Jeopardy and a New Technique

Mrs. May has started working with the new clickers in her classroom. Clickers, or Instant Response System Hand-helds, are used to ask questions and then gather information from students. They can be used to find out what the students know, what they still don't understand, what their opinion may be (especially when honesty requires anonymity) and just about anything else that requires data gathering. These questions are asked with PowerPoint and then show immediate graphs and charts to those answering the questions answering things like "Was I right?"and "What does everyone else think?". The students love them and can't wait to use them! Mrs. May is having them play Jeopardy and the competition can get fierce!

Another less technological but equally effective technique can be found in Ms. Hughes' room. Ms. Hughes has one board covered in sticky notes with titles above the sections. The titles are "Words," Phrases" and "Questions." At the beginning of each unit she asks the students to look over the introduction and based on what they have read, write down words and phrases they don't yet understand and any questions they would like answered by the end of the unit on sticky notes and put them on the wall. As the unit goes on, she uses those sticky notes both to give her direction for what the students need to learn and as a way to check that she is teaching it. This type of best practice is why she is she a great asset to our educational community!

We are lucky to have both Mrs. May and Ms. Hughes. Take the time to visit them or any of our excellent teachers and discover what is happening at Ross Beatty to help your students learn!

Math Focus

I can do mental math. I can compute numbers in my head without a calculator.

English Focus

I can speak and write using correct grammar and vocabulary.

• There will be practice for any high school girl interested in trying out for the high school cheerleading teams. Practice will take place on Monday, November 23, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm in the HS cafeteria. Watch for an announcement at Monday's practice regarding the timeline for tryouts and future practices.

• Thespians will meet in the cafeteria on Tuesday morning at 7:15. This is to take an important vote and all thespians need to be there. If you can't make it, see Lizzy Mays or Ms. Porath ASAP.

• Anyone between the ages of 5-14 interested in learning to wrestle may pick up a flyer in the office. You will be able to sign up on November 30 at 6:00 in the wrestling room. There will be a parents meeting at the time of sign ups.

• Seniors: Please be sure to check the blue scholarship list in the guidance office. New scholarships are arriving weekly.
• 7^th/8^th grade science Olympiad students your list of three events are needed to Mrs. May or Mrs. Wellman by Monday November 23^rd
• Seniors! Lifetouch will be here to take Senior Portraits on Tuesday, December 1st starting at 9:00am. Please make sure you sign up for a time with Mrs. Anderson. Seniors this is important and an inexpensive way to have a nice picture for the yearbook and receive a class composite!
• Thespian Troupe 2323 proudly presents "A Christmas Story" on Nov. 20th and 21st at 7:00 PM and on November 22nd at 2:00 PM in the High School Auditorium. $5 for adults and $4 for students. See you there!
• Final Exams are on November 24th (Periods 1, 2, and 3) and November 25th in the morning (Periods 4 and 5). November 25th is a half day and November 26th and 27th are Thanksgiving Break with no school. The new trimester begins November 30th.
• The Principal Advisory Council meets every 4th Monday in the High School Conference room at 6:00 PM. The next meeting is November 23rd.
• The next Board meeting is November 23rd in the High School Library at 7:00 PM.
• PARENTS and GUARDIANS: Check out your student's grades and attendance at http://www.cassopolis-schools.org/pinnacle/PIV . If you need your login information you can call Mrs. Anderson at 445-0541.

Teacher Section

Breakfast duty the week of November 23 Lang, Jekel, Hawkins and Wellman

The cast of A Christmas Story hopes to see everyone at the play this weekend! Here's an incentive: Remember, for staff it's free (though we happily accept donations!). Don't forget the leg lamp raffle. Lucy is dying to go home with someone!

Please inform Ms. Ghareeb of anyone receiving F’s this trimester, especially seniors.

Instructional council meets on November 23rd at Red Brick at 3:45 PM.

Quote of the Week :

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

-James 3:1