Weekly Top for 5-17-19

Folks,


Today-
Thanks for parking in the North staff lot today!  We will have a lot of people in our parking lots for the elementary track meet.  

Last Late Start-
Next Wednesday is the last PLC time with your department this school year.  You have all done such amazing work in your PLT!

No Meeting-
We have no meeting next week on Monday.  The last meeting of the year is Monday, June 3rd and it is a mandatory meeting (100% turnout).  

Monday luncheon-
Just a reminder that Cynthia will be putting on her wonderful luncheon along with her lovely mother this Monday during the lunch periods in room 407.

MS Orchestra Concert-
We have a middle school orchestra concert next Thursday, May 23rd at 7:00 PM in the John & Dede Howard Auditorium at SJHS.

Board of Education Meeting-
The Board of Education meeting will be on Monday, May 20th at 6:00 PM.

Marigolds-
Craig, Torrey, Amy P., Amy D., Kristin-  5th grade orientation presentations
Ian & Marci- Their relentless pursuit to send the students to NHS in Maryland this summer.
Aaron and Rachel- Great band concert Wednesday evening!

Dates to Remember (not already mentioned above)-
May 27th- No School for Memorial Day
May 28th- Choir Concert
May 31st- 8th grade Farewell
June 3rd- End of the 4th Marking Period

Quote of the week (Next week is our last full week of school)-

Have a great weekend,
Chad

Weekly Top Test for 5-10-19

Folks,


Thanks for everything!-

When I think about all my many blessings in life, I always include the staff of UMS amongst them.  Quite frankly a day, week, or year is not suitable for Teacher Appreciation, because what you do is a passion for a career!  The timeless hours you pour into your students has/is/will pay huge dividends into helping to mold the future.  Thanks for all you do to make UMS a great place for kids!  

Ren Baldwin Technology Festival-
What a great evening it will be tonight at SJHS!  

Annie Jr.-
As you witnessed yesterday this is really going to be a cute show!  I can't wait to see it!

NWEA Monday and Tuesday-
We will be running the alternate schedule (two hour delay) for the NWEA next Monday (Math) and Tuesday (Reading).  We will encourage our students to try their best, but not to press.  Overflow will be in room 203 if we have 30 or less or the cafeteria if we have over 30.

Upton Band Concert-

Next Wednesday, May 15th is the Upton Band Concert at the John & Dede Howard Auditorium at SJHS beginning at 7:00 PM.  Aaron, Rachel, and the AIR's look forward to showing off the growth of their bands over the school year!

Boys and Girls Club-

The BLT team met at the Boys and Girls Club this past Tuesday evening for a tour and to hear from some of their amazing kids!  We are in discussions to possibly partner with them for the 2019-2020 school year.  More to come on this!

Marigolds-

Hunter Schuur-  Coming out of nowhere to help make sure the teaser show happened yesterday.

Beth Gray-Roll-  All the work put into Annie Jr.!

Craig-  Helping with the sound system with our assembly & Annie.

Torrey-  The time spent with peer to peer.

Ian and Marci-  For your persistence in trying to fund our NHD students at Nationals

Teri- Time spent on new students, 5th grade parent orientation, and many other items that go unnoticed

Quote of the week-

"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings." - William Arthur Ward

Have a great weekend,

Chad

Weekly Top for 5-3-19

Folks,




Staff Meeting Cancelled-
I am cancelling our staff meeting on Monday, May 6th.  We will have our last technology meeting on Monday, May 13th and have our last staff meeting of the year on Monday, June 3rd at that meeting we will honor Teri and Michelle.

M-Step ELA-
Monday will begin the ELA M-Step.  It will happen in the ELA classrooms.  See Renee if you have any questions on tickets, etc.

BLT to the Boys and Girls Club-
The BLT team is going to the Boys and Girls Club of Benton Harbor next Tuesday.  We will visit to hear how what they are doing and the possibility of working together in the future.

8th grade presentation/assembly-
The human trafficking presentation by 2 SJHS seniors will take place next Tuesday during 6th hour.  If our sound is not fixed in the auditorium we will have to move it to the Blue gym.  The assembly will last almost the entire period.  We will call you down when they are ready to begin.

Kagan Training-
The Kagan Cooperative Learning Institute will be hosted here at SJHS and will afford everyone the opportunity to refine our use of structures in order to authentically implement cooperative learning throughout our day with students. It is such a gift to our district to have a national trainer onsite. You won't want to miss it! The deadline for registration is May 10th - please click on the link below to be added to the list. Many options to attend 1-5 days and if you attend all 5 days you can become a Kagan coach.  Thanks!

Summer Kagan Cooperative Learning Registration

Ren Baldwin Tech Fest-
A week from today is the Ren Baldwin Technology Festival at SJHS.  The evening will begin at 6:00 PM and is always a great evening!

NWEA Coming Up-
Monday, May 13th-  Math
Tuesday, May 14th-  Reading
We will run the alternate schedule (formerly the 2-hour delay) on both days.  We will also encourage (but not pressure 😊)  our students to do their best! 

Go Time Reminder-
When planning your GO time during late starts next Wednesday, please remember we are offering the Annie Jr. teaser show in the Blue Gym.  This is not to trump intervention sessions.

Annie Jr.-
The big show is just around the corner!  I can't wait to see this! Here are the details:

Marigolds-
Ben-  A ton of time helping figure out a scheduling issue.
Kristen and Deb-  Their commitment to another book fair!
Renee & Torrey-  Working on the master schedule
Teri, Beth, Aaron, Burke, Rachel, Gregg, and Kevin G. - Setting up the 2019-2020 performing arts, plays, musicals, variety show, 5th grade/9th grade orientations, etc.  An over 2-hour meeting!

Quote of the week-

Have a wonderful weekend,
Chad

Weekly Top for 4-26-19

Folks,


Fun Run This Afternoon-
The PTO has worked hard for the run this afternoon.  Our generous PTO has done a lot for our staff and will continue to.  I hope you can find a small amount of time to come out and support our wonderful crew.  The students would love seeing you as well! 😁😁

Go Time next week and the following week-
Next week (May 2nd) in the auditorium we will have the high school leadership group in the auditorium to talk to students about being leaders, making good choices, being a student-athlete, etc.  This is not to take away from sessions that you have for intervention, but it is an alternative to the last-chance cafeteria area where we often have 70-100 kids. (The auditorium only seats around 210 anyways.)  
The following week on May 9th a teaser show for Annie Jr. will take place during GO time in the Blue Gym.  Once again this is not to take away from interventions students need, but I wanted to let you know for your department planning in late-starts.

M-Step & NWEA coming up-
Monday-Wednesday will be math M-Step for 6th and 7th grades.  The following week Monday- Wednesday (May 6th-8th) will be ELA for 6th & 7th.  The week after that will be NWEA Monday(13th- Math) and Tuesday (14th- Reading)  with a alternate schedule (2-hour delay schedule) for all grades.

Tuesday, May 7th for 8th graders-
Two senior students during 6th hour on Tuesday, May 7th will be presenting to our 8th graders in the auditorium.  You will get a synopsis of what they will be talking about soon.  It is part of a senior project.

Annie Jr.-
This performance is just around the corner.  (Two weeks from tomorrow)  I hope you can attend one of the two performances.

Marigolds-
Teri-  For her 33 years of wonderful work at the frontline (More on that to come)
Craig-  Dealing with some difficult situations this week
8th grade science teachers-  A well run field trip this week

Around the corner-
8th grade farewell is Friday, May 31st at 6:30 PM. Get your outstanding student vote to Dave Leonard in a private message with the title:  Outstanding 8th grade students for farewell

Quote of the week-
We have six weeks left and we will all finish strong!

Have a great weekend,
Chad

Weekly Top for 4-19-19

Folks,



30 Minutes Classes-
We have 30 minute classes today.  This will always be the case, unless we have back to back 1/2 days.

BLT-
I need to meet really briefly with the BLT team after school on Monday.  I promise 15 minutes or less.

Late-Start next week-
Our late-start will go from 7:30-8:15 AM (45 minutes next week) and from 8:20-8:35 we will all be in the media center.  We want to begin at 8:20 sharp in the media center, so adjust your agendas to make this happen. Thanks!

Salmon in the Classroom-
Just a reminder for April 23rd and April 25th:
Tuesday- Francis and Foster's science classes in Watervliet
Thursday- Milletics and MacKellar's classes in Watervliet

PSAT Make-ups-
PSAT make-ups will take place on Monday and Tuesday.  We have to complete them by next Wednesday.  

Portfolios-
Just a reminder that the portfolio deadline is 11:59 PM on April 30th.  Many of you have already submitted.

Fun Run-
One week from today is the Upton Fun Run.  Please consider participating, volunteering, or go into the dunk tank.  Email Cindy Igoe if you would like to help.  
Email Cindy at :  cindyigoe@yahoo.com 

Annie Jr.-

Foundation Teacher Grants-
Please consider putting in for something for your department.  Here is the link:  Foundation Grant Link

Marigolds-
Torrey, Renee, and Amy- PSAT and M-Step Preparations
Beth- Our new chalkboard of important dates
Matt M.-  Helping Kathy out while she was out injured
Keiko-  M-Step Make-ups
Kara-  Help with PowerSchool Issues

Quote of the week-
"If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything." 
-  Mark Twain

Happy Easter,
Chad