#sparkinfo. Weekly Update
Week #24- February 18th-22nd
Is your emotional fuel tank closer to the F or the E?
This month, Coach Morris is presenting on the importance of Emotional Fuel in our Habitudes series. On a daily basis, you as a classroom teacher put your heart into everything you do for your students. Being an educator can be emotionally draining. This can be especially true as we get into the February/March stretch.
The question I have for you today is: Are you taking the time to refuel emotionally? In a very busy time of year, I have to challenge myself to refuel and not to run on empty. How do you refuel as a teacher so that your students are still getting your very best? Who is in your support system at school and away from school that help you refuel?
Are you helping to refuel those around you? Are you a positive source for people in your lives? Your family, friends, colleagues, and students? For me, refueling others helps me feel full as well.
If there are things we can do to help you refuel, please let us know. In the meantime, know that the morning assembly time is four our students primarily but also for the adults in the building. Be present in this time.
Eighth Grade Dance was a huge success!
Bradley Pinion was an incredible guest speaker!
No One Eats Alone Day was a great endeavor!
Instructional Focus
Many of you are currently undergoing or have completed your formal observations for the year! If you have, please know that we will continue to observe you using one of our two walkthrough observation forms. One is focused on instruction, and will send you immediate feedback via email. The other is designed to gather data tied to student engagement. If we use this form, you will not receive immediate feedback but we are happy to share our findings with you.
SLO's are drawing to a close. Please know that all final conferences must be held by March 11th. Please speak with your SLO evaluator this week to make sure you both have a good plan to finalize this process, and/or to ask any questions you may have.
Finally, please continue to use Excel Cents for recognition of student excellence in the classroom. The excel cent is an important part of our PBIS model here at Pickens Middle.
Thank you for all you are doing in the classroom!
This Week's Agenda!
Monday, Feb. 18th-
Holiday!!
Wednesday, Feb. 20th-
Legislature Visit Field Trip- FFA/Ag.
Thursday, Feb. 21st-
Happy Hour (1st-3rd Pds.)
Momentum Bike Club (3:30-5:00 PM)
Friday, Feb. 22nd-
SPARKS Finest Movie Day (5th and 6th pds.)
Preliminary Analysis of Accreditation
Region One Honor Band Clinic @ Furman University
Saturday, Feb. 23rd-
Region One Honor Band Clinic @ Furman University
SPARK SPOTLIGHT!!!!
A shout out from your colleague!
This week, I wanted to try a different approach to our Spark Spotlight. Typically, I look through nominations and try to highlight several people that stand out. Below, you will see all of the Spark Spotlight shout outs entered over the last two weeks. Several are from the same teacher, but we are seeing more participation. We encourage you to give a shoutout to a colleague doing something to make our school a great place to work. Please give me feedback about the format. Thank you for all you do at our school. You are all difference makers!
Mr. Bishop- He stood out in the cold at Wendy's telling people that were going through the drive thru to support Pickens Middle School. His demeanor is kind and easy going! He is a team player! I love to hear him sing and play the piano!
Dr. Hilyer- I just want to thank Dr. Hilyer for being the best co-science teacher anyone could ever have! I love working with her each day! She is also a very special friend to me! She is so creative and helps to make my job here at PMS very enjoyable! The two of us make a great team, and we just enjoy teaching together! Dr. Hilyer cares about her students and is always working "behind the scenes" to help do what is best for her students and their learning! Thank you Susan for all you do for PMS! I love you!
Mr. Getsinger-Mr. Zach is such an asset to our school. He truly embodies what it means to be a "Spark!" He has tremendous patience and deals with challenges in the most gracious of ways. Mr. Zach is a team player, always willing to jump in when someone is in need. Whether he is playing in the intramural competitions or helping one of his students, Mr. Zach is a constant reminder of what hard-work, dedication, humility, and integrity look like. Thank You!!
All Teachers and Admin at PMS- For supporting and contributing to Water for South Sudan and the seventh grade project that has meant so much to them! As the kids told me today, "...and they only found out about this yesterday and the lines were long to the jars..." Pretty cool to hear their interpretation of today since I really didn't get to see what was going on!
Mrs. Janet Chastain- Janet is the beautiful face of this school. Joy, kindness, and positive vibes radiate from her sweet spirit. She is self motivated and she does her job efficiently and with accuracy. I don't know how she manages to answer the phone, open the door, and sign students in at the same time. She even shares here snack stash with me when I forget my lunch. I’m filled with appreciation for all you are and all you aspire to be. I appreciate your dedication to things like standards and decency. Janet you truly are the "salt of the earth". You care enough about living life well, and living it more joyfully. I am so thankful for the opportunity to work with you. Your are genuine and authentic! What a gift you are to this school! Hope you can feel the love today, and keep sharing it with all those you come in contact with today!
Mrs. Lee- Brought me biscuits from Tupelo Honey. She ate there with her husband for Valentines Day. I told her that's where rich people go to order Biscuits and Gravy. She brought me a whole box with real blueberry jelly. It was a wonderful lunch for a Friday and I even had extra to share with me colleagues. What a thoughtful and sweet gesture!
Mrs. Moyd- Without any compensation and little recognition, she worked with our mathcounts team every week! Mrs. Moyd and her "mathletes" represented us well at the regional meet, and I appreciate her time and effort! Thank you!
Mrs. Mellett- She scanned an awesome article called "Getting Stung for Science" for me on our new printers. Now I can have my kiddos read this article and answer comprehension questions about a topic that are interested in! Penny is always sharing ideas that help us keep these sixth graders engaged in the learning process!
Click on the link below as you see and hear great things happening in the building. Please let us know about them by filling out the form. You may want to bookmark the link as we will be "Spotlighting" teachers and staff all year.
From Sparks of Knowledge Grow Flames of Success
Email: jamesking@pickens.k12.sc.us
Website: http://pms.pickens.k12.sc.us/
Location: 140 Torch Lane, Pickens, SC, 29671
Phone: (864) 397-4100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pickensms/?scrlybrkr=85865011
Twitter: @pmssparks