October 18, 2019
At our CIA meeting we were discussing our next district in-service time and wrapping everything together. For those of you who have been asking how do I get tier 2 time into my weekly schedule next in-service will provide some insight. Remember tier 1 is having grade level instruction for all students. This is what you are doing everyday, whether it is during guided practice or independent practice time or it could be when instruction is taking place. You are providing all students that grade level, rigorous curriculum. Hopefully the ISASP data is here on November 4, then we will also spend part of the next in-service analyzing our data.
Next Friday, October 25 is the end of the quarter. Grades will be due Tuesday morning at 8:00 am. Beth and Amy will then run report cards to be mailed home. As of October 17, we have 93 students failing one or more classes. I have only had 3 PASS Plan forms turned into me and am aware of only 3 other PASS Plan meeting having taken place. Please make contact with parents to get a plan set up.
Have a great weekend!
Mark
Students as Leaders
Staff as Learners
Assistant Principal's Happenings
I have been working on updating the Attendance Contracts. We have a few students that have started one and several that are getting very close to beginning a contract. I am using the same document that Mr. Utesch had last year so most of you have access but if you want access let me know. If you have these students make up time with you let me know as well so I can document it.
I have received more cell phones than usual this week. Please make sure you are going over your expectations to kids so students are well aware of what you expect from them in class. If students argue about it please let me know as well.
We currently have 11 students that have 7 or more tardies in a class. From me, the consequence is a 2-hour detention for that 7th unexcused tardy for each class. They will get a note from me stating the expectations to make up that time. After 7 unexcused tardies, it is your right to send them to study hall instead of allowing them back to class. Please send me an email as well so I can check on that student. You can also allow them to come to class that day, but I will leave that decision up to you. I am hopeful students are spreading the word that I have been passing these out so they know they will have some consequences for being late that often.
I have received more cell phones than usual this week. Please make sure you are going over your expectations to kids so students are well aware of what you expect from them in class. If students argue about it please let me know as well.
We currently have 11 students that have 7 or more tardies in a class. From me, the consequence is a 2-hour detention for that 7th unexcused tardy for each class. They will get a note from me stating the expectations to make up that time. After 7 unexcused tardies, it is your right to send them to study hall instead of allowing them back to class. Please send me an email as well so I can check on that student. You can also allow them to come to class that day, but I will leave that decision up to you. I am hopeful students are spreading the word that I have been passing these out so they know they will have some consequences for being late that often.
Notes from the Librarian
Thanks to all who allowed the BVM class to come in and video in the classroom. They are now working hard to put together a video entitled "A day at LCHS." They are incorporating footage from quite the variety, including the LAG club, T&I programs and the traditional classroom. After this project is done, they will start working on "news." If you have an idea of something that could be a news story, please let me know. I don't have an editor/producer this semester as this class is new to all of us, but perhaps some of the students will continue second semester and have that opportunity. And, for all those that use the "green" rooms, I will be moving my classroom into the makerspace area, so the room with the green desk will be available for use again after Christmas break.
Success Center Update
In our September and October in-services we have been looking at the process of effective instruction; in other words, what can I, as a teacher, do to more effectively reach the students in my classroom? As we continue the discussion on effective core instruction that meets the needs of all students, we also need to consider the role of the student in this equation. Are we assuming that students know and can do skills, but, in reality, they have no clue what is expected of them? Guided practice and checking for understanding provide great places in our lessons to ensure that our students know HOW to learn. Even if students know WHAT to learn, the process of learning how to focus and maintain attention, use organizational skills, and have the ability to recall what they have learned is not something most are naturally able to do. Explicitly teaching students how to be organized, create sequences, make connections, and recognize patterns helps students learn. Keeping students engaged in the lesson teaches attention. Providing feedback, but explicitly teaching students how to seek feedback and what to do with the feedback they are given teaches the ability to self-assess. Finally, when students know the purpose or why they are learning a new skill or strategy, they can sort what is important, and recognize not only what will be useful, but also where to direct their attention and effort. This year is all about becoming aware: aware of what we are saying and doing in the classroom, aware of what our students are telling us with their words and behaviors, and aware of what each student needs to consistently perform at high levels. This is just one more piece of the puzzle!
Tracy's Technology Tidbits.
Happy Friday everyone! I attended the ITEC conference Monday and Tuesday. I am so excited and have so many things I want to share. My wife says I have to limit it to 3. Or maybe that is all she was willing to listen to. Oh well. Here I go.Chromebook tip #1 -- Share to Classroom--This is an extension. If you are using chromebooks AND your students are signed into Google Classroom you can click this button and the extension allows you to push webpages to any of your Classroom classes, so they open instantly on your students' computers.
Chromebook tip #2 -- Increase the size of browser content -- Press Ctrl + to increase or Ctrl - to decrease; Ctrl 0 to reset. The rest of the desktop is unaffected.
Chromebook tip #3 -- Present slides with captions -- When you present slides, you can turn on automatic captions to display the speaker's words in real time. You can also customize text size and position for captions in Google Slides.
Tip #4 -- Kathy knows that if I'm fired up about something I can't be stopped :-) I have seen this one before but when I saw it in action this week it hit me a bit harder and I was more impressed. Use ‘Action Items’ in Google Docs to Turn Comments Into Tasks for Your Team
Video Worth Watching
Upcoming Activities
Friday, October 184:15 pm Freshmen Football @ Spencer
7:00 pm Varsity Football @ Spencer
Saturday, October 19
8:00 am Robotics at Sioux Center HS
8:30 am Freshmen Volleyball Tournament
9:00 am Varsity Volleyball Tournament @ SC North
Monday, October 21
4:30 pm JV Volleyball Tournament
6:30 pm JV Football @ Spencer
Tuesday, October 22
7:30 pm High School Fall Vocal Concert
Friday, October 25
4:00 pm Freshmen Football vs Denison
4:00 pm Soup and Pie Supper - HS Commons
7:00 pm Varsity Football vs Denison
Halftime - Mass Band Show
Saturday, October 26
All State Music Auditions
9:00 am Wrestling Cheer Camp @ Clark
Monday, October 28
7:30 pm Orchestra Concert
Friday, November 1
7:30 pm Indoor Marching Band - Competition Gym
NWI HS Honor Band Auditions
Thursday, November 14
7:00 pm Fall Play
Friday, November 15
TBD - Robotics
7:00 pm Fall Play
Saturday, November 16
TBD - Robotics
7:00 pm Fall Play
Monday November 18
7:00 pm Music Boosters Meeting
Wednesday November 20
7:00 pm Athletic Boosters Meeting
Thursday, November 21
All State Music Festival @ Ames
Friday, November 22
All State Music Festival @ Ames
6:00 pm JV Girls Basketball - Hall of Pride Scrimmage
7:30 pm Varsity Girls Basketball - Hall of Pride Scrimmage
Saturday, November 23
All State Music Festival @ Ames
Monday, November 25
3:30 pm JV/Varsity Bowling vs. Sioux Central
6:00 pm JV Girls Basketball @ Spencer
7:30 pm Varsity Girls Basketball @ Spencer
Monday, December 2
1:00 pm JV/Varsity Bowling @ Sioux City North
6:00 pm Freshmen Girls Basketball @ Sioux Center
7:15 pm Freshmen Boys Basketball @ Sioux Center
Tuesday, December 3
6:00 pm Spanish Club Party
Thursday, December 5
4:00 pm JV Boys and Girls Basketball @ SBL
5:30 pm Varsity Girls Basketball @ SBL
5:30 pm JV/Varsity Wrestling @ Heelan
6:00 pm Freshmen Girls Basketball vs. Sioux City North
7:00 pm Varsity Boys Basketball vs. SBL
7:15 pm Freshmen Boys Basketball vs. Sioux City North
Friday, December 6
4:30 pm JV/Varsity Wrestling @ Hinton
6:30 pm Madrigal Dinner
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