Celtic Courier: Week of Feb. 23 - 27, 2015

"Vision to See, Faith to Believe, Courage to Do"

Dear Staff,

Provided by @jongordon11 via Twitter.

We hope you have had a good weekend with your families, extended with two calamity days last week in an already-shortened holiday week.  Last week is certainly challenging with going into our first week of PARCC Testing for all freshmen, but as always, we will do our best to make this a good testing week for our students.  All freshmen will be testing in PARCC English I, a 3-part test, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in an alternative bell schedule for all students.

Andy Wilkinson will be re-sending out tomorrow's bell schedule and room assignments to you so you can have this current information.  Anything you can do in the morning to help all of our students who are either testing or have room changes due to testing will be appreciated.  If you are not monitoring testing and can be in the halls with the changed rooms helping students we would appreciate it very much.

Just a reminder, please do not schedule any other assessments for freshmen during these three days of PARCC assessment.  We know this is challenging in mixed grade level classes, but it is a commitment to our freshmen that we do everything we can to support them as they take their graduation high-stakes test and perform at their highest level.

Monday: PARCC Assessment English I.

Tuesday: PARCC Assessment English I.

Wednesday: PARCC Assessment English I.  No Working Wednesday due to testing.

Friday: No School for Students. PD Day for Staff. 8 AM - 3 PM.  All high school staffs will start in their own buildings with a whole-staff meeting at 8 AM.  We will also watch a podcast from Dusty Miller on the assessment work for the day. Here is the day's schedule:

8 - 9 AM: Meet in own building as a whole staff. All Jerome staff members will report to Jerome.

9:30 - 12:00: Meet in district same-subject teams for assessment work. You will be reporting to the same building and room as you did in November unless your district lead or team changes the location. This work involves gathering teacher input on guided assessment questions as well as common-assessment work.

12:00 - 1 PM: Lunch on your own.

1:00 - 3:00:  Meet in building-level same-subject teams in own building. All Jerome staff members will be at Jerome.

As you move forward in your team's assessment work and formative assessment in your classroom, you may find this resource very useful, 53 Ways to Check for Understanding.

Provided by @jongordon11 via Twitter

Friday night our Boys BB Team beat Westerville Central capping a 20-2 regular season, setting a new Celtic BB record for victories.  Congrats, Jamie Pearson, and our student-athletes!

Not only did our Jerome Jungle support the BB Team but we had many little Celtics attend!  As you can tell, the free foam fingers were a big hit!  Danny Corna, Jerome alum, and the company with whom he works provided the free souvenir!

We also enjoyed our school musical, Mary Poppins, this weekend.  Neither snow nor cold could hold them back from putting on a fantastic show.  Congrats to Patty Scott and Micah Abrams for a fantastic production!

Much thanks to all of the Dublin and Jerome educators who attended the Dublin Lit Conference on Saturday.  We battled snow to get there but it was truly rewarding.  Chris Lehman, here pictured with our daughter Jennifer, was truly an outstanding keynote speaker.  We picked up some copies 3 of his books for our Lit Team to use as resources as we move forward in our literacy focus.

Saturday afternoon Jeff and I XC'd the frozen Indian Run creek that runs behind our home.  We went all the way under Muirfield Drive as well as all along Brand road.  A beautiful snow and fun time on the frozen creek bed.

Looking ahead--

March 2-6: OGT Testing all week on 2-hour delay schedule.  Also PARCC Math Monday and Tuesday and End-of-Course Physical Science test on Thursday.  Adjusted bell schedule.  Please do not assign assessments, homework or large projects for freshmen and sophomores during this important assessment week.

Also March 5: Parent-Teacher Conferences 4 - 7:30 PM.  Also CAS IB night.

March 13: End of Third Quarter.

March 16 - 20: Spring Break.

March 27: Adjusted Bell Schedule for Dodgeball finals assembly.  Also District Dodgeball Tourney at Scioto that evening.

Also Grade Cards distribution.


Have a terrific week!  Hopefully we will not have any more calamity days this week.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Cathy

Celtic Courier: Feb. 16 - 20, 2015

"Vision to See, Faith to Believe, Courage to Do"

Courtesy @dylanwilliam via Twitter

Dear Staff,

We hope this President's Day finds you warm at home with your families enjoying a long Valentine's and President's Day weekend.  Brrrrrr.  Certainly the cold is a good incentive to stay in the warmth in our homes and hearts.

We have certainly had a busy weekend for Celtic athletics.  Boys BB traveled to Westerville South for a championship game for the OCC and lost to a highly motivated South team, avenging their earlier loss to us.  Our Celtic Hockey team had a marathon game Friday night vs. Orange in the Blue Jackets Cup, losing in a shoot-out after 5 Overtimes!  Our wrestling team hosted their huge All-North Tourney on Saturday and our Girls and Boys Swimming Team each placed second in Sectionals.  Our Gymnasts also placed second in the OCC's and our Cheerleaders took second overall in the OCC"s.  Wow!  

Students and staff traveled to South for the big Neon-out game Friday!  Much thanks to Peggy Kill for bravely chaperoning our students on the Spirit Bus!  

Did you know Jen Rodgers is also an artist!  Check out the scheduling artwork in the GIC!  Yes, that's the Bauers on the left and Jen and Peggy on the right!

Dun Zhang and the Chinese I students kick off Chinese New Year with cooking traditional Chinese dumplings!

This Week:

 

Tuesday: Tomorrow I will be a part of a Battelle for Kids Conference SOAR at OCLC at midday on prioritizing collaboration and intervention in a master schedule.  It is always great to share and learn from other PLC schools.

Wednesday: Working Wednesday:  You should received your SMART goals Google Doc.  Please make sure that you have updated your SMART goals document by the end of this week, indicating your progress on your first semester SMART goal as well as setting your second semester goal.  All should be updated by Friday.  The rest of the time should be spent on your team's PLC work, including common interventions.

Wednesday we are also hosting a testing assembly for all freshmen and sophomores to give important updated testing info as well as test-taking strategies.  Here are the procedures for Wednesday--

1. Freshmen and sophomores will be in first period and homeroom as normally scheduled.  It is important to take attendance at the beginning of Homeroom. Then at the end of Homeroom we will dismiss all freshmen and sophomores to the CPA by grade level.  All freshmen and sophomores will miss second period and be in class as regularly scheduled for the remainder of the day.  Teachers do not need to attend; please use this time to collaborate or work.

Thursday: Our Musical Mary Poppins starts Thursday and continues through Saturday.  What a great family fun play!  

Friday: PTO Breakfast for all Staff; PAC Meeting 5th period.

Friday is also our last regular season Boys BB game vs. Westerville Central and is Senior Night for the players and Cheerleaders.  The boys are 19-2 and have a chance to finish the regular season with 20 wins, a new record for us.

Saturday: Hockey Team enters State Tourney play at 6 PM at the Ice Haus.  Swimming is at Districts at OSU.  Good luck to all of our teams and coaches in Tourney play.

Saturday is also the Dublin Lit Conference.  Much thanks to everyone who has signed up to bring back great literacy strategies to our staff to help make our students more successful.

Important Testing Information:

Feb. 23- 25: PARCC English testing for all freshmen.  It is important that as we start three weeks of testing we do our best to support our students during this stressful time.  Please do not schedule any other assessments or major projects during Feb. 23 - 25 for freshmen.  We need them to be able to focus on doing their best on these high stakes tests for graduation quality points.

Please also remember that freshmen will be missing their first, second and third period classes on these testing days and will be stressed in those classes that our mixed grade levels.  Please again do not expect them to have or complete homework or other work for those classes they are missing during the testing windows.  

There are no 2-hour delays for Feb. 23 - 25 and we will depend on you to inform your students of all room changes due to testing.  It will be a team effort!

March 2-6: OGT Week and PARCC Math and Physical Science testing.  Again, please review your lesson plans and make sure you are not assigning any other assessments or large projects for freshmen and sophomores during PARCC/OGT week.  We do have 2-hour delays March 2-6 with classes being short on the adjusted bell schedule.  Freshmen and sophomores need to focus on doing their best on these assessments and should have no other assessments and very limited, if any, homework.

March 9: All Government students testing Ohio End-of-Course Government.  These include first and second semester Gov students.  Exception are those AP Gov students who register for the AP Gov exam on or before March 6. (Testing large group)

March 10: All US History (includes Studies) students test Ohio End-of-Course US History.  Exception AP History students who register on or before March 9.  (Testing large group)

We know it is extremely difficult to keep moving forward in instruction with so much assessment but it is important to support students as much as we can without adding the additional stress of other assessments or new work.  Thanks for your understanding and support of this new era of testing.

Here are a couple of good resources to help encourage our students and ourselves in our Growth Mindset work.

In addition, as we continue to explore grading and grading practices, this chart is an excellent resource on homework.

Looking ahead:

Friday, Feb. 27: Jerome Variety Show, 7 PM.  Much thanks to Diane Murphy and Michael Cook for organizing this Junior class fundraiser.

Feb. 27: No School for students.  PD Day for staff.  You will be getting more information about this but it will include working on the work as well gathering staff input on assessment.

March 13: End of third grading period.

As we enter our stressful assessment time for students, parents and staff, it is good to remember some of those best principles of research that will help guide our thoughts and work.

Jon Gordon reminds us to love, care and serve others in our servant leadership in The Carpenter.  Image via @jongordon11 via Twitter.

Have a terrific week!  Thanks for all you do every day for each other and for our students and families!

Cathy

Celtic Courier: Week of Feb. 9 - 13, 2015

"Vision to See, Faith to Believe, Courage to Do"

Dear Staff,

Happy Valentine's Day week!  We hope you and your families have enjoyed our break from bitter cold.  Yesterday was just a gorgeous and sunny winter day!  Jeff and I went out for one more XC skiing time before the rain hits today.

Since Valentine's Day is next Saturday we hope you enjoy this week and end it with a special Valentine's weekend.

Jeff couldn't resist an early Valentine's Day surprise of Krispy Kreme!

It is always amazing to me at the wide range of activities at our school on any given week or weekend.  We have such amazing staff and students! Friday night our Girls and Boys BB teams defeated Scioto and on Saturday our Boys BB Team beat Linden McKinley to go 18-1, the most victories we have ever had in basketball!  Hockey also won 11-0 over Thomas Friday night!

Friday night the Girls BB team celebrated Senior Night!

Brian Stevens, Micah Abrams, Michelle Adair and Jeanne Wohlgamuth all traveled to the OMEA State Conference and our Choir, Band and Orchestral students all received the high honor of performing.  Here Brian is pictured with our All-State Band students! Congrats to all!

Saturday was capped by our Sweetheart and it was a lot of fun!  Much thanks to Gail Garee and Patty Scott for their leadership in sponsoring this sophomore class fundraiser.  Much thanks to Maureen Baker for also chaperoning.

Mai Erana and Luke Salem were crowned Sweetheart Queen and King!

This Week--

The next two weeks are important scheduling advisement weeks.  Much thanks to all of our counselors and to all of you for engaging in this thoughtful individualized scheduling process.

Monday:  Board of Education Meeting will honor Ron Havlice with the Golden Shamrock Award at 7 PM in the Scioto cafeteria.  All are welcome to come!

Tuesday: I have a Principal's Meeting at CO.  With many new testing requirements and changes coming, please send me any items you would like clarified and I will add them to the agenda.  We truly want to do everything we can to help and support you as PARCC starts Feb. 23 and OGT/PARCC follows.

Tuesday is also the State of the School Address at the Abbey Theatre in the Rec Center.  There is an optional reception from 6 -7 PM and the address will be from 7-8 PM.  All are welcome!

Wednesday: Staff Meeting. Dusty Miller, director of Secondary Education, will attend and provide important info on College Credit Plus, a new and significant state law change for high schools.  It would also be a good time to ask other questions that you have.  In addition, the Related Arts Department will present.

For you who are Coaches or Club Advisers, the final Coach and Club Adviser Training of this year is at 4:30 PM at Coffman.  Please make sure to attend if you have not been trained this year or your supplemental pay could be held.

Wednesday is also Interim Day.  Since student privileges and Gold Cards are dependent on these grades, it is extremely important that all grades are up-to-date and posted.  Please try very hard to have all assignments graded and in so the grades are indicative of student learning.

Please send all Gold Card names to Debbie L and inform all students who have Gold Cards by the end of this week.  Final Gold Card deadline is on Friday.

Please make sure your same-subject team continues to focus on common interventions for those students who need extra time and support for learning.

Friday:  Please try to make sure to come to the gym after school on Friday to see our cheerleaders perform their competition show.  OCC championship is next Sunday at Pick North.

Saturday: Happy Valentine's Day!  Also All-North Wrestling Tourney all day at Jerome. Hockey starts Columbus Blue Jackets Cup on Thursday and continue through this weekend.

Looking ahead:

Feb. 16: No School for students and staff; President's Day.

Feb. 18: Testing assembly for all 9th and 10th graders starting in Homeroom and continuing second period.  Teachers do not need to attend: please feel free to use this time for collaboration.

Also Working Wednesday.

Feb. 19-21: Bring your whole family to our Musical, Mary Poppins, a great and entertaining family show.  And yes! Mary will really fly!

Feb. 21: Dublin Lit Conference.  Much thanks to those staff members already registered.  The School is paying for the registration of staff who want to attend.

Feb. 23-25: PARCC Testing in English for all freshmen. Adjusted bell schedule but no 2-hour delay.  All students will be in the building as a regular school day.

Feb. 24: Winter Orchestra Concert

Feb. 25: Working Wednesday

Feb. 27: No School for Students; Staff PD Day. We will know more about the structure for this day after the Principal's Meeting this week.  We will communicate with you as we get more info.

Also Jerome Variety Show 7 PM in the CPA.

March 2-6: OGT Testing Week: 2 -hour delay schedule all week.  Also PARCC math testing.

March 9 -10: End-of-Course Assessments. US History March 10 for all students in this course regardless of grade level. Includes US History, AP US, AP Studies. Also AP US if students do not register for AP test by March 9.

US Gov. End-of-course assessment for all students in US Gov, AP US Gov.  Students in AP may exempt if registered for AP Gov by March 6  If not, then test on March 9.  This testing includes all first and second semester Gov students.

March 13: End of third grading period.

Enjoy these photos of Curriculum Night.  Much thanks for all of you who attended, created displays, and/or presented.  You truly wear the shirt "I Am Dublin Jerome" with every question you answered, every interaction you had, and created a wonderful impression of Dublin Jerome, the first of many for our new freshman parents.

Have a wonderful week on the Jerome Energy Bus!  With you as a model, we can help our students learn to choose a Growth rather than a Fixed Mindset! Each of you has a gift to give, as does each of our students.

Cathy

Celtic Courier: Week of Feb. 2- Feb. 6, 2015

"Vision to See, Faith to Believe, Courage to Do"

Beautiful example of growth mindset courtesy of Twitter.

Dear Staff,

We hope you are having a Super weekend and Super Bowl Sunday with your families!  What a great weekend to be a Celtic!  Boys and Girls Basketball both beat Darby Friday night and Hockey defeated Coffman.  Hockey also won over previously undefeated St. Charles on Saturday and our Girls Swim Team and Boys Swim Team each won OCC Championships!  Wow!  Hockey celebrates Senior Night night tonight vs. Liberty at 7 PM.  Congrats to head coaches Jamie Pearson, Pat Murphy and Matt Williams!

Boys and Girls Swimming are both OCC Champs!  Yea!

Friday we said goodbye to Terri Hazucha, Assistant Trainer.  Samantha Johnson joins our Jerome family through the end of this year.

Mock Trial teams competed Friday at Franklin and Delaware County Courthouses.  Much thanks to adviser Erin Bentley and also to Kevin Jackson who helped chaperone on Friday!

Be sure and visit the cafeteria to see Chuck Crawford's AP Env students' Gallery Hop of National Parks for a Biosphere project.  

This Week:

What do you consider when planning for your students.  Courtesy Jackie Gerstein via Twitter.

Happy School Counselors' Week!  We are so fortunate to have our wonderful school counselors Aaron, Peggy, Jen, and Lisa and all of the hard work they do to help our students be successful!  Add Andy, Karen, Peggy, Debbie and George and we have an outstanding Guidance Department.  Thanks for all of your dedication and commitment to Jerome!

Monday: Happy Groundhog's Day!  Let's hope Phil predicts an early spring!

Tuesday: Pep Rally bell schedule.  Winter Sports Teams pep rally. Parent-Teacher Conferences 3- 6:30 PM. Boys BB home.

Wednesday: Working Wednesday.  Work on the 4 Questions collaboratively. Scheduling Video shown in HR with start of scheduling and advisement.  If students inquire, course plan books will be on our website.  We will have some copies in the media center and the guidance office. Each student will not be provided a hard copy as in the past.

How would your students answer these questions?

What would your students say? Courtesy of Jeromie Heath via Twitter.

Also College Signing Day at 3 PM in the cafeteria.  Tennis player Rhiannon James and Soccer player Madison Costner will sign their letters-of-intent.  All are invited.

Thursday: Department Chair Meeting 7:15 AM in the media center.  Curriculum Night for Parents of current 8th graders coming to Jerome 7 PM. Each department will have a table and should plan on having a representative from your department and a display

How engaged are you in your work? How engaged are your students? Phil Schletechy identifies these levels of engagement and its importance. via Twitter

Friday: AP Registration begins. The registration is online. If you teach AP US History, AP Studies or AP Gov, please be sure and have accurate communication with your students.  Students who are in these courses may register to take the AP test in order to exempt participation the US History and US Gov End-of- Course (PARCC) tests.  If they do not sign up and take the AP US History Test and US Gov tests they will be required to take the US History test on March 10 or the US Gov test on March 9.  If students in US Gov do not register by March 6, or US History students by March 9 for the AP tests, the students will be required to test in the PARCC End-of Course Assessments in March.  Questions?  Please let us know.

Also Girls BB Senior Night at home vs Scioto; boys BB on road at Scioto.

Saturday: Sweetheart Dance 8- 11 PM in the commons.  Much thanks to Patty Scott and Gail Garee, sophomore class advisers, for all of their work in coordinating this sophomore fundraiser.

Looking ahead:

Feb. 10: State of the Schools address: 7 PM in the Abbey Theater at the Rec Center.  Reception from 6 -7 PM. Program 7-8 PM.

Feb. 11: Staff Meeting

Feb. 16: No School; President's Day

Feb. 18: Freshmen and Sophomore Testing Assembly 2nd period.

Feb. 20: PAC Meeting 5th period.

Feb. 21: Dublin Lit Conference

Feb. 23 - 25: PARCC testing for all Freshmen in English (3-part test)

Feb. 27: No School for Students; PD Day for staff; Jerome Variety Show 7 PM

March 2-6: OGT Week, testing of all sophomores.  Also PARCC testing in Math for freshmen.

March 9: US Gov End of Course test for all students in the course. AP students who test in AP Gov may exempt.

March 10: US History End of Course test for all students in the course.  AP students who test may exempt.

Have a terrific week! "On top of every mountain there was a great longing for another even higher mountain."

Cathy