Weekly Top for 12-13-19

Folks,


Happy Friday the 13th!-

Based on yesterday, please help Craig and the office out today!  With the full moon, Friday the 13th, yesterday, and a week until break I am on edge to be away from the office today!

For Dana and Joanie!

Great Concerts this week and ...!- 

The sixth grade orchestra and band on Tuesday evening put on a great concert.  It was the first one in their playing careers.  They all have shown great improvement!

On Wednesday evening the 7th-12th graders put on a phenomenal concert at SJHS!  The students sounded great, had tons of fun, and were all very entertaining!  Josh and Rachel really did a great job preparing the bands!  These concerts are the highlights of the week!

Next week on Monday the high school choirs and orchestras play and on Tuesday the 7th & 8th grade orchestras along with the 6th-8th grade choirs perform at 7:00 PM in the John & Dede Howard Auditorium at SJHS.   These concerts also promise to be very entertaining and puts you right in the holiday spirit!

Rotation Teachers grades due-

6th & 7th grade rotation grades are due by next Tuesday, December 17th at 4:00 PM.  We need to gets these grades to Sherri and make them historical before the break.   Thanks!

Holiday Luncheon on Wednesday, Dec. 18th-

Next Wednesday, December 18th will be the holiday luncheon served by our wonderful kitchen staff (Sharon, Karon, Michelle L,, Michelle C,, Brigitte, and Amy) in the cafeteria.  It will be sliced ham/turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, rolls, cake, etc.  Parents, Craig, and I will also be helping to serve.  Come on down and enjoy!

Next week Friday, December 20th-

6:45 AM-  Staff breakfast in the media center before school

2nd hour-  7th & 8th grade will do lesson 2 in Xello for their career lesson #2.  This was from our staff meeting this past Monday.  See Torrey or Amy if you have any questions.  I decided to make it 2nd hour without a vote.  

1:30 PM-  We will start by PA announcement to start calling students down to the Blue gym for the 8th grade band, choir, and orchestra performance.  We will try to start as close to 1:45/1:50 ish as possible for a 2:38ish finish time.

Bringing the Juice-

The entire office staff-  Holding down the fort Thursday and today while I am in Lansing.

Josh, Rachel, Burke-  Great concerts this week!

Chris, Jennifer, and Candy-  On a daily basis they do such a great job supervising students before school and at lunch!

Next week is Spirit Week-

Spirit Week

December 16 - December 20

Monday- Grade Level Color War

8th grade - Wear Red

7th grade - Wear Green

6th grade - Wear White

Tuesday-   Flannel Day

Wednesday-   Pajama Day

Thursday- Dress Up Day

Wear Your Sunday Best

Friday- Holiday Overload

Wear Everything Christmas

Article of the week-

If you have never checked out this website it has a lot of great articles:   

Smithsonian Tween Tribune

Would you want to give us a Christmas gift?-

You could give Chris, Jennifer, Craig and I a gift by spending a lunch next week in the cafeteria.  This time of year the students can have a tendency to be a little squirrelly at times.  😊😊

I am not sure if this photo is from JB's house or not?

Quote of the week-

Have a wonderful Friday and weekend,
Chad

Weekly Top for 12-6-19

Folks,


Christmas Party-

We will see you at Founders this evening beginning at 6:30 PM.  It is a nice time to just relax and enjoy good conversation!

Staff Meeting Monday-

We will have a staff meeting based upon our new Career program.  Our kids in some of your classes will be doing some lessons.  More to follow on Monday.

Holiday Concerts to Brighten the Season-

Tuesday, December 10th 7:00 PM in the Upton Blue Gym is the "Informance" featuring the 6th grade orchestra and band

Wednesday, December 11th 7:00 PM in the John & Dede Auditorium at SJHS is the 7th-12th grade bands.

Tuesday, December 17th 7:00 PM in the John & Dede Auditorium at SJHS is the 6-8th grade choirs & 7-8th orchestra

Early Heads Up #1-

Our annual staff breakfast will take place the morning of December 20th beginning at 6:45 AM in the media center.  It is always a wonderful way to get the day before Christmas break going!

Early Heads Up #2-

Our annual in-house concert will take place on Friday, December 20th beginning at 1:45 PM.  We will start dismissing at the end of 5th hour around 1:30ish.  This will feature the 8th grade band, 8th grade orchestra, and the 8th grade Uptones.

Bringing the Juice-

The Social Committee-  Planning the party this evening and collecting $.
Beth-  Putting a lot of time in on a student plan this week
Amy & Torrey-  Planning and presenting at the staff meeting this upcoming Monday
Renee-  The wonderful looking calendar in the hallway
Kara & Dave-  Allowing LMC students observe their teaching practices.

Article of the week-
A quick read on the short writing assignments:

Edutopia article

Quote of the week-  

Have a great Friday and weekend,

Chad

Weekly Top for 11-15-19

Folks,


No more meetings in November-
We do not have any school improvement, staff, or technology meetings left in November.  

Out next week-

Just a reminder that I will be out Monday, November 18th and hope to return on Tuesday, November 26th after my surgery. 

 

Bringing the Juice-

Jessica, Sangeetha, and Scott- When the buses were late yesterday they were the first ones outside to help corral the students.  Jill and Kathy R. also chipped in.  Thanks so much!  We may be in the same situation today!?!?!

Beth and Burke- What can I say?  The time and effort put into Beauty and the Beast is astronomical!  It will be a great show!

The entire staff-  Thanks so much for your help yesterday on the buses, seating, etc.  It is an adventure getting 700 students anywhere!

Ian-  His weightlifting and conditioning club numbers are nearing ski club numbers!  God bless!

Musical this weekend-

Remember Beauty and the Beast will be tonight at 7:00 PM and tomorrow at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM.  As you saw yesterday you will not want to miss out on this great entertainment!  Better than anything you could see at Celebration Cinema!!!

Early Heads Up for 11-27-19- 

We will have all six classes for a 1/2 hour each on Wednesday, November 27th. (The day before Thanksgiving)

Article of the week-
Goes with this week's theme of UDL:

Click here for the article of the week

Quote of the week-

Chad

Weekly Top for 11-8-19

Folks,


Conferences-
Ladies and gentleman I want to just say how truly blessed I feel to work wit you all!  The compliments were rolling in to me about what a great staff we have, they love the setup, appreciate having conferences at the high school, and the overall vibe was really just so positive that it made a very long day worth it!  Thanks for all you do!

Staff Meeting-
We will meet in the media center at 2:55-3:40 for our November staff meeting.  

Agenda:

Who are you?

UDL article and discussion

Lost ring-

This is the lost ring from conferences that Joanie mentioned last evening in an email.  If it is yours it is in the office.

Wednesday Steve Grant presentation-

Please take a quick attendance and have the students bring a pen/pencil down with them to the blue gym right at the beginning of  1st hour after your late start PLC.  We will then run the alternate (2-hour delay) schedule where every class meets for approximately 40 minutes.

Thursday "Beauty and the Beast"-

We will load up the buses right at the beginning of 2nd hour on Thursday.  At the end of 1st hour kids will take everything to their locker and only bring their coats.  We will all work together to stress no phones on this trip.  I am excited to see this production!  Beth and Burke have worked really hard with our SJHS students on this!

Bring the Juice-

The entire staff at UMS-  Stellar 2019 parent-teacher conferences

The HS custodians-  Setting up the student center

SJHS Student Senate-  The goody bags

Ann Essig-  The name plates and logistics

Deanna Schaffer-  The food in-between afternoon and evening

Torrey, Amy, Beth, and Renee- A welcoming face to greet everyone as they entered

BLT-  They had BLT, PLC, DLC, and conferences all in one week!

Article of the week-

Here is a quick read from one of my favorite education sites:

3 Ways to Boost Middle Schoolers’ Confidence in Class

Quote of the week-

Have a great longer weekend!  You have earned it!

Chad

Weekly Top for 11-1-19

Folks,

Welcome to the end of the 1st Marking Period-
Today at 2:40 is the end of the 1st marking period!  I don't know about you, but it has flown by for me.  Grades are due by Tuesday, November 5th at 4:00 PM.  

Next Wednesday, November 6th-
We will have a school improvement meeting as a whole group next Wednesday during the late start in the media center.  As we did in September, we will have a few activities to do as a group.

Conferences-
Just a reminder that conferences are next Thursday, November 7th at the SJHS student center.  The hours for the parents are:
12:30-4:00 PM and 5:30-8:30PM.  Dinner (Sponsored by our UPTO) will be provided between afternoon and evening conferences.

1/2 days Thursday and Friday-
The new dismissal time for 1/2 days is 11:00 AM.  
Thursday, November 7th we will have 1st, 2nd, and 3rd periods.
Friday, November 8th we will have 4th, 5th, 6th periods.

November 13th-
After the late start on Wednesday, November 13th we will have former NFL linebacker, Steve Grant, here to speak to our student body.  We will take a really quick attendance and head to the blue gym.  We will run the alternate schedule (2-hour delay) after the talk.

November 14th-
On Thursday, November 14th at 9:05 AM we will load the buses and head to SJHS to watch the high school musical, Beauty and the Beast.  We will not have 2nd hour and most of 3rd hour.  Kids will report to their 2nd hour class with only their coats.  We will ask kids to leave everything in their lockers including their cell phones.  Obviously we will not have GO time on this day.

Bringing the Juice-

Craig- Being solo in the office this week 2 days

Kelly G.-  Covering the office on Monday

Jill-  A great spirit week!

Kara and Dave-  For helping Dana with moving her teacher station

Sharon, Karon, Michelle L., Michelle C., Brigitte, and Amy - For doing a nice deed for a staff member

Scott-  Sitting in a few tough parent meetings lately

Quote of the week-

Have a great weekend,

Chad

Weekly Top for 10-25-19

Folks,


Announcements right at 7:45 AM today-
Our news team will do the news at 7:45 today so that the news can be out before the 8th grade field trip today.  

Next week gone-
I will be in Lansing at a conference next week and gone Monday-Wednesday.  Craig will also be out Monday and Kelly Gaideski will be the fill-in administrator in the building that day.  I will be checking my emails and voice messages from Lansing.  In the evening if you have something pressing you can call my cell.

Great concert-
What a wonderful choir concert Wednesday night!  It was a beautiful site to see our 6th-12th graders all up on stage together.  A retired principal from SJPS was there and he said it was the best concert he has been to in a long time!  

Our 6th-12th grade choir students

No meeting Monday-
Two Mondays in a row without an after-school  meeting!  

Spirit week (October 28th-November1st)-
Monday-  Tie Dye vs. Neon Day
Tuesday-  Pajama Day
Wednesday-  Biker vs. Hawaiian Day
Halloween-  Yes, students are allowed to dress-up for Halloween. 👻  Many staff are as well!  If a student's costume prohibits their learning you could ask them to remove a mask, hat, etc. during your class.
Friday-  Favorite Sports Team Day

Empty Water bottles and 2 Liters-
Beth Fairchild would love empty water bottles for a district project and Jenna would love 2 liter bottles for Astronomy.  The lounge or the back office are places you can drop water bottles.  Give your 2 liters directly to Jenna.  Your donations are appreciated!

Kindness matters-
Check out this link that Beth created for students to recognize other students for their kindness.  I told the kids at the beginning of the school year that it really boils down to two words in the whole English language to improve this school & the world, and they are "BE KIND!"

Kindness Matters

Bringing the juice-

Jenna, Amy, Mary Ann and Melissa-  Planning a great learning opportunity for our 8th graders.  Taking a lot of kids on a field trip is a stressful endeavor!
Denise, Kathy R., Mary B., Melissa, and Kathy M.- Working through a tough situation in a very professional manner.
Mary Ann and Kevin-  Two of our staff members who gave up a lot of after school time to coach volleyball.
Candace (Candy)-  Helping 6th graders navigate knowing their new rotations
Kristin (From Marci)-  Helping and going above & beyond for our 7th graders with NHD research and annotated bibliographies. 

Rotation  Teachers due date-
Just a reminder to rotation teachers that your 1st rotation grades need to be submitted by 4:00 PM on Tuesday, October 29th.  If you are not done by then, please let Renee know.  As we are going to make them historical on Wednesday, October 30th in the AM.  If you are new to submitting grades for rotations please see Joe Fralick or Kara Nicholson (Our T3's).

Quick Survey-

The UPTO has been considering increasing our fundraising efforts to help the school more, but we’re not sure what’s most needed.  Could you please fill out a short (two-question) survey about what  you think is most needed for your classes?  Thank you!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZMC3RD5

Upcoming items-

Thursday, November 7th - Conferences at SJHS

• Thursday, November 7th hours 1st-3rd
• Friday, November 8th hours 4th-6th

Dismissal is now 11:00 instead of 11:04 on all half days.

Wednesday, November 13th-  Former NFL speaker (will speak right away after the late start and we will run the alternate schedule (2 hour delay or 40 minutes per class schedule)  This will be in the Blue Gym.

Thursday, November 14th-  Whole student body to SJHS for the Beauty and the Beast Teaser show.  No GO Time this day.  We will start boarding the buses after 1st hour and hope to arrive at SJHS at 9:30 we will return just before 4th hour.  (No 2nd and 3rd hour this day)

Quote of the week-

Have a great weekend,

Chad