Good things
Happy Cinco de Mayo and Teacher Appreciation Week! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and were able to enjoy the beautiful weather. I want to take a moment to say how much I love and appreciate each of you for the incredible hard work and dedication you pour into our students and the Pershing community.
You work tirelessly to live out our mission of being a safe, community where all students learn at high levels and are prepared for a global society. That mission is the heart of why we exist as a school. In this profession, we know that the fruits of our labor often take time to fully bloom. We celebrate the small wins along the way, but we’re really building toward the day when our students grow into responsible adults—amazing people who will one day shape the world and even take care of us.
As we head into the final 15 days of school, let’s keep holding high standards for both academics and behavior, making these last days together meaningful and rewarding.
I love you all.
Mr. Wells
Thanks to the hard work of Mrs. Barron, the PTSA, and our community partners, a wonderful week of celebration for our teachers has been organized. When you see them, please give them a big Pershing thank you! The schedule of events is listed below.
Instructional
Kick-Off 2024 Slide Deck
Sample lesson from Mr. Wells (LINK HERE)
November Staff: LINK
Professional Learning Teams (PLT’s)
Elementary:
- Please make sure we are reporting and leaving at the designated time
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
- 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.
09-20-24
11-15-24
02-07-25
04-25-25
PLT: Update - Middle School
We will resume PLTs on May 13. Please plan to meet in the designated location at the scheduled time.
On May 15, Curriculum Coordinators will join us to help plan units for teaching on a block schedule. It is important that all members are present and on time. We will work until five minutes before the bell. Our goal is to allow ample time to prepare for the shift in our master schedule.
Testing Schedule
The 9:00–10:38 time block is Administrative Directed time. During this period, teachers may be assigned specific duties to help ensure MAP testing runs smoothly. Core teachers have 38 minutes of self-directed planning twice during the abbreviated schedule, totaling over 250 minutes per week, in line with the CBA.
Make-Up Testing
We will complete the interrupted April 29 testing session on May 12 during 2nd hour. This applies to Math, ELA, and 8th-grade Science classes to finish the assessments started on that date.
I will share specific language to use with students as we get closer. Given the disruption, some students may have submitted early, rushed, or lacked time to review. We can allow students to check their answers but will not require it.
We will begin official MAP test make-ups on May 13th. Expectations are as follows:
Mrs. Lannholm will compile a list of students who need to complete make-ups.
Teachers should check this list daily and send students to the designated location at 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM.
Please watch for an email from Mrs. Lannholm with specific directions.
Field Trips:
There are several field trips scheduled during the make-up window. Please remind students that if they have a test session to make up, they will not be able to attend the field trip.
Professional Development Opportunities
Summer Professional Learning
There are many paid professional learning experiences being offered this summer. Check out this preview of learning opportunities, and then register in Kickup. Select learning that will propel you forward as you positively impact student learning!
Spring Cooperative Learning Refreshers
Want to boost student engagement and bring joy to your classroom? Join us to explore ways to embed student engagement strategies from Cooperative Learning, 7 Steps to a Language-Rich Classroom, and Active Classroom within your district-provided curriculum. From pre-K to 12th grade, there is no better time to try things out than 4th quarter! View sessions here, and register in Kick Up.
GOCSD Innovation Summit
It is that time of the year to register for GOCSD Innovation Summit. This year’s event is on July 31-August 1 at the Branson Convention Center. Up to 250 Springfield educators may attend and learn with colleagues from across the regions. Keynotes include Dr. Katie Martin and James Nottingham. You won’t want to miss out! Register here!
Teach Forward 2025-26
Teach Forward 2025-26 will mirror the experience this year. View this flier and mark your calendar to attend each date in the coming year. More details to come when we launch the new school year!
Operational
For the next 15 days, it’s Jean Days—so get comfy and rock your favorite school appropriate denim every day!
End of Year Account Management
As the year draws to a close, teachers may be wondering about how to manage their Canvas courses and Google accounts. Please share the End of Year Account Management document, which includes insight about what they might want to do with their Canvas courses and how they can handle their Google account data.
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.The Foundation for Springfield Public Schools’ 2025 Back-to-School Grants are finally here!
Applications are NOW OPEN!
Last year we awarded over $260,000 in Back-to-School Grants. We’re eager to see all the amazing ideas that will be submitted this year and can’t wait to find out how many we’ll get to award!
The deadline to apply is June 6 – but don’t wait! Apply TODAY!
https://www.supportsps.org/back-school-grant-application/
Grants will be awarded September 12, 2025.
If you have any questions, please call me at 417-523-0024 or email me at lfinke@spsmail.org.
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
May Birthdays
1- Debbie Grant
3- Kara Martin
29- Darlene Kilgore