SMS Update!
July 20, 2016
Building/ Construction Updates
Master Schedule
Assignments have been issued. As always, contact me with any questions or concerns. Once things get solidified completely, in August, I will share with you the master schedule as to see duties, lunch, I/E assignments, etc.
Staffing & Room Assignments
Team Leaders
Team Leaders are set for the 2016-17 School Year. We will have our first Team Leader Meeting Wednesday, Aug. 17 from 11:00-1:00 at Wallace Lake.
Staffing Just About Set!
Here is the updated SMS Staff for 2016-17. I look forward to working with a great team of people! The schedule will be a work-in-progress for Educational Aides as we look to see where we can serve student best once students' schedules are final.
Disclaimer: For moving purposes, it is important that we find a home for everyone's supplies. For planning purposes, it is important that people have a direction going into next year. But, please understand, while we have every intention to keep assignments/rooms in place for next year, they may be subject to change pending summer retirements, resignations, etc.
Parent Communication
Turf Field Coming Soon!
Opening Events @ SMS
If you are interested in volunteering at Orientation on Saturday, Aug. 20, please click the link below to sign up. We have had 52 people already sign up to help! That is AWESOME! It would be great if we could get as many staff on-hand as possible to help kick-off the school year for students and parents. It would be best to sign up during the session that aligns with your grade level (or for encores teaching multiple grades, pick one). You can use these hours toward your 6-hour option. Help will be needed with:
- Passing out student schedules
- Answering grade-level questions
- Simply being a visible presence as students/parents walk the building
Times are as follows for Orientation (these are different from the previous SMS Update)
- 9:00 - 10:30 6th Grade
- 11:00 - 12:30 7th Grade
- 1:00 - 2:30 8th Grade
First Day of School:
We will continue to work on a schedule in which students spend the day with their team (and encore classes) simply getting to know one another, doing team-building activities, learning the building, modeling SMS rules, tech expectations, etc.
- The morning will be comprised of Team Activities, grade level meetings in the Auditorium and walk-thrus for lunch procedures.
- The afternoon will be a condensed version of a 9-period day in which students will spend a short period of time in each class. That way, students will learn the ropes of moving from class to class, navigate the halls and get to know various classroom procedures.
This should be a day in which content instruction is not taking place but, rather a 'get your feet wet' experience. Once a schedule is ironed out (probably not until August) for this day, it will be shared in the SMS Update.
Open House
- Aug 23: 6th Grade
- Aug 25: 7th Grade
- Aug 30: 8th Grade
Encore teachers will be assigned one of the those evening that best reflect their schedule.
Curriculum Matters
Still looking for BLT Members! If you are interested in becoming a member of the BLT for next school year, please email me or give me a call. We have had a few express interest so far but, are looking for more.
Quia & NewsELA
We will continue to use Quia for teacher assessments and tracking data. 6th grade teachers, along with new teachers, will need to get up to speed with how it works. I may be calling on a Quia-whiz to help with the training.
We will use NewsELA to monitor lexile growth and reading comprehension with our students. The articles are quite engaging and regardless of what subject you teach, there is something for everyone. There are webinars to help get you started and Carla Flask (8th Grade ELA) has already piloted NewsELA for a short time last year. She may be of assistance to help get you started.
Important Dates
- Aug 10: Co-Teach Workshop @ Zellers 8:00-3:00
- Aug 16: AIMSWeb Training @ Zellers 9:30-12:30
- Aug 17: Team Leader 11:00-1:00 @ Wallace Lake
- Aug 20: 9:00 - 3:00 Orientation
- Aug 22: Convocation / Teacher Work Day
- Aug 23: First Day of School! / 6th Open House
- Aug 25: 7th Open House
- Aug 30: 8th Open House
Strongsville Middle School
Email: sdeitrick@scsmustangs.org
Location: 13200 Pearl Road, Strongsville, OH, United States
Phone: 440.572.7090
Twitter: @smsstangs