| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
Students have been rewarded this week for good behavior for the first half of the second nine weeks. Each student that has earned six behavior "CATS" earns one Homework Pass. "CATS" are earned by showing consistently good behavior in each class and by helping other students and teacher in positive ways. Congratulations to each student that has earned homework passes this week!
We are proud of the consistent good behavior that our students show us at Durham Middle School. Because our students show so such good behavior at school, we as teachers want to positively reinforce that good behavior. Last week we ended the first 4 1/2 weeks of school and, as a result, each teacher rewarded students with a "CAT" if they had perfect behavior in their class. When students earn six "CATS", they are given a homework pass to use in the class of their choosing.
Keep up the good work. Remember that character and good behavior does count at Durham Middle School.
As we come to the end of the third week of school, some children are making their way down the behavior card to the point where they will have to do an Action Plan. When a child gets to this point, the teacher for that class will fill out an Action Plan and forwards the Action Plan to Ms. Sandy Cox, our ISS Teacher. Ms. Cox will have each child fill out a reflection questionnaire that will help the child understand what they have done incorrectly along with giving the child strategies to be successful. Ms. Cox will then have a conversation with the child to develop a plan that will allow the child correct their behavior. We hope this procedure will help guide our children to long term appropriate behaviors.
I hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday break! The first two weeks after the break we will have some time to focus on our successes from the first semester. Academic and behavioral success will be reward the week of January 16-19. We will honor student that have had all A's, all A's and B's, most improved students, perfect attendance, and outstanding behavior. These programs are designed to help children realize that good character traits they develop as a youth will become strong habits that will allow them to be successful for the rest of their lives.
If you have any questions about these programs, feel free to contact Dee Doss or myself here at Durham.
As we come to the end of the first nine weeks, some children are making their way down the behavior card to the point where they will have to do an Action Plan. When a child gets to this point, the teacher for that class will ask the child to fill out an Action Plan that helps them reflect on the behaviors they are not doing correctly. The teacher then forwards the Action Plan to the grade level administrator. Ms. Doss or myself will then have a conversation with the child to develop a plan that will allow the child to redeem their behavior. This plan will includes positive reinforcement from the teacher when the child shows that they can show proper behavior for a short period of time. We hope this procedure will help guide our children to long term appropriate behaviors.
As you are flipping through the pages of your child's agenda, you may come across four pages of "CAT" Cards. These page are to record student behavior. There are eight columns on the top half of the card, one for each class that the children have. If your child has made a error in judgment, the teacher may deduct a certain amount of points from that column. As a child works his way down the column, there are progressive consequences for repeated inappropriate behavior. When one of these consequence is given, the teacher will call the parents to make them aware of the specific behaviors and resulting consequences.
More importantly, we are trying to reward positive behaviors that our children are exhibiting. On the bottom half of the card you will see numerous "CATS". As students show appropriate behaviors, teacher will reward them with a certain number of "CATS". As children earn a number of these points, children will receive homework passes that they can use in the class of their choice. Also students that show outstanding behavior for the entire nine week grading period will receive a special reward sponsored by our PTSA at the end of the term.
If you have any question about this behavior process, please contact one of your child's teachers or myself and we will be glad to explain the process.
We have almost completed two successful weeks here in 6th Grade at Durham Middle School. Students are learning their way from one class to another, deciding what they will eat and who they will sit with at lunch, how to open their lockers, and how to organize their lockers. As I listen to teachers during team and grade level meetings, I am hearing how they are planning units of study that will not only be fun, but also academically challenging. During the next few weeks I am looking forward to getting into classrooms to see these detailed plans turn into reality with students learning in-depth concepts and use higher level thinking skills to produce a rich learning environment.
If there is anything at all that I can do to help with the academic success of your child, please feel free to contact me at school.
