Principal's Message...

Relaxing with Shakespeare this Saturday night was a good reminder that a proven remedy for the darkness and chill of midwinter is to take a break. Starting on December 22, we expect Deal families and students to catch their collective breaths after a fast start to the school year. Let's review how we are going to make space for a restful break.

First, teachers will be teaching all the way to the break. The extent of the holiday and the usual urgencies of middle school learning warrant an academic focus through December 21. Parents, as you plan for the time out, please refrain from adding more time to break by taking your children out early. We'll do our part - 7 periods of school with meaningful work every day possible. Don't be swayed by your children who may speak of parties and movies, and thus a reason to miss school; this is not our plan.

Second, students need to get their work done before the break. Responding to concerns expressed a couple of years ago, Deal teachers ceased the practice of assigning packets of school work over the break. Everyone needs to rest and renew - teachers and students alike. The big caveat to this, however, is that students need to push hard these next two weeks to get their current work done and in. At Deal, we give a far larger weight to timely classwork, rather than homework. Class activities, closely connected to unit objectives, need to be completed when given. If a student needs to make up some work, they need to get it done before that last Friday. Why? Trying to make up work when coming back to school after the break with three weeks to go in the advisory is not a recipe for success - students lose their momentum, the class has moved on, motivation is low. Let's all work to make sure that work is done before we leave for the break, and we can really enjoy ourselves into the new year.

I would like to address another topic, specifically questions about teacher departures and absences and how Deal (and my administration) handles these. Mid-year departures pose distinct challenges: teams are created based on a careful evaluation of strengths and experience, students are used to the teaching patterns of the departing teacher, and teachers have established their expectations. Unfortunately, students are the most affected by these untimely adult decisions, and my concern for their (student) learning drives my actions. It usually takes about 3-4 weeks at a minimum to exit a teacher, review resumes, interview candidates, hire an individual, and then get them into the system - that's why we do it in spring! In the meantime, we work to bring in subject-specific substitutes, provide in-building instruction where possible, keep grading and Edline-updating going, and preparing families and students for a new teacher. It truly takes a whole-school effort. In all my time at Deal, teachers have always stood up to support students when another teacher leaves - teachers who already have a full work load but are committed to their charges. While we work with teams to provide information to you about these changes (within the restrictions posed by personnel actions), it isn't a perfect process. If you are concerned about a transition, or the task of aligning a new staff member with Deal's expectations, feel free to contact either your grade-level administrator or me directly. Your comments are helpful and welcomed.

I hope to see many of you at the Winter Concert this week!

 

   

Students, this is a reminder that on-time arrival and regular attendance help you to achieve more in school and life. As the school year moves forward, we must all strive for being on-time everyday. Good habits today foster good futures tomorrow. Congratulations to the following 6th, 7th and 8th grade homerooms for on-time arrival of 95% or above! All other homerooms start fresh on Monday with a new attitude and commitment to improve.

 

6th Grade                 7th Grade                      8th Grade

Garza                        Assael                             Hovancsek

Jackson                     Diaz                                Mostoller

Law                           Parish                             Mungai

McDowell                   Rhoads                           Simpson

Pough                                                             Wang

Purcell                                                           

Ruiz