December 16

As we approach the final week before Winter Break, I want to take a moment to thank each of you for your time and dedication to Pershing, especially your commitment to our students. Every student has their own unique story, and you meet them where they are each day, ensuring high levels of learning and fostering a positive learning environment. The work we do is not easy, but it is incredibly important. Our efforts set students up for success as productive adults in our communities. I deeply appreciate everything you do.

As we enter this last week, it is more important than ever to continue holding our students accountable to academic and behavioral expectations. It can be tempting to let things slide due to the many fun activities happening this week, but please resist that temptation. Our goal is to maintain high levels of teaching and learning, no matter the time of year, so that our students master the necessary standards.

I know we will have a wonderful week, and after that, I hope you all enjoy a restful and happy holiday season.

Mr. Wells 

Good things

Instructional 

Kick-Off 2024 Slide Deck

Sample lesson from Mr. Wells (LINK HERE)

November Staff: LINK 

Professional Learning Teams (PLT’s) 

This week schedule will look like the following

Elementary: Learning Walks  

Middle School: NO PLT'S this week. This week is used to ensure you have time to enter data into the Educlimber. This is due by end of day Jan. 3rd.  

December  Staff Meeting 

December 10th: 7:30-8:30 am 

Whole Staff in the library

Grading Expectations Reminder

Pershing Grading expectations is at least 2 grades per week entered into Canvas 

Lesson Plans/Focus Boards

Focus Board Expectation

• Permanently placed in the room and clearly visible to the back of the room.
• Teacher reference Focus Board throughout the lesson

Lesson Plans Expectation

• Lessons are turned into the hub Thursday by end of day
• Lessons reflect the implantation of district curriculum and anticipation/differentiation to meet the needs of your students.

Mid Quarter Dates 

09-20-24

11-15-24

02-07-25

04-25-25

 

December Instructional Model Focus
Providing and Communicating Clear Learning Goals
Providing Scales and Rubrics	Learning Targets Communicated multiple times including closure   Students can communicate learning targets and understand how what they are doing ties to the learning target.	Resources: HERE
Tracking Student Progress	Student and Teacher has evidence of student learning	Resources: HERE
Celebrating Success	Verbal and Written feedback on progress toward mastery	Resources: HERE
Processing Content
Organizing students to interact over the learning Planned structure	Students have multiple opportunity to (verbally and non-verbally) to process information every 4-6 minutes	Resources:  HERE  Kagan Structures: Essential 5
Implementation of PBIS
Teaching/Re-Teaching Expectation	Using Our Punch Card system to reward students for doing what is expected with INTEGRITY	Using 4 to 1 positive to negative word interactions

Grade Posting Readiness Checklist

Teach Forward Jan. 3rd 

January 3rd will be Teach Forward 8-9:45 am. The rest of the day will be a workday to work in your classrooms.

• Middle School teachers need to check your email for instructions of where your session will be located.

• Elementary Teachers our teach forward day will be held @ Jefferies Elementary. This is an effort to differentiate and provide choice to what each teacher may need.

December Testing Schedules

Middle School DCA Testing Schedule: Megan Lannholm 

Below is a screen shot and link to the December Quarter 2 DCA schedule.  Please follow this schedule for your DCA testing so that accommodations for testing can be made for both IEP and 504 students.  I have purposefully not scheduled any DCA’s  for Tuesday’s due to WINGS attendance.  Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about this schedule. 

 

Q2 DCA Schedule

 

 

Operational 

Smart Pass (Middle School) 

This is a reminder to all Middle School teachers: It is a building-wide expectation that SmartPass is used to grant students access to the bathroom during class time. This is not an optional platform. Using this system allows us to track data, pinpoint issues, and maximize instructional time for all students.

Important Date

AMI Days 

This year SPS will utilize AMI days this school year for inclement weather. Please see the following graphics. 

AMI Teacher Expectations 

Elementary Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/jwyzm 

December Important Dates 

Nov. 25-29 Thanksgiving Break (students out) 

Dec. 4- Alice Training 4:30-5:30pm

Dec. 10- Staff Meeting 7:30-8:30 am

Dec. 17- Winter Orchestra Concert-  7 pm. 

Dec. 19- Winter Band Concert - 6 pm 

Dec. 23-Jan. 3 - Winter Break (students out)

Jan, 3rd - Teach Forward

• Middle School Check email for designed sight
• Elementary we will collaborate with Jefferies to provide choice

December Birthdays 

1- Jodi Swanner 

2- Jordan Boyce 

5- Tim Knopf 

9- Elizabeth Hailey

18- Kathy Null

25- Jennifer Teal 

29- Jeremy Cook 

January 

1- Tom Cunningham

3- Stephanie Routh 

4- Constance Bonner 

5- April Barron 

10- Julie McClure 

17- Leanne Newman 

25- Ashley McCord 

31- Corbyn Bartels 

Dec 1st

  

I hope you all had a great and restful Thanksgiving Break. I hope you all got the much needed rest you needed as we push toward the end of the semester.  Knowing that, let's lock in and make these next three weeks count. Coming off Thanksgiving, remember: the oar is your daily effort, the boat is your classroom, and the compass is your purpose—shaping lives. Life happens for you, not to you, and this is your opportunity to thrive, not just survive.

Challenges may arise, but they’re not roadblocks—they’re fuel for growth. Show up with energy, passion, and an unstoppable mindset. This isn’t just about getting to the next break; it’s about rowing with purpose, inspiring your students, and moving everyone forward.

Stay present, focus on what you can control, and trust the process. You are the rockstar your students need, and your consistent effort will guide them to success. Lean into the momentum, ignite your fire, and row with determination. Together, you’ll reach the shore stronger than ever. Let’s go— I can’t wait to see the success we have as a building over the upcoming weeks. 

Good things

Elementary Turkey Trot as Middle School cheers (Safe Community) 

Dr. Gegg, Mr. Kleiner, Mr. McClure and Mrs. McGinnis were troopers as they participated in the STUCO fundraiser to help send a veteran on the Honor Flight. (Safe Community)

Last week we celebrated the honor roll, attendance, and student of the month. (Safe Community, Global Society, High levels of Learning)

7th Grade Science participates in an engaging activity learning the role DNA plays in development. (High Levels of Learning)

Mrs. Barron opens up the Elementary PRIDE ticket drop box. (Global Society and Safe Community)

NJHS students tutors elementary students. (Global Society) 

During Mrs. Parrish’s Counselor time, students created a script and acted out their production while teaching the class what they learned about bullying. (High Levels of Learning)

Pershing Staff participates in learning during staff meeting. (High Levels of Learning)


Instructional 

Kick-Off 2024 Slide Deck

Sample lesson from Mr. Wells (LINK HERE)

November Staff: LINK 

Professional Learning Teams (PLT’s) 

This week schedule will look like the following

Elementary: Learning Walks  

Middle School: Back on regular PLT schedule. Mr. Wells will be meeting with individual teacher teams around data and specific actions steps. 

December  Staff Meeting 

December 10th: 7:30-8:30 am 

Whole Staff in the library

Grading Expectations Reminder

Pershing Grading expectations is at least 2 grades per week entered into Canvas 

Lesson Plans/Focus Boards

Focus Board Expectation

• Permanently placed in the room and clearly visible to the back of the room.
• Teacher reference Focus Board throughout the lesson

Lesson Plans Expectation

• Lessons are turned into the hub Thursday by end of day
• Lessons reflect the implantation of district curriculum and anticipation/differentiation to meet the needs of your students.

Mid Quarter Dates 

09-20-24

11-15-24

02-07-25

04-25-25

 

December Instructional Model Focus
Providing and Communicating Clear Learning Goals
Providing Scales and Rubrics	Learning Targets Communicated multiple times including closure   Students can communicate learning targets and understand how what they are doing ties to the learning target.	Resources: HERE
Tracking Student Progress	Student and Teacher has evidence of student learning	Resources: HERE
Celebrating Success	Verbal and Written feedback on progress toward mastery	Resources: HERE
Processing Content
Organizing students to interact over the learning Planned structure	Students have multiple opportunity to (verbally and non-verbally) to process information every 4-6 minutes	Resources:  HERE  Kagan Structures: Essential 5
Implementation of PBIS
Teaching/Re-Teaching Expectation	Using Our Punch Card system to reward students for doing what is expected with INTEGRITY	Using 4 to 1 positive to negative word interactions

December Testing Schedules

Middle School DCA Testing Schedule: Megan Lannholm 

Below is a screen shot and link to the December Quarter 2 DCA schedule.  Please follow this schedule for your DCA testing so that accommodations for testing can be made for both IEP and 504 students.  I have purposefully not scheduled any DCA’s  for Tuesday’s due to WINGS attendance.  Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about this schedule. 

 

Q2 DCA Schedule

 

 

Operational 

Important Date

AMI Days 

This year SPS will utilize AMI days this school year for inclement weather. Please see the following graphics. 

AMI Teacher Expectations 

Elementary Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/jwyzm 

December Important Dates 

Nov. 25-29 Thanksgiving Break (students out) 

Dec. 4- Alice Training 4:30-5:30pm

Dec. 10- Staff Meeting 7:30-8:30 am

Dec. 17- Winter Orchestra Concert-  7 pm. 

Dec. 19- Winter Band Concert - 6 pm 

Dec. 23-Jan. 3 - Winter Break (students out)

December Birthdays 

1- Jodi Swanner 

2- Jordan Boyce 

5- Tim Knopf 

9- Elizabeth Hailey

18- Kathy Null

25- Jennifer Teal 

29- Jeremy Cook 

January 

1- Tom Cunningham

3- Stephanie Routh 

4- Constance Bonner 

5- April Barron 

10- Julie McClure 

17- Leanne Newman 

25- Ashley McCord 

31- Corbyn Bartels