Fall Break Edition

Happy Fall Break!

As we wrap up the week and head into Fall Break, I want to wish everyone a restful and stress-free break.  I will be at GCMS each day next week, but if you need me, please call ahead.  I plan to neither get here at 6:00 am, nor stay until dark thirty next week.  I hope that everyone has a great fall break!

KPREP Scores:

As I shared with staff members on Tuesday afternoon, this year’s KPREP scores were something of a mixed bag for GCMS.  I am very proud of the improvements that we saw.  The biggest improvement area came in the area of on-demand writing with about a 4 point jump.  Everyone’s hard work with the new writing format seems to have made a positive difference in our writing scores.  I appreciate everyone continuing to utilize this format.  Our math scores showed good progress as well, and our overall growth score showed a nice increase.  The work that is already underway to target students for intervention will make a big difference in both our Gap score and our novice reduction.  Middle Schools are unique to the Kentucky testing system in that our KPREP tests every student every year.  This is not true at the other levels.  Thanks for all that you do to help students succeed at GCMS! 

                              Walkathon Top 3:  1. Chloe Cox   2. Zeb Bratcher   3. Kyle McWhorter

                                          
Walkathon:

Thank you for another great effort with this year’s GCMS Walkathon.  Our related arts teachers, title teachers, Kim Dennis, Shirley House, and many others have worked tirelessly to pull off another successful school wide fundraiser this year.  The final count is not in at this time, but we will be able to add a significant amount of funding to provide more instructional technology at GCMS.  This year’s top three student fundraisers were Chloe Cox, Zeb Bratcher, and Ryan McWhorter.  Team 8 was the top team in this year’s team fundraising competition.  Congratulations to these winners, and thank you to everyone who helped in any way!

Instructional Rounds:

We are planning our school-based instructional rounds at GCMS for October 20.  We will do both a morning session and an afternoon session in order to get into every classroom at GCMS, and we will be using our problem of practice regarding assessment.  The school observer team will complete the analysis after school that day and then present our feedback to the faculty after school on Monday, October 24.  I appreciate your input on guiding questions, and I will be sending those out to you in the near future. 

Observations:

Observation window 1 is well underway and should wrap up on October 31.  If your peer observation falls in window 1, please be arranging this with your peer observer.  Also, non-tenured teachers should be arranging your first mini-observation of the year if you have not already done so.  For folks in your summative year, please remember that your peer observation needs to take place before your full observation by the principal or assistant principal.  Tenured teachers not in your summative year may set up your mini observation at any time. 

Quote of the Day:

“Persistance is what makes the impossible possible, the possible likely, and the likely definite.” ~Robert Half

Coming Attractions:

Sept. 30-Oct. 7…No School (Fall Break)

Oct. 14…Reward Concert for students with no referrals.

Oct. 19…Report Cards go home.

Oct. 20….Instructional Rounds at GCMS

Oct. 21…GCHS Band to perform at GCMS

Oct. 24…Faculty Meeting after school, 3:00

Oct. 24-31…Red Ribbon Week

Autumn is Here!

This Week at GCMS:

The calendar may say Fall is here, but the temperatures are sure not falling yet.  It's been hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalks outside GCMS, but hopefully we will get some relief soon.  It has been another busy week at GCMS, with a variety of activities going on.  I want share just a few notes as the week winds to a close.  I hope that everyone has a nice weekend!

KPREP Data:

The testing data from this spring’s KPREP testing will be available to principals on Tuesday morning and under embargo until 12:00 am on Thursday morning, when it is made available to the public through the KDE School Report Card.  I would like to have a brief meeting after school on Tuesday to go over our results.  Again, we cannot share these results outside the school staff until Thursday.  It will be important to keep this information confidential until Thursday.

Walkathon:

As you know, our GCMS walkathon is quickly approaching, and is planned for next Thursday, September 29.  Please remind students to get their donations in.  Our related arts teachers and others will be setting up tables in the gym each morning next week to collect walkathon donations.  Students may bring money in through Wednesday to be counted toward prizes, and last minute money (to walk) will also be collected on Thursday morning.

Edgenuity Lab:

Approximately 60 GCMS students were referred for our first Friday Edgenuity lab.  I appreciate the work that our Title teachers did today and have committed to doing to provide one more opportunity for our students to succeed.  The number of referrals was somewhat higher than expected, but hopefully that number will decline as the year progresses.  I appreciate all of our teachers and staff working to make sure that our students are successful. 

Manufacturing Week:

Next week is manufacturing week in Grayson County.  We will have guest speakers for the 8th graders at 8:30 on Monday and Tuesday mornings, and then our 8th graders will take tours at local factories on Wednesday morning.  It is never too early to start thinking about what job opportunities are available in our community.  

Around the World Day:

We had a nice turnout for this year’s Around the World at GCMS day, with 125 parents in attendance.  There were lots of smiling faces of kids, parents, and teachers alike, and I heard lots of positive comments during the day.

Parent/Teacher Conferences:

Mrs. Majors reported that we had approximately 475 conferences on Tuesday evening at our first parent/teacher conferences of the year.  I know that many constructive conversations took place that evening as we work together to help students make progress in their learning.

Instructional Rounds:

We are looking at having our school based instructional rounds focusing on assessment at GCMS on October 20.  We plan to conduct observations in the morning and in the afternoon so that we can get into every classroom that day.  The team of observers will complete analysis work after school on the 20^th, and then share the results with the full faculty after school on Monday, October 24.

Quote of the Day:

“Regardless of your lot in life, you can build something beautiful on it.” ~Zig Ziglar

Coming Attractions:

Sept. 26-28…Manufacturing Week Activities for 8^th grade

Sept. 26…Rumpelstiltskin Play

Sept. 29…GCMS Walkathon

Sept. 30-Oct. 7…Fall Break

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Another Busy Week:

There’s a hum of activity around GCMS these days, as teachers and students have hit full stride with teaching and learning.  I am enjoying getting into lots of classrooms and seeing lots of great learning activities around the building.  If you ever have a particular lesson going that you would like to invite me and the assistant principals to see, we love that sort of thing!  We just pop in as well, but if you are doing something that you would like for us to see, just shoot us an email about it.  The door prize for first formal classroom observation of the year goes to Mr. Tarry Lockett, with a close second and third going to Shane Decker and Lori Carroll!  If anyone would like to get their observation in early, please let us know.  Teachers in the summative year do need to get their other observation(s) (mini and/or peer) in before the full length observation in completed. 

Staff Concerns:

We have lots of staff health concerns right now.  Please remember your GCMS in thoughts and prayers.  Thank you to everyone who has donated sick days to Stacy Pierce.  She is in for a long battle, but I know that you join me is wishing her the best and a quick return to GCMS. 

Morning Power-Point and Pledge:

I appreciate Mrs. Pearl preparing a morning announcement power point each day.  One of the things that our Principal’s Advisory Council student reps mentioned this morning was that some teachers don’t spend much time with the announcement power point and may not do the pledge every day.  I would like for every teacher to share the morning power point with first period class every day and give the students the opportunity to say the pledge as well.  We do not require a student to stand and say the pledge if they choose not to, but we do want to always give them that daily opportunity.  Thanks.

Parent/Teacher Conferences:

We look forward to our first parent/teacher conferences of the school year.  Our first conferences will be held on Tuesday evening, September 20 from 4:00 until 6:00 pm.  It is always great to get parents here to have those conversations on student learning and progress.  

Around the World Day at GCMS:

We are also inviting parents and guardians to GCMS on Thursday, September 22 for "Around the World Day at GCMS".  Parents are welcome to attend a class or two or even stay all day going to class with their children.  This is a great way to engage parents in the learning of their children, and we are hoping for a good number of parents to be in attendance.  Classes will focus on global competency and cultural awareness that day.  

Quote of the Day:

“Ending a sentence with a preposition is nothing to be afraid of.” ~Google

Coming Attractions:

Sept. 16…Progress Reports go home
Sept. 16...Meet the Lady Cougars Night, 6:00

Sept. 20…Parent/Teacher Conference at GCMS, 4:00-6:00

Sept. 22…Around the World at GCMS Day, Parents are Invited (all day)

Sept. 26-28…Manufacturing Week Activities for 8^th grade

Sept. 26…Rumpelstiltskin Play

Sept. 29…GCMS Walkathon

Sept. 30-Oct. 7…Fall Break

See You in September

Great Start!

It is hard to believe that we are already into our second month of the school year!  The school year has gotten off to a great start.  We were able to have a very productive PLC day this past Friday, and I appreciate everyone getting those beginning of the year necessities (self-reflections, PGP’s, and SGG’s) in place.  Our 6^th graders seem to be adjusting well to their new school and are eager and active each day!  I have just a few notes to share today.

New PLC Format:

Our new PLC meeting format has gotten off to a great start this week, with teachers volunteering for the “lesson share” segment from each department.  Hats off to Mr. Chris Helm for taking the initiative to present the first lesson share in the building.  I look forward to sitting in for as many of these as possible as our teachers share and learn with each other. 

Instructional Rounds:

Mr. Robinson has given us the go ahead to conduct school based instructional rounds this school year instead of using last year’s format.  We would like to have the rounds visit every classroom in the building instead of the smaller sampling like last year.  My thought is to split the rounds into a morning session and an afternoon session and then complete the analysis work after school.  The full faculty would then meet after school for our presentation of findings, gallery walk, and sharing feedback.  Our focus this year will be assessment.  I am in the process of putting your feedback together from PLC Day about what the most effective guiding questions will be.  I am looking at scheduling our instructional rounds day in October and will send out that date just as soon as it is finalized.

Congratulations to Karen Van Metre!

As I emailed our staff yesterday, I am happy to announce that Karen Van Metre has been named as one of the three finalists for the 2016 Kentucky Presidential Award for Math and Science Teaching!  This is very exciting news, and I know that you all join me in congratulating Karen on this honor.

Innovative Technology Grants:

Our teachers in Teams 4 and 6 have been working hard at learning about and implementing the new Chromebooks made possible by the Grayson County School District Innovative Technology grants.  We were happy to have Terri Stice from GRREC here to train our teachers about some of the features of the Chromebook this past Friday during PLC Day.  I am excited about the possibilities for enhancing student learning through use of this new technology!

Teacher Mailboxes:

Teachers, please do not send students to get mail out of your teacher mailboxes.  Sometimes your mail is of a sensitive nature, and from time to time, mail items have gone missing.  It is just better not to have students get your mail.  Thanks.

Quote of the Day:

“You win a few, you lose a few.  Some get rained out.  But you got to dress for all of them.”

~Satchel Paige

Coming Attractions:

Sept. 8…GCMS Home Football game, 5:30

Sept. 9….due date for PGP and SGG in CIITS

Sept. 13…Pep Rally to Recognize GCMS football

Sept. 13…GCMS Home Football game, 5:30

Sept. 12-15…Humana Vitality Checks at GCMS (by appointment)

Sept. 20…Parent/Teacher Conference at GCMS, 4:00-6:00

Sept. 21…GCMS SBDMC Meeting, 3:15

Sept. 22…Around the World at GCMS Day, Parents are Invited (all day)

Sept. 26-28…Manufacturing Week Activities for 8^th grade

Sept. 26…Rumpelstiltskin Play

Sept. 29…GCMS Walkathon

Sept. 30-Oct. 7…Fall Break

Happy Labor Day!

Fair Week!

I remember when I was a kid, and my family would go to the Labor Day parade.  It was always an exciting time and so much fun to scurry around catching candy being thrown from the gazillions of parade floats.  After the parade, we would ride out to the fairgrounds (in the biggest annual traffic jam ever witnessed in Leitchfield) to go to the Grayson County Fair.  It was always the best time ever, riding rides, eating the craziest treats ever, and usually getting sick from that combination.  Good times!  Kids have been very excited this week as many have been to the fair and come back to school with lots of stories.  From the teacher perspective, we are happy to have PLC day to work tomorrow and look forward to the long weekend.  I hope that everyone has a safe and relaxing Labor Day weekend, maybe even a GC Fair funnel cake or scrambler ride! 

PLC Friday:

Here is our tentative agenda for PLC Day:

September 2, 2016

I.                    Ice Breaker Activity

II.                  Lockdown Info

III.                New PLC/CSI agenda format

IV.                Assessment Initiative

V.                  Professional Growth Plans and Student Growth Goals

VI.                Domains 1 and 4

VII.              Instructional Rounds Problem of Practice

VIII.            Use of Edgenuity with Failing Students

IX.                Potluck Lunch

X.                  Sharing from Kagan Workshop

XI.                Data Work, Focus on Novice Reduction

XII.              Infinite Campus Work

We will meet in the library at 8:00 on Friday morning.

Emergency Drills:

Great job on our August emergency drills!  We completed the required two fire drills, an earthquake drill, a tornado drill, and a lockdown drill.  All of our drills went well.  We reduced our evacuation time from 2:15 to 1:50 from the first to the second fire drill.  Local police officers were very complimentary of how our students and staff did with our lockdown drill.  As we always tell the students, by having effective drills, we will be better prepared in the case of an actual emergency. 

Quote of the Day:

“We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.” ~Mother Teresa

Coming Attractions:

Sept. 2…PLC Day (staff only, no students that day)

Sept 5…No School, Labor Day

Sept. 6…GCMS Home Football game, 5:30

Sept. 8…GCMS Home Football game, 5:30

Sept. 9….due date for PGP and SGG in CIITS

Sept. 13…Pep Rally to Recognize GCMS football

Sept. 13…GCMS Home Football game, 5:30

Sept. 12-15…Humana Vitality Checks at GCMS (by appointment)

Sept. 20…Parent/Teacher Conference at GCMS, 4:00-6:00

Sept. 22…Around the World at GCMS Day, Parents are Invited (all day)

Sept. 26-28…Manufacturing Week Activities for 8^th grade

Sept. 26…Rumpelstiltskin Play

Sept. 29…GCMS Walkathon

Sept. 30-Oct. 7…Fall Break