EAST PAULDING MIDDLE SCHOOL
November 26, 2018
FACULTY AND STAFF NEWSLETTER
Thoughts to Ponder
I stumbled upon this quote recently, and it pushed me into a time of reflection where I asked myself those same difficult questions. It is often said that we must take the needed steps to change ourselves before we ever notice a change in others. So, what kind of energy do you spread? Do you help or hinder? And who do you find standing in your corner during tough times? Are they helping you grow or holding you back? Tough questions...I know.
I want to encourage you to be a source of positive energy for your colleagues and students over the next four weeks. This time of year is difficult, and we need each other!
UPCOMING EVENTS
11/27 - Scoliosis Screening - 6th and 8th Grade
11/29 - PL During Professional Block - 601
12/3 - SBIT Meeting - 7:45am - 601
12/5 - 2-Hour Early Release - No NBI
12/6 - PL During Professional Block - 601
12/10 - 2nd 9 Week Posting Window Opens
12/11 - Chorus Concert - 7:00pm - EPHS Auditorium
12/11 - Faculty Meeting - 4pm - Cafeteria
12/13 - PL During Professional Block - 601
12/13 - ESEP Department Meeting - 7:45am - 601
12/19 - Last Day of Semester
12/19 - Lunch Provided by PTSA
12/19 - Reindeer Games - During PE/Connections Block
12/20-1/1 - Christmas ~ Holiday Break
1/2 - Teacher Workday
1/2 - Faculty Meeting - 10am - Cafeteria
1/2 - Posting Window Closes
1/4 - Grade Reports Issued
Scoliosis Screening
The "Scoli What" video is linked below as well as the email.
Additionally, an alternative bell schedule will be used on the day of Scoliosis Screening. The schedule is attached to the Newsletter email.
Upcoming Writing Asseslets
The schedule for administration of the assessment is below:
Monday, 12/10 - 8th Grade
Tuesday, 12/11 - 7th Grade
Wednesday, 12/12 - 6th Grade
**Thursday and Friday will be used as make-up days.
Because this is an online assessment, all computer labs (including laptop labs) will be unavailable during that week. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
There will be an adjustment to schedules on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Those schedules will be shared once they are finalized. Please plan for your entire day (with the exception of your Professional Block) to be adjusted on the day your grade level is testing.
**NBI groups will meet on days your grade level is not participating in the assessment.
digital Learning Days
This is another reminder for you to be sure that your Digital Learning Assignments are prepared within Canvas. All teachers should have 3 days of digital assignments planned in advance of any potential weather, prepared and ready to be published in the event of an unexpected school closure due to inclement weather.
Early Release Day ~ Department and PLC Meetings
During your meetings, please plan to spend some time in Clever identifying the students in your classes who fall 200 points and lower below the midpoint of their grade-level Lexile. Those students and our students who are identified as Below Basic should be a priority in our NBI groups, and we should all be aware of who those students are when they walk in our classrooms.
DEPARTMENT HEADS - Please add this activity to your agendas. If you need support or have questions about logging in to Clever, please speak with an administrator prior to December 5th.
AESOP
Below are a couple of reminders regarding reporting absences and requesting time off.
Unplanned Sick Absence
1. As soon as you know that you need to be out, enter the absence into AESOP AND call Mrs. Raley.
2. If you are unable to enter the absence into AESOP, call Mrs. Raley.
3. After 6am, you are no longer able to enter an absence in AESOP, please call Mrs. Raley.
3. If a job fails to fill or if the sub cancels, there is a strong possibility that we will have to cover the absence from within that specific department or use other subs when they are on their planning.
Planned Sick Absences
1. As soon as you know that you need to be out, enter the absence into AESOP AND inform Mrs. Raley and Mrs. Suttles of the upcoming absence.
2. If a job fails to fill or if the sub cancels, there is a strong possibility that we will have to cover the absence from within that specific department or use other subs when they are on their planning.
Personal Absences
1. All personal absences must be requested 5 days in advance. The request must be made to Mr. Alverson.
2. You can speak to Mr. Alverson in person or send him an email.
3. If you request an absence via email, please include Mrs. Suttles.
4. All personal absences will be entered by Mrs. Suttles.
5. If you have already arranged for one of our regular subs to work for you, please provide that information.
6. if a job fails to fill or if the sub cancels, there is a strong possibility that we will have to cover the absence from within that specific department or use other subs when they are on their planning.
It is important to remember that absences designated as sick days cannot be used for personal events or activities. If you have questions, please let me know.
Co-Teaching and Planning
If you need support scheduling time to effectively plan with your co-teacher, please let us know so we can support you and help you schedule that time. Our ESEP students deserve instruction that is prepared and designed to meet their needs, not "fly by the seat of our pants", "shot in the dark" instruction. To truly make a positive impact on student learning, intentional, focused preparation is a requirement.
Literacy
We will continue to observe and monitor the implementation of research-based adolescent reading strategies during instructional periods. As you become more comfortable with all of the strategies, begin to determine when a differentiated approach is needed. Below are a few things to think about:
1. Can I differentiate the Lexile level of the text I am asking students to read?
2. What reading strategy is appropriate for the majority of my students?
3. Do all of my students require the support of a reading strategy?
3. Does the reading strategy fit what I am asking students to do?
As always, if you have questions or need support, please let us know.
NBI Adjustments for 2nd Semester
We are currently discussing an opportunity for you to help us regroup students. Your input will be vital to student success, so make sure you know your kids!
Mid-Year Conferences & TKES Requirements
At this point, all TKES observations scheduled for the 1st semester have been completed, and they should be shared within the TKES tab of SLDS. If you have not already done so, please review your feedback and sign-off on each observation. Please remember that signing-off does not signify that you necessarily agree with any ratings, it simply means that you have received the feedback.
Please let us know if you have any questions about TKES process.
Reindeer Games
PE and Connections teachers will need to plan to join us in the gym, and I want to encourage all of our teachers to join us for some fun!
Holiday Staff Fun
Friday, November 30 - Wear your Favorite Christmas~Holiday T-Shirt
Friday, December 7 - Christmas Bling Day - Light it Up for the Holidays!
Friday, December 14 - Tacky/Ugly Christmas~Holiday Sweater Day - Prizes will be awarded for the tackiest or ugliest attire!
Wednesday, December 19 - Christmas T-Shirt Day Repeats - Maybe you have two that you like; this may prevent a personal dilemma.
Christmas Party
Please remember to RSVP for the Christmas Party. Everyone is invited. We are asking that each person bring a dessert or an appetizer. Please sign up in the mail room.
Thank you to Becky Tarbush for hosting this year's party!
When: 12/19/18, 4:30pm-10:00pm
Where: 655 West, 655 Ritch Davis Road, Hiram, GA 30141
ABSENCE ANALYSIS
December will be here in a few short days and we already have absences scheduled. Before the month begins we have 2 personal days scheduled and 2 sick days planned. Please remember that December is a short month, and we are only in school for 13 days. We only have 18 school days left in 2018!
I appreciate everyone's efforts to be at school every day!
End of November and December Birthdays
NOVEMBER
Armida Montiel- 23rd
Julie Coleman- 25th
Mary Alice Lawson-29th
DECEMBER
Kim Burford-1st
Jeff Masterson-16th
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Contact Information for Tom Alverson
Email: talverson@paulding.k12.ga.us
Website: http://www.paulding.k12.ga.us/Domain/29
Phone: 678-350-8027