Faculty News December 17

Autrey Mill Faculty News    

December 17, 2012

 

 

News/Timelines/Due Dates

Educators are Heroes – I know we all watched with horror as the scene unfolded in the elementary school in Connecticut.  The amazing sacrifice the principal, psychologist and the teachers made was incredible, but not surprising.  I have no doubt that everyone in this building would have done the same thing.  That is what we do.  Beyond all the worries about TKES, meetings, testing, engagement, technology, etc., we first and foremost are here for the students.  Keep an eye and ear out this week for how they may be responding to the tragedy.  Read the letter I sent out and consult the counselors if needed.

Farewell – It is with mixed emotions that I let you know that Nathalie Bernstein is leaving us to go to North Springs High School.  This was a difficult decision for her but the opportunity to teach high school children is something she has wanted to try.  We wish her the very best.  Kerri McCoy will be taking her place and we will be hiring for the sixth grade position.

Cafeteria Amnesty! - Dec. 17 – 19 is Cafeteria Amnesty Week.  If you have glasses, trays, silverware, anything that you‘ve accumulated throughout the semester, drop it off BEFORE 2:15 any day. No questions asked. Please don’t wait until you are leaving for break to put dirty dishes in the dish room or (teacher break room). We have to have everything clean and signed off on before 3:30pm on 12-19.

Great use of technology – Mandi Mitchell shared this.  Last night, Kenny opened up a Today’s Meet online for his students to join at from 9-10 to answer questions for the kids!  He logged on at 8:45 and stayed until 10:20.  I joined in after a while when he told me about it and helped since there were so many kids on asking questions.  Great idea Kenny and way to meet the needs of your students in helping them study for the final exam!

Employee Excellence Coin – Diane Merdinger receives the coin this month for all the great work she does with her department, her students, and with the parents of our students.  She is an outstanding leader and educator.

Where is Livingston?

Lynn Shiver says, “My next door neighbor, Debra Clark, personifies the word “commitment.”  She is committed to her family, her work, and her values. She has worked very hard to ensure that her children have college degrees….and many of us know that that doesn’t “just happen.” She works many hours taking care of our data needs, and she is so committed to having Autrey Mill’s data records be perfect that she often takes work home and even completes things on a deadline when she is sick! Her work ethic is exemplary, and she even finds time to help me when I “punch the wrong buttons” on my computer and think I have lost everything!! Debra is also a fabulous cook, and she is generous about sharing her specialties at every celebration we have. I hope Debra enjoys having Livingston as much as I have enjoyed passing him along to her!”

Happy Birthday

David Buice                December 18

Cristy Ray                   December 19

Deborah White          December 25

Kristen Barksdale     December 26

Elizabeth Ferree        December 26

Mandi Mitchell           December 26

Kathleen Outlaw        December 27

Stephanie Purcell      December 29

Sharon Grissom        January 4

 

 

Faculty News, December 10, 2012

 

Autrey Mill Faculty News    

December 10, 2012

“The real contest is always between what you’ve done and what you’re capable of doing.  You measure yourself against yourself and nobody else.”

Geoffrey Gaberino

 

News/Timelines/Due Dates

Zoll Celebration – It seems like yesterday when my son Andrew was in middle school.  I distinctly remember, as does he, the teachers who made an impact on him, not just academically, but because they took time to build that relationship.  Next Friday, we will be in the promised land (Athens, GA!) watching him graduate from THE University of Georgia!!  I know many of you have important celebrations like this in your families.  Feel free to send them to me so I can share with the staff.

Let Me Know – It is important that we celebrate all the great things happening here at AMMS.  If your club or your team has an accomplishment, please type up a summary so I can share with the staff.  Also, if you want to send a shout out to someone please send that to me also.

ITBS Results Are Here – AMMS continues to do very well on the ITBS as evidenced by recent results.  Congratulations to everyone!  Here is a summary:

            Reading                      79        second in county behind River Trail (81)

            Math                           83        second in county behind River Trail (83)

            Language                   77        third in county but highest grade was 80!

            Social Studies             80        tied for first in county with guess who?

            Science                       83        FIRST IN COUNTY!

Holiday Party – I hope you are all planning to attend our holiday party on December 13^th.  I know it is a busy time of year and we are all stressed but this is a great time to relax, talk and celebrate.  Let Laura Hunter know that you plan to attend.

WASH YOUR HANDS!!  The Flu has made a very early appearance this year.  Sonya and Sheila want to remind how important it is to wash your hands!!

Sam’s Club - The representative from Sam’s Club will be in the teacher lunchroom  on Tuesday, December 11^th from 11:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.  You can join or renew your membership during this time.

Shout Out:  Mr. Shearer wanted to take a moment to commend the math teachers for all of their hard work this year.  They have a new curriculum this year and have been give very few resources to assist in their teaching of the new curriculum.  They’ve been working long hours to create those resources and plan engaging lessons for their students.  Great work math teachers!!  Your hard work and long hours are greatly appreciated!!  

PRIDE -  Thanks for encouraging students to participate in the service project this year donating to North Fulton Charities with our “Stock the House” project.  It was a success!  If you have not delivered your Random Act of Kindness paper chains to Fran Meredith, please do so. 

As you are cleaning up rooms at the end of the semester, please return any leftover PRIDE supplies that you might have to your PRIDE liaison.  This would be only items that we can reuse for next year please.  This week PRIDE will not meet due to exams.  PRIDE will resume on January 11, 2013 with a silent reading day. Happy Holidays!

Health Insurance: The deadline to file a Wellness Appeal is January 31, 2013.  The Wellness Appeal is for people who had completed all the components of the Wellness Promise, but for whatever reason did not get credit for completion. Anyone who still needs to appeal can go to www.myfultonbenefits.com and click the GREEN button.  The instructions and form are on the Welcome page.

AMMS Shirts:  We are planning another shirt order.  Men's sizes are S-6XL and women's sizes are S-3XL.  The cost to you is $26.00 per shirt.  Send Beth,  vanriper@fultonschools.org, an email if you would like to order a shirt.

Where is Livingston?

Jeanetta Lewis says, “I would like to pass Livingston on to Lyn Shiver.  Lyn works hard every day to ensure that all students have what they need to succeed.  I have seen her work with students with organizational needs, prepare for Career Day, work with SAT, take parents on tours, and cover her peers’ duties when they have a conflict. Her welcoming smile and patience put everyone at ease.  Her experience at other schools, along with her willingness to embrace new ideas for our school, makes her a very valued member of our learning community. She could not be more deserving to have Livingston in her midst.”

Happy Birthday

Shaby Bedi-Rehal                  December 1

Marisa Wesker                      December 11

 

Autrey Mill Faculty News    

December 3, 2012

“The real contest is always between what you’ve done and what you’re capable of doing.  You measure yourself against yourself and nobody else.”

Geoffrey Gaberino

News/Timelines/Due Dates

Holiday Party – I hope you are all planning to attend our holiday party on December 13^th.  I know it is a busy time of year and we are all stressed but this is a great time to relax, talk and celebrate.  Let Laura Hunter know that you plan to attend

Parade! –Marion and I had the joy of riding the Teacher of the Year Trolley in the Johns Creek Parade this past Saturday morning!!

Lunch Time Fire Drills - I know the fire drill during lunch caused some alarm (no pun intended).  When you think about it, it is very possible that a fire might break out in the kitchen during lunch, and we can't schedule that on a calendar.  It was important to see what might happen if such an emergency occurred and what we might need to do change our emergency process.  Many of you responded quickly and went to the scene to help supervise.  Thank you very much.

Parent Requests – This will run in the Lions Roar for the next few weeks and you need to be aware: 

Student Recommendations and EvaluationsTo better assist in the completion and return of student recommendations and evaluations, please use the following procedure when asking teachers or staff members to complete paperwork related to private/magnet schools, sports, medical evaluations, etc.

1.    Bring paperwork to the counseling office. Include student name, grade level, list of people needing to provide information, and $5.00 per person/school to which the information should be sent. The fee covers all copying and mailing expenses.  This fee is waived when applying to North Springs High and Riverwood High.

2.    The counseling office will distribute/collect the paperwork to/from the appropriate teachers. We’ll also copy any additional information that may be requested, i.e. test scores, transcripts, discipline records, etc.

3.    Paperwork will be mailed directly to the person, group or school for whom the information is requested. It will not be returned to the student/parent/guardian.

4.    Please allow at least five business days for all student recommendations and evaluations to be completed.

If you have questions, please contact the AMMS Counseling Office.

Tutors - Meeting with parents who ask about tutors?  Direct them to the AMMS Guidance website- located under the “Student” link on the school homepage.  There, they will find a list of AMMS teachers available as tutors and a list of outside resources.  The direct link to the Guidance site is http://autreymillcounseling.wordpress.com/ .

PRIDE -  This Friday PRIDE will be an advisement lesson.  We are wrapping up our “Stock the House” community service project with North Fulton Community Charities.  All collections should be in by this Friday.  The lesson for this week will be a reflection on the community service project and how students can make an impact others.  We will be doing Random Acts of Kindness chains.  Each grade level will receive a different color of paper to create the chains.  Teachers will need to cut the paper into strips.  You will receive the lesson and paper in team meetings this week.

Concert Announcement:  You’re Invited!!!! – This Thursday, December 6^th, the AMMS Band, Chorus, and Orchestra will present their annual winter concert.  There are two performance times:  6:00PM & 7:30PM.  The performance will be the same both times but we have to have two shows to accommodate our many audience members.  This is a busy time of year but this concert is always a favorite.  We hope to see you there to celebrate the sounds of the season!

Health Insurance: The deadline to file a Wellness Appeal is January 31, 2013.  The Wellness Appeal is for people who had completed all the components of the Wellness Promise, but for whatever reason did not get credit for completion. Anyone who still needs to appeal can go to www.myfultonbenefits.com and click the GREEN button.  The instructions and form are on the Welcome page.

AMMS Shirts:  We are planning another shirt order.  Men's sizes are S-6XL and women's sizes are S-3XL.  The cost to you is $26.00 per shirt.  Send Beth,  vanriper@fultonschools.org, an email if you would like to order a shirt.

Common Core Sources:  The Assessment Department has updated its portal with new resources to better support teachers with understanding the CCGPS.  Please feel free to utilize these and other resources, as needed.  Follow the link below to access a plethora of additional ELA & Math support materials for your teachers, as well.

If you need assistance or have questions, please contact Assessment at 404-763-5600.

Middle School ELA:  http://georgiaelaccgps6-8.wikispaces.com/

Middle School Math:  http://ccgpsmathematics6-8.wikispaces.com/

High School ELA:  http://elaccgps9-12.wikispaces.com/

High School Math:  http://ccgpsmathematics9-10.wikispaces.com/

Path:  Employee Portal – Accountability – SAMS/Achievement Series – Assessment Resources

 

Where is Livingston?

Kathy Nagle says “I would like to pass Livingston on to Jeanetta Lewis.  She has been such a welcome addition to our staff.  Since her first day at Autrey Mill she has worked extremely hard to learn her new position and is doing an excellent job.  She is always seen working closely with students, parents, teachers, and staff to help increase students’ learning productivity.  She will not hesitate to go above and beyond to help solve any problem and always with a smile on her face.  Jeanetta’s sweet personality and pleasant outlook is contagious and makes working with her a pleasure.  The Livingston award could not be with a more deserving individual.”

Happy Birthday

Deirdre Hayes           December 8