November 3, 2017

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Happy Friday! First off I want to give you some dates to put down on your calendar. On Wednesday, November 8 we will have a shelter drill at 9:20. You may want to review your procedures with your classes to remind them where they need to go. We will also have an extra hour meeting on Wednesday. Please continue to work on your curriculum work from the district in-service day. This month's district in-service is on November 15, and our second extra hour meeting is on November 29. 

 For those of you who have trimester classes, the trimester ends on the 16th. Midterm for 2nd quarter is December 8. This is the latest you should do a PASS Plan meeting. If you think their is a chance a student may sink in the last four weeks of the quarter make sure you do a plan for that student. After December 8, I will not accept PASS plans as that is not enough time for a parent to assist in the process.  

 I also want to take the time to reflect on our PD plan to date and to update everyone where each group is at in the implementation process. English is well into the unit plans and will be looking at taking the next step in assessments and lesson planning. Math is finishing pacing guides and will be starting with their unit plans soon. Science has been working with the next generation science standards and mapping them out to courses to make sure all our students get the new science standards. They have also started on the unit planning. Social Studies has been going through the new standards and identifying what courses they are covered in. CTE teachers have been working on their documentation for the state and their curriculum. The Spanish, Physical Education/Health and Art departments has also been working on their unit plans. 

 In previous years we have worked with the data process and PLC's. This work was preparing us for when we get to our lesson studies. Once groups have fully implemented the core and start writing lessons, the data you collect from your lessons will guide our professional development conversations. The curriculum work will never really be finished because as we have our data conversations, we should be making tweaks to what and how we teach. We also should not have as many gaps as the levels below the high school are also implementing the core standards.  

Just a reminder to take the time to nominate one of your peers for Employee of the Month. The nomination forms can be found on the district's website or click here and scroll down to school heading and it is the second form from the bottom.

 Have a great weekend!
Mark 

Staff News

Congrats to Nancy Isebrand for being named the Iowa Student Council Adviser of the Year. She was presented the award on Monday at the Student Council Leadership Conference. Very Well Deserved!

Students as Leaders

Congrats to the following girl's cross country runners on their state performance: Maddie Hurt - 37th place, Chloe Calhoun - 51st, and Kara Albrecht - 58th.

Librarian's News

Thank you to all who contributed in any way for Student Council's drive for Support Siouxland Soldiers. The kids will be collecting items on Monday. We are hoping to send out at least 50 care packages. However, we currently only have 13 addresses. If you know of any deployed troops, please send me their name and address. We are aware that a number of Iowa troops, including Mattea Kettleson's group, will be deployed in December. Because we have nonperishable goods, we will save boxes to ship to her and some others once that have an APO address. Again, if you know anyone who will be shipped out later yet this year, please le me know so I can save packages. 


Instructional Coaches Corner

"5 Gadgets That are Positioned to Reshape Our Classrooms." If teaching via holograms, using biometrics to determine a student's best learning style, digital paper, 3D printing, and Smart tables interest you, then you should probably give this article a read.

 "39 Free Tools for Creating Unique Images". There are image design tools, infographic makers, logo makers, quote makers, collage makers, cover photo makers, profile picture makers, screenshot tools, image resizing tools, and GIF makers. If you have been keeping your eyes open for an image tool for you or for your students I hope you can find something of use to you here!

 "Computer Tips and Tricks Everyone Should Know." I came across this article in my news feed. While I don't exactly believe everyone of you needs to know everything in this article, I personally found a gem or two. Here is one that I was not aware of: press Shift + Windows Key + Arrows (to indicate the direction of movement) and your open window item will jump to the other monitor.

 Have you seen iFake Text Messages? It's alarming how real they can appear. Interesting way to have to historical or fictional people converse with each other.

 How to print a password protected file with Google Drive. This article also walks you through how to print secured PDF files, how to unlock protected files, and how to remove PDF passwords.

 14 Chrome Extensions to Support Students with Learning Challenges. The categories addressed are: visual difficulties, hearing difficulties, physical difficulties, and attention/focusing difficulties.

 Peardeck Flashcard Factory. I almost didn't follow up on reading about this and boy would that have been a mistake. Essentially, the class gets split into 2 teams. Each team is then further divided into pairs of students. One student is tasked with creating a description/definition of the word while the other student is tasked with creating a drawing of the word. The final collection of words can be exported to Quizlet.

 As always, if you have a technology activity you would like assistance with or maybe you have some vague idea of something you want to try and you need to talk it out with someone or maybe you have a PD class you would like to see offered, please contact me so that I can support you.


Upcoming Events

Saturday, November 4
- NWI HS Honor Band Auditions @ Storm Lake
- State Dance Team Solo - Des Moines

Thursday, November 9
- 7:00 pm Fall Play - Little Theater

Friday, November 10
- 7:00 pm Fall Play - Little Theater

Saturday, November 11
- 7:00 pm Fall Play - Little Theater

Wednesday, November 15
- 1:30 pm Dismissal for in-service

Thursday, November 16
- All State Music Festival - Ames

Friday, November 17
- All State Music Festival - Ames
- 6:30 pm Hall of Pride Basketball Scrimmage vs. Okoboji JV
- 8:00 pm Hall of Pride Basketball Scrimmage vs. Okoboji JV

Monday, November 20
- 3:30 pm Bowling vs. Sioux Central
- 7:00 pm Music Booster Meeting

Tuesday, November 21
- 1 Hour Early Dimissal
- 6:00 pm Girls JV Basketball vs. Hinton
- 7:30 pm Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Hinton

Wednesday, November 22 - Friday, November 24
- No School



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