November 17, 2023

 

Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a great week. This is our Thanksgiving post as there will not be a Friday Focus next week. 

I am thankful for the great staff that I get to work with day in and day out. I am always in awe of the passion and the drive of all of you. I am very fortunate to be in this with all of you. I hope during this break, you are able to step away from being a teacher/aide/custodian/cook/counselor and just enjoy some time with your families. 

When you come back from break, we only have 15 days of class and 3 days of semester tests. It will go by fast! Grades and pass plan summaries will be due before you leave on the 20th. 

The tech department asked me about any potential technology needs we may have for next school year. They are setting up a testing space at central office where they are getting new technology that you can try out in the classroom. If there is something you would like to see if it would work in the classroom let me know and I'll talk with Mark and Tracy.

Last Friday, the MTSS team and I attended the first of 3 days working on part of our target plan focusing on our MTSS framework. By the end of the 3 days, we will have our system in place for an early warning system to identify at risk students. The other tasks is to put what we already do into a formal plan. This plan will assist us when new staff join us or if there is a change in leadership. It will assist us in being consistent and trying to identify students early in the school year that may need more assistance. This was one of the areas that we identified last year in our plan that needed work. This workshop is in a "fish bowl" format. For those that don't know what that means is that our MTSS group along with a few AEA people were working at a couple tables in a middle of a U shape, where others sat and observed. The ones on the outside could ask questions and add to the conversation. I haven't ever experienced this before and it was unique. 

Have a great weekend! Remember to come back on Monday and Tuesday next week.

Mark

Assistant Principal's Happenings

Thought of the Week: Gratitude

Along with Mark, I am thankful to be part of such a great staff, surrounded by professionals that support me and care for me (and my kids!). It is a joy to come to work daily because of the people in this building. I am thankful to be able to spend my professional life in education. In my opinion, there are few careers that have such potential to make such a positive impact. I didn't realize the impact I had until I stepped out of the classroom. Please don't make the same mistake I did by underestimating your impact.

YOU are making an incredible difference in the lives of our kids. Right now. Today. Whether you realize it or not. Whether it feels like it or not. You are. Thank you for all that you do. My laugh-out-loud chuckle of the week, provided by a young man sent to my office – the conversation went something like this:

Me: It sounds like you may have a problem following directions given by a teacher. It seems like you don’t like to be told what to do.

Student: Yeah --- You know what the problem is?

Me: What’s that?

Student: The teachers always win!!

Me: (Busting out laughing) They tend to do that, don’t they?

Reminders: 1) Please enforce the hat policy as part of the dress code. We’ve noticed some kids with hats on in the classroom – require them to remove their hat. I know it gets tiresome to address small things like this, but the more unified we are by enforcing this in the same manner, the less we will have to fight it. Thank you.

2) Game controllers fall under the “cell phones and electronics” policy that starts on page 16 in the student handbook. Students must have your permission to use them. Instruct them to put them away. If they refuse, confiscate the controller and send it to the office.

3) Duties. When you are gone, please remember to either instruct your sub to cover your duty or to ask a co-worker to swap a duty for the day with you. Thanks for your help.

We are thankful for you! I'm currently sitting in a hospital room with my parents. I'm reminded of one of my grandmother's proverbs -- "Adam, if you have your health, you have everything." So true. Such a wise woman. Take care and take time to hug those you love.

Together--

Adam

P.S. : List of students on "Attendance Contracts".

These students owe time or they risk losing credit for some of their classes due to excessive absences. They can serve the time in the office, or they can also count time spent getting help from teachers. If one of these students spends time with you, please let me know, and I will credit that time to their "account". Thank you.

Tyson	Alcorn
John	Aliwis
Cheyanne	Arens
Alyssa	Ciaffa
Adriana	Guerrero
Lidia	Ibarra
Kal	Karzin
Jaiden	Majeres
Mason	Moeller
Cali	Peters
Lauren	Rolfes
Nintiera	Sonis
Gabby	Rivera Ramirez
Reed	Larson
Jack	Ten Napel
Ashley	Topete
Valeria	Topete
Hadassa	Vasquez
Emily	Ward

Also, Keshaun Evans.

Upcoming Activities

Friday, November 17

All State Music Festival - Ames

Saturday, November 18

10:00 am JV & Varsity Girl Wrestling at Ridgeview Tournament

Tuesday, November 21

Girl Varsity Wrestling vs. Cedar Falls & Iowa Central Community College

5:00 pm Boy Swimming vs. Spencer @ SC West

5:30 pm JV Girl Basketball @ Spencer

7:00 pm Varsity Girl Basketball @ Spencer

Monday, November 27

3:30 pm JV/Varsity Bowling vs. SC West @ Plaza Bowl Sioux City

6:00 pm Freshmen Girl Basketball @ Sioux Center

7:15 pm Freshmen Boy Basketball @ Sioux Center

Tuesday, November 28

4:00 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball vs. Spirit Lake

5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball vs. Spirit Lake

7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball vs. Spirit Lake

Thursday, November 30

5:00 pm Boy Swimming vs. Spencer @ SC West

5:30 pm JV/Varsity Boy/Girl Wrestling @  Sioux City East

Friday, December 1

NWI Honor Orchestra Auditions

4:00 pm Boy Wrestling @ Hinton

4:00 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball @ SBL

5:00 pm Girl Wrestling @ Okoboji

5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball @ SBL

7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball @ SBL

Saturday, December 2

9:00 am Freshmen Boy/Girl Basketball @ SBL

6:00 pm Madrigal Dinner

Monday, December 4

5:00 pm JV Boys Wrestling @ MOC

5:00 pm JV Girls Wrestling @ Lone Lines Family Rec Sioux City

Tuesday, December 5

4:00 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball vs. SC East

5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball vs. SC East

7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball vs. SC East

Thursday, December 7

3:30 pm Boy/Girl Bowling vs. OABCIG

4:45 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball @ Western Christian

6:00 pm Boy Wrestling @ Okoboji

6:15 pm Varsity Girl Basketball @ Western Christian

7:30 pm Freshmen Boy Basketball @ Heelan

7:45 pm Varsity Boy Basketball @ Western Christian

Friday, December 8

Boy/Girl Wrestling @ Mid-America Center - Council Bluffs

12:30 pm Boy/Girl Bowling @ Council Bluffs TJ

4:00 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball vs. Heelan

5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball vs. Heelan

7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball vs. Heelan

Saturday, December 9

9:00 am Freshmen Girl Basketball vs. Sioux City West

10:15 am Freshmen Boy Basketball vs Sioux City West

Boy/Girl Wrestling @ Mid-America Center - Council Bluffs

Monday, December 11

4:45 pm JV Boys Wrestling @ Long Lines Family Rec Sioux City

5:30 pm Boy Swimming @ Carroll

7:30 pm HS Holiday Concert

Tuesday, December 12

4:00 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball vs. CB Lincoln

5:30 pm Boy Wrestling @ Akron

5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball vs. CB Lincoln

7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball vs. CB Lincoln

Thursday, December 14

3:30 pm Boy/Girl Bowling vs SBL

6:00 pm Boy Wrestling vs. Heelan

6:00 pm Girl Wrestling @ Sioux Central

6:00 pm Freshmen Girl Basketball @ SC North

7:15 pm Freshmen Boy Basketball @ SC North

Friday, December 15

4:00 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball @ SC North

5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball @ SC North

7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball @ SC North

7:00 pm High School Play

Saturday, December 16

10:00 am Boy Wrestling @ Spencer

2:00 pm JV Girl Basketball vs Dakota Valley

3:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball vs. Dakota Valley

7:00 pm High School Play

Tuesday, December 19

1:00 pm Boy/Girl Bowling vs. Sioux City North @ Plaza Bowl

4:00 pm Freshmen Boy Basketball vs. Harrisburg 

5:30 pm JV Basketball vs. Harrisburg

7:00 pm Varsity Basketball vs. Harrisburg

Thursday, December 21

4:00 pm Girl Wrestling @ CB Lincoln