September 4, 2015

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Happy Friday! Our first full week is about to be in the books. I have been popping into classrooms and have been impressed with what I have seen take place. Keep pushing the student to meet higher expectations.  
On Tuesday in advisory, each student will create goals for their classes and for the Iowa Assessments. I have been asked if the teachers can tell the students the NGE or National Grade Equivalent score instead of the NSS score. The reason being, it would be easier for a student to understand they are performing at the 7th grade level rather than a 298. Then the students can set the goal to the grade level. Make sure they fill out the side marked Semester 1 Beginning of Year. The backside will be filled out during week 3. Again, encourage students to set challenging but realistic goals. Make sure they know these goals will be shared with other teachers and their parents.
Wednesday next week we have our first building extra hour meeting. This will take place in the library and the SIT team will be going over the STAR Reading Assessments and the different reports. You will want to make sure you bring your laptop with you that morning. We will do the data analysis during the meeting on the 30th.


My first year we did a questionnaire about summative and formative assessment and what grading means to you. You were also given various scores of test and homework and asked to assign a semester grade to that student. If you remember, we had a range of grades assigned. It is important that a student’s grade isn’t left by chance. What this means is that students are randomly assigned to classes and teachers, if we are not consistent, that student's grade may be different from one class to another. In an effort to get us started down the path of consistency for grading we implemented a building-wide late work policy. I met with the SIT team and asked for their input on creating building-wide grading procedures. We are not going to standards-based grading. They will be discussing this topic with you in your PLC meetings. But we have a few areas not represented on the school improvement team. If you would like to serve on the committee that will look at our grading practices as a whole, then come up with common procedures, please let me know. I am going to limit this committee, so if I get more responses than spots, the SIT team will need to limit it down.


Staff News
Kellie Bork got a chance to get back in a race car as he spent Tuesday driving around the Chicagoland Speedway. That smile on his face should be stuck there for the next few months.


Brett Oekten is taking his Ag Science 2 class to the Northwest Iowa Research Farm on September 9.
Assistant Principal’s Corner Hope that everyone had a good week this week.  Homecoming is around the corner and students are excited for the festivities.  Remember that dress code still applies during our dress up days so if you see something that you feel is inappropriate, then please let the student know that they should change.  Reminder of dress up days are listed below:
Monday: Home Movie Night (Pajamas and Sweats)            
Tuesday: Favorite Movie Character
Wednesday: Class Color Day
        Staff – Mint Green
        Seniors – Black
        Juniors – Dark Purple
        Sophomores – Light Blue
        Freshman – Pink
Thursday: Paparazzi/Tourist Day
Friday: Red and Black Spirit Day
Reminder that float building will take place in Becker Hall during homecoming week.  You should have signed up for a time to work, so please make sure you are there on time - double check the schedule on the teacher’s lounge door.  Supervisors are responsible for making sure Becker Hall is cleaned up and all trash thrown away at the end of the week and at the end of each night. Please make sure all doors are locked and secured before you leave each night!
Again, this summer I went to a bullying training and learned a lot about student behaviors and what to look for.  One of the topics that was covered by the presenter was conflict vs. bullying.  Many times parents, students, and even staff have trouble making a determination between the two so I wanted to provide some information to help clarify the issues.  
Conflict is defined as a struggle between two or more people who perceive they have incompatible goals or desires.
Conflict
  1. Occurs naturally as we interact with one another and is normal
  2. Typically arises in the moment
  3. Emotion on both sides is equal because both are arguing for what they want
  4. Both want issue resolved, but resolved to their liking
Bullying is defined as unwanted, purposeful, and aggressive behavior directed toward the target with less power intended to cause harm.
Bullying
  1. This is always an imbalance of power
  2. Behavior is deliberate and unprovoked
  3. The target is intentionally harmed
  4. Students engaged in bullying experience pleasure or satisfaction from the bullying behavior
  5. The person engaging in bullying activities experiences no regret and would like behavior to continue for as long as possible
Librarian Corner   The high school library has 10 laptops for students to check out overnight. They do need to have a form signed by both parent and student before checking them out, so please encourage them to get this form downloaded, signed and turned into the library if they do not have a computer at home and think there will be a need to check one out. The form can be found at https://sites.google.com/a/lemarscsd.org/lcs-libraries/libraries/computer-checkout-form
Upcoming Events
Friday, September 4 7:00 pm Varsity Football vs Western Christian
Tuesday, September 8 5:00 pm Varsity/JV Cross Country  @ Prairie Rose Golf
Course, Brunsville
5:00 pm 9th/JV Football @ Western Christian
7:00 pm State Orchestra Meeting
Thursday, September 10 5:30 pm 9th/JV Volleyball vs. Sioux City East
6:50 pm Varsity Volleyball vs. Sioux City East
Friday, September 11 7:00 pm Varsity Football @ Storm Lake
Saturday, September 12 7:45 am ACT Testing
8:30 am Varsity Volleyball, Le Mars Invite
9:00 am Varsity/JV Cross Country @ Holstein Golf Course
Monday, September 14 5:00 pm 9th Football vs. Cherokee
6:30 pm JV Football vs. Sheldon
Tuesday, September 15 5:00 pm Varsity/JV Cross Country @ Sunrise Pointe Golf
Course
5:30 pm 9/JV Volleyball @ ELC
6:50 pm Varsity Volleyball @ ELC
Friday, September 18 1:00 pm Pep Rally
2:15 pm Parade
7:00 pm Varsity Football vs. Sioux Center
9:00 pm Homecoming Dance
Articles Worth Reading
3 Things Students Desire to Hear From Teachers - Easily can be applied to HS.
students.png
Be Extraordinary,
Mark

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