Celtic Courier: Week of May 18- May 22, 2015

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

Graphic courtesy @jongordon11 via Twitter

Dear Staff,

We hope you have had a great weekend with your families, even with the rainy weather.  Last week was a terrific week, with many exciting activities in classes and after school.

We had two awesome concerts which also featured Senior Recognition in Orchestra and Band.  This week is the Choir Concert.  Much thanks to our Performing Arts Department for their excellence in performances.  Just amazing concerts!

Seniors at the Orchestra Concert receive their special gifts, personally embroidered Orchestra Celtic blankets.

It is always amazing to see all of the outstanding experiential learning activities in our classrooms.

Josh Manner and Ron Havlice's AP Chem students make Oobleck on the back patio.

Students in Marls Morris's Honors Spanish V class learning Latin dancing with instruction from the Erana sisters.

A busy Senior Week with Senior Awards night on Tuesday ended with Senior Dinner on Friday night.  Much thanks to Diane Murphy and Michael Cook for helping to plan and facilitate this event with Senior Cabinet and also Carrie McJunkin for working with the Verve staff to produce the special Senior issue distributed Friday night.

A packed house of Seniors for Senior Dinner with a wonderful catered Italian buffet.

This Week:

As we near the end of the Senior Class attending Jerome and the end of the year, it is crucial that your Progress Book grades are up-to-date. Again, if you have seniors in danger of failing your class, please notify their guidance counselor and administrator immediately.

All Senior teachers should have notified Seniors whether they are taking the exam in their class or not.  You should have also notified your Department chair of any senior required to take the senior exam.

If a senior is taking a make-up AP Exam, it is important that you check that the senior has indeed taken the AP exam.  If the senior does not taken the AP exam, he or she is required to take the exam in your class. Seniors with an 80% or higher or who take the AP or IB exam are exempt from the exam.

We also need you very visible this week before and after school and during class changes, especially with the seniors last day in class Tuesday.  If you have indicated to your seniors that they should be in class on Wednesday during Beach Day, you must meet the students at the attendance door.  Otherwise we will not let the seniors enter the building.

We will have Working Wednesday for teacher collaboration May 20 and May 27.

Much thanks to all of you who have indicated you will attend graduation.  We all appreciate your help and dedication very much.  Please remember that by doing so you have earned a .5 day to leave early on June 2.  Thanks again.

At our HS Principal's Meeting this week all three high school agreed to having grades due on June 3 by 4 PM.  Please make sure that your grades are accurate and posted by this date and time.  Please also make sure that Kay has accurate summer contact info for you so that we can reach you in case there is a grade question.

Graphic courtesy @weareteachers via Twitter

Monday: IB Testing.

Tuesday: IB Diploma Class Celebration 5th period.  Senior Locker Clean-out End of 6th Period.  Last Day for Seniors in class.  Please make sure you inform seniors of senior exams, date and time.  Please make sure you have collected senior books, etc except for those who may need books to study for exams.  Send senior fines to Sharon Nameth.

Wednesday:  Beach Day for Seniors. Working Wednesday adjusted bell schedule for Teacher Collaboration.  Please also try to complete the survey regarding Working Wednesday input and feedback by the end of the day on Wednesday.  You received the survey link on Friday.

Also on Wednesday-- Choir Concert at 7:30 PM.  It will be spectacular!

Thursday: Cedar Point Trip for Seniors.  You will have some seniors in class, especially student-athletes who have a contest that night and are required to be at school.

Friday: First day of Senior Exams.

Upcoming Dates:

May 25: No School, Memorial Day

May 26: Senior Exams; Also District-wide retirement ceremony at OCLC

May 27: Senior Exams; Mandatory Graduation Practice 1 PM; Working Wednesday

May 28: Last day of Senior Exams; First day of Underclassmen Exams Periods 1-2

May 29: Exams Periods 3-4;  PTO-Sponsored End-of Year Luncheon.  We are having it on May 29 so that teachers who are retiring can attend as May 29 is their last day.

May 30: Graduation 4 PM

June 1: Periods 5-6 Exams

June 2: Period 7 Exam; Last Day for students and Staff.  Staff who worked and attended graduation may leave .5 day early.

June 3: Classified Awards Breakfast.  Grades posted accurately and completely by 4 PM.  Happy Summer to all certified staff!!

Marisol Ann, 1 week old!  Yes-- I am completely and deeply in love. Big rabbit courtesy of Scioto's Guidance Dept. 

Have a wonderful week-- we are getting so close.

Cathy

Celtic Courier: Week of May 11- 15, 2015

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

Dear Staff,

Happy Mother's Day weekend!  What a glorious weekend of weather and Mother's Day!  Ours began with seeing God at 2:34 AM May 9 with the birth of Marisol Ann Mitchell, 7 lbs. 2 oz, 19.5 inches!  Jennifer's water broke at El Vacquero's right as I was leaving for Volleyball Senior night from home.  Because of bleeding she was transported by squad to OSU Medical Center.  Because the baby was breech a C-Section was performed and so we pulled an all-nighter Friday night and have been on Cloud 9 ever since.  And yes-- I beat the squad to the hospital.  :)

The baby's "aunts" Susie Quinn, Sharon Nameth and Kay were also at El Vacquero's at the same time having some water after working out and came to our rescue, helping Ryan and Jennifer as the squad came, calling me, and then caravanning to OSU with Kay driving Ryan's car so that he would have a car there.  They also sat with me in the waiting area as we initially waited word on whether Jennifer and the baby were OK.  Truly-- they personify what it means to work in the Jerome family.  I think they also have some fun stories to share about that drive to OSU!

And so our lives will never be the same-- last week started with Jennifer's surprise shower from her students, Jennifer's birthday dinner with us at Buca's on Wednesday and now,  we have spent the weekend with little sleep, numerous trips to OSU and looking in the eyes of the future of our family.  Amazing! Jennifer kept the name a surprise-- it is Spanish.  Jennifer is bilingual and studied in Spain for a semester, living with a family who spoke no English.  The name ends in Sol-- which means sun-- and Marisol is and always will be the sunshine of our lives.

Marisol is staring into my eyes here as Jennifer looks on.

Every new baby at OSU this year gets a National Champion baby blanket.  Future member TBDBITL rookie member Class of 2033.

Happy Mother's Day to Jennifer and to all mothers!  What a special Mother's Day!

This Week:

AP and IB Testing continues.  Much thanks to Lisa Bauer, Karen Kendall-Sperry, Forrest and Andy for all of their hard work in giving almost 1700 AP or IB tests.  Wow!

Monday: Our school board will recognize Linda Qin for being a Presidential Scholar and Michael Zeng for being Fencing State Champion in Foil.  A great night to be a Celtic!

Tuesday: Senior Awards Night at 7 PM.  Seniors receive Academic Awards and Local Scholarships.  A special night for them and their parents.

Wednesday: Kenny Titus fundraisers all lunches Wed. Thurs and Fri.  Please try to come down and buy a raffle ticket.  All proceeds go to Kenny's family for his heart transplant costs.

Staff Meeting at 7:15 in the Band Room.  Last one for year.  English will present important info on  Turnitin.com and its usage.  This is important info for every dept given the problems with cheating we have had this year.  Heidi Muirhead sent you information for you prior to this staff meeting last week.  Coffee will be provided.  I will start the meeting and then leave for a presentation at OU.  Dusty will also be at the meeting to meet and talk with the staff.

Also our Spring Orchestra concert at 7 PM.  Both orchestra and band have their spring concerts this week and if you get a chance, please come.  They are always special!

As we end the year, we thought you would enjoy all the ways to be a good teammate to your fellow staff members, courtesy of Jon Gordon via Twitter from @jongordon11

Thursday:  Band Concert 7 PM.

Friday: Seniors grade for the semester as of May 15 determines if they take the exam in your class or not.  All students who take AP or IB tests are exempted.  Seniors with an 80% or higher cumulative for the semester also exempt the exam.  Please tell seniors on Friday if they are taking your exam or not.

Spring Fling picnic all 3 lunches with Jazz Band providing music!  Come outside and enjoy lunch in our back parking lot with great music!

Also Senior Dinner at 6 PM.

A word about next week and Seniors:

May 19: Seniors last day in class.  Make sure you have collected books, all work, etc.

May 20:  Seniors last day at Jerome.  Yes, they will be riding trikes, bikes, wagons, boats, etc to school so we need your help inside and out.  Yes, they are planning a beach, concert today and will be out by the tennis courts.

How you can help-- do not ask seniors to see you on May 20 for any reason.  Our goal is not to have them in the building for any reason.  If you are collecting work for them or asking them to pick up projects etc, they need to do it either on May 19 or sometime during senior exams that start on May 22.

Be in the halls as much as possible from now until the seniors last day.  If you hear of any senior pranks please notify an administrator as soon as possible so that we can intervene.

May 21: Senior trip to Cedar Point.  You may have some seniors in class who are not going and who have to be in class because they are athletes and have a contest that night.

May 22- 28: Senior exams.  Mike Aurin previously sent out an informational email.  Please inform your seniors on or before May 19 that they have an exam, and the date and time of that exam.  It is your responsibility to notify seniors of exams.

Have a terrific week!

Cathy (Meemaw)

Celtic Courier: Week of May 4- May 8, 2015

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

Dear Staff,

Finally-- a beautiful spring weekend of weather!  And May is here-- so much to do, so little time! But a wonderful time to be a high school staff member where excitement is high every day, culminating in graduation on May 30 at 4 PM.  We hope you will all try to attend.  Remember that all staff members who work graduation can leave .5 day early on June 2.  Please let Kay know if you can help.

What a great weekend!  It started with a fantastic International Day Friday thanks to Multicultural Club and Magen Beatty's leadership.

It is always a special day to celebrate the diversity of our Jerome family!

It was a beautiful Saturday for our Prom and we were blessed with a safe Prom weekend!  Much thanks to Diane Murphy and Michael Cook for all of their hard work and dedication in providing this opportunity for our students.

The OSU Student Union is a beautiful venue with an attached outdoor patio for the exclusive use of our sstudents.

Kanaad Parvate and Ahana Walia were crowned King and Queen!

The students always love to see staff members come like Profe . . .

and Michelle Adair and her husband Brian!

Working every Prom it seems are Roger and Diane Murphy, Michael Cook and Ann Beaufore who checked in students all night long!  Diane and Roger have been working Proms since 1997!  Wow!  

A new twist to the Prom this year was our students witnessing an unexpected peaceful protest coming through the Ohio Union.  Although police provided security the peaceful protest was an educational view of democracy in action for our students as the protesters gathered in the middle of the Union chanting and carrying signs Black Lives Matter.  We and the students found it very interesting to view and people of all ages gathered in a contrast of prom dresses, tuxes and T-shirts carrying protest slogans.

A protest and a Prom-- study of American culture contrasts Saturday night.

This Week:

Happy Staff Appreciation Week!  PTO and we have some special small gifts for you throughout the week.  We so much appreciate everything all of you do every day to make Jerome a special place for staff, students and parents.

Much thanks to all of you involved in our interview process.  We are getting close to choosing final candidates and we appreciate all of your input and feedback.  It will be great to welcome new members to the Jerome family.  Dusty is meeting with the final 2-3 candidates after the teaching interview to select the final candidate.

AP and IB Testing starts.  Much thanks to the entire staff for success on AP and IB is truly a 9-12 effort!

We also finish PARCC and End-of-Course assessments this week for this year.  Much thanks to all of you who have worked so hard to prepare our students for these new graduation requirements and proctored tests.  A special thanks to Andy Wilkinson for facilitating testing for this year in PARCC and to guidance, Forrest, Karen Kendall-Sperry and all who will spend most of the month of May ensuring that we follow long pages of testing protocols.

Monday: AP/IB testing. No adjusted bell schedule but we do have PARCC US Gov at 1 PM in the Aux Gym.

Tuesday: AP/IB testing.  End of PARCC with Physical Science in the AM and US History in the PM.

Also Baccalaureate 7:30 PM. St. Patrick's Episcopal Church.  Planned by Senior Cabinet for Seniors.  Feel free to come as we start a month of senior events celebrating this wonderful Senior Class.

Wednesday:  AP/IB Testing. Master Schedule Building starts.  Because of AP/IB testing we will have to use the Teacher's Lounge for master scheduling most likely.  Anyone is welcome to observe and you can certainly come in and out of the lounge.  It will not be available for lunch on Wednesday or Thursday most likely.

Also School Nurses's Day!  Thanks Alicia Plymale, our school nurse, and Barb Bailey, Clinic Aide, for providing such good care to our students with medical needs or concerns.

Also Working Wednesday again!  Finally! We know how much appreciate this collaborative time to work on PLC work together.  Please make sure your entire team is on time and ready to go to maximize this important work time.

Courtesy of @jongordon11 via Twitter

Wednesday is also College Signing Day.  Please come to the Commons at 3 PM and support our student-athletes on their special day.

Thursday: AP/IB Testing. Master Scheduling continues.  Also  Department Chair end-of-year celebration at my home.

Friday: AP/IB Testing. Finish Master Scheduling if necessary.  PTO-sponsored Staff Breakfast.

May 4: US Gov EOC; Start of AP and IB Testing

May 5: Physical Science and US History EOC's;  Baccalaureate

May 6: Master Schedule building. Working Wed. College Signing Day.

May 7: Master Schedule building; Final Dept Chair Meeting at Cathy's.

May 8: Finish Master Schedule if necessary.

May 12: Senior Awards Night.

May 13: Orchestra Concert.

May 14: Band Concert.

May 15: Senior Dinner. Also Spring Fling picnic during all three lunches and music by Jazz Band!

May 20: Seniors Last Day at Jerome.  It is likely they will NOT be in class. Senior Activity.  Most likely Beach Day.

May 21: Seniors trip to Cedar Point.

May 22: Start of Senior Exams.

May 25: Memorial Day, No School.

May 26-28: Rest of Senior Exams.

May 27: Mandatory Graduation Practice 1 PM.

May 28: Start of underclass exams. Underclass Exams May 28-June 2.

May 30: Graduation 4 PM.  Please be sure to try to attend. We need as many staff members as possible to help supervise students, do security, etc. Please let Kay know.

June 2: Last Day for students and staff.

Thanks to CD Butcher for bringing a smile to our faces with passing along his students' work on a graphic design called Celtic Land!  Thanks, CD!

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

Cathy

Celtic Courier: Week of April 27-May 1, 2015

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

Graphic courtesy of Chase Meilke via Twitter. We know you choose to be this person for our students every day.

Dear Staff,

We hope you are able to enjoy this sunny Sunday with your families after the cold and rainy Saturday.

What a great week! It started with us exceeding our goal at the Blood Drive and included one of our all-time favorite days of the year: Take Your Child to Work Day.  Much thanks to DBA for making designing and making the children's T-Shirts for this year.  What a great new design!
Interspersed throughout this Courier will be photos of staff with their children.  It is always terrific to see you with your children and see all of the little Celtics, the love of our lives.

Our students and staff donated generously, exceeding our goal with over 50 pints collected.  Much thanks to Carla Crawford and her cheerleading team for organizing this community service project.

This Week:

Evals are all due by Friday.  Please help us in two ways.  First, if you have not sent your refinement and reinforcement goal for your Final Summative Rating form please do it before the end of the day on Monday.  Secondly, once your admin has let you know that the form is ready for your signature, PLEASE sign it as soon as possible.  Thanks for your help!

An update on the Master Schedule-- We have been interviewing in English and Science and will soon interview in PE/Health.  The district protocol requires two building interviews, one with a team of admin and teachers and then 2-3 candidates moving on to a building teaching interview.  We work with Central office to identify interview candidates based on screening interview scores.  Thanks to our dept chairs and our teachers and counselors who are on our interview teams.  Hiring a new staff member is one of the most important steps a building can take.

We have changed the master schedule building days to May 6, 7, and 8 due to some late staffing and course decisions.  Again, the schedule building team is comprised of admin, counselors, and staff for input.  Any staff member is invited to observe.

Graphic courtesy of @weareteachers via Twitter.  What we have always focused on every day-- getting better every day.

Tuesday and Wednesday: PARCC Testing for Alg I and Geometry. Andy sent out the adjusted schedule for this week that mimics last week's schedule.  No Working Wednesday due to testing.  Thanks for all you have done to help our youngest students do their best on these new assessments.

Graphic courtesy of @jmattmiller via Twitter.  

Tuesday: Last Parent Breakfast for this year.  Dusty and I will both take parents' questions.  We have been doing our best at meeting with various groups to ensure the transition goes as smoothly as possible.

Tuesday is also Parents of Black Students District student recognition at Coffman at 7 PM.

Wednesday: PARCC Testing. No Working Wednesday due to testing. Dusty and I will be attending a Building Budget meeting together at CO.

Thursday: Dusty will meet with the Department Chairs in the Media Center at 7:15 AM.

In addition we will meet with all Seniors and discuss all senior activities and behavior expectations. All seniors are required to attend on this schedule; Period 2: Seniors with last names A-G; Period 3: H-N; Period 4: O-Z.  Please make sure you dismiss seniors for these important meetings with Chuck Collier and the admin team.

Thursday is also the the PTO Appreciation Luncheon for PTO volunteers.  Dusty and I will both attend.

Friday: YPA Breakfast at the Golf Club of Dublin. Also Student Recognition at the Catalyst for Positive Change Event.

During all three lunches will be MultiCultural Day, celebrating the myriad of cultures of Jerome students and their families.  Don't miss the wonderful cultural displays and try food from all around the world!  Much thanks to Multicultural Club and Magen Beatty for organizing and planing this awesome event!

Although not with Mom, you can surely see Bethany's face in her daughter!

Saturday: Prom from 8-midnight at OSU Student Union.  Much thanks to Diane and Michael for all of their hard work in organizing all of our Junior and Senior events!  After-Prom at Ten Pin Alley in Hilliard 11:30 - 1: 30 AM. Much thanks to PTO for sponsoring this event.

Looking ahead:

May 4: US Gov EOC; Start of AP and IB Testing

May 5: Physical Science and US History EOC's;  Baccalaureate

May 6: Master Schedule building. Working Wed. College Signing Day.

May 7: Master Schedule building; Final Dept Chair Meeting at Cathy's.

May 8: Finish Master Schedule if necessary.

May 12: Senior Awards Night.

May 13: Orchestra Concert.

May 14: Band Concert.

May 15: Senior Dinner.

May 20: Seniors Last Day at Jerome.  It is likely they will NOT be in class. Senior Activity.

May 21: Seniors trip to Cedar Point.

May 22: Start of Senior Exams.

May 25: Memorial Day, No School.

May 26-28: Rest of Senior Exams.

May 27: Mandatory Graduation Practice 1 PM.

May 28: Start of underclass exams. Underclass Exams May 28-June 2.

May 30: Graduation 4 PM.  Please be sure to try to attend. We need as many staff members as possible to help supervise students, do security, etc. Please let Kay know.

June 2: Last Day for students and staff.

Thanks so much for sharing your students with us this week.  All miracles.  Have a terrific week-- May is almost here!

Cathy

Celtic Courier: Week of April 20- April 24, 2015

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

Dear Staff,

What an exciting week last week was!  Wow!  We hope you enjoyed the gorgeous weather this weekend!

Last week we elected a new Student Body President Grant McHugh and Brady Ellis VP, Sec. Marianna Erana and Treas. Jack Herceg!  A great group of student-leaders!

Student-leaders pose before giving their campaign speeches.

Our cheerleaders were recognized by the School Board for their State Championship last week!

Our cheerleaders were the most spirited group that the school board recognized! What a great accomplishment!  Congrats, Coach Carla Crawford!

Last week Mike Aurin was officially named the Principal of Jonathan Alder HS.  Photo courtesy of Angie Saiter who attended the Board Meting in which he was approved.

Last week also brought us one of our favorite nights of the year, Celebration of Excellence.  Much thanks to Ashley Finneran and Heather Kearnes for their help in organizing this special evening for our students and their families.

Celebration of Excellence is a night of heart-warming stories about students doing good deeds and making good choices and improvement. 

The week ended with one of the best Broadcast-Video shows on Celticvision to date.  The show, the Handsome Men's Club, featured a hilarious segment featuring not only the students in the "Handsome Men's Club" but also the"Handsome" staff members in the Club. If you want to laugh out loud and find out which Jerome teachers made the Handsome Men's Club be sure and watch this video.   You won't be disappointed!  Thanks to Trevor Woods and Jamie Pearson for their leadership.

Unfortunately for Steve Dickman the week ended with a fire in the house he recently purchased.  Thank goodness the kids were not home and Steve was!  He was also help by David Kendall-Sperry, Karen's husband. We are so glad everyone is safe!

Want to see how one teacher changed student lives. CBS News this weekend featured a thoughtful segment which has now gone viral with the hashtag #Iwishmyteacherknew.  Enjoy this segment where the teacher asked students to finish this phrase "I wish my teacher knew . . ." What do our students wish we knew?

Our weekend was just spectacular as we hosted Jennifer and Ryan's couples baby shower.  So much pink and so much fun!

Jennifer and Ryan and a sea of pink!

Yes, it is a TBDBITL onesie!

For the last gift at the shower I hid the last gift, with the help of Julie Blevins son Keegan, and had a red gift bag with a note I asked her to read aloud.  The note stated how I had bought this baby TBDBITL onesie 7 years ago, when Ryan and Jennifer were first married.  I waited 7 years with hope and faith in miracles and here we are.  Soon a new TBDBITL member of 2033 will be born!

This Week:

Wednesday is Interim Day.  Please make sure your grades are all up-to-date and entered in Progress Book.

Please help us out as we conclude this evaluation process in the next two weeks.  If your administrator has asked for you to send information for your second observation please be timely in responding.  Each administrator is trying to do his/her best in finalizing all of the second observations.

Also, each of you need to send your evaluator one refinement goal and one reinforcement goal for the Final Summative Rating Form. Please remember that these goals are related to your standards so you can get ideas from your self-assessment and your Professional Growth Plan.  Your refinement goal is a standard that you want to improve and your reinforcement goal is something you are already good at that you want to continue to become stronger on.

Please send these to the administrator that is evaluating you by email so that we can cut and paste them in your Final Summative Rating Form.  Every teacher needs to send these goals this week-- you do not need to wait to have it requested by the administrator.  Thanks for your help as we finish all evals by May 1.

Monday-- Please go over the testing schedule that Andy sent out last week with your students.  Please make sure that all our students understand the bell schedule for Tuesday and Wednesday.  Remember there is no Working Wednesday this week due to testing.

Tuesday- PARCC Testing in English I.  Adjusted bell schedule. Also Pre-administration for AP. Also Latino Awards Night at Scioto.

Wednesday-- PARCC Testing in English I. Adjusted bell schedule. No Working Wed.  Also Interim Day.

Dusty and I will be meeting with Grizzell Middle School PTO at 1:15.  Dusty is also starting to meet with the admin team and other parent and staff members in order to make the transition positive for staff.  We will continue to meet together as well as meet with various staff members, students and parent groups.

Thursday-- Take your Child to Work Day.  One of the best days at Jerome as we get to see how big your children have grown and have them spend the day with us.  School-age children are welcome.  Be sure and have them stop in the office for a treat!

If you are bringing a child other than your own, please be sure and bring all of their emergency contact information also.  Thanks!

First production of Drama Club's 39 Steps Thursday, Friday and Sat.

Friday--  International Day during all 3 lunches!  Please come to the cafeteria and enjoy the sights and sounds of our families' and school's cultures.  A wonderful day!!

Drama Club 39 Steps.

Lots of spring sports all week and weekend!  Go Celtics.  For specific schedules go to dublinjerome.net and click on Athletics for updated athletic info.

Looking ahead--

April 28: PARCC Testing in Alg I and Geometry.  Adjusted bell schedule.  Also last Parent Breakfast of the year-- Dusty and I will both attend.

Also Black Students Recognition at Coffman at 7 PM.

April 29: PARCC Testing in Alg I and Geometry.  Adjusted bell schedule.  No Working Wed.

April 30: Senior talks periods 2,3 4.  All seniors are required to attend the meeting alphabetically. Dusty meeting with Dept Chairs 7:15 AM.

May 2: Prom at OSU.

 May 3: Fusion Fight for the Cure at Thomas Worthington.  Idea inception by Brady Ellis.

May 4: Start of AP/IB Testing.

May 5: End-of-course assessments in US History and US Gov.  A packed day of testing with many IB and AP.  Also start of Master Schedule building.  We will most likely be in the Teacher's Lounge that day due to multiple testing locations all over the building.  Also Baccalaureate at St. Patrick's 7 PM.

May 6: Master Schedule building. Working Wed. College Signing Day.

May 7: Final Dept Chair Meeting at Cathy's.

May 12: Senior Awards Night.

May 13: Orchestra Concert.

May 14: Band Concert.

May 15: Senior Dinner.

May 20: Seniors Last Day at Jerome.  It is likely they will NOT be in class. Senior Activity.

May 21: Seniors trip to Cedar Point.

May 22: Start of Senior Exams.

May 25: Memorial Day, No School.

May 26-28: Rest of Senior Exams.

May 27: Mandatory Graduation Practice 1 PM.

May 28: Start of underclass exams. Underclass Exams May 28-June 2.

May 30: Graduation 4 PM.  Please be sure to try to attend. We need as many staff members as possible to help supervise students, do security, etc.

June 2: Last Day for students and staff.

Have a terrific week!

Cathy

Celtic Courier: Week of April 13- April 17, 2015

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

Dear Staff,

We hope you had a fun weekend in this glorious spring weather!  For those of you who enjoyed the Casino, we hope you also went home with some extra money in your pocket! :)  Thanks again to Kelly Snyder for organizing this event and to Randy Boyce who arranged for the food to be free!

Thanks to those staff members who completed the short google doc survey on transition.  We appreciate your input.

We started out last week with a visit from educators from Hong Kong, facilitated by Battelle for Kids.  It is always wonderful to have visitors from some of the top school systems in the world who want to view our best practices at Jerome, and as usual, they were very impressed by all of you!

It is interesting to talk to them about utilizing the same research that we are, including PLC work with teachers working in collaborative teams on collaborative assessments as well as the Marzano research on the impact of teacher effectiveness.  We are globally in this work together.

Hong Kong visitors enjoyed their visit to Jerome and learning from you.

If you get a chance be sure and visit our journalism room in C wing and see IB Art student Maddie Knostman's mural that she designed and painted.

Maddie Knostman proudly stands by her IB Art Project mural in our journalism room.  Beautiful!

Our Dublin Business Academy students presented to Dr. Hoadley's Business Advisory Council of Dublin business leaders last week.

Our DBA students and teacher Brad Richardson impressed local business leaders with presenting information regarding their work in DBA, a unique educational program.  

Our Model UN students are at OSU this weekend with Karen Kendall-Sperry, assisting new Mom Katie Longwell.

Model UN students compete this weekend at OSU.  

This Week--

Monday--  Brief Staffing meeting at 7:30 AM in the CPA.  This will be no longer than 5 minutes.  Please be on time or you will miss it. :)

Also adjusted bell schedule for 30-minute election assembly.  All students attend but seniors as they do not vote.  Please do not bring your seniors to the assembly.  Seniors with early release will be released as we release for the assembly via the PA.  Kay provided you the bell schedule again on Friday.

Our State Champion cheerleading team will be recognized by the School Board Monday at 7 PM.

Tuesday--  Election of officers in homeroom.  No adjusted schedule.  COE practice second period.  Much thanks to Ashley Finneran and Heather Kearnes for all of their hard work on COE.

Also Celebration of Excellence at 7 PM Tuesday.  Much thanks to all of you who took the time to recognize our deserving students!  What a special night for them and their families!

Wednesday-- Working Wednesday.  This is the last Working Wednesday until May due to PARCC testing starting next week and continuing into the next week.

For those of you involved in student test preparation, please use Working Wednesday time this week to finalize your PLC work focusing on student learning, whether it be PARCC, IB or AP.

Thursday-- Please remember that this is the district's Family Night.  Homework should not be given.  Thanks for your support.

Friday--  This is our last PAC meeting of the year and the students will be traveling to Iacano's for a luncheon 5th period.

Looking ahead--

April 21 and 22: PARCC testing.  Adjusted bell schedules. English I

April 21: also AP Administration for all AP testers.  Lisa Bauer will be sending specifics.

April 21: Latino Awards 6 PM at Scioto.

April 22: Dusty and I at Grizzell PTO.

April 23: Take your Child to Work Day.  Your school-age children are welcome to come.  One of our favorite days!

April 24: International Day during all 3 lunches!

April 28: Parent Breakfast with Dusty.

April 28, 29. PARCC testing.  Adjusted bell schedules. Alg I and Geometry.

April 28: Black Students Recognition Program at Coffman.

April 30: Senior Talks periods 2,3 and 4 by alphabet.  Seniors will not be in class. A-G period 2, H-N period 3, O-Z period 4.

May 4: End-of-course testing in US Gov PM.

May 5: PARCC testing. Adjusted bell schedules. Physical Science. End of Course assessment in US History PM.

May 5: Baccalaureate.

May 4-- start of AP and IB Testing.

May 12: Senior Awards Night. 7 PM

Seniors last day at School-- May 20.  Last official day-- May 21.  Do not expect seniors to be in class May 20 or May 21. Senior exams start May 22.

May 30: Graduation at 4 PM.  We would like for 100% of our staff to attend graduation in tribute to our students and their families.  We understand it is a sacrifice of your family time but please come.  It would also mean a lot to me personally to see each of you there.

Have an awesome week!  "We can never grow weary of doing good as we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Celtic Courier: Week of April 6- April 10, 2015

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

Dear Staff,

We hope you are having a wonderful long weekend with your families.  For those of you who celebrate Easter, Happy Easter!  Blessed Passover to those who celebrate Passover.  We hope all of you enjoy sunny and bright spring weather here this weekend!  Hope you enjoy these fun Spring videos!

Dusty Miller and I have had some wonderful conversations on how to make the transition to a new principal the best it can be for students, staff and parents.  I will be sending out a very short Google form for you to provide input on how to best make the transition for staff.  We will then share this with Dusty.  He and I are teaming this spring in various scheduled activities to meet parents, students and staff.  Dusty will meet with department chairs at the end of April on his own and also go with me to the upcoming Karrer and Grizzell PTO meetings.

He is also attending the final Parent Breakfast at the end of April and the PTO Appreciation Luncheon with me.  We are also hoping that he is also able to come to a staff meeting in May.  Again, please provide any other input or feedback you have on how we can work to ensure this transition is a smooth and positive one for you.

This Week--

April and May bring much testing, including the second round of PARCC and Ohio End-of Course, AP and IB.  Please do your best again to support our students as they engage in stressful, high stakes testing.

Monday:  The start of Student Council election campaigning.  We are also hosting visitors from Hong Kong with their host Battelle for Kids.  We will be touring the school and visiting classrooms from about 12:30 - 2:30 PM. Karrer PTO meeting to meet Karrer parents and transition to Jerome.

Tuesday: Safety Drill starting about 8:30 AM.  Andy will send out more information about this important drill.

Wednesday:  Staff Meeting 7:15 AM.  Coffee will be provided.  World Language Staff presentation.  Also Valedictorian speech auditions for graduation after school.

Thursday:  Continued Valedictorian speech auditions for graduation after school.

Friday: IB TOK Day.  Breakfast provided by PTO for all staff.

Looking ahead:

April 13: Adjusted bell schedule for Student Council election speech assembly.  Grades 9-11 only.  If you have seniors, please stay with your seniors in class to supervise.  April 13 Board Meeting will recognize our State Champion Cheerleading.

April 14: Celebration of Excellence.  Much thanks to everyone who took the time to nominate a student.  A special night for staff, students and their families.

April 15: Working Wednesday.

April 16: District Family Night.

April 17:  PAC last meeting: Appreciation Luncheon Period 5.

April 21: PARCC Testing English I for all 9th graders; Also Pre- admin for AP for all AP test-takers.

April 22: PARCC Testing English I for all 9th graders

April 23: Take your Child to Work Day;  We welcome your children to Jerome.

April 24: International Day during all 3 lunches.

April 30: Seniors talks with all Seniors on how to finish the year safely and with classy periods 2, 3, and 4.

Have a terrific first full week of April!

Cathy