March 24

 

 I hope everyone had a fantastic Spring Break and had a chance to enjoy the beautiful weather! Whether you were traveling, relaxing at home, or just soaking in some much-needed sunshine, I hope you’re feeling refreshed and recharged.

As we jump back in, I can’t help but share my excitement for the NCAA basketball tournament that started last week (GO HOGS) —there's just something about the energy, the hustle, and the heart those teams put into every game. It reminds me a lot of what we do here every day. Just like those teams are fighting for a championship, we're pushing to help our students succeed and shine—especially with the MAP test right around the corner.

Now’s our time for that final stretch. Let’s bring that same intensity, focus, and teamwork into our classrooms. Every lesson, every moment counts. Let’s make sure our students are confident, prepared, and ready to bring their A-game.

Let’s finish strong—together!

I can’t wait to see you all. 

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: 

Middle School: Normal PLT 

• Please make sure we are reporting and leaving at the designated time 

March Staff Meeting 

March 11- Staff Meeting (Whole Staff) 

March 25- Committee Meetings 

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

 

Testing Schedule 

Middle School Galileo Schedule 

2nd Semester 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 corrective interactions

Operational 

SSO Performance Springfield Symphony Orchestra Small Ensemble will visit Pershing Elementary March 28th 10:30-11:00. 

I.D. Badges
Pershing Middle will be piloting student ID badges during 4th quarter for the Middle School Division. These badges will be used to scan lunch/breakfast, library books, and transportation. More information is coming soon.

 

Teaching Behavior Expectations 

Be looking for communication from Mr. Cooper and Dr. Bartels on the schedule of when each grade will be having the quarterly behavior expectation meetings with classes. During these meetings student I.D’s will be introduced to students. 

Returning from Spring Break is a great time to reteach behavior expectations and reinforce rewarding positive behavior. The slides below can help you reteach expectations. Keep holding students accountable academically and behaviorally. The slides below can help you re-teach. Re-teaching 

Expectation:  these slides 

 

Elementary Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/3rafy

Pershing Middle Parent Newsletter: HERE

Friday, May 23, 2025 Calendar Clarification

The last day of school will be a full day. There are some calendars in print that show the last day of school as a two-hour early release, including the 2024-2025 Student Handbook. Communications will provide clarity for parents later this spring to alert them of this change.

Important Dates 

March 11- Staff Meeting (Whole Group) 

March 14- Teach Forward (Look for email detailing where you will be located) 

March 17-21st- Spring Break 

March 25- Committee Meetings 

March 

2- Jennifer Coffman 

6- Elaine Farrar 

9- Angie Cox 

17- Megan Lannholm

23- Allison Holiman 

28- Lauren Parrish 

29- Jake Viele 

March 9

 

Good morning Pershing team, I hope each of you got to enjoy the weekend and the beautiful weather. Also, I hope last week brought you traction and momentum with your students as we powered through a full week of school. As we push toward the end of the quarter and gear up for Q4 and testing season, I want you to ask yourself:

What kind of intentional practice can I deliver to help students who haven’t yet mastered key standards?

Here’s what we know—initial practice produces initial results. But the real breakthrough happens when we zero in on those students who are on the edge of mastery, reteach with purpose, and reassess strategically. That extra push, that focused effort, is what will propel them across the finish line.

And let’s not forget: your actions as a teacher matter. In fact, John Hattie's research confirms that the teacher is the #1 factor in driving student success. That’s YOU.

As we head into this final stretch before Spring Break, stay relentless. Keep teaching at the highest levels. Keep holding students accountable—both academically and behaviorally. When we bring energy, focus, and consistency, we create the kind of momentum that leads to exceptional results.

Let’s make this week count!



Keep pushing forward!

Good Things 

Pershing Perks- KY3 Story : https://www.ky3.com/2025/03/07/ozarks-life-pershing-perk-perks-up-students-day/?outputType=amp 

Kindergarten and 5th grade student participate in learning together during Buddy time. 

Mrs. Cox organize students into active engagement as they get to choose details of the store that affect the experiences the characters will encounter by voting on the direction of the story.

Ms. Boyce gives immediate feedback to students as the apply the elements of design to a project.

Thanks to PTA, Pershing celebrates Mardi Gras. 

Future General scheduling night for incoming 6th grade students

Pershing ISC participates in the 1st Buddies Program and opens the SPS School Board meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance

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: 

Middle School: 

• No PLT's this week. 

March Staff Meeting 

March 11- Staff Meeting (Whole Staff) 

March 25- Committee Meetings 

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

 

EOY: Growth Plans 

Start now completing your EOY Growth Plan in Kick-Up. You do this by modifying your BOY growth plan and providing evidence of your progress. Please do so by March 13. 

Testing Schedule 

Please refer to email sent by Mrs. Lannholm details the testing schedule for DCA, Galileo and MAP. Please review and communicate any issues that may come up.

2nd Semester 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 corrective interactions

Operational 

I.D. Badges
Pershing Middle will be piloting student ID badges during 4th quarter for the Middle School Division. These badges will be used to scan lunch/breakfast, library books, and transportation. More information is coming soon.

 

Teaching Behavior Expectations 

We have 3 weeks left until Spring Break and we want to make sure we reteach behavior expectations, and reward students that are doing what we expect students to do by reinforcing positive behavior. We will use the following schedule and slides to re-teach behavior expectations.

Please use these slides as you speak with your students.

• There is a slide for each day of the week.

Week of February 24th: 1st period teachers revisit daily expectations using slides.


Week of March 3rd: Seminar teachers revisit daily expectations.

(Can make a copy of presentation and adjust for student needs.)


Week of March 10th: Reading Exploratory teachers revisit daily expectations.

(Can make a copy of presentation and adjust for student needs.)

 

Elementary Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/3rafy

Friday, May 23, 2025 Calendar Clarification

The last day of school will be a full day. There are some calendars in print that show the last day of school as a two-hour early release, including the 2024-2025 Student Handbook. Communications will provide clarity for parents later this spring to alert them of this change.

Important Dates 

March 11- Staff Meeting (Whole Group) 

March 14- Teach Forward (Look for email detailing where you will be located) 

March 17-21st- Spring Break 

March 25- Committee Meetings 

March 

2- Jennifer Coffman 

6- Elaine Farrar 

9- Angie Cox 

17- Megan Lannholm

23- Allison Holiman 

28- Lauren Parrish 

29- Jake Viele