1-28-10

Thanks

• To UA staff, Mr. Jochimsen, Ms. Erickson, Ms. Rasmus, Mr. Hemauer, Ms. McClean, Ms. Hanson for helping with the UA presentation/coverage
• Congratulations to Ms. Jahnke! She was engaged over Christmas break! I just saw her ring, so my apologies if you all knew!!

Information

• Budgets will be done on Skyward-The window opens Feb. 1. All requests need to be submitted by Feb. 12
• A list of families w/o email access at home can be found on the I:Drive under MS Teacher Docs
• Underwater World asks that we put students in groups of 15 and have an adult assigned to each group. Please have that ready by the day before your team goes to the Mall of America. We also need bus lists for that day.
• Scott Kowalski will be emailing information on how to access technology requests. Look for this next week.

Reminders

• Underwater Adventures permission and money due next Tuesday!
• Lesson plans
• Update PLP tab with accomodations
• Student Success Team meets every Wednesday in the library during TA

Next Week

• Mon. Feb. 1: 8th grade team meeting during 5th period in Mr. Jochimsen's room
• Tues. Feb. 2: Tech Tuesday-Mobile Labs @ 8:05 in room 600; Mike Buhrow Infinite Campus training with special ed department during 2nd and 3rd periods; Underwater World permission slips due to TA teacher; 6th grade walk through 11:15-2:00
• Wed. Feb. 3: Late start-those interested in the Inter-writer presentation can attend that, otherwise the time is yours to work on your budget; 3rd period = Training on P/T attachment in lab 402 for those interested; Data Team meeting from 3:45-5:00 in Aimee Drivas' room
• Thur. Feb. 4: 6th grade walk-through 11:15-2:00
• Fri. Feb. 5: 8:05 Training on P/T attachment in lab 402 for those interested; 6th grade walk-through 11:15-2:00

Two Weeks

• Mon. Feb. 8: Team lead, Dept. head, Curric. Assis. meeting at 8:05 in the LMC
• Tues. Feb. 9: Tech Tuesday - Mobile Labs in room 600; Starfish to Underwater Adventures; Jerim to admin meeting at Chi-Hi @ 3:00
• Wed. Feb. 10: Unified Arts meeting at 8:05 in Marcy Smith's room; Dolphin Team to Underwater Adventures
• Thur. Feb. 11: Eagle Team to Underwater Adventures
• Fri. Feb. 12: Faculty Meeting in auditorium at 8:05; 3rd quarter progress report cut-off; submit reports by noon on Tues. Feb. 16

Data

• Cumulative GPA
• 16 students with 4.0
• 70 with 3.75-3.99
• 58 with 3.5-3.75
• 76 with 3.0-3.49
• Total: 220 students with a cumulative GPA over 3.0

1-21-10

Thanks

• To our art department, they've reached out and received a lot of support from our community. Ms. Armitage told me she just received over 40 tiles to add to our school from the money!
• To Ms. Petersen..be sure to check out the article on the 8th grade office bulletin board about her efforts with a local athlete
• To those who have offered to help with the UA tours next week
• To Dolphin team for continued work and efforts with WM
• To Ms. Rasmus and Mr. Hanson for your extra work with AIMSWeb
• To you who continue to update your lesson plans
• For your efforts with the spelling and geography bee

Information

• I'll be meeting with 18 students every Wednesday in the library during TA who have struggled through first semester. Let me know if you'd like to see the Powerpoint of what I'm having them do

Reminders

• Lesson plans!! 19 of 29 had theirs updated when checked on 1-20-10..
• We'll begin the new format for Working Lunch next week..please have 3-5 names to add from your team
• If you haven't viewed the PBIS video that was emailed previously be sure to do so

Next Week

• Mon. Jan. 25: Building Leadership meeting @ 8:05 in LMC; 8th grade team meeting 5th hour; Start of 3rd quarter/2nd semester
• Tues. Jan. 26: UA presentation in auditorium during 4th hour/lunch
• Wed. Jan.27: UA meeting @ 8:05 in Ms. Smith/Wesolek's room; UA presentation in auditorium during 4th hour/lunch
• Thur. Jan. 28: UA presentation in auditorium during 4th hour/lunch; Pops concert @ 7:00 pm (Jazz band, Show choir)

Two Weeks

• Tues. Feb. 2: Underwater World permission slips due to TA teachers; 6th grade walk-through 11:15-2:00
• Wed. Feb. 3: Late start/Collaboration
• Thur. Feb. 4: 6th grade walk-through 11:15-2:00
• Fri. Feb. 5: 6th grade walk-through 11:15-2:00

Data

• 98 of 287 (34%) Office Discipline Referrals (ODR) written for 8th graders
• Written to 37 different 8th grade students
• 20 8th grade students have more than one ODR
• 24 of 98 (24%) from the classroom
• 20 of 98 (20%) from the hallway
• 19 of 98 (19%) from phy ed
• About 90% of our 8th grade students have not received an ODR this year!
• School-wide we collected 510 Respect & Responsibility slips through December and have written 246 ODR during the same time. A positive to negative ratio of 2.07 to 1

1-14-10

Thanks

• For your help with the high school tours
• For your efforts with AIMSWeb
• To UA staff for your input regarding UA tours
• Art department for you efforts in getting grants
  

Information

• Next week we will look closer at the working lunch protocol.
• Some students are engaging in "Body Boxing," which is basically planned fighting. It is an agreement to "fight" between friends. It involves punching, kicking, and kneeing one another below the head but above the waist.
• I will be out of the building from 2:45 on Thursday, Jan. 14th for an admin meeting at Chi-Hi
• Parent/Teacher information will be emailed out next week

Reminders

• Student registration forms and four year plans are due either Mon. Jan. 18th at Parents Night or Wednesday, Jan. 20th to TA teachers
• Friday, Jan. 15th is when all AIMSWeb testing is due!!
• Update lesson plans
• Continue to document on the PLP contact tab and accomodations
• Students are not to wear sleepwear to school per the student handbook, please remind them of this

Next Week

• Mon. Jan. 18: 7:00 pm Parent's night at the high school for our 8h graders
• Tues. Jan. 19: College student observing with Jerim all day; REACh reading meeting 4-6pm in LMC
• Wed. Jan. 20: Tech Committee meeting at 8:05; Final turn in date for HS registration and four year plan
• Thur. Jan. 21: PBIS Committee meeting at 8:05; Fiber and Fabric field trip to Stout 1st period-Lunch; Climate Committee meeting at 8:05 in LMC
• Fri. Jan. 22: End of 2nd quarter/First Semester
  

Two Weeks

• Mon. Jan. 25: Beginning of 3rd quarter/Second Semester
• Tues. Jan. 26: Grades due by noon; UA tours 4th hour-thanks for helping with coverage
• Wed. Jan. 27: UA tours 4th hour-thanks for helping with coverage; Admin out for all admin meeting at 2:30
• Thur. Jan. 28: UA tours 4th hour-thanks for helping with coverage

Data

Fall Aimsweb-8th grade

• 64% reached the fluency benchmark
• 74% reached the comprehension benchmark
• There is no benchmark set for the math test; we are part of the norming group

1-7-10

Thanks

• To the special education department for their insight and efforts during collaboration
• Ms. Erickson for taking on the task of Aimsweb fluency testing for the entire Dolphin team
• Ms. Armitage for her efforts in writing grants to help beautify our school
• Ms. Demske, Ms. Klitzke, and Ms. Sommerfeld for their help with Aimsweb fluency testing
• Ms. Jahnke and Ms. Alvarez for making me king for a day!

Information

• Please read the RtI handout

Reminders

• Lesson plans!
• Friday, Jan. 8th we have a faculty meeting in the auditorium at 8:05
• Turn all detention forms into the 8th grade office

Next Week

• Mon. Jan. 11: Dolphin Team visit to high school 12:45-3:41
• Tues. Jan. 12: Starfish Team visit to high school 12:45-3:41
• Wed. Jan. 13: Foods class visit to McDonalds 8:45-10:45; Eagle Team visit to high school 12:45-3:41
• Thur. Jan. 14: Geography Bee finals in Mr. John Johnson's room
• Fri. Jan 15: Everything Aimsweb must be completed and returned to the 8th grade office!!!; Student Council ski trip to Trollhaugen 4:30-midnight

Two Weeks

• Mon. Jan. 18: Parent meeting for 8th graders at the high school 7:00 pm
• Thur. Jan. 21: 8:05 PBIS committee meeting in Ms. Smith's room; Ms. Hoyt's Fabric's class field trip to Stout 8:45-noon; Orchestra concert 7:00 pm
• Fri. Jan. 22: End of 2nd quarter/First semester

Data

• 16 of the 29 8th grade or UA staff had their lesson plans updated on the web or the I:drive as of 1-6-10
• 157 Respect and Responsibility Slips turned in for December
• 45 office discipline referrals (ODR) written in December
• December's Positive (R&R slips) to negative (ODR) ratio is 3.5 to 1

12-30-09

Thanks

• and Happy New Year!
• Congratulations to Nick Hefty, he got engaged over break!!
• Congratulations to Marcy Smith, she had a baby boy!

Information

• January 22nd is the end of 2nd quarter
• All teams are starting Aimsweb testing this week
• Let's make final decisions on which 8th graders will be mentors this week during team meetings
• Math Aimsweb will take place during this two week window from Jan. 4-Jan. 15; decisions to be made during this Wednesday's collaboration and during our team meetings
• Let's decide during team meetings when each team wants to give the MAZE
• An RTI reading will be handed out during team meetings or will be placed in mail boxes
• The schedule for the high school visits will be handed out on Tuesday at team meetings
  

Reminders

• Please plan time to watch the 20 minute PBIS video emailed by Ms. Etmund
• Continue to document interventions, accomodations, and modifications with data in Infinite Campus.
• If you plan to fundraise, please follow the procedure in the Teacher Handbook
• If you have already done a fundrasier or have received donations please document this on the fundraiser form found on the I:drive; same for any future fundraisers/donations
  

This Week

• Wed. Jan. 6: Late start; Jerim to Stillson for 2:15 meeting
• Thur. Jan 7: Algebra prognisis test given to 7th graders
• Fri. Jan. 8: Faculty meeting in the auditorium
  

Next Week

• Mon. Jan. 11: Team lead, Dept. head, Curric. assistant meeting at 8:05 in LMC; 12:45-3:41 Dolphin Team to high school-Jerim goes with
• Tues. Jan 12: 12:45-3:41 Starfish Team to high school-Julie goes with
• Wed. Jan. 13: UA meeting at 8:05 in Ms. Smith's room; 8th grade foods classes to McDonalds 8:45-10:45; 12:45-3:41 EagleTeam to high school-Jerim goes with
• Thur. Jan. 14: Geography Bee at 8:45 in auditorium
• Fri. Jan. 15: Student Council ski trip to Trollhaugen 4:30-midnight

Data

• 80 of 240 (33%) Office Discipline Referrals (ODR) written to 8th graders

Aimsweb targets for 8th grade

• Fluency: /Fall = 142/Winter = 149/Spring = 158/


• MAZE: /Fall = 22/Winter = 20/Spring = 26/
  

Gallup Poll

http://www.gallup.com/poll/124778/Teachers-Score-Higher-Professionals.aspx

12-17-09

Thanks

• For all you do
• To the music department for putting on great concerts
• To Ms. Petersen for her work on the careers unit
• For your understanding of my missing team meetings, it has been a busy week
• To Ms. Drivas and Mr. Newton for their work on the matrix
• To staff who helped with the Student Connection groups, whether subbing or facilitating
• To Starfish Team for the treats!
• To Ms. Pukrop for the treats!

Information

• Club leaders: Meetings need to be held Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday during TA. Fridays are activity days related to the counseling standards. Many teams also hold their reward parties/events on Fridays.
• I'm still looking for my 7-11 match
• A fourth punch on a punch card equals a detention. The staff who gives the fourth punch must assign a detention. The detention form must be filled out and turned in to the 8th grade office.
  

Reminders

• Please plan time to watch the 20 minute PBIS video emailed by Ms. Etmund
• Continue to document interventions, accomodations, and modifications with data in Infinite Campus.

Next Week

• Mon. Dec. 21: Reading REACh meeting at 8:05 in the LMC; 8th grade team meeting in room 602 during 5th period;
• Tues. Dec. 22: Tech Tuesday: Ad Hoc reports in lab 410 at 8:05
• Wed. Dec. 23: UA meeting at 8:05 in Ms. Smith's room; Holiday Staff Luncheon; Eagle Team bowling party from 12:45-3:15
• Thur. Dec. 24: No School - Happy Holidays!
• Fri. Dec. 25: No School - Happy Holidays!
  

Two Weeks

• No School!! - Happy Holidays!
  

Data

• 17 Office Discipline Referrals written in December to 8th graders

12-10-09

Thanks

• For bringing your TA classes to the auditorium for the band rehearsal and the 2nd quarter PowerPoint
• To Dolphin Team for utilizing the Accomodation Plan in Infinite Campus
• To music staff for your work on the holiday concerts
• For your flexibility this week
• To Mr. Crawford for supporting the art department with the Artsonia project

Information

• We need to discuss the 6th and 8th grade mentor program that is listed as 8th grade's goal
• Teams and/or individuals please plan to view the PBIS 20 minute introduction video that Ms. Etmund emailed
• I will be gone on Friday, Dec. 11 and Monday, Dec. 14
• The MOA Underwater Adventure trip is scheduled for February 9, 10, and 11. Please look at your calendars and we will talk next Tuesday about what team goes which day. Please let me know asap via email if you know for sure one of those days does not work for you.
• We will plan for the Aimsweb testing to take place the week of January 11th, the same week we visit the high school

Reminders

• Lesson plans need to be updated; 10 of the 29 staff I recently checked were not up to date
• Please bring your 8th grade TA to the auditorium to listen to the band on Friday, Dec. 11th

Next Week

• Mon. Dec. 14: Team Leader, Dept. Head, Curric. Assis. meeting @ 8:05
• Tues. Dec. 15: 2:30 admin has a meeting in the board office
• Wed. Dec. 16: Late Start; UA Collaboration in Ms. Smith's room; 1:00 Jerim has a meeting at the board office
• Thur. Dec. 17: PBIS meeting in Ms. Smith's room @ 8:05; H1N1 vaccine clinic in Commons beginning @ 8:45
• Fri. Dec. 18: Internet Cafe breakfast eat and greet
  

Two Weeks

• Mon. Dec. 21: 8:05 Math and Reading Reach meetings
• Wed. Dec. 23: UA meeting in Ms. Smith's room @ 8:05; Eagle Team bowling field trip
• Thur and Fri off for Winter Break
  

Data

• 9 days until Winter Break
• 92% of our students in 8th grade have yet to receive a behavior referral this year
• Blackhawk Express reduced the cost of our buses to the Mall of America by $900 total!