January 19, 2018

Happy Friday! The first week of the 2nd semester is almost behind us now. As we start the second semester I want to remind you to take the time to go through your roster to see what students have an IEP. It is very important that you understand the accommodations and modifications that the IEP spells out for the student. Failure to follow a student's IEP could lead to legal issues for you and the district. This is something the school can not defend. Please make sure if a student has modified tests, that you modify the test for that student. If you have questions on how to modify for a specific student talk to that student's IEP teacher. This also includes 504 students. I did email the 504s out to the teachers that needed them on Wednesday. I will make sure if a 504 student changes his/her schedule, the new teacher will get that info. 

The start of the semester is also a good time to review our emergency procedures with your classes. Make sure they know what to do in case of an evacuation, shelter, lock out, or lock down. We do practice the shelter and evacuation, but we don't practice the others. Remember the difference between lock out and lock down is where the threat exists. If we say lock out, the threat is outside of the school. We would go into lock out if the police call and say they have a something going on around the school. We would go into lock down if the threat is inside the school. Please use your ALICE training for lock downs. If we go into a lock out, we would still operate the main building as normal. Mr. Oetken's classes would move to the main building and Mr. Fischer's class would stay in place. Students would not be allowed to leave the school building for opens, appointments, or other classes. The office will use the intercom, if possible, to notify of a lock out, lock down, or shelter. The fire alarm or intercom will notify all of an evacuation. 

We have our 2nd extra hour meeting on Wednesday. Looking ahead, the 3rd quarter midterm is on Feb 9 and extra hour meetings are on Feb. 14 and 28.

Melissa and Judd will be starting to have the registration talk with students in the next week or so. Grades 9-11 will register during study hall. The 8th graders will register Feb. 15 and 22.

I will be leaving at noon today to head to Vermillion to attend my parents' retirement parites. They will be officially retired after today. My mom is retiring from USD, where she was the secretary in the Math Department; my dad is retiring from the City of Vermillion, where he was the Solid Waste Director.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Be Extraordinary!
Mark

Staff News

Sherri Permeswaran will also be presenting at the board retreat on Monday. Sherri and Kelly Collins will be giving the board an update on our professional development. 

Staff as Learners

Tami Dunn, Adam Moss, Doug Martin, Tracey Sadoski, and Dorene Schimek will be attending a session on the NGSS on the 23rd.

Students as Leaders

Last Tuesday, the following Robotics Team members presented at Rotary: Luke Sudtelgte, Robby Hodson, Kyle Herbst, Ethan Hulinsky, and Alex Meier.

Congratulations to the Robotics Team. This past Saturday, they finished as the #1 ranked team coming out of qualifying matches, they were the team captain on the winning alliance, they won the Think Award and placed 3rd for the Inspire Award. They will participate on February 10 at a Super Qualifier attempting to get to state.

Good luck to the members of the Jazz Band as they perform at the Iowa Lakes Jazz Festival. Members are: Ote Albrecht, Cameron Albus, Luke Benton, Sarah Benton, Madi Brown, Chloe Evans, Logan Gerdes, Dalton Glawe, Devin Hansen, Katelyn Hartman, Kristen Heimgartner, Kody Koerselman, Diana Loutsch, Jack McInnis, Caroline Meis, Drake Oswald, Landen Parmelee, Eric Spieler, Zach Spieler, Sam Vacura, Anna Vacura, and Caden Washburn.

Assistant Principal's Happenings

Librarian's News

2018 has started which means some of us need to look into taking classes to earn credit for license renewal. Don't forget to check out the courses available through the AEA. Click on NWAEA to search for available courses. They also have numerous online courses: NWAEA ONLINE. The online courses are offered across the state from all AEAs. Options include college credit or just renewal credit from 1 credit to more. 

Success Center Update

Instructional Coaches Corner

2018-19 Iowa STEM Scale-Up Programs have been announced:
CASE - Animal & Plant Biotech,  CASE - Environmental Science, CEESTEM Ramps & Pathways, Computer Science Principals, Engineering is Everywhere, Making STEM Connections, Pint Size Science, PLTW (Project Lead the Way) Gateway- Computer Science for Innovators and Makers, Power Teaching Math, STEM in Action

Click here to see 2018-19 Scale-Up Program Summary. The timeline is short for applications! 

Important Dates: 
Jan. 22-March 5
STEM Scale-Up Program application for educators opens.

March 6-April 5
Review process window for educator applications.

April 10
STEM Scale-Up Program awardees announced.
May 1
STEM Scale-Up Program Providers contact awardees to confirm summer contact information.

Virtual Q & A Meetings Are Available!!
Click on this link to reserve a spot at one the of four virtual question and answer sessions offered for the 2018-19 Scale-Up Program Application.

If you need an interesting current event article, this one might do the trick: Uber had a secret tool to shield data at remote offices from law enforcement.

CS Educator Grants Applications are Open

Our CS educator PD grant applications are now open to school districts, universities, and education nonprofits around the world for the 2018-2019 school year! This year we’re celebrating the program’s 10th anniversary by offering funding for even more educators. Applications now include PD funding for primary, secondary, and middle school teachers, as well as teachers who are still in school. Read more here.

Watch LG’s 65-inch rollable OLED TV curl up like a poster, disappear from sight

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Feedback the Fuels Learning

Upcoming Events

Friday, January 19

- 1:00 pm Iowa Lakes Jazz Festival
- 4:45 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball @ Cherokee
- 6:15 pm Varsity Girl Basketball @ Cherokee
- 7:30 pm Varsity Boy Basketball @ Cherokee

Saturday, January 20
- TBA Varsity/JV Wrestling Heelan Duels @ SC West
- 8:00 am IHSAA Large Group Speech Contest @ SC East
- 9:00 am Freshmen Girl Basketball vs Sergeant Bluff Luton
- 10:15 am Freshmen Boy Basketball vs. Sergeant Bluff Luton

Monday, January 22
- State Jazz Band Festival in Le Mars
- 3:30 pm JV/Varsity Bowling vs Sergeant Bluff Luton
- 6:30 pm Freshmen Girl Basketball @ Storm Lake
- 7:45 pm Freshmen Boy Basketball @ Storm Lake

Tuesday, January 23
- 4:45 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball vs. ELC
- 6:00 pm JV/Varsity Wrestling @ Spencer
- 6:15 pm Varsity Girl Basketball vs. ELC
- 7:45 pm Varsity Boy Basketball vs. ELC

Friday, January 26
- 4:45 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball @ Storm Lake
- 5:00 pm JV/Varsity Wrestling - Lakes Conference Meet in Le Mars
- 6:15 pm Varsity Girl Basketball @ Storm Lake
- 7:45 pm Varsity Boy Basketball @ Storm Lake

Saturday, January 27
- 10:00 am Freshmen Girl Basketball vs. Storm Lake
- 10:00 am JV/Varsity Bowling - Le Mars Invite
- 11:15 am Freshmen Boy Basketball vs. Storm Lake
- Show Choir Clinic and Showcase

Monday, January 29
- State Show/Jazz Choir Contest
- 3:30 pm JV/Varsity Bowling @ Ida Bowl
- 4:30 pm JV Wrestling @ MOC
- 6:30 pm Freshmen Girl Basketball @ Spencer
- 7:00 pm Freshmen Boy Basketball @ Spencer

Tuesday, January 30
- 4:45 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball @ Spirit Lake
- 6:00 pm Freshmen Girl Basketball vs. Unity
- 6:00 pm JV/Varsity Wrestling vs. SC North
- 6:15 pm Varsity Girl Basketball @ Spirit Lake
- 7:15 pm Freshmen Boy Basketball vs. Unity
- 7:45 pm Varsity Boy Basketball @ Spirit Lake

Thursday, February 1
- 6:30 pm Large Group Speech State Performers Showcase

Friday, February 2
- Morningside Jazz Festival

Saturday, February 3
- IHSAA Large Group Speech State Contest in Le Mars
- Varsity Boy Basketball vs. TBA @ SF Pentagon

Monday, February 5
- 3:30 pm JV/Varsity Bowling vs. MMCRU & West Sioux
- 4:00 pm Freshmen Girl Basketball @ Sergeant Bluff - Luton
- 5:30 pm Freshmen Boy Basketball @ SBL

Tuesday, February 6
- 4:15 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball vs. Western Christian
- 6:15 pm Varsity Girl Basketball vs. Western Christian
- 7:45 pm Varsity Boy Basketball vs. Western Christian

Thursday, February 8
- HS Band Winter Concert - MS Auditorium

Friday, February 9
- 4:00 pm Freshmen Boy/Girl Basketball @ Vermillion
- 5:15 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball @ Vermillion
- 6:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball @ Vermillion
- 8:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball @ Vermillion

Saturday, February 10
- ACT Testing
- 2:00 pm Freshmen Boy/Girl Basketball @ SC West
- 4:00 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball @ SC West
- 5:45 pm Varsity Girl Basketball @ SC West
- 7:30 pm Varsity Boy Basketball @ SC West