MEMSPA Growing in the Middle

Quarterly Middle Level Newsletter

Carmen Maring, MEMSPA Middle Level Chair

Welcome to December friends! With the change in season comes a final push to the end of 2018. Often times this last month can get crazy and we can lose sight of our purpose in the culture of more, more, more. I listened to a podcast recently (Happier by Gretchen Rubin) that recommended choosing a holiday motto to keep you focused during this crazy busy time. The idea resonated with me and reminded me that we need to take time to identify our priorities so the holidays don’t just happen to us but rather we can be intentional about how we spend our time, who we spend our time with, and why we do what we’re doing. This comes at a critical time as I’m preparing to take off for Traverse City and the MEMSPA annual conference.

A friend reminded me yesterday that we are doing critical work that matters. Principals have a unique platform of impact on an entire building. Remember that your attitude and calm in the midst of the whirlwind has impact on teachers and students. I am looking forward to the MEMSPA annual conference as an opportunity to regroup with my priorities and my mission as well as to reconnect with friends and colleagues who are in the same boat as I am. Whether you’re attending the conference or not, I hope that you’ll take a moment, breathe, and regroup with your mission so you can approach this last month with intention. It matters. YOU matter.

Specific to middle level administrators:

We have highlighted some points of pride from MEMSPA middle level members below that may be of interest. This is in response to middle level principal suggestions to get dialogue started regarding common initiatives. We have posted these on the website to host these and will also have a spotlight each quarter. We encourage you to reach out to these amazing principals in the state of Michigan if you have commonalities and/or to connect on things that they are doing so we can learn from each other.
We will be hosting a middle level networking event at the annual conference on Wednesday, December 5 at 5:45-6:15 pm at Jack’s Sports Bar at the Grand Traverse Resort. If you’re a principal, or aspiring principal, of 3rd-8th grade students we encourage you to stop by and connect. We are better together.

Carmen Maring

MEMSPA Middle Level Chair

Gull Lake Middle School Principal

W: 269-548-3600 - C: 269-352-3514

[email protected]

One blue dot. Several blue dots. No blue dot.

Our Journey To Support All Students

David Simpson, MEMSPA Co-State and Federal Relations Coordinator

One blue dot. Several blue dots. No blue dot. The names of every single student pasted on the wall in the media center...staff stepped away to reflect.

Next to the names of students, blue dots were placed by staff onto individual student index cards of students who they had a personal connection. The data created a powerful visual image. While we celebrated the fact that so many students had a blue dot or multiple blue dots, we also saw the need to make sure every child is known and feels valued. In fact, it was a sobering experience to see students without a blue dot.

This activity laid the foundation for the reimagination of a period we called “Homeroom.” Emerging from the middle school movement, this was our latest iteration of “Advisory” - a hallmark of any middle school. However, after spending the year seeing Homeroom in action, it became apparent that a new focus was needed in our school. Homeroom had become more of a homework and reading time at our middle school, rather than a time to for students to connect with each other and with adults.

Read More!

Middle Level Points of Pride!

Below are a list of Middle Level MEMSPA members that are being recognized as fantastic leaders in their field. Each has listed their individual “Points of Pride,” and would love to have conversations with you if you are looking for any help or networking in these areas. Let’s keep MEMPSA “Growing in the Middle”! Do you have Points of Pride that you would like to share? Please email them to [email protected] !

Mike Domagalski – Principal, St. Clair Middle School – St. Clair, MI (East China School District)

590 students

[email protected]

– 5D+ Teacher Evaluation

– JHS, Student Council, Green Team, P2 Team

– Full Implementation of The Positivity Project (Monthly Assemblies)

– 2 hour PLC Meetings once a month

– NWEA testing and data reviews

– STEM classes offered from 6th-8th grade students

Mark Morawski – Principal, Birmingham Covington – Bloomfield Hills, MI (Birmingham Public Schools)

[email protected]

– The Birmingham Covington Districtwide 3-8 School (BCS) offers a choice in educational structure and philosophy for Birmingham Public Schools residents seeking a rigorous academic challenge. Its science and technology emphasis is based in Science for All Americans: Project 2061. With a focus on building a passion for learning, innovation, and inquiry & design among our 648 students in a 3rd through 8th grade, multiage setting, the BCS philosophy continues to include the leveraging of technology across all curricula with a focus on global learning and local service opportunities.

– The BCS Moral Compass is the foundation of who we aspire to be in our community with a focus on displaying a high degree of character in three key areas, the 3E’s: Education, Each other, and Environment. In 2018 BCS was recertified as a National School of Character by Character.org. See the press release for all the details.