Bits and Pieces for the Week

Good morning!

There was no department chair meeting this week, so I just have a few items to forward to you.

• I have spoken with Alli about the field trip situation in our department.  At this time, the plan is to do what we have always done.  This means the district will continue to support our performances at venues outside of the district.  However, we need to maintain the number of performances we have historically committed to.  For example, if M&Ms have always gone to three competitions, they can continue to go to three competitions.  They don't necessarily need to be the same three as last year, but don't increase the number of performances.  If you have any questions about this, please come and see me so we can be certain of the policies for the year.
• At this time, there is a plan to have the high school used as a polling place for election day in November.  This plan includes using the back hallway as the location for voting.  If this does occur, we will need to accommodate this event as best as possible.  I emphasize we are still in the planning phases of this, so I will keep you posted.   
• The last two Wednesdays in October are being planned as department meeting dates.  I will be meeting with Mike Miller in the next week or so to set the agenda for these meetings as well as the goals for our department for this school year.  Stay tuned for more details on that in the coming weeks.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  You know where to find me. :-)

Department Chair Meeting Update

Good morning!

Here is an update from the department chair meeting today.

• Count week is next week.  If anyone has someone in their class who only occasionally attends school, please make an effort to speak to that student and encourage them to have great attendance next week.  You can also refer names to the unit principal for them to speak to.  Additionally, there will very few out of school suspensions in order to have the highest rate of attendance possible.  All of our funding for the school year is tied to the attendance for next week, so please do anything and everything you can to cut down on absences.
• Per Board of Education policy, all teachers are required to complete one web-based project each semester.  This year, you will need to turn your information in to the department chair and I will submit all of our materials together.  This is all of the information I have at this time, so I will continue to update you as this evolves.
• The discussion regarding field trips continues.  (If you recall, field trips must be cost neutral.)  I am setting up an appointment to meet with Alli and discuss how this will affect our department.
• Conferences are coming up next week on Thursday, October 10.  Conferences will be scheduled by teachers from 5:00 - 7:30, followed by a period of open conferences from 7:30 - 8:30.  (The main office will forward any requests by parents to set up a conference to you directly.)  There are volleyball games here that night as well as an event in the auditorium at 7:00.  The auditorium event is sponsored by Summit Racing and involves someone who is trying to break the land speed record.  This event is expected to be well attended and they are planning to have overflow in the cafeteria.  Consequently, parking should be a bit troublesome, so please plan accordingly.  Alli is going to share all of these details in an email with the staff and an all-call to parents.
• For the Friday Homecoming assembly, we are going to follow the same procedure we followed for the 'Roar' video.  Students will be dismissed to I/E at the end of third period.  From their, students will be dismissed to the assembly by grade level and alphabet.  This will allow for many things to happen, the least of which is a seating chart that will work in the auditorium, students can sit by their classes and the seniors can be in the front of the auditorium.  

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. :-)