Roadrunner Report
Week of March 27, 2017
Please click on the image for the entire newsletter
See emails on TESTING
Please let students know the expectations of testing:
- No movement in the building on Test Days
- Level Zero in testing areas
- Students get plenty of rest and eat breakfast
- Students take your time and answer
- Use your test taking strategies
- Be focused
- Do your best
Grades Due for 3rd 9-weeks March 31st
2017 ReLoad Non-negotiables
Non-Negotiables
Communication with parents
- Focused on working together to improve student achievement
- Clear, consistent and often
- Professional and goal driven
School Day
PLC meeting attendance and participation EVERY WEEK.
ReLoad Instructional Framework or one approved by Rice and post by door
Demonstrate evidence of daily planning and differentiation in instruction to be reviewed in planbook.com. This now a requirement to every teacher.
Bell to Bell teaching
Hall duty each day during each transition or assigned travel group.
Keep your students out of the halls
Kindness to ALL students - No yelling
- Move throughout your classroom interacting with all students
Positivity is mandatory- Do not come and steal our Joy from Southwest
Challenge all students through rigor and higher order thinking skills
Teach key vocabulary
Incorporate available technology into lesson to enhance student learning
Display exemplary student work that includes Teacher commentary
Adjust instruction and reassess based on student performance data
I will adjust add to or remove items as needed for student growth outcomes.
Special Thanks
I neglected to mention Katrina Ashleman was in attendance last week on Saturday @ the Parent Academy
Congratulations!
Math Elite Heros
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All County Chorus
Great Performance Team
8th Grade March Madness
Fender, Culbertson and Alinzuas
Teachers please let us know what you are doing to engage students. I'd love to share photos of your groups too.
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Get your answers in PLC and more!
Instructional Reflection
Questions?
Am I fair?
Am I clear?
Do I have high expectations?
What do I do when students do?
What do I do when students don't?
- True or false: When it comes to learning, metacognition (e.g., thinking about thinking) can be just as important as intelligence.
- What is the best way to learn from some text? a: Read and reread the text. b: Explain key ideas of the text to yourself while reading. c: Underline key concepts.Use a highlighter d: Use a highlighter
- True or false: Intelligence is fixed at birth.
- You have a test coming up. What’s the best way to review the material? a: Review relevant points of the lecture in audio format. b: Circle key points in the textbook. c: Take an informal quiz based on the material.
ANSWERS:
- T: Research on growth mindset by Carol Dweck and others shows that people’s beliefs about the nature of intelligence affect their level of effort and in turn their performance.
- b: Explain key ideas of the text to yourself while reading. Restating the text in your own words is another form of “active learning.”
- F: This false belief is sometimes called “fixed mindset.” In fact there’s plenty of evidence that IQ can increase over time given interventions like preschool or reading to a child.
- c: Quizzes are a form of “active learning” that promotes better recall.
New research explores unconscious bias in the classroom
Lesson Plans
Reminder
Plans are due in Planbook.com each Monday before school begins.
Failure Is Not An Option At Southwest
Middle School Issues
School year 15-16
82 sexual assaults in NC
39 of those in Middle Schools
-NC Public Schools
Please reflect on our Meeting Agenda and lets work on some of the concerns TOGETHER as TEAM SOUTHWEST MIDDLE
Please remain visible and hold students accountable. We cannot afford to be a part of these numbers.
Upcoming Survey
During the month of February 2018, Gaston County Schools will renew its accreditation with AdvancED. The process requires that we gather feedback from our stakeholders (parents and community, students and staff). We will use the AdvancED survey this year to allow us to measure improvements from year to year. The survey will be available April 3, 2017 - April 13, 2017. We will send the link via email to parents, students and staff on Monday, April 3, 2017. In addition, there will be a link on the GCS webpage and on each school’s webpage for ease of access. We are asking each school to develop a process that will allow students time to complete the survey. As in previous years, we will be providing participation rates daily. We are encouraging 100% participation at each school.
Your cooperation and support in completing the surveys will be greatly appreciated.
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Pick up the pace!
Southwest Team Challenge
Challenge Repeat
We need a winner...None of our teams met the challenge last week
We have a do-over!
No Winners...but don't give up!
- Click here to see how teams are paired with Encores
- Teachers help your teammates
- Your team can let the students know that their individual names will be listed along with their TEAM NAME on the HALL OF ROADRUNNER FAME outside of the cafe.
- You can decide on a small team reward for the group like extra computer time or homework pass for the kids
- This challenge is for you!
- There must be at least 70% participation from the students on the team. Meaning one reader cannot carry the team. We will run the list by teacher and the look at participation.
- Then it's simple - The team with the most words read wins.
RoadRunner Word Millionaire
Any student that logs an AR reading words per minute of 30,000 words or more will have their name added in our random name selector. And again for every time, 30,000 words are documented through our AR system this week.
So how are words noted in the system?
The AR system keeps count for you based on test taken.
AR word count is the only word counter we are presently using. Please make sure students understand that their average in the system must remain 85% or better to qualify.
$10 gift cards
Last weeks gift card winners~
Lauren Moonie - 95,584 Words Read Last Week
Ethan Burgett - 223,410 Words Read Last Week
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News on Roadrunner Sports
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Intramurals This Week
Monday 27th
Harvey, Herms, Coley, Maker, Deaton, Cobb
Athletic Duty Schedule
- Monday March 27th Watts, Harkey, Thomas
- Monday April 3rd Fender, Huffstetler, Presswood
- Thursday April 6th Xiong, Barber, Rojas
- Tuesday April 25th Fender, Cobb, Thomas
Duty Schedule for Soccer
- Monday March 27th Falls, Rhodes
- Monday April 3rd Cherry, Ashleman
- Thursday April 6th Deaton, Lathan Rominick Alinzuas
- Tuesday April 35th Deaton, McCarter Alinzuas
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Summer 2017
Save the DATE(s)
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Southwest News
- Benchmark Testing - This week
Monday -
- Lesson plans due in Planbook.com
- Update your Gradebook
Tuesday -
- End of 3rd 9-weeks March 28th
Wednesday -
Thursday -
- Baseball and Soccer - Stanley @ Southwest
Friday -
- All Grades should be due in Gradebook today!
Upcoming Events -
Benefits Fair - Thursday, April 27, 3-5:30 pm @ Sandy Plains
Science Grade 8 Cumulative Benchmark: April 24-28
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Don't forget to schedule your Free Store Appointment each month @ Classroom Central . You never know what treats and surprise await you.
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New School-wide Policy
I have created an attendance chart in my office to manage this severe issue that is significantly affecting our student growth.
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Referrals
Does your student need assistance?
Use the links:
Counselor Intervention Request
Staff please don't forget to use the links above for student recommendations and Interventions. Students are missing out on valuable services provided by our school as a result.
Field Trip Deadline
Field Trip Deadline
- May 5, 2017
- No School will be allowed to travel after this date. This even includes Saturday and Sundays
Morning News Announcements
Technology and Computer Issues?
Please use the google form provided by Mrs. Ray in a email last week or click this link.
She will take care of you as soon as possible or refer your issues to our TSS (Technology Support Services) department.
Copiers, Laminator and Riso
Southwest Middle School
Email: lrrice@gaston.k12.nc.us
Website: http://www.gaston.k12.nc.us/Domain/49
Location: 1 Roadrunner Drive, Gastonia, NC, United States
Phone: (704)866-6290
Twitter: @MsPrincipalBoss