Weekly Top for 1-31-20

Folks,



9 Subs today-
We do have nine substitute teachers at Upton today.  Please help a neighboring classroom if a sub needs some assistance.   On these days it can tend to get a little more crazy with some behaviors.  Together we can do this!

Today Items-
Our UPTO will be by to pick up hat money, clothing, and nonperishable cans.  Please bring your money down to Laura & Grace and will give it to Janna.  We will have a flatbed near the Board of Education picture near the front entrance for the food.  A student can run any clothes items to the office as well.  Thanks for your support and willingness to perpetuate/support the kindness week!

The assembly-
We will call down 6th graders first, 7th graders second, and end with 8th graders.  We will start dismissing around 9:50 AM.  The assembly will start as quick as we can after we get students seated.

Technology Meeting Monday-
We will have a technology meeting in the media center this Monday, February 3rd beginning at 2:55 PM.

Advisory Lesson Tuesday-
Please see the email Torrey sent out yesterday afternoon regarding the advisory next Tuesday, February 4th.  This advisory will support today's assembly.  Thanks so much to our 6th-12th grade guidance department for creating this!  The students will go to 3rd hour have the advisory and after you go right into your teaching lesson.  

BLT Tuesday-
We will only have one thing on the agenda for Tuesday for our BLT team and that is scheduling guidelines for the scheduling 2020 window.  Torrey will be our presenter! 😊  I am guessing the meeting will be 30 minutes or less.

Thanks for your grade submissions! -
Our grades for the first semester have been made historical!  I appreciate your timeliness in your grade submissions!  I did not have to go into any rooms and say please submit!

Bringing the Juice-
Cathy-   Running a very successful spelling bee!  I think for the first time it will be three 6th graders!  David DeVore (6th grade),

Pihu Sahai (6th grade), Jason Shi (6th grade), and alternate - Elizabeth Fiesbeck (7th grade)

Renee and Sherri-  Working together to work on ending the semester!
JB- Coming up with the new student to Upton tips and tricks!  It is now linked to the agenda from Wednesday.  (For those that missed the meeting here is the link to the agenda for reference:  1-29-20 School Improvement Link)
Amy, Torrey, and Beth-  Creating the advisory for Tuesday!
Jenna, Ben, and Matt-  Allowing teachers throughout SJPS to come and observe a teaching lesson.  I can tell you that from the feedback the teachers were impressed and got great ideas!
Everyone-  Your participation and enthusiasm you showed Wednesday morning at our late start.  I was so encouraged after!

Staff Lounge Challenge-
For those that did not hear on Wednesday, we are all going to try the staff lounge challenge of not saying anything degrading about our students.  I know we can be challenged on a hourly/daily basis, however we want to protect the dignity of "our kids".  We are instead are going to talk about the great things going on in our lives!

Infographic of the week-

Quote of the week (On what would have been his 101st birthday!) -

Have a "super" weekend,

Chad

Weekly Top for 1-24-20

Folks,


Thanks for your generosity-

Thanks so much to Karen for collecting and for all those that contributed to Tony Hoffman's family!  Tony gave so much to SJPS the last 33 years and I know Saundra will really appreciate it!  Tony loved Upton and this staff is the biggest reason why!

Grades due-

Just a reminder that Q2 and S1 grades (a few of you E1) are due this Wednesday, January 29th at 4:00 PM.  If you have any grading submission questions please see Kara or Joe.

The Great Kindness Challenge Week-

• MONDAY - Witnessing Kindness.  Upton teachers will be asked to witness their students random acts of kindness all week long and report acts to the office.  Students will receive small rewards for actions.  

• TUESDAY - Inspiring Kindness.  Interact club or student volunteers to post inspirational quotes with post its all over the school.  Bathroom stall signage will be donated by the PTO.  

• WEDNESDAY - Feed the Hungry.  Students will be asked to bring in 1 can of non-perishable food to be donated to local food pantry.  Students might start bringing items in the week of January 21st.  We will also be asking students to donate clean, gently used clothing which will be delivered to BLOM (Blessed Life Outreach Mission), a local organization that provides clothes to children and families in Benton Harbor. 

• THURSDAY - Hat Day - Students are asked to donate $1 to The Soup Kitchen in order to where a hat all day in school.

• FRIDAY - School Assembly - Magician at 10:00 AM

Wednesday Late Start-

Just a reminder that we are meeting as a whole staff in the media center for a school improvement meeting on our late start next Wednesday.  We do not have a GO time next Thursday.

Tuesday, February 4th-  

As stated in last week's blog we will run a GO time schedule on Tuesday, February 4th with everyone doing an advisory lesson connected to the school assembly we are having next Friday.  The guidance department (Tracy Wagner, Tracy Olson, Torrey, Amy, and Beth) will be designing the lesson you will work with your students on.  

Great Restorative Circle Resource (Article of the week)-

Those in DLC have a hard copy of this resource.  Circles are powerful and you really see a side to students that you haven't seen before.  It can really bring a smile to your face!  I have witnessed in a few of your rooms the power of this!

Classroom Circles Awesome Resource Packet

Halfway Home-

You are halfway home with your classes this school year!  I hope that you are as fired up and ready for a great second half!  Thanks for perpetuating an attitude of:  "I'm going to teach each day like all the students in the room are my own biological kids!  We only want the best for "our" kids!" 

Bringing the Juice-

Ben, Kevin, and Kelly-  Their willingness to give the new exam schedule a whirl.  Also the setup in the cafeteria and media center.

Karen-  The Tony Hoffman Family Collection

Torrey-  Sharing her expertise with Lake Michigan Catholic Schools this week.
Eric and Joanie-  Giving some of their time to help give input on the locker rooms.

Quote of the week-

Weekly Top for 1-17-20

Folks,


The passing of a SJPS Legend-
It is with great sadness that I inform you that Tony Hoffman passed away last evening.  Tony gave his heart and soul to SJPS and knew about the inner workings of every school.  Tony always found a way to get something fixed/done.  Tony is a SJPS legend!  He will be greatly missed around the halls of UMS!  Please keep Saundra, Gabby, Abby, Daniel, and little Tony in your thoughts and prayers.

  

DR.  MLK JR. Day-

We will not be in school on Monday in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  

Next week 1/2 days-

• Thursday will be hours 1-3
• Thursday, January 23rd   8:56-10:30  (2nd hour and part of 3rd)
• Algebra exams will take place in the cafeteria and Geometry exams in the media center
• This is a whole teacher day

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• Friday will be hours 4-6
• French Exam- Friday, January 24th  9:30-11:00  (part of 5th hour and 6th hour)
• Joe is going to work with his studio art students a different way
• This afternoon is a virtual day

Bringing the Juice-

Ben and students-  Students showcasing their math portfolios to the school board and Dr. Bruce.

Joe F. and students-  The beautiful mugs and art presented at the board of education meeting.

Susan and students-  Making cookies for the SJPS school board.

Rachel Cabanilla-Sinnett and students-  A wonderful quartet playing for the board meeting.  

Kathy R., Marci, Susan, Kevin, Rachel, and Ben-  For attending the board meeting and watching our wonderful students present.  Our students did such an awesome job!

Many staff-  For setting up and getting the media center ready!

Torrey-  For attending an after school court hearing for a student.

Magician reminder-

Our magician assembly will be two weeks from today during third hour.  We will not be running an altered schedule.  The assembly will end at around 11:00.  We will run a follow-up advisory meeting connected to this assembly in each class on Tuesday, February 4th with a GO time schedule (More to follow on that).

Article/Video of the week-

Something we did last year.  How are we doing?

Quote of the week-

Have a great weekend,

Chad

Weekly Top for 1-10-20

Folks,



Board of Education Meeting-
The board of education meeting is at Upton on Monday.  We have 12 kids in 12 minutes as the presentation for Upton talking about their respective clubs.  I think it will be a great little presentation.  Ben's algebra students will be showcasing their portfolio/interactive notebooks, Joe's kids will be displaying art, and Susan's kids will be making chocolate chip cookies.  The meeting here begins at 6:00 PM.  Please join us if your schedule allows.

BLT-
Our building leadership team will have BLT next week.  Dr. Bruce, Kelly G., Bryan, Amy, and Andrew will be attending our BLT this Tuesday, January 14th.  

Exams-
Please refer to the email I sent earlier in the week regarding exams for those that have high school courses.  For non-exam classes we will have 1-3 hours Thursday and 4-6 hours Friday.

Exams are so stressful!

UPTO-
We will have UPTO next Thursday, January 16th at noon in the conference room.

3 Weeks From Today-
On January 31st at 10:00 AM we will have an assembly that will end at 11:00 AM.  It is a magician that will focus on SEL (Social Emotional Learning).  I will send more information out in the coming weeks about this.  He will also be presenting to SJHS in the afternoon.  This will be a great opportunity for us!

Bringing the Juice-
JB-  Brought our new student down to the cafeteria and made sure he had a place to sit at lunch.
Ben, Joe, and Susan-  For your help with the board of education meeting.
Kara & Cynthia-  Staying late to meet with a family to assist a student with English proficiency needs.

Article of the week-
Check out this article on restorative circles. This is what Craig walked us through at our last school improvement meeting. Rumor has it Dave's classes will be doing this today.  I know others have tried it out as well.  Article:  Using Cirlces in the Classroom

Quote of the week-

Have a great weekend!  It looks like it could get a little crazy Saturday weather wise.

Chad