Week of October 16th

Photo: Courtesy of Gerry Brooks

Teachers,

Thank you for hanging in there this week. I know that it was long but you got the job done! The parents praised many of you for the work that you are doing in the classroom. Additionally, they were extremely impressed with the student led conferences. I observed several conferences and the students did a phenomenal job of communicating their data to their parents. If you still have conferences to host, please attempt to complete them by Friday. I realize that there were parents that did not show up, please see Mrs. Moore, Mrs. Callahan, or Mrs. Kelly to seek help. Our goal is to have 100% conference participation. We can do it!

Be sure to schedule your pre-evaluation conference before Wednesday. I have opened up more dates on my calendar. It is imperative that we are done with conferences Wednesday so that we can attack the walk throughs. Remember, you can meet as a content area. A soft reminder to be sure to take attendance everyday during every period. Have a great weekend.

Thanks,
Utevia


From the District:

TEACHER REPORTED ABSENCES AND FILL RATES 

As we strive to reduce the number of teacher absences, please read the information below:

Tesha Echols is our HR Specialist who works with employee leave. She monitors AESOP each day for employee absences and fill rates. Currently, we have over 200 active substitutes, and we add new substitutes to AESOP each month. This number fluctuates because we remove substitutes each month as well. Substitutes who do not sub at least 4 days per month in our schools are removed from the list once they have received a warning. Recently, we have noticed an increase in faculty and staff absences and a decrease in fill rates. For the month of September, CCSD had 1339.5 days of absence for teachers and 381 days of absence for our paraprofessionals. These numbers include all reasons for absence. We know that this is challenging for our schools both from the aspect of students not receiving expert instruction from one of our teachers and because of the disruption it causes when other teachers must give up critical planning time to cover.

Special Education Professional Learning Opportunities

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES LEA TRAINING: The first session was held last week with 6 schools participating. Additional training dates: October 16, December 11, January 22, and February 26. Elementary training times: 3:00-4:00 Secondary training times: 4:00-5:00. All trainings are held at the Whitehead Road Annex, Room 29. LEA Training Sign-Up

GEORGIA ASSOCIATION FOR POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT CONFERENCE (GAPBS): ○ November 28-29 ○ Infinite Energy Center, Duluth, GA ○ Link to Register ○ This is a great opportunity for your school-based PBIS Coach or your entire PBIS team!

6th ANNUAL SAFE & WELCOMING SCHOOLS CONFERENCE, UGA: ○ Respectful and Equitable: Building Strong School Communities ○ October 16, 2017, 9:00 am-3:30 pm, Graduate Hotel, Athens, GA ○ Link to Register

MINDSET DE-ESCALATION AND RESTRAINT TRAINING (INITIAL TRAINING) ○ October 23 & 24th ○ Whitehead Road Annex ○ Use CCSD Evaluation System link on CCSD Start Page


From Mr. Watkins: 
Hilsman's Annual Moonlight Madness will be held on November 10, from 5:30- 7:30. Please volunteer and come and support our students, not only will I appreciate it but they will as well. 

Sign up here: Moonlight Madness Sign-up

From Ms. Maxey: 

Please make sure you are completing the reflections in your MYP units during collaborative planning.

We are looking for teachers to volunteer during their planning on Thursday, October 19th. The 7th grade students will be making presentations to the EPA. We need adults to volunteer to represent the EPA.

Our Hilsman Bands Together campaign has had a small response. I am going to end the campaign Friday, October 20th. Please consider contributing! Remember, teachers in the winning house get a dress down day and duty free lunch!

It is very important that you communicate with your gifted collaborators on low grades. During parent conferences we found low grades for gifted and advanced students that we were not aware of. We need to collaborate together to help our gifted students be successful.

From Mr. Dorsey & Team Gora: 

Hilsman Fruit Sale -- October 16 thru November 15

Fruit will be delivered the week of December 11

Please see Team Gora (Dorsey, Gaertig, Picha, Zabetakis) or Ms. Seymour (FACS) for more information! All money raised will support student community based instruction and classroom activities.

From the IC: 
Each week, Ms. Ward and I will be sharing tips and strategies for the focal areas of our school growth plan.  Please let us know if you come across some good material to share out with our colleagues as well! 

Literacy: Close and Critical Reading (across contents)
Numeracy: 
SEL: Ways to Integrate SEL Throughout the Day

Monday: 
*Advisement 
IB WOW session w/Maxey in PL room (first plannings - connections included)
4pm SILT 

Tuesday: 
RTI Meetings
Middle School Instructional Council AM 

Wednesday: 
Collab planning
4pm - Faculty Meeting - Media Center 
Silver Head of House Meeting with Mr. Forker

Thursday: 
Collab planning 
UGA Literacy Mentors working with 6th grade mentees, 1:50-2:25


Friday: 
Agriscience Fair Open House :  4:00-5:30
Everyone is invited to come and view the Agriscience Fair Boards before Nationals. 


UPCOMING: 
Red Ribbon Week - The Week of the 23rd 
October 26th - Fright Fest
October 27th - Fall Holiday
October 30th - PLC day at Hilsman - 8:30 am Faculty Picture 

Week of October 9th

Being Culturally Responsive

Culturally Responsive Teaching (A comprehensive resource)

Happy Sunday!

We are headed for a busy week! Shout out to the staff that walked up Stone Mountain Saturday. I enjoyed the morning with you and look forward to our next outing. Tomorrow you all will participate in PL at Clarke Central. Be sure to dress in business casual attire. This means no jeans. Also, be sure to be on time. From the sounds of it all, you are set up for a long but great day. 

This week is filled with long nights. You are encouraged to schedule as many of your conferences before noon Friday. Remember you are expected to work until 4:00 Tuesday-Friday. Thursday night we will host late night conferences. If you do not have any conferences scheduled before 4 Thursday, you may leave and return to Hilsman before 5:00. Please be sure to make contact with the students whose conferences you will host before the end of the day Tuesday. 

If you have not provided me with a copy of your grade level agenda for Parent Night, please forward it to me by noon tomorrow. There is a hard deadline for grades tomorrow! You are expected to adhere to the deadline. Mrs. Brinkley will begin printing report cards tomorrow afternoon. I know there is a lot to get done in a short era of time but let's get it done! You can do it!

Pre-evaluation conferences will be scheduled this week. It is important that your goals and information is correct in the platform. We WILL finish conferences this week and walk throughs will begin Monday of next week. 

Lastly, I realize the work that we do is not easy! We have some work to do but we will get it  done together. I appreciate the work that each of you do and never take it for granted. Without you, my job is impossible. Thank you for the work that you do! Keep pushing until something happens. It will happen because of our commitment to our students and the work that we do every day.

From Ms. Moore: 

On Tuesday we will have a final advisement prior to starting student-led conferences. I put some slides together, but it is basically a review of the lesson from this Monday. Please refer to it, if you feel like it will help keep you and the students on track. The SILT team decided to have students report to their conference teachers during advisement on the 10th. Therefore, 6th grade students will meet with their 3rd period teachers, 7th grade students will report to their 1st period teachers, and 8th grade students will report to their 7th period teachers. Case managers, please report where it is appropriate for you. 

Teachers, please refer to the email sent to you from Ms. Hogan when talking to students about their assessment data. There is no quick way to do this so please do not worry if you do not get this completely done. We will continue working on this throughout the school year. In addition, the district should be sending information regarding assessment data, which you can refer to during conferences while discussing this with parents/guardians.

Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thank you!

Advisement Presentation

From Ms. Gonzalez: 
Book Fair Time!

It's time for our Hilsman Fall Scholastic Book Fair October 10th through the 13th during school and parent conference hours. Make sure to drop by for wonderful books, posters, and fun items. There will be a drawing for over 20 poster prizes on Friday!

From Mr. Lawrence: 
I would like to thank all Faculty members who came out to support the Hilsman Chorus Performance on 10/5/2017. I will begin rehearsing with the Hilsman Community Chorus after parent-teacher conferences. If any faculty or staff are interested in joining please email me.

Mr. Hussain will be buying pizza for everyone who wants to plan after school on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. He will be available to co-plan during this time (and co-teach during a class if you want). Stop by his classroom (room 205) after school to check it out next Tuesday! His strengths still include technology integration, wearing ties, and growing a beard.


From Team Gora: 
Team Gora will hold its 4th Annual Panther's Pumpkin Patch. All money goes to support students' life skills in the community. Come buy a pumpkin! Pumpkins are $5.  See Ms. Gaertig. 



Monday:
PLC Day at Clarke Central 

PL Day 10/9 @ Clarke Central

6pm - Foundation For Excellence Banquet 
6:30pm - 6th grade parent meeting in cafeteria

Tuesday: 
***ADVISEMENT***

6:30pm - 7th grade parent meeting in media center
6:30pm - 8th grade parent meeting in cafeteria 

Wednesday: *EARLY RELEASE for PTC EARLY RELEASE SCHEDULE

Thursday: *EARLY RELEASE for PTC (Late evening for east side)
EARLY RELEASE SCHEDULE
**9am - Joan Mulholland to speak to 8th Grade (New Gym)

Friday: *EARLY RELEASE for PTC EARLY RELEASE SCHEDULE
8:30am - Principal's Coffee

Week of October 2nd

Happy Sunday!

It is a beautiful day. I hope you get out to enjoy it at some point today. Last week was a busy and emotional one for many of our staff members.  Thank you for continued dedication to the work that we are doing at Hilsman. We are off to a new week with new adventures. By the end of the day Monday, please be sure that you have entered your goals into the platform. This is also another reminder to ensure that all of your pre-evaluation information is completed too. We will begin conferences Wednesday of this week. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your responsibilities as it relates to information needed in the platform, please see a member of the Admin Team.

Tuesday is FTE Count Day! It is imperative that you take attendance every period. This must be done in Campus or it will affect our funding for next year. This should also serve as a reminder that attendance is to be taken daily in your classes.

Conferences will be held next week. Remember our goal is to host student led conferences. Therefore, we need to train our students on how to read their data and explain it to their parents. This will be our first time engaging in this endeavor however it will get stronger as we continue the practice of including our students in their learning process.  The forms provided by Mrs. Moore during the first advisement are great resources for students to use to record their information to share with their parents. Conference letters will need to go out for EVERY team this Monday. Each team has elected to host their conferences differently. Please ensure that your parents and the office are aware of your process.  A copy of your conference schedules will need to be provided to the front office no later than this Thursday. All teachers are expected to stay until 4:00 on conference days. Our late night is Thursday, October 12th. You will be expected to be present until 7:45 pm. Please make the necessary arrangements to ensure that you are present. At this time, no decision has been made regarding your release time the following Friday. You are highly encouraged to host  all of your conferences before noon on Friday.

We are back to professional dress this week. It was great to see so many happy teachers in jeans! Remember no leggings, jeggings, or jean material this week except Friday! Lastly, I want to encourage you all to sign up to go to Stone Mountain early Saturday, October 7th. We want to go as a staff, climb the mountain as a team, and enjoy the sunrise together. Afterwards, we can enjoy breakfast together. Please consider attending. Your family members are welcomed to participate.

We will continue our practices of NO HALL PASSES except in the case of an emergency. Please be mindful that we have some students that we must allow bathroom passes at any time. We don't want accidents so use good judgement. Here is to a great week.

Utevia


SHOUT OUTS!
Congrats to Ms. Fassbender and Ms. Moore for being our teacher and staff member of the month! Y'all rock and we are beaming with Panther Pride! Thank you both for your hard work and commitment to Hilsman.


(SUNDAY, Oct. 1st) Happy birthday, Ms. Giannasi! 

Monday:
ADVISEMENT - Morning Activity Schedule
4pm SILT
6:30pm Band Concert
Fundraiser packets are due to the front office

Tuesday: FTE COUNT DAY!!! TAKE ATTENDANCE!


Wednesday:Uniform Day-Wear your Black and Gold
No Faculty Meeting


Thursday: Tolbert out AM-Principal's Meeting
Counselors out AM
WOW Session first planning
6:30 pm Chorus Concert

Friday: *First Quarter Grading Period Ends
Hogan at BOE in AM
7pm Band Rockathon


On your radar: 

10/9 - District PL Day at Central (more to come)

We are all excited for the professional learning that will take place on October 9
and October 30.  Dr. Means is pleased that we will participate in professional learning
together as a secondary team (on October 9 at Central High School) and
elementary team (October 30 at the Classic Center).

With that in mind, Here is an overview of the professional learning
that will take place for the secondary staff (October 9) and elementary staff
(October 30).

Staff members will receive a keynote presentation titled: Capture their
Hearts. The keynote is designed to engage educators in how to move young
people in a positive direction, by embracing their own initiative, persistence, and
self-discipline through the support and connections with the adults in their lives.
Built on life experiences and best educational practices, the presenter will use
storytelling to encourage adults to engage with young people and to inspire young
people to take charge of their own future.

There will be two breakout sessions following
the keynote address. The breakouts include:
Fostering a Growth Mindset for K-12
Student Success: This module explores the
difference between the fixed and the growth
mindset and the impact that mindsets can
have on performance and learning.
Participants will consider the concept of
growth mindset, how it may be affecting their
students learning, and how to take students,
and themselves, from a fixed to a growth
mindset. Participants will leave the session
with a lesson plan for teaching growth mindset
in their classroom.

10/11-10/13 - Parent Conferences -- Thursday is the late evening for the east side.
10/27 - fall holiday
10/30 - School PL Day (at HIL)

SILT Update

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN UPDATE

All school improvement plans have been updated to include a SMART GOAL Tree
for the focus areas of literacy, numeracy, and social emotional learning. In
addition, a copy of the SMART Goal presentation made by Dr. Means on the
September 19 training can be found here. Anne Conzemius is available via
email to answer questions if you wish to contact her. Anne’s email is
aconzemius@smartlearningsystems.com.

In order to complete the School Improvement Plan, your SILT teams should:

1. Complete the development of your SMART Goals (using the SMART GOAL
Tree).
2. Finalize the action steps, artifacts, and professional learning needed to
address your SMART Goals and record them on the literacy/numeracy
focus area or the social emotional focus area.
3. If you wish to keep any of the action steps from the focus areas of
innovative instruction, creativity, or collaborative planning as part of your
school improvement plan, move them from their existing focus area page
and paste them on the Additional Activities page. Please remember that
since we are attempting to reduce the goals on which you will work, it is
optional to keep any of these action steps.

Message from PTO

Dear Hilsman Faculty,

The Hilsman PTO has selected PURE stainless steel cups, with an additional option of a sturdy, UGA-themed plastic cup/tumbler, for our fundraiser this year.  Our Goal is $8,000, which we will hit if 400 kids sell 1 item.  The fundraiser will run from Friday Oct 6 to Friday Oct 20, with delivery to students, at Hilsman, by Friday December 1, in time for the holidays!

Wed Oct 4: PTO will place packets - one envelope per kid - in home room teacher boxes

Fri Oct 6:  Teachers send packets home with students, and PTO will post on FB announcing that packets are coming home along with details of the fundraiser.

Mon - Fri Oct 16 to Oct 20:  Collection week - PTO will be at the front office in the morning. Please send a student up to the front office during homeroom with envelopes from your class. Also, there will be a lock box in the front office for envelopes - if students bring in envelopes, send them to the front desk, and Ms. Barnett can put them in the PTO lock box.

Top Sellers in each grade get a Rush Bag - Pass for winner and 7 friends to Rush and some Rush Swag.

Meet the Goal of $8,000 - Ms. Tolbert gets a Pie in the Face!  

Questions?  Email matteebarkdoll@gmail.com

Week of September 25

Happy Sunday Panther Nation,

I hope that each of you have enjoyed your weekend and found a little time to rest and RESET. This month is going to be a busy one so tie up your laces and get ready to run! Also, I want to encourage each of you to remain vigilant of our scholars' behavior in the halls, classroom, and cafeteria. If you hear or notice anything out of the ordinary, immediately report it to an Administrator or Officer Johnson. It is equally important for you to enforce the uniform and backpack policies. Remember that as we are reinforcing expectations to be mindful of our actions and tone. It is always a good practice to remember Mr. Scott's presentation from the beginning of the year. Our actions and words can impact a student for life!

Monday and Wednesday we will have mandatory faculty meetings. This is in an effort to get our School Growth Plan completed before the deadline. Most importantly, this time will allow all of us an opportunity to work TOGETHER as we set our school's goals. Our October meeting will be cancelled. I will create a video to share important information. 

In a separate email, I will share a link to my calendar for you to begin signing up for your Pre-Evaluation Conference. Please select a time that is good for you. I attempted to offer a variety of times to allow you some flexibility with your schedule. 

Lastly, as a reminder, please be sure that you are effectively using Collaborative Planning time. If you or your team are experiencing issues or have concerns, do not hesitate to alert (Dr.) Mrs. Hogan.

Just as a little pick you upper, feel free to wear jeans Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week. Cheers to a GREAT week!

Ms. Tolbert

Updates from the District:

2018 OPEN ENROLLMENT 

Open Enrollment will begin October 16, 2017 for State Health and CCSD benefits. Please plan to attend an Open Enrollment meeting near you to learn about changes and improvements to your benefits. Visit the Employee Benefits website after Thursday, September 28, 2017 at www.clarke.k12.ga.us to find helpful links to Open Enrollment choices. Open Enrollment ends November 3, 2017. Computer help will be available in the Board Office on October 31 and November 1 from 8:30 am – 4:00 pm. These sessions are only for help with the computer and are reserved for those that have limited computer experience and no access to a computer or internet at home or work. Send your questions to openenrollment@clarke.k12.ga.us. 

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

 ● LEA Training - 

The first session was held this week with 6 schools participating. Additional training dates: October 16, December 11, January 22, and February 26. Elementary training times: 3:00-4:00 Secondary training times: 4:00-5:00. All trainings are held at the Whitehead Road Annex, Room 29. 

● Strategies and Techniques for Dealing with the Most Difficult to Manage Students - 

Gary Alderman ○ September 28-29 ○ Northeast Georgia RESA ○ Link to Register ○ This is a great opportunity for beginning teachers and teachers/administrators desiring to improve classroom management practices within their classrooms/buildings 

● Georgia Association for Positive Behavior Support Conference (GAPBS) ○ November 28-29 ○ Infinite Energy Center, Duluth, GA ○ Link to Register ○ This is a great opportunity for your school-based PBIS Coach or your entire PBIS team! 

● Free Parent Workshop - Tuesday, October 10, 10:00 AM-12:00PM at Athens Regional Library. This workshop will provide parents with an overview of IDEA, Child Find, RTI, SST, making a referral, evaluation process, and the IEP process. For more information, contact Jerolee Oschack at 706.546.7721 ext. 65727.

Dinner Dialogue

If you are interested in participating in our dinner dialogue this fall, please complete the form here: Dinner Dialogue Interest Form

From Mr. Lawrence: 

The Hilsman Middle School Chorus are selling Dominoes "Slice The Price" cards for a fundraiser. The cards are $10 and donations are welcomed. The proceeds are going towards the groups Spring events.

HMS Chorus Fall Performance is October 5, 2017 at 6:30 pm.

From Maxey: 

Hilsman Bands Together

From Sunshine Committee: 
Friday Jeans has started! $5 each Friday or $20 for 5 weeks. Don't miss the opportunity to be comfortable.

From Ms. Camp: 

Band Concert:  Monday, October 2 at 6:30 @Cedar Shoals High School Auditorium.

Rockathon Friday, October 6 from 7:00pm-7:00am.  Come have fun with the students!

From Mr. Hussain: 

Hussain will be buying pizza for everyone who wants to plan after school on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. He will be available to co-plan during this time (and co-teach during a class if you want). Stop by his classroom (room 205) after school to check it out next Tuesday! His strengths include technology integration, wearing ties, and growing a beard. 

Teachers, please remember to follow with First 15/Last 15 pass rules. 

Monday:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MS. BRINKLEY & MS. MEYER!!!
*Advisement   Morning Activity Schedule
**Grade levels and EXC teachers meet with Holland both plannings today
4pm Called faculty meeting (cafeteria) *Sit by content area.
4:30 Cross country meet at Athens Academy 
5:15 Local School Governance Team

Tuesday:
1-4 Forker @ AP Meeting
4pm New Panther Cohort w/Hogan
Head's of House Meeting during ELT in CAFE. Names of students will be provided to you via email.
4:30 - Volleyball HMS v. CMS @ HMS

Wednesday: 
4pm Faculty Meeting 

Thursday: 
House Meetings - Activity Schedule
UGA Literacy Mentors - Beginning of 6th period
5pm - C-Team Football v. Clarke Central @ Cedar

Friday: Happy FRIDAY!!!

On your radar: 
10/3 FTE Count Day -- ATTENDANCE IS MUY IMPORTANTE
10/9 District PL Day (@ Clarke Central - stay tuned)
10/11-13 Parent Conferences (Thursday is our late evening.) 
10/27 - Fall Holiday -- GO DAWGS! 
10/30 PL Day (here at the HIL)

Week of September 18

Teachers and Staff,

Thank you for a great return back to school. You all did a phenomenal job of ensuring that students quickly refocused on school as well as reinforced the PAWS expectations. Thank you! As we continue to move forward this year, please know that our path is being carefully created by Dr. Means. I will be sharing more information with you all as he continues to share with leadership his vision and mission for CCSD.  In the meantime, please continue teaching and actively engaging our students during your instruction.

The storm has caused us to have to shift some deadlines. SMART Goal Training for selected members of SILT will take place September 19th. Therefore we will communicate stems for goals as well as expectations for TKES no later than Monday. The week of September 25th will be dedicated to Pre-Observation Conferences. Please ensure that you self assessment, orientation, and the familiarization components of TKES is completed as of today. If you are having trouble, please email Ms. Tolbert.

Progress reports should have gone our last Friday. If you had students that failed your class, please contact the parents via writing and phone to make them aware of their child's grade. It is also recommended that you record this contact in Campus. This is important as we work to help our students become successful. In addition, please have a plan of action for the student to recover.

As you are working to meet deadlines, create innovative plans, and provide instruction to students please do not hesitate to contact me if you are feeling overwhelmed. We will work to reschedule the PL with your content however keep in mind that we also have a PL Day coming soon in October. I will work with Mrs. Hogan to provide at least 3 hours of time for you to spend planning and preparing for Fall Conferences. As always, know that your work is appreciated and I stand amazed at your level of commitment to our students and your profession as a teacher.

Thanks,
Utevia

Fundraising

If you are interested in working with Mrs. Skinner as she plans our Panther Prowl scheduled for February 3rd, please see her ASAP! This is a huge responsibility and any help would be appreciated. Also if you or anyone that you know would like to be a sponsor for this event, please see us! We are in need of 2500.00 in sponsorship. Let us make this event a successful one!

September 27th is the deadline for our Cookie Dough Fundraiser! I will instruct students to return the packets to their ELT teacher.  Please turn in the student packets to the front office upon receipt! This is important so that we can get an accurate count as well as confirm our delivery date.

Goodbye or see you later Mr. Hardy!

September 22 is Mr. Hardy's last day at Hilsman! He has been a great asset to our staff, community, and students! Please consider having students write him a letter of appreciation. We are also working on a nice token of appreciation for him as he moves on to higher grounds. He will truly be missed!

Firm, Fair, Consistently Consistent

Please continue to hold students accountable for their behavior and academics. Remember NO hall passes unless it is necessary! Instruction is critical. Unless there is a student in need of an emergency bathroom break, we should not have any movement in the halls the first and last 15 minutes of each class. The first 10 minutes of every grade level's lunch period is to be silent. Lastly, everyone should have silent transitions. Please make sure that every teacher is in the hall during transition and for morning duty. Incidents are occurring during transition time and we need to reinforce order at this time.


From our onsite UGA faculty: 

For the fourth year in a row Hilsman has welcomed Dr. Sujata Iyengar's UGA students to school for "Shakespeare in the Classroom," which brings UGA English and Education majors to Hilsman to work with 8th grade Language Arts teachers and pupils on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Dr. Iyengar teaches literature and writing in the UGA English Department and is the author of several books and many articles about Shakespeare's England, including Shades of Difference: Mythologies of Skin Color in Early Modern England (2005) and Shakespeare's Medical Language (2011). She urges parents, teachers, and Hilsman students to feel free to bring her your questions about Shakespeare, the value of lifelong learning, and the importance of the humanities. She especially encourages Hilsman students to ask her UGA students about learning and life in college. UGA students will pop in and out most days of the week from now until December, but look for Dr. Iyengar and her students especially Tuesday mornings between 8 and 12.

ALSO...

Dr. Kathy Thompson's students meet on our campus Thursday afternoons.  Her group is helping support our literacy efforts here at the HIL by being literacy mentors to a group of 6th graders.  Every Thursday they meet in our media center, and it has been a wonderful success in these first couple of weeks.  Stay tuned for pictures and updates! 

Dinner Dialogue
If you are interested in participating in our dinner dialogue this fall, please complete the form here: Dinner Dialogue Interest Form

From Mr. Lawrence: 

The Hilsman Middle School Chorus are selling Dominoes "Slice The Price" cards for a fundraiser. The cards are $10 and donations are welcomed. The proceeds are going towards the groups Spring events.

HMS Chorus Fall Performance is October 5, 2017 at 6:30 pm.

From Maxey: 

Hilsman Bands Together

Monday
Morning Activity Schedule
8:00am - Bus Evacuation practice. Students may be late to Homeroom/ELT
Advisement Advisement Lesson (linked here) 
4pm-5pm: SILT Meeting 
4pm: C-Team v/s Stephens County @ 5:30

Tuesday
8am- 4pm:  SMART SystemsTraining  Various Staff out of Building
8:30am: Student/Faculty Fall Picture Day 
4:30pm: Volleyball HIL vs. WRC @ WRC

Wednesday
4pm-5pm: 3rd Wednesday District Meetings
6pm-7pm Hispanic Heritage Night

Thursday
Math 180 Coaching Visit (only applies to Math 180 teachers) 
4pm-5:30pm: PDSD Coordinating Council Meeting (Tolbert, Forker, Hogan)
4pm: Cross Country meet at Crow's Lake in Jefferson 

Friday

Week of September 11

Good evening Teachers,

Official word has been sent out from the District that school will be closed Wednesday, September 13th as a result of massive power outages in our area.  Due to uncontrolled circumstances, please expect some changes to our plans. We will NOT have half day PL this week.We will need to reschedule this for early October. In addition, DO NOT worry about posting grades until we return to school. Many of your have completed the TKES pre-observation components, however the due date has been changed to this Friday. Remember you only have to complete the first two components. The SMART Training has been postponed until September 19th. If you are a SILT designee for this training, this is the final date per Dr. Means. We realize that being out for three days will cause for a change in your lesson plans. Feel free to alter your plans to accommodate what you will need to cover in your classes. Be prepared to receive some excited students upon our return to school. They have been home for an additional three days and are probably filled with energy. It will be imperative to hold them accountable and to reinforce the PAWS Expectations. We will not allow unnecessary hall passes, no movement the first and last 15 minutes of every class, implement silent lunch the first 10 minutes of each grade level's lunch, silent transitions, and ensure high quality bell to bell instruction. Again, I hope that you and your families endured the storm and are safe. 

Shout out to Ms. Destefani, Mr. Hussain, Ms. Page, and Ms. Skinner for presenting to our parents at Friday's Principal's Coffee. They provided our families with very detailed information on Google Classroom. 

DOUBLE shout out to our faculty member of the month, Ms. Holland, and our staff member of the month, Mr. Stevie.  

From your AP:
 - Please remember that grade level house incentives will take place on Friday afternoon. Grade levels should work together to plan incentives by house. If you have questions or need support with planning, please email Mr. Forker directly. 

From your IC: 

• Please make sure you have completed a detached duty for our macroplannings on Wednesday and Thursday of this upcoming week. Your subs have already been taken care of. 

Click here for info on submitting a detached duty

Hilsman Macroplanning Details for Wednesday and Thursday

• We are in the planning stages of a dinner dialogue series with our families and stakeholders guided by the themes in Richard Milner's text Rac(e)ing to Class.  For our new faculty, please see Hogan for copies of the book.  Our whole faculty conducted a dialogue with this text in April of the past school year. If you are interested in joining us for phase two of the conversation please submit the form below:

Dinner Dialogue RSVP

• As you all prepare your TKES platform for this school year, I am available to answer any and all questions you may have.  Your two big "to-dos" BY TUESDAY of this week are: 1) completing the orientation (with video) and 2) completing the self-assessment.  You will receive more guidance on writing your goals after SILT representatives go through the SMART systems training at the BOE.  At this training, we will develop stems that make your goal writing a little less painful. :) Here, again, is the presentation shared at the faculty meeting: 

TKES Orientation

September 11th Memorial Day Resources: 

ELT Presentation

9/11 Resources (links, etc.)

IB reminders:

1. Remember to save student work to collaboratively score.

2. Make sure you have completed the reflection for each unit as you finish the unit.

3. Start talking to your students about our Hurricane Harvey campaign that starts next week. The presentation was shared with everyone this week.

Trash Harvey Campaign Presentation

4. Get with the other teachers in your house to discuss a way to post students' names from your house somewhere in the school.

Mr. Hussain will be buying pizza for everyone who wants to plan after school on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. He will be available to co-plan during this time (and co-teach during a class if you want). Stop by his classroom (room 205) after school to check it out next Tuesday! His strengths include technology integration, wearing ties, and growing a beard. 

Monday: SCHOOL CANCELLED #irma 

*September 11th Day of Remembrance

TO BE RESCHEDULED: 

WOW Sesssion with Maxey first plannings (including connections team) 

10am GRADES DUE IN CAMPUS

Tuesday: SCHOOL CANCELLED #irma 

Progress reports go home 

Volleyball away vs BHL 

Wednesday: SCHOOL CANCELLED #irma

*We would normally hold vertical meetings after school on this Wednesday of the month. However, verticals will take place during our content macroplanning this week. 

Math AM - Macroplanning/Cancelled

ELA PM - Macroplanning/Cancelled

Thursday: 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MS. OYEYEMI! 

Social Studies AM - Macroplanning/Cancelled

Science PM - Macroplanning/Cancelled

6pm DC Trip Parent Meeting 

Friday: Afternoon Activity Schedule

Each grade level should have planned for activities on their hallway. Forker will check in with grade level team leaders Thursday for logistics. Any questions or need of support, email Forker directly.

2:30 Grade level house celebrations 

Saturday: 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FASSBENDER!