Faculty News April 29, 2013

 

Autrey Mill Faculty News    

April 29, 2013

“You get the best out of others when you get the best out of yourself.”

-Harvey Firestone

 

News/Timelines/Due Dates

All homeroom teachers

Report cards have been placed in your mailboxes for review.  Please make sure there is a comment (if applicable) and a conduct for every student.  All corrections are due back to Debra by no later than 4:00 p.m. today.

Eighth Grade Teachers:  You will get sealed envelopes with the writing test scores to send home with the progress reports. 

6^th and 7^th grade homeroom teachers ONLY

You will find Student Contact Information sheets in your mailbox.  Please make sure you have a sheet for each of your students.  Please attach these sheets to the student’s progress report.  These sheets are due back to Debra when the students return the signed progress reports.  You may turn these in as soon as they are returned to you.  You do not have to wait until you get all of them J.

All Teachers

You will find the Attendance Verification for the 8^th attendance month in your mailbox.  Please complete the attendance verification process beginning Wednesday, May 1^st. The dates to enter, Start Date (3/27/2013) and End Date(4/30/2013), are noted on the bottom of the verification form.  These are due back to Debra by 4:00 p.m. on  Thursday, May 2, 2013.

Facilities Use - If you plan on using the gym or cafeteria during school hours or afterward you will need to fill out a Facility Request form.  You can get one from Carolyn Grimaldi who will reserve the space for you on the school calendar. 

Farewell and Welcome Back – Bill’s last day with us is Wednesday.  He has done a great job, as he had to jump in with TKES observations after being trained the day before he got here!  I know he is going to miss doing those!!!  Welcome back to Sarah on Thursday.  Please help her adjust back to the craziness that the end of the year brings. 

New Head Custodian – Our new head custodian will begin his job on May 1.  Please welcome Francisco Hernandez to the Mill.  Francisco has been the head custodian at Sweet Apple but also worked with me at Wilson Creek.  He is a great person and I know you will make him feel welcome.

PRIDE - This Friday, May 3^rd, PRIDE will be a silent reading day.  Grab your favorite book and enjoy reading!

As we wrap up from last week’s team building exercises, please remember to give your feedback to your PRIDE liaisons.  Don’t forget to return your lesson supplies.  If you have an 8^th grade PRIDE group, please remember to return to your hula-hoops to Malinda Hill in PE.  If you have a 7^th grade PRIDE group, please remember to turn in your bag of mosaic tiles to Lizzie Haber so we will have them for next year.  If you have any other supplies from any other previous PRIDE lessons please return those as well so we can reuse them for next year. 

In looking ahead, Friday, May 10^th will be the last PRIDE meeting.  PRIDE will not meet on May 17^th.  We will have our regular schedule on that day.

Where is Livingston?

Erin Hoerr says, “This week the Livingston award goes to  Amy Pate!  She works diligently to accommodate and support the needs of many challenging students.  Amy is passionate about teaching and she often takes on the role of “school mom” to many of her students, and sometimes even to her colleagues as well.  She is a great sounding board for advice!  From helping students understand accountability to assisting teachers with student accommodations, Amy does it all and never complains.  Over the years, Amy has been involved in various school responsibilities such as business partners, leadership, and the wellness committee.  Amy goes beyond what is expected of her.  For example, as part of the wellness committee she organized a weekly Biggest-Loser-Teacher-Weigh-In and workout program.  Although she may not realize it, she is a coach and a mentor to other teachers.  Thanks for all that you do to make AMMS a fantastic place to work!.”

Happy Birthday

None!!

Faculty News, April 22, 2013

Autrey Mill Faculty News    

April 22, 2013

“Working together, ordinary people can perform extraordinary feats.  They can push things that come into their hands a little higher up, a little further on towards the heights of excellence.”

-Anonymous

News/Timelines/Due Dates

Kudos – to Chris, Fran, and everyone else for the smooth CRCT testing process.

Relay for Life:  Thanks to everyone for your support of the team and the event Friday night.

STAR teacher – Congratulations to Kevin Cown who is one of ten teachers nominated for a “Star Choice Award” as part of the 2013 “Teachers Make a Difference” Awards! This is Georgia United Credit Union & Star94 Radio’s annual recognition program that honors outstanding teachers in our communities.  You can vote for him on the Georgia United website (www.georgiaunitedcu.org) or Star94 website (www.star94.com) April 22-May 3

Save the Date - Thursday, April 25^{th   -} 11:30am - 2:00pm 

Sam’s Club is Offering Faculty and Staff a $10 to $25 Gift Card + Free Gift
when You Join new or Renew Your Sam’s Club Membership!! 

 Upcoming Events:  The event scheduled for this Wednesday with Amplify has been postponed.  Dr. Avossa, however, will be cooking with the Cook's Club on Thursday!

PRIDE - This Friday, April 26^th,  PRIDE returns with an advisement class involving a team building activity.  Hope your groups are up for the challenge!  Each grade level has its own activity but students will be working on their communication and decision making skills as well as activating their HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills).  6^th grade will get creative  with their spelling by using their bodies with the activity “Body English”.  7^th grade will be “Building Mosaics with Hidden Agendas”.  8^th grade will be “Shipwrecked” and avoiding sharks by using hula hoops.  Now that your curiosity has been peaked, make sure you attend your grade level meetings and see your PRIDE liaisons for more information about the lessons.  As always, please share your feedback so improvements can continue to be made to the lessons. 

Where is Livingston?

Liz Grage says, “I am passing Livingston on to a teacher that is cherished by many….especially the 6^th grade.  She is so respected by her peers that she was considered for AMMS teacher of the year.  Erin Hoerr fearlessly takes on responsibilities that contribute towards her students and her coworkers.  She’s worked on academic bowl, leadership and has headed up the 6^th grade Medieval Times field trip as well as a myriad of rolls.  In the classroom Erin’s sets high expectations and follows up with those that are not working to their full potential.  Erin’s effervescent personality is always positive and supportive towards her coworkers, students and their parents. Erin’s ability to see the humor in every situation has made the tough days tolerable and fun.  One example of this is her infamous parent quote “Have A Banana Bunch Day”!  It has been a true pleasure to co-teach with her for the past three years.”

Happy Birthday

Lizzie Haber               April 22
Caren Allen                April 28

Faculty News April 15, 2013

Autrey Mill Faculty News    

April 15, 2013

"An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don't."

-Anatole France

News/Timelines/Due Dates

Relay for Life is this Friday!!  Come support the team beginning at 5:00 at Taylor Road Middle.  WE have reached the silver level for Relay for Life with over $3,800 raised!!!

Upcoming Events:  This Thursday afternoon we will have two Georgia Representatives and other guest visiting the eighth grade Amplify pilot.  On Wednesday, April 24, beginning at 9:30 several key leaders including Joel Klein from Amplify and Dr. Avossa along with CEO’s of some major companies will be here to see the Amplify pilot and participate in a round table discussion on the use of technology in the classroom.   It is possible that the media may be in attendance also!  At the same time, rising sixth graders will be touring the building.

PRIDE will resume this week with silent reading.

 

Where is Livingston?

Barbara Paulson says, “I would like to pass Livingston on to Liz Grage. Liz goes above and beyond the call of duty every day. She is a hard worker at everything she does. Liz arrives at school each day long before the students arrive. She plans out challenging lessons for challenging students. She is committed to helping each one of her students reach their potential and become successful students and citizens. Liz has a wonderful relationship with her students too.  She treats them with kindness, fairness, respect and patience. In fact Liz is one of the most patient and kind people I know, not only with her students but co-workers as well. Being an SEC educator requires a lot of patience, something we all seem to have a little less of these days.

I have shared an office with Liz for the last three years and you couldn’t ask for a better ’officemate’.  She is always doing little things (and big) to help her co-workers out. She always has a positive attitude and really looks to find the best in others. Liz is just as dedicated to helping her colleagues and SEC team as she is her students. She is knowledgeable and professional in all aspects of her job. She is truly an asset to AMMS!”

Happy Birthday

Jaimal Page                April 16

Faculty News, April 8, 2013

Autrey Mill Faculty News    

April 8, 2013

“I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself.”

-Mikhail Baryshnikov

 

News/Timelines/Due Dates

 

THEY ARE READY!! – I know this is an anxious time with the lovely CRCT testing, but I also know that you have all done an outstanding job teaching the curriculum and making learning engaging for our students.  They will do well thanks to your hard work and collaborative planning.  Here we go!

 

TTCT FIGURAL Training Sessions July 9-10, 2013 – For those interested in learning how to score the TTCT. Once you pass the course, and Fulton’s inter-rater reliability exercise, Fulton will pay you $6 per test to score for us.  Fulton does not have any funds to cover the costs of the training.  Each participant pays for it on your own.  When you score, you tell us how many tests you can score in one week.  You can realistically pay off the price of the course in one school year. For more information and to view the schedule, visit: http://www.coe.uga.edu/torrance/training-opportunities/at-uga-ttct-figural/

PRIDE will not meet this Friday, April 12^th due to the CRCT.  We will resume PRIDE on Friday, April 19^th with silent reading.

Great Article on Student Engagement:  Robert Marzano on Student Engagement

(Originally Titled “Ask Yourself: Are Students Engaged?”)

            In this Educational Leadership article, author/consultant/researcher Robert Marzano has four questions on maximizing engagement:

            • Do I provide a safe, caring, and energetic environment? Without this, engagement will be minimal. The key is clear classroom rules (periodically revisited), evidence that the teacher likes students and appreciates their efforts, a high energy level, and getting students up out of their seats on a regular basis.

            • Do I make things interesting? Marzano distinguishes between triggered interest (a teacher captures students’ attention by singing) and maintained interest (a teacher asks an intriguing question and hooks students’ interest for much longer). Teachers can also maintain academic interest with games like Jeopardy, cold-calling (students don’t know when they will be asked to participate), and setting up debates on controversial topics.

            • Do I demonstrate why the content is important to students’ lives? Many kids will be more interested in polynomials upon learning that they are used to compute NFL quarterback ratings. A teacher’s genuine enthusiasm for a topic can also capture students’ interest – plus a story about how the teacher came to love it.

            • Do I help students see the role of effort? If students don’t think they can be successful in the classroom, they won’t engage. The best way to handle this is explicitly teaching the growth mindset – the belief that individual effort is what matters – including teaching about the changes that take place in the brain when people learn.

“Ask Yourself: Are Students Engaged?” by Robert Marzano in Educational Leadership, March 2013 (Vol. 70, #6, p. 81-82), www.ascd.org

Where is Livingston?

Natalie Smith says, “Barbara Paulson is the person I want to pass Livingston to this week. Barbara is one of the most caring professionals I know whose genuineness is evident immediately upon meeting her, and extending this authenticity to the classroom is part of  what makes her such a great teacher.

 Barbara works with some challenging students in a likewise challenging classroom environment as well, but does not deter her from meeting the needs in creative ways for each of her students. She has a natural ability in which she provides rapport in a humorous way with her students, that is refreshing and engaging, and is so appreciated by them. Often seeking new ideas and best practices, her willingness to work cooperatively with other teachers to learn and implement new and meaningful strategies in her classes is a testament to her dedication to her students.  She is such a hard worker in everything she does, in spending tireless hours in researching best resources to provide for individual needs for her students, or meticulous efforts in all that comes with her responsibilities in SEC.

Her selfless and humble nature is something to be admired, as she’s always there for someone to help in any way possible, thinks the best of others, flexible with anything asked of her, and never complains regardless of the task.  She is incredibly patient, kind, and gracious professionally and personally to all who know and work with her.  And one of the best qualities of Barb is her sense of humor with any of the day to day challenges as a teacher; Her ability to laugh always shines through difficulties and leaves others uplifted and laughing as well. 

She is truly an unsung hero that deserves to be recognized for all that she does as an SEC educator, her creative efforts to provide the best instruction for her students, and her consistent positive attitude  no matter what that is so admirable to others that have the pleasure of working with her.”

 

Happy Birthday

Matt McNamara         April 11

 

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.