Nuts and Bolts

Teachers,

Please see me if you are interested in attending the Nuts and Bolts Symposium at Destin Middle School June 9-12.

Nuts and Bolts covers many timely, middle school-specific topics such as:

-- The Differentiated Classroom

-- Literacy

-- Student Achievement

-- Leadership

-- Homework

-- Motivating Students

-- Technology Education

-- Classroom Management

-- Classroom Strategies

For more information, visit the Nuts and Bolts website.

Have a great day!

Happy Monday!

Good Afternoon!

I  hope everyone enjoyed a restful and meaningful Easter weekend.  We're now gearing up for those last few weeks of school -- hang in there!

Here are a few reminders:

1. Keep April 20 open for a possible K-12 faculty meeting.  This isn't etched in stone yet, but you'll now be prepared if it comes to pass.

2. Please feel free to let me know if I can help you motivate some of your students with respect to academics.  Several of our teachers have brought students to me for an extra motivational talk when grades slip some.  I am happy to help you with this if you think it would be beneficial.

3. Please remember to keep students engaged in meaningful activities through the very end of the school year.  As a former band director, I know how students can feel that the year is over once the spring concert has passed.  However, it is important that we "play every day" (as band directors would say) right up until the end of school.

4. As you know, student issues come to the forefront this time of year, so let's all work together on preventative measures in this area.  Make sure that your students are supervised at all times, and feel free to correct students who are not in your class.  This is truly a team effort, and we all need to work together to keep things running a smoothly as possible.

Keep up the good work, and have a great week!

Happy Monday!

Good Afternoon!

I hope your Monday is off to a great start.

Please remember that we have a K-12 faculty meeting at 3:45 p.m. today in Willett Hall.

Spring is here and the "sap is rising," so to speak.  Please help us out by keeping an eye out for our kids throughout the school day.  If each person takes care of their particular "zone," we should be OK.

Also remember to follow through with your classroom management plan and write demerits when necessary.  We stand prepared to give you the back-up you need from the administration.

Please keep the lines of communication open with parents.  If you see that a child is struggling academically, please inform the parents and invite them to be a part of the solution.  It is especially critical that parents know if their child is in danger of failing a course.

Thanks so much, as always, for your steadfast dedication to our students.  You are truly appreciated!

Have a great week!

Story Top

Teachers,

You might want to check out this Story Top site which allows your students to create comic strips for use in your classroom.  This could be ideal for encourage writing or to make project presentations fun and entertaining.

Have a great day!

E-Learning Opportunities

Please see me if you are interested in e-learning opportunities offered by the State Department of Education this summer.

Good Monday Morning!

Good Morning!

I hope everyone enjoyed the weekend!

Here are just a few quick announcements as we begin the new week:

1. Please make plans for an extended first period this Thursday, April 2.  We should be able to dismiss first period at around 9:20.

2. Please make plans for a faculty meeting next Monday, April 6, at 3:40 p.m.   If we do not meet as a K-12 group, we will meet as a division.

3. Teachers who have lunch duty will need to help us dismiss tables once they are clean after the bell rings.  Our students have been doing a better job with this, but we will have to stay on top of this type of thing until the end of the year.

4.  As always, please keep communicating with parents in a proactive manner.  Parents appreciate this and it goes a long way toward preventing problems.

5. It is more important than ever that we look for ways to include writing in every part of our program.  Many of you are coming up with some wonderfully creative ideas to this end, and I may ask you to share them with your fellow faculty members.

Thanks, as always, for your professionalism.  It is an honor and a pleasure to work with you each day!

Have a great week!

Blood Drive Reward for Middle-Schoolers

Teachers,

Please remind your students to encourage their parents to participate in our Blood Drive this Friday between the hours of 7:15 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. in the South Gym.  The grade that brings the most parents will be treated to a Krsipy Kreme party.  The ninth grade is included in this contest, so let's make sure that the party goes to a middle school grade!

Thanks for helping us give the "gift of life."