12/16

The faculty council met this week and you can find the notes here. The cliff notes: 

• We have been working on getting a STEAM Night going. Julie and Kerry have offered to lead a steering committee. Anyone interested in joining, helping, and having a voice in the process should please email them. 
• Book fair week of February 13th - Author Josh Funk will be visiting on February 10th to kick it off. 
• Keep an ear out for monthly Reading challenges. 
• In the discussion of the food waste in the cafeteria, it was thought that someone may like to lead a discussion on Ort or facilitate some 8th graders in leading it. If this is something that interests you please let me know. 
• I am requesting that middle schoolers go to specials and to the buses at the end of the day, down the 200 halls. 

A topic of conversation not included above was the continuation of middle school students roaming the hallways. I am now looking at a pass system. This will mostly involve special teachers and middle school teachers, but everyone should feel empowered to request and see middle schoolers' passes to be in the hallway. We'll implement it in January but were hoping for feedback on what the passes should look like / include. There are two drafts here and a blank for someone interested in creating their own. Once I hear back from people, we will have passes in MS staff's mailboxes when we return from the break. 

Something I've always done is a Festive Sweater competition. People have given me feedback that their sweaters aren't ugly. Also, having a "festive" competition opens it up for Hanukkah, Diwali or any other holiday celebrated in the winter to be included. If you hadn't noticed, I am a little competitive too, so to encourage staff participation I have created a plaque/trophy-like thing and will provide a Dunkin's gift card to the most festive dresser. I will select a handful of middle schoolers to make the rounds and act as judges. 

Wednesday morning will be our morning staff meeting. Carrie will be meeting with K-5 teachers of math in her room to talk about ST math. Middle school teachers should meet and discuss the implementation of a new pass system. Specials teachers should review the matrix and add to the area of specials. Special education staff will meet in the conference room with BethAnne. 

A Note from BethAnne

PBIS Update

We'd like to know the scoop and how things are going with PBIS and the Tommy Tickets! Please take a second to fill out this survey before vacation!

Holiday Shop

Please let your families know that the Holiday Shop will be open from 1-3 on Monday for any students who missed out on the shopping experience due to absence or attended when the selection was low.  You can send your student(s) down there during that time. 

The Week Ahead: 

• Monday (12/19) 
• School Council
• Tuesday (12/20)
• Grade 6 field trip to Hanover theater
• Wednesday (12/21)
• AM Staff meeting
• 3rd grade STEAM Boat building
• 4th grade PLTW Celebration of Learning
• Thursday (12/22) 
• Festive Holiday Attire (Who can be the most festive!) 
• Monty Tech VIP
• Friday (12/23) 
• No School - Winter Break