ML Staff Bulletin
Every student learning, growing, succeeding.
News and Updates
Caroling in our ML Neighborhood
Please consider joining us to carol for the houses neighboring ML on Thursday, December 20th. No need to have a good voice, just come ready to have fun and bring unexpected cheer to our neighbors. We will meet in the rotunda at 3:15pm.
Telling our Story on Social Media
For those of you with social media pages to highlight the incredible learning going on in your classrooms, please make sure to tag our MNS Twitter in your posts @MuskegoNorwaySc. Thanks!!
iReady Assessment Window
Please make sure all of your students have completed the winter iReady Assessment by December 18th. Thank you!
Budget Update
It is the time of year where we need to consider any additional purchases that might be needed before we begin to finalize our expenditures for the 2018-19 school year. So, please reach out to Rachel & Chad before you leave for the holidays if there are any budget requests for the remainder of the year that would exceed $75. In order to be fiscally responsible after our transition into a new building, we will sit down with Mary over the holiday break to finalize our expenditures for the 18-19 school year. As you can imagine, we have to be extremely conservative from here on out with expenses. While we will not be able to fund a Wish List this year, please keep track of any Wish List items for next year so we can consider them after our budget turns over in July.
In addition, while you now have access to making your own Amazon purchases, please make sure to send your requests to Rachel & Chad for approval before submitting on Amazon. In addition, it is extremely important that you do not expense shipping at all. You will need to only make purchases that allow for free shipping.
Mailroom Supplies
Mary set out supplies we have from our move: Expo markers, highlighters, etc. Please check out what is there and help yourself!
Find, Scale, & Celebrate Student Strengths, Interests, and Learning Styles
While rounding with students, we have noticed that some students do not yet have completed learner profiles. Please prioritize time for students to complete their profiles before they leave for holiday break. For your consideration when returning to the profile with students:
- Some students did not indicate an adult in our school who they can trust. Our hope is those students will have an adult to add to their profile at this time.
- The learning style inventory was not complete for some students. This is an important part of the profile as it answers the question, "My teacher asks me how I learn best" and allows for you to plan learning based on students' learning styles.
- Ask students to add in fall and winter iReady scores if they have not yet.
Copy Paper Expenses
Commit to Tier 1 Interventions
iReady Online Learning Night for Parents
Huge thanks to Laura T., Cassie C., and Lauren S. for organizing a night to inform our parents about our new iReady Online Learning tool. Save the date for January 21st at 5pm and/or please reach out to any of the three leads if you have suggestions for how they can help our families better partner with us as we progress monitor student growth over time on iReady Online learning.
Contribute to Highly Effective PLCs
Defining PLCs at MLMS
If you recall, we have reset a common definition of PLCs at MLMS as "weekly cycles of inquiry resulting in collective action to ensure students close skill gaps."
Norms
While we all took time to create norms together this fall, PLCs not following their agreed upon norms can derail not only the effectiveness of PLCs but also the impact of PLCs on student learning outcomes. Some suggestions from DuFour when it comes to norms:
- Keep the norms visible throughout PLCs (on an poster, on a Post-it by your computer, etc)
- Start every meeting reading through the norms for awareness.
- End every PLC reviewing how your team did on the norms.
- Reflect on your own personal commitment to following the established norms. Might you be causing frustration among your colleagues because you are arriving late? Not coming with your data? Sharing personal stories? Getting caught up in negativity? Be aware of how you are contributing to the effectiveness of your PLC.
PBIS Updates
Pattern of Office Discipline Referrals from the Hallways
So far this year, we have 19 office referrals from behaviors in the hallway (same number we had all of last year.)We are asking for your help:
- Please remind your students when they leave your room about the expectations in the hallway. (i.e. voice level, keeping hands and feet to self, walk on the right side of the hallway)
- Write those hallway reminders up somewhere in the classroom so students can see expected behaviors.
- Hand out red tickets to students who are demonstrating expected hallway behaviors.
- Make your presence in the hallway known. If they know a teacher is around it often deters them from the misbehaviors that may occur in our absence.
Disproportionate Office Discipline Referrals for Students with Disabilities
When analyzing our PBIS behavior data, we have a disproportionate number of students with disabilities receiving office referrals. Remember that just like academics, patterns of behaviors are often an indicator that students have lagging skills. Please reflect to think about:
- Do I know my students' IEP goals?
- How am I supporting my students' working on behavior goals?
- Do I need to pull a team together to consider conducting a functional behavior assessment?
- How can I learn more about a student's lagging behavior skills so I can support him/her while in my class?
Looking for Mentors at ML
As we know, meaningful relationships are essential for students’ development and engagement in their education. We have many students here who thrive on one-on-one attention from adults. Therefore, we will be starting our mentoring program after winter break. Structure and flexibility are important components for successful mentorships. For that reason, mentors and mentees will be provided with guidelines, expectations, and ideas. For the time being, students will be chosen for a mentorship by the student services team based on at-risk data.
Time commitment expectation of meeting with mentee twice per month at minimum
Looking at the student’s learner profile, grade, attendance, tardies, stress level, assignment notebook, etc. in order to impact the student feeling accepted, demonstrating engagement, and achieving his/her goals.
Quarterly gatherings (food, games & fun) for all mentors/ mentees
Please sign up here if you are interested in being a mentor at Muskego Lakes. For additional information, questions, or concerns please contact Amanda Rosman by email.
Important Dates Ahead
Sunday, December 2nd: Happy Birthday Jeremy Bergum
Monday, December 3rd: Happy Birthday Toni Heinowski, Listen and Learn Session
Tuesday, December 4th: Muskies United Mtgs during lunches
Wednesday, December 5th: Special Ed. Power Day
Thursday, December 6th: Winter Math iReady Testing
Friday, December 7th: Student Greeting in the Rotunda at 7:55, Teen Center
Monday, December 10th: Winter Reading iReady testing
Monday, December 10th: PTO Meeting at 6pm
Tuesday, December 11th: Staff Meeting 7:20am
Tuesday, December 11th: School Leadership Team Meeting All Day
Wednesday, December 12th: Grade 7 & 8 Band Concert at MHS 7pm
Thursday, December 13th: 7th grade FT to Milw. Rep Theater 9:15-2:45
Thursday, December 13th: PL Network 4pm
Friday, December 14th: Student Greeting in the Rotunda at 7:55
Saturday, December 15th: Staff Party at Jenn Warr's house at 6:30pm
Tuesday, December 18th: Happy Birthday to Steve Czech & Jenny Waltz
Tuesday, December 18th: Staff Holiday Breakfast in the cafeteria at 7:20am
Wednesday, December 19th: 5th & 6th Grade Band Concert 8:10am
Thursday, December 20th: MHS Chamber Choir performance at MLMS library (gr 7&8)
Thursday, December 20th: Caroling in the neighborhood around MLMS
Friday, December 21st: Fun Club Meeting 7:20am, PBIS Core Team Meeting, Student Greeting in the Rotunda at 7:55
Saturday, December 22nd: Happy Birthday Jen Ruditys
Sunday, December 23rd: Happy Birthday Mitch Hendrix
Monday, December 24th-January 1st: Winter Break
Saturday, December 29th: Happy Birthday Mike Kozlosky
Monday, December 31st: Happy Birthday Dawn Lessard
Wednesday, January 2nd: Staff & Students back, Muskies United mtgs during lunches
Thursday, January 3rd: GT Stem & Leadership Workshop
Friday, January 4th: Happy Birthday John Geers, Student Greeting in the Rotunda at 7:55