Weekly Top for 4-28-23

 Folks,

Portfolio By Midnight Sunday -

Portfolio and goal for 23-24 are due by midnight Sunday night, April 30th.  If you are off-cycle remember the portfolio is optional.  Everyone should put a goal for 2023-2024.  If you have any questions please let me know or ask a colleague.  Thanks!

Salmon In the Classroom -

• Tuesday, May 2nd-  Jenna's classes, Mary Ann's class, and Amy's 3rd hour will be out.  Jason will be joining them.
• Thursday, May 4th-  Melissa's classes, and Amy's 2nd & 4th hours will be out.  Matt will be joining them.

5th grade Visits -

Tuesday, May 2nd and Thursday, May 4th will be the 5th grade visits.  We will be running 4 lunch periods on these days.

• 6th grade lunch at 10:35 AM
• 7th grade lunch at 11:01 AM
• 8th grade lunch (1/2 of the class) at 11:27 AM
• 5th grade lunch (1/2 of the district classes) at 11:55 AM

May 3rd Breakfast -

Right before your PLT time begins this Wednesday morning beginning at 7:00 AM our wonderful UPTO will be having a staff appreciation breakfast in the media center.  Please stop in if your schedule allows.

May 3rd Massages -

We have time slots open a free 10 minute massage near the office on Wednesday, May 3rd if you wish.  You will be able to get in during your conference period hopefully by signing up in the office near Laura's desk later today.

May 3rd Make-Ups -

There is no good way to do M-Step make-up testing.  We will have to do it when we have the staff available.  We will begin the make-up process 1st hour on Wednesday, May 3rd.  Thank you for your flexibility and working with us!  I am sorry, but telling a student that they must attend your class for a quiz, test, etc. and not to go to M-Step make-up testing is not an option.  

Shrek Jr. Teaser Show during Advisory -

As mentioned on Wednesday morning at our late start staff meeting, the Shrek Jr. teaser show will be during advisory time in the Blue Gym.  That means that 7th & 8th grades will be combined during the first time slot at 10:35 AM followed by the 6th graders at 11:01.  Normal BEAR time will be available for our guest speaker, intervention time, and extension time.

Shrek Jr. Actual Performances -

The actual Shrek Jr. performances will be 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM in the John & Dede Howard Auditorium at St. Joseph High School.  Cassidy and Beth have put a ton of time and effort into this show!  I know the kids are really excited and pumped up for this!  It would be wonderful for you to join one of the two shows if your schedule allows.

Moody on the Market & Catania -

As I mentioned at our late start this week many were complimentary of Jason's school board presentation!  On Tuesday in Moody on the Market a story was featured about it.  Here is the link:

JC and the Moody Link

Article/Link of the week -

This is from a website called Chalks and Chances.  It is a great website to inspire, honor, and point out the great things teachers do day in and day out! 

This week's: Why teachers matter link

Alex remembers Mr. Joseph

Friday Funny -

Quote of the Week -

Have a good Friday and weekend,

Chad

Weekly Top for 4-21-23

 Folks,

M-Step This week -

Thanks so much for your dedication to M-Step this week!  We will gather your feedback (Science, Math, SS, and ELA teachers) about how you think it went, what are some tweaks, improvements, suggestions, etc. when the windows are done.  We are 1/2 way home!

School Board Meeting This Monday-

The school board meeting will be at Upton next Monday, April 24th at 6:00 PM.  Kenny will give a short presentation on UMS and Jason will give a short presentation on the Washington DC trip.  If your schedule allows please join the meeting!  

M-Step Tuesday-Thursday

Next Tuesday, April 25th - Thursday, April 27th is the 6th & 7th grade Math M-Step and 8th grade SS M-Step window.  We will have an overflow room on Wednesday for SS and Thursday for math (based on the predicted amount of time).  Robynne is doing an amazing job with the ticket distribution, helping with troubleshooting, etc. and Keiko is doing a wonderful job with the overflow!

Next Wednesday -

Next Wednesday, April 26th is an all-staff late start in the media center.  Melissa F. is eager to share some tech. things that will be helpful to you and Kristin B. will be sharing some exciting news for an upcoming event!

DLT Next Wednesday-

DLT will meet next Wednesday, April 26th at 4:15 at Central Office.  As always, your department leaders are doing such a great job leading the important work!

Around the Corner -

Tuesday, May 2nd and Thursday, May 4th our 8th graders will be going to the salmon in the classroom field trip.  On those dates half the 5th graders will be here on May 2nd and half on May 4th.  Suzi and Mitzi will share the outline very soon of the 5th grade visits.  

Rotation 4 grades due -

Rotation 4 grades will be due by next Friday, April 28th at 4:00 PM.

Article of the week -

This article is one I read a few years ago, but it really is a relevant one for this time of the school year:

Article of the week link

E.O.W.-

Congratulations to Wesley for the Upton Middle School Educator! 

Out Monday at a Funeral..Kenny Tuesday & Thursday -

I will be out of the office on Monday at a funeral in Indianapolis.  Kenny will be in TCI training on Tuesday and Thursday at SJHS.  We will appreciate all you can do to assist us on those days.

Friday "Punny"-

Quote of the week -

Have a great Friday and weekend,

Chad

Weekly Top for 4-14-23

Thanks! -

I want to thank all involved in PSAT 2023!  It was a great team effort and the attendance was the best it has ever been for it!  (1 prearranged absence only!). I especially want to thank Mitzi & Suzi for their tireless efforts and remembering to dot i's and cross t's!

Lockdown Monday -

As mentioned at Monday's staff meeting, our last lockdown drill of the year is this Monday morning at approximately 9:36-9:37 AM ish.  This is a passing time drill.  I am sure you have reviewed with your students what to do, but a review is always good.  Please don't tell the students ahead of time when it is happening, but you can still review saying "We still have one more lockdown drill coming and here is what you do during a passing time/before school/after school situation."   The Lincoln Township police will be here for this drill.

BLT Tuesday-

Those that are on BLT we will finally meet this Tuesday after school. Kenny and I would like to go over some handbook changes. additions, etc. prior to our submission to the school board.

Rotation 4 to 5-

Tuesday, April 18th - 4th rotation ends and 5th rotation will begin on April 19th.  Reminder for students to check PowerSchool for their rotation class.

M-Step Testing Reminders - 

Just a reminder of the different testing windows:

April 18th - April 20th - ELA 6/7th Grades, Science 8th Grade

April 25th - April 27th - Math 6/7th Grades, Social Studies 8th Grade

Speaking of M-Step-

Please give your certificate to Robynne before you walk out the door today for the M-Step tutorial video completion.

As a courtesy -

As a courtesy and help to our office if you are not going to be in your classroom for one reason or another, please leave a note on your door stating where your class is at. Thanks!! (NOTE: Obviously not during your plan period...only when you have students)

Educator of the Week -

Article of the Week -

A quick good read:

Teaching Philosophy Article

Friday "Punny" -

Quote of the Week -

Have a great Friday and weekend,

Chad

Weekly Top for 4-7-23

 Folks,

Meeting on Monday -

We will have our meeting on Monday for M-Step and PSAT.  You will have an opportunity to also view/work on the video that is required for M-Step.  It will begin at 3:00 PM.   If you miss the meeting for whatever reason, you need to see Robynne on Tuesday (11th).

Thanks for your Feedback -

As you know I like to get feedback/input in areas where I feel it is important to do so.  Sometimes in my job I just need to say this is the way it is, but often I can also seek your input.  The staff by the survey has decided to keep advisory/BEAR time during M-Step week by a 60% to 40% margin.  I feel that this will be okay as students will have that break in the day on testing days, it will still allow for intervention to still take place on those six days, and it honors the time put in by the committee that worked so hard last year on this schedule.  At the end of the day it is a win-win.  👍

PSAT On Wednesday (All read please) -

The following will happen next Wednesday, April 12th:

• 8th graders will be in the Blue Gym all morning testing
• Bells will be turned off---6th/7th Grade Teachers please set alarms on your phones/etc. for passing times.  Try your best to not dismiss too early.
• The doors leading back to the Blue Gym will be closed...please do not allow any 6th or 7th grader to go past these double doors.
• 8th grade lunch will be adjusted a bit and start and little later.

Thanks so much to our guidance team for all the tremendous amount of time and energy put into PSAT 2023!

Grades Due Next Week-

3rd Marking period grades are due Wednesday, April 12th at 4:00 PM.  

Portfolio/Goal Reflection -

The portfolio and goal reflection is due by 11:59 PM on April 30th.  If you are a new staff member please talk with your mentor if you need assistance with this.  NOTE:  We did not include this on the April Checklist (It will be there next year!).

Planetarium Show Monday-

A planetarium show will be this Monday at 6:30 PM.  The show is called "Cowboy Astronomer".  The show is free and open to the public.

Invitations Coming -

I will be sending invitations for observations  (those that I am doing this year) on Monday for the announced observation (2nd observation).  If you are giving an assessment...just decline it and I will try a different hour/day.

Friday "Punny"-

Quote of the week -

Have a wonderful Friday and weekend,

Chad (I am out of the office today.)