Blues News: Week of 04/8/2024
A weekly newsletter for PMHS staff
Eclipse Week
Blues team,
We having an exciting week with the Eclipse coming up! Tomorrow will be a big day for many of our families. As you know, I put glasses in your box to ensure safety and we have glasses available as well for all students. Please be safe during this time as you take in this milestone event. We have a busy week ahead so check your calendar. Due to weather, we have many makeup games that must be done, so be expecting a few sudden changes with the schedule. I appreciate everyone's flexibility during this time.
Our SpEd monitoring went well, and our SpEd team was encouraged by VDOE representative, Dr. Beasley. We look forward to seeing the things that we are doing well and the areas we need grow. Outstanding job by all of our teachers in the SpEd department. Also, thank you to Mrs. Gibson for preparing our teams well and to Danny Cole for setting up wonderful schedule for the VDOE representative to follow.
We also are getting updates on testing. Please review this link to see the latest and greatest about how the state will soon evaluate schools. This is still under review but has many new suggested ideas for testing on the docket. The new accountability system would not go into effective until Fall of 25 from what I understand. Here is a link to the presentation slides:
VDOE Slides (Listening Session)
Finally, please make sure that your lesson plans are on point. Mr. Clark and I will be doing walkthroughs this week as we prepare for our end run. Make sure you have your Objective (Frame and Closing posted with standard), your lesson plans updated, and that you are identified the standards that need reinforcement and focus throughout to ensure student success. Troy and I will continue making phone calls to ensure more participation in after school remediation as needed. Thank you for staying on top of all of these things!
A few things for this week.
No PLCs this week
Writing Prompts Graded and Due this Week
As a reminder, we now have warmer weather, please help police dress code concerns. This is about the time we start having dress code concerns again. Thank you in advance for being on top of this!
Special Events: Arrive Alive Car Crash Event and Prom on April 11 and 13th Respectively
Character Counts information has been sent out to you....be sure to lead group discussions over these character traits during Wednesday flextime. Remember that All in Va tutorial students must be in tutorials. Be sure that you are using Zearn both with students and login yourself to ensure that you are tracking progress.
A few reminders/notes:
Remember to keep Flextime focused on instruction. There should not be phones out during this time. It is expected that phones are being address by the teacher that monitors the Flextime. If you have assignments for students to do, be sure to share this so students can support this. Students should either be reading or focused on academic work. Please be sure to follow the breakfast schedule as assigned. Teacher's Flextime is a great time for the application of material taught during the regular class. Also, phones should not be out during classroom instruction as you know so the same is true here.
Be sure to only allow students out of your classroom using E-Hall pass. We are seeing some students "escape" who have not gone through the system. Please make sure that you are monitoring this as we shouldn't have more than 1-2 student at a time in the main hall bathroom.
Please share positives that you see teachers or students engaged in to post on our "Light It Up Blue" display in the cafeteria. You can send these to me or Troy by e-mail. We want to add several more to our wall! We still need some more of these so I will be asking department heads to request some from students and teachers.
Let's Go Blues. Have an awesome week! Remember to "Light It Up Blue!"
Staff Member of the Week
Our staff member of the week this week is Coach Brockenbrough. Coach Brockenbrough is outstanding teacher and coach and consistently expects the best from those around him. He works incredibly and is a servant leader as he is often asked to do things around the division to support a variety of needs. Coach Brockenbrough goes out of this way to push students to meet their highest level of success both in school and on the field. Coach is consistently invested in the life of the school division and lives "Blue." Coach Brockenbrough, thank you for what you do for students each and every day! Go Blue!
Schedule for the Week and Special Information
- Early Release due to Eclipse @ 1:00 (Follow the Bell Schedule and Lunch Schedule as Assigned)
- 3 Alt Ed Assignments
- SRO Meeting @ 8:45 (Admin Only)
- CIP Meeting @ 10:00 (Admin Only) (Virtual)
- Prom Meeting @ 12 (SRO, AP, Mrs. Austin, Dr. Jones)
- Instructional Meetings Throughout the Day/Mentor, Etc.
- Eclipse from 1:30-4:30 (Wear Your Glasses)
- JV Softball @ Home vs. Narrows @ 5:30
- Varsity Baseball @ Home vs. Grace @ 6:15
- VVA School Support and Partnership Meeting @ 10:00 (Admin Only)
- Girls Tennis vs. Bath @ 5 (Home)
- Clubs
- Varsity Softball vs. Bath @ 5
- Teacher Meetings as Assigned (Check for Invites)
- PMHS Benchmark @2 Algebra I
- Character Counts During Flextime
- Child Study Meeting (L.H.) (Check for Invites)
- OTR @ Riverheads @ 4:30
- Arrive Alive Program @ 10:30 (Parking Lot, More Details to Come)
- Attendance Meeting @ 1:00 (Jones Office)
- Eligibility Meeting @ 3:15 (Check for Invites: If invited, please attend)
- Faculty Meeting 3:15-4:15
- JV Softball @ Craig @ 5:00
- Varsity Softball and Baseball vs. Craig @ 5
- Algebra II Benchmark
- Outdoor Track @ LCA (Time To Be Determined)
- Girls Tennis vs. Mountainview @ 4:30
- Prom and After Prom (New teachers should attend after prom) (More to come on this) (Prom will be from 6:30-10:30) After prom starts at 11 @ SVU.
- Clubs will meet this week (Those in All in VA tutorials are not allowed to go to clubs, they must remain in tutorials)
- Character Counts on Wednesday during Flextime.
- Friday Show delivered during Flex Time this week on Friday
Instructional Moment
Final Updates/Reminders
Go Blue!
School Info
Parry McCluer High School
Email: todd.jones@bvcps.net
Website: https://pmhs.bvcps.net/
Location: 100 Bradford Drive, Buena Vista, VA 24416
Phone: 540.261.2127
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pmhsbluepride