March 3, 2023
Happy Friday! It is hard to believe we are already in March. I am scheduling number meetings for 2023-2024 school year. I have a few today and rest next week. Hopefully I will be able to get a master schedule done by the end of the month. We have hired a new English teacher, Victor Mena. He will be joining us from Akron-Westfield. Victor is a Northwestern graduate and a native of Phoenix, Arizona. Our new math teacher next year will be Colby Roos. He will be graduating from Morningside this spring. He completed his student teaching at North High School. Colby is originally from Sergeant Bluff. Thomas Vigdal has been hired as our computer science teacher. Thomas currently teaches at Heelan and is an Iowa State alum. We are still advertising for the Ag and Auto positions.
Don't forget about requisitions for next school year. Please refer back the handout that was in your mailbox. If you have a quote, please make sure you attach that to the requisition in Weblink. You can refer back to Kim's email on how to attach a document.
On Monday during advisory, teachers will need to go through the ISASP Talking Points slideshow. Once the you are done with the slideshow, please hand out the goal sheets and the student score sheets. One by one, please call students up to participate in the goal setting conversation with you. This process is designed to show students that we are looking at scores with them and care about their goals and their results. We want to lead them through this process intentionally. I can't tell you how many points a score needs to go up to make growth as that is different for each student. However, you can look at the score and see where it falls in not proficient, proficient, and advance. If my score was in the lower part of proficient, then encourage me to aim for a score in the upper part of the proficient range. You will likely need two or three advisory periods to complete these 1:1 goal setting processes with each advisory student, so please consider this your intervention for March 6, 13, and 20. Please turn these into my office when complete. Other advisory students can watch Bulldog bites or work on homework while you call students up one by one. Senior advisories may engage in the previously planned advisory interventions and activities as shared with you by the MTSS Team.
I am also encouraging the core classes to give the practice test. The practice test will give the students a chance to answer questions like the ISASP and it will give a predictor on if they will be proficient. Then it would be good to go over test taking strategies. The instructional coaches would be happy to assist you in talking about test strategies with your classes.
ISASP are scheduled for the week of March 27. We will run the block schedule for 4 days. On March 27 & 28 we will give the reading and math tests and on March 29 & 30 we will give the science and writing tests. If you are going to be gone on the day of the ISASP, please remind me so I can make sure your sub has the test security training. Speaking of ISASP training, if you are administering the ISASP, please don't forget to complete your training. Please refer back to the email that I sent out for the instructions on how to do this. I do need this done individually as the PearsonNext portal will be keeping track on who has completed the test security training.
I have had some PASS plans turned into me and I have been notified of some extensions. Please refer to the PASS Plan spreadsheet if you want to know if I have a record of a meeting or an extension. The last day for any PASS Plans or extensions is April 17.
One of our staff members is now a realtor in Le Mars, congrats to Jill Bomgaars for getting her re-estate license.
Have a Great Weekend!
Mark
Assistant Principal's Happenings
I hope everyone enjoyed their week! Monday and Tuesday I found it difficult to leave the office with different things to catch up on but for the last three days, I've been writing up reports at night because I didn't have time to be in the office. The good thing is it wasn't only disciplining keeping me busy this week. I hope you are all finding some joy throughout the day. I know we mention this often but if you just need to find some time to vent feel free to stop in and talk.
I will be at the second Crucial Conversations Conference next week Tuesday all day. I do have access to my computer all day and will reply when possible. Please keep me updated if you have any concerns with students.
Spring sports seasons are getting underway. Please keep attendance updated correctly so we can make sure we have students accountable to make sure they are attending all classes. I have shared the latest ineligibility document with coaches but please remind students they must be passing 4 full-time classes at the quarter to stay eligible to participate in extra-curricular activities.
We are hoping to have a new aide starting later next week. I will keep teachers updated once I know a starting date. In the meantime, please continue planning ahead and communicating needs for testing/accommodations. If you are stuck in finding help please let me know.
I hope you were able to some of the latest Fine Arts concerts recently. We are fortunate to have some very talented performers!
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