Warrior Beat
Student Focused-World Class
Word for the Warrior...
The link below was sent to Amanda Cole this week and she shared it with me. It is from the Ayers Institute - Lunch and Learn Podcast series. This podcast falls right in line with the conversations that we have been having lately about motivating students. Please take time to listen to the podcast here. It is 12 minutes long and has some great tips on how to motivate students. It references John Hattie’s research stating that RELATIONSHIPS have an effect size of .72 (Hattie defines growth of one year as .4!). When you listen, I hope you are affirmed at what you are ALREADY doing! I challenge each of us to really listen and consider if there is something new that we can try in an effort to help provide support and motivation to a student or group of students who need it most.
Remember that students who come from homes with support and who are already motivated make our jobs easy---those who do not, make our jobs meaningful! We may be a student's saving grace!
Below, I am going to share a clip of our own Shaun Potts. He and the 6th grade Math team have incorporated a Data Wall into their work this year as an effort to increase student motivation and to inspire hope and confidence. They are involving students in goal setting and together, they are tracking progress throughout a Math Unit in order to increase student proficiency rates.
Motivating students is multi-faceted and every little thing counts! Enjoy! And thank you to the 6th Grade Math Team for allowing me to share this work!
**This video was taken in the first nine weeks. It has taken me this long to figure out how to create my own YouTube channel (Thank you Nick Roebke!) Now that I have this figured out (and for those of you who know how easy this actually was....you now know that my level of technological expertise is very low)....but anyway, now that I have this figured out, I hope to be able to capture MANY of the ways that YOU are motivating students and inspiring hope and confidence into our kids!
#worldchangingwarriors
Week of the Warrior
MONDAY : February 6
-GRADE LEVEL MEETINGS DURING THE FIRST HALF OF PLANNING
(8th: Wagner's Room, 7th Donnellan's Room, 6th Koth's Room)
- Morning tutoring with Mr. Blair from 7-7:30. (Wellness room)
- Softball Tryouts 3-5
- Boys Soccer practice from 3- 5 in the small gym
TUESDAY : February 7
- Morning tutoring with Mr. Blair from 7-7:30. (Wellness room)
- 6th-Grade Tribe Time Chorus meets today
- Student Council meeting in Mrs. Wagner’s room 3:00-3:30.
- Softball Tryouts 3-5
- Girls Soccer at Sevier
Team 1-3:10
Team 2-3:45
Team 3-4:10
- Dobyns-Bennett will hold future 9th Grade Parent Information Night at D-B on February 7 at 6:00 P.M. For the opening session John Sevier Middle School Parents/Students will meet in the Cafeteria. The opening session will include general information regarding the upcoming high school registration process. Following the opening, there will be four rotations during which specific information will be provided covering programs at Dobyns-Bennett.
WEDNESDAY : February 8
- Morning tutoring with Mr. Blair 7-7:30. (Wellness room)
- The staff of the Sequoyah Scribe student newspaper will meet on Wednesday from 2:45 to 3:30 pm. All staff members are required to attend. The editorial team will meet until 5:15 pm.
- Softball Tryouts 3-5
- Boys Soccer practice from 3- 5 in the small gym
THURSDAY : February 9
- Morning tutoring with Mr. Blair from 7-7:30. (Wellness room)
- 6th-Grade Tribe Time Chorus meets today
- Natural helper meeting 2:55- 4:30
- Bridge Club 3:00-Library
- Girls Soccer at Sevier
Team 1-3:10
Team 2-3:45
Team 3-4:10
- School Dance 6-8 Admission $5.00
FRIDAY : February 10
Save the Date:
- Dance Tryouts – February 27 – March 3
- Cheer Tryouts – March 6 – March 9
- Track First Day of Practice – Monday, February 27
JSMS Jam...
JSMS Valentine Dance: We need a few teacher volunteers to help us chaperone our dance. This can be documented as school and family involvement for your Professional Evaluation through TEAM. It would be nice to have one teacher per grade level. Please let Holly know if you would be willing to help. THANKS!
DJ-Johnny Angel
Pizza $2
6:00-8:00
Sprankle Gym
Admission-$5.00-
6th Graders-Bring a 2 Liter or Water
7th Graders-Bring a Bag of Chips
8th Graders-Bring Cookies
African American History Month
This year KCS is compiling a menu of options for observing African American History Month in our classrooms. I’ll be attending a meeting this coming Monday afternoon to discuss options suggested by our staff here at Sevier. If you have any ideas on how to celebrate AA History Month in your grade/subject area or for the school as a whole, please send them to me as a reply to this email. Thank you all and have a great weekend!
IMPORTANT: 9th Grade Registration Information Night
Dobyns-Bennett will hold future 9th Grade Parent Information Night at D-B on February 7 at 6:00 P.M. For the opening session John Sevier Middle School Parents/Students will meet in the Cafeteria. The opening session will include general information regarding the upcoming high school registration process. Following the opening, there will be four rotations during which specific information will be provided covering programs at Dobyns-Bennett.
ACCESS NIGHT
Dobyns-Bennett will hold ACCESS Night on February 6th at 6PM in the Pridemore Theater. This is an opportunity for students and parents to learn more about college credit opportunities in the areas of Advanced Placement courses, Dual Enrollment and Dual Credit courses, in addition to TN State Department Dual Credit course opportunities.
Weekly Warrior Update (that was sent to parents)
ASC News...
Edcamp
As many of you are aware, we are planning an Edcamp at DB on June 22, 2017. You can find out more information on our Teach Learn site and register at http://www.kcsteachlearn.com/edcamp-2017.html. In preparation for this larger scale event that is officially recognized on the edcamp.org site, we are planning mini Edcamps. We had a mini-EdTechCamp in Dec. and are planning two more mini experiences in Feb. and April. The April mini is themed with the focus being on Google Make and Take and the Feb. mini will be open to any topic of interest for the participants.
Mini-Edcamp (PK-12) at RNR on Thursday, Feb. 16th from 3:45-5:15 registration link: https://goo.gl/forms/EfFShUPvzhMMZyCg2
Mini-Edcamp Google Make and Take (PK-12) at DBExcel on Tuesday, April 11th from 3:45-5:15 registration link: https://goo.gl/forms/3jUmW0n3F05SXDMA3
The conference planning committee appreciates your participation in these smaller events as we prepare for the larger event this summer. We will also look forward to your feedback regarding the “unconference” experience.
Regional Canvas Conference on March 4th (9am-3pm) at Science Hill
- The day will include an opening session, four educator-led sessions, a keynote with lunch provided, and a closing session.
- Click here to register.
- Registration fee will be taken care of by the district.
- All participants will receive a $20 gift card at the end of the day.
- Registration deadline is Friday, February 10.
Innovative Educators of Kingsport City Schools
Are you passionate about education? Do you enjoy learning about and implementing new strategies? Would you like to create a more student-centered learning environment? Then consider joining the Innovative Educators of Kingsport City Schools. We are looking to build a network of K-12 teachers like you from across the district to come together for a day of training, go back and implement new practices, then meet up monthly to celebrate and troubleshoot. Click here for more information.
TDOE Educator Update
Click here for the link to the TDOE Educator Update. This is a great synopsis of what is happening at the State level that is most relevant to the classroom teacher.
Library of Congress 2017 Summer Teacher Institute
The Library of Congress is now accepting applications for its week-long summer institutes for K-12 educators. KCS educators who have attended one of these in the past describe them as great professional learning events! Click here for more information. Applications are due on March 17 and require a letter of recommendation. The institute and course materials are provided at no cost to participants, but participants will be responsible for travel expenses and hotel accommodations.
Commissioner McQueen's Town Hall Meeting Regarding ESSA
If you missed seeing Commissioner McQueen’s town hall meetings as she explained the transition to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), click here. On this video, in addition to Dr. McQueen, Executive Director of Consolidated Planning & Monitoring Eve Carney, who has worked directly with the Commissioner in developing this transition, shares how our state is implementing Tennessee Succeeds. The following links may be helpful as you listen to the recorded webinar:
If you have any questions regarding the webinar, send them to Essa.Feedback@tn.gov .
Seeking Tennessee State Teacher Fellows (STFs)
Hope Street Group, the nonpartisan nonprofit that connects classroom teachers with their peers and decision-makers across Tennessee and nationally, will soon be recruiting its next cohort of Tennessee State Teacher Fellows (STFs). The STF program is designed to develop the competencies of teacher leaders, providing them with tools to engage their colleagues and generate solutions for education challenges. Fellows are teachers or instructional coaches who remain in their schools full-time and contribute 10-15 hours each month to Hope Street Group activities including data collections, professional learning sessions, and partner meetings. They receive a $3,000 stipend for the twelve-month Fellowship, with the opportunity to extend into a second year to deepen their work. Interested teachers can learn more by visiting the Hope Street Group webpage. The application period will be January 16 - February 10, 2017. If questions about the Fellowship, please contact Keilani Goggins or Celia Gregory.
Classified Staff Training Opportunity
Please announce these training opportunities for non-teaching staff:
TOPICFACILITATORDATETIMELOCATIONTO REGISTER, CONTACT
Google FormsLaurie NorrisFebruary 7, 20179-10:30 a.m.ASC Computer LabStephanie Potter, x-5193
Google Drive Basics Kevin Surgener February 21, 2017 9-10:30 a.m. ASC Computer Lab Stephanie Potter, x-5193
OneNote - OneDriveScott PierceMarch 3, 20179-10:30 a.m.ASC Computer LabStephanie Potter, x-5193
TBDTBDApril 11, 20179-10:30 a.m.ASC Computer LabStephanie Potter, x-5193
OneNote - OneDriveScott PierceApril 25, 20179-10:30 a.m.ASC Computer LabStephanie Potter, x-5193
Warrior Whoop! (celebrations and recognitions)
- Congratulations to Kristen Duncan and Kathleen Donnellan who were selected by their peers to represent JSMS as the 2017 Teachers of the Year!
- Please take time this week to recognize our Counseling Center! This is National School Counseling week and we know ours is the best around!
- We could not be more proud of our Varsity Girls and Boys Basketball Teams! Both teams were Area Conference Champs and both advanced to the AAA 1 East Tennessee sectionals and played well! We could not be more proud and we appreciate the hardwork of all of our players and coaches!
- Congratulations to the JSMS MATHCOUNTS team who placed 2nd at the Regional Competition. A big congratulations to Connor Hally who advanced individually to the state competition! GO WARRIORS!
- Please congratulate these boys who made the 2017 JV/Varsity Baseball teams.
6th
Turner Stout, Evan Farley, Dane Sullins
7th
Jackson Cruze, Brayden Yates, Caleb Lowe, Robby Irvin, Connor Collins, Harbin Gladson,
Carsen Simpson, Gavin Morelock, Blake Dunford, Bowan Bacon,
8th
Andrew Larkins, Clayton Culbertson, Noah Osborne, Jett Wallen, Landon Raff, Tucker Herald, Braeden Fletcher, Zane Whitson
- Congratulations to LeAnn Franklin, this week's recipient of the Warrior Rocks Staff Award! You'll find LeAnn hard at work in the Counseling Center! She helps us with all things counseling and is always patient and kind as she works! LeAnn, YOU ROCK! Thank you for all you!