Happy Friday! I hope everyone has had a great week.
Adam and I have both been asked this week about various student computer usage. Schoology is the platform we are using for classes, but that doesn't mean you have to have the students work off of Schoology in class. Schoology does make some things more convenient, but that means you need to be vigilant when students are given work time and are using the computer to do that work. When we have made our rounds, some students are not actually doing the work that was asked. I know this may surprise some of us that some would be off task. It is very important that you walk around the room to make sure students are on tasks. This also promotes students asking questions. Many students will not walk up to your desk to ask questions in front of their peers, but may ask questions while you are walking around the room. This practice helps those students that get anxious. This is also another way to make sure the students are doing the work that you asked of them.
As we start 2nd quarter, Mr. Moss will be coming out with an academic ineligible list next week after grades are due. Midterm for quarter 2 is 11/16. All PASS Plans need to be done by this time. For those really planning ahead, day 1 of semester test will be on December 18. This will be the odd periods. Day 2 is on December 19 and will be the even periods. December 20 is the make up day.
Trimester 1 ends on November 15. Those grades will need to be finalized by 11/17 and we will send midterms and trimester report cards home at the same time.
Please continue to make calls home to parents when their student is struggling. If you are seeing classroom behaviors, please let the parents know this as well. The easiest calls to make is to let a parent know how much their child has improved or how well they are doing. These calls make the first type of call home easier when the parents have heard good things about their child.
Have a great weekend!MarkAssistant Principal's Happenings
One of my "little wins" this past week aligns with our chats lately about teaching behavior you want to see. Mrs. Bowen and I had the pleasure of chaperoning 40 of our freshmen on a recent field trip. I was a little nervous ahead of time -- several of these students have been frequent customers in my office already this year, and taking them all together in public seemed a little dicey.
But actually ..... they did great. And it provided a few good reminders for me:
1) Our kids will consistently rise to the level of expectations we have for them. (I'm not in the business of "teacher shaming" -- this is not a dig at anyone's difficult class period!) But it was a good reminder for me that I can have high expectations for a group of kids where my own expectations had dropped somewhat -- and they can rise to meet them.
2) We frontloaded our expectations. I aspire to use a positively-stated standard, if possible, rather than negatively stated rules. For this trip, we told them that the "word of the day" was "professional".
Such as:
"You are a professional now and we will act in a professional manner."
"The volunteers are professionals that are giving of their time to be with us."
"What does it mean to act professionally?"
"What does acting professionally look like and sound like?"
We did this on the bus before we left. They were able to produce a list of things that would constitute professional behavior: appropriate language, hands to self, and good manners topped the list.
3) It took repeated reminders. When we got to Orange City, only 20 minutes later, I asked them, "What is the word of the day?" They didn't have a clue. "It starts with 'p'..... ", I prompted them -- "Please?" No -- professional. "Oh, yeah..."
Later during the meeting I could lean over them and ask, "Is that professional behavior?" and they were able to self-correct. Self-correction after a small prompt is a big win in my book.
4) We praised positive behavior and choices. When we arrived back at school, Mrs. Bowen and I praised them on the bus for a great trip and good behavior.
My win for that day -- a good field trip and a positive experience for both the kids and myself. I might even sign up to do it again!
Let's keep teaching behavior together --
Adam
Upcoming Activities
Friday, October 20
4:15 pm Freshmen Football @ Storm Lake
7:00 pm Varsity Football @ Storm Lake
Saturday, October 21
All State Music Auditions
8:00 pm Homecoming Dance Makeup
Monday, October 23
5:00 pm Speech Kickoff Ice Cream Social
7:30 pm 7-12 Vocal Concert @ MS Auditorium
Tuesday, October 24
7:30 pm MS/HS Orchestra Concert
Thursday, October 26
7:30 pm Indoor Marching Band Concert
Friday, October 27
Picture Retakes
Saturday, November 4
NWI HS Honor Band Auditions - Sioux Center
Friday, November 10
7:00 pm Fall Play - Little Theater
Saturday November 11
7:00 pm Fall Play - Little Theater
November 15
End of Trimester 1
Opus Honor Choir - Ames
Thursday November 16
All State Music Festival - Ames
Midterm Q2
Friday, November 17
All State Music Festival - Ames
5:30 pm JV Girl Basketball vs. Unity
7:00 pm Varsity Girl Basketball vs. Unity
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