Middle School Minutes

Benchmark week takes collective effort. Thank you for staying patient, pitching in where needed, and helping everything run as smoothly as possible.

February 2-6: School Counselor Appreciation Week

• Monday, February 2: "The Alamo" theatre performance during PRIDE (for 7th Grade Only)
• Wednesday, February 4: 8th Grade RLA Field Testing (all other grades will have a normal schedule)
• Thursday, February 5: Colt Basketball @Carrizo Springs, Filly Basketball vs Carrizo Springs @home
• Friday, February 6: District Flex Day (No school for students/staff)

• Friday, February 13: District Flex Day (No school for students/staff)

• Friday, February 20: Waiver/PD Day (No school for students)

• Friday, February 27: District Flex Day (No school for students/staff)

REFERRALS

• Do not write the names of other students involved in a referral.
• Once you have made initial parent contact for minor classroom behaviors, you do not need to call home every time (unless you choose to). If the behavior continues, submit the referral and admin will handle parent communication.
• For major behaviors, parent contact is not required prior to submitting the referral. Admin will handle communication.
• Referrals will be sent home to parents, so please keep them factual, objective, and free of emotion. Stick to what happened and how it impacted instruction or safety. Please call Alexander if you need help wording a referral correctly.

Walkthroughs will focus on practices connected to the T-TESS rubric and Fundamental Five. The focus may change week to week or cycle back to areas we want to strengthen campus-wide.

This week’s focus: T-TESS Dimension 2.4 - Differentiation

We will be looking for evidence that:

• Lessons are adapted to meet individual student needs.
• Instructional methods or materials are adjusted so all students can access the content.
• Student participation and performance are monitored and used to guide support.
• Students who are confused or disengaged are responded to with purposeful scaffolds or adjustments.

Gerald Bolgren - February 1

Engagement doesn’t always come from doing more. It often comes from doing things differently. A creative hook can open the door for deeper learning.