Warrior Beat
Student Focused-World Class
Word for the Warrior
These checkpoints will allow us to determine where our students are performing in terms of proficiency. I have attached sample data conferencing agendas to this email.
Team members need to have a clear understanding of what to prepare and have ready in advance for each data conference. If team members do not come prepared, the team cannot proceed with the data conference:
1. Teams should set a proficiency goal for each CFA.
Example: 80% of students will be proficient or advanced.
2. Individual and team data should be scored and reviewed prior to the conference so that the team is prepared to spend the majority of time discussing next steps and will have time to determine how to best respond.
3. The team leader will send the agenda to the team prior to the meeting. (samples attached to this email)
Regularly stopping to check student proficiency will help us remain student focused and will help us plan future instruction accordingly.
Week of the Warrior
MONDAY : November 7
Girls Basketball Practice 3:00-5:00
Boys Basketball Practice 3:00-5:00
Wrestling Practice 3:00-5:15
Sevier on Stage 3:00-5:30
TUESDAY : November 8
VIF Global Committee Meeting-Library-2:00-3:20
District Special Ed. Meeting-3:30-5:30
Girls Basketball Game vs TA Dugger @ Home JV 5:30 Varsity 6:30
Boys Basketball Game at TA Dugger JV 4:30 Varsity 5:30
Wrestling Practice 3:00-5:15
Student Council Meeting 3:00-3:30/Mrs. Wagner's Room/344
Cheer Practice 5:00-6:00
Dance Team Performs @ 6:30/Girls Home Game against TA Dugger
Swim Team Practice 3:00-4:15
Sevier on Stage 3:00-5:30
WEDNESDAY : November 8
8th Grade Book Club 7:00/Mrs. Young's Room/338
Girls Basketball Practice 3:00-5:00
Boys Basketball Practice 3:00-5:00
Wrestling Practice 3:00-5:15
Cheer Practice 3:00-5:00 (Tumbling until 5:15)
Sequoyah Scribe student newspaper will meet 2:45-3:30. All staff members are required to attend. The editorial team will meet until 5:15.
Sevier on Stage 3:00-5:30
THURSDAY : November 10
Shrek JR Student Performance/Auditorium during Related Arts
Girls Basketball Game @ Greenville JV 5:00 Varsity 6:00
Boys Basketball Game @ Sevier vs Greenville JV 5:00 Varsity 7:00
Wrestling Practice 3:00-5:15
Bridge Club 3:00/Library
Natural Helpers 3:00-4:30/Room 241
Swim Team Practice 3:00-4:15
Sevier on Stage (Cast and Crew) 3:00-4:00
FRIDAY : November 11 Veterans’ Day
Veterans Day Program: 8:00 am-Schedule to be sent Monday
Girls Basketball Practice 3:00-5:00
Boys Basketball Practice 3:00-5:00
Wrestling Practice 3:00-4:30
Chess Club 3:00/Library
Swim Team Practice 5:00-6:00
Sevier on Stage presents Shrek Jr @ 7:00 (Call Time for Cast & Crew 5:45)
SAVE THE DATE :
11/12 Wrestling Tournament @ Elizabethton High School
11/12 Sevier on Stage presents Shrek Jr @ 7:00
(Call Time for Cast & Crew 5:45)
11/14 Red Boot Club Rally 1:15-2:45/Auditorium
The JSMS Jam...
A Friendly Reminder about Cell Phones:
Please remember that cell phones should not be out and should not be used during the school day unless there is an extenuating circumstance. Cell phones should not be used in front of students. If you have a need (and these happen from time to time), please wait until class change or a break to use your phone. Please also be courteous during team meetings and parents conferences NOT to be using your cell phones to text. This is distracting from the meeting norm of being fully engaged. When this happens, team members are placed in an awkward situations and often don't want to have to tell a fellow teammate to stop texting and put away their phone. Please be courteous to your students and fellow teachers and IAs and do not text when you are supposed to be teaching. Also, please do not have your phone out during meetings.
Tribe Time Phase 3
If you would be interested in planning Phase for Tribe Time, please plan on meeting next Thursday, November 17th at 3:00 in the conference room. We will be discussing offering "Clubs" or options that would occur either on Fridays or less frequently than our enrichment groups. Ideas offered up so far include: Gardening, Geo-Science, Service Opportunities, Etiquette, etc.
Transforming Teaching and Learning
On November 22 at 3:00 in the Conference Room, we will have a Transforming Teaching and Learning: Grading meeting to plan our December faculty meeting. Please plan to attend if you are interested!
New Standards and State Testing
Please take time to read the following description of how students fared on the TN Ready test....this is why it is imperative that we take time at the beginning of each collaborative to clarify our understandings of what mastery looks like--what we want students to know and be able to do for the time planned during our collaborative meeting.
Reading Time
Please remember that during reading time each day, students should be reading and not using this time for any other content related work.
JSMS Yearbooks On Sale!
If you have not reserved your 2016-2017 yearbook, it's not too late! Order your full-color yearbook with personalized color for $23, or without name for $22.
To order, visit www.inter-state.com/yearbook and enter code 11192D or return an envelope with cash or a check made out to John Sevier Middle School.
Student Advisory Board
Students who are interested in being a part of the Student Advisory Action team may pick up an application in the main office. This team will meet monthly with JSMS Administration and be briefed on all items pertinent to school life. This team will provide student input to decision making at Sevier.
PTA Needs YOU!
Don't forget to join PTA! Membership is just 5$ and your membership and helps support the students of JSMS! Please print the slip below (it is also an attachment to the email with this link) and return the form and your $5 membership/donation to the JSMS office! Thank you!
ASC News...
Open Enrollment: Health Insurance
Included below is important information about the time line and process for open enrollment for 2017. We appreciate your patience as we complete this transition process back to the State plan. This year is a little out of the ordinary and you have been very accommodating and understanding. If you have questions about this process or questions related to these benefits, please contact our office.
OPEN ENROLLMENT DATES FOR KCS:
KCS will be holding open enrollment starting next week, November 7th through Tuesday, November 22nd.
Initial enrollment will be via paper forms. While we hoped to have initial enrollment on-line, due to the compressed time line to complete this process and meet the necessary payroll deadlines, we will need to start with paper enrollment.
You may turn in documents directly to HR if you have everything completed. Please note that you must turn in enrollment forms with all necessary documentation included.
HR Representatives will be present at school locations on the following schedule to assist with enrollment.
**Due to our presence at the schools, there will be limited access to HR Personnel via phone or at the central office. If you need assistance or have questions, please send an email and we will do our best to provide a timely response.
Nov. 9- Johnson and Jefferson
Nov. 10- Palmer, DB EXCEL and Maintenance
Nov. 11th- Kennedy, Roosevelt
Nov 14th- DB
Nov 15th- Sevier & Jackson
Nov. 16th – Robinson & ASC
Nov. 17th- Adams & DB
Nov. 18th- Washington & Lincoln
Nov. 21 and 22 – Open Meetings at ASC from 2pm-5pm
OPEN ENROLLMENT PROCESS:
Step 1: Enrollment Selections
Initial enrollment will be via paper forms as stated above.
Enrollment books and forms were delivered to many schools today (Friday) and we will finish delivery on Monday. The books contain the same information that is on the KCS and State website links that has been sent in previous e-mails, but we understand many people like to review the hard copy enrollment book.
Step 2: Review Selections via State On-Line System
As part of the transition process back to the State plan, the State will be setting up on-line accounts for all benefit-eligible employees through Edison. You will be able to access this website in December and review your account information. Please watch your email in early December. You will receive an email from the State with your access code.
Once you have access to Edison, you will have 30 days (through end of December) to go in and make any changes before your benefits are final for January 2017. Once final, changes cannot be made to your benefit selection until next year’s open enrollment period or you experience a qualifying event (such as birth of a child, marriage, loss of spouse’s benefits, etc.).
**Please Note that your benefits payroll deduction in December will come out of your check received on December 16th and December 30th.
This deduction will reflect the election you make via the paper enrollment forms completed during the KCS enrollment period in November. If you make any changes to your benefit selection in December via the State’s on-line system, changes in your deductions will be reflected in the January payroll.
WHAT DOCUMENTATION DO I NEED TO PROVIDE FOR ENROLLMENT?
EVERYONE ENROLLING A DEPENDENT WILL NEED TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION VERIFYING DEPENDENT STATUS.
The State of Tennessee is requiring all enrollees to provide documentation to verify dependents. For example, to add a Spouse, you will need to provide a copy of a valid marriage certificate. A full list of allowable documentation is attached for your reference.
This documentation is required in order to add a dependent to your health insurance. You will need to have these documents when you turn in enrollment forms to HR. *(Please bring copies if possible.)
Sample Items for Math and Social Studies Posted on Website
Audience: Directors of Schools, Principals, Testing Coordinators, and Educators
Contact: Virginia.Mayfield@tn.gov (mathematics) orChristina.Fox@tn.gov (social studies)
The department has posted on the website (here) samples of integrated items in mathematics for a few grade levels and sample writing items for social studies in grades 5–8. The examples showcase how these item types will appear in TNReady during the April/May administration window.
- Integrated items are 4–6 point questions that ask students to assimilate information from multiple grade-level domains. Additionally, integrated items may require background knowledge from previous grades. For all 2016-17 math assessments, students will see two integrated items that will be field tested.
- Written response items for social studies are two or four point items intended to assess a student's historical awareness and provide the opportunity for students to showcase their knowledge and ability to respond to historical questions in writing. For all 2016-17 grades 3–8 social studies assessments, students will see short written response items that will be field tested.