Winfield Middle School Parent Blog
End of the 3rd Quarter. Grades go out today.
March 7, 2016
Middle School Word of the Month: EMPATHY
Favorite quotes...
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched.
They must be felt with the heart.”
Amazingly, Helen Keller, both deaf and blind, was so keenly aware of her surroundings that she was able to assess and describe a perspective the rest of us often take for granted. Often times, we post sunsets, nature views or puppies with the intent of evoking sentiment or passion, yet it takes an astute “observation” of someone both deaf and blind to remind us to “look” inside for the best.
PS: She was the first deaf/blind person to earn a bachelor's degree from a college!
And we dare to think we have it bad?!?!
Everyone can continue their education.
90/90 Attendance Challenge:
Our state education agency measures many things in and around schools and districts. One of those parameters is attendance. The state expects 90% of our students to be here 90% of the time. Therefore, phone calls, letters and promptings from the District go out intending to remind folks of our need. Why is school so important? If it was too easy, students wouldn't need to attend to “learn” the material. On the other hand, challenges which are too hard and overwhelming only lead to frustration and loss of motivation. We strive to reach that balance of fun, challenge, striving, occasional failure and building on the fundamentals as we work day in and day out with our students. The more they are at school, the better.
Our Attendance Challenge is not against other classes. It is against the standard itself. EACH CLASS earning 10 days of perfect attendance, from the time of the beginning of the contest (over a week ago) until Spring Break, will enjoy fresh, hot pizza from the school office. All students and teachers have to do is track the days on a google document, then let the office know when they reach the goal. The office will bring pizza (or cookies, student choice) as soon as practical.
Tanzania is only 8600 miles away. Google it!
Last month: Art Museum, City Museum, St Louis Zoo and the Polar Bears, Used Car Shopping, Chinese Buffet, Bass Pro Shop, Savers, Harlem Wizards and Community Service…all while taking a foreign exchange student (Hatim) around the St. Louis metropolitan area. While doing this, my wife Jane and I were reminded of the abundance and wealth we have here. We take for granted so many things a country in poverty could never attain. The resources, the opportunities, the jobs, the freedoms and the responsibilities that go with liberty. As our students grow and mature, we get to see them lose their childish ways and develop the behaviors fitting of adults. Occasionally, a middle school student surprises us and acts well beyond their years. These moments of understanding and maturity often leave us speechless, but they are one of the reasons why we teach. The true “aha” moments. How often do we get them? “All the time!” Regardless of students’ progress, they too--like the rest of us--sometimes relapse, slip back into former ways and act out. In the middle school, we live in a world where this “relapsing” can occur unpredictably; we are aware of it, we plan for it, and we seek to leverage it into life lessons and further growth. And that is why we love teaching in the middle school! 
Similarly, we understand some students might lack the extra attention this phase of life calls for. They make seek out the attention, desire it and periodically even demand it through deviant behaviors. But we are not alone in our efforts to serve this population; these are common problems that can’t possibly be solved only by us. Therefore, we build systems and interventions for managing the various needs and situations. Obviously, reaching an ideal environment remains elusive, but this is where we thrive.
Please plan the end of your family’s academic year accordingly. Spring Break is next, then MAP testing afterwards.
Our MAP testing schedule places us testing in the early part of MAY; May 5, 6, 9, 10 and 11th, to be exact. Please plan around these dates. We are moving Semi (the Semi-Formal Dance) to May 13th. We are also planning a few end of the year events. Details and information will always be posted here. Stay tuned!
Read Across America
Wrapping up a fun Read Across America Week, we had Pajama Day on Thursday.
Schedule
Monday
Binder Teams
- SHADOW DAY
- First of a few until next Friday, 3/18/16. Eighth grade students will bring a permission slip home, ask to get it signed and bring it back requesting who they want as their host at the High School.
Tuesday
- SHADOW DAY
Wednesday
- SHADOW DAY
Thursday
- SHADOW DAY
- Bright Futures at 7:00 PM at the Central Office - See their facebook page or search online to find out more about the national organization as well as our local needs, then show up Thursday to see how you can help.
Friday
- SHADOW DAY
In Progress
- Block Schedule to align with High School for the last month of school beginning April 18th
- Red Days (Odd Classes 1,3,5,7)
- Black Days (Even Classes 2,4,6,8)
- Summer Academy for some 8th graders; being planned for June
- 5th Grade Transitions - Shadow Days for the 5th graders (let your 5th grade friends know about this too please)
- March 17, 18, 21, 22, 24
- Some overlap with the 8th grade days
- Teacher Planning Days for May 25, 26 & 27
- Pacing Guides
- Lesson Plans
- Common Assessments
- Student Work Review
- Data Teaming
- Collaboration Days
- eValuate
Glow Night VolleyBall Tournament
March 18th - Assemble Teams now from 3-5 in the Middle School Gym -
We may also host our next Ac Lab Challenge on this day as well.
Parent Communication
The Middle School staff prides itself on publishing grades, using technology and connecting with our parents. As usual, 3rd quarter grades will be compiled, emailed to parents and hardcopies given to students in 8th hour. Together, we eventually want to reach all parents as soon as possible. But just in case, if there are any other alternative, technologies or methods you wish for us to explore, contact Mr. McCracken or Ms. Mix in the office to discuss the feasibility.
Conclusion
“... the unwilling, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.”
“We the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, with so little, for so long, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.”
-Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Together, these two quotes outline the ends of a continuum. One end of the continuum is represented by the former begins with the attitude of the first author, a Czech politician from the last century. He finds no allies, no support and is overwhelmed by the tide of discouragement, blame and taxing forces. This negativity is countered by the quote from by Mother Teresa at the other end of the continuum, with the omission of one little prefix: “UN” This shift, from “unwilling” to “willing,” describes the focus or singular drive from one of passive and external locus of control to deliberate and intentional actions where we are masters of our own destiny. We teach to serve, help, support, and build a better future, one student at a time. We can’t do it alone, overnight or with force but we use time, relationship and finesse to continue to persuade, cajole and admonish our wards.
Winfield Middle School enjoys great support in many forms, from student caregivers bringing to school lunches on a birthday or socks for practice to clearing a place for homework or getting students to school. We are ALL working so hard to reach goals. Some of these goals are basic and may address meals or sleeping arrangements. Sports, academics, behavior and attendance are other goals. Staff at WMS repeatedly receive the benefits and enjoy the support of caring parents. This too reminds us we are not alone and it really does take the contributions of all of us to find success.
Together, we can face any obstacle, define its parameters, strengths and weaknesses, develop multiple options and create a plan to attack, overcome and address the concern. Of course, some issues are so deeply ingrained by time and repetition that continual admonishment appears fruitless. Therefore, we deliberately remind ourselves of those successes, twists, and surprises that frequently and unexpectedly catch us off guard. We look at former students that make it because of us and sometimes, in spite of us. We celebrate commencement exercises, not because it’s over but because it’s their beginning. We have done our portion and made our best contribution. We have built our section of the house. We have equipped each student.
Winfield Middle School would like to offer a small token of appreciation toward those parents, community member, and outside agencies that so faithfully and regularly contribute to our students’ success. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Tom McCracken
PS. Finish strong. We still have 47 days left of the 4th quarter.
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