1. education
2. school

O’Keeffe MONTHLY PORTRAIT
Georgia O’Keeffe Middle School
510 S. Thornton Avenue
Madison, WI 53703
Tony Rivera Dugas, Jr., Principal
Telephone: 608/204-6820
Attendance: 608/204-6821
Fax: 608/204-0561
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
OCTOBER 2014 Newsletter
Welcome to O’Keeffe Middle School!
Hello O’Keeffe Family,
I hope you’re all well and in good spirits.
It is sad that warmer weather is slipping away, but Fall is a time that lends itself to great memories. The foliage gets
colorful, the air becomes crisp, and we start moving into the season that builds character in this part of the world. With the
seasons changing, it also signals that we have been in school for almost a month. Relationships among students and staff
are growing and by now the students are starting to find a groove. I want to encourage everyone to continue finding ways
to connect with our school and others in the community. I believe that if we come together, in an authentic way, our
children’s' experiences will be that much greater.
At O’Keeffe, we continue to find ways to bring our 3R’s alive. One way we do this is to engage our students in our
Social-Emotional Learning Standards (SELS) curriculum: Second Step. The focus of this program is to help students
recognize how they can independently take ownership of their learning and social experiences to overcome the challenges
of middle school. Please talk to your students about the topics covered and share your stories that helped you (adults) be
successful. These authentic stories are really helpful and it can help you and your students make stronger connections.
We are also working hard to become more systematic, data-driven, and collaborative as it relates to core instruction.
Every classroom should have learning targets (skills) posted that serve as a guide for learning. Please ask your students
and teachers about the learning targets and skills they are focused on on.
Our School Improvement Plan (SIP) serves as our guide for journey towards growth over the course of this year. You can
access our SIP on our school’s website. The SIP is a plan that defines a school’s targeted work for the year to raise
achievement for all of its students. The SIP must define how the school will work on meeting specific, research-based
expectations in five areas:
• Effective school-based leadership
• Student achievement
• High-quality instructional practice
• High-quality professional learning
• Family and community engagement
My goal as Principal of O’Keeffe is to be as transparent as possible with our work and communication. If you ever have
questions about any aspect of our school, please never hesitate to set up an appointment with me and make a visit.
Best wishes and remember to keep finding ways to join in the excitement at O’Keeffe.
Your PrinciPal,
Tony Rivera Dugas Jr.
204-6822
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Newsletter table of contents
Principal’s Letter
Musical Instrument Donations
School Attendance
Clothes Donations
Middle School Science Symposium
AVID
AVID Tutor Position
Be Prepared Every Day
Library Portal
Student Breakfast and Lunch
Student Breakfast and Lunch – Spanish
MMSD Lost/Damaged Library Fee
Progress Reports/Conferences
Assessment Update
SELS
SELS – Spanish
Anti-Bullying Practices
MERIT
2014-15 School Year Calendar
2014-15 O’Keeffe
Student Work Featured
CBITS
CBITS Letter
CBITS Letter - Spanish
Social Worker Newsletter
New Staff Profiles
Important Reminders for Parents
Fall Reminders
Strings Festival
PTG Bake Sale
No Buy, Easy as Pie Fundraiser
October After-School Clubs
p. 1
p. 2
p. 3-4
p. 5
p. 5
p. 6
p. 6
p. 7
p. 7
p. 8
p. 9
p. 10
p. 11
p. 11
p. 12
p. 13
p. 14
p. 15-16
p. 17
p. 18
p. 19
p. 19
p. 20
p. 21
p. 22-23
p. 24
p. 24
p. 25
p. 25
p. 25
p. 26
p. 27
Donations of musical instruments sought
Many students are unable to afford instrument rental fees or to purchase from outside vendors. Do you have a
usable instrument that you, a family member, or a friend wishes to donate? If so, please bring it to the school
office. We will give you a letter acknowledging your donation which may be used for income tax purposes.
Thanks for your help!
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SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
It matters more than you might think!
School attendance matters...
If a child misses just one day a week, over the course of their school
career, they will miss two years of schooling.
Wisconsin State Education Law requires all children ages 5 through 18,
attend school regularly. But, the importance of school attendance goes
beyond meeting the letter of the law. In order for kids to be successful,
they need to be in school, and on task, every day.
Did you know? Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
Did you know? Missing 10 percent (or about 18 days) can make it harder to learn to read?
Did you know? Excessive school absence is a predictor of failure to graduate?
Did you know? Excessive school absence is also a predictor of poor work habits and employment problems?
The bottom line: Making sure your child is at school every day is one of the most powerful
ways parents can ensure not only school success, but your child’s future success as well.
Things parents/guardians can do to develop good attendance habits and strategies to encourage children to avoid
missing school:
Become a cheerleader for learning. Reading up on what they'll be learning this school year, attending open
houses and learning how best to stay in touch with their teachers. When you're interested in what's going on at
school, your children are more likely to approach school with interest, too.
Set consistent waking and bedtimes. As a school nurse, I cannot stress this enough!
YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT NEEDS ON AVERAGE, 9.2 HOURS OF SLEEP!
For O’Keeffe Middle School, this translates into a bedtime of no later than 9:30 p.m. to get nine hours of sleep,
with a wake up time of 6:30 a.m. On any given school day, teen-agers across the nation stumble out of bed and
prepare for the day. For most, the alarm clock buzzes by 6:30 a.m., a scant seven hours after they went to bed.
Many students board the school bus before 7 a.m. and are in class by 7:35. "Almost all teen-agers, as they reach
puberty, become walking zombies because they are getting far too little sleep," comments Cornell University
Psychologist James B. Maas, PhD, one of the nation's leading sleep experts. There can be little question that
sleep deprivation has negative effects on adolescents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, for example, drowsiness and fatigue cause more than 100,000 traffic accidents each year--and
young drivers are at the wheel in more than half of these crashes. Insufficient sleep has also been shown to
cause difficulties in school, including disciplinary problems, sleepiness in class and poor concentration. Recent
research has also revealed an association between sleep deprivation and poorer grades. Also troubling are
findings that adolescent sleep difficulties are often associated with psychopathologies such as depression and
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
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For decades, experts believed that people require less sleep as they move from infancy through adulthood. But
to researchers' surprise, in the past two decades studies have shown that teen-agers require considerably more
sleep to perform optimally than do younger children or adults. Starting around the beginning of puberty and
continuing into their early 20s, Carskadon and colleagues have shown, adolescents need about 9.2 hours of
sleep each night, compared with the 7.5 to 8 hours that adults need.
It can be a challenge to get kids into bed at night and then wake them in time to get to school the next morning.
Create routines around bedtime, (e.g., washing up, lights out by the same time each night) that you'll stick with
all year. Waking at the same time each day—including the weekends—leaves plenty of time for your student to
eat a breakfast, gather necessary supplies and get out the door and to school before the bell.
Help them get organized. Making a space in your home for kids to store backpacks, coats, sneakers, and other
necessary supplies can help them get to school on time and ready to learn. Create a "to-do" list with "night
before" tasks (e.g., put homework, permission slips and letters to teacher in backpacks, pack lunch money, etc.)
Post this list in a place your student can easily refer to it, such as their bedroom door or the refrigerator. Getting
organized can help create a calmer home atmosphere that helps kids move out the door in a school-ready mood.
Make medical and other appointments during non-school hours if possible. Schedule family vacations during
school holidays so that kids aren't missing important school learning.
Keep track of your children's absences. Madison Metropolitan School District’s Board of Education has
made school attendance a district wide priority. The policy states that all students will attend school on at least
94% of school days. This translates into no more than eleven days off from school, excused or unexcused
absences. If you have any questions about whether it is appropriate to send your student to school because of a
health related issue, please do not hesitate to contact Mary or Amanda in our health office at 204-3227.
For middle school students, new school experiences and adolescent issues can sometimes seem overwhelming.
Not wanting to go to school or excessive absences might be a sign of this or of a larger physical or emotional
problem. If school avoidance seems to be a problem, seek help ASAP. This can be a serious issue, and can
lead to a pattern of absences that is very difficult to break. If you suspect school avoidance, talk with your
child's doctor, teachers, school social worker, school psychologist and/or nurse.
For practical advice on dealing with morning routines, school avoidance, or other parenting concerns, the “Love
and Logic” books by Foster Kline were very helpful to me when I was raising my three children. The titles are
“Parenting Your Child With Love and Logic” and “Parenting Your Teen With Love and Logic.” These books
are very “how to” and deal with very real issues.
BOTTOM LINE - ATTENDANCE MATTERS!
SLEEP MATTERS! PARENT SUPPORT MATTERS!
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CLOTHES DONATIONS
Please consider donating clean or new underwear, and socks to the
Marquette/O'Keeffe health office. We are in need of these items. Our
current stock is almost depleted. Thank you for any donation you can
give.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM
The Madison Middle School Science Symposium has been designed to give
all kids in the Madison middle schools the chance to take part in a science
research symposium. Research presentations for participation in the symposium, to be held in April at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison’s new Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, the
state-of-the-art facility dedicated to inspiring scientific research. Students will
meet, share, and discover the joy and challenge of conducting independent
research with other student scientists at the Symposium. Please click on a
category below for additional information.
Event Details:
May 14, 2015
Wisconsin Institute of Discovery
Applications for the 2014-15 Science Symposium will be distributed in late October-early November. Please
check the website for further information. Contact Mr. Craig if you have any questions, 608-204-6858.
Thank you.
https://scienceweb.madison.k12.wi.us/node/1038
__________________________________________________________________________________________
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AVID at O'Keeffe 2014-2015
O'Keeffe is an officially AVID (Advancement Via
Individual Determination) certified school this year. After
only two years of implementation, O'Keeffe was honored
with certification status last May. The O'Keeffe AVID
staff, students and community should feel proud of this
great accomplishment. We continue to enroll both a 7th and
8th grade AVID class here at O'Keeffe. The focus is on
high school and college readiness. We will be starting the
recruitment process for next year's AVID classes in
January. Stay tuned for more information or contact the
AVID Coordinator; Alana Adamson
at [email protected]
__________________________________________________________________________________________
AVID Middle School and High School Tutor Position
Description: AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a college readiness
elective course offered at MMSD middle and high schools. AVID Tutors facilitate
collaborative, small group, student-led study groups, evaluate the quality of student thinking by grading student work and
foster student’s critical thinking skills through modeling strong inquiry skills. This work is done in the AVID college
readiness elective course middle school and high school buildings across the district. Tutors may also perform other
related duties as assigned by the AVID elective teacher, coordinator, or support staff.
Work Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays or Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays during the academic school day, as
well as additional AVID site team meetings and trainings scheduled throughout the year. Tutors are required to work the
same shift on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tutors will be placed based on tutor availability, academic strengths, and
Madison Metropolitan High School and Middle School needs. Position begins with training in late August – early
September. Tutors are generally scheduled for 8-10 hours of work per week.
Required Qualifications: Currently enrolled in a post-secondary institution or have received at least a bachelor’s degree.
Strong communication skills, a proven track record in punctuality and reliable attendance.
Additional Desired Qualifications:
• Proficiency in high school level math and science (high school tutors)
• Previous experience working with middle school or high school aged youth.
• Proficiency or Fluency in both English and Spanish languages
• Knowledge of AVID methodologies
Compensation: $10.00 - $10.50 an hour, depending on AVID experience.
To Apply:
1. Contact AVID District Tutor Manager Layla Coleman to schedule an interview. [email protected], 608661-4753
2. Fill out an application on the MMSD website. www.madison.k12.us. Click on “Employment,” and create an
account. The AVID Tutor role is listed as a Classified Position.
For further information or questions contact:
Layla Coleman, AVID Tutor Manager [email protected], 608-661-4753 OR Julie Koenke, AVID
District Director [email protected] 608-442-2157
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Please be sure students come prepared to school each and every day.
This means remembering to bring lunch, backpack, homework, musical instrument, and gym clothes. It is a
disruption to the learning environment when items need to be delivered to students during the school day.
________________________________________________________________________________________
The O’Keeffe Library Portal is one way for you to connect to what is happening in your
student’s education. You will find online resources that students are using in class,
teacher webpages, book recommendations, and so much more. The Library Portal is
an excellent resource to assist your student with homework or encourage enrichment.
To access the Portal start at the O’Keeffe Homepage: https://okeeffeweb.madison.k12.wi.us/ and then scroll
down to find the link. Or you can go directly to the Portal at: http://madison.campusguides.com/okeeffe.
Some of the databases that we use require usernames and passwords to log in from outside of school. All
students will receive a document in their school gmail with this information.
Did you know that students are able to check what library materials they have out
from any computer, anywhere, anytime?
The O’Keeffe Library Catalog (also known as Destiny Quest) has this and many
more features available to students.
One way to access the catalog from a computer outside of school:
● Go to the O’Keeffe Library Portal, as described above.
● Click on the blue square library icon to access the Destiny Quest or use
the search box provided.
● Once in Destiny or the main catalog page, click the Log In button in the upper right-hand corner.
● Students use their ID number for their username, and x with their 6-digit birth date (xmmddyyX) for their
password.
Once logged in students are able to check what they have out, put a book on hold, rate a book they have read,
write a book review, see others’ reviews, virtually browse the bookshelves, and more. The catalog may be
browsed without logging in.
Questions may be directed to Kelli Ballwahn, Library Media Specialist, [email protected]
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YOUR ATTENTION IS NEEDED…..
MMSD Lost/Damaged Library Fee: 2014-15
If your child has lost or damaged any library materials during the 2013-14
school year, you will soon be receiving up to 3 emails indicating what is missing
or damaged beyond repair.
If arrangements have not been made with your child’s current school librarian
by Monday, November 3 (end of first quarter) the cost will be turned into a fee
in Infinite Campus. Once that happens, the librarian no longer has the ability to
resolve the issue. All library fees in Infinite Campus will be collected through
the usual district fee process.
Cargo por materiales de biblioteca perdidos o dañados
del Distrito Escolar Metropolitano de Madison: 2014-2015
Si su hijo o hija ha perdido o dañado un libro u otro material de la biblioteca
durante el ciclo escolar 2013-2014, usted recibirá muy pronto hasta 3 mensajes
de correo electrónico detallando los materiales que faltan o que están dañados
de forma irreparable.
Si no se hacen arreglos con el bibliotecario de la escuela de su hijo para el lunes
3 de noviembre (final del primer trimestre), el costo del material se convertirá
en un cargo para usted en Infinite Campus.
Una vez que eso sucede, el bibliotecario ya no tiene la capacidad para resolver
el problema. Todos los cargos de biblioteca en Infinite Campus se recaudarán a
través del proceso de pago habitual del Distrito.
MMSD Tsev Saib Ntawv Tus Nqi Ua Ploj/Puas: 2014-15
Yog tias koj tus me nyuam ua tsev saib ntawv cov khoom/cov ntawv saib ploj
los yog puas xyoo 2013-14, koj yuav tau txais li 3 tsab email qhia txog tej yam
ploj los yog puas. Yog tias tsis tau npaj them rau koj tus me nyuam lub tsev
kawm ntawv ziag no tus neeg ua hauj lwm hauv chav saib ntawv rau hnub
Monday, lub Kaum Ib Hli 3 (thaum thawj lub quarter xaus) qhov nuj nqis no
yuav raug muab tso ua ib tug nqi nyob hauv Infinite Campus. Thaum qhov
ntawd tshwm sim lawm, tus ua hauj lwm hauv chav saib ntawv yuav tsis muaj
peev xwm los daws tau qhov teeb meem lawm. Cov nuj nqis txhua yam hauv
Infinite Campus yuav raug muab sau los ntawm cheeb tsam tsev kawm ntawv
tus txheej txheem them nqi.
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Progress Reports/Report Cards/Conferences
Christy Fay, Learning Coordinator
Room 111
O’Keeffe Middle School
[email protected]
We are well into the school year and our students are off to
a great start. If you want to check on that, please log in to
your Infinite Campus family account and look at progress
reports. Progress reports were completed on
September 30, 2014. Progress reports indicate that students
are meeting standards or not meeting standards. If your child
is struggling in a class, please contact the teacher directly to
create a plan for success. I am always willing to join you for those meetings.
First quarter grading period will end on November 3, 2014. Grades are available online after
November 10, 2014 or will be mailed to you the following week. Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled
for November 13 and 18. If you were unable to attend Open House, please contact your child's homeroom
teacher to schedule a 20-minute conference on one of those dates.
Assessment Update
In September, all O'Keeffe students took tests called the Measures
of Academic Progress (MAP). The Madison Metropolitan School
District (MMSD) gave students MAP tests in reading, math and
language usage. MAP tests are unique in that they adapt to be
appropriate for your student’s level of learning. After all MMSD
students are done with testing, your child's results can be found on
your Infinite Campus parent portal.
For more information on assessment resources for parents, please
go to the MMSD assessment website
at: https://tnlweb.madison.k12.wi.us/node798
You may also wish to visit the MAP website
at: www.nwea.org/support
Between October 27 and November 7, 2014, 8th grade students will be participating in the WKCE (Wisconsin
Knowledge and Concepts Examination). This standardized test includes questions customized specifically for
Wisconsin and some commercially developed questions used in schools across the country. Please try to avoid
appointments during this time, especially in the morning, as we have very limited time to give these
assessments and we do not want to further interrupt your student’s instructional time with make-up tests.
Results for these tests are received mid-March.
Please contact me with questions about the assessments given at O’Keeffe.
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Dear Family,
Wouldn’t it be great if there were a way to protect your middle
school student from risky behaviors—such as bullying, aggression,
and substance abuse—while improving his or her school success?
Fortunately, research shows there is a way to do just that.
This week we begin the Stepping Up program. The program focuses on skills that will help
your student succeed in school and in life:
• Empathy
• Communication
• Perspective taking
• Respectful disagreement
• Assertiveness
• Emotional management
• Problem solving
You play a vital role in helping your student develop strong social skills. During these next few weeks,
the focus of the lessons will be empathy and communication. Ask questions about the skills your
student is learning, such as:
• “How do you show someone you’re actively listening to them?”
• “What are some ways you can be an ally to someone?”
• “Why should you try to understand other people’s perspectives?”
If you have any questions about the curriculum, please do not hesitate to contact O’Keeffe for more
information. Thank you for supporting your student in learning the skills that lead to success in school
and in life.
P.S. Make sure to join www.secondstep.org with the activation key SSP6 FAMILY12
to watch videos about the Second Step program and get information about what your
student is learning.
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Estimada familia:
¿No sería maravilloso si hubiera una manera de proteger a su
hijo(a) que cursa la escuela intermedia de comportamientos
riesgosos, tales como el acoso escolar, la agresión y la
drogadicción y que a la vez mejore su éxito escolar? Afortunadamente, las investigaciones muestran
que sí existe una manera de hacer precisamente eso. Esta semana empezaremos el programa Stepping
Up [Intensificar]. El programa se enfoca en las habilidades que le ayudarán a su hijo(a) a tener éxito
en la escuela y en la vida. Estas habilidades incluyen:
• Empatía
• Comunicación
• Adopción de puntos de vista
• Desacuerdo respetuoso
• Firmeza
• Manejo de las emociones
• Resolución de problemas
Ustedes desempeñan un papel fundamental para ayudarle a su hijo(a) a desarrollar habilidades
sociales consistentes. Durante estas próximas semanas, las lecciones se enfocarán en la empatía y la
comunicación. Háganle preguntas a su hijo(a) sobre las habilidades que está aprendiendo, tales como:
• “¿Cómo le demuestras a alguien que lo estás escuchando atentamente?
• “¿De qué maneras puedes ser un aliado de alguien?”
• “¿Por qué debes tratar de entender los puntos de vista de otras personas?
Si tienen preguntas sobre este currículo, por favor no duden en ponerse en contacto con el maestro
del salón de clases. Gracias por apoyar a su hijo(a) en el aprendizaje de las habilidades conducentes al
éxito tanto académico como en la vida.
P.D. Asegúrense de ingresar a la página www.secondstep.org utilizando la clave de acceso
SSP6 FAMILY12, para ver videos sobre el programa Second Step [Segundo paso] y obtener
información sobre lo que su hijo(a) está aprendiendo.
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Spotlight on Anti-Bullying Practices in MMSD
The Madison Metropolitan School District strives to provide an environment where every student feels safe, respected and
welcomed. Bullying can have harmful social, physical, psychological and/or academic impact on students who engage in
bullying behaviors and bystanders that observe acts of bullying.
Bullying is . . .
• Harmful
• Intentional
• Imbalanced in
power
The 2010-2011 school year
marked the first year of
implementing the district’s
Anti-Bullying Policy. The
start of the 2013-14 school
year comes with renewed
energy to ensure students
and parents are aware of
effective, more thorough
bullying reporting
procedures as well as
enhanced anti-bullying
practices in our schools.
How Families Can Report Bullying
In the event that your child shares that bullying
has taken place, families are encouraged to
access:
“Report of Bullying/Harassment Incident”
The one-page form is available in your school
office and online at:
www.madison.k12.wi.us/node/925
District policy defines bullying as,
Bullying includes . . .
• Physical harm
“the intentional action by an
individual or group of individuals to
inflict harm when there is an
imbalance of real or perceived power.”
Anti-bullying practices are
part of each school’s system
of Positive Behavior Support
(PBS) and include:
Schools have outline procedures for . . .
•
• Spreading rumors
•
•
•
• False accusations
•
• Manipulating friendships
• Cyber-bullying
• Harassment based on
protected class
Reporting bullying behavior
Investigating the incident
Determining whether acts of bullying
were verified
Carrying out interventions and
disciplinary action if appropriate.
•
•
•
•
Training staff to prevent
and intervene in bullying
behavior
Building community in
classrooms and schools
Teaching students
strategies to intervene in
bullying behavior
Preventing bullying
behavior through
enhancing social and
emotional capabilities of
students
Group and individual
interventions for students
in need of more support
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MERIT – Get Your Talk On!
Money is tight, and competition is great! Over 1,100 organizations submitted proposals to the Federal Office of
Adolescent Health two years. The Goodman Community Center was the only Wisconsin organization funded.
Since October we have been hiring and training staff, piloting our curriculum programs and networking
throughout Madison. The MERIT Project began with programming in several Madison middle schools and
community organizations. We have been reaching out to schools, health centers, churches and community
groups throughout Madison introducing our curriculum and staff. We hosted a stakeholders meeting, held a
pregnancy prevention event and gave numerous presentations. The response to MERIT has been
overwhelmingly positive.
Someone is talking with your kids about sex: research shows teens are exposed to 20,000+ explicit images or
messages per year via TV. We want to encourage parents to join us in this effort by looking at the relationships
you have with your kids and if you haven't yet; GET YOUR TALK ON.
The Talk… is often one of the most feared moments in any parent’s life. We can talk to our children about so
many subjects; getting good grades, friendships, drug and alcohol use. However, the talk remains the elephant
in the room. Don’t be afraid to admit that it’s sometimes hard for you to talk about these issues. As parents, you
are in an ideal position to dispel sexual myth information, by providing an opportunity to Talk! Gaining
knowledge and skills to make responsible sexual decisions is one of the greatest challenges teens face today.
You can build the odds in your teens favor.
In a recent survey conducted by the National Campaign to Prevent Teenage Pregnancy, teens were asked “if
you could give your parents advice about how to help you and your friends avoid pregnancy, what would it be?
1. Talk to us honestly about sex, love and relationships
Just because we’re young doesn’t mean that we can’t fall in love or be deeply interested in sex. These feelings
are very real and powerful to us. Help us handle the feelings in a safe way.
2. Whether we’re having sex or not, we need to be prepared
We need to know how to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. If we ask you about sex or birth
control, don’t assume we’re already having sex, And don’t think that giving us information about sex and birth
control will encourage us to have sex.
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3. Pay attention to us before we get into trouble
We all need encouragement, attention, and support. Reward us for doing the right thing - even when it seems
like no big thing.
4. The talk makes us just as uncomfortable
Start talking with us about sex and responsibility while we’re young, and keep the conversation going as we
grow older.
MERIT will offer support and information to help students develop positive goals for their future and encourage
positive choices in their lives. This evidence-based curriculum was developed by Dr. Loretta Jemmott to
educate youth about risk involved in teen pregnancy, and suggests that teen pregnancy is not just an issue for
teens but for the community as a whole. MERIT provides an opportunity to talk about the factors affecting
teens and discusses age-appropriate sexual issues within the context of an adolescent’s life. The program
designed for male and female students is a series of 8 sessions including activities that encourage teens to
develop personal goals and plan for a productive future. It also includes medically accurate information that
will increase each participant’s knowledge about the consequences of sexual activity; including the risk
associated with teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
Curriculum Objectives
At the completion of the Making A Difference! Curriculum, youth will have:
•
Increased knowledge about prevention of HIV, STDs and pregnancy;
•
More positive attitudes/beliefs about abstinence;
•
Increased confidence in their ability to negotiate abstinence;
•
Increased negotiation skills;
•
Stronger intentions to abstain from sex;
•
A lower incidence of STD/HIV risk-associated sexual behavior; and
•
A stronger sense of pride and responsibility in making a difference.
Content Outline
The Making A Difference! Curriculum has three major components. The first component focuses on goals and
dreams and adolescent sexuality. The second component focuses on knowledge, including information about
the etiology, transmission, and prevention of HIV, STDs, and teenage pregnancy. It also covers beliefs and
attitudes about abstinence, HIV, STD, and pregnancy. The third component focuses on skills and self-efficacy.
It covers negotiation and refusal skills, and provides time for practice, reinforcement, and support.
Sessions
Session 1: Getting to Know You and Making Your Dreams Come True
Session 2: Puberty and Adolescent Sexuality
Session 3: Making Abstinence Work for Me
Session 4: The Consequences of Sex: HIV Infection
Session 5: The Consequences of Sex: STD Infection
Session 6: The Consequences of Sex: Pregnancy
Session 7: Responding to Peer and Partner Pressure
Session 8: Role Plays: Refusal and Negotiation Skills
For more information, contact Anthony Ward, MERIT Liaison, at www.goodmancenter.org/merit.
16
2014-15 School Year Calendar
October 13
October 20
October 27
November 3
November 13
November 14
November 18
November 26
November 27, 28
December 1
December 8
December 15
December 22 January 2
January 5
January 12
January 19
January 23
January 30
February 6
February 9
February 16
February 23
March 2
March 13
March 16
March 23
March 30-April 6
April 7
April 13
April 20
April 27
May 4
May 11
May 18
May 25
June 11
June 22
July 31
Early Release
Early Release
Early Release
Early Release
Parent/Teacher Evening Conferences
No School – Professional Development Day
Early Release - Parent/Teacher Conferences
No School – Teacher Comp Day
School closed for Thanksgiving Holiday
Early Release
Early Release
Early Release
No School – Winter Break
School Resumes
Early Release
No School – MLK Day
Early Release – Dismissal at 11:40 am
No School – Parent/Teacher Conferences
No School – Professional Development Day
Early Release
Early Release
Early Release
Early Release
No School – Professional Development Day
Early Release
Early Release
No School – Spring Break
School Resumes
Early Release
Early Release
Early Release
Early Release
Early Release
Early Release
No School – Memorial Day
Last Day of School – dismissal at 9:05 am
First Day of Summer School (Tentative)
Last Day of Summer School (Tentative)
17
O'KEEFFE MIDDLE SCHOOL
2014-2015 PHONE LIST
Phone
46824
46830
46851
46848
46883
46874
46928
46833
46828
46833
46873
46868
46851
46858
46884
46879
46849
46876
46822
46880
516-5484
46833
46827
46861
46835
46874
46878
46881
46845
43227
46872
46847
46888
46877
46865
43235
46862
46865
46864
46863
Last Name
Adamson
Ballwahn
Banks
Belgum
Bertalan
Broehm
Brown
Brown
Chotlos
Coates
Cohan
Coll
Conlin
Craig
Cremin
Cremin
Davis
Davis
Dugas
Dunleavy
Dunn
Dvorak
Eckford
Edelstein
Fay
Finger
Finger
Fish
Guderyon
Harford
Hauser
Hay-Chapman
Hetzel
First
Name
Alana
Kelli
Carla
Barb
Katie
Karolyn
Kate
Dawn
Paul
Teri
Jill
Magda
Diane
Jeff
Jeremiah
Julia
Barry
Rebecca
Tony
Brian
Jim
Sheryll
Robert
Noah
Christy
Pam
Pam
Nicole
Eric
Amanda
Elizabeth
Julie
Rob
Hibbler
Hoon
Hutchinson
Imhoff
Inda
Jacobs
Kamath
Michael
Lisa
Mary
Genevieve
Ronnie
Jason
Divya
Phone
46860
46820
46848
46845
43255
46842
46886
46878
46831
46831
46868
46851
43255
46882
46836
46851
46844
46870
46833
46833
46895
46829
46831
46831
43245
46863
43252
46830
46900
46853
46885
46871
46952
46875
46851
46868
46825
46859
669-7083
46849
46869
First
Name
Lucas
Diane
Ginger
Cynde
Sue
Gina
Marie
Mary
Karen
Kaitlynne
Beth
Maryanne
Last Name
Koenig
Kopan
Kruger
Larson
Lee
Lewandowski
McManama
Milhaupt
Motisi
O'Donohue
Olson
Olson
OT/PT
Paulson
PBST Coach
Penticoff
Peterson
Peterson
Pfalz
Reamer
Renault
Reyes
Runkel
Ryan
Schmidt
Schnier
Schuck
Shafer
Shinstine
Simac
Smith
Sopkin
Spencer
Jason
Kyle
Kyle
Jenah
Jeff
Brittany
Ann
Colleen
Kirsten
Laurie
Kara
Kristin
Hannah
Kim
Laura
Michael
April
Zach
Spilde
Stanford
Steffens
Stevens
Swetz
Taebel
Wallace
Warnecke
Karen
Marcus
Sue
Shannon
Abby
Amy
Mike
Tracy
Lauri
18
STUDENT WORK FEATURED
Friday night, October 10th, Bare Knuckle Arts Studio
(1949 Winnebago Street) featured O’Keeffe student work!
The theme of the show was “self portrait”.
This is part of the East-side Open Studio night as listed on
the MMOCA website and Fall Gallery night brochures.
The following 7th and 8th grade students’ work was included
in the show:
7th – Miette, Anja, Max, Brandi, Bryan, Owen, Heaven,
Kade, Noah, Koki, Miguel, Rosalie, Mason, Summer, Jamerick, Marvin, Arianna, Zoey and Jonathon.
8th – Mahailia, Eric, Chloe, Noah, Ben, Jasper, Jude, Marlin, Max, Lydia, Liam, Ellie, Veronica, Sophia, Hans,
Ella, Eva, Max, Tate, Nick, Simon, Otto and Rhea.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
CBITS (Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools)
Dear Parents & Guardians of 6th Grade Students,
A passive consent letter was sent home via your student regarding the Cognitive
Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) screener that will take place
the month of October for 6th grade students at O’Keeffe Middle School. I have
included in the newsletter copies of the “opt-out” letter that went home with your
student. Please take moment to review it and if you have questions, please call me at
204-6825.
Thank you.
Shannon Stevens
O’Keeffe Social Worker
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20
21
22
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NEW STAFF PROFILES
My name is Jim Dunn, and while I'm not new to O'Keeffe Middle School, I do have a new job title this year. I work as the Advanced
Learner Instructional Resource Teacher, (previously known as TAG) with all East area middle schools; Black Hawk, O'Keeffe and
Sherman.
This is my 28th year teaching on the near east side, having been a classroom teacher, program coordinator and instructional resource
teacher. My primary role and responsibilities two days a week (Monday and Friday) at O'Keeffe are to coordinate services for
advanced learners. From working with classroom teachers and supporting differentiated instruction, to facilitating district advanced
learner interventions. I help students to grow and develop in core content areas, academics, leadership, visual and performing arts and
creativity.
I love my position and have a chance to work with a variety of student and teachers. In addition I claim O'Keeffe as my family’s
homeschool, where my two adult children attended middle school and where I taught 8th grade LA / Social Studies for many years.
When I'm not school, you can find me traveling by tandem bike with my wife Jean (retired Lapham Librarian), through the
neighborhood. I can be reached at,[email protected], work phone 608-516-5484, district Office room 229 Sherman Middle
School.
Hello, my name is Kristi Schuck and I'm the new 7th and 8th grade Spanish teacher here at O'Keeffe. Previously I have taught Spanish
at Whitehorse Middle School, Reedsburg Area High School and Lodi Area Middle School. While I enjoyed both Reedsburg and Lodi,
I'm excited to be in Madison near my friends and family. I grew up here and attended Memorial HS. I am also excited to have a fulltime position this year. I went to college at UW - Eau Claire. I studied abroad for a semester in Montevideo, Uruguay. My hobbies
include reading (especially sci-fi/fantasy and young adult books) and making my own earrings. I am looking forward to a great year!
My name is Kara Schnier and I am the new PASS AmeriCorps member. I am originally from St. Charles, IL (North West Suburb of
Chicago) and just graduated from St. Norbert College this past May. I graduated with a degree in Communication and Media Studies
with a minor in English and upon graduation was not sure where to go next. I decided to join PASS AmeriCorps because I love
working with kids and want to explore if working with kids full time is for me. I have coached youth basketball for the past four
summers and enjoyed every minute of it. I am really looking forward to working with the students, getting to know them, and helping
them grow as individuals. When I am not working with children, I love to stay active and be outdoors. I played basketball in college
so that is another huge interest of mine. I love playing it and I love teaching it. Being from the Chicagoland area I am a huge Bears fan
so being in Wisconsin and around Packers fans comes with its difficulties, but I love the rivalry! Overall, I am just really excited about
this year and cannot wait to get started!
________________________________________________________________________________________
Important Reminders for Parents
Absences
Please use O’Keeffe’s Safe Arrival number to report absences – 204-6821. Calls should
be made by 8:15 a.m. As you leave a message, you also can request homework to be left
in the office and needs to be picked up by 3:00 pm daily.
Appointments/Leaving Early
If your child needs to leave the building early, please send a written note with your child on the day of the
absence excusing them from school. They should bring the note into the office first thing in the morning. This
will allow office staff to issue a pass slip that will allow your child to leave class and the building at the time
designated. It will not be necessary for you to sign them out in the office. However, if they do not bring a note,
you will be required to come to the office to sign them out.
24
Reminder: We will be going outside for recess every day. Please remind
your student to wear a jacket, hat and gloves. Soon, we will add boots to the
list. Fresh air and exercise helps all of us learn better.
___________________________________________________
STRINGS FESTIVAL
Attention Strings Families: The Strings Festival rehearsal has been changed. The new date
is Thursday, March 12, 2015. It will begin at 4:30, and be held at East High School. The
performance will be on Saturday, March 14 at noon.
__________________________________________________________________________
PTG BAKE SALE
The PTG is looking for help at the upcoming Nov. 4th
election bake sale - we need folks to staff two-hour shifts
and to bring in baked goods. Please contact your PTG if you are able to help.
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Are you tired of buying products to raise money for the school?
Say no more!
Instead, you can just make a donation!
No-Buy, Easy-As-Pie O’Keeffe Money Raiser
□ $20
□ $35
□ $50
□ $75
□ Other: ____
These funds go directly to the school to support teachers, students
and the O’Keeffe Community.
Last year we were able to support:
Youth Frontiers Courage Retreat
All-School Picnics
If every family donates $35, we will not need to do ANY fundraising products this year!
Checks should be made payable to: O’Keeffe PTG
Name (optional): _____________________________________
Thank you for your contribution!
Contributions are tax deductible.
Return to the O’Keeffe office via your child or mail to:
O’Keeffe PTG, 510 S. Thornton Ave., Madison, WI 53703
26
October After-School Clubs
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
Thursday
1
2
2:50 pm Chess Club
2:50 pm Gender and
Sexuality Alliance
2:50 pm Homework Club
2:50 pm Jazz Band
3:00 pm Flag Football
Practice
3:00 pm Volleyball practice
2:50 pm
2:50 pm
2:50 pm
3:00 pm
8
9
2:50 pm Chess Club
2:50 pm Gender and
Sexuality Alliance
2:50 pm Homework Club
2:50 pm Jazz Band
3:00 pm Flag Football Game
3:00 pm Volleyball practice
2:45 pm
2:50 pm
2:50 pm
2:50 pm
13
15
16
2:50 pm Chess Club
2:45 pm
2:50 pm Gender and
2:50 pm
Sexuality Alliance 2:50 pm
2:50 pm Homework Club
3:00 pm
2:50 pm Jazz Band
3:00 pm
3:00 pm Cross Country Meet
@ Sennett/LaFollette 3:00 pm
3:00 pm Flag Football
Practice
3:00 pm Volleyball practice
20
22
2:00 pm Badger Volunteer 2:50 pm Homework Club
Homework Club 3:00 pm Flag Football
2:00 pm Open
Practice
Gym/Volleyball
27
28
2:00 pm Badger Volunteer 2:50 pm Homework Club
Homework Club
2:00 pm Open
Gym/Volleyball
10
Drama Club
Board Game Club
2:35 pm Marquette/O'Keeffe
Homework Club
Unicycling Open
Ultimate Frisbee
Gym
Game
3:00 pm Cross Country
Practice
3:00 pm Flag Football Practice
3:00 pm Volleyball Game
2:50 pm Homework Club
2:50 pm Ultimate Frisbee
2:00 pm Badger Volunteer 3:00 pm Cross Country
Homework Club
Practice
2:00 pm Open
3:00 pm Flag Football
Gym/Volleyball
Practice
3:00 pm Volleyball practice
21
3
Board Game Club
Homework Club
2:35 pm Marquette/O'Keeffe
Ultimate Frisbee
Unicycling Open
Cross Country
Gym
Practice
3:00 pm Flag Football Practice
3:00 pm Volleyball practice
2:50 pm Homework Club
2:50 pm Ultimate Frisbee
2:00 pm Badger Volunteer 3:00 pm Cross Country
Homework Club
Practice
2:00 pm Horseback Riding 3:00 pm Flag Football
at Hoofbeat Ridge
Practice
Camps
3:00 pm Volleyball practice
2:00 pm Open
Gym/Volleyball
14
Friday
17
Drama Club
Board Game Club
2:35 pm Marquette/O'Keeffe
Homework Club
Unicycling Open
Flag Football Practice
Gym
Ultimate Frisbee
Game
Volleyball Game
23
24
2:45 pm Drama Club
2:50 pm Board Game Club
2:50 pm Homework Club
2:35 pm Marquette/O'Keeffe
Unicycling Open
Gym
29
30
31
2:50 pm Chess Club
2:50 pm Gender and
Sexuality Alliance
2:50 pm Homework Club
2:50 pm Jazz Band
2:45 pm Drama Club
2:50 pm Board Game Club
2:50 pm Homework Club
2:35 pm Marquette/O'Keeffe
Unicycling Open
Gym
2:50 pm Chess Club
2:50 pm Gender and
Sexuality Alliance
2:50 pm Homework Club
2:50 pm Jazz Band
3:00 pm Flag Football
Tournament @
Whitehorse Middle
School
3:00 pm Flag Football
Practice
The After-School bus will pick up at 3:40pm. Anyone staying after 3:40 for extra practice with sports or open
gym will need to have transportation set up. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Divya Kamath at
608-204-6863
27