May 5, 2017

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Happy Friday! Only 2 more editions of the Friday Focus left to write. As we wrap up teacher appreciation week, I would like to thank everyone again for what you do and sacrifice for the students in the Le Mars School District. The success of our students and school are due to the great staff we have in the district. 

Lunch will be provided in the lounge today. The menu is pulled pork, baked beans, chips, dessert, and water/pop. 

We have our last extra hour meeting next week. Please continue to work on the Iowa Core work your group has done all year. During our district in-service on May 17, your group will look at the Iowa Assessment data and fill out the form identifying our strengths and weaknesses. If your department has an assessment, please use that assessment, all other areas please use the reading data. Once you are done looking at your assessment data, use the reminder of the time to wrap up your curriculum work for the school year. Make sure you make a note of where you are at, so when we begin next year you can pick up where you left off. We will meet in the library on May 17.

For those of you that have seniors that need to take semester test, please get Mr. Martin testing materials by May 15. If you want the students to test with you, please make sure the students know. Mr. Martin will let students come in on Tuesday when he gets here until 11:42, then will start again at 1:07 to 3:30, and on Wednesday students can test from when he gets here until 11:42. 

Next week, the Alternative High School will have its graduation ceremony on Wednesday night starting at 7:00 pm in the Educational Service Center building.

Finally, I want to remind everyone and make you aware of a change in the Iowa Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics that goes into effect for the 17-18 school year. Administrators must report any disciplinary action (written reprimand or beyond) against a Board of Educational Examiners- licensed employee for the following behaviors. The board may deny a license or revoke a license of an administrator who fails to report the termination or resignation for reasons listed below.
1. Soliciting, encouraging, or consummating a romantic or otherwise inappropriate relationship with a student.
2. Falsifying student grades, test scores, or other official information or material.
3. Converting public property or funds to the personal use of the school employee.
4. (NEW) Being on school premises or at a school-sponsored activity involving students while under the influence of, possessing, using, or consuming illegal drugs, unauthorized drugs, or alcohol.

Enjoy the weather this weekend, it definitely looks more springlike.

Have a great weekend!

Students as Leaders

Congrats to Elizabeth Ihrke for winning #1 Singles at the Lakes Conference Meet. The girl's team took 2nd place over all. Great job girls and Coaches Wright and Bork.

Assistant Principal's Corner

As we approach the end of the school year, I would like to share some ideas on how to survive in the classroom during these final days.

1. Don't Fight the System - when it comes to unpredictable matter that may change your lesson plans such as student activities being rescheduled, keep your cool and continue the best you can - "Pick your Battles Wisely!"

2. Don't Compare Yourself to Other Teachers - Remember that you are unique.  Do not compare your classroom discipline to others in the building as your rules/expectations may not be the same.  Stick to your rules - be fair - and PATIENT!!!!

3. Stick to Teaching Core Subject Skills unitl the Last Day - Continue to teach important educational and subject skills (not just those that are test-related) in a fun and motivating way.

4. Set your Intentions for Success - Come in with a positive attitude and set your thoughts, your statements, and your actions to reflect your intentions during the entire day.  Remember that what someone says about you and what you say about them will help create a totally different and new expectations for yourself - teacher's know that they generally get what they put out to their students as expectations.

Information obtained from the following website:  http://teaching.monster.com/benefits/articles/8205-15-end-of-the-year-survival-tips

Librarian's News

Have you ever wondered how hashtags (#) work and why it is so popular? The following link was created for a faculty inservice in the Chicago public school system. Look it over and see if you can use the hashtag in your curricular area. The Power of the # Sign. I attended the AEA media advisory meeting yesterday. This coming school year is the last year they will have VHS tapes available for checkout. They have been trying to replace many of the titles with DVDs or by uploading videos to the AEA Digital library found on www.iowaaeaonline.org. Your username is 3600lmhs and password is nwaea. 

LCHS student council requested that we find a way to help Kadin Woodard and his dad as they face financil difficulties due to Kadin's hospitalization and surgeries. Starting today, we are doing a Coins for Kadin campaign. The office, the library, and some of the Kadin's teachers are collecting money through next Friday. 


Instructional Coaches Tid Bits

I'm starting this week's Tid Bits with a search tip. If you are interested in learning how to search for information in just one website or just one type of site (a domain) then click here to learn about using 'site:' command in your searches.

I choose to share this August 2016 article with you from The Observer called "Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Oprah Winfrey All Use the 5 Hour Rule." It demonstrates how some of the most widely admired business leaders of our time use the principle of deliberate practice or learning.

 Scavenger Hunts For The Massess--that is how GooseChase is described. It is literally a digital scavenger hunt. Students can be asked to supply evidence via images and/or video, maybe you need some text evidence from them, how about GPS checkins? You create the game, you choose the missions, the app tracks the action and you can see what is happening in real time action. I recently participated in my first GooseChase game and found it be engaging. If you would like to visit with me about it I can show you exactly what I had to do and how the information appeared to me on my phone (you could use any connected mobile device). Click here if you have an idea for a game and would like to request a free classroom license for your game.

For those of you who have created your own website using the classic Google Sites, Google has started presenting a timeline for the migration from the old sites to the New Sites. 

Looking for a word on a webpage? Try pressing CTRL-F. A box will pop up on the browser. Type the word you are looking for in the box. The box will indicate how many times the word appears. It will also let you arrow through the different times your word appears.

Success Center Update


Upcoming Events

Friday, May 5
- 4:00 pm State Large Group Contest

Saturday, May 6
- 8:00 am Boy Varsity/JV Golf Le Mars Invite
- Prom

Monday, May 8
- 10:00 am Girls Varsity Golf @ Okoboji View
- 10:00 am Boys Varsity Golf @ Willow Creek
- 4:00 pm Girls Varsity/JV Tennis @ ELC
- 4:00 pm Boys Varsity/JV Tennis vs. ELC

Tuesday, May 9
- 7:30 pm HS Vocal Concert

 Thursday, May 11
- TBD - Boy/Girl District Track
- 4:00 pm Girls Varsity/JV Golf vs. Storm Lake & Western Christian

Friday, May 12
- 10:00 am Boys Golf Sectionals @ Lake Creek 

Monday, May 15
- 7:00 pm Music Booster Meeting @ HS Band Room

Tuesday, May 16
- 7:00 pm Athletic Booster Club Meeting - Mr. P's Pizza House

Wednesday, May 17
- 6:30 pm Senior Awards Night - Competition Gym

Thursday, May 18
- TBD Girls Varsity Tennis Regional Individual
- TBD Boy/Girl Varsity Track - State meet

Friday, May 19
- TBD Boy/Girl Varsity Track - State meet

Saturday, May 20
- TBD Girl Varsity Tennis Regional Team

Sunday, May 21
- 3:00 pm Graduation

Monday, May 22
- 5:30 pm Varsity Baseball vs. Sioux City East
- 5:30 pm Varsity/JV Softball vs. Sioux City East

Tuesday, May 23
- 5:30 pm Varsity/JV Softball vs. Boyden Hull/Rock Valley

Wednesday, May 24
- 5:15 pm Varsity/JV Baseball vs. Sheldon
- 5:30 pm Varsity/JV Softball vs. Sheldon

Thursday, May 25
- Last Day of School

Friday, May 26
- TBD Varsity Softball @ Heelan Tournament

Saturday, May 27
- TBD Varsity Softball @ Heelan Tournament
- 12:00 pm Varsity/JV Baseball vs. Heelan @ Bishop Mueller Field Briar Cliff

Be Extraordinary!
Mark

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