Wish me good morning, and send me off with a “See ya tomorrow.” This month, as with every month at Indian Mound Middle School [IMMS], our staff will continue to be in the hallways, at lunch/recess, and in other locations to greet our students. Mr. Tarnutzer and I continue to remind staff the importance of making those priceless connections with students each and every day. In addition, I have made the conscious effort to be out and about in the IMMS parking lot as well as on the bike path at the end of the day, to send off the students to their next activity, and to also greet each of you!
2. Smile: “When you look at me, let me see happiness in your eyes.” This month, we have a number of opportunities for staff to interact with students in and out of the classroom.
This month, we will have a “Staff vs. Student” basketball game on May 16 starting at 2:20pm. In addition, we will also begin signing up for the End of the Year Trip, planning will continue for Eighth Grade Recognition Night, and a number of concerts, performance assessment activities, and recognitions of positive interactions displayed by students will all be happening this lively month of May. Specific dates include:
May 2-End of the Year Trip Permission Slips are sent out.
May 5-IMMS Student of the Month Assembly starting at 7:55am at IMMS.
May 5-Sixth Grade Market Day at 2:15pm.
May 12-Seventh and Eighth Grade Band Concerts at 7:00pm at the MHS Auditorium.
May 13-End of the Year Trip Permission Slips and money are due.
May 16-“Staff vs. Students” Basketball Game at 2:30pm.
May 16-Sixth and Seventh Grade [including Fifth Grade]Orchestra Concert at 7:00pm at the MHS Auditorium
May 17-Choir Concert at 7:00pm at the MHS Auditorium.
May 19-Eighth Grade [including High School Orchestra]Orchestra Concert at 7:30pm at the MHS Auditorium
May 19-Sixth Grade Market Day at 2:15pm.
May 21-Blues in the Night at 5:00pm at the IMMS Cafetorium
May 26-Sixth Grade Band Concert-7:00pm at the MHS Auditorium.
May 30: Memorial Day Parade at 12:00pm.
3. Give me your attention: “Sit and talk with me privately; even if only for a second.” As part of our continued “Positive Behavior Intervention and Support” implementation, we have continued to implement a second tier of interventions for students. We have implemented, tracked, and continue to assess the effectiveness of a “Check-In, Check-Out” system as well as our formal mentor program for students who may exhibit a need for extra support and care. This intervention will continue to grow in its effectiveness as we continue to work through this process and analyze the data associated with this intervention.
4. Imagine with me. “Help me dream of things I might be able to do; not just the things I need to do now.” Throughout the year, eighth grade students have met with Mrs. Jill Runde, the Eighth Grade Guidance Counselor, to complete a career plan as well as a four-year plan for high school. This continues to serve as a valuable avenue for students to begin to think about their future and the pathway to get to that point. In addition, as the Common Core State Standards [CCSS] continue to be implemented and embedded, ALL students will be asked to continue to grow with lifelong skills to prepare them for college and their career.
5. Give me challenging content and assignments. “Show me how to handle it. Teach me what to do.” We continue to strive towards creating learning environments that challenge students and provide relevant learning to occur. Specifically, the McFarland Learning Community, will continue our professional growth on May 6 and May 23 as we will be working on the alignment of our curriculums both vertically [grade level to grade level] and horizontally [from teacher to teacher in the same grade level], assessing the quality and effectiveness of our classroom assessments [tests, quizzes, projects, etc.] and reflecting on how these may be improved with a common structure across grade levels. Staff will also be reviewing their professional goals for the year as well as the growth students have made throughout the year. Finally, not only do we teach content, we also teach behavior at IMMS. I have had the opportunity to work with students everyday helping them reflect on, and learn from, their decisions that may have been made. During these discussions, I work with students to understand how their choices affected others, and also how they can “make things right” with those who were affected. In addition, the PBIS [Positive Behavior Intervention and Support] Team has begun planning for next year’s school year about ways that we can continue to teach and assess the IMMS expectations to our students as they return to school for the 2016-2017 school year!
6. Ask about me. “Inquire about my weekend, the game I played, the places I go. It shows you care about my life.” I am pleased to say that, as mentioned earlier, we at IMMS, continue to engage in conversations with students in the hallway, checking in with students in the morning and afternoon, interact with them at lunch and recess, and are visible in the hallways before, during, and after school. This will continue as we move throughout May and June!
7. Let me have time. “Time to let things sink in. Time to think. Time to reflect, process, and play.” As you know, this year, we are in our fourth year of using a modified block schedule in which students have had the opportunity to have extended time for math and language arts. During this month, we will continue to assess this fourth year of using this schedule with the longer math block, seeing what went well, assessing how this has increased student achievement [which it has!], and looking for ways to continue to improve. On another note, students will have time to “play” as we have the PE track meets occurring at the end of the month on the following days:
May 17-Sixth Grade
May 18-Seventh Grade
May 19-Eighth Grade
8. Demand of me. “Hold me accountable to high standards. Don’t let me get away with what you know I am capable of doing better.” During our professional development days on May 6 and May 23, a portion of this time will be devoted to assess the current “Conduct and Effort Rubric” that we use to assess student behavior and effort each quarter. We have begun to discuss as a staff, ways to improve this rubric, increase its clarity, as well as ways to provide more timely feedback to students and families regarding student conduct and effort.
9. Notice Me. “Leave special messages in my desk or locker. Just a quick note that says you notice something right.” This month’s challenge for each grade level is to see which grade consistently shows empathy towards others by providing kind comments towards one another and looking for the best in each other. In addition, our Student of the Month [SOM] assembly will occur on Thursday, May 5, starting at 7:55am to recognize students who consistently live out the “We ARRE Spartans” motto. As always, we continue to take pride in also recognizing students who exhibit positive behavior through our “scratch-offs” given out to students as well as “Positive Behavior Referrals” which are also sent out by IMMS Staff to students who have exhibited positive behavior through their achievement, respect, responsibility, or empathy. During the Second Semester, IMMS Staff have written 144 Positive Behavior Referrals!
10. Let me ask the questions. “Even if they are off topic. It will show that I am thinking about new perspectives, curious, and willing to learn more. Let me have the chance to show what I am wondering about, not just what I know.” This month, there are a number of interesting projects and performance assessments occurring in your child’s classroom. In addition, we continue to work on curriculum that encourages student questioning [inquiry] as well as effective questioning provided by staff to engage students.
11. Engage me. “I came to you in love with learning, keep me excited, keep me wanting more.”
12. Trust me. “Believe that I can do it. Allow me the chance. I promise to show you I can.”
The last two statements I felt were ones that we have done all year long and will continue to do. I know that we remain committed to improving, but I am confident that at IMMS, we offer to our students [and your children] the support, opportunities, and reinforcement that they need and desire. The month of May will be an exciting month and a month that will be one to remember. I am confident that while we strive for continuous growth, our heart lies in the right spot and that we continue to succeed in offering to students “what they want”!
Thank you so much for sharing your child with us this year!
Warmly,
Brett Jondle
Track Meet Volunteers Needed
IMMS Track Meets will be held on May 17 (6th grade), May 18 (7th grade), and May 19 (8th grade). This event will run from 8:30AM through 12:30PM. We need volunteer timers and field event workers. Volunteers will need to meet on the track at 8:30AM. If you are interested in volunteering please email Kelly Smith (6th grade) SmithK2@mcfsd.org, Peggy Southern (7th grade) SoutheP@mcfsd.org, and Sara Mallegni (8th Grade) Mallegs@mcfsd.org
STEAM Learning Event
On April 20th, a group of IMMS students had an opportunity to participate in some STEAM(Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) activities led by traveling tutors from an advanced learning program developed at Stanford University. The lessons are aimed at engaging students in project-based learning, while promoting excitement as they discover real-world applications of familiar math and science concepts.
6th graders participated in a City Planning activity. They learned about ratios, percents, and drawings to-scale, while designing blueprints of imaginary cities based on fun scenarios assigned to them.
The 7th and 8th graders competed as sports statisticians and utilized their math skills quickly and accurately to draft superior Quidditch teams.
Library Matters
May is a busy time in the IMMS library. Students are researching and reading. Here are a few things to remember:
All books are due on Friday, May 27.
In order to participate in the end of the year field trips, all fines and lost library materials must be cleared from your child’s library record by May 27. These include library materials still checked out from WIS.
Please pay fines and lost materials with cash. The library is not able to cash checks.
Please help your child keep track of their library books at this time of the year.
You may ask your student to log into their Destiny account to see what they need to return. This can be done from their iPad through the Destiny Quest or Brytewave app. This can also be done from any computer with Internet access.
To encourage our students to keep reading great books over the summer months, we will again be offering a summer check out program. We will offer current sixth and seventh grade students the opportunity to check out a bag of books for the summer. Please see the explanation and permission slip following. Permission slips are due May 24.
Please direct any questions to Mrs. Neal at 838-4575. Information is also available on the library website. Please click here.
GET READY FOR SUMMERTIME READING
Dear 6th and 7th graders and parents/guardians:
Did you know? Research has shown that to maintain their reading level, students need to read just 4 books during the summer. To encourage our students to keep reading great books over the summer months, we will again be offering a summer check out program. We will offer current sixth and seventh grade students the opportunity to check out a bag of books for the summer. Interested? Here is how it works:
During the last week of school, you will be given the opportunity to come to the IMMS library to choose books.
You must return or pay for any library books you still have checked out (even if the books are from your previous school) before you can checkout any summer books.
You can choose up to 10 books * magazines and graphic novels are not included
Parent/guardian signs a PERMISSION SLIP FORM and returned to IMMS library by May 24.
Book bag is assembled on May 31- this will include books, copy of permission form, a list of checked out books and an instruction letter for book return.
Read, Read and read some more (this is the FUN part)
Return books on the first day of school (Thursday, September 1, 2016)
We are hoping that you will take advantage of this chance to choose some wonderful reads for the summer!
See you on May 31
(any questions: Call Ms. Neal at 838-4575)
2016 Summer Library Program
“On Your Mark, Get Set…READ!” is the theme for the 2016 Summer Library Program. The program sponsored by the E.D. Locke Public Library encourages recreational reading and library usage by the McFarland area children during the summer. The library offers four program levels: Little Readers ages Birth – 4 years old, K-5 Readers, 6-12 Teen Readers, and Adult Readers. Online registration begins June 1 and continues throughout the summer.
For 2016 we have packed this program with fantastic programming, awesome performers, and thrilling activities not to be missed. Our family fun performers start on June 17th when we will hold our Kick Off Celebration. There will be crafts, snacks, activities, and performances by the ever popular Soda Pups! For a full list of performers and activities please check out our website at www.mcfarlandlibrary.org.
One of the big events this summer for teens ages 12-17 is our Teen Book Trailer workshop. The Teen Book Trailer Contest challenges teens to create a trailer for a book that has made an impact on their lives and contributed to the growth and influence of teen literature on society. As part of Teen Read Week in October, each partner library will host a Book Trailer Fest to show trailers from their library along with the other libraries. The community is welcome to the Fests to celebrate the creativity of teens and the books that inspired them.
On June 13 at 4:00pm our library will host stop-motion animation workshop led by local filmmaker Frank Caruso. Mr. Caruso will instruct participants in the art of creating stop-motion animation using ipads, the art of storyboarding, storytelling, and set creation. Registration is required and will be available on the library website later in May.
In addition to all the different programming the library is also looking for teen volunteers to help out with our programming. Opportunities include helping out during large programs, prep for projects, and assisting people in registration for the program. This year we have made it easier to register to help through online registration via our website or the direct link (http://goo.gl/forms/sYHZekgkSi).
Congratulations to all of our Student of the Month winners!
Student Council News
WASC State Leadership Conference
On April 24-25, twenty-nine members of Indian Mound Middle School Student Council participated in the 25th Annual State Leadership Conference in Madison, a two-day event sponsored by the Wisconsin Association of School Councils (WASC). It was an inspirational experience for the thousand (+) students, staff, parent volunteers, and presentors from all around Wisconsin. The WASC has invited Indian Mound to to host the 2017 State Conference in Madison (at the Capital & Marriott West) on May 6-8, 2017. While this is a huge honor, it also requires a tremendous amount of teamwork and support of students, parents, and administrators. Essentially, before we meet with the WASC conference planning committee we need to determine if we have the necessary support to plan and facilitate such a comprehensive state-wide conference. If you think you (and your middle school student) would like to help coordinate the WASC 2017 State Leadership Conference, please contact Jim Kramer (phone 608-838-4576) (emailkramerj@mcfsd.org) by May 20.
Leadership Camp
WASC SUMMER CAMP - The WASC offers an unbelievable summer camp experience that ALL IMMS students (not just Student Council) are encouraged to attend: Whether you’re involved in student council, the national honor society, the drama club, a sports team, the school musical, cheerleading, or your local FFA — WASC camp is for you! In fact, the camp programs are for anyone who wants to improve their leadership skills!
Middle School Camps: Levels 1, 2 & 3 — July 10-14, 2016 (http://www.wasc.org/camp/)
LEVEL 1: LEARN – July 10-14, 2016 During the Level 1 experience, students will participate in fun activities focused on skills essential for the middle level including: building self-esteem and self-advocacy skills, learning what it means to be a leader, and ways to create exciting and interesting student activities.
2016/17 Student Council Officer Elections
Applications are NOW available (in the Guidance Office) for sixth and seventh grade students interested in running for an officer position for the 2016/17 school year. A great Student Council needs great leaders so run and make a difference! Remember, “The best leaders create more leaders. But not through cloning, because that’s illegal.” See Mr. Kramer with your questions!
Indian Mound Middle School
Email: TarnutA@mcfsd.org
Website: http://www.mcfarland.k12.wi.us/schools/middle/
Location: 6330 Exchange Street, McFarland, WI, United States
Phone: (608)838-8980
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Indian-Mound-Middle-School-McFarland-WI/204736889672509?ref=hl
Twitter: @ATarnutzer_IMMS