Good Morning,
So much for a cool start to September! The kids did a great job yesterday baring with us. Yes it was hot but everyone really handled it well. I was proud of everyone! All of the students and staff did receive a nice frozen treat yesterday afternoon. (They will today also but they don't know it yet. (Thanks to Mrs. Livengood for providing the cool treats for all 400 students and staff today!)
Learning Goals
We are working hard this year to communicate our learning goals to our students. The teachers have spent a great deal of time planning and sharing both their classroom subject learning goals and their success criteria. Today I visited many classrooms. When I visit classrooms I like to ask the students what their learning goals are for the class. Today 80% of the students I asked were able to communicate their learning goals. :)
Personal Learning Plan
Next week a letter will be coming home with all students that explains the personal learning plan (PLP) and adviser process at our middle school. Please look for this information from your child next Wednesday, September 7th.
Student Council
We have two new faculty representatives for student council this year. They are 6th grade teacher, Ms. Jessica Sauer and librarian, Mrs. Ruth Cooper. This week our 8th grade students were given the opportunity to decide whether or not they wanted to run for student council office. Next Thursday the candidates will be questioned as part of a panel in front of the student body. Then we will have a vote for our student council officer positions.
Events Next Week at Clear Creek Amana Middle School
Monday, September 5- No School, Labor Day
Tuesday, September 6- 7th and 8th Grade Volleyball vs. Iowa Valley,
7th Home and 8th @ Marengo, 4:15 pm
Tuesday, September 6- 7th and 8th Grade Cross Country @ Tipton, 4:30 pm
Thursday, September 8- Student Council Panel and Voting, 1:30 pm, Auditorium
Thursday, September 8- 7th and 8th Grade Volleyball vs. Vinton-Shellsburg,
7th @ Vinton and 8th Home, 4:15 pm
Have a great 3 DAY weekend!
Brad
Friday, September 2, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
August 26, 2011
Hello,
Well we are in the process of completing our first full week of school. I have visited quite a few classrooms this week and our teachers and students are definitely "down to business." It's been interesting reading the teachers learning goals and success criteria within their classrooms.
We once again have high participation in cross country, football, and volleyball. All teams have been practicing hard for their first games. You can find the athletic schedules here. If you have any questions about athletics, please contact Mr. Bandy or I.
We will start MAP testing next week...
I hope everyone enjoys the weekend!
Go Clippers!!!
Brad
Well we are in the process of completing our first full week of school. I have visited quite a few classrooms this week and our teachers and students are definitely "down to business." It's been interesting reading the teachers learning goals and success criteria within their classrooms.
We once again have high participation in cross country, football, and volleyball. All teams have been practicing hard for their first games. You can find the athletic schedules here. If you have any questions about athletics, please contact Mr. Bandy or I.
We will start MAP testing next week...
I hope everyone enjoys the weekend!
Go Clippers!!!
Brad
Monday, August 22, 2011
Kent Park Information
In the next few weeks the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students will be taking a day field trip to Kent Park. This is a great experience for all students. Listed below are the activities that your child will take part in.
6th grade (October 7) 7th grade (September 23) 8th grade (September 16)
Prairie plant & ecology Shelter Building Water and Boat safety
Prairie restoration Survival Service Project
Prairie Surveying Archery Wetland diversity
Thicket games Service Project Canoeing
Iowa Reptiles Orienteering Enviroscape
Fishing Swimming
We are looking for adult volunteers to help with these events. The responsibility of the volunteer will be supervising students. We need approximately 12-20 volunteers for each grade and we currently have 1-6 at each grade. If you can help please call the office and tell Lauri, or Mr. Bandy that you are willing to volunteer (545-4490). All volunteers must have gone through volunteer training provided by the school district.
CCA Staff thanks you for your time and consideration.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Update, August 19, 2011
Hello,
Well school has started and so far so good. Everyone has started school with a positive attitude and things have really gone pretty well. As always, there have been some schedule issues to iron out but schedules are getting better each day. If your child is still having issues with their schedule, pleas ask them to see me.
With the start of the school year we have also began the fall 7th/8th grade sports seasons. This fall students can participate in cross country, volleyball, or football. Like normal, we have a very high participation in all of our sports. The coaches for each sport are listed below.
Cross Country- Mr. Joe Graf
Volleyball- Mrs. Jen Fuller, Ms. Jody Scheetz, Ms. Amber Herring, Mrs. Michelle Schachtlie
Football- Mr. Jody Bandy, Mr. Mark McCalley, Mr. Chuck Wolfe, Mr. Travis Thorson
Each grade level team has created a letter that they would like to share with all parents. Below is a link to each grade level team letter to parents.
6th grade
7th grade
8th grade
Upcoming dates of interest
August 29- Start of MAP Assessment
September 5- No School
September 9- Picture Day
September 16- 8th Grade to Kent Park
September 23- 7th Grade to Kent Park
September 27- Personal Learning Plan Meetings (4-8)
September 28- Mid Point Trimester 2, Personal Learning Plan Meetings (2-4)
September 29- No School, Personal Learning Plan Meetings (8-4) Parent/Teacher Conferences (4-8)
September 30- No School
October 7- 6th Grad to Kent Park
Have a great weekend!
Brad
Well school has started and so far so good. Everyone has started school with a positive attitude and things have really gone pretty well. As always, there have been some schedule issues to iron out but schedules are getting better each day. If your child is still having issues with their schedule, pleas ask them to see me.
With the start of the school year we have also began the fall 7th/8th grade sports seasons. This fall students can participate in cross country, volleyball, or football. Like normal, we have a very high participation in all of our sports. The coaches for each sport are listed below.
Cross Country- Mr. Joe Graf
Volleyball- Mrs. Jen Fuller, Ms. Jody Scheetz, Ms. Amber Herring, Mrs. Michelle Schachtlie
Football- Mr. Jody Bandy, Mr. Mark McCalley, Mr. Chuck Wolfe, Mr. Travis Thorson
Each grade level team has created a letter that they would like to share with all parents. Below is a link to each grade level team letter to parents.
6th grade
7th grade
8th grade
Upcoming dates of interest
August 29- Start of MAP Assessment
September 5- No School
September 9- Picture Day
September 16- 8th Grade to Kent Park
September 23- 7th Grade to Kent Park
September 27- Personal Learning Plan Meetings (4-8)
September 28- Mid Point Trimester 2, Personal Learning Plan Meetings (2-4)
September 29- No School, Personal Learning Plan Meetings (8-4) Parent/Teacher Conferences (4-8)
September 30- No School
October 7- 6th Grad to Kent Park
Have a great weekend!
Brad
Monday, August 15, 2011
Orientation.Information
Hello all,
Thanks to all that were able to attend orientation last week. I thought we had a real nice turnout.
Below I have attached the documents that were shared at the orientation.
Orientation agenda click here.
Middle school grading document click here.
Have a great day. If you have any questions, please contact me.
Take care,
Brad
Thanks to all that were able to attend orientation last week. I thought we had a real nice turnout.
Below I have attached the documents that were shared at the orientation.
Orientation agenda click here.
Middle school grading document click here.
Have a great day. If you have any questions, please contact me.
Take care,
Brad
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Orientation
Hello all,
I just wanted to remind everyone that we have middle school orientation tonight, Thursday, August 11, 2011. The school will be open early for students to put supplies in their lockers. The orientation times are below.
6th grade, 6:00 pm, Clear Creek Amana Middle School Auditorium
7th/8th grade, 7:00 pm, Clear Creek Amana Middle School Auditorium
See you tonight!
Brad
I just wanted to remind everyone that we have middle school orientation tonight, Thursday, August 11, 2011. The school will be open early for students to put supplies in their lockers. The orientation times are below.
6th grade, 6:00 pm, Clear Creek Amana Middle School Auditorium
7th/8th grade, 7:00 pm, Clear Creek Amana Middle School Auditorium
See you tonight!
Brad
Monday, May 23, 2011
Update May 23, 2011
Good Afternoon,
It's hard to believe that today is our last Monday of the school year! This is the time of year that I actually want things to slow down. I have way too many items on my TO DO list to end the school year.
Below I will update you on some important events coming up in our school.
Monster Band, May 24, 2011, 6:30 pm, CCAHS Gym
Don't forget the Monster Band concert will be held Tuesday evening this week. The event features all of our district band students grades 5-12. There will be concession stand items available for purchase.
7th Grade Trip, Thursday, May 26, 2011, Des Moines
The 7th grade students will be traveling to Des Moines on Thursday of this week to go to an Iowa Cubs baseball game. The students will leave for Des Moines at approximately 8:35 and will return to the centers around 5 pm.
6th Grade Trip, Friday, May 27, 2011, Altoona
The 6th grade students will be traveling to Altoona on Friday of this week to go to Adventureland. The students will leave for Altoona at approximately 8:35 and will return to the centers around 5 pm.
No School, Monday, May 30, 2011
There will be no school on Monday, May 30th in honor of Memorial Day.
8th Grade Celebration, Tuesday, May 31, 2011
The 8th graders will have a special celebration on Tuesday, May 31st. The ceremony will be held int he middle school auditorium beginning at 7 pm. To read a letter with more information about this event, please click here.
CCA Talent Show, Wednesday, June 1, 2011
On Wednesday of next week we will have the 1st annual talent show at Clear Creek Amana Middle School. Students will have the opportunity to addition for the show this week. The show will be held in our middle school auditorium and begin at approximately 9:30 am.
CCAMS Street Dance, Wednesday, June 1, 2011
On Wednesday afternoon next week we will have a street dance for our middle school students. The radio station Z102.9 will provide a radio personality to play the music. We will be blocking off the new road behind the school for the celebration. We also will have a dunk tank set up for the students enjoyment! The street dance will begin at 11:00 am.
8th Grade Trip, Thursday, June 2, 2011
The 8th grade students will be traveling to Lake Mcbride near Solon. This day will be filled with outdoor activities. The students will leave at approximately 8:35 and return to school before dismissal.
We have a busy 8 days of school left!
Brad
It's hard to believe that today is our last Monday of the school year! This is the time of year that I actually want things to slow down. I have way too many items on my TO DO list to end the school year.
Below I will update you on some important events coming up in our school.
Monster Band, May 24, 2011, 6:30 pm, CCAHS Gym
Don't forget the Monster Band concert will be held Tuesday evening this week. The event features all of our district band students grades 5-12. There will be concession stand items available for purchase.
7th Grade Trip, Thursday, May 26, 2011, Des Moines
The 7th grade students will be traveling to Des Moines on Thursday of this week to go to an Iowa Cubs baseball game. The students will leave for Des Moines at approximately 8:35 and will return to the centers around 5 pm.
6th Grade Trip, Friday, May 27, 2011, Altoona
The 6th grade students will be traveling to Altoona on Friday of this week to go to Adventureland. The students will leave for Altoona at approximately 8:35 and will return to the centers around 5 pm.
No School, Monday, May 30, 2011
There will be no school on Monday, May 30th in honor of Memorial Day.
8th Grade Celebration, Tuesday, May 31, 2011
The 8th graders will have a special celebration on Tuesday, May 31st. The ceremony will be held int he middle school auditorium beginning at 7 pm. To read a letter with more information about this event, please click here.
CCA Talent Show, Wednesday, June 1, 2011
On Wednesday of next week we will have the 1st annual talent show at Clear Creek Amana Middle School. Students will have the opportunity to addition for the show this week. The show will be held in our middle school auditorium and begin at approximately 9:30 am.
CCAMS Street Dance, Wednesday, June 1, 2011
On Wednesday afternoon next week we will have a street dance for our middle school students. The radio station Z102.9 will provide a radio personality to play the music. We will be blocking off the new road behind the school for the celebration. We also will have a dunk tank set up for the students enjoyment! The street dance will begin at 11:00 am.
8th Grade Trip, Thursday, June 2, 2011
The 8th grade students will be traveling to Lake Mcbride near Solon. This day will be filled with outdoor activities. The students will leave at approximately 8:35 and return to school before dismissal.
We have a busy 8 days of school left!
Brad
Friday, May 13, 2011
Update, May 13, 2011
Good afternoon,
I hope everyone is having a great day. It sounds like it's going to be a rainy weekend...
Below I will update everyone of a few different upcoming events.
Personal Learning Plan Meetings
Over the next three weeks our middle school teachers will be meeting with families to review Personal Learning Plans. If a meeting hasn't been scheduled with your child's adviser yet, please contact them.
Track Season
Tonight marks the end of the girl's and boy's track seasons. The 7th and 8th grade teams will be traveling to West Liberty for their last meet. It has been a great season for both the boy's and girl's teams. Thanks to the athletes and coaches (Coach Glanz, Coach Carder, Coach Carey, Coach Meller, and Coach White) for their dedication and hard work this year.
Spring Vocal Concert
The middle school Spring Vocal Concert will be held on Thursday, May 19th. The concert will begin at 7 PM and will be held at the Clear Creek Amana Performance Arts Center.
Monster Band
The Clear Creek Amana CSD Monster Band Concert will be held on Tuesday, May 24th. The concert will begin at 7 PM and will be held at the Clear Creek Amana High School.
6th Grade End of Year Trip
The 6th graders will be going on an end of the year class trip on Friday, May 27th. The students will be going to Altoona to spend a day at Adventureland Park. The students will leave school at 8:45 AM and return around 5 PM.
7th Grade End of Year Trip
The 7th graders will be going on an end of the year class trip on Thursday, May 26th. The students will be going to Des Moines to attend and Iowa Cubs game. The students will leave school at 8:45 AM and return around 5 PM.
8th Grade End of Year Trip
The 8th graders will be going on an end of the year class trip on Thursday, June 2nd. The students will be going to Lake Macbride near Solon. The students will leave school at 8:45 AM and return by the end of the school day.
All of the class trips are paid for by the Clear Creek Amana Middle School Student Council.
CCAMS Talent Show and Street Dance
On Wednesday, June 1st, the middle school will host the first annual talent show and street dance. Students will have opportunity to audition their talents and then perform for the student body in our auditorium.
In the afternoon our students will enjoy lunch outside and we will be hosting the radio station Z 102.9. The station will play songs for our students. There will also be a dunk tank set up for our students enjoyment. I'm hoping that we have a lot of students that can't hit the broad side of a barn but I'm guessing I'm out of luck! All of this fun will take place behind our middle school.
Last Day of School
The last day of school is Thursday, June 2nd. This is a full day of school.
Have a great weekend!
Brad
I hope everyone is having a great day. It sounds like it's going to be a rainy weekend...
Below I will update everyone of a few different upcoming events.
Personal Learning Plan Meetings
Over the next three weeks our middle school teachers will be meeting with families to review Personal Learning Plans. If a meeting hasn't been scheduled with your child's adviser yet, please contact them.
Track Season
Tonight marks the end of the girl's and boy's track seasons. The 7th and 8th grade teams will be traveling to West Liberty for their last meet. It has been a great season for both the boy's and girl's teams. Thanks to the athletes and coaches (Coach Glanz, Coach Carder, Coach Carey, Coach Meller, and Coach White) for their dedication and hard work this year.
Spring Vocal Concert
The middle school Spring Vocal Concert will be held on Thursday, May 19th. The concert will begin at 7 PM and will be held at the Clear Creek Amana Performance Arts Center.
Monster Band
The Clear Creek Amana CSD Monster Band Concert will be held on Tuesday, May 24th. The concert will begin at 7 PM and will be held at the Clear Creek Amana High School.
6th Grade End of Year Trip
The 6th graders will be going on an end of the year class trip on Friday, May 27th. The students will be going to Altoona to spend a day at Adventureland Park. The students will leave school at 8:45 AM and return around 5 PM.
7th Grade End of Year Trip
The 7th graders will be going on an end of the year class trip on Thursday, May 26th. The students will be going to Des Moines to attend and Iowa Cubs game. The students will leave school at 8:45 AM and return around 5 PM.
8th Grade End of Year Trip
The 8th graders will be going on an end of the year class trip on Thursday, June 2nd. The students will be going to Lake Macbride near Solon. The students will leave school at 8:45 AM and return by the end of the school day.
All of the class trips are paid for by the Clear Creek Amana Middle School Student Council.
CCAMS Talent Show and Street Dance
On Wednesday, June 1st, the middle school will host the first annual talent show and street dance. Students will have opportunity to audition their talents and then perform for the student body in our auditorium.
In the afternoon our students will enjoy lunch outside and we will be hosting the radio station Z 102.9. The station will play songs for our students. There will also be a dunk tank set up for our students enjoyment. I'm hoping that we have a lot of students that can't hit the broad side of a barn but I'm guessing I'm out of luck! All of this fun will take place behind our middle school.
Last Day of School
The last day of school is Thursday, June 2nd. This is a full day of school.
Have a great weekend!
Brad
Friday, May 6, 2011
Week of May 9, 2011
Hello,
I hope everyone had a great week!
It's been a busy week around the middle school. On Monday and Tuesday this week we hosted all of the district 5th graders at the middle school. They had the opportunity to meet most of the 6th grade teachers and to ask questions to Mr. Bandy and I and a panel of current 6th graders. This is a busy time of hear when we are attempting to end this school year and also plan for the next.
Our boy's and girl's track teams also hosted their own invitationals. Both of the girl's teams were victorious and the boy's teams each placed 2nd. Great job to all of our athletes and coaches. Thanks to all the parents and teachers that volunteered to help out. Today our track teams are competing in the WAMAC Conference Meet. The boy's are in Vinton and the girl's traveled to Marion.
Events next week
Friday, May 13- Girl's Boy's Track Meet @ West Liberty, 4 pm
Events down the road
May 18, 25, CCAMS Spring PLP Meetings
May 26, 7th Grade End of Year Trip to Des Moines, Iowa Cubs Game
May 27, 6th Grade End of Year Trip to Altoona, Adventureland
May 31, 8th Grade Celebration, CCAMS Auditorium, 7 PM
June 2, 8th Grade End of Year Trip to Solon/Lake McBride
Have a great Mother's Day everyone!
Brad
I hope everyone had a great week!
It's been a busy week around the middle school. On Monday and Tuesday this week we hosted all of the district 5th graders at the middle school. They had the opportunity to meet most of the 6th grade teachers and to ask questions to Mr. Bandy and I and a panel of current 6th graders. This is a busy time of hear when we are attempting to end this school year and also plan for the next.
Our boy's and girl's track teams also hosted their own invitationals. Both of the girl's teams were victorious and the boy's teams each placed 2nd. Great job to all of our athletes and coaches. Thanks to all the parents and teachers that volunteered to help out. Today our track teams are competing in the WAMAC Conference Meet. The boy's are in Vinton and the girl's traveled to Marion.
Events next week
Friday, May 13- Girl's Boy's Track Meet @ West Liberty, 4 pm
Events down the road
May 18, 25, CCAMS Spring PLP Meetings
May 26, 7th Grade End of Year Trip to Des Moines, Iowa Cubs Game
May 27, 6th Grade End of Year Trip to Altoona, Adventureland
May 31, 8th Grade Celebration, CCAMS Auditorium, 7 PM
June 2, 8th Grade End of Year Trip to Solon/Lake McBride
Have a great Mother's Day everyone!
Brad
Friday, April 22, 2011
Week of April 25, 2011
Good Afternoon,
I'm tired of cold and rainy! Enough of the April Showers already! I need some warm GOLF weather!!
I hope the kids enjoyed the three day weekend. The teachers were busy on Friday with professional learning opportunities. During the AM the teachers learned about many of the Google applications and other web 2.0 tools to use within their classrooms. In the afternoon the teachers spent time updating their curriculum maps.
Yesterday our 7th and 8th grade boy's track teams competed at Iowa City Regina. It sounds like both teams placed 3rd.
MAP Testing
We are continuing to finish our spring MAP testing sessions. We hope to be all completed by the end of this week.
PLP Meetings
Our teachers will be contacting parents soon to set up the spring Personal Learning Plan meetings. The meetings will be held the weeks of May 16th and May 23rd. If you have questions about this process, please contact me.
Events this week
Tuesday, April 26, 2011- Girl's track at Iowa City Regina, 4:15 PM
Thursday, April 28, 2011- Girl's track at Williamsburg, 4:15 PM
Friday, April 29, 2011- Boy's track at Williamsburg, 4:15 PM
Saturday, April 30, 2011- Maifest Parade at Amana, 10:00 AM
Events down the road
May 2, CCAMS Girls Track Invitational, CCAHS Track, 4:15 PM
May 3, CCAMS Boys Track Invitational, CCAHS Track, 4:15 PM
May 18, 25, CCAMS Spring PLP Meetings
May 26, 7th Grade End of Year Trip to Des Moines, Iowa Cubs Game
May 27, 6th Grade End of Year Trip to Altoona, Adventureland
May 31, 8th Grade Celebration, CCAMS Auditorium, 7 PM
June 2, 8th Grade End of Year Trip to Solon/Lake McBride
Have a great week,
Brad
I'm tired of cold and rainy! Enough of the April Showers already! I need some warm GOLF weather!!
I hope the kids enjoyed the three day weekend. The teachers were busy on Friday with professional learning opportunities. During the AM the teachers learned about many of the Google applications and other web 2.0 tools to use within their classrooms. In the afternoon the teachers spent time updating their curriculum maps.
Yesterday our 7th and 8th grade boy's track teams competed at Iowa City Regina. It sounds like both teams placed 3rd.
MAP Testing
We are continuing to finish our spring MAP testing sessions. We hope to be all completed by the end of this week.
PLP Meetings
Our teachers will be contacting parents soon to set up the spring Personal Learning Plan meetings. The meetings will be held the weeks of May 16th and May 23rd. If you have questions about this process, please contact me.
Events this week
Tuesday, April 26, 2011- Girl's track at Iowa City Regina, 4:15 PM
Thursday, April 28, 2011- Girl's track at Williamsburg, 4:15 PM
Friday, April 29, 2011- Boy's track at Williamsburg, 4:15 PM
Saturday, April 30, 2011- Maifest Parade at Amana, 10:00 AM
Events down the road
May 2, CCAMS Girls Track Invitational, CCAHS Track, 4:15 PM
May 3, CCAMS Boys Track Invitational, CCAHS Track, 4:15 PM
May 18, 25, CCAMS Spring PLP Meetings
May 26, 7th Grade End of Year Trip to Des Moines, Iowa Cubs Game
May 27, 6th Grade End of Year Trip to Altoona, Adventureland
May 31, 8th Grade Celebration, CCAMS Auditorium, 7 PM
June 2, 8th Grade End of Year Trip to Solon/Lake McBride
Have a great week,
Brad
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Week of April 11, 2011
Good Afternoon,
I hope everyone is having a great day. It sounds like today and tomorrow are going to be beautiful days! Below I have updated several upcoming events in our school.
Emergency Drill
Today we conducted an emergency lock down drill at our middle and high school. The procedure was a cooperative effort with the Johnson County Sheriff's Department. You can read the letter explaining the procedure by clicking here.
MAP Testing
We are continuing to complete our spring MAP testing sessions. We hope to be finished by April 29th. So far the testing is going well.
Concerts
Congratulations to our middle school jazz band and choir participants for their performances last week. It's nice to see the hard work pay off.
Track Meets
The 7th and 8th grade track teams will have their first track meets this week. The girl's first meet will be tonight, Tuesday, April 12th at Solon. The boy's first meet will be on Thursday night this week. It will also be held at Solon. Good Luck!
Events this week
April 12, - Girl's Track Meet @ Solon, 4:15 PM
April 13, 2011- Pep Rally to Kick Off Drive for Your School Fundraiser, CCAMS Gym, 8:35 AM
April 14, 2011- Boy's Track Meet @ Solon, 4:15 PM
Events in our school down the road
April 18, MAP testing continues
April 22, NO SCHOOL, Teacher Professional Development
May 2, CCAMS Girls Track Invitational, CCAHS Track, 4:15 PM
May 3, CCAMS Boys Track Invitational, CCAHS Track, 4:15 PM
May 18, 25, CCAMS Spring PLP Meetings
May 31, 8th Grade Celebration, CCAMS Auditorium, 7 PM
Have a great week!
Brad
I hope everyone is having a great day. It sounds like today and tomorrow are going to be beautiful days! Below I have updated several upcoming events in our school.
Emergency Drill
Today we conducted an emergency lock down drill at our middle and high school. The procedure was a cooperative effort with the Johnson County Sheriff's Department. You can read the letter explaining the procedure by clicking here.
MAP Testing
We are continuing to complete our spring MAP testing sessions. We hope to be finished by April 29th. So far the testing is going well.
Concerts
Congratulations to our middle school jazz band and choir participants for their performances last week. It's nice to see the hard work pay off.
Track Meets
The 7th and 8th grade track teams will have their first track meets this week. The girl's first meet will be tonight, Tuesday, April 12th at Solon. The boy's first meet will be on Thursday night this week. It will also be held at Solon. Good Luck!
Events this week
April 12, - Girl's Track Meet @ Solon, 4:15 PM
April 13, 2011- Pep Rally to Kick Off Drive for Your School Fundraiser, CCAMS Gym, 8:35 AM
April 14, 2011- Boy's Track Meet @ Solon, 4:15 PM
Events in our school down the road
April 18, MAP testing continues
April 22, NO SCHOOL, Teacher Professional Development
May 2, CCAMS Girls Track Invitational, CCAHS Track, 4:15 PM
May 3, CCAMS Boys Track Invitational, CCAHS Track, 4:15 PM
May 18, 25, CCAMS Spring PLP Meetings
May 31, 8th Grade Celebration, CCAMS Auditorium, 7 PM
Have a great week!
Brad
Monday, April 4, 2011
7th.Grade.Movie
Hello all,
As a result of our middle school reaching two of our three ITBS goals, each grade will spend an afternoon watching a movie and enjoying popcorn. The 7th grade team will have their afternoon celebration on April 29th.
The movies that the students will be shown are below. If you do NOT want your child watching any of the movies listed, please contact one of your child's teachers. In all cases we choose movies that are either rated G or PG.
Movies
The Sandlot
Hoosiers
Toy Story 3
Miracle
Up
Thanks,
Brad
As a result of our middle school reaching two of our three ITBS goals, each grade will spend an afternoon watching a movie and enjoying popcorn. The 7th grade team will have their afternoon celebration on April 29th.
The movies that the students will be shown are below. If you do NOT want your child watching any of the movies listed, please contact one of your child's teachers. In all cases we choose movies that are either rated G or PG.
Movies
The Sandlot
Hoosiers
Toy Story 3
Miracle
Up
Thanks,
Brad
Friday, April 1, 2011
Class Trips
Hello all,
We are in the process of finalizing our end of the school year class trips. In all of the trips we will incorporate some educational connections to the trip. The educational connections may happen in coursework before the trip, during the trip itself, or both. We also make sure that we have at least one adult on each trip for every 15 students attending. The cost of the trips is paid for by the Clear Creek Amana Middle School Student Council. Students have a choice to request a school sack lunch, to bring their own lunch, or to purchase lunch (with their own money) at the baseball game or at Adventureland.
Below I have described each of the trips and provided some additional information. If you have questions, please contact me.
7th Grade, May 26, 2011: The 7th grade class will be going to Des Moines where they will visit Principal Park, the home of the Iowa Cubs for a game. The students will leave our middle school at 8:45 AM, stop at a park for a picnic lunch, and arrive at Principal Park at approximately 11:45 for a 12:05 game. The students will return to the school centers at approximately 5 PM.
6th Grade, May 27, 2011: The 6th grade class will be going to Altoona where they will enjoy a day at Adventureland Park. The students will leave our middle school at 8:45 AM and arrive at the park at 10:30 AM. The students will return to the school centers at approximately 5 PM.
8th Grade, June 2, 2011: The 8th grade class will be going to Lake Macbride in Solon. The students will leave our middle school at 8:45 AM. While at Lake Macbride the students will have the opportunity to participate in outdoor activities including swimming and kayaking. The students will return to the school centers before school is dismissed.
If you have any questions about the trips, please contact me.
Brad
We are in the process of finalizing our end of the school year class trips. In all of the trips we will incorporate some educational connections to the trip. The educational connections may happen in coursework before the trip, during the trip itself, or both. We also make sure that we have at least one adult on each trip for every 15 students attending. The cost of the trips is paid for by the Clear Creek Amana Middle School Student Council. Students have a choice to request a school sack lunch, to bring their own lunch, or to purchase lunch (with their own money) at the baseball game or at Adventureland.
Below I have described each of the trips and provided some additional information. If you have questions, please contact me.
7th Grade, May 26, 2011: The 7th grade class will be going to Des Moines where they will visit Principal Park, the home of the Iowa Cubs for a game. The students will leave our middle school at 8:45 AM, stop at a park for a picnic lunch, and arrive at Principal Park at approximately 11:45 for a 12:05 game. The students will return to the school centers at approximately 5 PM.
6th Grade, May 27, 2011: The 6th grade class will be going to Altoona where they will enjoy a day at Adventureland Park. The students will leave our middle school at 8:45 AM and arrive at the park at 10:30 AM. The students will return to the school centers at approximately 5 PM.
8th Grade, June 2, 2011: The 8th grade class will be going to Lake Macbride in Solon. The students will leave our middle school at 8:45 AM. While at Lake Macbride the students will have the opportunity to participate in outdoor activities including swimming and kayaking. The students will return to the school centers before school is dismissed.
If you have any questions about the trips, please contact me.
Brad
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Update Week of March 28, 2011
Hello all,
It's been a while since I have updated my blog so this may be a little bit longer post. Our students and staff returned to school last week energized after Spring Break. I have always felt that school really goes fast after we return from break. I will update below several different topics.
Spring MAP Testing
In the next couple of weeks our middle school students will begin the spring MAP testing sessions. 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students will be tested in reading and math. Additionally our 8th grade students will also be tested in science. As you remember the students were tested in the fall. As part of our PLP process each student established a spring goal in reading and math. We are hopeful that many of our students will reach their goal. To learn more about the MAP test, click here.
Spring Athletic Seasons
As the calendar turned from winter to spring we have a new athletic season. The 7th and 8th grade boy's and girl's track seasons have begun. The track coaches this year are Mr. Eric Glanz, Ms. Kim Meller, Mr. Steve Carey and Mr. Jared Carder. All four coaches are Clear Creek Amana CSD teachers. To view the upcoming middle school track schedules, please click here. From there click on either boys or girls track.
Additionally we also have many students participating in workouts to prepare them for the upcoming baseball and softball seasons. We do have a space in our middle school for our students to store baseball/softball equipment during the school day. If your child needs to store equipment, please have them come to the office.
Grading at the Middle School
Over the last two years the middle school teachers have been studying, discussing, and learning about assessment for learning and the Iowa/Common Core Curriculum. As part of this process our teachers began to reassess their grading strategies and practices. In many cases our teachers came to a realization that we need to consider ways to improve student learning through our grading practices. This doesn't mean that our students weren't learning but it does mean that in some cases our grades did not truly reflect the depth of learning by our students. We want to do a better job! In order to do this we are piloting some changes in our grading practices.
Our goal will be to share the learning expectations (learning target(s) and success criteria) with our students at the beginning of each class session. If you walk into our classrooms you will see the learning target(s) and success criteria outlined on the board. The teachers share with the students ways in which the student is able to demonstrate learning. Our teachers focus on how they can give their students more descriptive feedback on what the student needs to improve on in order to demonstrate that they have met the class's learning target(s).
During a lesson the students will know what success looks like. This is known as the success criteria. Often success criteria begins with an "I can" statement. This process ensures that our letter grades (A, B, C, D, F) are more reflective of what the student has learned within their coursework.
We realize that this process is new for all of us. Please feel free to ask clarifying questions and talk to your child about how this process works within their classrooms. I also welcome your questions. We will be sharing much more information in the upcoming weeks and months about this process.
Staff Change
Today, Thursday, March 31st, will be the last day that Mr. Brice Morris will be teaching at Clear Creek Amana Middle School. Mr. Morris submitted his letter of resignation several weeks ago so he can pursue a new career outside of education. We thank Mr. Morris for his service and wish him the best in his new career.
Mrs. Margaret Trumpold will be the long term substitute teacher replacing Mr. Morris. Mrs. Trumpold has a PE and Health degree from Coe College. We are very excited to welcome Mrs. Trumpold to our staff. Mrs. Trumpold's email address is margarettrumpold@ccaschools.org
7th/8th Graders Attend Financial Literacy Play
Next Monday our 7th and 8th grade students will be attending a play on financial literacy. The play will be held at our CCAHS Performing Arts Center. The play will begin at 9 AM and should last about an hour.
8th Graders Begin 9th Grade Scheduling Process
At the conclusion of the play on Monday our 8th grade students will remain at the high school to start the process of registering for 9th grade classes. To learn more about the high school class offering click here. Once you get to the web page click on the PDF titled: Course Catalog. It would be good for 8th grade students to review the course catalog with their parent(s). The students will do the initial scheduling at the high school however if the student or parent want to make changes to the schedule they will allowed to this summer or next year when school begins. If you have any questions about this process please email Mr. Mark Moody (CCAHS Principal) mmoody@cca.k12.ia.us or Mr. Mike Potter (CCAHS Assistant Principal) mipotter@cca.k12.ia.us
Events in our school next week
Monday, April 4
April 11, 18, MAP testing continues
April 22, NO SCHOOL, Teacher Professional Development
May 2, CCAMS Girls Track Invitational, CCAHS Track, 4:15 PM
May 3, CCAMS Boys Track Invitational, CCAHS Track, 4:15 PM
May 18, 25, CCAMS Spring PLP Meetings
May 31, 8th Grade Celebration, CCAMS Auditorium, 7 PM
Have a great week!
Brad
It's been a while since I have updated my blog so this may be a little bit longer post. Our students and staff returned to school last week energized after Spring Break. I have always felt that school really goes fast after we return from break. I will update below several different topics.
Spring MAP Testing
In the next couple of weeks our middle school students will begin the spring MAP testing sessions. 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students will be tested in reading and math. Additionally our 8th grade students will also be tested in science. As you remember the students were tested in the fall. As part of our PLP process each student established a spring goal in reading and math. We are hopeful that many of our students will reach their goal. To learn more about the MAP test, click here.
Spring Athletic Seasons
As the calendar turned from winter to spring we have a new athletic season. The 7th and 8th grade boy's and girl's track seasons have begun. The track coaches this year are Mr. Eric Glanz, Ms. Kim Meller, Mr. Steve Carey and Mr. Jared Carder. All four coaches are Clear Creek Amana CSD teachers. To view the upcoming middle school track schedules, please click here. From there click on either boys or girls track.
Additionally we also have many students participating in workouts to prepare them for the upcoming baseball and softball seasons. We do have a space in our middle school for our students to store baseball/softball equipment during the school day. If your child needs to store equipment, please have them come to the office.
Grading at the Middle School
Over the last two years the middle school teachers have been studying, discussing, and learning about assessment for learning and the Iowa/Common Core Curriculum. As part of this process our teachers began to reassess their grading strategies and practices. In many cases our teachers came to a realization that we need to consider ways to improve student learning through our grading practices. This doesn't mean that our students weren't learning but it does mean that in some cases our grades did not truly reflect the depth of learning by our students. We want to do a better job! In order to do this we are piloting some changes in our grading practices.
Our goal will be to share the learning expectations (learning target(s) and success criteria) with our students at the beginning of each class session. If you walk into our classrooms you will see the learning target(s) and success criteria outlined on the board. The teachers share with the students ways in which the student is able to demonstrate learning. Our teachers focus on how they can give their students more descriptive feedback on what the student needs to improve on in order to demonstrate that they have met the class's learning target(s).
During a lesson the students will know what success looks like. This is known as the success criteria. Often success criteria begins with an "I can" statement. This process ensures that our letter grades (A, B, C, D, F) are more reflective of what the student has learned within their coursework.
We realize that this process is new for all of us. Please feel free to ask clarifying questions and talk to your child about how this process works within their classrooms. I also welcome your questions. We will be sharing much more information in the upcoming weeks and months about this process.
Staff Change
Today, Thursday, March 31st, will be the last day that Mr. Brice Morris will be teaching at Clear Creek Amana Middle School. Mr. Morris submitted his letter of resignation several weeks ago so he can pursue a new career outside of education. We thank Mr. Morris for his service and wish him the best in his new career.
Mrs. Margaret Trumpold will be the long term substitute teacher replacing Mr. Morris. Mrs. Trumpold has a PE and Health degree from Coe College. We are very excited to welcome Mrs. Trumpold to our staff. Mrs. Trumpold's email address is margarettrumpold@ccaschools.org
7th/8th Graders Attend Financial Literacy Play
Next Monday our 7th and 8th grade students will be attending a play on financial literacy. The play will be held at our CCAHS Performing Arts Center. The play will begin at 9 AM and should last about an hour.
8th Graders Begin 9th Grade Scheduling Process
At the conclusion of the play on Monday our 8th grade students will remain at the high school to start the process of registering for 9th grade classes. To learn more about the high school class offering click here. Once you get to the web page click on the PDF titled: Course Catalog. It would be good for 8th grade students to review the course catalog with their parent(s). The students will do the initial scheduling at the high school however if the student or parent want to make changes to the schedule they will allowed to this summer or next year when school begins. If you have any questions about this process please email Mr. Mark Moody (CCAHS Principal) mmoody@cca.k12.ia.us or Mr. Mike Potter (CCAHS Assistant Principal) mipotter@cca.k12.ia.us
Events in our school next week
Monday, April 4
- 7th and 8th grade students attend financial literacy play, CCAHS Performing Arts Center, 8:45 AM
- 8th grade students begin scheduling process for 9th grade, CCAHS Performing Arts Center, 10:00 AM
- 6th grade MAP math testing
- 6th grade MAP math testing
- 6th grade MAP reading testing
- CCAMS vocal pops concert, CCAMS Auditorium, 7 PM
- 6th grade MAP reading testing
- CCAMS Dance, CCAMS Auditorium, 7-10 PM
April 11, 18, MAP testing continues
April 22, NO SCHOOL, Teacher Professional Development
May 2, CCAMS Girls Track Invitational, CCAHS Track, 4:15 PM
May 3, CCAMS Boys Track Invitational, CCAHS Track, 4:15 PM
May 18, 25, CCAMS Spring PLP Meetings
May 31, 8th Grade Celebration, CCAMS Auditorium, 7 PM
Have a great week!
Brad
Friday, March 11, 2011
Week of March 14, 2011
Hello,
The anticipation of Spring Break is in the air. It's interesting how everyone has a little more jump in their step today. Hopefully everyone will be able to have a good week away from school. I was hoping for some time on the golf course but it looks like I will need to drive south a few hours to find an open course.
Author Visit
On Monday of this week we had a visit from Dr. Maggie Thurman Dorsey. Dr. Dorsey is a registered nurse and author. She spoke to all three grades in our middle school. Thanks to our library staff for arranging this great opportunity for our students.
Spring Band Concert
Tuesday night we held our spring band concert. It was a rainy and cold night but the music in the auditorium was worth venturing out on an ugly night. Thanks to Mr. Davies and the band students for an excellent performance.
8th Grade Financial Literacy Fair
On Wednesday our 8th grade students participated in a Financial Literacy Fair. The fair was held at the Coralville Public Library. The fair was organized by the Workplace Learning Connection and Kirkwood Community College. The event is a simulation activity for our students in which they learn about the different financial aspects adults deal with daily. By all reports it was a great learning experience.
CCAMS Drama Production
Today, Friday, March 11 we will have two productions of our middle school play. The first production will begin at 1:00 PM. We have invited all of the district 5th graders to attend our matinee performance. At 7:00 PM our middle school thespians will perform the play for the public. The play is under the direction of Ms. Jessica Sauer and will be held in our middle school auditorium.
Trimester 2 Report Cards
By this time you should have received your child's Trimester 2 Report Card. You should have also received an informational letter from me in the mailing. If you did not receive this information or have any questions, please contact me.
Events in our school next week
SPRING BREAK, March 14-18
Events in our school "down the road"
April 7- CCAMS Vocal Concert, 7 PM
April 8- CCAMS Dance, 7-10 PM
May 31- 8th Grade Celebration, 7 PM
Have a SAFE, FUN, and RELAXING Spring Break!
Brad
The anticipation of Spring Break is in the air. It's interesting how everyone has a little more jump in their step today. Hopefully everyone will be able to have a good week away from school. I was hoping for some time on the golf course but it looks like I will need to drive south a few hours to find an open course.
Author Visit
On Monday of this week we had a visit from Dr. Maggie Thurman Dorsey. Dr. Dorsey is a registered nurse and author. She spoke to all three grades in our middle school. Thanks to our library staff for arranging this great opportunity for our students.
Spring Band Concert
Tuesday night we held our spring band concert. It was a rainy and cold night but the music in the auditorium was worth venturing out on an ugly night. Thanks to Mr. Davies and the band students for an excellent performance.
8th Grade Financial Literacy Fair
On Wednesday our 8th grade students participated in a Financial Literacy Fair. The fair was held at the Coralville Public Library. The fair was organized by the Workplace Learning Connection and Kirkwood Community College. The event is a simulation activity for our students in which they learn about the different financial aspects adults deal with daily. By all reports it was a great learning experience.
CCAMS Drama Production
Today, Friday, March 11 we will have two productions of our middle school play. The first production will begin at 1:00 PM. We have invited all of the district 5th graders to attend our matinee performance. At 7:00 PM our middle school thespians will perform the play for the public. The play is under the direction of Ms. Jessica Sauer and will be held in our middle school auditorium.
Trimester 2 Report Cards
By this time you should have received your child's Trimester 2 Report Card. You should have also received an informational letter from me in the mailing. If you did not receive this information or have any questions, please contact me.
Events in our school next week
SPRING BREAK, March 14-18
Events in our school "down the road"
April 7- CCAMS Vocal Concert, 7 PM
April 8- CCAMS Dance, 7-10 PM
May 31- 8th Grade Celebration, 7 PM
Have a SAFE, FUN, and RELAXING Spring Break!
Brad
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