Betsy's Bits
June 30, 2019
In Case You Missed It
We are a ahead of schedule with scheduling for next school year. I attribute this to teamwork and Class Creator. All exploratory classes are assigned in PS and 6th and 7th grade have schedules in a spreadsheet. Our exploratory team worked with Yanira to get students' classes into PowerSchool before the end of school. They looked at the tentative classes and made necessary moves before leaving for the summer. Class Creator does a nice job dividing up students evenly by behaviors and academics after the previous year's teachers puts in the information. I took this information and created teams on 7th. Christina and Joanna helped to even out and balance ethnicity and genders with their knowledge of that grade level. Seventh grade had asked to try to have kids move around on team instead of staying as a class all day. We were able to accomplish this for them to experiment with this year. I sent Class Creator surveys to the 5th grade teachers with permission from each elementary principal. The majority filled this out which gave Joanna and Christina information to cross reference with the advanced classes spreadsheets. They completed these classes last week! I have pulled 8th grade's information from the program and started working with this group to create teams. I hope to have this done by the end of the week so Roush can put his eyes on it and make any changes he feels need to be made based off his knowledge of the kids. PowerSchool is down for end of year maintenance next week, so Yanira will be able to begin entering new classes into PowerSchool on July 7.
LCS has moved our copier contract to Sharp. Toshiba will be picking up their copiers in July. Staff will have the capability of making copies from any copier using their LCS badge. You will be able to scan to your email OR straight to your Google Drive. Everyone will receive training during the workdays. Sharp also allotted us an additional copier for our building. It was placed in the book room located with the laminator. Shannon Johnson has been working on how best to get everyone set up so you are ready to copy when you return in August. All the old copiers have to be uninstalled and new copiers must be installed and set up on your desktops. (Chromebooks will be automatic) This set up process requires her to input your password to your email. She wants to get a jump on all this before August when she expects to be pulled to help set up for the opening of WB Wicker. If you are willing to share this information with Shannon so she can set your printing up on your desktop, please fill out this SHORT form. Otherwise, you will be asked to put this on Tracker when you return and for this to be completed when there is time.
Congratulations to Cole and Katie Merricks on the birth of their baby girl, Millie. Cole has accepted a position at a middle school closer to home.
Welcome and Introductions of New Staff for 2019-20 School Year:
- Kim Ashby is joining the LSU Tiger team as their math teacher. Kim relocated to Sanford from from Currituck Co where she taught 4th, 5th, and 6th grades.
- Jennifer Rubinoski is joining the Miami Dade Dolphins as the ELA and Social studies teacher. Jennifer is coming to us from Greenwood Elementary. She has had 2 sons attend SLMS.
- Catherine Sweeney is joining the UNCG Spartans as the ELA and Science teacher. Catherine lives in Apex and previously taught in a private christian school and a charter school.
- Izzy Taylor is a May graduate of Campbell University and will be joining us to teach band and orchestra. She is originally from the Outer Banks.
- Sonja Morgan will be joining the custodian team in July. She lives in Broadway.
*We still have a 7th grade ELA position open. I have submitted a name to HR, but have not heard confirmation at this time.
FYI Tidbits:
I will be out of the office July 1-5 for my yearly family beach trip. I will be available by phone, text, and email and will be working on 8th grade student schedules. I will be out of the office again from July 29 - August 9. Rodney and I will be traveling/"glamping" out west to see sites and visit Sturgis South Dakota Motorcycle Rally. I will check email and text periodically during this time, but will not be readily available.
There will be someone in the office from 7-4 all of July Monday-Thursday except July 4. Roush will be in July 8 - 31 and back during the workdays. Jo will be in beginning Aug 1.
Seventh grade hallway has been cleaned and the custodian team is moving onto the 6th grade hallway next. Gym floors and carpets are being completed July 1-5.
Coming UP:
Mark Your Calendars:
Sixth Grade Leadership Academy: August 5-9 @SanLee - 6th grade hallway
New Teacher Induction: August 5-9 @SanLee - media center, cafeteria, and few classrooms on main hallway
Workdays August 13 - 23
- August 15 - Opening Meeting for SLMS @8:00 am (REQUIRED for everyone)
- August 20 - LCS Convocation @Southern Lee HS and Director's Day
- August 22 - Open House 4-7pm (REQUIRED for everyone)
- TBD dates for SanLee New Teacher Boot Camp, Leadership/AVID Joint Planning, and grade level and team meetings
*More details about other days/meetings on the workdays will come in July's Bits.