Madison Middle School

By barsotti_p 　https://blogs.4j.lane.edu/madisonstaff/2022/09/19/september-16-2022/

Dear Madison Staff,

First Full week is in the books! Greeting our students in the morning is one of my very favorite things. Some share big smiles as they walk in, while others look like they’re still half-asleep. But they’re here and ready for big things.

It sounds like people are mostly in one of two camps – either things are going well and you’re wondering if you’re in the honeymoon period or you’re making new seating charts and focusing hard on routines and expectations. The beginning of the year can be incredibly hard. If you need support, need to vent, or want another pair of eyes in the room, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help!

MADISON INFORMATION         

• Affinity Groups:  We are going to be starting Affinity Groups soon.  As we talked about on Friday, if you are someone that wants to be a facilitator or co-facilitator, please let me know.  We are looking for someone to facilitate our BSU.  When they are scheduled, they will show up on the Zimbra calendar.  
• Backpacks: At the end of last week, I started to see small non-string backpacks in the hallway.  If you see them in your room, please invite the student to go put it in their locker.  If they refuse, please email Gina and/or Peter and we will deal with it.  You can keep the student in your room for the period and hopefully we will have it solved before the next period.
• EasyCBM: Our fall benchmarking window is now open through October. Our goal is to have students finished with testing by September 30. Linked here is a document with testing windows this year, which assessments need to be given, and how to access and use the EasyCBM website. It also includes information for new teacher accounts.     
• Staff Shout Outs – 
  • Audrey – She always says, “yes.”  She is now doing the afternoon attendance. 
  • Beth – Following Ms. T’s footsteps is a difficult job but she has decided to walk next to the footsteps and I have really enjoyed working with her.   
• Religious Holiday Accommodations: High Holy Days Here is some important information about the High Holy Days as you begin to plan your Fall 2022 events:

1. 1. Rosh Hashanah – Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset on Sunday, September 25, 2022. Rosh Hashanah ends at nightfall on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. Most observant families will be in services on Monday. Some will go on Tuesday.
   2. Yom Kippur – Yom Kippur begins at sunset on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 and ends at nightfall on Wednesday, October 5, 2022. Many families will be in services and/or out of school on Wednesday. 

• • Tests and assessments of any kind, would not be a good choice on these days as many families will be observing the High Holy Days. 

DISTRICT INFORMATION                    
       

• Love Food Not Waste Lunch Composting: In the next few weeks, we will implement the Love Food Not Waste program at lunch. Students will be asked to S.O.R.T. their lunch – Separate organics (food products), reusables (silverware, trays), and trash (non-recyclables & liquids).
  • Linked here is a folder of resources from Tana Shepard about the program. 
  • Once we’re ready to launch, these slides help introduce students to the program.  
  • More information to come…

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND OTHER INFORMATION

• Squats, Lunges, and Phonemes: This article from Edutopia shows how one teacher uses kinesthetic movement to help kids get moving while also segmenting and blending words. Whether doing squats, lunges, or push-ups, they’re combining essential foundational reading skills with physical movement.

Looking Ahead:

Have a wonderful week!

Gina and Peter