Routines? In a Middle School? Yes, I think so!

Leap Day*

Winfield Middle School Parent Blog

February 29, 2016

Another true #TBT photo…

From the days when he walked these halls as a student, we are proud and honored to have him here serving the community that formed him.

Attendance Challenge available to more participants…

We are adding a new twist to the Attendance Challenge. From today through the start of Spring Break (March 24th), when any class reaches 10 perfect attendance hours, the class will earn a pizza party. Classes and teachers log their attendance on a google docs spreadsheet and self-disclose when a class period reaches the magic number.

Schedule Details

Read Across America during this week of Dr Seuss’ Birthday

Monday - Feb 29 (Leap Day)

We have a Leap Day every 4 years because it takes about 365.25 days to get around the sun. We had a Leap Second last year.*

Read Across America: Read with my Eyes Shut Day - Staff and students are invited to wear shirts with words on them

• SPRING SPORTS practice begins district-wide today
• Track
• Baseball
• Girls’ Soccer

Tuesday - March 1

Read Across America: Cat in the Hat Day - No explanation necessary for the hat day!

• Word of the month - EMPATHY

Wednesday - March 2

Read Across America: Wacky Wednesday - Wear wacky hair, socks, clothes, etc

On this day in 1904, Theodor Seuss Geisel (aka “Dr Seuss”) was born in Springfield, Massachusetts

Personality portraits will be taken in the band room by a photographer from Wagner Portrait Group

Early Release  

• Coaches renew their CPR and First Aid training today

Thursday -  March 3

Read Across America: Dr. Seuss’ Sleep Book - Pajama Day

Friday - March 4

Read Across America: “My Many Colored Days,” by Dr. Seuss - Wear Class Colors

• End of Quarter grades are due from the teachers
• The Warrior Way Store will be open at lunch--any parent volunteers interested in helping are welcome to assist!

Refer to these flyers around campus for details regarding upcoming events:

     AND       

Please plan the end of your year accordingly

With Spring Break right around the corner and the end of the school year close behind, please note some important dates at the MIDDLE SCHOOL.

MAP TESTING; MAY 5th, 6th, 9th, 10th & 11th

Our MAP testing schedule places us testing in the early part of May. PLEASE plan around these dates. We are working on adjusting the date of “Semi” so it is not in the middle of MAP testing.In case you’re wondering, we have an annual dance called “Semi,” as in “semi-formal.” This event is similar to a prom, but functions at a middle school level of decorum. Dresses, suits and ties, updo hairstyles, and even flowers are par for the course. Not too many limo rides are expected, but it is amazing to see the students “all grown up” as they celebrate in our gymnasium and have a bunch of fun. STUCO coordinates the dance, and always puts on a great time for the Winfield Middle School students. The date for Semi will probably be on our last Friday of the year, May 13th.

BULLYING?!? Really?

Rude, Mean or Bullying? Posters like these placed throughout the building remind students to “be nice.”  As they develop their sense of empathy and compassion, it takes reminders, reteaching and coaching from everyone for them to reach social expectations. Often times, they simply may not have not thought it through. Therefore we say, “No, it is not ok to punch somebody to get their attention!”

Then how is that behavior characterized? Was it mean, rude or bullying?

For example, our average discipline items per day showed a slight uptick during February. This is the result of many factors. Part of our efforts include examining and considering each of these causes to determine which are the causes and which are the antecedents.

In Progress

This minutia contains some of the end of the year procedures, events, processes and activities for our middle school students and staff. We work from lists like these to ensure thoroughness. Please don’t think these responsibilities apply to everyone!

• Block Schedule begins 4/18 and continues through the last day of school:
• Aligns with the High School’s schedule for the last month of school beginning April 18th
• We will use A Days and B Days

• Regular Schedule on April 20th, 29th and May 4th, 9th
• May 4th is an Early Release day
• Summer Academy for some 8th Graders during June
• 8th Grade Shadow Days at the High School
• 5th Grade Transitions - Shadow Days for the 5th graders
• 6th Grade Boot Camp Day at the Middle School for incoming 5th graders
• 1 or 2 days of transitioning to the middle school
• Practice Schedule
• Mentors from National Junior Honor Society, etc
• Locker Work
• Lunch Procedures
• Team Building - Connections created between the  staff and new students
• Teacher Planning Days for May 25, 26 and 27 where we discuss:
• Pacing Guides
• Lesson Plans
• Common Assessments

• Student Work Review
• Data Teaming
• Collaboration Days
• eValuate Testing

Middle School VolleyBall Tournament

March 18th - Students will assemble teams now for the event on Friday from 3 - 4:30 / 5:00 in the Middle School Gym. Similar to other middle school events, we will begin right after school, then allow students to be picked up after the event.

Shout out at the Winfield VFW Hall

On Saturday, during a special event at our own local VFW Hall, two young authors received their awards. Also included were monetary prizes for their efforts toward describing “WHAT FREEDOM MEANS TO ME” for the national VFW Challenge, Patriot Pen Essay Contest.

      

Parent Communication

There are a few other ways to connect with Winfield Middle School: Weebly Sites, Blogs, Remind 101, Assemblies, Facebook / Twitter, SIS Gradebook Updates, emails, Calls, IM or ???

NOTE: Make-up snow day - March 24th, Thursday

(Last day of school before Spring Break, starting on Friday, March 25th)

You’ve come a long way…

Routine? Middle School???

Well done this week! It was great as we transitioned back into somewhat of a routine. We use that term, routine, loosely in the Middle School setting. But despite the full moon, the threat of a snow day, and illnesses of staff and students, we seemed to work around everything. That ability to “smile in the face of ambiguity” is what impresses me most. It actually happens. We are making it “THAT” school.  A driven focus on attendance, academics and good behavior sets us up for success. Thanks for your support.

All week, Read Across America with Dr Seuss and daily themes!

Sincerely,

Tom McCracken

On behalf of the staff and students of Winfield Middle School

Knockerball? For the Middle School? OH YES!

Knockerball?

February 22, 2016

It’s a pretty big deal…

Our Middle School teachers discuss and debate the merits of various types of motivation; the purely intrinsic, the purely extrinsic, or the balance of the two. Intrinsic motivation is when a student comes to school and is internally motivated to achieve, earn and engage without too much outside prompting. On the other hand, other students are motivated when enticed with some reward, prize or tangible event. Hence, the www.knockerballweststl.com event last week during our assembly was created to reward those who had already and consistently earned an advanced or proficient score on their eValuate tests, OR students who had raised their scores on both tests. The top 50 students were selected and a secret call was made to their parents to try and arrange for a clandestine approval of participation in Knockerball. This way, parents got a call commending the efforts of their students, then were asked to keep a secret because the event was A PRETTY BIG DEAL--as alluded to in the flyer below. In fact, a facebook video of just a portion of the event has just about gone viral. As of Saturday, within 24 hours, it received over 1200 viewings.

On the Men’s Team, Mr. Crump and Coach Davis prepare to battle against their opponents for the Staff Round of Knockerball. See our facebook page for the viral video.

Priority:  Attitude or Accomplishment?

Motivation, student accountability and the question of grades surface often in this middle school. We often ask ourselves, “What is more important to us as teachers, citizens and people? Do we want a student to be with us with a good attitude, even though his work may not be done? Or do we want want students whose work is done but their attitude is lacking?” Do we have a choice between the two? Is it more important for us to value one over the other? Do we, as teachers have a lot of influence over either??? Together, as a team, we all want the best for our students, both now and in their future. We want them to know the feeling of enjoying success, even though “success” at this point in their lives requires learning the foundations of what will come later in high school: chemistry, physics, trigonometry literary interpretation. In this photo, Coach Stokes, an alumni of Winfield’s own high school, prepares for a duel with his friendly rival and colleague Coach Rodgers, in the Knockerball Challenge. After their AC LAB Wrestling Challenge in December, their rivalry has only intensified on the surface. If you were to meet either of them individually, they would banter and boast like true professionals! Great to have you both, guys.

On a positive note…

eValuate Cycle A of Content Tested

...and eValuate Cycle B of Content Tested

Math Scores:

The A test: 23, 27 & 31 and the B test: 22, 25 & 28

Here we see math scores increasing steadily on both tests. Each month shows a building-wide improvement. Individual grade levels are shown but individual student scores are only available through SIS or your student. We still have the March and April diagnostic assessments before our MAP testing in the spring. Anticipation and energy are getting higher throughout our building as we consider everything surrounding those important statewide assessments. While those tests measure individual student progress from year to year, a compilation or “collage” of all the scores in the building is also established. That collage allows us to  compare our students, teachers, and scores  with all the other schools in Missouri.

ELA Scores:

The A test: 41, 42 & 48 and the B test: 45, 48 & 47

Similarly in English/Language Arts (ELA), we are seeing growth as well. A slight dip in the scores of the recent group of 7th graders reflects either an anomaly or in increase in the rigor of the questions. We are presently working to determine the cause and then considering our options going into the spring MAP tests.

Speaking of the MAP testing…

Parents, PLEASE DO NOT SCHEDULE ANYTHING FOR Thursday or Friday, MAY 5th & 6th FOLLOWED BY MAY 9th, 10th or 11th. The Middle School will schedule our building testing on those dates.

Upcoming Agenda Details

Yearbook orders were due last week. You may be able to send in a late order!  Please contact the office.

Saturday

Follow @goWinfield on Twitter for the latest on the Quest for Hardware at the State of Missouri Wrestling Championship. It really was a pretty big show!

Wednesday

Technology Debrief with Mr. Neels regarding the IT team’s recent conference on educational technology.

Thursday

PBiS Tier - Care Team Meeting

In Progress

Harlem Wizards - Last week, with nothing but his wits and a basketball, ToJo from the long established www.harlemwizards.com entertained nearly 1,000 students in our gymnasium. Although that day featured no special tricks or abilities, ToJo’s experience, voice and obvious ease and confidence drew the students to him. On February 28th, however, the entire team will be joining ToJo for sky-high slams, antics, audience participation and the rapid-fire comedy that has kept the Wizards performing constantly for 53 years. All proceeds are dedicated  to raise funds for and awareness of the Lincoln County Educational Foundation.
 

• Spring Sports/Track tryouts begin next Monday Feb 29th - start running now!
• Middle School MAP Schedule Established - MAY 5, 6, 9, 10 & 11
• Middle School’s block schedule to will align with the High School’s schedule throughout the last month of school
• Transition program - Summer Academy for the 8th Graders
• 8th Grade Shadow Days at the High School
• 5th Grade Transition and Shadow Days for the 5th graders.

PBiS

Tier 1 - Data, Warrior Way Tickets, The Warrior Way Store

Tier 2 - Care Team

 
 

Ms Guile’s and Ms Stroud’s 1st hour classes tied each other in the contest to enjoy the spoils of their labors. Does it seem like that Principal is in the middle of every meal ever served at the Middle School???

Attendance Contest Cycle

Another area we track statistics on is our attendance. Missouri’s  statewide district supervisors prefer that we have  90% of the students here 90% of the time. Class periods compete against each other; the first to reach five days of perfect attendance earns a pizza party or fresh, hot cookies, right out of the oven!

Parent Communication  Parents, are you getting enough communication from the middle school? If not, try adding these as additional sources of Middle School News!

Blogs

Remind 101

Assemblies

Facebook / Twitter

SIS Gradebook Update

Make-up snow day - Thursday, March 24th, (Last day of school before Spring Break)

Conclusion

It is such an honor to watch everyone associated with the middle school put themselves aside and work together to serve the students. The Knockerball Event was a huge success. The upcoming Harlem Wizards show is exciting. Pizza for attendance works. We may even expand that to any group that gets five perfect attendance days. Thanks to everyone who helped out, from putting up the decorations, operating the Go-Pro, forming teams, “black spots,” dueling coaches, and good fun for all.

Sincerely,

Tom McCracken 
On behalf of the Staff and Students of Winfield Middle School