Faculty News March 24

Autrey Mill Faculty News    

March 24, 2013

“It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them.  They went out and happened to things.”

-Elinor Smith

News/Timelines/Due Dates

Have a Wonderful Spring Break!  Since tomorrow is the walk-a-thon, you can wear jeans.  Since Wednesday is the day after the walk-a-thon, you can wear jeans.  Since Thursday is the last Thursday that will ever happen in March of 2013, you can wear jeans.  Of course, you can wear jeans on Friday.

 

PRIDE –Friday, March 29^th PRIDE will be an advisement class.  First, we need the students to fill out a quick survey asking their input on a possible new connections class.  The topic will be the CRCT.  Each grade level has a different lesson to help prepare them for this upcoming testing event.  The 6^th grade will discuss what the CRCT is about and the mechanics of the test including testing length, studying for the test, and common testing mistakes.  There is a power point presentation that 6^th grade PRIDE teachers will need.  It is located in the PRIDE folder under CRCT.  Ask your PRIDE liaisons to help you locate it if you need assistance.  7^th grade will review background information about the CRCT and take a preparation for testing quiz.  8^th grade will discuss more about how to relax during the test and avoid testing anxiety as well as following directions.  ALL students will be writing the testing dates in their agendas.

 

Noteworthy News:  Congratulations to both the 7^th & 8^th grade bands for outstanding performances at this year’s LGPE event.  This performance is the equivalent of the CRCT for Bands.  It is a really big deal!  Both ensembles received straight superiors on the stage performance and in sight reading.  This is the highest rating that you can receive.  Please congratulate these students when you see them for their hard work and great.

Science Fair: Sophie Spiegel attended the state science fair in Athens at UGA this past weekend. She was awarded 2nd place honors.

Writing Scores:  Eight grade writing scores are back and 98% of our students met or exceeded the standards.  That is the highest percentage in the last four years.  Twenty one percent of students exceeded the standards.

 

Where is Livingston?  Deborah White says” Natalie Smith is the person I want to pass Livingston to.  One of the best things about Livingston is that it is an opportunity to recognize those who quietly and tirelessly do a great job every day regardless of who is watching.  The person I pass Livingston to is soft-spoken, but firm, patient beyond words, and remains positive while working with some of our most frustrating students.  She is always quick to smile, and is more flexible than anybody I know on staff.  She has taught math, social studies, study skills, and reading sometimes all in the same school year, as well as multiple grade levels.  This year to help her students she sought additional instruction in early childhood reading strategies and has implemented, The Café approach to literacy in her resources classes.  If you visit one of her resource reading classes you will be blown away.  She will be conferencing with students on their reading goals while other students are working in stations to improve their literacy, some listening to works on tape, others using the computer to practice their fluency and measure their progress.

I am proud to pass Livingston on to Natalie Smith who truly deserves to be recognized for going above and beyond in pursuit of meaningful instruction for her students.

Happy Birthday

Fran Meredith           March 26

Ingrid Hedlund          March 27
Liz Grage                    March 29
Morgan Jacobs          March 31
Maria Purwin             April 5

Faculty News, March 18, 2013

Autrey Mill Faculty News    

March 18, 2013

“The achievement of your goal is assured the moment you commit yourself to it.”

-Mack R. Douglas

 

News/Timelines/Due Dates

Passover/Good Friday – Please keep in mind that Passover occurs for our Jewish families next week.  Both the nights of Monday 3/25 and Tuesday 3/26, families celebrate with a Seder service and meal at their homes.   We may also have students out on Good Friday, 3/39, a significant day for our Christian families.

Another baby!! – Mandi Mitchell and her husband are expecting their first child.

Rock Eagle – Thanks go to Julie Ferris and Erin Villaume for the planning and implementation of the trip to Rock Eagle.  The kids had a great adventure.  Thanks also to Fran for being the on-site administrator and to all of the chaperones who made the trip so memorable for the kids.

PRIDE –We will meet  Friday, March 22^nd with Silent Reading.

News from Debra -

HOMEROOM TEACHERS

You have schedules in your mailboxes – Please distribute them in Homeroom.

Course Verifications are due back to Nan on Tuesday March 19^th.  You should place them in her door in Alpha order.

ALL TEACHERS,

You have your grade verifications in your mailboxes.  Please review according to the directions on the Grade Verification Form.  These (the grade verifications and signed the grade verification form) are due back to me by Tuesday, March 19^th at 1:00 p.m.

CONNECTIONS TEACHERS

Please remember to print your 3^rd Qtr Spreadsheet from TAC.  Directions below - J

Run the following for each of your 3^rd Qtr Classes

·         Click on Score link for3rd Qtr

·         Click on Printable

·         Click on Print

Thanks for all you do and your patience last week with the numerous emails.  Definitely a CRAZY week for the DC…..

Have a Marvelous Monday and Great Week!

 

TAG  - As you finalize your grades for the nine weeks, make sure you have checked TAG students for probation and dismissal status.  Students who have an average below 80% should be placed on probation.  If they do not bring up their grade by the end of the semester, they should be placed in OL for the next school year.

Students who have been on probation for this nine weeks and have not brought up their average, should be dismissed and moved to OL.  Please email your grade level administrator for any schedule changes and send home the dismissal letter to be signed and returned.

Where is Livingston -
Danielle Sherfey says "There are so many deserving staff here at AMMS that have been or should be recognized, but this person is someone who stands out to me every time I think about an individual who is hardworking, passionate, and committed to their students. That person is Deborah White. From helping students understand responsibility, assisting teachers with accommodating the students who need extra support, educating parents on those accommodations, contributing to the RTI process and teaching 6^th grade reading, Deborah does them all with a smile and flawlessly. She is always there to give advice to students, other teachers and parents about how to contribute to better students’ development and promote a positive learning/home environment. Deborah has a WONDERFUL relationship with all students she comes in contact with throughout the year. She lets them know her expectations and holds them to it, while rewarding them when they do a good job. She is wonderful to work with and provides knowledge, along with many strategies, to help teachers become better educators.

 I am excited to pass Livingston on to her to acknowledge what a wonderful  and valuable part of AMMS she is!"

 

Happy Birthday

Mary Ann Mokhemar           March 19
Daniel Quinn                          March 20
Debra Anderson                   March 20
Rayna Helton                         March 20
Kailey Pullen                          March 22
Ashley Sutton                         March 24       

Faculty News, March 11

 

Autrey Mill Faculty News    

March 11, 2013

“The achievement of your goal is assured the moment you commit yourself to it.”

-Mack R. Douglas

 

News/Timelines/Due Dates

Recommendations – Reminder- ALL recommendation forms need to be processed through the counseling office.  This includes recommendation requests for cheerleading and other sport/club activities.  Have the students drop the required forms off with Unnur or their grade level counselor. 

Welcome – Welcome to Warner Williams.  He is our new custodian.  Please make him feel welcome.

PRIDE – PRIDE will not meet this Friday, March 15^th due to the teacher workday.  We will meet again next Friday, March 22^nd with Silent Reading.

Tech Fair Winners - Autrey Mill Middle School Computer Tech Club did very well at the Georgia Technology Fair on Saturday, March 9th at Macon State College.

Victoria Chen and Monica Tang, placed First in Internet Applications

William Sullivan placed Third in Non-Multimedia

Music Notes:  Just a reminder that the 7^th & 8^th grade Bands will be attending LGPE on March 21^st.  The 7^th grade Band will leave at 8:45AM and return around 2:30PM.  The 8^th grade Band will leave around 9:30AM and return around 5:00PM.  Rosters with student names will be sent soon.

Tag Teacher Grant - See below for a chance to get a grant from the Fulton County Supporters of the Gifted

Tag Testing - There will be a group of 6^th and 8^th graders TAG testing on Tuesday at 9:00 in Shaby’s room.  Homeroom teachers have received testing passes in their boxes and grade levels have been sent a list of students involved.

There will also be some small group make-up testing.  You probably won’t get much notice that this is taking place.  Sorry about that, but it will have to be worked into Dana’s planning schedule.

Where is Livingston?

Lisa Gasser says:  I was so humbled to have had Livingston passed on to me this past week.  There are so many deserving of Livingston.  It is in that spirit of recognizing those who are deserving that I am passing Livingston on to Danielle Sherfey.  She is dedicated and passionate about the success of her students, as well as her colleagues.  She is one of the hardest-working people I have ever known, is always professional, and has limitless ideas, which she always generously shares so that others can be successful, too.  She will be terribly missed during her absence while having Aria, but know her, she will still try to involve herself with the progress of her students, which is why she will be missed and is so deserving of Livingston.

Happy Birthday

Betsy Skalet               March 12
Dan Kearney              March 12
Cedric Dunans           March 13

 

TAG TEACHER GRANT PROGRAM

Fulton County Supporters of the Gifted, in an effort to support the  Fulton County School’s TAG teachers, makes available grants of up to $300 each for special projects for the classroom.  The intent of subsidizing these projects is to enhance the education of gifted children in Fulton County. 

Applications must be postmarked by April 1, 2013 and mailed to:                                         FCSG:  teacher mini-grants
                                P.O. Box 768321
                                Roswell, GA 30076

Applications will be judged by a committee of FCSG Board members and checks will be distributed in August.  Grant recipients may be requested to provide a summary of their project outcome at a meeting of FCSG, as well as in a FCSG newsletter.

 

Please provide the following information in your application:

Applicant Name(s):
School Name:
School Phone:
Title of Project or Software:

Amount Requested:
Number of Students who will be served:
Grade Level(s) served:

*Purpose of Project or Software: (include situation, need or condition which prompted the application for these funds)

*Goals of the Project: (include a clear statement of the overall aim for the project or software)

*Evaluation of Effectiveness of Project or Software: (include methodology to evaluate effectiveness of meeting goals)

• FCSG Grants awarded only to TAG teachers in Fulton County to be used in the 2013-14 school year. 
• Grants awarded only to current members of FCSG.
• If applying for software or any technology materials, you must include a note from local school Technology Specialist stating he/she is willing and able to load/support this software or technology material.
• For any videos requested, you must include a note from your local school Media Specialist approving the use of the video.
• All materials requested must support the current TAG-office approved curriculum. 

Faculty News, March 4, 2013

Autrey Mill Faculty News    

March 4, 2013

“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.”

-Henry Ford

News/Timelines/Due Dates

WELCOME BACK ELLEN!!

 

Rock Eagle Chaperones – 7^th Grade Rock Eagle Chaperone Meeting 

Wednesday, March 6^th        7:45 AM    Julie Ferris’ Room   A180  

Great excuse not to cook – Chick-fil-a nights are Tuesday through Thursday this week!  Stop by and support one of our business partners.

 

Professional employee of the year - I will be sending out another email for you to vote on our professional employee of the year.  Based on your nominations we have two outstanding candidates, but unfortunately, we can only select one.  The nominees are Ped Hunt and Kathy Nagle. 

Pride - On Friday, March 8^th,  we will be doing our 2^nd student choice lesson.  We received lots of positive feedback about the choice lessons and are glad to hear they are going well.  As a reminder, topics include Cyber Bullying, Making Good Choices, Self-Advocacy, Teasing and Harassment, Top Ten Middle School Issues, or Honesty.  Copies of each lesson will be in the mailroom for you to pick up.  You should be completing a different lesson than you did two weeks ago.  Looking ahead……………we will not meet next week, March 15^th as it is a teacher workday but will return with PRIDE on March 22^nd with silent reading.

Where is Livingston?

Robyn Magnussen says… I have chosen to pass Livingston on to Lisa Gasser. Lisa is one of those teachers who takes everything in stride, never sweats the small stuff and always has a smile for her students and colleagues. She leads by example and always goes the extra mile for students and colleagues. Lisa approaches every day as an opportunity to help others succeed. She not only recognizes the smallest achievements of her students; she brags “very loudly” (as one my kids shared) to the whole class about it! I appreciate her support and her “never give up” attitude.

Happy Birthday

Cindy Smith                March 7