Week of January 29th

Faculty and Staff,

Wowsers! What a week at the Hil! Let me begin by simply saying Thank You for your commitment to the work that we do at Hilsman. Saving our children can be a daunting task, but with the work that you do everyday, I continue to believe that we can and will make a difference. As a matter of fact, we are making a difference. It is evident everyday! I encourage to stay encouraged! YOU matter and the WORK that YOU do MATTERS. 

Tomorrow we will return to do the work that has been set out for us! Continue to follow our expectations as we meet the goals specified in our SIP. Please be prepared to meet with me during your plannings tomorrow to share your 45 Day Action Plans. Be sure that you can show how what your team is doing has been monitored as well as how it has helped our students to improve. 

Just a sweet reminder about remaining professional! It can be hard to turn to the other cheek with parents and students. Please be reminded that we are the example for our community. Please continue to remain professional when speaking to our students and parents. Additionally, it is important that we come to work every day on time. Emergencies will occur and I definitely will continue to work with everyone. However, keep in mind that we have to be present to make a difference! Being present means being at Hilsman physically and emotionally. We all need to stay the course! Again, thank you!

Principal Tolbert
From Forker:
Thank you for working so hard to support our students with academic as well as social and emotional learning.  Please continue to provide guidance on how to interact with each other as indicated via the PAWS expectations.   If you need support revisiting expectations with your students, please do not hesitate to ask.  We are here to support you and our students.

If you need administrative support, please request it via calling the main office. Please do not request to have students removed.

From Hogan:
Reminders for collaborative planning this week:
- Progress monitoring sheets should be up-to-date
- Bring ungraded student work with rubrics to collab planning. Maxey, Holland, and Hogan will be on hand as we collaboratively analyze student work.
- PLEASE let Hogan know if you still need an I.C.E. poster for your classroom.
- Peer observations will be set up this week.  Stay tuned.

From Mr. Watkins: 
The dates for the basketball ball tournament are as follows: 

Monday- 1/29/2018

Wednesday- 1/31/2018

Thursday- 2/1/2018

Friday- February -2/2/2018​

 2018 Basketball volunteer signup

​

From Ms. Giannasi: 
The CCSD Social Studies Fair will be held on Monday, January 29, at the Hilsman Middle School Media Center. There will be entries from all four middle schools and from the high schools. Hilsman will have 31 projects submitted to this event. 

On Thursday, February 1, Ella Johnson will represent Hilsman at the CCSD Spelling Bee.

On Friday, February 2, fourteen students sponsoring eleven projects from Hilsman will be competing at the Regional Science Fair, held at the Oconee Civic Center.

Next week, Ethan Greene, our Hilsman Geography Bee winner, will be taking a digital test from the National Geographic Society. The results will determine if Ethan will compete at the State Geography Bee in the spring.
Good Luck to all of our competitors!

From Ms. Gaertig: 
Friday, February 2, 2018,  Hands on CPR - Team Gora- Old Gym 6th and 7th periods

From World Language Department: 
Foreign language (French and Spanish) is in need of shoe boxes for an upcoming cultural project. If you have any lying around the house or happen to buy a pair of new shoes this weekend, please send them to school with your child. They may bring them to room 315 (the French room). We’ll take all we can!!! Merci and gracias!

Monday
*Advisement
District Social Studies Fair - Held in our media center (limit traffic)

Tuesday
RTI
4:15 - SIP Review at BOE (Tolbert, Forker, Hogan)

Wednesday
Reading and Math Celebration (during lunches)
collab planning

Thursday
collab planning
*SMART Systems Coaching - Hogan out

Friday 
*SMART Systems Coaching - Hogan out

Week of January 22nd

Quick, reaffirming read: http://bittersoutherner.com/from-the-southern-perspective/education/an-education-resolution

General: 

• If you are going to be absent, please leave printed copies of your rosters for the sub along with the detailed lesson plans and rituals and routines. 
• ELT: PLEASE let Ms. Hogan, Maxey, Ward, or Holland know if we can help with ELT lesson planning, reading/math strategies, etc.  We want to get the most bang for our buck during this time.  That said, we will be doing walkthroughs over the next couple of weeks to provide feedback on ELT instruction.  
• We learn best and most from one another. If you are interested in observing another colleague please email Ms. Hogan, and she will take care of setting it up for you and providing coverage.  

From Ms. G. and Ms. Gonzalez: 

The make-up time for the Hilsman Spelling Bee is Monday, January 22nd from 8:30-10:30 in the media center.

The Hilsman Geography Bee is Thursday, January 25th in the media center at 8:30am. 

Team Gora’s Game Day Social will be held Friday, January 26th in the media center 6th and 7th periods.

The CCSD Social Studies Fair will be held at HMS on Monday, January 29.

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 Hughes: 
Family Science Night has been rescheduled for Thursday, March 29 from 5:00-7:00 pm

From Ms. Marty (Maxey): 
Make sure to sign up for an IB Academy. We will have a morning activity schedule on Monday. Students will choose their top three activities.

All Social Studies fair projects should be to Ms. Marty by January 22nd. She is working on writing conferences for participants.

 IB Academies

​​

 IB Academies 2018 Advertisements

Monday --- MORNING ACTIVITY SCHEDULE
*District's AdvancED Accreditation Visit 
Spelling Bee in the Media Center 
4pm SILT 

Tuesday
*District's AdvancED Accreditation Visit

Wednesday
*District's AdvancED Accreditation Visit

Thursday
Geography Bee in the Media Center
Make-up basketball games at BHL 
4:30 pm - girls
5:30 pm - boys

Friday
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MS. TILLER!!!

COPPER -- Q2 House Party Celebration 
Students will be dismissed to the cafe at 2:49.
Students in House Copper may dress down.  Please follow Clarke school district guidelines which includes no rips in pants, leggins/jeggins, etc. Teachers from House Copper may find coverage or split their classes in order to participate in the house party. A more detailed schedule for the house party is to follow.

RI/MI Celebration (During lunches)

Team Gora's Social in the Media Center (6th and 7th periods) 

Week of January 15th

Panther Family: 

Tech Initiative- We unanimously decided to deliver instruction using digital technology in a different way for the remainder of the school year. As a result, students will no longer be allowed to take their personal learning devices home. This will call for you to make some adjustments to your instructional delivery. Devices are still available for students through the presence of a computer cart stored in your classroom.  Mr. Forker designed an inventory sheet to help assist you with ensuring devices are accounted for and safe. Please remember to keep your cart or classroom locked at all times. 

Instruction should be designed to engage students from bell to bell. A variety of instructional strategies should be used to help meet the needs of all of your students. As always, students should be actively involved in their learning. Please encourage them to have meaningful conversations with each other to enhance their ability to verbally communicate. It is my belief that by limiting the distractions caused by technology and encouraging face to face communication, students will prevail academically.

It has been clearly communicated and recognized that you will need additional supplies and time as we transition to a more blended model of teaching. I have committed to doing the following:

• Increasing copies from 500 to 1000 a month
• Providing every teacher with a box of paper
• Providing contents with time to macro-plan
• Ordering basic school supplies based on the list provided by Mr. Forker for student 
• Offering supplemental material to help support struggling learners
• Increase teacher feedback in a timely manner

ELT

Each grade level will redesign ELT based on the 4 content areas in an effort to prepare all of our students for the Milestones. As a grade level, you have been given the charge of using the most recent data (RI, MI, CFA, grades) to place your students in the most appropriate ELT. Every student will receive enrichment/remediation in every content area by alternating ELTs every 4 weeks for the remainder of the year. Students that are in a direct or intervention setting will remain in that ELT with no change.

Evaluations

Please ensure that you are consistently delivering high quality instruction to our students. Mr. Forker and I will continue to conduct evaluations for the next several weeks. Remember that if you do not agree with a rating that you can add comments and evidence in the platform. If you have any questions or concerns, please see one of the administrators. 

Professionalism

This is a reminder that YOU are the MOST important factor in your students' education. I want to stress the importance of you being at work. When you miss school, our students miss out! We need you to be present and on time every day in order to make a difference in the lives of our students. If you must be absent, please use AESOP to report your absence. Please refrain from reporting absences late in the morning as it is extremely difficult to find a substitute at the last minute. If you are going to be out for an extended period of time, please take a moment to speak with Ms. Tolbert as well as secure a substitute.  I also request that you review the handbook and the information provided by our HR Department regarding attendance.  

Utevia

From Ms. Hughes: 

Family Science Night

Thursday, Jan. 18

5-7 pm

 Family Science Night Invitation Slide 2018

From Skinner: 

The Panther Prowl 5K has been CANCELLED for this school year.  

From Maxey:
IB for 2018: Please preview the following presentation. We will go over this during a WOW session within the next few weeks.

IB WOW PRESENTATION

All Social Studies teachers, please read the email Mr. Hussain sent out concerning the Geography Bee on January 25th.

From Hussain: 
Mr. Hussain will be buying pizza for everyone who plans after school on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. 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 Hogan and Maxey:
THIS WEEK! We will dedicate time during collaborative planning to analyzing student work. Please bring a CFA and/or MYP task with you to planning along with student samples of that task.  

ALSO, Ms. Maxey has done AMAZING work reorganizing the storage space behind Hogan's office.  There are items up for grabs in that space. Peruse and let us know if you're interested in any of the items before we kick them to the curb. 

As always, if you are in need of resources, strategies, etc. our door is always open! 

Monday: MLK Holiday

Tuesday: RTI 

Wednesday: 
Hilsman Spelling Bee at 8:30 in the Media Center
*Collab planning in PL room 

Thursday:
*Collab planning in PL room
Family Science Night 5-7 pm 

Friday:
COPPER -- Q2 House Party Celebration 
     Students will be dismissed to the cafe at 2:49.
    Students in House Copper may dress down.  Please follow Clarke school district guidelines which includes no rips in pants, leggins/jeggins, etc. Teachers from House Copper may find coverage or split their classes in order to participate in the house party. A more detailed schedule for the house party is to follow.
RI/MI Celebration (During lunches)

Week of January 8th

Happy New Year Teachers,

Thank you for a great return to work. I did not send a message last week since we met upon our return to school. Before we begin our weekend,  I want to be sure to highlight some of the things that we spoke about Tuesday.

Tech Initiative- We unanimously decided to deliver instruction using digital technology in a different way for the remainder of the school year. As a result, students will no longer be allowed to take their personal learning devices home. This will call for you to make some adjustments to your instructional delivery. Devices are still available for students through the presence of a computer cart stored in your classroom.  Mr. Forker designed an inventory sheet to help assist you with ensuring devices are accounted for and safe. Please remember to keep your cart or classroom locked at all times. 

Instruction should be designed to engage students from bell to bell. A variety of instructional strategies should be used to help meet the needs of all of your students. As always, students should be actively involved in their learning. Please encourage them to have meaningful conversations with each other to enhance their ability to verbally communicate. It is my belief that by limiting the distractions caused by technology and encouraging face to face communication, students will prevail academically.

It has been clearly communicated and recognized that you will need additional supplies and time as we transition to a more blended model of teaching. I have committed to doing the following:

• Increasing copies from 500 to 1000 a month
• Providing every teacher with a box of paper
• Providing contents with time to macro-plan
• Ordering basic school supplies based on the list provided by Mr. Forker for student 
• Offering supplemental material to help support struggling learners
• Increase teacher feedback in a timely manner

ELT

Each grade level will redesign ELT based on the 4 content areas in an effort to prepare all of our students for the Milestones. As a grade level, you have been given the charge of using the most recent data (RI, MI, CFA, grades) to place your students in the most appropriate ELT. Every student will receive enrichment/remediation in every content area by alternating ELTs every 4 weeks for the remainder of the year. Students that are in a direct or intervention setting will remain in that ELT with no change.

Evaluations

Please ensure that you are consistently delivering high quality instruction to our students. Mr. Forker and I will continue to conduct evaluations for the next several weeks. Remember that if you do not agree with a rating that you can add comments and evidence in the platform. If you have any questions or concerns, please see one of the administrators. 

Professionalism

This is a reminder that YOU are the MOST important factor in your students' education. I want to stress the importance of you being at work. When you miss school, our students miss out! We need you to be present every day in order to make a difference in the lives of our students. If you must be absent, please use AESOP to report your absence. Please refrain from reporting absences late in the morning as it is extremely difficult to find a substitute at the last minute. If you are going to be out for an extended period of time, please take a moment to speak with Ms. Tolbert as well as secure a substitute.  I also request that you review the handbook and the information provided by our HR Department regarding attendance.  With this being said, consider your attendance on Monday and Tuesday! Gooooo Dawgs! 

Utevia

From Ms. Hughes: 

Family Science Night

Thursday, Jan. 18

5-7 pm

​ Family Science Night Invitation Slide 2018

From Skinner: 

The Panther Prowl 5K is almost here!! We are still looking for sponsors and runners. If you would like to become a corporate sponsor, let Meganne Skinner, or Christina Fassbender know at skinnerme@clarke.k12.ga.us and we will get you the paperwork! Thank you to all those who have already signed up to race with us! Runners, you can sign up at active.com 

You can still sign up at the discounted price until January 26th! 

From Maxey:
IB for 2018: Please preview the following presentation. We will go over this during a WOW session within the next few weeks.

IB WOW PRESENTATION

The Gifted Eligibility Committee Meeting will take place after school Thursday, January 11th in the PL room.  Any gifted certified personnel are welcome to attend.

All Social Studies teachers, please read the email Mr. Hussain sent out concerning the Geography Bee on January 25th.

Language Arts teachers, we will be sending out spelling bee lists soon.  The school bee is set for January 17th. Please make sure Mrs. Giannasi has the classroom winners' names by the 15th.

The school's social studies fair will take place January 10th in the library. 

From Hussain: 
Mr. Hussain will be buying pizza for everyone who plans after school on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. 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 Hogan and Maxey:
The week of January 15th we will dedicate time during collaborative planning to analyzing student work. Please think about this in your planning for the coming weeks.  

ALSO, Ms. Maxey has done AMAZING work reorganizing the storage space behind Hogan's office.  There are items up for grabs in that space. Peruse and let us know if you're interested in any of the items before we kick them to the curb. 

Monday: 
4pm SILT
8pm National Championship (ESPN) - Dawgs vs Bama -- GOOOOO DAWGS! SIC 'EM!

Tuesday:
RTI

Wednesday: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KASEY BRINKLEY! 
*Social Studies Fair in the HMS Media Center - limit traffic, please! 
Collab planning
4pm Vertical Planning

Thursday: 
Collab planning
4pm Monthly EXC Meeting

Friday: 
8:30am Principal's Coffee
*Hogan out AM for Secondary IC Meeting

SUNDAY, January 14th -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DOROTHY JONES!

MONDAY, January 15th -- MLK HOLIDAY 

December 18th and 19th

From Ms. Skinner: 

The Panther Prowl 5K is almost here!! We are still looking for sponsors and runners. If you would like to become a corporate sponsor, let Meganne Skinner or Christina Fassbender know at skinnerme@clarke.k12.ga.us and we will get you the paperwork! Thank you to all those who have already signed up to race with us! Runners, you can sign up at active.com 

You can still sign up at the discounted price until January 26th! 

From Ms. Hughes: 

Family Science Night will be on Thursday, January 18 from 5:00-7:00 pm.

All students, families, staff, and community members are welcome to attend!

​

 Family Science Night Invitation Slide 2018

From Ms. Giannasi: 
Hilsman had an amazing showing in the school science fair. The top thirty scoring projects will go on to the CCSD Science Fair in early January.

Future events: 

Hilsman Social Studies Fair January 10, 2018

Hilsman Spelling Bee January 17, 2018

Hilsman Geography Bee January 25, 2018

From Mr. Heu: 
7th Grade ELA "Soc Hop" Dance on Tuesday, 12/19/17 during 6th and 7th periods. Parents are welcomed to attend and donate food items such as chips, cookies, cupcakes, and drinks.

From Mr. Forker:
On Monday the 18th, we will be collecting students' laptops and chargers in homeroom.   
Please see the linked items below for details:

PLD Video Message

Tech Update Letter

Monday:
We will have afternoon activity schedule.   Please instruct students to return to homeroom during the activity period.  During that time, please plan to collect all student devices and chargers and place them in the laptop carts. Device distribution to classrooms will take place on January 4th, but there may be intermittent times in which you will not have access student devices. Please plan accordingly.
Afternoon Activity Schedule


Enjoy your much deserved break! See you in the new year!

January 2nd PLC Plan

Week of December 11th

Tolbert's Corner-

Happy Sunday! Burrrrr! It is cold outside. I surely hope you all are keeping warm! This is the last full week before the holiday break. Take a deep breath and continue pushing. We can do this, 7 more wake ups! 

As we are preparing to begin the week, remember to continue with instruction. Friday, we will have our 1st focus walk-through. It is important to remember to not "put on a show". Rather continue to deliver academically challenging instruction that is engaging the students in their learning. Ensure that current standards and samples of recent student work is posted in your classroom with feedback. I am assuming that the walk throughs will last no longer than 10 minutes.  We will also continue with observations this week. If you have any questions, please see me.

Students are allowed to be out of uniform this week as long as they did not receive a discipline referral. A referral is considered one that has been processed by an administrator, not at the grade level. I am sending an email to the students to clearly define the dress code to avoid disruptions to the learning environment.

Lastly, I want to thank all of you again for the gift card and kind words. You sure made me feel special. Forker and I are greatly appreciative of the work that you do to make Hilsman a great place. Cheers to a new week!

Tolbert

From Hussain: Mr. Hussain will be buying pizza for everyone who plans after school on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. 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 Maxey: 

• Monday, the 11th will be our Science Fair. Winners will be announced Tuesday morning. The top  30 projects will go to regional.

• Social Studies fair final papers are due before Christmas. The fair will be Wednesday, January 10th.
• The Spelling Bee is scheduled for January 17th.
• Our gifted eligibility team will meet when we return from the holidays. At this point we will decide what students to test for services. If you still have not submitted the names of any students you would like reviewed, please do so before the holidays.
• Please save student work and rubrics from this semester. We WILL be reviewing these during collaborative planning in the new year.
• As you plan for the new year, please feel free to ask me to co-teach or modify assignments in ANY class.
• IB committee will need to meet in January to discuss the MYP self study for the school and district.
• I really want to think you all for welcoming me into the family; I can honestly say this is the most caring, welcoming staff I have ever worked with. Your instructional practices and relationships with our kids are so wonderful. Please know you are very appreciated. Happy Holidays!

From Ms. Ward: 

PSP will be running on Monday (12/11) and Tuesday (12/1) from 3:45 - 6:00.

From Ms. Moore: 

Advisement on Monday. Please continue with the lesson on sexual harassment. Also, we will NOT have advisement during the week of December 18th due to the short week. As you are planning for the new year, keep in mind that advisement will be cut back to every other week when we return from winter break.

COPING WITH THE HOLIDAYS. While the holidays can be an exciting time for many students, it can also be a difficult time for others. This is a great resource for educators working with students (http://www.schoolcrisiscenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Support-Grief-Over-the-Holidays.pdf) and do not forget that we have access to the Employee Assistance Program, if you are interested in counseling for yourself. The contact number is #706.549.6658.

Monday: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MS. DESTEFANI!!!

*Advisement
Please plan to meet with Mr. Forker during your second planning regarding a change in our student computer status 

4pm SILT

6:30 - Band concert at Cedar Shoals

Tuesday: 

7th Grade Reading Inventory - During ELA classes

8th Grade Reading Inventory - During ELA classes

Wednesday: 

4pm School Dance
5:30-8:00 Faculty Holiday Gathering at Blind Pig - East side

Thursday: 

Friday: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MS. TILLOTSON!!!

10:30AM - District coherence visit

PM - Reading Inventory and Math Inventory growth celebrations (more to come from Hogan)  

Week of December 4th

SHOUT OUTS! 

Ms. Skinner, Mr. McCann, and Dr. Jackson have been accepted to present at the National Professional Development Schools Conference in the spring! Give them congrats and ask them what the conference proposal is all about!

Congatulations to Ms. Renee Smith on her recent engagement! She loves showing off her bling. :) 

Our AMAZING UGA literacy mentors under the guidance of Dr. Thompson, wrapped up their mentor sessions for the fall semester this past week.  Mentees were given two books to add to their home book collection.  Seeing them read together and their excitement opening their gifts (Dr. Thompson wrapped ALL of the books) was priceless.  We look forward to continuing this great work in the spring.  

From Ms. Seymour: 

Our next Meals in the Middle fundraiser, featuring a meal prepared collaboratively by all four CCSD middle schools, will be held on Tuesday, December 5th at 6:30 pm at the Athens Community career academy. Tickets are $25 with all proceeds going to benefit the work of the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Athens. Read more about the work of IHN at http://www.ihnathens.org/

The Menu: 

Hummus Tehina with Laffa (Iraqi style flat bread only bigger and crispier)

Beets with Tehina

Spicy Fennel Salad/Caramelized Fennel with Goat Cheese

Root Vegetables Braised in Chicken Fat

Roast leg of Lamb with Rosemary

Honey Cake with Whipped Cream

Drink – Lemonnana

From Ms. G: 

The GAVS Algebra class will be taking their first semester final exam on Wednesday, December 6, during 1st and 2nd periods. This exam has a 90 minute time frame, and students will test in the Media Center. The Media Center will have TESTING signs on the doors. Please do not send students to check out books during those two class periods. Ms. Tillitson will email student names for repaired/ found computers during that time slot. Please do not send a student to "check on a computer" during those two periods, unless she has emailed with the student's name to come to the MC. 

Thank you for your help and patience as these students finish their first semester exam.

Also, we have school level winners for the MLK  Writing & Art  Contest:

Obayemi Blake

Aiden Dowling

Samantha Mifflin

Special thanks to Mr. Hussain who worked with these students in ELT to prepare for their essay submissions. Thanks also to Ms. Maxey who worked on writing conferences with this ELT class.

From Ms. Camp: 

The Hilsman Middle School Band will have our Winter Concert on Monday, December 11 at 6:30pm.  The concert will take place at the Cedar Shoals High School Theater.  Students need to take their instruments home with them Monday after school (except tubas and baritones).  Students should wear khaki pants and the official band shirt (or black polo shirt).  Students can also wear Santa hats.  

From Ms. Ward: 

Mathematics is a science with a key role for a career of the people who deal with technology, finance, IT, banking, engineering – all professions related to analytical thinking. Numeracy skills are some of the vital analytical skills. Examples are:

• Knowlledge of numbers and figures;
• Understanding relationships between numbers;
• Interpreting mathematical information;
• Ability to remember;
• Visual perception of information;
• Ability to organize information;
• Understanding trends

From Hogan: 

You will notice that data cards are posted in the PL room now for each grade level.  As such, faculty and staff only are permitted in the PL room.  Please do not send students to the PL room or schedule to meet with parents in that space.  Gracias! 

Monday: 

*Advisement during ELT - see email from Ms. Moore. 

WOW Session in the PL Room with Micheletti - EVERYONE! Connections planning and 1st plannings for contents. 

Tuesday: 
*6th grade ELA administering Reading Inventory 

**6th grade social studies curriculum writing in PL room 
4pm Faculty Meeting 

Wednesday: 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MS. TOLBERT!!!

------------------------------

Basketball vs. BHL

4:30 - Girls

5:30 - Boys

Thursday: *Club pictures - See email from Ms. Hubbard

4pm SILT 

Friday: 
8:30 am Principal's Coffee (Media Center) 

Saturday: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. HUSSAIN!!!