Posted on November 23, 2009 by jruss
Citizens of the Raider Nation,
I am certainly thankful for each one of you. God has used each one of you to teach, mold, and shape my life.
Many of you may remember my first year and the Chariots of Fire video clip I used. The movie was my attempt at an illustration. I was illustrating teaching as a race. We acknowledged that teaching is not a sprint to the TAKS test. With each hurdle, we jump as high as we can. Some hurdles we graze with our heal. Some hurdles we hit with our forehead. (ouch!) Some we sail over! Regardless, we keep running. We never quit. Quiet honestly, I do not think that I could have kept going for as long as I have had it not been for you. Each of you, in your own way, have kept me running the straight race.
Thanks for running this race with me. Thanks for your encouragement. Thanks for your endurance. Thanks for your persistence. Have a great Thanksgiving!
Sunday, November 22
Happy Birthday Mark Neese and Richard Hamm
Monday, November 23
Happy Birthday-Larry Compton
7th Grade Girls Basketball @ The Raider Nation
7th Grade Boys Basketball @ Harwood Jr.
Tuesday, November 24
Safety Drill Day
AED, Fire, Tornado, Lock Down, Shelter in Place
RRRR-Locker Clean-Out
2:00-6th and 8th Grade
2:11-7th Grade
Cross Country @ Meadow Park
For 100 points-Who are the two Olympians that Chariots of Fire was based on?
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Posted on November 16, 2009 by jruss
Thanks to the many students who participated in the Reflections program this year! SMS has some of the most creative students!
Congratulations to the following Smithfield Middle PTA Reflections Program Finalists 2009 – 2010:
Alexandra Cooke
Katelyn Gardner
Elizabeth Krieger
Hannah Larson
Murphy Studebaker
Shea Whatley
Good luck to you at the BISD Council level judging!
Nov. 16
TX Scholars-8th Grade History
Nov. 17
Cross Country Meet-BISD Course in Haltom City
Nov. 18
6:00 Parent Basketball Meeting
6th and 7th Grade Raider Buck Store
Nov. 19
7th and 8th Grade Raider Buck Store
8th Grade Boys Basketball vs. Harwood
8th Grade Girls Basketball @ Harwood
Nov. 20
RRRR-Report Cards Go Home
4-6 Boy’s Choir to Laser Quest
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Posted on November 16, 2009 by jruss
Nov. 16
Happy Birthday Austin Woodall
TX Scholars-8th Grade History
Grades Due @ Midnight
Nov. 17
Cross Country Meet-BISD Course Haltom City
Nov. 18
Happy Birthday Terri “Duece” Staley
6:00 Parent Basketball Meeting
6th and 7th Grade Raider Buck Store
Nov. 19
Happy Birthday Barrie Meagher
7th and 8th Grade Raider Buck Store
8th Grade Boys Basketball vs. Harwood
8th Grade Girls Basketball @ Harwood
Nov. 20
RRRR-Report Cards Go Home
RRRR-STUCO in Cafeteria
4-6 Boy’s Choir to Laser Quest
Sorry for neglecting the blog. My computer was broken.
Really……. my computer was not broken. It was being used to do 33 observations for the month of Oct. No excuses for August and Sept.
One of the issues that was a hot topic in our observations was higher level thinking. I encourage you to read the following articles. They blew my mind. I would like to hear your thoughts.
http://electriceducator.blogspot.com/2009/11/google-proof-questioning-new-use-for.html#comments
http://www.techlearning.com/article/25352
100 points-What is the country of the flag pictured?
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Posted on August 13, 2009 by jruss
Dates Remembered
Thurs. Aug. 13-6th and 8th Grade Registration
Saturday Aug. 15 Happy Birthday Jason Crawford
Announcements
T-Shirts are available. Thanks Gayle for designing and ordering our T-shirts each year.
Remember the dress code for Convocation AT RICHLAND HILLS CHURCH OF CHRIST.
You have two choices- Not Painful or Painful
Men-New Raider T-Shirt and Jeans/Khakis or Slacks, Dress Shirt, and Neck Tie
Women-Raider T-Shirt and Jeans/Khakis or Dress with Hose and Heels
We will have our team picture at 1:00 following convocation and lunch. After that we will have our station rotation.
People and Places
I do not want to get into the “nuts and bolts” of this on our blog but, God is good. If you have questions about how this unfolded specifically come talk with me. It is a very moving story.
Newbies
Daniel Arnold-will be teaching 6th grade science and coaching (Title II funding)
Judy Stricklin-will be teaching .5 day Texas History-(Yes, the former history consultant.) replaces Dan’s .5 teaching unit
Andy Davis-will be teaching Texas History, Science, and coaching (replaces Dani Webb)
Austin Woodall-Challenge Program, replaces Mitch Dopplemore
New Places
Cheryl Newton-will be teaching Texas History
Ryan Holzberger-Will be teaching 6th and 8th grade science
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Posted on July 30, 2009 by jruss
Dates Remembered
July 26-Happy Birthday Meagan Moffitt
July 28-Happy Birthday Stephanie Stewart
July 30-First Day Back-Welcome back Coaches!!!
August 2-Happy Birthday Sherri Holt
August 3-First Day Back-Welcome Gayle, Byron, Gina, and Lt. Dan!!!
August 4-Happy Birthday Sam Samford
August 7-Happy Birthday Anthony Lopez
August 9-Happy Birthday Lori Caruthers and Martina Gordillo
Help
Teachers,
Could you please complete the following survey for my good friend David Holland?
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=ms9NeuITfEEpmZWxiRsCAw_3d_3d
For 100 points-The man in the picture is Gabe Kaplan from Welcome Back Kotter. Name as many characters from Welcome Back Kotter as you can.
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Posted on July 22, 2009 by jruss
Dates Remembered
July 16-Happy Birthday Susan Webb
July 19-Happy Birthday SpongeBob and Curtis Russell
July 20-Jeff Russell is back on duty.
July 25-Happy Birthday Karen Schiltz
In The News
Your favorite guidance counselor (Byron Sparkman) has been busy balancing classes. Top priorities in creating our schedule are allowing as many students as possible to have their chosen classes and maintaining small class sizes for the majority of our classrooms.
Many of you are aware that we have lost two teaching units. Kerri Cummings’ and Christie Rogers’ teaching units at this point will not be replaced. Our campus enrollment has not decreased. As you can imagine, this presents problems in achieving the priorities mentioned in the above paragraph. As a result of this, some teachers will be teaching subjects that may be a change from the past. If you are one of the effected teachers, I will contact you personally.
People and Places
Dan Burbach is now a part-time Richland Ram. He will be half-time at RMS and half-time at SMS. This move opened our athletic coordinator position. Congratulations, Dan!
Our new athletic coordinator is the current BISD Teacher of the Year, Marty Blowers. You might have seen Coach Blowers on the district web-site. To my knowledge, Coach Blowers is the first female middle school coordinator in BISD history. Congratulations, Coach Blowers!
Mark Marsh will be taking over the reigns as head football coach. Our football program could not be in better hands (well, maybe Tony Dungy or Tom Landry). Congratulations, Coach Marsh!
for 1000 points-Where does the green character in the picture work?
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Posted on July 1, 2009 by jruss
June 29
Happy Birthday Marjorie Lasher
June 30
Happy Birthday Tina Clifton
July 1
Happy Birthday Dr. Waddell
July 2
Happy Birthday Anthony Holman
July 3
Happy Birthday Barbera Hix
Happy Forty Fourth Anniversary Mom and Dad
July 4
Happy Birthday USA and Teresa Hughes
July 6
Happy Birthday Shari Benton
July 7
Happy Birthday Marty Blowers and Ramsey McDonald
July 9
Happy Birthday Jerri Lewis
July 11
Happy Birthday Laura Heath
I would like to congratulate Mrs. Danni Webb. Mrs. Webb is now the the librarian at North Oaks Middle School. Mrs. Webb will be missed and has done a great job the last two years.-Semper Danni Webb!
For 200 Points-How did George Washington celebrate the Independence Day in 1778?
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Posted on June 17, 2009 by jruss
Thursday, June 18
Happy Birthday Eula Mitchell
HAPPY LAST DAY ON OFFICIAL DUTY TO ME!
Sunday, June 21
Happy Birthday Christie Rogers
Happy Father’s Day
Tuesday, June 23
Happy Birthday Tim Waldmann
Friday, June 26
Happy Birthday Kristin Pierson
Many of you know that Meagan Moffitt has left us for Birdville High School. We have hired her replacement. Amanda Sweeney was offered the job and accepted this week. Amanda is a recent graduate of Stephen F. Austin. This will be her first year of teaching. Amanda is a distance runner and had a long term sub job in Plano last year.
I hope that you have a great Father’s Day. (That is the Atticus connection.)
For 100 points-What violent skill does Atticus possess that he keeps hidden from his children?
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Posted on June 10, 2009 by jruss
Wednesday, June 3
Happy Birthday Pam Ochoa
Thursday, June 4
Happy Birthday Kary Hooten and Josh Schechter
Saturday, June 6
Happy Birthday Lisa Hunt and Sherry Kinnaird
Wednesday, June 10
Happy Birthday Jason Turner
Thursday, June 11
Happy Birthday Cheryl Casey, Peggy Graff, Linda Hill
Semper Fi!
For 100-What state has a nickname based upon it’s palm trees?
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Posted on May 26, 2009 by jruss
Sunday, May 24
Happy Birthday Amber Kahle
Monday, May 25
Happy Birthday Tom T. Hall
Work!
Tuesday, May 26
Happy Birthday Ron Adair
Teachers of the Year Barb-B-Q Lunch
Wed., May 27
Happy Birthday Angel Cox and Dale Stockburger
Period 7 test
3:00 Locker Clean Out
Thursday, May 28
Happy Birthday Ian Fleming
Periods 1,3,5 EXAMS
Happy Places
Lunch On Your Own
Friday, May 29
Happy Birthday John F. Kennedy
Periods 2,4,6 EXAMS
Happy Places
1:30-Final Staff Meeting
Sat, May 30
Happy Birthday Benny Goodman
8:00 Final Check Out Steps
Sunday, May 31
Happy Birthday Brooke Shields
Rest
For bonus points-This could make a huge difference in your final grade!
Who said these words following an assassination?
Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget
falls drop by drop upon the heart,
until, in our own despair,
against our will,
comes wisdom
through the awful grace of God.
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