...And so it begins... Fall sports!

Labor Day Issue

Winfield Middle School Parent Blog

September 6, 2016

A photo contest during homecoming week added an artistic touch to the fun. These ‘student captured’ shots are displayed in the Cafeteria for all to see and enjoy.

Taken by: Maggie Jordan

Communication

See and follow us on our Winfield Middle School Facebook page for extra shots from our assembly last Friday. Our ‘Hot Potato’ game allowed us to crown a new Ac. Lab winner!

Committees

Staff at Winfield Middle School have been working hard during Committee time.  Our continued diligence and attention to common expectations will push our building even farther forward.  Here are a few brief notes about the progress of each.

• PBiS Tier 1
• Working on universals and consistency in every classroom.
• School Wide discipline is an an all time low. Let’s keep it that way.
• PBiS Tier 2
• Care Team, Universal Screeners (to catch and help students needing it) and HOT Sheet data.
• Activities
• Assemblies, trips, and events.
• Climate & Culture
• Planning PD Days

SubCommittees

Additionally, our staff at the Middle School all participate on an extra subcommittee team addressing specific and important situations at the Middle School.

• RTI
• What do we do if a student doesn’t complete their homework or understand a concept?
• Technology
• 1 to 1 rollout details.
• Students learning to keep track of / respect their devices.
• (Threads, yarns, or other marking techniques often make it easier to identify ownership).
• Parent Involvement
• Considering how to incorporate a student event (such as Glow Dance) with a parent meeting.  Pepsi, Pizza, and the Principal. P^3!
• Attendance
• Cookies and Milk (Ask if your child has received any yet?)
• 90/90  =  We are expected to have 90% of our students here 90% of the time. Preferably 100%.
• Communication
• Parent Blog and various forms of other communication.
• Board of Education edition.
• Press Releases distributed as requested.
• Binder Teams
• A continuation of our meetings from last year where teachers examine student scores, understanding and abilities. As well as plan accordingly with team members.

Random Attendance Moment

Perfect attendance is our goal.  However, the Missouri state education department expects 90% of our students to be here 90% of the time.  Not surprisingly, data has shown that a direct correlation exists between attendance and achievement.  Randomly, we sample Attendance Moments and travel to a few rooms as determined by picking their names out of this bucket! Then we head to the room to see if everyone is present.  If so, #boom!  They get a yummy prize!  Regardless, we have already begun interventions on students already below the 90% threshold. Please do your part to have students here as often as possible. Even one day manages to put a student behind.

Current Standings:

• August 2016 HISTORY
• Wk 1 99.39% Aug 2015 96.49%
• Wk 2 97.63% Aug 2014 96.25%
• Wk 3 95.88% Aug 2013 97.58%
• Wk 4 95.30%
• Average 97.05% for August 2016 - Great start to 2016/17

Taken by: Abby Martin

Drill Work

Student Safety is of utmost importance.  Of course, we are supposed to educate, but as Temporary Parents during the day, we see student security as truly our TOP PRIORITY. During our practice intruder drill Thursday, it took approximately 9 seconds to secure rooms and doors. The building became eerily quiet. The loudest noises were the security team checking for locked doors, wiggling knobs, and stepping down the hall. Walking from room to room took the longest. We took 1:29 seconds before the “All Clear.” Well done.

Taken by: Kierstyn Schieffer

Class Discussions

So many are implementing PBiS type discussions. I hear teachers speaking student names with obvious fondness and the results are astounding. Students work even harder to relive that positive feedback they felt during the experience of hearing their names spoken in kindness. Learning is multidimensional and students with greater engagement levels develop stronger and more dendritic activity. By nipping small behaviors in the bud, we are able to minimize more serious behaviors. Class discussions are often good ways to reteach proper behaviors as opposed to public scolding involving a name.

Labor Day Weekend

Tuesday

• Progress Reports and extra handouts sent home today.
• Cross Country at Clopton.
• 8th Grade Softball at Elsberry.

Wednesday

• Early Release Day
• 7th & 8th Grade Football at Warrenton.

Thursday

• Counselors’ Meeting to plan Red Ribbon Week.

Friday

• 8th Grade Softball at Montgomery County.

Taken by: Madelyn Crouch

Taken by: Chloe Dunlap

Conditional Love?

If I told my wife "I love you, because you are…,"  it would almost be a conditional agreement.  For instance, if something changed, would my love continue?  Is my love based on her being something or somebody to me? Or have I decided to love, and commit to her? Similarly, we must strive to separate our students from their behaviors. Our acceptance, tolerance, or treatment of students should not change or waiver.  Our behaviors are not determined by their behaviors. As we continue building our students and their futures, it only helps to strengthen their resolve, build esteem, and support stamina.

This quote I found on the internet says it best.

Briefly,

Tom McCracken

#ParentHopping or #TeacherHopping ???

Homecoming 2016 is in the books

70-46 Winfield over Montgomery County!

#Boom

Spirit Week

We’re not sure who had the most fun during the Tacky Vacation Wear Day;

The Staff or Students of Winfield Middle School?

Parent Hopping! AND Teacher Hopping!

The act of asking the other parent when the first parent gave the “wrong” answer. If Dad said “NO,” go ask Mom. At school, we are aware of our consistent follow through and how our students are sensitive to the differences. We may be agreeing just to agree, even if it is not exactly what we think is important. For instance, hats in the building. We ALL will ask a student to take his hat off in the building but does that really have a MAJOR impact on the learning in itself? Can a student learn with a hat on?  Regardless of our personal interpretation, we all agree that consistency is more important and a unified front displayed by the teachers is far more important.

Planners are another factor that may or may not be important to an individual teacher. Yet, we as a team agree to use planners in our classrooms to help student organize as they work their way through their middle years. Do we need them?  DO STUDENTS NEED THEM?  Schools are student centered even though they are teacher led! Therefore, planners it is!
Teacher Hopping, for instance, in the middle school takes on a familiar look as well. A student asked me, “Can I go to my locker?” I was not sure why a student would ask me that question, so I paused. Coach came up and I deferred the question to him. Then, it was clear that the student was trying to “Teacher Hop” and bypass the rule by asking another Staff member! Sounds like at home. If mom says NO, ask DAD. Together, the letter of the rule is not as important as the need for us to be unified and together in our enforcement! We agree to remain individuals but serve students as a team!

Labor Day is Right Around the Corner

As compared to last week, this week should be pretty calm.

Monday

• Team and Squad practices continue throughout the week - games begin after the long weekend.

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

• Assembly for Middle School Fall Sports, Assembly behavior and an Ac Lab Challenge

STUDENT LAPTOPS

There are so many opportunities for students on their computers. Please remind them to be good

stewards of their batteries, cords, cases, screens and locations. It is exciting to see students already taking ownership of the units! Stay in touch if there are concerns, issues or suggestions for next year.

SERIOUSLY?

Seriously!?

NO! Seriously!

HONORED:

Thank you for trusting us to help teach these children. We all thoroughly enjoy coming to work, helping and serving. Often times a misunderstanding can be overcome with a quick email to a teacher, phone call home or question to school. The team is ready and willing to serve our community and these students with everything we have.

Briefly,

Tom McCracken

#Homecoming2016

Was it worth it?

Saturday night, August 13th, at 10:30 pm, my wife and I drove to the Missouri Botanical Garden to take in the rare blooming of the amorphophallus titanum, commonly called the Corpse flower due to the odor and size.  An hour to get there; a half an hour wait in line; an hour to get home...  Was it worth it?

(Seldom do I see 2:00 am these days.)

Corpse Flower Time Lapse from Chicago

Start of the year…

There has been a very encouraging mood throughout rooms, halls, buildings and even the district.  The first full week of school held the August full moon, yet the building had a great feel.  Students said they wanted to go to school year around, just because of the safety and security also offered in this setting.  ALL students are able to smile easier when talked to.  (Let me know if there’s one that won’t smile with prompting.)  We have been reaching into student’s lives, and building bridges of commonality in a quest to teach. They have responded. Reading in AC LABS has become a new norm, and will continue. Winfield Middle School is becoming a sanctuary of learning.

HOMECOMING SPIRIT WEEK

NOW TRENDING: #Homecoming at Winfield

The Parade, The Carnival, The Game on Saturday - all followed by the evening dance, seems to maximize the enjoyment for as much of the community as possible.

Monday

• Red, White, and Blue Wear - U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A!
• Laptop Rollout -  1 - 1 laptop presentation and Q & R at 5:30 at the Middle School Gym
• The Winfield 1 -1 Program Handbook will be available
• Team and Squad practices continue throughout the week

Tuesday

• Baseball Apparel - Go Cards!

Wednesday

• Favorite Animal - Hmmm?  Lions, tigers or bears?  Oh my!

Thursday

• Tacky Tourist / Beach Wear - I know what shirt I will wear!

Friday

• Class Color - Students wear White, Red, or Black for 6th, 7th or 8th grade.

Agenda for HOMECOMING DAY

Saturday - August 27th

• 10:00 – Parade gathering at the Middle School
• Heading to the High School
• 10:30 – Tailgate with games, prizes, food, and bounce houses!!
• 12:40 – Homecoming Court Introduction
• 1:00 – GAME TIME!!
• Your Warriors face off against Montgomery Co.
• Half-Time
• Cheer and Band will perform
• Recognitions
• King and Queen will be crowned
• 7-10:00 – Homecoming Dance in the HS Commons

Conclusion

After driving an hour, waiting in line for another half hour, then seeing the flower for less than 5 minutes, it makes me wonder…  Was it worth it?  YES.  Unabashedly Yes.  How often would I actually get to see and smell it in "Real Life?"  I heard a student say, "Grand Canyon? I will just Google it!" How many other things do I miss because I am in a hurry, on my way someplace else, or not paying attention. I really must take time to smell the roses. I see these 8th graders and it seems like they were just in 6th grade. They are growing leaps and bounds right now, and it is amazing the maturity they are showing. We strive to provide them opportunities for leadership. Their efforts during the 6th grade open house were invaluable. Their matching shirts assured visitors, inspired confidence, and looked good to boot!  Mentoring and peer leadership roles are wonderful motivators at getting those students engaged.

Tom McCracken

Here we go! Week #1 of WMS 2016-17

“Reach Them to Teach Them”

Winfield Middle School

Parent Blog

Issue 1

August 15, 2016

2016-17

Welcome Back

Even in PE Class, students and teachers were building connections, looking for common themes about life and reaching for teaching.  Day 1 here shows Coach sharing with some of our students.  Frontloading like this prepares the students to listen, relate to and trust their teachers sooner allowing greater things to be done later in the year.  By building these types of relationships, students and staff benefit from the tighter connections and trust.

Kickoff

It was truly spell-binding to see this team work together as we transitioned into this new school year.  The Middle School is really working to get ourselves #onthemap by #ReaachingThemToTeachThem.

Technology

The One to One program has a few details needing attention.  As digital natives, we want to embrace, endorse and ensure all our students have proper training in cyber issues, including security, cyber footprints and cyber manners.  To facilitate this awareness, the District is providing laptop computers for all middle and high school students in the 2016-17 school year and will base lessons and learning from the chromebook platform.

• An Informational Parent Meeting will be held at the Middle School for the parents of families receiving the laptops next Monday, August 22, at 5:30 PM.
• Both Middle School and High School parents will be welcome.
• Details to be discussed are as follows:
• All students may be loaned a laptop for the year.
• They must return their SIGNED PARENTAL AGREEMENT to take a computer home.
• They will be responsible for the devices, charging, bringing it to class, and security.
• All students will need to log onto a desktop computer to reauthorize and reset their passwords before the chromebook will work for them. Mrs. Hines is currently working to set this up in all ELA classes for the students.
• There will be an optional insurance policy for $30 that allows us to repair accidental damages for up to two claims per computer per school year.
• This fee is payable by September 2nd.
• The ELA classes will work with the library staff to hand them out accurately.
• We will issue them in order: 8th, 7th, & then 6th graders,with authorized paperwork.

This Week

Monday

• First day of practice for ALL Fall sports
• Physicals MUST be turned in before students are even allowed to practice.
• Stacy Diederich and Robert James will be here after school to assist collecting/organizing the student physicals
• Middle School Cheer Practice at the Intermediate Gym at 3:00-4:30.

Tuesday

• Winfield Board of Education Meeting, 6:30 at Central Office
• Middle School Cheer Practice at the Intermediate Gym at 3:00-4:30.

Wednesday

• Early Release Day
• Students staying at school will be expected to work on homework, read and remain under adult supervision while at school.  
• Students may also return home if transportation back to school can be arranged.
• Athletes need the days to practice before their first contests so attendance is vital.

Thursday

• PICTURE DAY FOR STUDENTS - These photos will go into the composite poster, the yearbook, ID Badges, and are available for ordering.  Dress nice.  Dress for success.
• Click here to order...   http://wagner.digitaleventpics.com/SC/index.cfm?fuseaction=EventLoad&eid=30096526&sn=WinfieldMS2016FallPictureOrderForm307866&fn=StLouisMO
• Middle School Cheer Practice at the Intermediate Gym at 3:00-4:30.

Communication:  From the Middle School, there are multiple methods of communication.

• DAILY EMAIL ANNOUNCEMENTS from our office share the direct upcoming events, plans, attendance data and inspirational messages.  Please call (636-668-8001)  or email (kristingross@winfield.k12.mo.us) the office to ensure you receive these regular announcements.
• A WEEKLY BLOG is also published to share an overview of upcoming events and perspectives of the  Middle School through the Public Relations Team. Links to this blog will come from REMIND, Facebook and Twitter.
• To subscribe to REMIND, text @mrmccracke to 81010 from your cell service.  This blind blast service allows you to get updates and links directly as they happen.
• Follow us on our Winfield Middle School facebook Page.  (MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT MISTAKENLY FOLLOWING THE KANSAS OR WEST VIRGINIA SCHOOLS)
• Follow Mr McCracken on Twitter @mrmccracken63 for any school or educational related topics as well.
• TEACHERS TOOLS:
• Teachers use SIS to update grades weekly.  The 3 week period between progress reports may not be enough feedback for some students so we will increase our gradebook updates.

• Many Teachers have REMIND accounts and will send reminders about assignments, tests and projects to those interested parents that have registered.
• Phone, email and even some text messages are frequent services we use.
• Calls to the office may be directed to emails or message taking.  Few staff have a voice mail so email is often the best way to correspond.

And yet, even after all of this, we sometimes hear things like, “I did not know that!”  Therefore, this year we want our communication to be streamlined but complete.  Frequent but not redundant. Pertinent yet sufficient.  Entertaining while vital.  Feedback, interaction and ongoing growth is our goal as we strive to be #thatschool filled with #thoseteachers trying to reach #EVERYCHILD.

“Car Riders and Walkers”

It looks like some students got a mighty big ride home on the first day of school this year.  Found in the gravel lot, this “Cool Truck” inspired many students to get a selfie!

Conclusion

Stay in touch this year.  Shortly, we will be planning an upgrade to our Pepsi with the Principal meetings.  The new format will be PIZZA, PEPSI AND THE PRINCIPAL.  Details will follow.

Tom McCracken