Choir and Band Concerts

Why is it year after year I am continually amazed every time I see our kids perform? You'd think after 20 years of seeing these concerts I'd get used to it. Nope. Last night, once again, I'm reminded at what talented kids we have. Hats off to everyone and a special pat on the back to our Band Director Mr. Decker and Choir Director Mrs. Schultz-Zydek. GREAT job.

DC Fundraiser, Round 1

Our 7th grade Achatz Pie Fundraiser has concluded and it was a huge success. On average, everyone that participated saved approximately $80 off their trip. We had eight students that saved over $150 and two students that saved over $200. Not bad for a few hours of work. We'll be having another fundraiser in the Spring. Don't forget that the deadline to register, and the first payment of $125 is due on February 5th. It's an AWESOME educational trip.

Recalled H1N1 Vaccine

The St. Clair County Health Department reports today that no doses of the H1N1 vaccine recently recalled by Sanofi Pasteur were administered to anyone at vaccination clinics conducted at any community location or at the Health Department. None of the recalled lots was distributed to any local provider by the Health Department.

Ski Club Update

I had the wrong phone number...oops. I corrected it and updated the Blog below by adding Mrs. Werden's e-mail address.

Trying Something New

As most of you know, we have a No Zero policy at SCMS. Despite all of our efforts....phone calls home, Lunchtime Homework Help, Parent Connect, etc....some kids find themselves behind the eight ball with missing assignments and have a heck of a time getting caught up. On Tuesday, January 5th when we get back from Winter Break, we are going to having a Homework Recovery Session from 3:30 to 5:50 in our cafeteria for students with multiple missing assignments. Some students are going to be required to attend and they'll be receiving a letter home this week with their invitation. The one way a student can opt out of this session is if they complete all of their missing work over Winter Break and turn it in on Monday morning, January 4th. Our goal is to make this a positive experience, improve grades, get organized and back on top of their assignments. If your son or daughter doesn't receive an invite, but has missing assignments and you'd like them to stay, they are more than welcomed. Our NJHS kids will be on hand to help if needed.

Another Round of H1N1 Shots

The East China School District received notice this week that the St. Clair County Health Department will be conducting a FREE H1N1 Vaccination Clinic at the Pine River Elementary School Gymnasium from 2:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 for our students and community members. Initial H1N1 vaccinations will be available, as well as the follow up vaccination for children under 10 years old who have been vaccinated at least 28 days prior.

Since your child does not attend Pine River Elementary School, you may bring your child there to be vaccinated (nasal flu mist or shot, per discretion of St. Clair County Health Department staff) from 3:45-7:00 p.m., along with the completed 2-sided document titled St. Clair County Health Department MCIR Season Influenza / H1N1 Scan Form (SF7) / Consent Form. Those forms are being sent home with your child. Choosing to be vaccinated or to have your child vaccinated is strictly on a voluntary, non-mandatory basis.

The hours of 2:00-3:45 p.m. are designated for students who attend the clinic site school and the hours of 3:45-7:00 p.m. are designated for students whose parents wish to be present during the vaccination and for adults of any age in our community.

Consult the website www.stclaircounty.org/offices/health for more information about the clinics and/or the H1N1 virus.

Ski Club

Wooooooooooo...is it cold outside, which means it's times to strap boards to our feet and fly down a mountain. The Ski Club is planning it's first trip to Mt Holly next Friday. Mrs. Werden (Penny) did a great job for us last year and is in charge of the club again this year. She will be at all lunches on Monday to answer questions, pass out forms, etc. for the kids. Parents are always needed to help drive the kids over. If you have any questions, or want to purchase your ski club card early so you can go to Mt. Holly this weekend, please give Penny a call at 326-1995 or e-mail her at penwerden@hotmail.com

It's really a great deal.

Read Only if You're Old

Everyone that is going through a mid-life crisis will be able to relate to this. In my ongoing fight to prevent myself from growing old, looking old and feeling old, a very good friend told me I should try yoga. At first I laughed at the idea....I mean, come on, I was sort of an athlete back in the day. I couldn't see myself sitting on a cliff with my legs crossed, eyes shut and hands to each side making a circle with my thumb and index fingers. He convinced me that wasn't the way yoga was and that it was quite a workout. He told me of a show on Comcast that airs at 6:00 a.m. called Inhale. After a few weeks of thinking about it (and receiving my AARP card in the mail), I decided to give it a try. Because I usually leave the house around 6:15, I DVR'd a couple of shows. Well, after a couple of weeks of doing it I can't begin to tell you how humbling a workout yoga is. After 25 minutes (I haven't even come close to being able to do the whole hour yet), sweat is pouring off me.....and I no longer refer to it as yoga. I call it modga (modified yoga). Those people twist and stretch their bodies in ways and directions that I will never be able to accomplish. Made me think of the time I got stuck climbing into the back of my Jeep and how much easier that adventure would of been if I had been doing modga. Anyway...if you're feeling old, I highly suggest the 6:00 a.m. Inhale show. It's a great workout and, for the majority of us, it gives us a chance to laugh at ourselves.

Science Olympiad Reminder

Just a reminder that the first Science Olympiad meeting, for parents and students, is this Wednesday, December 9th @ 6:30 p.m. in the media center

Monday's Thoughts

What a great weekend...although I've come to the conclusion that there is absolutely no getting ahead of the Holidays. No matter how much I've done, there still seems to be more to decorate, more to buy, more to eat.....by mid-January I'm going to be exhausted, broke and fat.

Couple of quick things....

Everyone is well aware of the tough times our area is going through...some, unfortunately, are right in the middle of it. As in the past, I continue to be amazed at our kids and their generosity...which obviously is a direct result of their parents. We currently have a canned food and a toys for tots drive going on. I could not be more proud of the donations that we are receiving...especially in the tough economic times that we are going through. Great Job.

We are now in the single digits until Winter Break. If ever there was a time for a short term goal, now is the time. Typically, before breaks is when kids will start to slack just a tad. Any help you can give at home to keep them focused and on track will be greatly appreciated.

Enjoy the week

Parent Presentation on Teen Grieving

As a parent we all go through it whether it's a grandparent, neighbor or friend. At some point in our lives, someone close to us passes away. Everyone handles these situations differently and many of us, especially our children, don't know how to handle it...which is completely understandable and normal.

In response to the student losses that we have had at SCHS and MCHS recently, we are sponsoring a presentation for helping teens work through grief on Monday, December 7, at 7:00 in the St. Clair High School Media Center. Our target group for this meeting is parents. Sue McElreath will be our presenter and talk to parents about the stages of grieving, what to look for in your child and strategies to help them work through their grief.

Please feel free to spread the word to other parents that you may be talking to over the next couple of days.

Time to roll up the sleeves

Recover from the Thanksgiving food coma yet? Got your Holiday shopping done? 14 days until Winter Break....this year is flying by. We have a number of missing assignments that need to be made up. My goal is to clear up the majority of these assignments as well as get the kids to buy into the short goal strategy leading into break. This is a GREAT dinner conversation to see if your child has any missing assignments and stress the importance of staying on top of things leading into Winter Break. Over the next few days I'm going to try to call home to those that are missing multiple assignments. Any help, as always, is greatly appreciated.

Meijer Community Rewards "Code"

Hopefully, when you attended PTC, you picked up an application for the Meijer's Community Rewards Program. What I didn't include or make available with the applications is the code number for SCMS.....well, here it is: 859270

If you missed the stack of applications, we have more in our office.

Enjoy Turkey Day

Youth Wrestling is being offered through our City Rec

As you might know, SCMS started a wrestling program last year that competes with other area middle schools. A feeder program to ours is the Youth Wrestling Program offered through our City Rec Department. Below is some information.

Registration On-Going!!!
YOUTH WRESTLING
Boys & Girls grades 3 – 6
A safe and enjoyable introduction to “collegiate” style wrestling. Intro to various methods of strength, agility and speed training. Member of the Mid-Michigan Youth Wrestling Association. Volunteers needed.


Open House – December 14th on-site registration accepted. Learn more about the program and sport of wrestling. Come ready to join-in or observe.

Coaches David Denny & Parent/Teen Volunteers
Duration Dec 14, 2009 - February 24, 2010
No Program Dec 21-31, Feb 15
Days/Time Mon & Wed, 6:00-8:00pm
Facility St. Clair Middle School Aux Gym – 4335 Yankee
Fee $45.00 per participant
(Family Rate $65.00 for 2, $90.00 3 or more)

For more information contact:
City of St. Clair Recreation
547 N. Carney Drive, St. Clair, MI 48079
810.329.7121
www.cityofstclair.com

PTC...Does It Get Any Better?

Woooo Hoooo...my favorite time of year. Parent Teacher Conferences. Two days of going full speed for 14 hours straight. Couple of quick things.....

We're making a big push to get all missing assignments turned in. This mini-break is a great time to tie up any lose ends and get those assignments turned in. We have two very manageable chunks of time when we get back until the Marking Period/Semester is over....short term goals....

Conferences on both days go from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm, then 5:15 pm until 8:00 pm.

Along with information regarding Ski Club and our SCMS Science Olympaid Team, I'll have out some information on the Meijer's Reward Program. It basically gives SCMS a small kickback for every time you shop at Meijers. Please take a minute and look it over.

If you get a chance, stop and say hi. I'll be the big guy wandering around looking like he has nothing to do.

Hope to see everyone at PTC and if I don't have a great Thanksgiving.

Representatives Contact Info

As all of you know, the State of Michigan is going through a very difficult time. Every family in our district has been effected in one way or another. I could go on and on regarding the funding of education and how it is effecting our most valuable resource but I do not want to use this Blog for political reasons. With that said, I've had a number of parents ask for contact information for our state representatives. Below is the info.....

Contact Information

Dan Acciavatti 517-373-8931 danielacciavatti@house.mi.gov

Lansing Office Mailing Address: N0796 House Office Building P.O. Box 30014Lansing, MI 48909-7514


Phil Pavlov 517-373-1790 phillippavlov@house.mi.gov

Lansing Office Mailing Address: S1185 House Office Building P.O. Box 30014Lansing, MI 48909-7514


John Espinoza 517-373-0835 johnespinoza@house.mi.gov

Lansing Office Mailing Address: S1187 House Office Building P.O. Box 30014Lansing, MI 48909-7514


Jud Gilbert 517-373-7708 SenJGilbert@senate.michigan.gov

Lansing Office Mailing Address:
705 Farnum Building
P.O. Box 30036Lansing, MI 48909-7536


Senate Majority Leader is Mike Bishop from Rochester. (517) 373-2417
E-mail Address: SenMBishop@senate.michigan.gov

Memorial Service

There will be a memorial service at the Immanuel Lutheran Church on Ninth and Vine @10:00 Saturday, November 21st for the two young SCHS students that lost their lives over the weekend. I wish I had the words to describe how senseless and numbing that tragedy was. The hope is that the memorial service will help our kids find some closure.

Washington DC Trip Info

For those that couldn't make the meeting on Tuesday night (or your memory is like mine), I've posted some details about next year's 8th grade Washington DC Trip on the main page of our SCMS website. Click on the Washington DC Link (lower left hand side). Any questions don't hesitate to give me a call.

Tragic News

We received some very tragic news late last evening regarding the passing of two St. Clair High School students. At this time authorities have requested that the names of these students not be released in print.

It is important to remember that death and loss affects individuals differently. We are, and will continue to, monitor our students’ reactions and connect them with the resources and services available to our school community.

These young people were solid students, excellent citizens, and active members of the student-body. They will be missed by their family, friends, classmates and school community. At this time, our thoughts are with their families in an effort to support their wishes as they address the passing of several of their family members.

If you should have any specific student concerns or need to contact the school, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Monday

Another great weekend to get some stuff done around the house/yard. I did something that I have never done this early before......put my Christmas lights up. Usually I wait until the temp is in the 20's with a strong wind and an icy roof. It feels a tad weird to see the bale of hay and corn stalks on the front porch and then to look up and see the lights on the gutters. I was feeling pretty good about myself, getting ahead of the game, until we went for a walk last night and I saw not only did a bunch of houses have their lights up, but they had them turned on and some had their Christmas trees up in their front windows (???). Seriously.....just when I thought I was a trend setter.

Anyway....big night tomorrow night (Tuesday) for 7th graders and their parents. We have our Washington DC meeting. If you're a 7th grade parent please make every effort to attend. It's a GREAT trip that we want every 8th grader to experience.

Have a great week

Adopt-A-Stream Program

After school on October 29th, seven SCMS 6th graders from Girl Scout troop 50138 participated in the 4H Adopt-A-Stream program. They chose a section of Jordan Creek that runs through the western edge of SCMS property.

They tested the water for phosphates (none), nitrates (none), and dissolved oxygen content (very low, which is good). They also picked up some trash, and identified wildlife. They learned that some of the insects and other water creatures that they found are relatively intolerant to pollution, which indicates a good water quality here.

The girls really took pride in caring for the environment outside their school. Girls were: Abby Barker, Ally DiNardo, Elizabeth Ellery, Nicole Hicks, Heather Kook, Lauryn Trombley, and Whitney Westrick.

Awesome Job Gals.....

Happenings for the Week of November 16th - 20th

Couple things happening next week that I'd like to get the word out on. First is our Washington DC meeting for all 7th graders and their parents. Even if you don't think it's for you, please come to the meeting and hear what the trip entails. Talk to any parent/student that has been on the trip and they'll tell you what an awesome educational experience it is. The meeting is at 7:00 pm in our cafeteria and won't last more than an hour. It's very informative and will answer all the questions that you might have about the trip. Hope to see everyone there.

On Wednesday, November 18th, we have scheduled the live performance "WORD" for all 7th grade students in our cafeteria. WORD takes on an incident of bullying and examines it from 3 different perspectives...the victim, the bully and a witness. It's an excellent performance/lesson for our 7th graders to see.


Bookfair sales for students Thursday/Friday the 19th/20th in the media center, and Book Fair sales during P/T Conferences on Monday/Tuesday 23rd/24th. Anyone interested in volunteering to help with the Book Fair should telephone Mr. Bialk @ 810.676.1806.

On Friday, November 20th, MCHS has invited our 6th graders (and our 8th grade drama students) down to the Performing Arts Center to see a presentation of "The Brothers Grimm". We have had an opportunity to see high school performances before and they always do an excellent job....actually, they do an amazing job. I have been told that this particular play is extremely middle school appropriate (in other words the jokes are silly). MCHS has asked for a $2 donation from each student if possible, although no one will be turned away. East China buses will be transporting the students to and from for this performance.

Enjoy the weekend....looks like another good one

Blog Check

I was at an Administrative Meeting this morning and our Director of Technology asked me if our Blog was effective. After giving it some thought I came to the conclusion that I'm really enjoying this but I have no idea how many people are reading it. I know there are 21 "Followers" (not sure what that means other than they signed up) but I also know I've had comments from people that have read the Blog that aren't on the Follower's list. If you get a second, would you please send me an e-mail at malley@ecsd.us just letting me know you check the Blog every now and then.

Thanks

SCMS Students Come Through Again....

Our National Junior Honor Society held a PJ/Hat Day today to raise money to help a school family in need. The cost was $1 to wear PJ's (school appropriate of course) or a hat, or both in some cases. $357 was raised and will be given to the family that is going through a very tough time.

Great Job NJHS

Monday's Thoughts

What a great weekend to get things done. I finally can fit two cars in our garage...there is absolutely no guarantee how long this will last but I'm all about celebrating small victories.

Couple of quick things. Tuesday, November 10th (tomorrow) we have a half day. This is only for the Elementary and Middle Schools within our district. If you have a high schooler don't let them tell you they have a half day too.

Boys' basketball tryouts start today, 3:30 - 5:30, not tomorrow on our half day but then continue on Wednesday, 11/11 and Thursday, 11/12 - 3:30 - 5:30 PM.

Next Tuesday, November 17th we are having our Washington DC parent/student meeting for all 7th graders. If you have a 7th grader, please make every effort to attend....it is an awesome educational experience.

Next Friday we have the opportunity to send all of our 6th graders and our Drama Class to see a MCHS production of "The Brothers Grimm". We've been able to see some performances in the past and they always do a great job. This particular play is geared toward middle school age kids. MCHS is asking for a $2 donation per kid for those that can afford it. Those donations can be turned into their ELA teacher.

More later as things cross my mind....have a great week.

Next Year's Washington DC Trip

In a nutshell, it is an AWESOME trip that we want every 8th grader to experience. Tuesday, November 17th @ 7:00 pm in our cafeteria we will be having an information meeting for all current 7th graders and their parents which will give you an opportunity to ask questions and to sign up for next year's trip.

Wednesday's Thoughts

Washington DC Trip....check, MEAP...check, H1N1 shots....check, Successful Volleyball and Football Seasons....check and check, First Marking Period...almost check, Garage cleaned at home....not even close to a check....(maybe this weekend)

Hard to believe that the school year, come Friday, is a quarter over. The next Marking Period is a great Marking Period because it's broken into very do-able segments (is do-able a word?). We have from now until Thanksgiving Break, then to Winter Break, then to the end of January and the second Marking Period is over. Three very do-able short term goal segments that I'm going to be stressing to the kids to focus on.

Switching gears and backtracking a tad. As I'm sure you know, we had the H1N1 shots here at the middle school yesterday (Tuesday). Wow....what a GREAT job the Health Department did. They were organized, well staffed, pleasant to deal with and efficient. With the help of our office staff who had all the forms organized ahead of time, they administered shots to 175 of our middle schoolers in 45 minutes. I was told that this was the largest turnout that they have had...roughly 1500 people received either the shot or the nasal spray. Great job to all involved.

The only downside, which was extremely minor, was people parking in the bus loop at the end of the day when the buses were scheduled to arrive. Everyone, with the exception of one man, was very helpful and moved their vehicles to a parking spot. To the one man who refused and barked at me....lighten up. Life's too short.

Have a great rest of the week........

Biddy Basketball 5th and 6th Grade Update

BIDDY BASKETBALL UPDATE 5 & 6 GRADE ONLY
Separate Boys & Girls Program
Added Friday Night Games & Date Changes
8wk Program

5-6 GRADE BOYS
Team Formation: November 7, 10:30am
Program: Saturdays, Nov 14 – Dec 12
Tentative Friday practice dates Nov 13, Dec 4


5 & 6 GRADE GIRLS
Team Formation: December 12, 11:00am
Extended registration thru Dec 11
Program: Saturdays, Jan 9 - Feb 6
Tentative Friday practices dates Jan 8, Feb 5

NOTE: NO CHANGES FOR GRADES 1-4, TEAM FORMATION NOVEMBER 7TH
Fee: $45.00, $30.00 resident discount
$5.00 late fee for on-site registration (accepted first day of program only) checks only, no cash

Register at the City of St. Clair Recreation Department – 547 N. Carney Drive
For more information call 810.329.7121

Monday's Thoughts

Pretty good weekend unless you are a football fan. Michigan, Central, MSU and the Lions all took second place. On the bright side, Saturday was a tad chilly but a good day for the ghosts and gouls. We had a pretty good turnout at our house with a number of middle school kids stopping by for treats. It's funny that a good percentage always look amazed to find out that I'm passing out candy. I guess they think that I live at school.

Couple of quick updates....

H1N1 shots on Tuesday. SCMS students from 1:30 (ish) until school gets out then it's open to the public from 4:00 until 8:00. Have your student bring in the completed form (front and back) and they will get the free shot. It's not mandatory and you are more than welcomed to bring them back after 4:00 to get the shot. See one of the what seems like 25 posts below for more information.

Friday is the end of the Marking Period. We are going to spend this week trying to clean up any missing assignments. A great topic to bring up to your kids at dinner is to ask if they have everything turned in.

Tuesday is our last football game of the year vs MCMS at the East China Stadium. Game time is 6:00 pm. We are the visitors this year.

Wednesday is our first dance of the year. It will have a Hawaiian Theme with tickets being $3.00 pre-sale and $5.00 at the door. As is all of our dances, it is for SCMS students only and it goes from 3:15 until 5:00.

Next Tuesday, November 10th, all East China Elementary and Middle Schools will have a half day. Students will be dismissed from SCMS at 11:41.

Have a Great Week.

Another H1N1 Blog

I'll be sooooo happy when the flu season is over.....

We are sending home the permission slips today for the free H1N1 shots that will be given on November 3rd at SCMS. In a nutshell for those that don't want to read the other 25 blogs that I've posted regarding the H1N1, the St. Clair County Health Department will be giving free H1N1 shots on November 3rd from 1:30(ish) to 8:00 at SCMS. From 1:30 until 4:00 it's only for SCMS students. After 4:00 it is open to the community (and it's still free). We need a permission form filled out (front and back) for your child to receive the shot. It is not mandatory that they get the shot and it is perfectly OK to wait until they get home and bring them back to school so you are there when they receive the shot. Students can bring the completed forms and turn them in to our office Monday or Tuesday. Knowing how kids are...I'm going to state the obvious....even though you sign the form, we can not and will not force a child to get the shot (I know, I know...that was obvious. But I do see situations where a student will get up to the front of the line and decide they don't want the shot). Any questions don't hesitate to give me a call.

More H1N1 Info

We have had a few parents call the school wanting to know if we have had any cases of the H1N1. In a nutshell, yes we have had a parent call to let us know that their child (one of our students), has the H1N1. It was bound to happen. Schools and kids getting the flu, despite all of our efforts, seem to go hand in hand. Here are some more facts:

The St. Clair County Health Department has advised local doctors not to test for H1N1 and is not distinguishing between strains of flu. The treatment for this type of flu is the same as any other flu.

If your child shows symptoms of the flu, which may include - sudden onset of illness, chills, headache, stuffy nose, feeling of weakness, fever higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain and/or feeling really tired, he or she should stay home.

In addition, the Health Department recommends that those with a flu-like illness should stay home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, (a fever is considered any temp over 99 degrees) without the use of fever-reducing medicines.

H1N1 Information

Without trying to add any worry or concern (and in some cases panic) concerning the current H1N1 situation, here is some information that everyone should be aware of. Without a doubt, regardless of all the preventative measures we take, SCMS will be hit by the H1N1 virus....just like we get hit by the flu every year. I don't want to make light of it, but I also don't want to over-react. It's a fine line that I walk. Here is some information that I recieved from the St. Clair County Health Department:

Current Recommendations:

Get a seasonal flu shot. Shots are available throughout the community and are our best method of protection against seasonal flu
Anyone in the H1N1 target groups (pregnant woman, children 6 months-24 years, caregivers of children under 6 months, health care workers and those 24-64 with underlying health conditions) should get vaccinated as soon as supplies become available.
Most people with flu like symptoms do NOT need to see their physician.
Make sure you have a thermometer, cold remedies and fever reducers on hand. Supplies can become limited in pharmacies during flu outbreaks
Stay informed by checking the websites listed below as well as local print and radio communications

Personal Protection Reminders:

Ÿ Wash hands often or use alcohol based hand sanitizer
Ÿ Cover coughs and sneezes with tissue or your sleeve
Ÿ Stay home when you are sick (24 hours after fever is gone)
Ÿ Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Ÿ Frequently clean commonly shared surfaces (door knobs, etc.)

Resources for more information:

www.stclaircounty.org/offices/health
www.cdc.gov/h1n1
www.michigan.gov/h1n1

For more information contact:

Susan Amato, Director of Health Education & Planning
810-987-5300 ext. 1510
samato@hd.stclaircounty.org

H1N1 Shots

We have received notice from the St. Clair County Health Department that they will be conducting a flu shot clinic at SCMS on November 3rd. Detailed information will be sent home with students later this week. Additional information may be found at SCC Health Dept website (http://www.stclaircounty.org/Offices/health/)

Monday's Thoughts

What a GREAT Sunday. The weather was great, got to get some stuff done around the house, mowed the grass for probably the next to the last time, went for a bike ride on the new bike path between Brown Street and SCMS and the Lions didn't lose. Coming off weekends like that, I always feel energized. When I get in one of these moods, I start making lists and setting goals. At the top of my list is to clean off my desk, get the Washington DC "stuff" organized for next year (more to come on that soon), start working out and to focus in on our No Zero policy. The way I see it, we have three very manageable chunks of time before the end of the semester. From now until Thanksgiving, from Thanksgiving until Winter Break and from Winter Break until the end of the semester (end of January). My goal is to get the kids to focus on each chunk of time as a short term goal and to break those short term goals into even shorter goals. Lets get every assignment completed and turned in on time this week. Very do-able. This is the time of year that I turn into a cheerleader. We can do it. When you have what seems like your 7 minutes of family time, talking about setting short term goals is a great conversation starter. Cleaning under their bed, picking up after themselves, helping to put away the lawn furniture and getting organized at school are all goals that will help shape them for the future. I know my wife wished the picking up after myself was stressed more when I was younger.....

MEAP is Done and We're Moving Forward

It's a sad day. MEAP is over (with the exception of a few make-ups). It's now time to refocus, roll up the sleeves and get to work. I'm a big believer in short term goals. The students are going to start to get a heavy dose of me talking about setting some short term goals. As everyone knows, we have a No-Zero policy. To talk to the kids about completing every assignment in every class every day until the end of the year would fall on deaf ears. But if we set a short term goal to have in every assignment until Parent Teacher Conferences (one month) that becomes very attainable. The message I'm going to try to send is that anyone can achieve anything if they break it into do-able parts. When I was training for my marathon, if I would of thought about running 26.2 miles I never would of made it. But I knew I could run one mile and that is what I focused on (short term goal). After that mile, I'd set another short term goal...and so on, and so on.... Any help at home in stressing short term goals will help in the long run (get it ... marathon .... long run...). Enjoy the Fall days...it won't be long until we're shoveling the driveway.

Weekly Laugh

I'm starting the think that things in my life are happening to me just so I'l have something to write about in my blog that will put a smile on people's faces. My weekend turned into a three stooges episode when I saw some water on our deck next to our hot tub. I thought it might just be run off from the cover but when I looked inside by the motor I found a slight drip. I tightened the connection and as luck would have it, it went from a drip to a flow. After draining the tub to take the connection apart, replacing the gasket and refilling the tub it starting leaking in two other locations. By this time I was two hours into this and it had become a challenge. After another hour, all the leaks had been fixed. I turned the tub back on and the fuse breaker tripped (over and over). After applying all of my electrical skills, which consisted of me sitting and staring at it (I also kicked the side of the motor), the breaker stilled tripped. For those keeping score...Hot Tub 1, Me 0

SCMS Band and Choir Concert

Last night was our first performance of the year and every year I'm amazed at what talented kids we have....but....what is truly amazing is when we listen to them perform in December how much improvement they've made and how good they sound. It is a tribute to all the hours of practice and the hard work (and patience) of our instructors, Mr. Decker and Ms. Zydek. We are very lucky to have them on our SCMS team. Great Job to everyone last night. If you missed it, put December 17th at the PAC on your calendar. Hope to see everyone there.

Boy's Basketball Tryouts

7th and 8th grade tryouts will be from 3:30 to 5:30 on Monday, November 9th, Wednesday, November 11th and Thursday, November 12th. Please, please, please make sure that all physical and permission slips are turned in prior to tryouts.

MEAP Update

Day one of the MEAP is behind us and I can take a slight breath. It went very smoothly, which from my standpoint is always my biggest worry. It's a tad of a tetris game to fit all the grade levels and parts into a testing window. A typical MEAP day will consist of all three grades taking a test that can have more than one part. The different grade level parts may or may not have the same "suggested" recommended time. The MEAP is not a timed test which adds to puzzle. Our two counselors, Vikki Patterson and Sandy Rutledge along with our building Teacher Consultant, Sue Schweihofer have put countless hours into organizing, sorting and arranging schedules to make this all work. Without them I'd be headed toward a nervous breakdown. With that said, all in all, the kids did great. Three more test days then we get to wait on the results to hopefully find out what we already know...that the students at SCMS are among the best in the state.

MEAP, MEAP, MEAP

Here we go...Tuesday, Thursday, Tuesday, Thursday....MEAP, MEAP, MEAP, MEAP. My favorite time of the year. Our biggest challenge on the MEAP is getting the kids to take their time and finish strong. We have almost zero flexibility on how the MEAP must be administered. The way the MEAP is set up (a large block of time) isn't the way our kids are used to taking tests. Getting them to remain focused and give their best effort toward the end of the test is the trick. We find ourselves slipping out of our educator gear and into our cheerleading outfits. Any and all help you can give us at home to stress the importance of these tests and doing their best is appreciated. Also.....part of the Math MEAP, which is on October 20th, allows students to use a calculator. If your child has a scientific calculator that they know how to use (believe it or not, different scientific calculators work differently) and could bring it to school for that portion of the test it would help us out (make sure it has your name on it).

Need a Laugh?

This weekend I took the soft top off my Jeep and put the hard top on. Monday on my way to Speedy Q to get my morning caffeine I couldn't open up the drivers door from the inside (???) I had to roll down the window, reach outside and open the door. I get to school, call the repair place down the road and they tell me to being it on over. I go out to drive it over and I can't unlock the drivers side or the passenger side door. If the soft top was on I'd just pop off one of the sides and hop in, but with the hard top, it's a tad tougher. So I swung the spare tire out that sits on the back, open up the hatch, look around to make sure no one was watching and climbed in through the back. Being 6'7" made it tough, being 6'7", 50 years old and with a shirt and tie made it a feat that an ordinary man would of given up on. I had legs and arms in all different directions. I honestly got to a point with my lack of flexibility that I didn't think I could get any farther in the Jeep and I couldn't move backwards to get out. A 51 year old never would of made it. Once in the drivers seat, and feeling pretty proud of myself, I realized that the back hatch was open and the spare tire was still swung out which makes it impossible to drive. I tried to open the doors from the inside to take care of it and neither door would open. At this time I started using a vocabulary that would of made my dad proud and forced the passenger door open. To make a long story short (too late) once I got the Jeep to the fix-it-guy, he tells me that the hard top put pressure on some plastic door lock piece on the inside of the door and they broke. The parts are on order and he's going to try to re-align the doors so it doesn't happen again. If anyone had a been driving by with a video camera and saw me, I'm sure I'd be a You-Tube legend by now.

Student Connect

Student Connect is just like Parent Connect but for students (hence the name). Over the next couple of days we'll be passing out instructions, student usernames and passwords last hour. Students are instructed to take the information home and that this was their personal information and that they shouldn't share it with other students. I was pleasantly surprised not to find any sheets lying on the ground in the hallways after school or out by the buses. We did have a few students for what ever reason did not have a username/password and we're working on getting that corrected. If you have any questions, as always, don't hesitate to contact me.

SCMS NJHS

I pride myself on communication but I've drop the ball with our National Junior Honor Society. The plan is to get the organization up and running right after the MEAP tests. Part of the reason for the delay is that we started school later and our plate has been a tad full with other items (Washington DC trip, Student Council, MEAP prep, etc....), that and the fact that last year's advisor, Ms. McComas, was transferred to another building. I'll be talking to the kids today to let them know that they haven't been forgotten and that the NJHS will be up and running soon. Sorry for the confusion.

Worse Sporting Weekend in the History of Mankind

Tigers lose 2 out of 3, the Lions lose, U of M lost (yes the Sparties won), Ohio State won, Notre Dame won, and the Saints lost their Homecoming game. It was a very depressing sports weekend.....but....like everything in life....there is always tomorrow. With that in mind, Tuesday the Tigers have a chance to escape being labeled as the biggest choke job in Major League Baseball history. We are going to make Tuesday, Tigers Day, and ask everyone to wear their Tiger wear (they can use as much help as we can give them).
Changing gears....we are in the middle of our Student Council Officer Elections. The students are campaigning and doing a short speech during our video announcements. The kids are doing an excellent job with the elections being this Friday. Good luck to all.

The problem with e-mail

For those of us that use e-mail constantly, you already know what I'm about to say...and more than likely this has happened to you. E-mail is a great, quick way to communicate...but...and here's the problem with e-mail.....it is so, so, so easy to read tone into an e-mail. When sending or receiving an e-mail to school (or anywhere else for that matter), you've got to fight the urge to read anything into the e-mail. E-mails are great but it will never replace talking to someone. I know when I get an e-mail that has words capitalized and bold, I always feel like the person is YELLING AT ME through the e-mail. I'm a fairly smart guy and usually don't skip words as I read so there is really no need to bold anything. If you are ever in doubt when you receive an e-mail, assume the best and pick up the phone to clear up any misunderstanding.
Life is good.....enjoy the wet weekend

Free Money

That title always gets people's attention.
This happens every year in every school about this time. The newness of school has worn off and students are starting to slide a tad. Please remind your child of the importance of doing their homework and getting it in on time. We have a system that helps the process but it's no substitute for parental involvement. If you are new to our homework referral process, or need a refresher, it can be viewed on my staff webpage http://www.ecsd.us/staff/malley/
As always, your help is greatly appreciated.

SCMS wants our students to show their colors

We have two huge sporting events coming up Friday and Saturday that we'd like to have some fun with. We are encouraging students to wear their maize and blue or green and white on Thursday to support either Michigan or Michigan State as they prepare to play football on Saturday. Friday we'd like everyone to wear red to support the Saints as they play in their Homecoming Game Friday night.

DC Photos

Anyone that would like to share their photos from this year's trip please transfer them to a CD and send them to school. It would be greatly appreciated. My goal is to use Shutter Fly to post the photos and then give access to those photos to everyone who went on the trip. Of course, I have no idea how Shutter Fly works, but my wife does and she tells me that it is painfully simple
On a separate DC note, everyone who attended the DC trip will be getting a group photo. They are being shipped to SCMS. As soon as they arrive, I'll send them home with your student.

Monday's thoughts

The Lions won??? Time to buy a Mega-Millions ticket....anything is possible.
Just a reminder that we have our fist half day of the year on Tuesday, September 29th. Students will attend their first, second and third hour classes and will dismissed at 11:41. Teachers will be involved with in professional development day during the afternoon.
Wednesday is our official count day. A very important day for students to be in school and on time. Of course it goes without saying, if your child is sick to keep them home, but if at all possible your help in getting everyone to school and on time is greatly appreciated.
I'm really liking this Blog. Please spread the word to other parents to check it out. I have received via e-mail a number of good suggestions already this year. Just so everyone is on the same page...any good idea that works out well, I'm going to take full credit for. Any idea that is less than great (even if it was mine), I'll pass on the credit to someone else. For those that don't know me well, I'm just joking (as far as you know).
Have a GREAT week...

SCMS moving toward a Peanut Free Building

Because I'm experienced (a nice way of saying old), I've seen a number of changes over the years, one of which is the number of students at SCMS that are allergic to peanuts and peanut products. As you can imagine, there are varying degrees to the allergic reaction...some are mildly allergic and some are deathly allergic, even to airborne particles. In the past we have handled this by posting signs on classrooms of those students, stating that the classroom is a peanut free classroom. We also have designated tables in the cafeteria for those students to eat. It's gotten to the point where it seems like we have more classrooms that are peanut free than those that are not. To simplify things, we are just going to make SCMS a peanut free school. Now before you Dads push the panic button (PB&J's are the only kind sandwich I know how to make!!!), this only applies to the hallways and classrooms (basically any snacks the kids bring to school or classroom treats that are brought in). It is a tad tricky and you have to look on the label to see if it is cooked in peanut oil, or processed on a machine that also processes peanuts. I guess the rule of thumb would be, if you're in doubt, don't bring it to school. We'll still have designated peanut free tables in the cafeteria for lunch. I'm going to start announcing this new policy today. Your help, as always, is appreciated.

Toosday's Thoughts

The 2009 version of the DC trip is now history...and it was an absolutely awesome trip. I can't begin to thank our parent chaperones enough for their help. 7th grade parents start planning on sending your student next year and if possible, joining us. It really is a trip that will make memories that will last a lifetime.

Student Council applications are due tomorrow, Wednesday, September 23rd. They need to have both sides filled and out with a parent signature.

MEAP testing is right around the corner (October 13th is the first day). Your help in stressing the importance of effort, getting to school on time, having a good breakfast, etc is appreciated.

Our first 8th grade football scrimmage is tonight. Wow...the start of this year has been a blurr.

Remember, if there is anything that is bothering you don't hesitate to pick up the phone. The majority of problems that I deal with result from a lack of, or miscommunication. And usually what makes it worse is time. I know it's happened to me in the past. What starts out being a little thing, I'll think about so much that it becomes a big thing....then I start yelling and look like a fool when I find out that it really was a little thing. Luckily, with my advanced age and experience, it doesn't happen to me much anymore.

Have a GREAT week

Friday's Thoughts...

During this time of year have tunnel vision...90% of my limited brain power is directed toward the Washington DC trip. For those parents that have students going on the trip, I'll be talking to them during their lunch. Please take a minute tonight to ask them about the talk to see if anything sunk in. Behavior, what they can bring, what they can expect to see, time to be at SCMS are going to be the highlights of the talk. Looks like the weather in DC is going to be great. For the parents of younger students, please start saving for this trip. It's an awesome trip that we would like every student to experience. We'll have a meeting sometime after the first of the year for this year's 7th graders to talk about and plan next year's trip.

SCMS Magazine Sale

During the next two weeks, SCMS will be having it's annual magazine sale. I think it's safe to say that no one likes fundraisers. Two of my son's played hockey and I have sold everything from candy to waste paper baskets, so I totally understand not liking fundraisers. Unfortunately, as everyone knows, economic times are tough and we've become more dependent on these fundraisers to supplement programs. Our school receives approximately 40% of the sales which is used to support a variety of student activities. Participation is voluntary but if you can find the time, and you wanted to purchase a subscription anyway, your help in supporting this fundraiser is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the school.

Weather for Washington DC

As of Wednesday morning things are looking up...and we all know that the weather forecast never changes....Saturday 71/56 with a 0% chance of rain, Sunday 74/62 with a 10% chance of rain and Monday 76/65 with a 20% chance of rain. Good clean living is paying off for me again. This is going to be AWESOME.

Washington DC Thoughts on Wednesday

For those of you that have been on this trip you can sit back and chuckle at me and my worries, for those that haven't gone and have younger kids, start planning now to go and for those that are going this week, get ready for an awesome time. A few things that came out of the meeting last night that I want to re-state. Please don't be late arriving to SCMS. I'm a pretty important guy but Northwest Airlines won't let me hold up a flight for anyone that sleeps in. I'm going to be meeting with the kids this week during their lunch to reemphasize the importance of behavior and that no one goes anywhere without talking to/asking their chaperone first and then they go in pairs. Also...one last thought for today that I did not bring up last night. Those students that are not going on the trip are expected to be in school on Monday and those students that are going on the trip are expected to be in school on Tuesday.

Remembering our Heroes and Victims on 9/11

I know I'm a tad off center on many of my posts, but on a serious note, today is a day to reflect and honor those that lost their lives eight years ago and to give thanks to those that continue to serve and protect our country. We had a moment of silence at 8:46. If ever there is a subject that would be a great topic to talk about with your kids it would be this one. Our current students, because of their age, probably have a tough time remembering. I still remember that day, where I was and all that went with it in the days/months following the tragedy, as I'm sure most of us do.

SCMS Student Council

We are very proud of our SCMS Student Council. Over the years it has been a great group to be involved with. Developing leadership skills, doing community service and helping to improve our school are just a few benefits of joining Student Council. Applications are available in our SCMS Office and we have extended the deadline to Wednesday, September 23rd. There are two sides to the application and a parent's signature is required. Please encourage your student to get involved.

Some Principal info for our new parents

Now that classes have started, I thought I should share a few things about me that some of our new parents might not know. First and most importantly, I'm a great guy. I'm also pretty tall. The reason I tell you that is, from my vantage point I don't always see someone if I'm looking straight ahead.....and....to add to what I'm about to say, my hearing has had better days. So if you happen to walk by me and say hi and I keep walking, it's not because I'm being rude or I think I'm better than you, it's because I didn't see/hear you. A few years ago, I had a student's grandpa go absolutely crazy on me, thinking I was too good to say hi back to him. So if you see me, don't hesitate to talk loudly and jump up to get my attention....I really am a nice guy.

Tweaking Our No Zero Policy

This will be our third year of our NO ZEROS policy. In those three years we have seen a dramatic raise in the number of assignments completed, grade point averages and number of students that have made our Honor Roll. Last year our Lunchtime Homework Help helped to complete over 1000 assignments that would otherwise zeros. This is how our process works:

If a student does not complete/turn in an assignment the teacher “red flags” it in their electronic grade book. A report is generated the next day and the student is given a homework referral reminding them that the assignment needs to be completed and turned into the office the next day. That night, an automated phone call goes home letting parents know that an assignment is missing. If the student does not turn their assignment in to the office the next day then they are assigned a Lunchtime Homework Help. If you are following our process, you will see that by the time the student has been assigned the Lunchtime Homework Help the assignment is already at least two days late.

This year we are tweaking the process to help eliminate a few problems that occasionally occurred. If a student either is disruptive during homework help, comes unprepared to homework help or skips homework help three times during a Marking Period they will be taken out of the Lunchtime Homework Help program and assigned after school detentions/Saturday Schools for the rest of that Marking Period. During that Marking Period they also will not be able to attend dances, Activity Nights, etc.

Obviously our main goal is to have our students complete the assigned work. A secondary goal is to help make the students accountable and responsible. The easiest solution to this problem is for students to complete their work on time. Any and all help you can give us at home, as always, is greatly appreciated.

First Day Meeting

Every year on the first day I meet with each grade level to discuss my expectations, rules, goals, etc. This makes for a GREAT dinner conversation when you ask them how the first day of school went. Instead of excepting the well thought out response of "it was ok..." (I have three sons...been down this path many times) you can ask them about my talk. Don't let them off the hook...dig for information. I'll be talking about behavior, our No Zero's policy, dress code, what a great guy I am, setting goals, etc..... The more that they know that you know, the better life is.

This is going to be a GREAT year.

A little Confusion on the First Day

One of the few things that I really don't look forward to the first week of school is the confusion that comes with catching the bus home. Happens every year regardless of how we try to prepare the kids. The confusion comes in two ways....either the student forgets what bus they rode to school on, or, they got a ride to school with a parent and have no idea what bus to get on. Regardless of the reason, rest assured that there will be a number of us outside with the kids at the end of the day with all the busing info to make sure everyone gets on the correct bus. You can help by checking out the transportation link on our ECSD website, http://www.ecsd.us/

Not quite in the 21st Century yet...

So......I get my first comment on my Blog that I need to reply to. No luck. I wanted to send a quick reply to the poster because the question was specific to them. Unfortunately, either because of my "newness" or the way the Blog is set up, I was unable to send the reply. My hope is (hope being the key word) that there should be a way that when you sign up that you allow me to reply just to you. Until I figure this out, if you have a question that applies only to you/your student, give me a call or shoot me an e-mail (malley@ecsd.us). It might take me a while to totally get a handle on this Blogging, but so far I'm liking it....I hope it becomes part of our SCMS culture.

SCMS Picture Day

Start warming up that smile. SCMS Picture Day is Thursday, September 10th. Until new photos are taken, students can still use last year's ID card for lunches, etc.

8th Grade Volleyball

More more Mr. Bialk's Desk

Volleyball try-outs begin the student's first day back to school; Monday September 8th from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Athletes must turn in a Pay-to-Participate form and Athletic Physical/Parent Consent form before they may try-out for the team. We have the forms in our main office. The Athletic Physical must be current; performed sometime after April of 2009. If you have any other questions, or concerns, please telephone 810.676.1806.

SCMS Open House

Our St. Clair Middle School Open House date is Tuesday September 15th from 7:00 til 8:00 p.m. Hope to see everyone there.

Our pre-open house, where our students can come into the school to check out their locker combinations and see where their classes will be, is on Monday, August 31st and Tuesday, September 1st from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm.

DC Trip Meeting

We will have an verrrrry important meeting regarding this year's Washington DC trip immediately following our SCMS Open House on Tuesday September 15th @ 8:00 p.m. in our cafeteria. This meeting is for every student that is going on this year's trip, their parents and chaperones. At this meeting we'll discuss plane flight times, itineraries, meeting times, etc. Please make every effort to attend.

Parent Connect

For those of you that are having withdrawals...Parent Connect for the 2009-2010 school year will be available for parents to log on September 1st. If you are not signed up for Parent Connect, it's a GREAT communication tool. Go to the East China School District web page to sign up.

8th Grade Football

From the desk of Mr. Bialk:

Football practice begins on the student's first day back to school; Monday September 8th from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Coaches will distribute equipment before school begins on Thursday, September 3rd at 3:00 p.m. in the SCMS Gym. All Football players should plan on picking up their equipment on that day. A reminder that athletes must turn in a Pay-to-Participate form and Physical/Parent Consent form before they may practice with the team. We have the forms in our main office. The Athletic Physical must be current; performed sometime after April of 2009. If you have any other questions, or concerns, please telephone 810.676.1806.

School Supplies

Just received an e-mail from a new 6th grade parent asking about school supplies. Here was my reply....hopefully it will help you was you prepare for the upcoming school year. As far as school supplies...it's pretty basic with a couple exceptions. Far and away the number one problem we have at middle school revolves around organization. We have a school wide color/class folder system that we use. Math is Green, ELA is Yellow, Social Studies is Blue and Science is Red. Purchasing some colored folders with pockets to help your student stay organized would be a step in the right direction....and....please, please, please stay away from the "Trapper Keeper" type binders. They tend to be a black hole for assignments. Other than that, colored pencils, lined paper, glue sticks, highlighters, a scientific calculator, #2 pencils, a few pens, a ruler are the normal supplies.....Bringing a box of Kleenex to donate to the cause is also appreciated (we go through Kleenex at an amazing rate)

Welcome to the 21st Century

Saying I'm a tad uneasy about this venture is an understatement but here we go.....Twitter, Facebook, Blogging.....terms that I didn't even know existed a few years ago but now are part of our everyday life. Like it or not, technology runs our world and our kids are, for the most part, way, way way ahead of us. My goal is to use this blog to give updates, comments and seek suggestions as to how we can improve any aspect of St. Clair Middle School. It might take me a while to get the hang of blogging and learn all the "neat" things I can do with it. Check back often and help spread the word to other members of our SCMS Family that this blog is available.



Thanks for your "technology" patience and enjoy the rest of your summer