Facutly News 1/30/12

Autrey Mill Faculty News     

January 30, 2012

“If man is called to be a streetsweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo. Painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry.  He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well.”

  Martin Luther King, Jr.

News/Timelines/Due Dates

·         Debra Clark will be placing your rosters and the roster verification sheet in your mailboxes on Thursday, February 2nd.  Please review your rosters and follow the directions on the "PINK" verification sheet.  Once you have completed the process, return the "PINK" VERIFICATION SHEET AND "ROSTERS" to Debra by Friday, February 3rd.  Debra has stapled the "PINK" sheet with your name in bold printed on it to your rosters.

·         Our chorus and orchestra were outstanding in their performances in Savannah this weekend.  Both received standing ovations.  Bel Canto performed at Christ Church on Friday night and the Orchestra played Saturday morning at the convention center.  Thanks again to Christy and Tim for all their hard work.  Wendy Milstead also conducted a jazz piece!

A mighty roar!

·         To Michelle Hains for her incredible support of so many things here at AMMS.  The good luck posters on student lockers before a game, attendance at numerous games and functions, and this weekend, helping to chaperone the orchestra in Savannah, are just several examples of her support.

 Where is Livingston?  Ped Hunt states, “I would like to pass Livingston on to Michael Harrell. Michael has been instrumental in helping me get accustomed to the Lion’s way of life. I appreciate his efforts to ensure that my transition to Autrey Mill was a smooth one. Michael is always available to answer any questions I have regarding the tremendous use of technology throughout the school.”  We agree!

Happy Birthday

Nathalie Bernstein      February 1

Sarah Wade                February 3

Faculty Focus 1/23/12

Autrey Mill Faculty Focus        

January 23, 2012

“When written in Chinese, the word “crisis” is composed of two characters-one represents danger, and other represents opportunity.”

  Saul David Alinsky

News/Timelines/Due Dates

WE ARE GOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

·         The Single Statewide Accountability System (SSAS) recognition program awarded 38 Fulton County schools – an increase from the previous year’s 34 schools – in two categories, Greatest Gains and Highest Performance.  Those in the Highest Performance category demonstrated the highest achievement on the CRCT or GHSGT. Awards are granted in four levels: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze.  Autrey Mill received the gold designation this year!

·         Congratulations to our three finalists for teacher of the year.  They are  Gemma DeVita, Marian Edmonds, and Marisa Wesker.

·         Buck Greene, principal at Johns Creek sent the following thank you. In January’s Atlanta Magazine, the annual list of Metro-Atlanta’s 50 Best Public High Schools is featured.  Johns Creek High School is in the Top Ten List at number 8.   “Thank you for the hard work done by all at your schools daily.  These rankings and titles are always a cluster effort!  Please share our pride in everyone at Dolvin, Medlock Bridge, Wilson Creek, Barnwell, River Trail and Autrey Mill for their part in the cluster effort that resulted in the placement in the rankings.  KUDOS! “

·         PRIDE - This week in PRIDE we will continue silent reading in conjunction with test talks.  Remind your students to bring a silent reading book next week as well.  Please make sure all students are participating in silent reading only.  They should not be playing games or any other activities.

·         I will be in Savannah on Friday and Saturday to hear Bel Canto and the orchestra at the GMEA conference.  It is quite an honor for them to be selected to perform and I am very excited to be there to hear them perform.

·         Congratulations to our Academic Bowl Team who finished fifth out of 150 teams and the state semi-finals this past week.  Special thanks to Erin and Rob for the many hours they have spent with our team.

A mighty roar!

·         To Gemma DeVita and the rest of the multicultural night committee for a very fun night on Thursday.  Kudos to Beatriz Gyori  for her outstanding job as MC!

 Where is Livingston?    Wendy Milstead states “This week I am passing Livingston to Ped Hunt.  Ped is such an important member of our school and helps all of us with our technology needs each and every day.  I believe the first time I met Ped was through a to-do list of technology needs for mini-camp and he completed each item with ease and right on time.  Since then, Ped is always willing to lend a hand, track down software, set up a presentation, change out toner, or work on a computer until everything is just right.  His availability, willingness to help (even at a moment’s notice), and patience are greatly appreciated.  We are a technologically active school and Ped has done a great job becoming part of the Autrey Mill team making him deserving of this honor.  Congratulations and thanks for all your help Ped!

We agree! What deserving staff member will he visit next?

Happy Birthday

Diane Merdinger  1/23

Marion Edmonds  1/25

Nasim Kapadia  1/26

Kenny Ludlow 1/27

Ashley Baer 1/28

Barbara Paulson 1/29

Lisa Gasser 1/29

Faculty Focus 1/17/12

Autrey Mill Faculty Focus        

January 17, 2012

“If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astonish ourselves.”

  Thomas Edison

News/Timelines/Due Dates

·         For PRIDE this Friday, we will do silent reading in conjunction with test talks.  There are a few revisions to how test talks will run that will help streamline the process.  More details (if you have not already received them) will come at grade level meetings.  As a heads up, the next few weeks will be silent reading days to complete the test talks in consecutive weeks so please tell your students to bring a silent reading book next week as well.

·         Multicultural Night is this Thursday and promises to be an outstanding evening!

·         Good luck to our Academic Bowl who will be competing in the Academic Bowl Semi-Finals this weekend in Milledgeville.

·         Congratulations to our basketball teams who beat Haynes Bridge Friday night!

A mighty roar!

·         To Rob Tyo and Ed Clawson for their sponsorship of our Technology Student Association.  Though they did not make it to the state championship this weekend, the students had a great time and learned a great deal.  

 Where is Livingston?  Caren Allen states “I am going to pass Livingston on to Wendy Milstead.  Wendy does such an incredible job with our band students, but also chooses to not only “get involved” but also LEAD other programs in our school such as our PRIDE program and the rising 6^th grade mini-camp.  She is impacting students in every grade in many different ways and is very deserving of this recognition.”  We agree! What deserving staff member will he visit next?

Happy Birthday

Gemma DeVita  1/19

Debra Hermann  1/22

Rob Tyo 1/22

Newsletter 1/9/11

Autrey Mill Faculty Focus        

January 9, 2012

“I believe that single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude.  It is more important than my past, my education, my bankroll, my successes or failures, fame or pain, what other people think of me or say about me, my circumstances, or my position.  Attitude keeps me going or cripples my progress.  It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope.  When my attitudes are right, there is no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me.”  Charles Swindoll

News/Timelines/Due Dates

·         Please bring all your test talk materials to your grade level meeting.

·         Our Academic Bowl was one of the two finalists at the regional competition this past weekend and will go to the state competition in two weeks!!!

·         Cristy and Tim would like to invite you to their Bon Voyage Concert on Thursday, January 12^th at 6:30 PM in the Cafeteria.  For those not aware, both the 8^th grade orchestra and the Bel Canto Chorus were selected to perform at the Georgia Music Educators Association State Conference at the end of the month and have been working very hard all year in preparation.  This concert is a ‘final dress rehearsal’ of sorts for any students, faculty, and parents who will not be able to make it to the performances in Savannah. 

·         Many employees are getting an e-mail message about expired credentials for the required sexual harassment courses. Employees may register for this course again AFTER the expiration date found in their e-mail; however, a repeat of this course is not required until fall, 2012

·         This Friday’s PRIDE session will be an advisory lesson.  The topic will be goal setting.  Students will reflect back on their first semester classes, behaviors, and habits and will create goals for the 2^nd semester.  This lesson will set up test talk conversations that begin next week.

·         Wednesday, 1/11 will be the last day for students to request schedule changes.

·         ALL NEW TEACHERS need to meet with Dana Griffin on Thursday at 8:00 in her room for a quick overview of the C.I.S.S. process, which is used to identify potential TAG students.

A mighty roar!

·         To Elizabeth Foley for her excellent intervention with one of her students who was having difficulties with behavior in a team-taught classroom. Elizabeth was able to calmly remove him from the classroom, and after ten minutes, return him to the class with a smile on his face!

·         To Michelle Potts for her enthusiasm in the classroom and ability to make math fun!  She also coordinates our Math Counts program that just received a School Certificate of Honor for outstanding proficiency on the American Mathematics Contest 8.

 Where is Livingston?  Robyn Magnussen has chosen to pass Livingston on to our 6^th grade counselor Caren Allen. Caren is a team player who willingly helps wherever she can. She has taken on the task of working with JCHS to bring the 1-2-1 Peer Tutoring program to our school and volunteers to stay after school every Wednesday to facilitate the program. This program has had a significant impact on several students both academically and socially. She is also working to bring the Rachel’s Challenge program to AMMS in hopes of helping our students create a permanent positive culture in our school. We are fortunate to have Caren at AMMS!  We agree!

 What deserving staff member will he visit next?

Happy Birthday

David Buice  1/12

Jade Suh 1/15