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

Celtic Courier: Week of Jan. 26-30, 2015

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

Dear Staff,

We hope you are having a good weekend with your families.  What an exciting weekend for Columbus! Whether it was the National Championship celebration yesterday or the NHL All-Star Weekend, Columbus was at the center stage! We hope you had fun whether it was at home with your family or enjoying some of the big stage events.

This week we say goodbye to Terri Hazucha, retiring effective Jan. 30.  Terri has been our assistant trainer since Jerome opened, and we will miss her.  Terri has had a positive effect on so many Jerome students and families, and we are better people for having known Terri. Samantha Johnson will serve as her replacement until the end of this year.  We welcome back Samantha who was with us previously as a intern trainer.

We also welcome back School Nurse Alicia Plymale from maternity leave!

So proud of our very own Pat Murphy, on the ice at the NHL All-Star Skills Competition!  Great seeing you on TV, Murph! Thanks for representing us so well!

Jan. 30 will be Terri Hazucha's last day at Jerome.  Terri has been at Jerome since Day 1 and we wish her well in her retirement.  Please join us in wishing Terri a fond farewell.  We will miss you, Terri!

This weekend our Band, Choir and Orchestra students competed in OMEA solo and ensemble contest in Reynoldsburg.  Much thanks to Micah, Brian, Jeanne and Michelle for providing this opportunity to our students.  Our students are amazing!

Congrats to Boys BB who won on Friday and Saturday to up their record to 14-0!  They are rated 5th in the State!  Congrats to Jamie Pearson and his entire coaching staff!  Go Celtics!

This Week--

I had a very good initial discussion with my PAC regarding cheating at Jerome and provided them afterwards with the same survey on cheating that we provided you on Friday.  This is an important topic for all of us, and at some point, I will also engage our PTO and parents.  When we see results from students and staff, we will continue to collaborate with you on these results and possible steps we can take to discourage cheating at Jerome.

As we move forward in getting better every day, continue to explore research on effective instruction.

Monday:  TI Retreat

Tuesday: Parent Breakfast in Guidance 7 AM; Girls BB Pink-out for Breast Cancer Awareness

Wednesday: Working Wednesday; Please continue to come together as a same-subject team on the 4 questions, especially on the classroom interventions that your entire team is enacting to focus on learning by providing students who do not learn it the first time extra time and support.  What is the quality of the work that we are asking students to do?

Friday: All Club and Organization photos taken throughout the school day.  Please be sure and excuse students who have group photos as this is their opportunity to be in the Yearbook.

Also, Mock Trial competes at the Franklin County Courthouse.  Thanks Erin Bentley for providing this opportunity to our students!

Looking ahead--

Feb. 3: Pep Rally adjusted bell schedule for Winter Sports pep rally. Also Parent-Teacher Conferences 3 - 6 :30 PM.  Please take time now to invite the parents of any student who earned a D or F for first semester or has one presently.

Feb. 4: Working Wednesday; Scheduling starts; College Signing Day

Feb. 5: Department Chair Meeting; Also Curriculum Night for Incoming 8th graders.  All departments should have a representative and a display in the cafeteria.  If you are presenting, Kay has provided the presentation to you for updating.

Feb. 7: Sweetheart Dance

Feb. 10: State of the Schools Program 7 PM at Rec Center

Feb. 11: Staff meeting

Feb. 16: No School

Feb. 18: Working Wednesday; Freshmen and Sophomore Testing Assembly second period. Staff does not need to attend.  Please use this time for collaboration.

Have a wonderful week on our Celtic Energy Bus where Growth Mindsets prevail!

Cathy

Celtic Courier: Week of Jan. 20 - 23

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

Dear Staff,

What a great week to be a Buckeye and a Celtic!  The week started with the Buckeyes winning the undisputed National Championship and ended with a great weekend of Celtic athletic success, including our Boys BB Team upsetting Westerville South, the #2 rated team in the State!  Wow!

Jeff's brother and his wife Kim with Jeff and I outside of AT&T Stadium doing what Buckeyes do!

Jeff and I at our seats at the National Championship.

The Buckeyes enter the field to fireworks and wild cheering from the mostly Buckeye crowd.

A dream come true-- a National Championship and another special life memory.


Friday night was a sell-out, standing room-only basketball crowd-- the first in school history!  We faced the #2 team in the State with an electric atmosphere and won 72-60!  Congrats to Jamie Pearson and his entire coaching staff and team who has worked so hard to transform our basketball program.  It was also great to see so many staff members there cheering alongside our parents and students!

An electric atmosphere-- a thrilling upset!

Friday our football team also met our new Head Football Coach Bob Gecewich for the first time.  Coach Gecewich is eager to get started!

This Week--

Monday: No School for students and staff.  Martin Luther King, Jr. Day community celebration at 11 AM at Dublin Coffman.  Senior Yannick Gbadouwey will represent Jerome as a student guest speaker at this wonderful event.  I Have a Dream-- one of the greatest speeches ever delivered in the history of our nation.

Tuesday: Girls BB vs. Coffman at home. 7:30 PM.

Wednesday: Working Wednesday.  Please be sure and review your D and F data, both by student and by same-subject team.  Since we are focusing on Question #3, how are we intervening with students who earned a D or F on their exam as a same-subject team?  Questions to consider-- What is the number of D's and F's on exam and what is the reason? Do some teachers on the team have more D's and F's than others?  What could be possible reasons? What is the district data on D's and F's on those common exams or for the parts that are common?  What help and support does your same-subject team need to move forward?

Thursday: Literacy Team meeting 7:20 AM in the media center.

Friday: PTO Breakfast in the lounge.  PAC meeting 5th period.

Upcoming dates:

Jan. 26: TI Retreat

Jan. 27: Parent Breakfast

Jan. 28: Working Wednesday

Feb. 3: Pep Rally bell schedule for Winter pep rally; PT Conferences 3-6:30 PM

Feb. 4: College Signing Day 3 PM

Feb. 5: Dept. Chair Meeting; Also Curriculum Night for upcoming 8th graders 7 PM

Feb. 7: Sweetheart Dance 8 - 11 PM

Feb. 10: State of the Schools, 7 PM Rec Center

Feb. 11: Interims. Staff Meeting

Feb. 16: President's Day; No School

Feb. 18: Testing assembly for all 9th graders and 10th graders -- end of Homeroom and 2nd period.  Teachers do not need to attend.  Please feel free to use this time for collaboration.

Feb. 23-25: PARCC Testing for all freshmen; adjusted bell schedule.  No 2-hr delay.

March 2-6: OGT and PARCC testing; 2-hr delay each day.

March 9: PARCC testing for juniors, US Gov

March 10: PARCC testing for sophomores, US History

Have a terrific long weekend with your families and great week ahead in the Celtic family!

"We can never grow weary of doing good, for we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

A growth mindset never gives up.

Celtic Courier: Week of Jan. 12 - Jan. 16, 2015

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

Dear Staff,

You are receiving next week's Celtic Courier early as I will be out-of-the state this weekend through Tuesday.  And yes--- Go Bucks!

We know this has been a stressful week for you with trying to end First Semester with two snow days, exams to make-up and all of the other responsibilities you have.  Please just do your best with grades if you still have students with missing exams, etc.  You can always do a grade correction next week with George.  Please limit these as much as possible as each one requires George to print a new report card, but certainly we understand some may have to be done given the circumstances.

We had a Principals' Meeting on Tuesday and received some updated PARCC information.  Students in this year's PARCC assessment courses will not take the second semester final exams in those PARCC courses.  The district is cognizant of the amount of testing these students are doing both in Feb-March and again in April/May and feel this is a positive student-centered decision.  It is wonderful to be in a district and in a building that supports decisions that are best for students.

We also don't say enough how much we appreciate all that you do above and beyond for our students.  I thought this was a great graphic from Twitter that you would enjoy.  Please know how much we really do appreciate working with you every day, and having you lead and learn with our students and with each other.

Monday: Teacher Work Day.  No School for Students.  This time is set aside to work on ending first semester and grades.  Some of you have asked about working in your same-subject teams or colleagues from other buildings.  It certainly can be your choice.  Please let an admin know which building in which you are meeting.

National Championship Game:  Go Bucks!  Beat the Ducks!!!

Tuesday: Grades needs to be posted by 8 AM on Tuesday.  A district common date and time for all High School teachers.  Please do not be late.  If you have a question about how to do your grades or a specific student, please see George or an administrator, whichever is appropriate.

Wednesday: Staff Meeting at 7:15 AM.  Coffee will be provided. Presentation by Special Ed Department. If you have items for the agenda, please let me know.

Also on Wednesday, PARCC Parent Information Meeting, 7 PM in CPA for all 9th grade parents.  Much thanks to all of the teacher-leaders who are presenting this important information.

Thursday: OGT Parent Information Night, 7 PM in the CPA.  Again, much thanks to the teacher-leaders presenting important information.

Friday: Report Cards distributed in Homeroom.  Also on Friday at our Home Boys BB game vs Westerville South, a big OCC game, we will introduce our new Head Football Coach, Bob Gecewich.  Bob comes to us from Maria Stein Marion Local in northern Ohio.  He, his wife, Ashlee and their 3 children will be moving to the Columbus/Dublin area.

Looking ahead:

Saturday, Jan. 17: Special Education is hosting their Winter Formal Dance with students from all three high schools from 6-8 PM.  A wonderful event! Thanks to the entire special ed department and especially Christine Slater-Jones for organizing this special event.

Jan. 19: No School for Students or Staff.  Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Jan. 21: Working Wednesday

Jan. 23: PTO Breakfast; Also PAC Meeting 5th period

Jan. 26: TI Retreat

Jan. 28: Working Wednesday

Feb. 3: Pep Rally.  Yes, this is a Tuesday and we will have an adjusted bell schedule.

Also, PT Conference day 3- 6:30 PM

Feb. 4: College Signing Day 3 PM

Feb. 5: 8th Grade Curriculum Night

Have a terrific weekend and next week! Thanks again for all of your hard work!

Cathy

Celtic Courier: Week of Jan. 5- Jan. 9 2015

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

Dear Staff,

Happy New Year!  Welcome to 2015 on the Celtic Energy Bus!  We hope you have had a terrific holiday and winter break with your families!  We hope you experienced lasting family memories and enjoyed rest, relaxation and fun!  Happy Birthday today to Andy Wilkinson!

Celtic sports continued throughout break and our Winter sports teams are doing well!  Much thanks to our of our staff members who are coaches who spent a lot of break providing wonderful athletic opportunities for our students, including coaches Matt Williams, Pat Murphy, Jamie Pearson, Craig Zesiger and Catherine Smith.

What a great break to be a Buckeye!  Wow! Kicking off 2015 beating Alabama the #1 team in the country deep in SEC country.  We were fortunate to travel to New Orleans with many Buckeyes and met my best friend from Marietta, Moe and his wife, for the bowl trip. Scioto has declared Monday Ohio State Apparel Day to "honor" Bob Scott since he made the mistake of wearing his 'Bama clothes every day the week before break.  :) And yes, we have been texting! I even ran into some of Tommy Scott's Bama friends and a frat brother after the game.  Small world.

We also ran into many Jerome students and their families and don't be surprised if students don't bring you prearranged absence forms for the National Championship game in Dallas.  It will help as it is a teacher workday on Jan. 12 but students who go will be traveling back on Jan. 13.

We were so proud to see Brian Stevens halftime show in the Superdome Sugar Bowl and the crowd was wowed by the formations he designed for the Space-themed show.

TBDBITL performs formations designed by Jerome teacher Brian Stevens.

OSU fans stay for the post-game trophy presentation!

Jerome grad Lexie Toth was one of the any Jerome students and former students who followed the Bucks to the Big Easy!

This Week:

This is the last week of the quarter and we know we have more exams than normal to be made-up due to the flu hitting during exam week.  Andy, Mike and Forrest have worked out a make-up schedule in the media center Monday-Wednesday for students who have missing exams.  Please contact them with any questions you have.  Obviously these students will be missing class time to take exams so please do what you can to help these students who are already behind and stressed at the end of the semester.

Please also note that exam grades should be posted by Wednesday so that parents and students have an opportunity to see their grades prior to the end of the semester.  Obviously this may not include students who may be still taking exams on Wed.  All staff are required to hand back exams this week and go over exams.  Please provide students questions and answers and exam data during this class activity so that our semester exams which are summative can also be used formatively in year-long classes. Same-subject teams should provide this exam student and teacher feedback consistently as a team.

Wednesday: Working Wednesday.  Since we have not had one in a while please help remind our students.  Focus: Exam data through PLC work. Please remember that we are focusing on Question #3 this year especially.  What will we do for students who did not learn what we assessed on the exam? Please answer this question collaboratively in your same-subject teams.

Thursday: Department chair meeting 7:15 AM in media center.  Please send items for the agenda.

Friday: End of first semester. TOK day at Scioto for all IB Diploma students.  Feel free to wear your Buckeye jerseys, T-Shirts and Sweatshirts since students are not here on Monday, game day!

Looking ahead:

Jan. 12: Teacher Workday: End of Semester.  No School for students. Workdays are for teachers to work on grading and grade submission.  No administrative or district meetings are scheduled. 7:15 - 2:50 PM.  Regular school-day hours for teachers.

National Championship Game: The Bucks vs. the Ducks!

Jan. 13:  All grades must be submitted by 8 AM.  This is a district-set date and time for all high school staff.  No exceptions.  Please do not be late.

Jan. 14: Staff Meeting 7:15 AM. Parent PARCC Meeting 7 PM for parents of all freshmen.  Chairs-- please be sure you have sent us the name of the teachers who will be presenting from your English, Math,  Social Studies and Science Departments. We mailed letters to parents of all freshmen before break informing them of this meeting.  Please help out by also posting this on Progress Book etc if you have a PARCC course.

Jan. 15: OGT Parent Meeting 7 PM. Will also include PARCC US History.  For parents of sophomores.  We will send this letter via enews tomorrow inviting all sophomore parents. Chairs -- please be sure you have sent us the names of the teachers who will be presenting from your English, Math, Social Studies and Science Departments.

Jan. 16: Grade cards distributed in HR.

Jan. 19: No School. MLK Jr. Day.

Jan. 21: Working Wednesday

Have a terrific week back!  We are so looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Cathy