November 11, 2016

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Happy Friday! As we draw another week to a close, we are getting closer and closer to Thanksgiving Break. This time will go by fast, so I wanted to make sure everyone was aware that midterm is on November 30th. Students should have 1st quarter incompletes made up unless circumstances dictate they get more time. Please email Mr. Utesch or myself the updated letter grade and percentage so we can change it in historical grades in PowerSchool.
Next week we have district in-service on Wednesday. Your CIA members in charge of your group will send out instructions. 

 If you are not doing anything tonight or tomorrow night, come and check out the musical. The students and directors have been working hard in order to put on another great show. 

 Our CTE teachers had their annual advisory night where they presented their critical competencies, 3rd party assessments, and a classroom data. Some groups had students make presentations to their advisory group. A thank you goes out to the CTE teachers for having the meetings with their group and taking the time to showcase their programs.

 Girls' Basketball and Boys'/Girls' Bowling started this week and Boys' Basketball and Wrestling start this coming Monday. Please remind students if they are going to miss for a school activity, they must have their work completed when they get back the next day to school. 

 Have a Great Weekend!
Mark

Students as Leaders

Congrats to Jayden Wiltgen, Katelyn Lewis and Haley Majeres for making All Iowa Dance.

 Congrats to Kara Albrecht, Grace Lamoreux, Ote Albrecht, Madeline Hurt, Sam Vacura, Chloe Evans, Drake Oswald, Cole Berkenpas, Diana Loutsch, Emily Martin, Mary Meis, Kajsa Hallberg, Dalton Glawe, Tessa Hansen, Sarah Benton, Sarah Meis, Anna Vacura, Alex Pick, and Landen Parmelee for making Northwest Iowa Honor Band.

Assistant Principal's News

Reminder that today the student council will be packing our SSS care packages at 2:45 pm in the library.  If you need your students in class let us know, that is ok, only send them if you can spare them and they should be checking with you to make sure it is fine.  

 Also, today at 11:00 am, the student council, with the help of Mr. Ohrlund & Mr. Ewing, will have a short presentation to honor Veteran's Day.  This recognition will take place by starting with some of our choir students singing the National Anthem, we will have a short reading about the history of Veteran's Day, and will end with the playing of TAPS.

 Please remember to be consistent with your classroom expectations and use your best judgment on sending students to the office.  Many of the incidents that are being sent to us lately seem to be behaviors that could be handled with clear expectations by the classroom instructor - do not be afraid to give a detention yourself!  Everyone is anxious for a break, so please remember to be patient as we work toward Thanksgiving vacation.

 Congratulations to the drama department on their production of "Little Mary Sunshine".  I attended last night and it was really good.  If you get the chance to go, I encourage it.  It was nice to see so many students involved and having fun.

Librarian's Corner


  Social studies and science teachers, want to supplement a unit you are teaching? Try an ebook from Scholastic's TrueFlix, FreedomFlix, or ScienceFlix. Each have short ebooks in addition to a short video and numerous activities that can be used to test students' comprehension and expand their knowledge. All are sponsored by the AEA. Just type in one of the titles of the database above, log in with 3600lmhs and password nwaea, and select the topic you are looking for. Project this up on your screen so all can participate or have students log in on their own computer to read along or read on their own. 

Instructional Coaches' Tid Bits

Success Center Update

Julie Theisen and I had the opportunity to experience "The Domino Effect," a program initiated by The Iowa Department of Corrections and supported by Drake University that provides educators an opportunity to explore the role teachers have in stopping the School to Prison Pipeline.  It was a very powerful day.  We experienced three different discussions:  The first was a collaborative panel discussion with offenders who talked about what their teachers might have done that would have encouraged them to stay off the wrong path.  The second was a discussion with the prison psychiatrist who talked about the impact of mental illness on our students.  The third conversation was with a "victim" of the system who had yet another perspective on at-risk youth.  It was certainly an eye-opening experience that every one in the field of education would benefit from seeing.  (They are repeating the program in April for anyone who might be interested in an awesome PD opportunity!)  It was absolutely worth the time to participate.

I am attaching a link to one of the TED talks we watched as part of the follow-up called "Every Kid Needs a Champion." 
http://www.ted.com/talks/rita_pierson_every_kid_needs_a_champion

Articles Worth Reading

Does and Don'ts for Teaching English Language Learners



Upcoming Events

Friday, November 11
- 7:00 pm High School Musical

Saturday, November 12
- 7:00 pm High School Musical

Monday, November 14
- 7:00 pm Music Booster Meeting

Tuesday, November 15
- 6:00 pm Career and College Planning Night
- 7:00 pm Financial Aid Night

Wednesday, November 16
- 7:00 pm Athletic Boosters Meeting

Thursday, November 17
- All State Music Festival in Ames

Friday, November 18
- All State Music Festival in Ames
- 6:60 pm Girls JV Basketball @ Okoboji (Hall of Pride Event)
-7:45 pm Girls Varsity Basketball @ Okoboji (Hall of Pride Event)

Saturday, November 19
- All State Music Festival in Ames


Be Extraordinary!
Mark


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