Warrior Beat
#worldchangingwarriors
Word for the Warrior
"...because she says our names."
We matter. We are difference makers. We dream big.
These phrases serve as our mantra to our students as we seek to help them become World Changing Warriors, but these words are just as much for us as we come to work each day at Sevier!
We have accepted a calling to support students, many of whom, come to us broken, lonely and who come to us feeling unloved. We also serve those fortunate ones who come to us whole-hearted, loved and knowing someone cares. Even still, ALL of the students we serve are adolescents who are in that awkward state of not being quite sure if they are adults or kids, who have fully-developed emotions, and whose reasoning ability has literally just not caught up with their adult like emotions! So for ALL of our students, supporting social emotional learning is just as important, if not MORE important than anything else we do as teachers.
The Social Emotional Learning time that we have daily matters now more than ever. Our lives have continued to get busier and busier and our curriculum has gotten bigger and bigger. The presence of media and computers right in our hands has us all on information and stimuli overload and this has impaired quality communication for everyone! Middle school students need more support than ever in how to learn to understand and process their emotions, discover their identity and develop healthy relationships. For students who have experienced trauma, this is even more critical.
JSMS students were recently surveyed regarding our Social Emotional Learning time. They were asked whom and what has been most positively impactful to them during SEL time. It is POWERFUL to read the words of our students in response to what YOU are doing. I am going to list a few student responses below. There are too many to list...but what stands out in all of the responses is that the simplicity of the actions we take and words we speak to students are clearly IMPACTFUL and potentially life-changing.
One child's response about what she has remembered about Mrs. Watkins is that "...she says our names." WOW. Isn't that just what we ALL really want at our core? To be truly seen and to be known?
Who has made a positive difference for you during our SEL time each day at Sevier and why?
- Mrs. Watkins because she says our names when she asks questions in SEL.
- Mr. Mallick, because he's very engrossed in how his students are feeling/doing in his class and you can tell he really cares about his students.
- Mr. Holt becasue he takes the time to talk with us. It makes you know he cares.
- Mr. Koth becuse he tells you about the real world and is not afraid to tell the truth.
- Mrs.Tipton. She engages in the conversations with us, and that is a good SEL teacher quality.
- Mrs. Donnellan and Mr. Carr because they are just super understanding.
- Ms. Tester because she always does it with us and answers the questions with us.
- The teachers that participate along with us are the best. I dont know why it is better, but it just lets students know how adults did things and what they think.
I have also placed two clips below. One is a very easy-to-read article for teachers that shares best practices in supporting students who have experienced trauma. The other clip is a four-minute interview of Oprah that reveals the power that one teacher had for her as she began to heal from childhood trauma herself. Oprah actually says that, "It was school that made me feel a sense of value and connection."
You make connections every day that make students feel connected and valued. NEVER underestimate that you matter and that you are a difference-maker in the lives of our kids. And NEVER quit dreaming BIG!
Week of the Warrior
MONDAY: February 10th
No School Due to Illness
TUESDAY: February 11th
No School Due to Illness
WEDNESDAY: February 12th
SEL - Second Step
Girls Softball Tryouts
High School Planning in Math
Core classes (8th grade related arts) on Wednesdays
Homework help is now in Mr. Wyatt’s room after School
Boys Indoor Soccer Wednesday/Thursday at ROBINSON games start at 3:10
There will be a journalism staff meeting on Wednesday, January 8 from 2:45 to 3:30 pm. All staff members are required to attend. The editorial team will meet until 5:15 pm.
Any 8th grade girl interested in playing soccer at DB needs to attend an informational meeting at DB in room W175 on Wednesday, February 12, 2020. This is in the Social Studies pod at DB. I will meet all 8th graders at the entrance to the Little Theatre at 3:00. Players will receive off-season expectations, preseason expectations, and game schedule for 2020. The meeting will only last 30 minutes.
Yearbook sales are about to come to an end! Any student who wants a yearbook needs to place their order by Friday, February 14. The only way to secure a yearbook is to pre-order one!Visit ybpay.lifetouch.com and use ID Code 13619720.
Reminder that no outside food or drink is allowed in the cafeteria.
Message from the nurse: Please wash hands frequently-especially before eating and after restroom use If you need to cough, please cover your cough with the bend of your arm or a tissue and then throw the tissue away. If you are running a fever-please stay at home. You need to be fever free without fever reducing meds for 24 hours before returning to school. If you are vomiting, please stay at home-you need to have stopped vomiting before returning to school-the typical stomach virus usually lasts 24 hours. Please eat breakfast daily-carry a water bottle throughout the day to stay hydrated.
THURSDAY: February 13th
- DBE Open House-5:30-7:00
SEL - Naviance
Girls Softball Tryouts
Homework help is now in Mr. Wyatt’s room after School
Boys Indoor Soccer Thursday at ROBINSON games start at 3:10
Science Olympiad will be meeting on Thursday from 2:45-5:00.
February 13th 5:30 DB Excel Open House
Yearbook sales are about to come to an end! Any student who wants a yearbook needs to place their order by Friday, February 14. The only way to secure a yearbook is to pre-order one!Visit ybpay.lifetouch.com and use ID Code 13619720.
Reminder that no outside food or drink is allowed in the cafeteria.
Message from the nurse: Please wash hands frequently-especially before eating and after restroom use If you need to cough, please cover your cough with the bend of your arm or a tissue and then throw the tissue away. If you are running a fever-please stay at home. You need to be fever free without fever reducing meds for 24 hours before returning to school. If you are vomiting, please stay at home-you need to have stopped vomiting before returning to school-the typical stomach virus usually lasts 24 hours. Please eat breakfast daily-carry a water bottle throughout the day to stay hydrated.
FRIDAY: February 14th
SEL - Mentoring/Feel Good Friday
Yearbook sales are about to come to an end! Any student who wants a yearbook needs to place their order by Friday, February 14. The only way to secure a yearbook is to pre-order one!Visit ybpay.lifetouch.com and use ID Code 13619720.
Reminder that no outside food or drink is allowed in the cafeteria.
Message from the nurse: Please wash hands frequently-especially before eating and after restroom use If you need to cough, please cover your cough with the bend of your arm or a tissue and then throw the tissue away. If you are running a fever-please stay at home. You need to be fever free without fever reducing meds for 24 hours before returning to school. If you are vomiting, please stay at home-you need to have stopped vomiting before returning to school-the typical stomach virus usually lasts 24 hours. Please eat breakfast daily-carry a water bottle throughout the day to stay hydrated.
Save the Date
Reminder that no outside food or drink is allowed in the cafeteria.
Message from the nurse: Please wash hands frequently-especially before eating and after restroom use If you need to cough, please cover your cough with the bend of your arm or a tissue and then throw the tissue away. If you are running a fever-please stay at home. You need to be fever free without fever reducing meds for 24 hours before returning to school. If you are vomiting, please stay at home-you need to have stopped vomiting before returning to school-the typical stomach virus usually lasts 24 hours. Please eat breakfast daily-carry a water bottle throughout the day to stay hydrated.
There will be a track interest meeting in the gym on 2/18 after school. Runners must have a physical on file. We will also practice Feb. 20-21 from 3:00-4:30.
Family Stem Night! Save the date for lots of fun. February 20th from 4:30-6:30.
February 4-27-Weekly High School Planning Meetings in Classrooms with Counselors and students
All-City Band for 8th graders February 18th
March 9-11,16- Individual DB Registration Appointments
March 12-Field Trip for 8th Graders-Eastman Career Expo
JSMS JAM
Math and Literacy Blast
Hello Middle School Math Teachers...
Our fifth middle school math symposium of the school year is scheduled on Monday, February 17, 2020 (3:15-4:45) in the Watauaga Room on the third floor of ASC. This session will highlight the use of Cuisenaire Rods to teach middle school math concepts. Teachers interested in attending may register for the session by Friday, February 14 using the link below:
https://forms.gle/R48B4nNFpBmzjoWc7
Our final math symposium for the year is scheduled on Monday, March 16.
Have a wonderful long weekend!
Pam
Family STEM night
Thursday
February 20th
4:30pm-6:30pm
Lots of fun and interactive stations!
Hearts for the House
This month, specifically between February 4th and 14th, the Student Council will be participating in a fundraiser for The Ronald McDonald House. We will be selling hearts to students and faculty, for $1. With each heart purchased, students will receive a heart stamp, and have their names entered into a drawing for a McDonald's gift certificate. All proceeds of this fundraiser will go to The Ronald McDonald House to support families in need. We will be hanging posters this week and will start sales before school and during lunch. Thank you for your support and helping our kids think outside themselves.
Softball
MORNING YOGA
We have an awesome opportunity here at Sevier. VIDA yoga and the cOMmunity collective will be coming to our school on Friday mornings from 7:00 to 7:30 a.m. to do yoga in the small gym. It is open to all students and ALL STAFF. We are hoping this will help students as well as staff relax on Friday mornings. I encourage you to come and please encourage your students to do the same
CLASSROOM GRANT OPPORTUNITIES-Kingsport City Schools Education Foundation, Inc
This is a link for KCS Teachers...it is on the main page of the KCS webpage. If you are interested, please click below. These are for grants up to $500. If you are interested, please let me know and I will sign off on it. Grants will be given monthly.
The Kingsport City Schools Education Foundation, Inc. is a Section 501(c)(3) organization formed to support the students, employees, and programs of Kingsport City Schools (KCS) and to achieve and maintain a world-class school district.
The mission of the foundation is to provide a supplemental source of revenue for projects and initiatives not directly funded through tax dollars from the State of Tennessee or provided in the KCS district budget.
WHAT WE DO
One of the primary goals of the Kingsport City Schools Education Foundation is to provide funding for innovative projects that reach beyond the scope of the school system's regular operating budget.
(Please see link below...)
A Great Opportunity!
Coffee Cart-Feel Good Friday
Feel Good Friday just keeps getting better! Stephen Baker had the awesome idea to start up a coffee cart for the Warrior Academy kiddos and the FA-3 kiddos to run together on Friday mornings. The cost will be $1.00 per cup, and we have creamers and sweeteners as well!
The funds will just replenish the cart from week to week, but the personal interaction and functional skills the kids are going to learn from this will be invaluable! I am looking forward to watching them grow throughout the year and build relationships with you all through this venture!
I have included the Google Sheet that we will use each week to fill orders. There is a cell for your name, classroom number for 1st period assignments, type of drink, and if you need a disposable cup, or if you'll have your own mug for us to make it in!
Thank you all in advance for your support of this fun idea, and to Baker for getting it all together. I love our big Warrior Tribe!
Thanks again!
Baker and Megan
Duty Scheudule:
Morning and Afternoon Duty:
Hall and Lunch Duty:
Warrior Whoop!
JSMS Student Council "Supplies for Soldiers" Drive
The Eastman coordinator of this project sent a tally of the supplies. I am amazed. JSMS is such a generous, caring, and supportive school. I am proud to be a Warrior. Thank you to all who donated.
Total deployed units who received our care packages: 103
Total care packages shipped: 1100
Total items collected: 94,832 (an increase of 38,467 from 2018) WOW!!!! Simply amazing!!!
Total shipping costs saved: $7,581.00
JSMS Baseball!
Please congratulate the next difference makers at Sevier (AKA Varsity & JV Baseball players). If you have free time please come out and watch America's pastime with these young men.
Bradley Anderson, Luke Dailey, Hayden Jobe, Charles Wissert, Jacob Isaacs, Juan Comacho, Kaden Maxwell, Jackson Jones, JT Robinson, Lucas Park, Sam Tailaferro, Weston Widener, Austin Dalton, Logan Dalton, Jacob Young, Gabe Marshall, Cooper Mears, Parker Deford, Andrew Reilly, Blake Adams
Breenan Schneiders, Julian Smith,
Managers: Lucas Dykes, Austin Connors, Langley Brents, Landon Tarbuk
Sequoyah Scribe
I wanted to let you know that our media editors have been able to complete several pending video reports. Please feel free to show these to your students during Tribe Time or if you need to fill any time in class.
Student Council Food Drive - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATeUVlyvks8
Tribe Time Changes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t71oWliNGfQ
Tech Changes at Sevier - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNoPUWNpuwc
I wanted to let you know that our media editors have been able to complete several pending video reports. Please feel free to show these to your students during Tribe Time or if you need to fill any time in class.
Student Council Food Drive - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATeUVlyvks8
Tribe Time Changes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t71oWliNGfQ
Tech Changes at Sevier - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNoPUWNpuwc
JSMS Student Profiled in the New York Times!
Scribe editor-in-chief Meredith Mooney was profiled in the pages of the New York Times yesterday as one of "5 Kids Who are Making the News", student journalists from across the country.
Congratulations to Meredith on this huge honor!