#sparkinfo. Weekly Update
Week #5- September 17th- 21st, 2018
Thank You!!
In those moments when things seem to be hard, remember why we do it. We have so many students who come to us everyday from hardships at home. You are making their lives better with the lessons you teach beyond the curriculum. Jon Gordon would tell you to remember your why. "We don't get burned out because of what we do, but because we forget why we do it."
Keep the Good News going out. We have slowed a little, but we are approaching 400! The excel cent cart will be up and running! Thank you LeAnn for getting it ready. Remember, to incentivise wherever you can.
#sparkcelebrations
On Wednesday, we had our first #sparkcelebration. There were many reports of students, who are not traditionally motivated, working to complete assignments so that they didn't miss this opportunity. Pelican Sno Balls was a huge hit! The faculty came up short against the A team in the student/faculty game. We'll get them next time! ;)
Our next #sparkcelebration will be used to provide incentive for those who have completed the first nine weeks successfully. Students who are passing their classes and have no discipline will be eligible for the 1st nine weeks celebration. We will have our first block party. This will involve inflatables on the concrete beach, a dance party in the cafeteria, and a volleyball rematch in the gym and other games. We will rotate grade levels from area to area.
New for our second celebration:
Assignments must be turned in before the day of #sparkcelebrations. Students will not be able to turn in assignments the day of and be eligible. This created some logisitcal issues. Related Arts will no longer have a separate sheet. Instead, they will add to grade level sheets.
Just because kids are elibilbe for a #sparkcelebration doesn’t mean they are not accountable for their behavior. All available faculty and staff should be supervising during the celebration to make sure students are making good choices. Please circulate amongst students and interact with them. Their #sparkfun can become #sparkwork if they spill something and don't clean it up or are not participating appropriately.
Thank you to everyone who helped make our first schoolwide incentive such a huge success. Let's always work to make the next one better than the last. If you have other ideas on how to improve, please let leadership know. We always want to grow, and it takes the voice and ideas of all to truly be great.
"Mr. Clemson", Eric MacLain, was our guest speaker this week!
Last week's guest speaker, Mr. Lawson, is a legend in his own right!
If you haven't had a Pelican SnoBall, you've got to try them!
Mr. Garrrett's class cooking in life skills!
Coach Owens and Mrs. Wilkins classes got their cook on as well!
Students are logging service hours on campus!
The B team fell to the teachers, but the A team rallied for a win.
Pre-game warmup!
Thank you Erin for arranging our speaker this week!
Fire Drills
Next Week's Agenda!
Monday, Sept.17th-
Volleyball @ Palmetto (5:30 PM)
Engineering Cohort to J.R. Automation and Wilbur Plastics
MathCounts Meeting (3:10-4:10)
Tuesday, Sept. 18th-
Volleyball DH @ Riverside (5:30 PM)
Wednesday, Sept. 19th-
1st Progress Reports
Talk Like a Pirate Day! (Opportunity to incorporate Pirate-Themed Instruction)
PD- ALICE Training (Sgt. Griffin) AM Planning
PTO Meeting (4 PM)
Thursday, Sept. 20th-
Football @ Gettys (5:30 PM)
Optional SLO Support - Sect III, VIII & IX (AM Planning)
Instructional Focus
Mr. Williams, Coach Morris and myself will be sending out a form this week to schedule your first formal observations. Please let us know if you have questions. Thank you!
Spark Spotlight!!
Strong Instruction goes beyond the curriculum
This week, we want to spotlight the efforts of Mr. Council in business education and Mrs. Sutton and Mrs. Whittemore in seventh grade ELA!
Mr. Council is new to our campus and has had an immediate impact with his students and his athletes on the football team. While he brings real-life applications to his business education classes, Mr. Council's strength comes from the example he has set for his students. He is the kind of model that many have commented on in our faculty. Thank you Mike!
Mrs. Sutton and Mrs. Whittemore have utilized Donors Choose to provide students with the Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens. The book has provided an infusion of literacy with real-life application. If you would like to do an instructional round to discuss their approach, a member of the leadership team would be glad to join you. The collaboration in seventh grade ELA this year is a difference maker.
Mr. Council is bringing relevance to the classroom and beyond!
Mrs. Sutton's class is doing great things!
We are so glad to have Mrs. Whittemore with us at Pickens Middle!
From Sparks of Knowledge Grow Flames of Success
Email: jamesking@pickens.k12.sc.us
Website: http://pms.pickens.k12.sc.us/
Location: 140 Torch Lane, Pickens, SC, 29671
Phone: (864) 397-4100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pickensms/?scrlybrkr=85865011
Twitter: @pmssparks