Principal Newsletter of the Month
October
September Review
September also brought us Fall MAP (measure of academic progress) testing. Students took the MAP tests in reading, math, and science. The staff will be using the MAP data along with other data points this Friday at our professional development to identify areas in need of growth to drive whole school instructional decisions in regards to reading, writing, and math achievement. Our school goals for the 2018-19 year are the following and were established based on achievement trend data from the past 5 years:
- By spring of 2019, 50% or more of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students will meet or exceed their projected growth goal in reading as measured by the spring MAP test.
- By spring of 2019, 75% of 6th and 7th graders will demonstrate progress toward Algebra readiness, while 75% of 8th graders will demonstrate Algebra readiness as measured by the Spring MAP test (spring RIT 225 for 6th grade, spring RIT 230 for 7th grade, spring RIT 235 for 8th grade).
In reference to goal setting, students will be setting academic goals and a personal goal this month during our ACP (academic career planning) lesson during SOAR time. We will use the MAP goal setting worksheet along with the Naviance platform to assist students in setting these goals.
Our new SOAR time is going well due to the students following through on the process. It is a blast to walk around the building and see our staff and students engaged in learning opportunities that were not there in previous years. Students are getting richer learning experiences along with the opportunity to be re-taught essential concepts based on student performance data.
I want to the thank the PTG for sponsoring a well attended back to school dance on Friday, September 21. The school was packed with excited students enjoying music, concessions, and an open gym.
What's Happening in October
If you would like to get more involved as a parent at JLMS, please join the PTG. The PTG meets monthly on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the JLMS library. They are preparing to host the Halloween dance on October 26 and will be in need of parent volunteers to make the night a success. In addition, our first dinner fundraiser of the year will be on October 25. Please plan on getting your family dinner from Quiznos on the 25th as a portion of the proceeds gets kicked back to the JLMS PTG and spent on our students!!! Another partnership that we have going at school is the collection of Box Tops. Please send box tops to school and we will get them were they need to be to raise additional funds for our school.
October brings up the annual Red Ribbon Week. As in years past, we will have a guest speaker on Monday the 22nd of October. This year's guest is Tasha Schuh and you can learn more about her message by visiting https://www.tashaschuh.com/. Our guests have done a tremendous job providing our kids with a strong, positive message. On Thursday of that week, our 7th graders will also participate in the Courage Retreat given by Youth Frontiers.
The week of October 22nd also brings the fall Parent-Teacher Conferences. More information about signing up will be coming soon. You will be able to sign up for 10 minute time slots with your student's teachers. The following are the dates and times of the conferences:
- October 24 - 3:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- October 25 - 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
- October 26 - 8:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Human Growth and Development
Important Upcoming Dates
- October 5 - No school for teacher professional development
- October 11 - PTG meeting in library at 6:30 pm
- October 24 - 26 - Parent-Teacher Conferences
- October 25 - Courage Retreat for 7th Graders
- October 25 - Dinner fundraiser at Quiznos
- October 26 - Halloween Dance 7-9 pm
- November 2 - 4 - JLMS Musical - Shrek
- November 5 - No school for teacher professional development
John Long Middle School
Email: kdeering@grafton.k12.wi.us
Website: http://jlms.grafton.k12.wi.us/
Location: 700 Hickory Street, Grafton, WI, USA
Phone: (262) 376-5801
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Public-School/Grafton-School-District-332022333548537/
Twitter: @JLMS_Falcons