There are so many great things about our school district, it is hard to pinpoint my favorite; however, one of the most noticeable traits about DC-G (that is often mentioned by visitors) is the amount of school pride in our staff and student body! I remember four years ago when I first visited the middle school, I asked if there was something special going on, because the majority of the children were wearing red and white! The staff said, no---the kids always wear our colors!
I believe this is why Homecoming Week is one of the events I eagerly look forward to each year! Our students are proud of their identity as a Fillie or a Mustang, and they want to voice that pride to all who will listen!
Today the students were to dress up as their favorite celebrity; yet many of them chose instead to wear their athletic uniforms because we have games and a Cross Country meet tonight. During advisory time, students will be busy decorating their classroom doors in Homecoming themes.
We are all looking forward to Friday when we will attend the Homecoming Parade. Many advisory classes are working on the middle school float. Our float motto is "Be the One in the Game of Life" Students are busy building cardboard game pieces and the giant spinner!
Students will be dismissed for the parade at 1:30. (The middle school band will be marching, so they will be dismissed at 12:45.) We will return to the school at 3:00 so that students have time to gather their belongings and load the bus home.
We hope many of you are also able to attend the Homecoming Parade and Football Game. It is such a great way to promote our school spirit and pride! You will definitely hear the middle school students cheering for Dallas Center-Grimes!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
DM Register: Sept. 5
Record number of Iowa schools fail to meet federal targets
This was the headline of Saturday's paper. I knew it was coming, but that doesn't dull the sting of seeing it in print! It didn't take long for me to skim the list of schools and find DCG Middle School--math in the dead center---ouch!
Since then, I have followed the reader's comments which range from a list of "reasons" for making the list to a bashing of public education. To my surprise, I haven't heard from any DC-G patrons yet, but I would like to take the time to explain how our middle school made the list, and the efforts we are taking to remove ourselves ASAP!
DCG Middle School was placed on the SINA list (Schools in Need of Assistance) in the area of special education math (it was interesting that the paper didn't list the special education part). This means that our special education population did not make enough growth on the ITBS (Iowa Test of Basic Skills) to reach proficiency. In Iowa, "Proficiency" means the 40th percentile or above.
The majority of our special education students currently score between the 1st and the 15th percentile on ITBS. In fact, one of the indicators that qualifies a child for special education is a low ITBS score. If our students DID score in the 40th percentile or above, the teachers would be calling a meeting with the parents to discuss if the child should be discontinued from the special education program.
So now what? Our staff is dedicated to working as hard as possible to give the special education students the math skills they need to be successful in life. Since the beginning of the year, we have met regularly to form an action plan and begin implementation. One of the biggest changes this year is that we have added a Math Intervention Class entitled, M and M---Math and Maintenance. Students attend this extra math tutoring session once every three days. The class sizes are small (6-8 students) and the program is 42 minutes of intense math tutoring. We are using a research-based program that was recommended by several area schools. It is called iSucceed by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Additionally, we have added tutoring for general education students, increased the frequency of our progress monitoring, and concentrated on instructional strategies that have been proven successful. The staff at DCG Middle School is focused on providing the best math instruction available. We are confident that we can improve scores enough to remove our school's name from "the list", but more importantly help ALL our children succeed in today's globally economic world. We need the support of all parents and community to help us reach this goal. If you have questions, comments or ideas, we welcome your input!
This was the headline of Saturday's paper. I knew it was coming, but that doesn't dull the sting of seeing it in print! It didn't take long for me to skim the list of schools and find DCG Middle School--math in the dead center---ouch!
Since then, I have followed the reader's comments which range from a list of "reasons" for making the list to a bashing of public education. To my surprise, I haven't heard from any DC-G patrons yet, but I would like to take the time to explain how our middle school made the list, and the efforts we are taking to remove ourselves ASAP!
DCG Middle School was placed on the SINA list (Schools in Need of Assistance) in the area of special education math (it was interesting that the paper didn't list the special education part). This means that our special education population did not make enough growth on the ITBS (Iowa Test of Basic Skills) to reach proficiency. In Iowa, "Proficiency" means the 40th percentile or above.
The majority of our special education students currently score between the 1st and the 15th percentile on ITBS. In fact, one of the indicators that qualifies a child for special education is a low ITBS score. If our students DID score in the 40th percentile or above, the teachers would be calling a meeting with the parents to discuss if the child should be discontinued from the special education program.
So now what? Our staff is dedicated to working as hard as possible to give the special education students the math skills they need to be successful in life. Since the beginning of the year, we have met regularly to form an action plan and begin implementation. One of the biggest changes this year is that we have added a Math Intervention Class entitled, M and M---Math and Maintenance. Students attend this extra math tutoring session once every three days. The class sizes are small (6-8 students) and the program is 42 minutes of intense math tutoring. We are using a research-based program that was recommended by several area schools. It is called iSucceed by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Additionally, we have added tutoring for general education students, increased the frequency of our progress monitoring, and concentrated on instructional strategies that have been proven successful. The staff at DCG Middle School is focused on providing the best math instruction available. We are confident that we can improve scores enough to remove our school's name from "the list", but more importantly help ALL our children succeed in today's globally economic world. We need the support of all parents and community to help us reach this goal. If you have questions, comments or ideas, we welcome your input!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Middle School Lunch
I have been asked several questions about how lunch works at the middle school. I hope that I can answer a few of them here, but please ask if I have not covered your question.
What is the difference in lunch prices?
If a child goes through the regular lunch line, they will be charged $2.05 for lunch. If your child goes through the ala carte line, he/she may purchase a lunch basket for $2.05 as long as it does NOT have fries. If your child chooses a basket WITH fries, he/she will be charged $2.85. All of these meals come with the salad bar which consists of fresh fruit, salad, vegetables, and bread. Cookies and Chips cost extra.
Does my child have to sit at the same table every day?
No. If your child wishes to move to a different table, we ask that he/she talk to a lunchroom supervisor about the reason. The supervisor will assist your child in finding a new place to sit where he/she is comfortable. While we ask that your child not move on a daily basis, he/she is welcome to move when they feel it is time.
It seems like my child does not have enough time to eat.
There may be days that the hot meal takes longer for the cooks to serve. This means that the children take more time getting through the lunch line. When that occurs, the bell may ring before your child is finished eating. The lunchroom supervisors and I encourage your children to finish their meals and we excuse them from being late for class. This is not a frequent occurrence, and we continually work with the lunch staff to make sure this doesn't happen. One new thing we are trying this year is that we have added two new payment stations to the line to assist with the traffic flow.
What is the difference in lunch prices?
If a child goes through the regular lunch line, they will be charged $2.05 for lunch. If your child goes through the ala carte line, he/she may purchase a lunch basket for $2.05 as long as it does NOT have fries. If your child chooses a basket WITH fries, he/she will be charged $2.85. All of these meals come with the salad bar which consists of fresh fruit, salad, vegetables, and bread. Cookies and Chips cost extra.
Does my child have to sit at the same table every day?
No. If your child wishes to move to a different table, we ask that he/she talk to a lunchroom supervisor about the reason. The supervisor will assist your child in finding a new place to sit where he/she is comfortable. While we ask that your child not move on a daily basis, he/she is welcome to move when they feel it is time.
It seems like my child does not have enough time to eat.
There may be days that the hot meal takes longer for the cooks to serve. This means that the children take more time getting through the lunch line. When that occurs, the bell may ring before your child is finished eating. The lunchroom supervisors and I encourage your children to finish their meals and we excuse them from being late for class. This is not a frequent occurrence, and we continually work with the lunch staff to make sure this doesn't happen. One new thing we are trying this year is that we have added two new payment stations to the line to assist with the traffic flow.
Friday, August 21, 2009
The Magic Tube
"It's only confusing because what you THINK doesn't match with reality." Mr. Gilroy
I walked into 6th grade science this afternoon and was amazed by the engagement of the students. No one looked up when I opened the door, the usual waves from across the room didn't happen! Hmmmm---these students were mesmerized! As I took a closer look, I realized all this was due to the "magic tube". Mr. Gilroy created a device with ropes hanging from the sides (see pictures) The students' job was to "play with it." It was such an experience for me to watch their natural curiosity evolve into high level questions! These children were reviewing their notes, looking back at past learning, drawing new diagrams, and asking each other about their ideas. Finally---after a great deal of time had passed, one little girl looked up and stated, "I am completely confused!"
Mr. Gilroy calmly smiled, reassured her that the guesses were productive, and encouraged her to continue. THIS was scientific discovery in action. Every child was engaged, thinking at very high levels, and working in small teams to reach logical conclusions.
Mr. Gilroy has learned many of these strategies in his professional development courses through CAB---a program offered by AEA. He has spent a great deal of time creating activities and making plans to implement these research-based activities--and all our students benefit! Nice job!
I walked into 6th grade science this afternoon and was amazed by the engagement of the students. No one looked up when I opened the door, the usual waves from across the room didn't happen! Hmmmm---these students were mesmerized! As I took a closer look, I realized all this was due to the "magic tube". Mr. Gilroy created a device with ropes hanging from the sides (see pictures) The students' job was to "play with it." It was such an experience for me to watch their natural curiosity evolve into high level questions! These children were reviewing their notes, looking back at past learning, drawing new diagrams, and asking each other about their ideas. Finally---after a great deal of time had passed, one little girl looked up and stated, "I am completely confused!"
Mr. Gilroy calmly smiled, reassured her that the guesses were productive, and encouraged her to continue. THIS was scientific discovery in action. Every child was engaged, thinking at very high levels, and working in small teams to reach logical conclusions.
Mr. Gilroy has learned many of these strategies in his professional development courses through CAB---a program offered by AEA. He has spent a great deal of time creating activities and making plans to implement these research-based activities--and all our students benefit! Nice job!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Back in the "Swing of Things"!
One and a half days down, and things are going very smoothly! The students flood through the doors in large groups, talking incessantly and dramatizing their stories with their hands waving everywhere! They are laughing, joking, and so wrapped up in their social scene that they almost forget to say good morning to us. But they do--which is both amazing and impressive to me! These children are not only extremely polite but they are experts at multi-tasking!
Middle school is such a social time and being around their peers is the most important thing on the students' minds.
If I were to write a handbook for the middle school student, I think one of the first words of advice I would give is, "if you wear new clothes the first week--be sure the tags are off." In order to spare a little bit of embarrassment, I have been busy straightening collars, ripping stickers off of jeans, and making sure each child is dressed as they had intended. They want to be grown up in the worst way---but they also want us to understand that they are still little kids! What an amazing age group of children!
Middle school is such a social time and being around their peers is the most important thing on the students' minds.
If I were to write a handbook for the middle school student, I think one of the first words of advice I would give is, "if you wear new clothes the first week--be sure the tags are off." In order to spare a little bit of embarrassment, I have been busy straightening collars, ripping stickers off of jeans, and making sure each child is dressed as they had intended. They want to be grown up in the worst way---but they also want us to understand that they are still little kids! What an amazing age group of children!
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