August 16, 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.

Complete Mandatory Trainings by September 15th

 

Evacuation Drill

• Tuesday during T-Bird time
• Running Safety Updates and Drills 2026-27

Picture Day

• Wednesday through Social Studies

Thunderbird Central

• I have renamed the Recap post from August 7 to Thunderbird Central. Please check it every week as I am updating it.
• A link has been added to the upper right corner of the BLOG.

LISC

• Please have them posted every day throughout your lesson for students to see and you refer back to them.

OPPORTUNITIES:

• Paid Lunch Duty

            Contact Tammy

                Can earn up to $200 a month

Clubs:  

• Chess Club

• Robotics

• Inclusion Club

• STUCO- Looking for 2 sponsors

• Yearbook Club

Will be a digital yearbook this year

If you have a club idea and/or there is student interest in a club please see Morgan June.

SPORTS:

• Volley Ball
• Coaches
• Refs
• Soccer
• Ref

FRIDAY COLLABORATION

FUSD Department Collaboration

Some groups will be called for meetings such as SPED, ELL, etc. 

1:45-3:50 

Remaining MEMS Staff

personal prep 

1:00-1:40 

Team Meetings

1:45-2:40

Department meeting 

2:45-3:50

Magical Staff of the Week: Sonia Salsberg 

What an amazing asset you are to MEMS.  Thank you for the wonderful training on Teacher Clarity and your dedication to supporting our staff. 

AUGUST: 

• Aug 18 
• 1st evacuation of the year in T-Bird on Tuesday
• Aug 19
• Picture Day
• During Social Studies
• 
  

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: OVER 10% thresh hold:

Do you have a SHOUT OUT for a fellow colleague?  

CLICK HERE 

From Jenny S: Thank you, Molly, Olivia, Emma, Ben, Sara, Beth, Rosie, and Laura for helping distribute iPads last week. I couldn’t have done it without all of your help.

From Admin:  Thank you Jenny Stearns for you help at dismissal during the heavy rain.  We appreciate you ability to step in and assist.  

From Admin:  Thank you Jacquie for heading up T-Bird TIme information.  We appreciate you!

First week with students

 

MEMS Represented at the FUSD Back to School Event 

As promised....

First Week of School Information:

• Students will go to T-Bird Class
• Please take attendance 
• We will call hallways to dismiss to the gym

• ASSEMBLY:
• Walk out songs
• Please line up in order

• Student Schedule Issues
• Beginning second hour and throughout the day have students check their schedules
• ONLY SEND STUDENTS TO THE COUNSELING OFFICE IF THEY ARE MISSING A CLASS.  
• DO NOT send students who want a schedule change. They can complete a request form in the counseling office before or after school and at lunch.  

HOW TO SURVIVE THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL:

• Stay Hydrated
• Get plenty of sleep
• Eat heathy
• Be on time so you do not have to rush
• Be prepared!  
• Ask for help if you need it
• Ask questions to Admin if you have any
• Find joy in our students they are our WHY!!!!!!

Wednesday 

August 12 

5:00-6:30 

This year let's try something new instead of walking your schedule.  Let's try having Open House much like Showcase night.  We will do it by teams.  Please have handout available for your families.  

• All 6th grade will meet in the Dome.  
• 5:00- Camp Colton meeting
• 6th grade teams will present together
• Families have time to walk their schedules. 
• PE will be in the Gym
• Clubs and Athletics in MPR

All other teams email Tammy by the end of Tuesday to let her know where and how you would like to present your team.  

                   Complete mandatory training                       

Friday Collaboration

1:00-1:45 

TEI Update 

MPR

2:00-2:45

Team CT

2:50-3:50

Department CT

Any questions or concerns? Please see David Pischke, Liz Canuas

Remember, we may not get everything right this week, but we will show up and try everyday.  Give yourself and others grace.  

Thunderbird Central (AKA First week recap, replaces) (The NEST)

 

So much learning and information this week!  Here is a one stop recap for your reference:

• Confluence- FUSD Hub

• Log into Confluence and explore the FUSD Hub so you are familiar with how to find items in the hub.

• TEAMS 

• Ensure you have TEAMS accessible on your IPAD and Laptop. You may put it on your phone if you choose.  

• Have TEAMS open on the device you are NOT teaching on, so students cannot see your chats

• Emergency Sub Plans 

                    Complete 5 Emergency Sub plans and have them ready to go

                    in a folder. 

• New Phones

                        Set up your new phone by Monday August 10th

• Safety Information

• Duty Schedule 26-27
• Duty expectations for adults

• PBIS Matrix

• Link to Thunderbucks

• RP Slide Deck

• Sign Out Sheet Hall Pass

• Sign Out Sheet Staff
• Must get pre-approval from Tammy or Lawrence

• LISC Planning Tool
• AI Prompt 

• Admin Flowchart
• Office Flowchart

• First Week Schedule

• FUSD Student Handbook
• Review Info

• FUSD Staff Handbook

TEACHER CLARITY

                    SLIDE DECK DAY 1

                   SLIDE DECK DAY 2

                   LISC MEMS TEMPLATE

Running Safety Updates and Drills 2026-27

TEI

• Slide Deck 1
• Slide Deck 2
• Evaluation Flowchart
• FUSD Lesson Plan Template
• FUSD lesson plan planning tool

Tech Assistance Who to call?  

 

May 17, 2026

We are almost done!  What an awesome year.  You have been amazing!  

Thank you for all you have done.  

  

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.

• LAST CALL!!!!!!! Project Momentum timecards DUE on MAY 22! Please complete your collaboration time.
•  HOW TO SURVIVE THE LAST FEW WEEKS OF SCHOOL!

PLEASE COMPLETE: Finals Attestations

Classroom End of Year Checklist-Waiting on a new Google Form from district. 

Promotion Assignments: Please let me know if you are not on the list, need to request a change, etc.

• Team 8 Red
• Team 8 Blue

Promotion practice Monday Morning during T-Bird Time!

NO LUNCH PASSES THIS WEEK PLEASE!

FINALS WEEK: Final Attestation

• May 19, 20 & 21.
• We will be on a finals schedules, 1/2 days longer periods to accommodate our high school courses.
• Schedule
• IPAD collection at the end of the day Thursday May 21st.
• Each class should have a final to be given on these days.
• Please have high expectations, end of year assessments.
• Please do not have cleaning days, parties, free time or movies.
• Project should be completed prior to finals days, we are asking that you give a summative final.
• What do we do if a student is absent during finals week?
• We do not allow finals to be taken early.
• Families will need to schedule make-up finals at MEMS. Finals will be offered May 22-29.
• A student receives a 1 until the final is made up, graded and the grade in entered.
• What do I do if a students needs to make up a test?
• Ensure the front office has the test to administer and the answer key.
• We will submit the grade in Synergy
• IPADS:
• Collected the end of the day Thursday.
• If you haven't picked up your box and directions from Jenny please reach out to her.

May 22: Teacher last day

• 8:30-11:30
• Room clean up and end of year wrap up (complete check out sheet)
• 11:30 am- Dome
• Pot Luck Brunch- Bring a dish to share
• 11:30
• Data meeting if AASA scores are out
• 1:00 pm
• Check outs begin
• Check outs will by by hallway-should be fast

NO  COLLABORATION this week!

Uninterrupted grading time!

Magical Staff of the Week:  Rosie Leonard, Katie Krauter

                                                Izzy Meyer!

May 20:  Promotion

May:

• May 19-21
• Finals second semester
• Early release 12:45 each day
• Grade due Thursday May 21 by 2:45 pm 
• Finals are not to be given prior to May 19th 
• No scheduled collaboration on the afternoon as you are given uninterrupted grading time.     
•  May 20
• Eighth Grade Promotion 
• FHS 4:00 pm and 6:pm 

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 Include May 21 OVER 10% thresh hold:

This section appears in the BLOG every spring to provide information regarding district positions and information and site positions.  

MEMS: 

Leaving at the end of the 2025-2026 school year

• Christie Weidi-New Program Specialist @ SMS
• George Moate (really retiring :))
• Trevor Hathaway 
• Bre Cheatwood
• Sara McDermott
• Kacie Sloan
• Lora Lorentson
• Hesper Petersen
• Leah Claypool- retiring 
• Lynn Patton- retiring
• Miss Ellen-retiring 

MEMS Positions:

Open:

• Attendance Clerk
• Alternative School Program (Tier 3) teacher 
• 7th grade Math
• 1 SPED position

Filled:

• 2 science positions

Changes to staffing for the 2025-2026 school year

• Instructional coaches will be overseen at the district level not the site level.  Secondary schools were each given a 1.0 fte for coaches.  That will be reduced and coaches will be assigned through the district based on need.  
• Instructional specialist position at MEMS has been reduced due to declining enrollment.  
• Jacquie will be staying at MEMS in a new role.  More info to come. 

FUSD:

•  Director of Transportation 
• Posted
• Partrick Flemming resigned 
• Coconino High School Principal 
• Interview process has begun
• Coconino High School Assistant Principal 
• Jonathan Corbus resigned 
• Executive Director of Operations Services & Safety
• Tadd Ragan approved at the Feb 24 FUSD Board meeting 
• Begins July 1, 2026
• Knoles principal position:
• Bryan Eberwein on the board agenda 3/24/26 for approval
• Pete Galvin retiring 
• FHS Assistant/Athelics Principal position
• Janet Chavez-Vesley on the board agenda 3/24/26 for approval

From Tammy:  Thank you elective teachers for an amazing Field Day!  Huge thank you to Morgan and Violet for going above and beyond.

Thank you everyone for an amazing school year!