PKMS Update 5.4.2020
A Close Look At How We Did & Will Do Our Work
HELLO, PKMS FAMILY
Together We Are Stronger!
One week down and ten more to go in this last quarter of the 2019-2020 school year - Please be sure to check your teachers' Google Classroom for assignments
Please click onto the Peekskill Middle School's website for our new Digital Learning Portal along with Mr. Lewis' Weekly Message and Newsletters - Remember students, you must be logged into your Google account to access it - https://sites.google.com/peekskillschools.org/pkms-digital-learning-portal/home
May 4 - 8 is National Teacher Appreciation Week & May 5 is National Teacher Appreciation Day - Please email your teacher or post a note of gratitude under #ThankATeacher
May's SEL theme is Attitudes and Values now more than ever we need this - We cannot give up - we must keep going - To support this work, our weekly quote is:
“The most significant change in a person’s life is a change of attitude. Right attitudes produce right actions.” – William J. Johnson
Let's continue to take safety precautions in these challenging times.
Our appreciation continues for your engaging learning environments, dedication, planning, collaboration, assessment of students, focus, and hard work.
Remember, to SMILE (Show My Infectious Lovable Energy) as it is the first thing students, families, and colleagues see.
Let's Keep These Thoughts in Mind:
- Laugh a little. Laugh a little more.
- Gladden the heart of a child.
- Always operate from a honest place.
- Give a soft answer
Notes of Gratitude
Thank you to MBK Mentor/Mentee Virtual Hangout Conversation - the students enjoyed the laughing and joking - they needed that special time together - thank you to Ms. Simon for continuing to lead this work
Thank you to Emily D for discovering the way to transfer grades from one system to another - staff appreciates this
Thank you for this week's Department Meetings - Great conversations, leadership, and work
Thank you to The Counseling Team (thank you, Katie Geider for taking the lead on this) who has created a Google Classroom for students and families (info is further down in this newsletter)
Thank to the staff for continuing to support students, creating engaging lessons, and collaborating with one another
Thank you to Maria Olivier Flores who maintains Peekskill's professional and supportive partnership with Feeding Westchester and United Way - Thank you to those who have donated to these organizations to help our students and families - If you care to donate, please go to https://feedingwestchester.org/ and https://www.unitedway.org/ - We thank these organizations for always putting Peekskill in the forefront and being amazingly supportive
Thank you to our clinical team for their consistent family outreach, staff support, and collaboration
Thank you to our secretaries who are doing their work behind the scenes
Thank you to Dr. Campolongo and Ms. Simon for continuing to support staff and families
Thank you Carmine, Tim, Mike, Mark, Kristen, Keith, and Manny for sanitizing our buildings
Thank you Andrew Weismann and his team for providing food to our families
Thank you to David Santiago and his team for securing our buildings during this season of challenge
Learning Digitally
stem
Students exploring and solving systems of equations algebraically by using substitution - calculating the area of quadrilaterals with decimal numbers as their side lengths - examining parallel lines cut by a transversal - continuation of exploring genetics and hereditary - exploring energy transformation - discussing plate tectonics - delving into digital citizenship and professional writing - using knowledge of 3D design to create objects - understanding and discussing technologies or products of technology that are developed to solve problems, or to satisfy a human need - explaining the pros and cons of Maglev transportation
encore
Students combining three-dimensional everyday objects with two-dimensional drawings into a work of art of their own - practicing proper diction, and tone production through online warm-ups - identifying notes, clefs, and time signatures - recalling mnemonic devices used to remember the musical staff, playing instruments, and experimenting with basic composition ideas - selecting a cardio workout based on the principles of fitness and performing that selected workout while applying the concepts of muscular endurance and cardiovascular endurance
Humanities
Students learning common characteristics of Greek architecture as well as the history of five famous landmarks - discovering what was learned from the policy of appeasement at the beginning of WWII (If history appeases the aggressor, will there be a higher price to pay later on for such a passive approach) - understanding the reasons and implications for westward movement - reading, writing, and analyzing texts to respond to a variety of questions about slavery during the American Revolution and non-fiction news passages - making connections between their lives and the characters - exploring what qualifies someone as a hero (based on class reading)
Collaborative & Department Work
- May 12th - Full Department Meeting - See Department Leaders for Agenda and Calendar Invitation
- 9AM - ELA
- 9:45AM - Math
- 9:30AM - LOTE
- 10AM - Social Studies
- 10:30AM - Special Education
- 11AM - ENL
- 11AM - Science
Team / Grade-Level Work
- May 6th & May 20th - Check and Connect as Teams - Please consult your calendar for an Invitation through Google Hangouts Meet
Grade 6 10AM - Grade 7 11AM - Grade 8 12PM
STUDENT ASSISTANCE SERVICES
This month is also Co-Occuring Disorder Awareness (CODA) month! This month highlights how common substance abuse and mental illness can co-exist in our community and how to get support for yourself, or a family member/friend.
Do you or a family member live with addiction? Are you worried your child or student has begun using alcohol?
Contact your Student Assistance Counselors for resources and support!
Katherine Geider, LMSW : Kgeider@peekskillschools.org
Casandra Lewis, LMSW : C.lewis@sascorp.org
Important Dates
- May 11th - ELA Honors 8 Exam
- May 27th - Rising Grade 6 Math & Science Honors Entrance Exam
- Rising Grade 6 Jumpstart - TBD
Some Reminders
- Take attendance for each of your instructional periods
- Ensure 504 and IEP Plans are being supported
- Ensure grade content colleague planning - reflecting Rubicon Atlas
- Ensure Gradebook and Teacher Webpage/Google Classroom reflect current information and assignments
- Communicate with families and maintain that communication in PLP
- Data Driven Instruction Model
- Always Ask: Have They Learned? How Do You Know?
- Training One Another
- Discussing Student Performance Information
- Designing Tiered Instruction
- Reflecting on Daily Practice
- Reviewing Assessments from All Content Areas (Formative, Summative, Interim)
- Discussing Progress Monitoring Efforts
- Pacing through Rubicon Atlas
- Lesson Plans Should Be Designed with the following in Mind
- Questions Posed - What is the level
- Tiered Instruction
- Guided Instruction
- Driven By Data
- Clear and Articulated Assessment Throughout (assessments must contain spiraling back questions)
- Groupings (Fluid)