[Mjhsteam] MJHS Principal's Letter

[Kleinert, Dale]

10/2/07

 

Dear Parents, 

 

September was a busy month with orientations, transitions, testing, and
fall activities happening almost everyday.  The ISAT's are almost
completed and we will finish our make-up tests next week.  The
multi-week process requires us to give over 2000 assessments, all on
computers.  It is no easy task, and we appreciate all of the flexibility
our staff and students have shown throughout the process.

 

Eighth grade students will have the opportunity to expand their
northwest history knowledge by listening to the "Mountain Man" on
Thursday, October 11, at 8:25 a.m.  Our friend, Scott Sorenson, role
plays a mountain man at this assembly.  He teaches history through
story-telling, and he has a great way of showing examples of pioneer
life in the late 1800's.  If you are an eighth grade parent and would
like to attend, please consider this your invitation.  Just check-in at
the office and we will point you in the right direction.

 

Seventh grade students will have their student leadership elections
during the next two weeks.  A petition process, campaign platform, and
ballot process will be a big deal for our seventh graders.  Please
encourage your son or daughter to be involved in our student leadership
team.  Rules for the campaign and petition process will be available in
the office beginning next Monday. Eighth and ninth grade officers were
elected last spring.

 

"Box-Tops for Education" is a program that our school has adopted for
several years now.  PST representative Faye Nagler is in charge of this
program.  Many items that are purchased at the grocery store have a
"box-tops" coupon.  Please cut out the coupon without cutting the bar
code and send it to the MJHS office with your son or daughter.

 

Our teachers will be very busy for the next three days even though
students are not in school.  The State of Idaho uses these days for a
multitude of training opportunities.  The time is very well spent and
gives our teachers many new methods and techniques to use in the
classroom.  We will also spend time analyzing data from the spring and
fall ISAT's.  These assessments provide us with feedback in several
sub-test areas that will be helpful as we design programs for the
students of MJHS.

 

In closing, I have provided a letter that is a repeat that went to
parents last year.  For you veteran parents of MJHS students, it is a
timely review.  For 7th grade parents, this is vital survival
information.  I hope it provides some insight.   

 

Have a great weekend, and I hope you are able to spend some time
catching up with your son or daughter.  I will tell you that we have
enjoyed the energy of your children this year.  Middle level educators
are a special group of people who thrive on the energy level of these
kids.  Thanks for all that you do in support of your kids and MJHS.

 

Sincerely, 

 

Dale Kleinert, Principal

Moscow Junior High School

 

Parent Survival Tips

I would like to share some advice from my 30 years of experiences as an
educator and administrator.  Some of this advice is just plain old
common sense, and some of the advice comes from years of sometimes very
painful experiences with thousands of students and parents. 

*	Know where your son/daughter is at all times.
*	Know the first and last name of the friends that your
son/daughter is with.
*	If your son/daughter is visiting another home, talk to the
parent about their house rules and curfews before your child visits, and
make sure that the parent is going to be home while your child is there.

*	Don't let your son/daughter visit homes that just "don't feel
right."
*	Entertain your son/daughter's friends at your home after
communicating with the friends' parents.
*	If you have a sleepover at your home, keep a close eye and ear
to activities that occur during the night.  I know you trust your
children, but parents have contacted us to inform us that the student
guests in their home decided to sneak out when the adults were asleep.
The results were never positive.
*	Never have a sleep-over at your home without talking to and
obtaining multiple contacts for the parents of the friends that you are
responsible for.
*	If other children are visiting your home, put the alcohol and
prescription drugs away. The temptation for some individuals is just not
worth the mistakes that can be made.
*	When it comes to riding in other people's cars, you can't be too
strict.  Your son/daughter's life is way too important to place in an
automobile with inexperienced or unsafe drivers.
*	Have a curfew.  I am concerned when I see junior high kids
wandering around town at 10:00 or later on a school night. 
*	If your son/daughter asks to spend time with friends but doesn't
give you the information that you need, continue to press for more
information, or deny the request.
*	Pay attention to smells, actions, and activities that look out
of place.  
*	Know email addresses and "My Space" addresses of friends, and
have access to any electronic accounts that your son/daughter may have.
*	If your son/daughter begins receiving gifts that seem overly
extravagant, ask questions.  Most kids don't have any more money than
your kids have, and when unusually expensive items begin showing up,
something may be fishy.

 

This list has taken years to compile and it is by no means complete.
There are also many parenting sites on the web, and I hope that you
spend time researching and reviewing as much additional information as
you need.  In closing, our most important priorities are our children,
and I will always support your efforts on their behalf.

 

Sincerely, 

 

Dale Kleinert, Principal

Moscow Junior High School

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