Week of February 26th

Happy Friday!

Here is to a wonderful weekend! Again, I want to say thank you for sharing your concerns with us. As administrators it is important to know what YOU need to be successful. We want to support you as we are supporting our students. Thank you to Mr. Forker for the great PL provided to all of us about RESPECT. Feedback from the Safety Auditor indicated that we have strong relationships with our students and that we had that "family" feeling in our building. If nothing else, it is good to know that RESPECT is apart of our culture. 

After the meeting to discuss our carry over funds, decisions were made to help provide you with more time to plan. Mrs. Hogan will be providing contents with a plan for time to macro-plan away from the building. Hopefully this will allow you an opportunity to breathe as we continue building our plan for success. Overall as a staff we are doing well. Take a deep breath and continue providing great quality instruction. We will see you next week for observations. Please begin collecting data to support where you are as it relates to your mid year goal. We hope to begin hosting mid year conferences on March 1, 2018. 

This is a reminder that everyone should be using the I.C.E. instructional strategy. Remember this is not optional. It is a critical component of our 6 week plan. For the classes that I have observed this week, the strategy has been perfectly implemented in your instruction. Thank you! Have a great weekend.

Tolbert

From the AP: 

Parent Teacher Conferences - 3/28 - 3/30; Eastside late night - 3/28

End of Grade Testing:

4/17 -ELA Section 1
   4/18 - ELA Make-Up

4/19- ELA Section II and III

    4/20 - ELA Make-Up

4/24 - Math Section I
4/25 - Math Section II
        - Afternoon Make-ups

4/26 - Science Section I & II
         - Afternoon Make-ups

4/27 - Social Studies I & II
         - Afternoon Make-ups

From Ms. Floyd: 

On Tuesday, February 27th the 8th grade orchestra will perform at District 14's Large Group Performance Evaluation alongside the Cedar Shoals Chamber Orchestra. They will leave school around 2:45 and return to Cedar Shoals later that evening.

From Ms. Moore: 

• 8th grade students will be taking a tour of Cedar Shoals High School on February 27th to continue preparing them for next school year!

• Deliver Respect Lesson Part II on March 1st (Thursday) during ELT. More information will be provided when we meet on Wednesday.

From Hussain: 
Mr. Hussain will be buying pizza for everyone who plans after school on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. This includes student teachers. He will be available to co-plan during this time (and can co-teach during a class if you're interested). Stop by his classroom (room 205) after school to check it out next Tuesday!

From Ms. Gonzalez: 

Friday, March 2nd is National Read Across America Day and we will celebrate in a few ways:

1. Friday morning there will be tables set-up in each of the 4 grade level hallways w/ FREE NEW books and all teachers may bring their ELT classes out (you all decide how you want to do that) to have each student choose one book for themselves to keep forever! (Over $9000 in new books that we were able to acquire through a grant, support through First Book, and donations from the public library and Books for Keep.)
2. Students may wear a wacky hat, wacky socks, and/or colorful clothing to honor Dr. Suess' birthday. (School dress code must be followed -- no rips/holes, inappropriate language/images, shoes that cover the whole foot, etc.)
3. Principal Tolbert will kick off a Drop Everything And Read for the whole school (time TBA) with a video message -- I will send the link out. Kids may read their new books!

From Nurse Chambers:

Monday, Feb 26th and Tuesday Feb 27th will be our scoliosis screening days during afternoon connections for 6th & 8th grades. 

It would be helpful if the morning connection teachers could show the scoliosis screening video so the students will know what to expect. Girls must wear a bra, tank top or swim wear under their polo to be screened. All hair needs to be tied back and off the shoulders. Your help is greatly appreciated! 

Scoliosis Screening Video

From Ms. Hughes: 

If you are interested in purchasing perennial flowers this spring, please consider purchasing from the Science & Energy Team Spring 2018 Flower Sale.Products will ship directly to your home.  You can order for friends and family, just provide their address when prompted for a shipping address.  Flowers make great Mother's Day gifts.Here is the link to our team's fundraiser:  http://www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/campaign?campaign_id=25913

Feel free to share this link with others.  ​Thanks for your support!  ​

From Mr. Watkins: 

Tuesday, February 27th

Hilsman Vs. BHL- soccer

Boys:4:30

Girls:5:30

Location: Hilsman Middle School

Parent track meeting 

Location: Cedar Shoals

Time: 6:00 P.M.

Football 

Coach Ryals visit- Head Football Coach, Cedar Shoals High school

Spring football information meeting 

Wednesday, February 28th, 11:30

Monday: Morning Activity Schedule
--> Media Center closed in the a.m. for ACCESS Testing
IB Academies - The changes and substitutions for the IB classes affected by the 8th grade field trip are linked here: IB Academies Changes/Substitutions for Monday, Feb. 26
*UGA Experience Field Trip - 8th graders
WOW Session with Marty including Connections (1st plannings) ***8th grade teachers will meet with Marty during collab planning this week for IB grades)
11am - Instructional Leaders Meeting
4-5pm -P-BEST!  Meeting in the Family Engagement Room

Tuesday: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MS. ARCHER! 
*8th Grade Social Studies curriculum writing in PL room
9am 8th graders to Cedar Shoals
RTI
Soccer games vs BHL (at Hilsman)

Wednesday:
1st plannings (& Connections) with Dana Siegmund (IT specialist) on USA TestPrep
2nd plannings (Connections during lunch) with Forker and Moore for Part II of Creating a Caring Climate PL  ***BRING a representation of your class definitions of RESPECT
4pm Committee Meetings (various locations)

Thursday:
ELT: Deliver Respect Lesson II
Collab planning

Friday: *Literacy mentors/mentees will not meet this week.*
NATIONAL READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY

Week of February 19th

Monday: Teacher Work Day
The district's expectations for this day include protecting time for you all to: 
- Engage in collaborative planning
- Assess student work & enter grades
- Update bulletin boards
- Tend to your physical classroom environment 
- Tackle the myriad other tasks on your plate
Hogan, Marty, and Ward will be available to support you all throughout the day. 

Tuesday:  Afternoon Activity Schedu
FFA Day at the State Capitol
*At least 6 IB grades should be entered by now
9:30am - Hard Lock Down/Active Shooter Drill
RTI Meetings
2:58 Female Town Hall (Old Gym - All female students). Females will be dismissed FIRST. Boys will report to new gym.  All students will dismiss for the day from the gyms.  They MUST do lockers and bathroom during 7th period.

Wednesday:
ACCESS Testing in Media Center -- MC closed ELT and 2nd period
Collab planning - Teachers will meet with Forker during second planning in PL room for PBIS PL
4pm Vertical Meetings

Thursday: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MS. STEELE!
ACCESS Testing in Media Center -- MC closed ELT and 2nd period
Black History Month Program -- STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS
Collab planning

Friday:

Saturday: SATURDAY SCHOOL!

Sunday: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. OLIN!

Week of February 12th

Happy Saturday!

Thank you for your work this week. It was indeed a busy one but much better overall. I want to reiterate the direction we are heading in for the next 6 weeks. As a building, we will focus more on ensuring that we are teaching the standards, monitoring the data, and adjusting instruction for reteaching in an effort to help students master the standards. I.C.E. (Introduce/Cite/Explain) is the instructional strategy that should be used across contents in every grade level. Posters should be visible in your classrooms. As we are observing informally and formally, be sure that you are explicitly using this strategy and your students have a clear understanding of its purpose for your class. If there is a need for a PL refresher, please see our IC.

As a reminder, students need to be supervised at all times. It is imperative that as adults we remain consistent with our practices. Do NOT release students the first and last fifteen minutes of class unless it is an emergency. Otherwise students should remain in class. This does not mean to begin releasing students when the time is permissible.We have had a lot of unnecessary movement in the halls. This results in an increase of inappropriate behaviors. In a like manner, remain vigilant in your classrooms. Take some time to talk to your students, hear what is happening around you so that you know what is going on. It is eye-opening to hear what is really going on when your back is turned whether it is positive or negative. This is a long way to say, focus on your relationships with your students.

Just a reminder to remain professional at all times. I read a story that reminded me of the importance of water! A bottle of water despite the turmoil it may endure remains constant. It does not explode if it is shaken or dropped. However a carbonated drink if dropped or shaken, EXPLODES! WE can not become carbonated drinks but we can be a bottle of water, CONSTANT and CALM! Besides, water is good for the soul! Pour your water into each other and into our students. Here is to a great week at Hilsman!

Principal Tolbert (lol)


From Your IC: 
All content teachers have USA TestPrep accounts set up at this time. Connections, you're next! Please share this presentation with students on Monday throughout your content classes to ensure they are all set up and ready to go.  Let Hogan know via email if students are unable to login.

GREAT NEWS! Monday, February 19th has been designated a true teacher work day by the superintendent! This means you can collaboratively plan, assess student work, put in grades, clean off your desk, freshen up your classrooms, etc. without us bugging you!!!! YAY!

Literacy & SEL: 
Windows Mirrors and Sliding Doors

Numeracy:
Bridge the Gap

From AP Forker:Thank you, teachers, for your dedication to our students.  We have the best teachers at Hilsman!
During transitions, please be sure that you are present at your posts actively encouraging students to adhere to expected behaviors. 

Also, please remind students that string bags are not to be worn throughout the building.  If a student does not adhere to your expectations, please request support from your team leader or an administrator.

Mr. Forker has begun putting pink copies of referrals in team leaders boxes after the referral has been processed. This will provide you with details about the consequences issued for infractions and discipline issues.   If you have any questions, please let Mr. Forker know.

Lastly, our largest disciplinary issue at Hilsman is student incivility. This includes disrespect, use of profanity, and insubordination. As you engage with your students, please be sure to explicitly teach expectations for communicating and interacting. As indicated in Standard 10 of our Common Commitments, we must continuously work to forge relationships and connections with our students.

From Ms. Hughes: 

Earth Day T-Shirt orders are due on February 15.

​

 2018 HMS Earth Day T-Shirt Order Form

From Ms. Marty: 
IB Academies start Monday. We will work on a morning activity schedule. Students will have passes identifying their academy that you will give out at the end of ELT on Monday. Teachers will have rosters by Monday. There is no option for students to change, so ensure they get to where they need to go. Please do not send them to discuss changes. Admin will be in the hallway making sure students get to where they need to be. There will be signs specifying the traffic pattern. We will call 6th grade first, 8th grade second, and 7th grade third. Please be in the hallway to help direct traffic and ensure safety. Students will take all of their belongings with them as we will transition to 3rd period from IB Academies.

From World Language Department:

Mardi Gras celebration for Hilsman family

Tuesday, February 13th 

6pm-7:30pm. Bring a dish to share!

From Mr. Hussain: 
I will be buying pizza for everyone who plans after school on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. This includes student teachers. He will be available to co-plan during this time (and can co-teach during a class if you're interested). Stop by his classroom (room 205) after school to check it out next Tuesday!

From Ms. Hubbard: 

The 2017-2018 Hilsman Middle School Yearbooks are still on sale for $22 through February 28th. As of March 1st, the price will be $24.00. You may pay online at YBPay.lifetouch.com using Yearbook ID Code: 13140018. 

Students may also order yearbooks by paying with a check. Please make checks payable to Hilsman Middle School for $22 through Feb. 28th or $24 as of March 1st. Payments by check should be given to Ms. Maxey.

Monday: Happy birthday, Ms. Maddox!
IB Academies ***Morning Activity Schedule***
11am - Instructional Leaders Meeting

Tuesday: Happy birthday, Ms. Jernigan!
9:30am - Severe weather drill 
RTI Meetings
4:15pm - Girls soccer at Coile
5:15pm - Boys soccer at Coile 
6:30-7:30pm Carnival Festival

Wednesday: Happy Valentine's Day! 
MEDIA CENTER CLOSED DURING ELT and 2nd PERIOD!
***SSIP Training (Various HIL faculty out)
*Vertical meetings will be next Wednesday!!!

Thursday:
MEDIA CENTER CLOSED DURING ELT and 2nd PERIOD!
***SSIP Training (Various HIL faculty out)

Friday:
Housing Ceremony (afternoon activity schedule) 
2nd Period - UGA Literacy Mentors meet with 6th grade mentees in Media Center
AGENDA: 
2:58-3:08: Call each grade level one at a time to the new gym. Students will sit with their houses.

3:08-3:10: Call to order, admin welcome, etc

3:10-3: 40: Competitions for house points

Basketball shootout: One boy, one girl, and one teacher per house

Pop Culture Trivia: One boy, one girl, and one teacher per house

Academic competition: One boy, one girl, and one teacher per house 4 questions based on common core standards
Problem Solving competition: One boy, one girl, and 2 teachers per house must get across an obstacle course.

3:40: Announcements, bus changes, dismissal by grade level

Week of February 5th

Happy Friday!

Cheers to another week at Hilsman! Thank you for your work the last two weeks. WE have surely earned every penny of our salary. Although some students are acting out, most of our students are engaged in the classrooms. After being able to perform a few observations today, it is evident that most of you are continuing the great work of educating our students.

As we continue to perform observations and monitor instruction I want to encourage you to think about your instructional gaps as we will have a discussion around this next week during collaborative plannings. Be prepared to discuss your most effective tier 1 strategies, how they are implemented, monitored, and adjusted to teach your students.

It is my hope that the jean days got you through the week! Have a terrific weekend and I will see you all on Monday!

Tolbert

From your IC: 
A must-read for literacy and culturally-responsive pedagogy: http://www.ncte.org/library/NCTEFiles/Resources/Journals/TP/0271-oct2015/TP0271Making.pdf

A must-read for numeracy: https://achievethecore.org/aligned/designing-shifts-aligned-interventions-in-the-math-classroom/

Hilsman Milestones EOG/EOC Information --- PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ

Please donate any empty shoe boxes to our World Language department! 

From Ms. Renee Smith: 
Valentines Day Carnations will be sold by FFA and can be purchased from Ms. Smith Monday-Friday (Feb 5-9). 

A note will accompany the flower which will include: Sender, recipient (including their 7th period teacher) and space for a hand written note. 

Flowers must be purchased before one on Friday. 

Cost: 1 for $2 or 3 for $5. 

Ms. Moore: 

We would like to ask for participation once again in the Bullying Prevention Essay Contest for CCSD, as this has been one of our No Place for Hate activities. The link below will be open until February 23rd and contains all of the information. Please encourage your child to submit an essay!

"If there is an adult at your school who has made an impact by standing up to bullying or helping someone who has been bullied, we invite you to honor that remarkable individual by participating in the district wide Bullying Prevention Essay Contest. Winners will be selected at the middle school and high school level. To submit an entry, you must be a Clarke County student in grades 6-12. The essay must be 250-500 words (1500-3000 characters). All entries are due February 23, 2018. You may only nominate one person. This person could be a teacher, administrator, counselor, or some other person, but they must be currently employed in CCSD."

Link: http://bit.ly/CCPS2018

Monday: ***ADVISEMENT***
8th Grade Homeroom Movie Day - Queen of Katwe
11am - Instructional Leaders Meeting
NOON - GRADES DUE
4pm SILT
6pm - 8th grade parent meeting in cafeteria

Tuesday: HAPPY BIRTHDAY COACH VARNADOE! 
RTI
*Progress reports go home

Wednesday: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. HOLLAND! 
4pm Faculty Meeting
6pm - DC Trip Interest Meeting Room 506

Thursday:
5:30pm - 6th grade parent meeting in cafeteria
6pm - Cedar Shoals Math Night

Friday: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MS. TRAMMELL!
8:30 am Principal's Coffee
9:25 am UGA Literacy Mentors w/6th grader mentees in the media center