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