SCMS Happenings

RESA Tec Open House

2012-02-08T09:39:00.003-05:00

Just a reminder that our St. Clair County RESA is holding an Open House Thursday, February 9th from 5:30 to 8:00 pm. This is a special event for students in grades 8-10 and their parents. You'll be able to tour the school, learn about TEC's programs and speak to their instructors. If you think you might be interested, it would be time well served to attend.

7th Grade Parents....DC Reminder

2012-02-07T10:41:00.002-05:00

If you haven't registered your student yet, please give it another thought. Two quick things: 1) It is an absolutely awesome trip. 2) We're getting close to having to create a waiting list. We still have spots left, but one of my fears every year is that when we fill up the buses, we'll get a few more people that register late and they won't be able to go. Please, please, please, register. If we can take 150....don't be number 151. If we can take 175...don't be number 176. Even though we're past the due date on the registration form you can still register (it was a soft due date). If money is an issue, we can work with you. Give me a call. I want every kid to have this experience.

Superbowl Sunday....Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrg

2012-02-05T15:57:00.002-05:00

Yes...I'm posting on Sunday...Superbowl Sunday. The reason I'm posting? My DVR/Cable Box just died. I spent 20 minutes on the phone with Comcast to find out that I'm hosed. Not that big a deal...I mean if I miss it tonight, I can always watch it next year. Maybe I can find it on the radio..........(can you hear the sarcasm in my typing?)

It's times like this that I have to remind myself of my pledge of not letting the little stuff get me down....making sure I keep my glass half full. It could be worse...it could be the Lions in the Superbowl.

Overdue Books

2012-02-03T10:06:00.002-05:00

Need some help. The other day I got a list of all the overdue/missing books from our Media Center. It was startling how many books were on the list. In talking to Mrs. Westrick, who is our Media Center Specialist as well as SCHS's Media Center Specialist, she mentioned that one of the biggest shocks to incoming Freshmen is there is consequences for overdue books. Fines, can't take exams, withhold report cards, can't check out any more books, etc. One of my jobs is to prepare students for the high school. I'm seriously thinking about instituting some sort of minimal fine for overdue books. Here is where I need your help. We've made a quite an effort to get kids to turn in late books and consequently, the list is becoming manageable. Would you please take a minute to talk to your student, look under that pile of dirty clothes in the middle of their room and encourage them to bring in any books that are currently late. Any and all help you can give us would be appreciated.

Boxtop Collection

2012-02-02T13:40:00.003-05:00

We are going to have a boxtop collection/competition the week of Feb 13th. The last collection got us a check for over $700 (wow....). The first hour classes that brings in the most boxtops will get a donut party. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for all your help

Snowsport Club This Friday

2012-02-02T07:46:00.000-05:00

Due to the weather (no snow!) There will be no ski club this week (February 3rd). Good news is that the long term weather for next week looks like we'll have several nights of snow-making weather

New Tardy Procedure

2012-02-01T09:56:00.003-05:00

One of my goals is to prepare our students for high school. Being an ex-high school guy, I can tell you that one of the biggest bumps in the road that Freshmen experience is with the attendance policy/tardies. At the high school, when a student gets two tardies it equals one absence. Students are allowed 6 absences before they lose credit. The reason I bring this up is that we try exxxxxtremely hard to get kids to class. We have a 1 minute warning bell, I'm in the halls every hour to encourage kids to get to class, but we still have a bunch of student tardies...and that number is about to go up. In the past, it was up to the teacher to do a referral when a student gets two tardies. It was possible that a teacher could forget to write a referral or miss the fact that it was a student's second tardy. We have worked it out so that the process is now automatic. When a student gets their second tardy, a referral will automatically be generated. While this might seem like a pain in the short term, our hopes is that it will help in the long run (the high school).

Your welcome in advance.

After School Activities

2012-01-24T12:46:00.002-05:00

St. Clair Middle School is very happy to offer a set of 6-week After School Enrichment Activities for our students. Here is how it works:

There is no charge for these activities.
All school rules will apply. A student can be removed from an activity.
Transportation is the responsibility of the student.
Application form must be signed by your parent/guardian
Class sizes are limited. If we have more students sign up than the class will accommodate we will hold a lottery and select the kids at random.
You can participate in more than one activity
If you do choose more than one, prioritize your choices
Activities will start the week of February 13th and end the week of March 19th .

We will be offering 3 different activities. Art with Mrs. Biernot, Scrabble with Ms. Hannon and Jazz Band with Mr. Decker. Sign up forms, with more information, will be available for students later this week.

Ski/Snowboard Club This Friday

2012-01-24T07:15:00.002-05:00

The club will be meeting this Friday (January 27th) for skiing/snowboarding. As their are no students this Friday, Mrs. Mule is asking parents to meet her at Sue's Coffeehouse in town at 1:30. The Club will leave from there at 2:00 to get a few extra hours of fun in on Friday.

SCMS Wrestling Parent Meeting

2012-01-16T09:39:00.000-05:00

When: Wednesday January 18, 2012
Time: 7:00-7:45 p.m.
Where: St. Clair Middle School Cafeteria
Why: Meet Coach Frikken and to hear an overview of this year’s goals and expectations

A flyer is available in the main office regarding the parent meeting

RESA TEC Open House

2012-01-13T08:51:00.000-05:00

The St. Clair TEC Open House is Thursday, Feb. 9 from 5:30–8 p.m. Prospective students in grades 8–10 and their parents are invited to learn more about TEC’s career and technical education programs. Attendees will tour the school, meet with instructors, and find out how they can gain technical skills. TEC staff members will also advise students on how they can earn academic and college credit and gain leadership and employability skills. For more information, contact TEC at (810) 455-1010.

DC Post Meeting Thoughts

2012-01-13T07:50:00.002-05:00

Thanks to those that came to the meeting last night. For those that couldn't make it, we'll have info packs in the office for your child to pick up and take home. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to shoot me an e-mail or pick up the phone and give me a call. I'll be putting updates, and more information on our Washington DC link that is on our main SCMS webpage. I just put an important bit of information that I forgot to mention last night on that link. Please get in the habit of checking that every now and then.

DC Parent Meeting Tonight (Thursday)

2012-01-12T07:25:00.002-05:00

If you're anything like me, this meeting could of been put on the back burner of your mind. Tonight (Thursday January 12th) at 7:00 pm in our cafeteria. We'll go over the trip, answer questions and pass out registration forms. Please make every attempt to attend. It is an absolutely awesome educational experience for your son/daughter.

Yoga Pants....Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrg

2012-01-10T08:35:00.006-05:00

Who decides on what is in style? Why doesn't anyone ask me? Our policy, which I had to put into place last year because of a fashion trend, was that when a student wears tights, they still needed to wear some sort of skirt, long sweater, etc that covered at least mid-thigh (yes....girls were wearing tights and nothing else). Now yoga pants are in style. I heard that it was all over Facebook last night that the boys were looking forward to today to "check out" all the gals wearing yoga pants. I seem to ask this a lot, but I need some help. Please, please, please, think like a middle school boy before you let your daughter out of the house in the morning....regardless of what's in style. I'll be making an announcement at the end of the day (which will not be popular with the girls or boys) that skin tight yoga pants fall under the same category as tights....they must wear something mid-thigh over the top.

SCMS/NJHS Blood Drive

2012-01-10T06:30:00.001-05:00

St. Clair Middle School's National Junior Honor Society is sponsoring a blood drive. Please help us by donating on Tuesday, February 28th, from 2 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. in the SCMS Aux. gym. Please click on the link below and make an appointment to Save A Life!

There is always a need for blood and only volunteer donors can fulfill that need for patients in our community. Na tionwide, someone needs a unit of blood every 2 to 3 seconds and most of us will need blood in our lifetime.

Thank you!
Amy Walton and NJHS students

make an appointment

Rescheduled B-Ball Game

2012-01-09T10:24:00.000-05:00

The basketball game that was cancelled with Central on 12/12 is rescheduled for Thursday, January 12 at 4:15 pm at Central Middle School.

Want to get involved?

2012-01-07T07:29:00.000-05:00

The City of St. Clair is seeking residents interested in serving on a City board or commission. There are currently vacancies on the: Harbor Commission, LDFA, Recreation Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. Applications for any boards and commissions are kept on file for future vacancies. An application can be found www.cityofstclair.com or call 810-329-7121 if you have a question.

East China District Supporter's Fun Run

2012-01-05T14:41:00.000-05:00

The East China District Supporters are hosting their first annual 5k run on Saturday, February 11th. The Chili-Heart Run (Chili...cold and food, Heart...it's close to Valentine's Day) is a fun run/walk that will be starting and ending at SCMS. There will be special awards for the overall winners plus awards for the top 3 in each age group. We are also working on special deals with area restaurants (that's where the Chili comes into the title). Please help spread the word to all kids, neighbors, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmas, grandpas, etc. The more runners we get, the more money we make. The more money we make, the more the East China Supporters can help our students. To sign up, go to our district webpage (www.ecsd.us) click on the link and scroll down to our link. Jump through a few hoops and you'll be registered. Time is short...we need everyone's help to spread the word so that this run is a success.

Snowsports Club

2012-01-05T09:08:00.002-05:00

Our parent group that heads up the Snowsports Club is giving it a go this Friday. The snow making equipment was working and there a good base set down so far.

The lift tickets will be distributed to the kids before they leave the school Friday afternoon. Also...an FYI, Mrs. Mule, who rules the club, will try to be located in the Canyon Cafe (to the left on the second story, as you go up the double staircase) if they need to get with her at the lodge. She plans on putting a red table cloth on the table so she is easy to spot.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Mule (her contact info was on the original flyer)

Reminder...DC Meeting

2012-01-03T08:51:00.002-05:00

In case you missed the pre-break post, we will be having our Parent Washington DC Informational Meeting on Thursday, January 12th @ 7:00 pm in our cafeteria. The meeting is for all current 7th graders and their parents. The trip is absolutely AWESOME and we want every student to be able to go. At the meeting we’ll discuss the trip, answer questions, talk about fundraising opportunities and have sign up forms for next year’s trip. Please make every attempt to attend this meeting

Break is Coming at a Good Time

2011-12-20T07:09:00.002-05:00

I think the kids are ready for a break. Some are in desperate need of a hug. For many of us, this time of year is something that we look forward to all year. For what seems to be a growing number of of us, this time of year is a very stressful time. Whether it's the economy and a lack of money, or a divorced situation with the conflict of who gets to spend what day with what parent , or a thousand other "little" things that adds stress to this time of year. You might be surprised to find out how much of the family stress is picked up on by your child. I think setting aside some time for a long, relaxing talk to catch up with what is going on in your child's world is something that most of us, myself included, don't do near enough and might just be the de-stresser that everyone needs. Enjoy these days regardless of the bumps in the road....speaking from experience, they don't last long.

14 Rounds

2011-12-17T07:30:00.002-05:00

Read the post below.....the last few it felt as though an elephant was on my back. I'm sure that will cement a solid 4th place finish with my three sons.

The Joys of Getting Old

2011-12-16T07:48:00.002-05:00

If you're looking for a SCMS post, no need to read any further. If you want to know what life has in store for you in a few years, keep reading.

All of us, male or female, are going to get to a point in our lives when we realize that our kids have passed us physically. Some of us (mostly the tall blog writing types) will hold on to the illusion that they can still run with the young bucks and do the things that they did when they were that age. I think my boys have realized that they have passed me and are attempting to try to keep their dad young. With that in mind, my three sons have come up with a weekly challenge. Here is the e-mail I got yesterday:

Feat of strength for this week: Rounds of Push ups

Here’s how a round works: For every additional minute you go, you have to do that number of push ups (i.e. the first minute, you do 1 push up, the second minute you do 2 push ups and so on.) The catch is you have to FINISH the number of push ups within that 60 second round. Knees hit the ground, it’s over. You can’t break them up.

Lets say you’re in minute 15. You would have to do 15 push ups. Any time you have left within that 60 seconds is just rest time. You don’t have to start doing push ups again right when the 16th minute begins, but you have to get all 16 in within that minute. You can wait until halfway though the 16th minute to start the set of pushups, but if the 60 seconds elapse before you get the 16th in, it’s over.

Sooooo...here's my dilemma. Do I give this a try, post my score to my boys which I'm sure would make me a distant 4th place.....or..... Do I just wait for them to post their scores, then make up a number? I think I'll give it a try (then make up a number) Feel free to give this a try. (don't let me be the only one that's so sore I can't lift my arms)

Winter Concerts

2011-12-16T06:59:00.002-05:00

Great Job last night to all of our students that preformed in the Choir and Band Concerts. Mr. Decker and Mr. Carlson do a great job with our kids. It's amazing to hear the progression, not only from 6th grade to 8th grade but from the Fall concert to now. Special thanks to all the parents, grandparents, friends and family for their support. I know all the kids really appreciate it.

NJHS/Candy Canes

2011-12-15T13:43:00.002-05:00

Our NJHS sold candy canes during lunch for the last 10 days with the proceeds going toward buying Toys for Tots. The result of their efforts was a whopping $551. That money is going to make a lot of kids happy this holiday season. Great job to Mrs. Walton and all the National Junior Honor Society Members.

Next Year's DC Meeting

2011-12-14T09:14:00.001-05:00

Mark your calendars. We will be having our Washington DC Parent Meeting, Thursday January 12th from 7:00 to 8:00 pm in our cafeteria for all 7th graders and their parents. The trip is absolutely AWESOME and we want every student to be able to go. At the meeting we’ll discuss the trip, answer questions, talk about fundraising opportunities and have sign up forms for next year’s trip. Please make every attempt to attend this meeting.

Pencils

2011-12-12T07:35:00.003-05:00

Those that know me probably aren't surprised to hear this, but at times I can be a bit immature with my humor. With that in mind, if your child ever comes home with a pencil that says "Stolen from Mr. Alley", they really didn't steal it. I had a bunch printed up and I give them away to students that are in need of a pencil. About two or three times a year I get a phone call from a parent apologizing when they find one of my pencils....then when they find out it's suppose to be funny, about half the time they get mad at me.

I still think it's funny.....

Monday, December 12th Basketball Game

2011-12-09T13:34:00.001-05:00

The 7th and 8th Grade Boys' Basketball game on Monday, December 12, 2011 has been cancelled and will not be rescheduled. Port Huron Central has some gym floor issues and couldn't work out transportation to come here for the game. Practice will be held from 3:30 to 5:30.

Runners....Save the Date

2011-12-08T11:23:00.003-05:00

Our East China Supporters Group is sponsoring a 5K run on Saturday February 11th. I personally know the Chairperson...great guy, real tall, personalble, smart...and he needs all the help he can get to promote this fun run. More info will follow, but for now, help spread the word to all of your runner friends to mark thier calendars.

Ski/Snowboard Club

2011-12-08T07:07:00.002-05:00

Still not enough snow at Mt. Holly....Friday's trip (12/9) is cancelled.
Hang in there....the snow will be here soon

Dress Warm....

2011-12-07T12:37:00.002-05:00

If you haven't heard, it's cold outside. We are no different than most large buildings in as much as we're having a few issues with our heating system. Some rooms are warm, some are just right and a some are cool. We are aware of it and are trying to fix the issues as they arise. The good news is that we are one of the first buildings in the district that is the beginning stages of a switch over to a new system that will hopefully correct the problems and make us more efficient with how we heat (and cool) our classrooms. Until then, please suggest that your student wear sweaters/sweatshirts and long pants....which probably is a good idea as long as the weather outside is cold regardless of our heating situation.

Saturday School is Here

2011-12-06T11:06:00.002-05:00

What a great time of year. We barely get to see the sun, it's cold, wet, windy and Saturday School is starting. Let me try to fill in some of the blanks for how Saturday School works. We use Saturday School in two ways. One way is for discipline. Some times we'll give students/parents an option when it comes to discipline consequences. You can either have a one day in-house suspension or two Saturday Schools for example. The other way, which is more likely, is that Saturday School is used for missing assignments. One of our goals is to have students complete assignments. Saturday School is one more way to accomplish that goal. Now....how the exact process works is a little hard to explain. It's not black and white. Here's the short version. Every day I get a print out of everyone that has a homework referral (missing assignment). On Tuesday or Wednesday (depends on the volume) we send a list of names that have multiple homework referrals to our Central Office to have automated phone calls go home letting parents know that their student has been assigned a Saturday School (remember...this is the short version). The student has until Friday to get all of their missing assignments turned in to get out of Saturday School. Here is why it's not black and white. When a student turns in a late assignment, it's not instantaneous in getting the referral removed. It's possible that the report I get has Ralph with 3 missing assignments that he has already turned in but the teacher just hadn't had time to correct and enter the grade yet. Those type of situations happen all the time and will work themselves out. So if you get an automated phone call, no need to press the panic button, talk to your son or daughter and encourage them to get any and all of their missing assignments turned in.
On a bit of a tangent, if your son/daughter does have Saturday School, you are more than welcomed to come in and help your child complete their assignments.

Ski/Snowboard Club

2011-12-01T09:24:00.002-05:00

No snow at Mt. Holly so no Ski/Snowboard Club this week. Hang in there...it wont be long.

Ski/Snowboard Club Meeting

2011-11-29T13:17:00.004-05:00

A reminder that there is a parent informational Ski/Snowboard meeting tonight (Tuesday)at 7:00 pm in the middle school cafeteria. This is a re-post from a week or so ago. On the original post, there was a link that allows you to see more information and a permission slip.

Hope that everyone that is interested can attend.

Power Outage Information...(But Not Here)

2011-11-29T10:38:00.002-05:00

Eddy and Gearing Elementaries have brown-out/power issues and are sending their kids home at 11:00 am. We, on the other hand, have an abundance of power and will continue to educate our students.

The building of the Ark has begun

Short Term Goals

2011-11-29T06:47:00.005-05:00

I don't know about you, but most of us when we are faced with what seems like an overwhelming task we either get depressed or just give up. This applies to just about everything. Clean your house, garage, basement (you should of seen my basement last week....I thought an episode of "Hoarders" was going to be filmed down there), lose some weight, get in shape or, at school, get those assignments turned in. What I'll be stressing to our students is to focus on short term goals. Don't worry about getting every assignment turned in from now until June, just focus on from today until Winter Break. Very, very doable. We have a little over two weeks until Winter Break. You can do anything for that short amount of time...including getting all of your assignments turned in. If it wasn't for short term goals (one bag to Goodwill, one bag of trash, then repeat) I never would of gotten my basement clean. Please take a minute and have this talk with our kids. It's a great way to attack most jobs.

Oops.........

2011-11-29T06:44:00.002-05:00

We had a computer glitch with some of our 6th grade report card grades/GPA's (I try to blame everything on computer glitches....I'm pretty sure the nasty weather outside is some computers fault). It was caught but not until part way through PTC's so some parents received report cards with wrong info. Letters are going out today to those 6th grade students/parents with the corrected information.

Thanksgiving Thought

2011-11-22T09:30:00.009-05:00

I told this story to a few parents during PTC and I thought I'd share with my Bloggers. Thinking back to when my sons were younger, this story saved them from me losing my temper many times. It's a story that was told to me by a very good friend, Daryl Walker, who has since passed away. Hopefully you'll think of this the next time one of your kids does something that raises your blood pressure.

As the story goes, Daryl was outside with his dad and his young son who was probably around twelve at the time. The young son was hooking up a snowmobile trailer to Daryl's truck. The son's mind wandered (as happens with most young males), the trailer got away from him and busted out the tail light of the truck. Just as Daryl was about to say/do something, his dad put his hand on his shoulder and said "Your grampa want through it, I went through it and now you get to go through it".

As we get ready for Thanksgiving, it's easy to get wrapped up in some of the small bumps in the road instead of seeing how lucky we are.

Enjoy this time with your family.

Re-Post....Just the Facts

2011-11-21T08:53:00.000-05:00

As in the past, we will be having the "Just the Facts" program with our 6th graders. Just the Facts is a play consisting of four scenarios performed by professional actors in a school setting. They do a GREAT job in discussing and educating our young students on a very difficult subject. It will be December 1st with a parent meeting in our media center on November 29th @ 7:00 pm. Please check out the following website for more information.

http://sccstopchildabuse.org/just_the_facts.htm

PTC Parent Survey

2011-11-21T07:09:00.004-05:00

As in the past, we will be asking parents to do a survey during Parent Teacher Conferences. Unfortunately, due the the set up of our building (when you enter the building, the computer lab is in directly opposite direction as conferences)we typically have a poor response to the surveys. We appreciate the feedback and suggestions and would like to get as many parents to respond as possible. For that reason, I've added a link to our SCMS website (bottom right corner). If you don't get a chance to do the survey during PTC, please take a minute to complete it once you read this posting.

I'll leave the link active until after the Thanksgiving Break.

Thanks

Free Money

2011-11-17T14:27:00.003-05:00

Thought that title might get your attention. Our St. Clair County RESA is behind a push called Know How 2GO. Short story is that we want everyone to be educated when it comes to the process of getting post secondary education and also how to afford it (scholarships, grants, etc...). Being a father of three that I have sent to college, one of which that is taking his time, I can tell you that it is never too early to start planning. In today's world, some sort of post secondary education, whether it is college or trade school, is almost a must. When you get a chance, please click on the link below.

Know How 2GO

Tis the Season.......

2011-11-16T11:19:00.002-05:00

As in past years, SCMS is holding a Winter Apparel Clothing Drive and a Food Drive. The Clothing Drive, which is being sponsored by our National Junior Honor Society, is currently going on and goes until November 30th. The Food Drive, which is being sponsored by our Student Council, starts December 1st and goes until December 15th. Our community is not unlike most in the State of Michigan. We've been hit hard with the economy. What separates our community from most is our generosity. Even though many of our families have had to tighten our belts and do without certain things that we have gotten used to, we still have found a way to help out.

You guys are great.............

Police Invitation

2011-11-15T16:00:00.002-05:00

Police!!!!!!! OH NO........the last time the police were here, rumors spread faster than kids coming down the stairs at Christmas (thank you very much Facebook...BTW all the rumors were false and I'm still being asked about it). Anyway, just a heads up that if everything goes as planned, I hope that we'll have some police in the building a couple of times a month. This is an idea that I’ve had for awhile. Back when I was at MCHS (about a 1000 years ago), we had a liaison officer. It was great that the kids got to see officers as people and find out they were approachable. I’m inviting police officers to stop in, maybe a couple of times a month to have lunch with our kids. It would give them a chance to mingle a little as they sit down with our students to have lunch. I see this as a win/win for all involved.

Just wanted to keep everyone in the loop (trying to keep the rumors under control)

Lost and Found

2011-11-15T14:36:00.002-05:00

Every year at PTC's we set out a table (or tables) with all the "stuff" that has been sitting in our lost and found. Granted, some of the items has gotten good use, but much of it is a washing machine away from being worn the next day to school. There is easily over a $1000 worth of clothes that we'll be donating to Helping Hands after PTC's if it's not claimed. Please take a minute during conferences to take a look for any of your child's missing items.

Ski/Snowboard Club

2011-11-15T07:12:00.004-05:00

Once again we have a few parents that are organizing a Ski/Snowboard Club for our students. It's an awesome opportunity that we would like all of our students to take advantage of. Whether you are ready for the X-Games or just a beginner I would highly recommend you give it a shot...parents are welcomed and encouraged to hit the slopes too (plus the club needs parents to help drive). There will be a parent meeting Tuesday November 29th @ 7:00 pm in our cafeteria for all those that would like to be involved. Please click on the link below for the flyer and more information.

Information

Our American Flag

2011-11-15T06:39:00.003-05:00

Just an FYI that the rope to our flag on top of our building broke Sunday night during the wind storm (I think Dorothy and Toto tried to grab it as they flew by). It's quite a process to fix...we can't do it ourselves. A company has been scheduled to come and repair it.

11:11 of 11-11-11

2011-11-11T11:12:00.005-05:00

I was approached by dozens of students today asking me...begging me...to make an announcement at 11:10 this morning to remind people that they need to make a wish at 11:11 am today, November 11th, 2011 (11:11 of 11/11/11). Soooooooooo, when you get home tonight and find a brand new X-box 360 with Call Of Duty:MW3 sitting in your living room hooked up to a 60" flat screen, you'll know where it came from.

Never to Old to Learn....

2011-11-11T07:49:00.005-05:00

Another non-SCMS post, although this is educational. I was having an issue with golfer's elbow. Basically this is a condition that occurs when you swing as hard as humanly possible on every shot (even putts) over an extended period of time (40 plus years). I went to see a specialist and it was decided that a good course of action would be to get a steroid shot in my elbow. I had gotten shots before in my knees, and my shoulder so I didn't think much of it until the needle got stuck in my elbow. WOW! As I sat there, my eyes watering, my teeth clenched, the doctor gave me some very valuable information. Proving that you're never too old to learn, my doctor told me that he had gotten shots before and it's been his experience that it's much better to be the shot giver than the shot receiver.

Not sure if the shot will help my elbow, but I do feel smarter now that I have that information. (I know my doctor's wife reads this...and yes, your husband did say that. It's not often that I laugh and cry at the same time).

Have a good weekend.

Online Safety Contract

2011-11-10T09:56:00.003-05:00

I thought this was sort of neat. It's another tool for parents to use to help build awareness to the dangers of our Internet world that we live in. When you get a chance, take a look

Student Online Contract

Ahhhhhhhhhhh....Rumors....

2011-11-09T06:36:00.002-05:00

So.....late yesterday afternoon I'm talking to a staff member, which I do a lot (it's part of my job) and at the end of the conversation she starts to laugh and I ask what's up. She tells me that at the end of lunch a student comes up to her and asks if she's ok. She says that she's fine and asks why? The student tells her that he had heard that she was stabbed with a pair of scissors. She reassures the the student that she hadn't been...ya da ya da...where did he hear this...ya da ya da... this is a good example of a rumor and how they can spread...ya da ya da. Anyway, I really didn't think much of it until this morning when my wife tells me that she got a text from a parent of a SCMS student wanting to know about the stabbing at SCMS. I didn't hear about this until this morning because my oldest son took me and my other two sons to the Wings game last night, which was awesome....but that's a whole different story. Here's the short version and purpose of this posting. No stabbing or attempted stabbing, only a lesson in how rumors can take on a life of their own.

ABC Facebook Link

2011-11-08T09:17:00.005-05:00

Wondering what ABC is? Read the post below. Here's a Link to a Facebook page we've created. Please pass it on.

ABC Facebook Link

ABC is Up and Running and Looking For Student Members

2011-11-08T06:37:00.002-05:00

The St. Clair Middle School Anti-Bullying Committee (ABC) is up and running and is in need of a student component. We are looking for any students that are interested in being apart of our Student Anti-Bullying Committee. Participation in this committee will involve meeting at designated times during the school day, participating in, or organizing school-wide activities, and will involve active support of a positive school environment through positive behavior choices. Everyone is invited to join. Permission slips are available in the main office and are due back in the main office by this Friday. The reason for the quick turn around is that we'd like the group to participate in the St. Clair Santa Parade on Friday, November 18th. Participation in the parade isn't mandatory for the committee members. We hope that everyone interested will get involved and hep make a difference.

Daylight Savings

2011-11-07T10:03:00.002-05:00

Boy it's nice to have it lighter earlier in the morning. Of course, getting dark around 5:30 pm is no fun......... I feel like I should be gong to bed around 7:30. I like the change but my body clock is going to take some time getting used to it.

Thursday, November 10th, is a Half Day

2011-11-07T08:05:00.003-05:00

This Thursday, November 10th, is a half day for all district elementary and middle schools. We will be running hours 1, 2 and 3. School will be dismissed at 11:48.

6th Grade - Just the Facts Program

2011-11-04T10:19:00.003-04:00

8th Grade T-Shirts/Sweatshirts

2011-11-03T15:15:00.003-04:00

If your 8th grader missed out on the class t-shirts/sweatshirts, or got a t-shirt and wanted a sweatshirt, Mrs. Acre is organizing a second order. Please ask your 8th grader to pick up an order form if they are interested from Mrs. Acre. If you have any questions, please give Mrs. Acre a call or e-mail her at aacre@ecsd.us

Michigan CSI Community Seminar

2011-11-03T15:09:00.002-04:00

Michigan CSI (Cyber Safety Initiative) is offering a free seminar for parents on Tuesday November 15th from 7:00 - 8:00 pm at our Central Office on Meisner Road. Among other things, you'll learn how to access the Michigan Sex Offender Registry, obtain information on parental control software, instructions on how to search and access your child's social networking sites (MySpace/Facebook) and much more. If you have any questions or to RSVP, please call Chris Klecha @ 810-676-1010

Petitions...Need Some Help

2011-11-02T10:58:00.002-04:00

Here’s a newsflash….teachers, principals, bus drivers, school staff members are all human. I know, I know…that takes a little time to sink in. Sometimes we are misunderstood and sometimes we even make mistakes (sometimes we make a lot of mistakes…..of course; I’m speaking of the principal). More times than not, it’s a matter of miscommunication. The reason I bring this up is a couple of times already this year we’ve had students start up petitions for staff members to lose their jobs. I’ll be talking to our students today at lunch to let them know that if they have an issue with a staff member there is a process/proper procedure to follow. Starting a petition is not the way. They can, and should, talk to their parents, talk to a counselor or talk to me (the principal). A petition really doesn’t solve anything and really is more harassing than anything else. Please take a minute to talk to your child about this. As always, if you have any problems or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact any of our staff members or myself.

On a side note....if a petition was started for me to lose my job every time I told a student to get to work, quite down, stop running, take your hat off, keep your hands to yourself, or just gave a student "that look", I could insulate my house with all the paper.

Our Dress Code

2011-11-02T09:37:00.003-04:00

My computer skills are almost out of control. Here is something I'm thinking about having printed on shirts. If you need a way to read this (and you have a smart phone), the app I downloaded is called "RedLaser". It's free (of course the phone or the monthly fees aren't, but the app is free)

ABC Meeting Monday November 7th

2011-11-02T07:03:00.002-04:00

Our ABC (Anti Bullying Committee) Meeting is this Monday, November 7th at 3:30. I encourage anyone that is interested to attend. Currently, we have a very good thing going with our efforts and hope to keep the momentum going. Meetings last no longer than an hour. Please help spread the word to anyone that is interested. We'll plan on meeting in the Media Center. Hope to see you there.

Halloween Car Etiquette

2011-11-01T07:25:00.003-04:00

Great night last night for Halloween. Had a ton of kids stop by the house, some current students, some former students and a bunch of future students. It's always funny to see the reaction to some when they see me on the porch handing out candy. For many, it's a look of shock....it's almost like they don't expect to see me living in a real house, that they thought I slept at the school. Anyway...the reason for this post. Last night my oldest son, who was taking around his two little ones around, comes back to the house and asks me if I have bail money. Bail money? Sure...I guess...why? Then he says, "If one more punk kid drives by us doing 35 in the subdivision, I'm going to pull them out of the car and beat the tar out of them". Of course he was half joking (I think...). Here's where you can help. I still remember my dad telling me that I would never be as smart as when I'm 18...once I turn 18 I get a little dumber every day until I get to be his age. I think every parent of a teenager can relate. Parents are just not very bright...if you didn't know that, just ask your teenage child. Even though it might be too late for 16 and 17 year olds to absorb any more knowledge, start planting the seed with 11, 12 and 13 year olds about the importance of watching out for younger kids, being responsible, respect, etc... I'd hate to have of them pulled out of their car to be taught a lesson by someone on the dumber side of life.

This is Pretty Slick

2011-10-30T18:00:00.004-04:00

Know what this is? It's called a QR Code. It takes a special app to read it...for those with a smart phone, it's a free download. This is our student handbook. For anyone that wanted to look something up and didn't have a copy close by, all you'd have to do is to scan this QR code and you'd have our handbook at your disposal.

Sometimes I amaze myself.....(I'm easily amazed)

One More Thing to Worry About

2011-10-28T15:40:00.002-04:00

Not that we don't have enough to worry about. Here is a Channel 4 news clip on how teens are disguising alcohol. Something every parent should watch and be aware of.

http://www.clickondetroit.com/video/29384556/index.html

SCMS Halloween Rules

2011-10-28T07:12:00.002-04:00

It's been a tradition at SCMS for students to wear Halloween costumes to school (if they want to). Here are the rules on costumes. They still have to meet our dress code policies. No short shorts/skirts, no low cut tops, no tank tops, no bellies showing, ya da ya da ya da.....same speech, different day. Also....no weapons of any kind (yes...I know they aren't real but you still can't bring them to school) and no masks that cover the face. Remember, it's a half day on Monday. Students are dismissed at 11:48. Happy Haunting...........

Choir and Band Concerts

2011-10-28T07:08:00.003-04:00

Wow...we've got talented kids. Great Job to Mr. Decker, Mr. Carlson and all of our kids involved in the concerts this week. Even though they were great, the best part is, when we hear them again near Winter Break, you'll be amazed at the improvement. If you missed this round of concerts, please make a point to stop in and see our kids perform. You won't be dissappointed.

Student and Parent Handbook Online

2011-10-26T11:15:00.003-04:00

Got a call from a parent the other day asking if our handbook was online. They had a question that could be answered by looking in the handbook but their student either left it at school or had lost it. I bit my tongue while trying not to laugh at this parent because their child was so irresponsible that they didn't carry our student handbook with them at all times. For those that don't know me yet...that was sarcasm to the nth degree. I'm fairly sure none of my sons brought their handbook home....especially if they got in trouble for something at school and I needed to look at the student code of conduct. Anyway...it is now available on our main website, middle column almost all the way down.

Looking for Part Time Work?

2011-10-25T13:38:00.003-04:00

The East China School District is looking for responsible adults that are interested in being a sustitute bus driver. If interested, please give our Transportation Department a call @ 810-676-1100

Slight Change in Schedule

2011-10-25T13:33:00.003-04:00

Our SCMS Choir performance will be closer to 7:30 than 7:00 to accomodate our 8th grade football game that begins at 6:00 at East China Stadium vs Marine City Middle School. Thanks to Mr. Carlson for having the SCHS Choir perform a few songs first.

SCMS Choir Performance

2011-10-25T07:13:00.003-04:00

If you are looking to hear some talented kids, both SCMS and SCHS's Choirs will be performing at the PAC tonight. Mr. Carlson does a fantastic job. I guarantee you'll be impressed. 7:00 pm tonight (Tuesday, October 25th)

Come On...........

2011-10-24T12:16:00.002-04:00

It's hard to read the title the way I want it read. You sort of have to drag out both words in almost a whinny tone. You'll understand after you read below.

My wife and I were gone this weekend. When we got home Sunday we found our son and daughter in-law both on seperate couches and sick. I mean, really sick. The Flu has invaded our house. Luckily, our grandson didn't have it...until this morning. I'm hoping we missed the infectious phase and it'll miss us. Come on...........(insert whinny tone).... I don't want to catch the flu.

Free Speech vs Inappropriate Speech

2011-10-24T11:30:00.003-04:00

Need some help. We seem to have an increase with the number of written assignments that are being turned in that, in one way or another, is bashing someone. Sometimes it's a classmate, sometimes it's a teacher and, believe it or not, sometimes it's the principal. When I talk to students about this, one of the first things they almost always bring up is the right of free speech. Now, where free speech is a right, at school, we draw the line in certain areas. Calling someone fat, ugly and stupid is just inappropriate, regardless of how you feel (besides....I'm not fat). Writing how terrible a staff member is, or that the principal should be fired (or as I like to call it, retire early), shouldn't be part of an assignment that they are turning in. Today at lunch I'm going to talk to the students, try to explain the difference and let them know it's inappropriate for school. It really falls under our Anti-Bullying program. Any help at home...as always...is greatly appreciated.

Fall Band Concerts

2011-10-24T10:25:00.002-04:00

Our Fall Band Concerts are here. 7th and 8th Grade Bands will perform on Thursday, Oct 27 at 7 pm in our gym.

Our 6th Grade Band's First Performance next week Wednesday, Nov 2 at 7 pm in our gym.

If you get a chance, please try to stop by. It is absolutely amazing how talented our kids are and....here's the biggy....the amount of improvement you'll see the next time they preform.

Student Council Application

2011-10-24T09:48:00.002-04:00

Now that we have the start of school, Washington DC Trip and the MEAP behind us, we are starting our Student Council membership process. I can not begin to express my thoughts on Student Council and the benefits that is allows for our students. I really, really, really encourage all students to get involved. There will be an informational meeting on October 26th right after school in the Choir room. The meeting should only be about 15 minutes long. If the student can't attend the meeting, they just need to make sure they turn in their application tot he main office by November 2nd. The applications are available in the main office and require a parent signature. If they miss the deadline (hard to believe that a middle schooler might miss a deadline) and still want to join, they can by attending 3 consecutive meetings to be considered for membership. If you have any questions, please contact one of the advisers, Mrs. McDonell or Mr. Carlson

Dress Code (Again)

2011-10-20T07:50:00.002-04:00

Have I mentioned that I HATE this part of my job? For those that don't understand why I hate it are either a female and have never looked at it from a male's perspective or someone that is out of touch with the reality of the society we live in.....or.....I'm totally over reacting (or maybe all of the above). We have a number of female students that are wearing tops that are cut too low. It may not be too low when they leave the house, but trust me, when they get to school the tops slide down. I try not to look for it...honestly. I really don't want to be known as that old guy who is always looking at the middle school girls. I need some help. Please talk to your daughters. Dads....remember how your mind worked back when you were in middle school. There is absolutely nothing wrong with sweatshirts and turtle necks.

OK....I'm done ranting. Thanks for your help.

Anti Bullying Committee

2011-10-19T08:52:00.002-04:00

Looking for parents that are interested in being part of our Anti-Bullying Committee this year. Meetings are typically once a month and last an hour. Our next meeting will be November 7th at 3:30 in our main conference room (in the main office). All interested parents are invited to attend.

Current 7th Graders/Washington DC Trip

2011-10-19T08:49:00.002-04:00

Had a couple parents ask about next year's Washington DC trip worried that they might of missed a meeting already. We'll be having an informational meeting after the first of the year regarding the trip, the cost, fundraisers, etc. I promise that it will be all but impossible for you to miss the reminders of when the meeting will be.

One More MEAP Day

2011-10-18T12:04:00.003-04:00

Wednesday is our last MEAP day (it's hard to type with the tears in my eyes). Typically the last day is the toughest day, not because of the material but because the kids are tired of taking tests. If there is anything you can do at home to stress the importance to doing your best and finishing strong it would be greatly appreciated. Obviously those are two traits that go waaaaaaaaaaaaay past taking the MEAP. I'll do my best Jedi mind trick on the student body tomorrow morning but my powers are limited when it's applied on a large group.

May the force be with us (I wonder how many of our students have any idea where that came from or what a Jedi mind trick is?)

Driver Ed 101

2011-10-17T08:55:00.005-04:00

Another non-school related topic. Ever try to do the right thing and have it make things worse? I was out and about this weekend on the expressway in the right hand lane when a truck was merging onto the expressway. I went to move over, checked my blind spot, saw a car was there and ended up having to put on my brakes and swerving a bit to let the truck in. Being an ex-drivers ed teacher, I know I should of slowed down or switched lanes before the last minute and then this would of been a non-issue. Knowing that, I caught up to the truck, pulled along side, made eye contact, pointed at myself and mouthed "Sorry...My Fault". The driver of the truck proceeded to give me a number of hand gestures and used language directed at me that would make a sailor blush. Again...I just pointed at myself and tried to mouth "MY FAULT"....which I think just made him madder. If you happen to hear an uncle or grampa, or brother or neighbor talking about someone on the expressway that wouldn't let them in and how angry he was, pass on my apology. Life's too short.

Wednesday Afternoon Bus Incident

2011-10-13T10:50:00.003-04:00

Just a heads up because I know how rumors take on a life of their own. Last night after school I got a phone call that one of our transfer buses was having an issue at Gearing Elementary. Allegedly a middle school student on the bus had some drugs and threw it out the window at Gearing. The police were called, found what was thrown out the window (it wasn't drugs) and handed the problem over to me to handle. We are handling the problem.

Just in case you heard something different.

Not School Related/It's Kid Related

2011-10-13T06:57:00.003-04:00

The St. Clair City Recreation Commission is looking for a few board members. The qualifications are pretty simple, you have to like kids and you have to live within the city limits of St. Clair. The current board is made up of extremely intelligent, personable and good looking members (yes....I'm on the board). Meetings are once a month and never last more than an hour. If interested, please contact Trice Hawkins, Recreation Director at 810-329-7121

SCMS American Flag

2011-10-12T11:32:00.002-04:00

I always say, excuses are like noses...everyone has them. Yesterday I was outside at the end of the day and a parent came up to me and pointed out our American Flag. It looked terrible. Worn and tattered. Here comes the excuse.....I had no idea. I get to school around 6:15 every morning (it's still dark outside) and I never bothered to look up and notice the flag. Now that it's been pointed out to me...I feel like an idiot....it's being replaced today. If you ever have a suggestion or comment that will help me out (so I don't look like an idiot), please don't hesitate to let me know. For those that know me....I can use all the help I can get.

Parent Challenge........

2011-10-11T13:58:00.004-04:00

I've heard from a number of parents how much they like this Blog....quick, easy and fast info on a variety of topics (some of the topics are absolutely senseless but you take the good with the bad). I tend to agree. This is a great way to get information out to parents. I just wish more parents would get into the habit of reading it. Here's my parent challenge. I'd like every person who reads this to encourage 3 other parents to read it and to encourage 3 other parents and so on and so on....like a pyramid scheme without having to worry about going to jail. Hopefully we can get the word out.

Anti-Bullying Activity...Day 1

2011-10-11T13:28:00.002-04:00

On each of our 4 MEAP days we will be doing an Anti-Bullying Activity in the afternoon. Today we started with a review of our definition of bullying, having students identify specific aspects of their character and write affirmations about themselves. Please take a minute to discuss this activity with your child. My guess is that different kids will give totally different responses as to what they got out of this and all the anti-bullying activities. A response of "nothing....it was stupid...." or anything else along those lines doesn't mean the activity was a failure. Many kids use that kind of response as a defense mechanism when talking about a topic that makes them uncomfortable....which could be pretty much anything with middle school aged kids talking to their parents. With those kids, we're planting a seed that will take hold when they mature a little. Hang in there and keep trying to keep the communication lines open as best you can.

MEAP Tips

2011-10-11T07:49:00.003-04:00

This was passed on to me by a parent (thanks Lisa Bondy)...pretty basic but valuable tips.

http://www.metroparent.com/Metro-Parent/October-2011/MEAP-Test-Taking-Tips-for-Kids/

The MEAP...Pulling Out All Stops

2011-10-11T06:55:00.003-04:00

The MEAP is here. One of my favorite times of the year. OK...that was a lie. I really dislike this time of year and here is why. We have GREAT kids, a GREAT staff and every year we get one shot at a supposed measuring stick for how we are doing....and our MEAP scores over the years have been very, very good. Our kids get to take a test that at times lasts over 2 hours in an environment that they are not used to. We don't give tests during the regular school year that last over 55 minutes...few schools do. Our kids aren't used to that. Because of the rules that we have to follow, there is an excellent chance that our kids won't be taking their Math MEAP with their Math Teacher...or their Writing MEAP with their ELA Teacher. But....it is what it is. If our students can walk away with anything from the Middle School, I hope they walk away with knowing that life isn't always fair but you play the cards you've been dealt and do the best you can. My goal for the MEAP is to get our kids to give their best from start to finish. Many times with the length of the tests, kids give up. With that in mind, we are providing gum and hard candies to our students during the test. What???? What in the world does that have to do with anything (I can read people's minds when they read my blog...it's a gift). The latest brain research says that chewing stimulates the brain and helps concentration. I'm not against using any Jedi mind trick if it helps our scores.

May the force be with us

Being Old Has its Benefits

2011-10-10T06:57:00.002-04:00

I became a Grampa for the 4th time over the weekend. Margret Louise (Maggie Lou), 8 lbs, 13 oz with lots of black hair. Everyone is doing great.

Life is good...........

Box Tops

2011-10-06T09:10:00.002-04:00

SCMS will be collecting Box Tops in our first hour classes during the week of Oct 17th-21st. Neimans is donating a donut party to the first hour class that collect that most Box Tops. SCMS earns ten cents for each Box Top collected when we redeem them through Box Tops for Education. We will be having another drive in the Spring, so please continue to clip and save your box tops all year long.

Parking Lot Cluster

2011-10-06T07:39:00.004-04:00

Need some help. Our dismissal after school has turned into a mess. Watching our students leave the building is like watching a horror movie, when they turn the lights on and all the cockroaches scatter. We've got kids crossing between buses, cutting across the parking lot in front of school, cutting across the lawn headed toward Pug road, etc. It seems were ever I am standing, things are running pretty smoothly, but I can see if I'm not there, students are taking the path of least resistance. In all honesty, it's an accident waiting to happen. At the end of the day today I'm going to make an announcement regarding general safety and the areas that students are allowed to cross. Basically, students can cross the driveway in two areas. Straight behind the school leading to the bike path that connects to the Highlands/River Ridge/River Point and also directly East of our building, in line with our Gym, there is a crosswalk painted on the asphalt that leads to a walkway that connects to the bike path toward Pug Road. I'm also going to ask that parents do not pick up students in the front circle loop/parking area. Cutting between buses, cars picking up kids and leaving while other kids are trying to get to their parents is a bad mix. If you are picking up your student, please park along the curb or in the main/large parking lot on the East side of the building. Your help is greatly appreciated.

MEAP Info and Incentive

2011-10-05T10:37:00.003-04:00

As you may or may not of heard, the MEAP has changed their "cut scores" this year. What this means in layman terms, the bar or level to be considered proficient has been raised. For example, if we apply our last year scores to the new "cut scores" SCMS's 6th grade class was at a 94% proficient level...this year it would be a 64% proficient level. Quite a differnce. The reason I bring this up is three fold. First, it's good information for all parents to have so you're not caught off guard when you get your child's scores back. Secondly, every year we have a number of kids that don't give their best effort from start to finish. Lets be honset....our kids aren't used to taking tests that last more than an hour. We see it every year that kids tail off toward the end of the test. Our goal this year, as it is every year is to finsh strong. Lastly, telling kids to finish strong and do their best doesn't always work so I've come up with a "carrot" that I hope will help keep them focused. If we get our Math and Reading scores at every grade level to a minimum of 70% we will have an assembly when we get the results back, choose one student to come out to center court and shave my head in front of everyone. If we get every student to do their best from start to finish, I'm hoping that I'll be looking for hats to wear.

One Month Down

2011-10-04T14:04:00.002-04:00

Wow...one month already in our rear view mirror and it was a GREAT first month. Looking back at some of the changes we made and things we accomplished in this first month makes me feel pretty good about where we are....actually, I feel great about were we are, I'm just thrilled that with everything going on that I didn't mess things up. Here's a partial list of some of the tings we had going on the first month of school:

Saints Day...huge change that allowed out school to get off to a great start.
New Responsibility Program being piloted in the 6th grade
Washington DC trip for our 8th graders
Open House
School wide Magazine Sale
Got our very successful Anti-Bullying Committee back up and running
Preparing for the MEAP
Instituted a SSR/IT block of time
Smartboards in every classroom (wow...that's a biggie) Hats off to the staff, we are really taking off with this new technology.

All in all...I think I've said this already....we've been dealt a great hand this year with the students at SCMS. Looking forward to Month #2

Parent Connect Problems?

2011-10-04T13:55:00.002-04:00

Parent Connect is an awesome tool that I'd like everyone to take advantage of. With that said, every year we have a few parents that have issues with Parent Connect. Either your computer won't connect, you forgot your password, your child has no grades in any of their classes, or about a thousand other possible bumps in the road happen when you try to take advantage of it. When this happens you have two choices. You can call me, which will be of zero help, or you can go to the East China School District website (http://www.ecsd.us/), click on "Parent Resources", then click on "Parent Connect". Once there, select "Onlne Help Request Form" and you'll be on your way to fixing the problem.

May the force be with you.........

Lions Day

2011-10-03T09:53:00.002-04:00

Well....we've had Wolverine Day, Spartan Day and Tigers Day. Since they're 4-0 (who would of thought) and they have a Monday Night game coming up, we're going to make next Monday a Lions Day. Staff and students are encouraged to wear their Lions shirts/jerseys/hats next Monday, October 10th.

Anti Bullying Committee

2011-09-30T07:10:00.002-04:00

As most of you hopefully know, SCMS stated a very successful Anti-Bullying campaign last year. A piece of that was an Anti-Bullying Committee made up of teachers, parents, counselors and administrators. We've had a bit of a turnover with parents leaving us for SCHS and are looking for a few more members. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please shoot me an e-mail. Our meetings are right after school from 3:30 to 4:30 and we'll meet around 6 times a year. Even if you can't make the meetings, we still want everyone to be involved and active in our efforts to rid our community from Bullying. From time to time, I'll be posting some of our activities on this Blog that we could use some help with. As we all know, this is an uphill battle that isn't just a school issue. Bullying is everywhere and we need as much help as we can get.

Tough Stuff....

2011-09-30T07:02:00.002-04:00

Tough Stuff is a discussion geared toward parents of teenagers in grades 8th through high school on what parents need to know about depression, warning signs of suicide and how teens express grief after loss. It's free and open to the community. It is being held at Pine Shores Golf Club on Tuesday, October 25th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. As a parent, we all have worries and concerns. This is an excellent opportunity to gather some important information and ask questions to some of our local area experts. Please make an effort to attend.

Detroit Tiger Day

2011-09-29T09:06:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow (Friday, September 30th) we are having a Detroit Tiger Day at SCMS. Students and staff are encouraged to wear their Tiger gear as they start the playoffs. This is shaping up to be a GREAT sports year for us. World Series, Superbowl, Stanley Cup......

Half Day Tuesday

2011-09-27T07:31:00.002-04:00

Tuesday, September 27th, we will be having a half day for teacher professional development. We will be running hours 1, 2 and 3 with the school day for students being over at 11:48.

Missing Assignments

2011-09-26T07:05:00.002-04:00

We've changed the process we've used to handle missing assignments a tad this year. In the past, every day I would post a list of every student that had a missing assignment in our cafeteria. Any student with two or more missing assignments on Thursday would be assigned Saturday School unless they got those assignments turned in by Friday. Any student that could make Saturday School would have lunch time homework help the following week. This year we have instituted a block of time within our schedule called SSR/IT (sustained silent reading/intervention time). Now instead of posting a list in the cafeteria, I'm e-mailing out a list to the staff first hour of everyone in their first hour that is missing an assignment. Staff reminds the student of what still needs to be done and during SSR/IT they are given an opportunity to complete the assignment. This is still in the beginning stages but so far it seems to be working well. As this process continues to evolve, we could still incorporate Saturday Schools for those students that seem to need more dedicated time to get caught up with their work. If you have any questions on the process, please don't hesitate to contact me.

EMS at SCMS Wednesday Morning

2011-09-21T09:20:00.002-04:00

Knowing how rumors get started and snowball, I thought it would be a good idea to let people know that we had the EMS at our school this morning. During a fire drill, around 9:00, one of our staff members began to feel light headed and ended up sitting down on the sidewalk. She never blacked out and was in good sprits (and joking). We called EMS to be safe.

Washington DC....Done.

2011-09-20T06:57:00.004-04:00

Another DC trip is behind us and it couldn't of gone better. It seems every year after the trip is done I wonder why I worry so much. Two quick things regarding the trip.
First, if you have a 6th or 7th grader, start making plans. It is an absolutely AWESOME trip...but it is expensive. Through fundraisers (which I realize, no one likes to do) it is very possible to cut a third to a half of the cost of the trip off. For current 7th graders, we'll be having an information meeting after the first of the year.
Secondly/Lastly...huge thanks to Mrs. Rutledge, Mrs. Barker and all the parent chaperones. To say we couldn't do this trip with out you would be an understatement. Thanks for helping to make memories for your kids that will last a life time

8th Graders Not Going to DC

2011-09-16T15:06:00.000-04:00

Yes.....you do have school Monday.