First Day
Once the First Hour bell rings, we'll introduce ourselves, then staff will head to their rooms to welcome their classes. I'll keep A+ and FTA aides with me for a few minutes after the rest of the student body is released to class.
I'll need some teachers at the Schedule Table (Mindy will print all students' schedules) to distribute schedules to ALL students. The rest of us will greet in the gym and/or breezeway.
Please wear your new 'Purple & Gold is in my Veins' shirt with black or khaki shorts/pants.
Rapid Fire Building Level Meeting
- Each teacher has $50 to spend on his/her classroom or class supplies. To access it, you'll need to submit a Purchase Order through the normal channels on SIS Financial.
- Please add me as a Co-Teacher on your Google Classrooms.
- Don't forget to share copies of your Syllabus (see 'Syllabus Business' in Old Business) with me.
Article Review: FOUR MYTHS ABOUT RIGOR IN THE CLASSROOM
Read FOUR MYTHS ABOUT RIGOR IN THE CLASSROOM by Ronald Williamson and Barbara R. Blackburn this week.
We'll continue reading about rigor before we meet again to discuss it. Feel free to share your thoughts, reactions, and feedback with me! When you feed my mind with your insights, I'll feed your tummy with candy bars! :)
Board Report
You don't have to provide an in depth update, but a sentence or two about the goals or focus of each class for the upcoming year would be PHENOMENAL.
Bad news: It's a quick turnaround. Please submit your info by 3:30 on Wednesday, August 23.
Thank you!
First Friday Planning
To recap, previous (2022) sessions have included:
Class Meetings
Handbook Review
Chromebook Assignments
Your year as a(n) XX Grader
A+
Chat with JClem
School Spirit with cheerleaders
Using your @slaterschools.net email, Student Portal, etc.
>> Pep Assembly?<<
Lunch Duties
Expectations for HS Lunch Duty (above) include:
Salad Bar Supplies: Extra salad bar supplies will be kept in an upright cooler in Whitney's 'area' to make it easier for that day's person to keep an eye on supplies and keep it stocked. These are the people who are posted at the salad bar until the line is through. Tasks include making sure kids are getting appropriate portions, not making messes (make them clean up after themselves), and that the stations are stocked. Whitney is entering codes and numbers. She won't be restocking any longer. Once the kids are through the line, staff members can/should move about the room to supervise and finish their meal.
'Outside Area': During the winter months and in inclement weather, this person will keep an eye on condiments until the kids are through the line. That station will move to the North wall as well. Spare ketchup will be stored in the cooler with salad bar items and ala carte drinks. Gravy/sauce may have to be retrieved from the kitchen. Once the kids are through the line, staff members can/should move about the room to supervise and finish their meal.
Hallway Supervision: These people will continue to supervise the hallway until the line has moved past the servers. At that point, staff members can/should move about the room to supervise and finish their meal.
Please be sure to include lunch duty details in your sub plans.
Thank you for everything you do all day every day - including the logistics of making a 28 minute lunch period work. I appreciate you!
No Fly Zone
HS students need to be using the restroom BETWEEN classes rather than during class.
As always, you can use discretion for emergencies. If a student leaves during class time, it should be documented and his/her phone should not go with him/her. They need to leave it in the room if they go. Documentation can be in the form of a sign in/out sheet in your room, but I need a way to know who what out and about if an incident is reported. This also lets us look for patterns and potential vaping.
We're losing out on instructional time and man hours tracking students down because kids are treating the restrooms like a wifi lounge.
Syllabus Business
At Open House, many of your HS Students and Parents will ask you for a course Syllabus.
If you don't have then, that's ok.
This does not have to resemble a collegiate level document, but you will need a document for the first days of your class. That document should include:
- Course Name
- Your school contact information and Plan Time
- Universal Classroom Rules
- No phones, no smartwatch use, no air pods
- No hoods or hats in the Building
- No food in the classroom after breakfast - Any additional rules for your class/room
- Your goals for the class
- Can be SUPER simple: Personal Finance students will learn basic personal accounting practices to prepare them for success after Graduation. - Your expectations for the class
- Example: Students will be on time, Students will be respectful to others, etc. - Supplies needed for the class
- Late work policy
- If you don't have a specific one in mind, sit tight - you can send it out later. - Anything else you feel is pertinent.
- Many teachers require the students and their adult(s) to sign and return part of the syllabus.
This doesn't have to be available at Open House, but it should be available for students by the second day of school. Make sure you give me a copy as well.
Growth Plans
Returning teachers will have 3 Growth Plans:
- Building Level: What I assigned and discussed with you at our Summative Evaluation meeting in the Spring (I'll send you a reminder)
- District Level: 6.1 - Verbal and Non-verbal Communication
- Teacher Choice: Your pick
New teachers will have 2 Growth Plans:
- Building Level: 3.1 - Curriculum Implementation
- District Level: 6.1 - Verbal and Non-verbal Communication
I'll share the forms with you. They are due on SEPTEMBER 11.
CTA E-Mail Recap from August 11...
The Central Region Teachers Association will award up to five $500 scholarships to educators who are working toward their first advanced degree in education. To be eligible, you must be a full-time teacher in a Central Region district, a member of MSTA, and a Slater CTA member. You must attend graduate school during the Spring 2024, Summer 2024, or Fall 2025 semesters. The scholarship award will be given to the teacher (during the Annual Business Meeting on Tuesday, October 3) to help defray the cost of tuition and books.
* Previous recipients of the Central Region MSTA Teacher Scholarship are NOT eligible.*
If you would like to apply for the Central Region MSTA Teacher Scholarship please see the requirements below. The Slater CTA is only able to nominate ONE teacher for this scholarship which will be voted on by Slater CTA members if more than one teacher applies.
If you choose to apply, complete a brief statement (not to exceed one page) explaining why you should be the recipient of this scholarship. Indicate your teaching goals, relevance of coursework as related to desired degree, and include all information you feel will explain your need for financial assistance as well as how the advanced degree will benefit the students you teach. This should be emailed (or shared) with Tonja B. at tboggs@slaterschools.net by 3:15 p.m. on Friday, August 18, 2023. The Slater CTA nominee will then be required to submit the COMPLETE application (detailed below) to Central Region MSTA by August 31, 2023.
***ONLY THE SLATER CTA WINNER WILL NEED TO COMPLETE ALL OF THE STEPS BELOW--PLEASE READ CAREFULLY***
-The CTA President’s MSTA membership number must be included to verify the nomination.
-The following information must be submitted:
a. A brief statement (not to exceed one page) explaining why you should be the recipient of this scholarship. Indicate your teaching goals, relevance of coursework as related to desired degree, and include all information you feel will explain your need for financial assistance as well as how the advanced degree will benefit the students you teach.
b. One-page letter of recommendation from a principal, counselor, or fellow teacher addressing your talents as a teacher.
-All submitted documents must be typewritten in a neat and professional manner.
Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions,
Michelle Krog--Central Region MSTA President
Tonja Boggs--Central Region MSTA Board Member
Jess's Contact Info
Email: jclements@slaterschools.net
Website: slaterschools.net
Location: 515 Elm Street, Slater, MO, United States
Phone: 660-529-2278 (108)
Twitter: @SlaterPrincipal
Mindy's Contact Info
Email: mwiseman@slaterschools.net
Phone: 660-529-2278 (107)
