Fall Town Hall Meeting

South Middle School

Good things we’ve seen so far…

• There is distinct positive feeling when we enter the hallways

• We have had very impressive conversations with our students so far this year

• We see you showing improvement getting to class on time and being prepared—Sweeps are reducing the number of students coming to class late

• We see many students trying their best academically and behaviorally each day

• The potential for success this year is very inspiring!

Tardy Sweeps

1st Offense - No Penalty unless blatant disregard to get to class2nd Offense - Parent Notification3rd Offense - 1 Lunch detention and parent is notified4th Offense - 2 Lunch detentions and parent is notified5th Offense - 5 Lunch detentions and parent is notified6th Offense - After School Detention and parent is notified7th Offense - 2 After School Detentions/Saturday Detention and parent is notified8th Offense - After School Detention/Saturday Detention/Out-of-School Suspension/Loss of extra-curricular priveleges and parent is notified

Recycling and Green Team

• We are currently recycling paper, plastic bags, ink cartridges, and old cell phones

• Beginning next Monday, 10/12, we will be recycling plastic and aluminum cans.

• Please be sure you put the plastic in the correct sid of the bin and the cans in the other

• There will be a Green Team Meeting Monday 10/12 during 6th grade lunch

• We need everyone's help to have SMS go green!

Review of Safety Drills

• Fire Drillso The fire drill horn is soundedo Teacher will dismiss students. Exit and enter the building

silently in single file. o Stand outside silently in single file. Three sets of three

bells will sound to signal your return to class.o Follow all staff directions the first time.

New Schedule

• Beginning Monday 10/12• We have built a little more time into first hour to watch

WSMS and Channel 1 as well provide time for students in the Breakfast Club

• Breakfast Club is a great way to start the morning and fuel your brain for the day and kick start the day with friends and activities!

Review of Safety Drills

• Tornado Drillo Three sets of five bells will be sounded. o Your teacher will dismiss you.o You will exit the classroom silently and sit in the

designated area with your legs crossed and hands over your head. You will be facing the wall or lockers.

o You will return to class when notified by the PA.

Review of Safety Drills

• Lockdown Drillo The bell will ring for an extended period of time. o The teacher will ensure the door is locked. Students should

sit as far away from the entry door as possible. Students should be seated and silent during the entire drill.

o Every room must be checked before the drill is concluded. o The PA will give you direction as when the drill has

concluded. Do not talk or leave the classroom unless you have been directed to do so by the PA or if a school staff member or local authority.

o If you are in the restroom when this drill begins, stay in the stall, shut the door and pretend the restroom is empty.

Positive Assembly/Town Hall Behavior

• Ways to show excitement, congratulations, and pride for your classmates or school: APPLAUSE only

• Stomping, hooting, hollering, booing is disrespectful

• When individuals are recognized, put yourselves in their shoes

• Disrespectful behavior will jeopardize future rallies

MEAP is around the corner… What is the MEAP?

• Michigan Educational Assessment Program• Measures the yearly progress of every Michigan

student in Math and Reading in grades 3-8• Writing assessments are given in grades 4 and 7• Social Studies MEAP tests measure

performance in grades 6 & 9• Science MEAP tests measure performance in

grades 5 & 8

Importance of the MEAP

• Shows the state, your parents, your teachers, and you what you know

• It shows areas of strength and weakness • Provides teachers with information about how

to adjust instruction for you• Gives our district information about how to

adjust curriculum

What does the State of MI look at when our results have been compiled?

• The state looks at different groups of students and their performance at different schoolso These different groups are called subgroupso Caucasian, african american, asian, hispanic and other

ethnicities are comparedo Data from students with special needs are collectedo Data from students that have shown a financial need is

collectedo Data is collected and analyzed by gender

• Why would the State of Michigan care how schools perform compared to each other?

• Why would the State of Michigan care how groups of students perform compared to one another? 

How have we been doing over the last three years compared the state average?

• 6th graders are our current 7th graderso Reading -4 and -4 points away from the stateo Writing +4 and -8 points away from the stateo Total ELA +5 and -5 away from the stateo Math +37 and +3 away from the stateo Social Studies -7 and -10 away from the state

• 7th graders are our current 8th graderso Reading +2 and -1 away from the stateo Writing +27 and -7 away from the stateo Total ELA +7 and -5 away from the stateo Math +37 and EQUAL with the state

What is your goal for these tests this year?

When is MEAP?

• MEAP Kick-off Rally, 10/12• New MEAP schedule for this year• 4 Testing days• October 13, 15, 20 and 22• Length of testing each day• Attendance incentive—Attend MEAP Finale• Make-up days

Good Testing Practices

• Prepare yourselfo Get a good night’s resto Eat breakfast the day of the testo Get to school on timeo Don’t drink a lot of fluids just before the test

Good Testing Practices Con’t.

• Take the Testo Concentrate.o Don’t talk.o Listen carefully.o Read written instructions carefully before

answering questions because instructions can change for different sections.

o Ask questions if you don’t understand what to do.

Good Testing Practices Con’t.

• If you don’t know the answer stay calm. Many standardized tests are designed so that very few students know all of the answers. Make an educated guess and come back to the question later.

• Read each question or problem all the way through and then carefully read all the answer choices before responding.

Good Testing Practices Con’t.

• Don’t stay more than a few seconds on any one multiple-choice question or problem. On your second pass through the test, change your strategy. Read everything and try to eliminate any of the answer choices.

• Make sure the number of the question in the test booklet matches the number on the answer sheet.

Good Testing Practices Con’t.

• Keep a positive attitude; change negative self-talk to positive self-talk. o If you are thinking “I’ll never get finished,”

change it to, “I can do it one step at a time.”o If you are thinking, “If I miss this, I’ve

really blown it,” change it to, “Some anxiety is inevitable, but I don’t have to worry about it.”

Good Testing Practices Con’t.

• If you are thinking, “Why am I so anxious? I hate feeling like this. I know I’m doing a lousy job,” change it to, “I really do have confidence in my basic ability. I can show what I know.”

• If you are thinking, “I’m behind, I’ve got to hurry,” change it to, “Don’t anticipate problems, just keep going.”

Good Testing Practices Con’t.

• If you are thinking, “People will think I’m dumb if they finish before I do,” change it to, “Good students take all the test time available to make sure their answers are right.”

• If you are thinking, “Help, I don’t know the answer and I don’t have time to figure it out,” change it to, “I’ll skip this one and come back and do it later.”

• If you are thinking, “I hate myself, why try?” change it to, “I can do my best and that’s all that’s required.”

Celebrating our best efforts!

• Testing can be stressful when you are trying to do your very best!

• We want to congratulate students when they put forth 110% effort!

• MEAP Finale—Attendance Incentive• What is our goal for this year?

Fun Night

• Friday, October 23, 2009 from 6-8pm• Sponsored by Student Council• You must have your ID to purchase a ticket

and for entry into the fun night• Tickets are $3 and are available the week of

October 19, 2009• If you have received a discipline referral since

9/8/09 you are ineligible to attend

Upcoming Events: Student-Led Conferences

• All students will attend with their parent or guardian—Our goal is 100% attendance for SLC!

• You will be discussing the guidelines for SLC with your Advisory teachers

• Parents will select the time for their Student-Led Conference appointment next week

Questions…

• Do you have questions for us?