April 7, 2017

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Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a great week. Only 3 more work days left after today for Spring Break. I will not be putting out a Friday Focus next week so I will take care of a few items here.

 On April 10 during advisory, student council will be putting on a recognition assembly in the competition gym. We will be honoring our activities and students that have completed their seasons to this point. This will be similar to what we did last year when we recognized Mr. Johnson. Student Council will be recognizing students who earned post season honors, made all-state, etc. They will have the group stand, but have the individuals award winners come down on the floor. Cole Berkenpas has been gathering the info, if he hasn't talked to you, please let me know.

 Also, on April 10 we have a evacuation drill. Please follow the procedures that was sent out earlier this week. It is important that you take roll outside and communicate it to your lead teacher, who will then communicate it to Mrs. Davis. I will also communicate with the lead teachers any announcements or in event of a real fire, communication on where to take the students. 

 On April 12 we will get out at 2:30 pm. When we come back to school on the 18th, we will have advisory. We will have our 2nd extra hour meeting on April 19. The district in-service is on April 26.

 I will be out of the district on April 18 attending a Perkins meeting in Fort Dodge. If you would need a sub that day, you will need to call Mr. Utesch.

 Midterm will be April 21. Please make sure all grades are updated by 8:30 am as Amy and Beth will run the midterms after that. This should be the cut off for PASS plan meetings as well. Anyone who is at risk of failing needs to have this done so the parents/student have time to correct the issue. Anything after this date does not give them enough time to really make any changes. 

 Have a great weekend!

Staff News

Angela Streker has turned in her notice that she is leaving her position here. Her family is moving to Kansas City. Thank you for your work with our students and good luck to you and your family as you make the move.

Staff as Learners

Nancy Isebrand and Neal Utesch attended the student council adviser workshop on Monday.

Students as Leaders

Katelyn Lewis, Amani Boddie, Kailyn Huisman, Tyler Holzman, Matt Simoni, Colton Webner, Edward Anguiano, and Jakub Malik presented at the DLIIT meeting on April 3. They discussed the CNA, Auto, Welding, and Manufacturing courses.

 The following students will be competing at WITCC Competition today: Colton Webner, Jakub Malik, Albert Jovignot, Abe Cerda, Logan Boylan, Derek Cunningham, Collin Nemmers, Caleb Jungers, Ty Porter, Parker Magnussen, Brenick Hoppe, Ben Wadle, Tyler Holzman, Tyson Weiler, Deven Paulson, Matt Simoni, Andrew Carpenter, Kyle Kleiver, Chris Begnoche, Tyler Lowe, and Logan Kibby.

 The following students will be attending the Iowa State Fashion Show with JoAnn Johnson and Amy Kelly today: Cali Brown, Haley Brown, Kelsey Brown, Lakia Eilts, Josaiah Gonzalez, Miranda Hicks, Montana Jost, Brady Kuiken, Katelyn Lewis, Natalie Pena, Claudia Probst, Sally Probst, Sydney Reeves, Claire Stinton, and Jayden Wiltgen.

 The following students will be attending the Wayne State College competition on April 12: Jakub Malik, Albert Jovignot, Colton Webner, Edward Anguiano, Bryce Timp, Abe Cerda, and Justin Tyler.

 Congrats to Kelli Susemihl for qualifying for the state competition for National History Day. She will compete on May 8 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.
Yesterday, Luke Sudtelgte and Robbie Hodgson from the Robotics Team presented at the ISEA Delegate Assembly.

 Also yesterday, Mr. Hallberg and the LCHS Orchestra performed at the Orchestra Festival at UNI.

 On April 10 & 11, Mr. Oetken is taking 6 students to the State FFA Convention. Students attending are Keaton Koerselman, Brandon Neyena, Trevor Renken, Kennedy Schilmoeller, Whitney Ten Napel, and Claire Ohlrichs.

Assistant Principal's News

Student Council elections will begin on Monday, April 10th.  Students who wish to run for student council or class officer will need to pick up an application sheet in the office starting Monday.  Completed forms are due back to the office by Wednesday, April 19th.  Remember that part of the application process is for students to get a teacher recommendation in order to run.  We appreciate your help with this matter.

 Classroom Management Strategies for SPRING:

 1. Clear Consistent Expectations - make sure expectations are taught and that they are clear and consistent.  Ask yourself if there is room for improvement with either expectations or consistency - if there is, then try to fix it and remember to re-teach to remind students of expectations.

 2. Change it Up - Keep things fresh in the classroom - add a game as an incentive to your current plan, pick a goal for class to work toward, etc...

 3. Keep a Consistent Routine and Structure - Space out your fun and engaging lessons toward the end of the year.  Keep the normal routine as much as possible and try to plan fun activities that do not depart from the normal structure you have kept throughout the school year.  Staying within your structure will help you stay productive and sane to the very end.

 4. Spend Two Extra Minutes of Quality Time with Students who Need Attention - students have an emotional bank account just like us.  While we don't want to ignore mis-behaviors, we do want to correct the behavior and then make a point of also interacting three times more when they are acting appropriately.  Pay attention to when they are good and make sure you address it with them with praise.

 Just a reminder that I will be gone all next week until after Easter break.  If you have student issues, please refer them to Dr. Iverson.  If student's come in to make up time with you, please e-mail me so that I can record the time served when I return to school.  Happy Spring Break!

Librarian's Corner

I received an email Monday morning announcing that our high school library has been selected to receive an Iowa STEM Scale-up award. According the the application, "the Science Center of Iowa's "Making STEM Connections" program provides a kit, including tools, teacher resources and lessons to inspire the "makers mentality: through highly-engaging, interactive and safe experiences. The program empowers participants to explore STEM principles and 21st Century Skills as they design, create and make."  

Instructional Coaches Tid Bits

On April 8, LCMS will have 4 students from 6th grade and Robby Hodson from the HS Robotics Team putting on a Technology Activities at LCSD display at the Sioux City Barnes & Noble from 11:30-3:00. The presentation will go hand in hand with Teacher Appreciation Week and the My Favorite Teacher Ceremony honoring Mrs. Rust. There is also a "Book Fair" as a part of the program. The MS Innovator's Lab will get a percentage of the proceeds that come in from purchases that are made during this coming weekend as long as you mention the Le Mars Book Fair. Feel free to contact myself or Gabe Davis with any questions.

 Have you seen https://www.slader.com/ yet? If not you might want to take a moment and check it out. The site offers the answers (including work) to homework questions in many high school level textbooks (math, science, Spansih, accounting, etc.). Depending on how much a student uses it, there is a fee. 

 Google Docs recently released a one click feature that now allows you to alter a large portion of text so that all the letters are capitalized, decalter a large portion of text so that all the letters are lower case, alter a large portion of text so that all the the first letter of each word is capitalized.

My last tidbit is this week is called Flipgrid. I was recently introduced to this one and my knowledge is rudimentary but it is intriguing. Flipgrid is a video platform. Teachers post discussion topics and then students respond with videos. One of the companies taglines is "Use video the way your students use video." 

Success Center Update


Articles Worth Reading

Are We Innovating, or Just Digitizing Traditional Teaching?

 3 Ways Student Data Can Inform Your Teaching

Upcoming Events

Friday, April 7
- Music Booster Auction
- 4:30 pm Boy Golf @ Hinton
- 5:00 pm Music Booster Pancake Supper
- 5:00 pm Girl Track @ Cherokee

Saturday, April 8
- 9:00 am Boy Varsity/JV Golf @ Sibley-Ocheyedan

Monday, April 10
- 4:00 pm Girl Varsity/JV Tennis @ Spirit Lake
- 4:00 pm Boy Varsity/JV Tennis vs. Spirit Lake
- 4:30 pm Boy/Girl Varsity/JV Track vs. Heelan, East, North, West, & Spencer
- 7:00 pm Music Booster Meeting

Tuesday, April 11
- 4:00 pm Girl Varsity/JV Golf @ Estherville
- 4:00 pm Boy Varsity/JV Golf vs. ELC & Storm Lake
- 4:00 pm Girl Varsity/JV Tennis vs. Spencer
- 4:00 pm Boy Varsity/JV Tennis @ Spencer

Wednesday, April 12
- 2:30 dismissal

Monday, April 17
- 9:00 am Boy Varsity/JV Golf @ Spencer
- 5:00 pm Boy Varsity/JV Track @ Unity Christian

Tuesday, April 18
- 4:00 pm Girl Varsity/JV Golf @ Western Christian
- 4:00 pm Boy Varsity/JV Golf vs. Western Christian
- 4:00 pm Girl Varsity/JV Tennis @ Storm Lake
- 4:00 pm Boy Varsity/JV Tennis vs. Storm Lake
- 4:30 pm Boy/Girl JV Track @ Boyden-Hull

Wednesday, April 19
- 7:00 pm Athletic Booster Club meeting

Thursday, April 20
- 4:00 pm Girl Varsity/JV Tennis vs. ELC
- 4:00 pm Boy Varsity/JV Tennis @ ELC
- 4:30 pm Girl Varsity/JV Track @ SBL
- 4:30 pm Boy Varsity/JV Track @ Sheldon
- 7:00 pm Spring Play

Friday, April 21
- 12:00 pm Girl Varsity/JV Golf vs. Heelan, Cherokee, Gehlen, Sioux Central, and East.
- 5:00 pm Boy/Girl Freshmen Track @ Sioux City Relays
- 7:00 pm Spring Play

Saturday, April 22
- 8:00 am Boy/Girl Varsity Track @ Sioux City Relays
- 7:00 pm Spring Play 


Be Extraordinary!
Mark

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