November 2

 

“It’s not happiness that brings us gratitude. It’s gratitude that brings us happiness.” -- Anonymous

MEMS IAP GOALS

• Mount Elden Middle School will increase Math AASA scores by no less than 10% for each grade level from the 2025 Spring AASA score to the 2026 Spring AASA scores.

• Mount Elden Middle School will increase ELA AASA scores by no less than 10% for each grade level from the 2025 Spring AASA score to the 2026 Spring AASA scores.

• Mount Elden Middle School will increase ELA and Math AASA scores for identified special education students by 10% from the 2025 Spring AASA score to the 2026 Spring AASA score.

Project Momentum Quarter 2 Goals

100% of teachers will post a daily learning intention and success criteria and refer to them throughout the lesson with students.

Teachers will use district created code to analyze benchmark data, identify cusp students and students in need of intervention and respond using action plans they create.

Mount Elden Middle School will review all available assessment data for all special education students (both in general education and special education settings) to understand and identify student needs.

Fifth grade visitation:

        Back by Popular Demand! Our 5 feeder schools: Sechrist, DeMiguel, Kinsey,

        Marshall and Leupp will send their fifth graders to MEMS on November 3 to

        learn about MEMS and all the amazing offerings. Fifth graders will be at MEMS

        November 3 from 10:00-1:00 pm. We will run them through 10 rotations for 10

        minutes each then they will have lunch in the Dome. This is the first time we will

        have them at MEMS when our students are still in the building. It is will be quite

        the event.

Schedule and information: Please review as we have made some changes.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Fifth Grade Showcase: November 17 6:00-7:00 pm-DATE CHANGE!

                        * All teachers are expected to participate and attend

                            *We will run a passport style with stations:
    Stations

    Math station: 400 hall in learning node 450 ELA station: 100 hallway and learning                                 node 194
    SS station: 300 hallway
    Science station: 100 hall in new build
    Art and Innovation Station in room 314
    PE: Dome
    Tech/Foods/In School Support Room: learning node 328 and intersection
    Choir/orchestra/theatre: stage
    Band: Band room

    Library

                *Begin working together to determine what you would like to present.

                Note: it can be the same as 5th grade visitation, however, it would be                                     awesome if they had  something to take home.
               Example: Foods sends home easy recipe they can make at home.

Committee Meetings: Due to the limited time on Friday afternoons with district trainings and the required 2 hour prep time, committee will need to meet at times other than Fridays.  Committees will need to work together to find times to meet.  

Safety Protocol information from Lawrence: I wanted to provide some feedback on our last couple of safety procedures.  The doc below contains some updates and improvements on how we will handle any future weather-related events as well as some talking points for students and reminders for staff about lockdowns.

Please take some time to review these items and let me know what questions or thoughts you have.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u_Oebq2V3BZh81dYmaXg_cdbslNLzTSV1js_Xy3Z_1o/edit?usp=sharing

Please make sure all of your food is put in a plastic tub. If you need a plastic tub contact Lawrence. We are seeing an uptick of furry friends.

                  

FRIDAY COLLABORATION

Team CT/planning 

1:00-1:45

Department CT/planning

1:50-2:45

EL Scaffold District Training 

2:50-3:50 

MPR

Magical Staff of the Week:  TIA Staff

November:

Nov 3: 5th grade Visitation

Nov 4: Team College Bound 5:30 pm

Nov 5: School Dance 3:30-5:00

Nov 12: PTO Meeting 5:30 pm

Nov 13: NAVY Week Veteran's Assembly

Nov 16: FUSD HR department conducting Stay Interviews 9-12

             (more info to come)

Nov 17 & 19: NAVVY Testing (Black out days)

                     5th Grade Showcase night 6:00-7:00 pm

Nov 18: FUSD School Board visit to 2:30-3:20

Nov 23-27: Thanksgiving Holiday

BLACKOUT DATES AND PROTOCOLS

As a reminder, the following days are blackout days under FUSD policy. The day prior or subsequent to any scheduled holiday. The first or last instructional week of the year. Parent/teacher conference days Employees requesting time off during this time must submit an alternative conference schedule with their request in order to be considered. Make-up days such as snow day make up  Testing days for test administrators and proctors. You must have principal pre-approval if you must call off for extenuating circumstances.  Please don’t plan a trip without prior approval. Thank you for understanding.   “Personal leave will not be granted on unless you receive pre-approval from principal.: Any day we are above the 10% threshold. When we hit the 10% threshold, I will then need to deny.  It is very helpful when you secure a sub.   Upcoming Blackout Dates:     Nov 10. 12, 17, 19, 20, 30 Dec 18 Jan 4 OVER 10% threshold:

Do you have a SHOUT OUT for a fellow colleague?  

CLICK HERE 

From Jenn F: Violet O: You are a nurturer to the max- for our students AND our staff members. The trust, love, and respect you have built with everyone who surrounds you here makes it a safe and beautiful place to work, learn and grow. I truly don't know what I would do without your kind heart, love of children, and fire for life/the arts as my inspiration. I am so grateful for you, Violet!

From Robert C: Alex Bedasky really shines at IEPs. He shows a deep understanding of pedagogy and students in the way he works with students. He comes to meetings with deep incites along with offers strategies that he has already implemented in his class. 

From Jenn F: Shar- You are absolutely amazing!  I am so grateful for your continuous help.  I don't know what I would do this year without you.  I am grateful for your warmth and kindness each day.  You are appreciated, Shar!

  

                                                                                                                MEMS REPRESENTATIVES:                                                 David Pischke    Liz Canuas                           

October 25, 2026

 

FULL MOON ALERT!

October’s Full Moon is traditionally known as the Hunter’s Moon—a name that reflects the seasonal shift from gathering crops to preparing meat for winter.

MEMS IAP GOALS

• Mount Elden Middle School will increase Math AASA scores by no less than 10% for each grade level from the 2025 Spring AASA score to the 2026 Spring AASA scores.

• Mount Elden Middle School will increase ELA AASA scores by no less than 10% for each grade level from the 2025 Spring AASA score to the 2026 Spring AASA scores.

• Mount Elden Middle School will increase ELA and Math AASA scores for identified special education students by 10% from the 2025 Spring AASA score to the 2026 Spring AASA score.

We are in dire need of a Wrestling Coach.  If we do not find a coach we will need to cancel the season.  If you know of anyone who can coach or if you are willing please let Morgan know ASAP!  Thank you.  

Fifth grade visitation:

        Back by Popular Demand! Our 5 feeder schools: Sechrist, DeMiguel, Kinsey,

        Marshall and Leupp will send their fifth graders to MEMS on November 3 to

        learn about MEMS and all the amazing offerings. Fifth graders will be at MEMS

        November 3 from 10:00-1:00 pm. We will run them through 10 rotations for 10

        minutes each then they will have lunch in the Dome. This is the first time we will

        have them at MEMS when our students are still in the building. It is will be quite

        the event.

    Here is what we will need to pull this off.

                        * Teachers on prep will be asked to period sub for an elective teacher

                            who will be doing the presentations.

                        * We will need to double up some classes

                        * Volunteers to do Lunch Duty while some folks are presenting.

                        * During T-Bird on Monday prepare our students to be leaders and on

                            their best behavior welcoming the Fifth graders. (We will create the

                            presentation for you in T-Bird Time).

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Fifth Grade Showcase: November 17 6:00-7:00 pm-DATE CHANGE!

                        * All teachers are expected to participate and attend

                            *We will run a passport style with stations:
    Stations

    Math station: 400 hall in learning node 450 ELA station: 100 hallway and learning                                 node 194
    SS station: 300 hallway
    Science station: 100 hall in new build
    Art and Innovation Station in room 314
    PE: Dome
    Tech/Foods/In School Support Room: learning node 328 and intersection
    Choir/orchestra/theatre: stage
    Band: Band room

    Library

                *Begin working together to determine what you would like to present.

                Note: it can be the same as 5th grade visitation, however, it would be                                     awesome if they had  something to take home.
               Example: Foods sends home easy recipe they can make at home.

TEMPERATURE CHECK RESULTS

            A few weeks back we sent out a Temperature Check on the new initiatives that have been implemented in FUSD.  Please review.  We have had a few questions regarding AI and I wanted to provide additional information. 

AI is part of the State 48 Graduate Readiness in FUSD.  MEMS administration has provided the data from the Temperature Check to FUSD Administration.  

AI district expectations:

• Training is not optional, (we asked).  
• Every teacher is expected to teach 1 lesson in their content where students use AI.  Training was provided, Magic School.
• Teachers are NOT required to use AI in their planning or daily work.   

Calling off when sick:

        If you are sick please call off the night before or early in the morning. That is our best chance at getting subs. Thanks!

Contract Time:

        Begins at 8:20 am. If you are going to be late please Teams or Text Tammy         and Lawrence so we can inform the office.

                  

FRIDAY COLLABORATION

FUSD District Department meetings

Specific groups will receive an email from District to attend. 

Prep

12:45-1:15

Team CT/planning 

1:15-2:00

Department CT/planning

2:00-3:00 

Leave Early! 

3:00 pm for the other hour of PTC late night

You deserve it after a full moon week with Halloween.

Magical Staff of the Week:  Scott Godwin

OCTOBER:

    Oct 26:

            Penny, Project Momentum                        Principal Coach visits

BLACKOUT DATES AND PROTOCOLS

As a reminder, the following days are blackout days under FUSD policy. The day prior or subsequent to any scheduled holiday. The first or last instructional week of the year. Parent/teacher conference days Employees requesting time off during this time must submit an alternative conference schedule with their request in order to be considered. Make-up days such as snow day make up  Testing days for test administrators and proctors. You must have principal pre-approval if you must call off for extenuating circumstances.  Please don’t plan a trip without prior approval. Thank you for understanding.   “Personal leave will not be granted on unless you receive pre-approval from principal.: Any day we are above the 10% threshold. When we hit the 10% threshold, I will then need to deny.  It is very helpful when you secure a sub.   Upcoming Blackout Dates:     Nov 10. 12, 20, 30 Dec 18 Jan 4 OVER 10% threshold:

Do you have a SHOUT OUT for a fellow colleague?  

CLICK HERE 

From Anonymous: Thank you to Mrs. Stearns for supporting me and getting me water during our PBIS rotations. Appreciate you.

From Laura F:  Federio runs the most productive connection circles- thank you so much! 

From Jenn F:  Tony Schwartz: You are an amazing colleague to have alongside of ALL OF US. I love watching your respectful and inspiring interactions with your students and seeing just how engaged they are in SCIENCE! Plus... your "calm" brings me "calm." Cheers to you, Tony!

From David P: Thank you to Cindy for setting up the SOS training for our 6th Graders. I have two students who used that training to support their friend.

From Violet:  Morgan June WE MISSED YOU!!! Welcome back :) Shout out to our sub admin who helped last week and Tammy and Lawrence who held down the fort.

James Jones in the Navajo Times

  

                                                                                                                MEMS REPRESENTATIVES:                                                 David Pischke    Liz Canuas                           

October `18, 2026

 

MEMS IAP GOALS

• Mount Elden Middle School will increase Math AASA scores by no less than 10% for each grade level from the 2025 Spring AASA score to the 2026 Spring AASA scores.

• Mount Elden Middle School will increase ELA AASA scores by no less than 10% for each grade level from the 2025 Spring AASA score to the 2026 Spring AASA scores.

• Mount Elden Middle School will increase ELA and Math AASA scores for identified special education students by 10% from the 2025 Spring AASA score to the 2026 Spring AASA score.

QUARTER ONE GOALS FOR PROJECT MOMENTUM:

• 100% of teachers in all content areas will shift from past school wide literacy framework to Teacher Clarity with a focus on the four content areas of ELA, math, social studies and science, posting a learning intention and success criteria daily with annotated academic language.
• By the end of quarter one, teachers will identify cusp students on ELA & Math AASA and identify needed supports and strategies to impact these students.
• Mount Elden Middle School will review all available assessment data for all special education students (both in general education and special education settings) to understand and identify student needs.dd

Data Training:

Last Friday afternoon we conducted the FUSD data training and review. If you missed it, please refer to the email sent via Parent Square on October 15 that included information from Mike Vogler.

Steps:

• Log into the Canvas course and follow the directions.
• If you are not an ELA or Math teacher, please focus on ELA data. We are ALL literacy teachers at MEMS.
• Complete the Notetaker form.
• Upload the the Notetaker form to the MEMS Staff Drive, Folder Data 26-27, Quarter 1 Data Review folder by Friday October 23rd. 
• If you have any questions reach out to Jacquie or Tammy.

 FUSD Inter Rater Reliability on TEI

    Administrators from other schools and district come to MEMS to conduct mini             observations and we discuss how we score on the TEI. This is not an evaluation of         you, it is for administrator inter rater reliability. 

         Rochelle Bronson, Principal Summit High School and Heather Zeigler, Assistant          Director of Learning, Technology and Innovation will be joining us on                             Wednesday morning.

ADE will be here on Tuesday morning 10:15-10:45 to walk through our EDP room (TIA, Ms. Hardin's Class).

Safety Drill Schedule: Please review and put drills on your calendar!

LISC: Learning Intentions and Success Criteria: We are noticing that we are not reviewing our Learning Intention at the beginning of each class, throughout the lesson and at the end. Student achievement increases when students are clear on the learning intentions and know the success criteria. LISC should be posted at all times in your classroom. Please make sure your Learning Intention includes the IOT In Order To portion. Please ensure that this practice is incorporated in your lesson. Thank you!

Calling Off:  

We are having difficulty to ensuring we have lesson plans.  

• Moving forward, please upload your lesson plans in Red Rover.  
• If you are using Emergency Lesson plans please indicate that in the notes. 
• Also email Mikkel and Tammy lesson plans. 

Signing out not calling off:

If you need to leave campus during contract time you must get pre-approval from Tammy prior to signing out.  Then you need to sign out on the MEMS electronic sign out form.  

When is it a sign out and when is it a call off:

• One hour or less you can sign out.
• More than 1 hour you requires calling off.  
• Talk to Tammy prior to calling off. 

NOTE:  When staff do not call off and need coverage teachers who period sub                          cannot receive payment.  

FRIDAY COLLABORATION

FUSD District Department meetings

Specific groups will receive an email from District to attend. 

All others:

Prep

1:00-1:45

Team CT 

1:50-2:45

Department CT 

2:50-3:50 

Magical Staff of the Week:  

Christy Belardo

Magical Staff of the Week Oct 12-16:  Tony Schwartz 

OCTOBER:

    Morgan June gone Mon-Thurs            attending Safe Routes to School        conference. Text Lawrence and               Tammy

Oct 20:

            Safety drill around 10:15 am

      

Oct 20 & 21:  

            In T-Bird Time (check Canvas course)

                MetroPlan's annual Safe Routes to School Student Travel Tally.  EVERY                    teacher MUST complete please. 

Oct 21:

        FUSD Inter Rater Reliability on TEI

            Rochelle Bronson and Heather Ziegler will participate (see info above)

BLACKOUT DATES AND PROTOCOLS

As a reminder, the following days are blackout days under FUSD policy. The day prior or subsequent to any scheduled holiday. The first or last instructional week of the year. Parent/teacher conference days Employees requesting time off during this time must submit an alternative conference schedule with their request in order to be considered. Make-up days such as snow day make up  Testing days for test administrators and proctors. You must have principal pre-approval if you must call off for extenuating circumstances.  Please don’t plan a trip without prior approval. Thank you for understanding.   “Personal leave will not be granted on unless you receive pre-approval from principal.: Any day we are above the 10% threshold. When we hit the 10% threshold, I will then need to deny.  It is very helpful when you secure a sub.   Upcoming Blackout Dates:     Nov 10. 12, 20, 30 Dec 18 Jan 4 OVER 10% threshold:

Do you have a SHOUT OUT for a fellow colleague?  

CLICK HERE 

From Liv: Thank you Emma for being such an amazing and supportive department head! I have loved being able to teach 7th grade with you!

From Anonymous: Chef D, Ms. Vital, Mr. Sawasky, Mrs. Canuas, and Admin, for coming to support  students and staff at the Orchestra/Choir concert 💕 Thank you! To those and anyone else we missed!

From Anonymous: Shout out to the Science Department for being collaborative and just plain AWESOME!

From Al:  Sonia Salberg: Committed to supporting staff. Showing up with excitement and a positive attitude. Valued team member.

Elizabeth Canuas: Fully immersed herself in the MEMS community. Tackling all roles, team member, coach, anchor! Great job out there.

  

                                                                                                                MEMS REPRESENTATIVES:                                                 David Pischke    Liz Canuas