March 1, 2024

   

Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a great week. Looks like March is coming in like a lamb. I may have aged myself again with that statement. I will be gone next Friday, so I'll use this to update the next couple of weeks. 

I am about done with all the department meetings. I do have a couple more to get to today and Monday, then I should be able to start working on the master schedule. 

I will be having a senior class meeting Monday during advisory. I want to go over some credit things and end of year items with them. It won't last the entire advisory, but I will keep them there until the bell rings. 

March 13 will be our next professional development day. The sped teachers will be meeting in the library with the other district sped teachers. The other groups will continue working on the DOK and discussing the honor courses if needed. 

We have hired a new libriarian for next school year, her name is Casey Thomas. She currently lives in Orange City. She just finished her masters in Library Science at the University of Central Missouri. 

Coming up in March we do have our ISASP. March 18 will be a normal advisory day, then March 19 - 22 we will run the ISASP block schedule. March 19-20 will be the Reading and Science substests and March 21-22 will be the Writing and Math subtests. I do need to have those teachers proctoring the ISASP to watch the security video. This can be done at the Feb 28 or March 13 during in-service. I'll have Mrs. Hill send out the info on the training. March 19 and 21 will be odd period days and March 20 and 22 will be even period days.

Looking further ahead, prom is just a little over a month away on April 6, and PASS Plans are due on April 19 for all semester 2 and trimester 3 classes.

Have a great weekend,

Mark

Assistant Principal's Happenings

Thought of the Week:   Preventing Dropouts

Last week I had the opportunity to attend some training at NWAEA regarding absenteeism and preventing kids from dropping out.  Here is an interesting tidbit that has been on my mind since:  the ABC's of dropping out.  These are early warning signs of dropping out:

ABC’s

Attendance -- absent 10% or more days

Behavior -- Locally validated thresholds -- referrals, ISS/OSS, etc.

Course Performance -- 

  • inability to read at grade level, 

  • an F in english or math 6th-9th grades, 

  • gpa less than 2.0, 

  • 2 or more Fs in 9th grade,

  •  failure to earn on time promotion to 10th grade


Sounds about right, doesn't it? The freshman year is so important. The extra effort to help kids through interventions and extra support is so important. Thank you for your continued efforts, especially as kids test your patience.

To "walk my talk": Freshmen grade conferencing--

Yesterday I ran a report of freshmen students with F's since we have 2 weeks left in the quarter. Good news -- there were 54. That's still a lot, but that is less than the 90 I spoke with ahead of midterm. Again, I'm conferencing with all of them. I've been asking: what's your plan to raise your grade? I've been encouraging them to seek out help before and after school. My goal is that positive attention from another caring adult in school will help spur them on to do the work.

Please reinforce to your classes that the Q3 grade is really important to set them up for success for their overall S2 grade, and that the end of Q3 is near. Consider having a make-up day between now and the end of the quarter to devote some class time to finish up missing work or re-take a summative, while providing some sort of extension for kids that don't need the extra time. It may make your life easier, as well, if you don't have to chase down kids before or after school or schedule additional PASS plans.

Together --

Adam

Upcoming Activities

Saturday, March 2
1:20 pm - Crimson & Black @ Sing All About It! Show Choir Competition - Sioux City East Middle

Friday, March 8
9:00 am Girl Track @ 2024 IATC Indoor Championships - Ames

Saturday, March 9
TBD - Crimson & Black - Westwood Jubilation Show Choir @ Sloan
8:00 am IE Speech @ TBD

Tuesday, March 12
6:30 pm NHS Induction Ceremony

Saturday, March 16
TBD - Crimson & Black - Hinton Show Choir Competition

Monday, March 18
11:30 am Boy/Girl Track @ Dan Lennon Indoor - Vermillion

Friday, March 22
11:00 am Boy/Girl Track @  Mount Marty Indoor Meet - Yankton

Saturday, March 23
TBD - State Solo/Small Ensemble Festival

Monday, March 25
8:00 am IE Speech All State Festival @ Cedar Falls
5:00 pm JV Girl Soccer @ Denison
6:30 pm Varsity Girl Soccer @ Denison

Tuesday, March 26
4:00 pm JV Boy Soccer @ Council Bluffs AL
4:00 pm Girl Tennis vs. Sioux  City North
4:00 pm Boy Tennis @ Sioux City North
5:00 pm JV  Girl Soccer vs. Council Bluffs  AL
5:30 pm Varsity Boy Soccer @ Council Bluffs AL
6:30 pm Varsity Girl Soccer vs. Council Bluffs AL

Thursday, March 28
4:00 pm Boy Tennis @ Cherokee
5:00 pm JV Girl Soccer vs. Spirit Lake
5:00 pm JV Boy Soccer @ Spirit Lake
6:30 pm Varsity Girl Soccer vs. Spirit Lake
6:30 pm Varsity Boy Soccer @ Spirit Lake

Monday, April 1
5:00 pm JV Girl Soccer vs. SBL
5:30 pm JV Boy Soccer @ SBL
6:30 pm Varsity Girl Soccer vs. SBL
7:00 pm Varsity Boy Soccer vs. SBL

Tuesday, April 2
4:00 pm Girl Tennis vs. SBL
4:00 pm Varsity Boy/Girl Track @ SBL
4:30 pm Boy Tennis @ SBL

Thursday, April 4
TBD - Sine Nomine Honor Band @ Storm Lake
4:30 pm Varsity Girl Soccer vs. Spirit Lake @ Okoboji
6:00 pm Varsity Boy Soccer vs. Spirit Lake @ Okoboji
4:30 pm Boy/Girl Track - Le Mars Invite

Friday, April 5
5:00 pm JV Boy Soccer @ Sioux Center
5:00 pm JV Girl Soccer vs. Sioux Center
6:30 pm Varsity Boy Soccer @ Sioux Center
6:30 pm Varsity Girl Soccer vs. Sioux Center

Saturday, April 6
PROM!!!!!!!!!




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