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STAFF NEWS AND NOTES

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24 EDITION 24, ISSUE 17 MID-YAR EXAM SCHEDULE FINAL DRAFT JANUARY 2012
MON. 9 Foreign Lang. Speaking Assess. Contd 16 NO SCHOOL (MLK Day) 23 Foreign Lang. 7/8 In Class 30 TUES. 10 WED. 11

January 6, 2012

KUDOS - To Chris Myer who has the SJHS annual ski club expedition up and running! Adults and students spent a chilly night this past Wednesday evening, the first of 6 treks to Jiminy Peak. Thanks also to the adult chaperones who gave up an evening to ski and supervise. Thanks, Chris, for your interest and efforts on an annual basis to keep this opportunity alive for many of our students and a good number of our adults as well! - To John Gara, who assisted with the Poetry Out Loud program, sponsored by SHS but held in our auditorium last evening. John worked with the HS advisor to make sure that the lights were all set for the event and we are sure that it all went off without a hitch. Thanks, John, for your willingness to help out a colleague from the HS.

17 Foreign Lang. 7/8 In Class 24 Math 7/8 (2 hrs)

18 Eng 7/8 (8:15-10:37) 25

Earth Science (2 hrs) Science 7/8

THURS. 12 Science 8 Part 2 (In Class) 19 Social Studies (1 hrs) 26

FRI. 13 Studio Art 11 am-2 pm 20

27 End of 2nd Quarter

(Mid-morning break?) QUIZ BOWL (Fri, Feb 17)

(1 hrs.) 31

PM BUS SUPERVISION ZONE #1 ZONE #2 ZONE #3 ZONE #4 CAF A. Bisnett H. Blau C. Bourgeois L. Bullis C. Shumway People are reminded to be on duty on a daily basis to make sure that supervision is provided.
ALL STAFF MEMBERS ARE REMINDED THAT THE BUS SUPERVISION IS AN ASSIGNED DUTY AND IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR ALL STAFF MEMBERS TO BE WHERE ASSIGNED DUTY; IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ARRANGE FOR REPLACEMENT PERHAPS BY SWAPPING WITH A COLLEAGUE.

LONG-TERM CALENDAR OF EVENTS Jan. 4 9 Foreign Language Speaking Assessments Tues. Jan. 10 2:30 pm Building Geography Bee Wed. Jan. 11 2:30 pm Stand Up! A209 Ski Club Week #2 Thurs. Jan. 12 Science 8 Part 2 In Class Fri. Jan. 13 Studio Art Final 11 am-2 pm Mon. Jan. 16 No School Martin Luther King Day Tues. Jan. 17 Foreign Language 7/8 In Class Wed. Jan. 18 English 7/8 8:15-10:37 am Ski Club Week #3 Thurs. Jan. 19 Social Studies 7/8 8:29-10:00 am Mon. Jan. 23 Foreign Language 7/8 In Class Tues. Jan. 24 Math 7/8 8:29-10:37 am Wed. Jan. 25 Earth Science 8:29-10:37 am Science 7/8 8:29-10:00 am Ski Club Week #4 Fri. Jan. 27 End of the 1st Semester Wed. Feb. 1 Ski Club Week #5 Wed. Feb. 8 Ski Club Week #6 Fri. Feb. 10 Newsletter Posted 7:00 pm The Show Fri. Feb. 17 Quiz Bowl Feb. 18 - 19 Set Building Weekend Feb. 20 24 No School CALENDAR OF EVENTS Mon. Jan. 9 Grade 8 Foreign Language Speaking Assessments 2:30 pm Faculty Meeting Tues. Jan. 10 7:30 am Staff Development Committee Meeting 2:30 pm Building Geography Bee Wed. Jan. 11 Ski Club Week #2 Thurs. Jan. 12 Science 8 Part 2 In Class 1:30 pm Administrative Counsel Meeting Fri. Jan. 13 Newsletter Posted Studio Art 11:00 AM 2:00 PM Mon. Jan. 16 No School Martin Luther King Holiday CHARACTER TRAIT ASSIGNMENT Jan. 9 13 English Jan. 23 27 Social Studies Feb. 6 10 Science Feb. 13 17 Math Feb. 27 Mar. 2 Art/Tech/H&C Mar. 5 9 Foreign Language Mar. 12 16 PE/Health/Music Mar. 19 23 English Mar. 26 30 Social Studies Apr. 2 5 Science Apr. 16 20 Math Apr. 23 27 Art/Tech/H&C Apr. 30 May 4 Foreign Language May 7 11 PE/Health/Music May 14 18 English May 21 25 Social Studies Joyful Kind Patient Tolerant Honest Thankful Polite Considerate Generous Cheerful Loyal Sympathetic Patriotic Trustworthy Fair Cooperative

MID-YEAR EXAMS Thursday, 1/12 Science 8 Part 2 In Class Friday, 1/13 Studio Art 11:00 2:00pm Monday, 1/16 NO SCHOOL Martin Luther King Day Tuesday, 1/17 Foreign Language 8 In Class Wednesday, 1/18 English 7/8 Period 1; 8:15-10:37 Testing; 5 6 7 3 - 4 Thursday, 1/19 Social Studies 7/8 Period 2; 8:29 10:00 Testing; 4* 5 6 7 8 9 Monday, 1/23 Foreign Language 7/8 In Class Tuesday, 1/24 Math 7, Math 9R, Math 8 Period1; 8:29 10:37 Testing; 5 6 7 3 - 4 Wednesday, 1/25 Science 7/8, Earth Science Sci.: Pd 2; 8:29 9:53 Testing; 4 5 6 7 8 9 Earth Sci: 7:45 9:53 Testing; 4 5 6 7 8 9 Thursday, 1/26 Open Day Friday, 1/27 Open Day, Last Day of 1st Semester *Not a full period Tests are scheduled to end at the times listed. If, for some reason, the ending time changes we will announce it via the PA. Keep in mind that 7th grade mid-year exams are to be counted as a double test grade in the 2nd quarter; 8th grade mid-year exam grades should be stand alone grades, i.e. not counted additionally in quarter 2 or 3. MID-MORNING BREAK FOR STUDENTS Many years ago we used to conduct mid-morning breaks for students on a very regular basis. Over the past several years we have gotten away from that, however, we do need to provide students with opportunities, tangible opportunities that are directly linked to good behavior. An idea is to conduct a mid-morning break and a suggestion has been made to hold it on Friday, January 27 the last day of the first semester. This may or may not be a good day for such a mid-morning break. Please think about it and let one of the building administrators know your thoughts? Friday, January 27 7:45 8:00 am 8:05 8:20 am 8:30 8:45 am 8:50 9:05 am 9:15 9:30 am 9:30 9:45 am 10:00 10:15 am 10:20 10:35 am Clay 7 Clay 8 Calhoun 8 Norris 7 Norris 8 Houston 8 Calhoun 7 Houston 7

QUIZ BOWL NEARS: MODERATORS NEEDED Our annual, Quiz Bowl has been set for Friday, February 17. Moderators are needed. If you would be interested in serving as a moderator, please let R. Moore know.
A proposed schedule is: Per. 1 Calhoun 7 vs. Clay 7 Per. 2 Houston 7 vs. Norris 7 Per. 3 Houston 8 vs. Calhoun 8 Per. 4 Grade 7 consolation Per. 5 ------------Per. 6 Clay 8 vs. Norris 8 Per. 7 Grade 8 consolation Per. 8 Grade 7 Championship Per. 9 Grade 8 Championship Moderator ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ _Omar Williams_____________ _Omar Williams_____________

ATTENDANCE INFORMATION While Sue is out Janet Grant will be filling in for her Monday Thursday each week and will NOT have access to email...so if you dont mind contacting the attendance office via phone/voice mail or even notes in Sues mailbox it would be greatly appreciated!! SET DESIGNER NEEDED We still have an opening in our musical personnel list for a set designer. If you are interested in either or both of these position please contact Mr. V. and/or Dianne Hobden for information and let R. Moore know.

If there are conflicts/problems please let R. Moore know ASAP. New questions are always helpful! If you have any, please write them clearly on a 3 x 5 card, question on one side, and answer on the other side. Label questions as to grade 7 or grade 8. Questions requiring only short, single responses are best!

GOOD BYE AND GOOD LUCK!! We want to say goodbye and wish good luck to Julie Basile. Julie has been informed by her doctor that she needs to put her feet up and relax, pending the birth of her first child scheduled for later this month. Best of luck Julie! Were sure that everything will go well. Please stay in touch, keep us up to date and heed your doctors advice!!! WELCOME TO MATT GOEBEL We want to welcome Matt Goebel, who will fill Julies position teaching English to seventh graders in Norris Hall. Everyone knows Matt as he has been one of our permanent subs since the beginning of the school year (and also he served admirably as a member of O-Canada, a dodge ball team that fell in the finals to the top adult dodge ball team Ball-or-Nothing!!) We were planning on Matt taking over for this position for quite some time; we just didnt plan on it happening at this point in time. Thanks, Matt, for being ready, willing and able to step right in on literally a moments notice. We are sure that you will provide a smooth transition for our students and prepare them well for the pending mid-year exams and everything that will occur during the second semester of the school year. NEW YORK VOICES The North Colonie Friends of Music is pleased to present a special concert: The Grammy Award winning New York Voices will perform in the Shaker High School auditorium on Thursday, February 2nd, 7:00 p.m. The ensemble features soprano and North Colonie alumna Kim Nazarian. Kim grew up in Loudonville and fell in love with singing while a student in Ned Fleischer's Shaker High School chorus. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ithaca College and co-founded the New York Voices in 1987. The vocal jazz quartet will be backed up by a jazz trio and perform music from a variety of genres. They will feature North Colonie student singers on two selections. The concert is a fundraiser for the North Colonie Friends of Music's piano project. Tickets are $25 for reserved seating, first come-first serve. For more information, see the district's website: www.northcolonie.org For more information on Kim and the New York Voices, go to: www.newyorkvoices.com FACULTY MEETING REMINDER Our next faculty meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 9. We will meet in the assembly room at 2:30 pm. Agenda items include: 1. Mid-year Exam Testing/supervisory Schedule 2. Thoughts on 7th Grade Final Exam Grading Options 3. Other 4. Gift Giving

easy way to double check that you have a new version is to look above the green section of your grade book. It should be labeled in progress. Above the yellow section it should be labeled posted. A couple of people needed to get safari and java updated before their computer could run the new version. Just a heads up! Class: There will be a class on Jan. 9th; Assignments with the new IC Grade book 1.5hrs 3:30-5:00 Mezzanine Classroom and Lab SHS You MUST register for the class. This is just what has been found as of today there may be OTHER new and interesting things that appear. Stop by and see Shannon Dunbar if you need help or find out something else that is interesting STAND UP MEETING MINUTES- WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21st 2011 Book Talk- Mike Donahue Members of the Stand Up committee are going to read the book, Reinventing My Normal by Mike Donahue. Once we have read the book, we are going to have a book group. Toni Lyng will be in charge with other members of the committee helping as well. Dr. Moore is going to order copies of the book (10 or 12) so they are available to students and staff members who want to join the book club. More will be discussed on this at our next meeting. Note: There is also a book, Talking to Brick Walls, which is geared towards adults. Maybe we want a book talk just for staff? Shirt Days: Black Out Bullying day was a success. The student members of the committee had thought of some potential quotes for our next t-shirt days: White: Dont fight, wear white. Put bullies out of sight, wear white. Red: Get out of bed and wear red. We are still discussing ideas for the slogans for the next shirt days. Take a Stand Tuesday: Awareness has increased, but is still not school-wide. Perhaps something can be typed up for all teachers to read to their homerooms? We are prepared with January clips. Walk a Mile in Someones Shoes display: Our idea of having a display around the school of walking a mile in someones shoes is in the works. Our fabulous group of interns are making samples of different shoes, boots, etc. for the teachers who run the lesson. We are thinking that we will have 7th grade students crate their shoe in advisory, while the 8th grade students will make theirs in their special area classes (Home and Careers, Technology, and Art). Details are to come. Instructions have been typed up by Toni Lyng, and Tracy Henry said she could do a test run of the lesson in her classroom before we try it school wide. Thoughts of having a clip with Mike Donahue to go along with the lesson were discussed as well. The Movie Bullied: After much thought and discussion, we decided that the movie Bullied may not convey the message the Stand Up Committee wants to send out to the school. Due to this fact, we believe it will be better to show the movie Pay It Forward and then have a Pay it Forward Project here at SJHS. People on the committee are going to view the movie first and then we will discuss this idea further. Thoughts about showing it the day after February break were discussed. Staff will need to be prepared. The movie is PG 13, so notes will be sent home as well. How will we do follow up and how the Pay It Forward Project will work shall be discussed at our next meeting. Is there a way to tie this into interhall competition as well? To think about before the next meeting: Mix It Up Day- do we have a date or time in mind? *Our next meeting will be held on January 11th in room A209.* Thanks go to everyone for the continued support and help! -Tracy Henry

IC CHANGES The following are changes that have been implemented since IC has changed. 1. Using the Abbreviation NO LONGER lists your assignments in order! The Due Date that you typed in is the ORDER. What this means is if you type in several items at once (i.e. 5 assignments) you MUST include the due date in the order that you listed them in your grade book in order for them to be in the order you want them to be in. If you type in more than one assignment for a due date, it will then default to Alphabetical Order for the assignment name, and then to the abbreviations we are used to. If you cant find an assignment for this quarter, click on assignments, narrow down your search to the appropriate category and try to find it there. When you do, Open the assignment and change the due date to the correct quarter, you MAY have to open EACH section in order to get this part to move over so it is a bit time consuming, about 2 minutes per missing assignment.

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THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK Never sacrifice a principle for a temporary gain. Anonymous

Good News There are however, SOME nice perks to the new format. 1. We no longer need to click on lesson planner for assignments; now its actually called Assignments. Once there click on Create assignment and enter name, abbreviation and CLICK the periods you want it listed for (no more copying assignments for multiple class!!!!!!). REMEMBER to enter a DUE DATE! AND then scroll down to select Quarter Grade. This is where you pick the category (i.e. test, quiz) and enter point value. Be Sure to hit SAVE If you enter ONE CLASS AT A TIME. You may hit Save & Scorewhere you can EASILY enter grades & COMMENTS!!!!!! This is a lot easier! When looking at the assignment list for a class you may have noticed a (27/27) or something similar next to the assignment this is NOT the point value it is how many kids are in the class, and how many grades you have entered so 27/27 means all of the kids are accounted for, 0/27 means none, and 15/27 means only some etc.. We also wanted to let you know that a couple of people are still running the old version of IC. If you are still using the old version, the grade book states that you are saving when you are NOT!! Be careful! A very

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