Welcome to 2012-2013!

Although I said, or  tried to say, that I wasn't much of a risk taker in my summer letter, clearly, I was willing to risk not doing one last proofread before I sent it . . . Still, I hope the spirit of my message was not too marred by my over-zealous final highlight-and-cut revision.
I am looking forward to seeing all of you in the building once again.  Following is a very nuts-and-bolts list; however, the information and reminders are important.
First Three Days Schedules
Opening Day, 8/8:

• The district opening ceremony will begin at 8:30am in Roberts Gym at WGHS,
• We will gather as a building community at 11am in the Hixson Cafeteria for
  • A brief, all-building meeting,
  • Lunch (provided by Hixson),
  • A brief meeting with the assistant principals for team teachers, and
• The rest of the day is devoted to you and your classroom.

7th Grade Orientation and 8th Grade Visitation, 8/9:

• These are planned for 8/9 from 9-11am and 1-2pm, respectively, and
• The rest of the day is devoted to you and your classroom.

Professional Development, 8/10:
We have a mandatory staff development meeting from 8:30am-12:30pm for

• Discussing The Art and Science of Teaching, design questions 1 and 6,
• Reviewing new expectations and supports for Discovery time, and
• Reviewing some new procedures in the faculty handbook.
  

Other Items:
As you being planning for the school year:

• Here is a copy of the 2012-2013 Master Schedule.
• Here is a copy of the Daily Schedule.
• Here is a copy of the Student Handbook. There are two new sections:
  •  p. 17--Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying, and
  • p. 19--Misuse of Electronic Devices.

Regarding facilities and equipment:

• If you keep food in your classroom, please
  • Limit the amount to just what you absolutely need, and
  • Keep all food in sealed containers at all times.
• Limit the number of refrigerators, coffee pots, etc., to one of each per team,
• Keep our building windows and doors shut at all times (this is for building safety and for helping to regulate the building temperature),
• Please keep trash inside of your room rather than in the hallway (Mr. Townsend assures me that they will get the trash out of the classrooms),
• The building will close at 4:30pm on 8/8-8/10 and at 3:30 on 8/13.

(If you have the energy and focus to keep reading, please check out some Beginning of the Year Business as well.)