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The Middle School Principal's Calendar
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The Middle School Principal's Calendar
A Month-By-Month Planner for the School Year


August 2003 | 280 pages | Corwin

Be a leader of leaders! Get organized and set a positive tone for the upcoming school year.

Developed by veteran administrators, the "nuts and bolts" described in the monthly chapters will give both new and experienced middle school principals the effective tools they need to help ensure a smooth opening to the school year. This living document categorizes the challenges, as well as the solutions, to the many situations that administrators face every day during the academic school year.

The Middle School Principal's Calendar can be utilized year after year to ensure a smooth transition from new student orientation straight through to the end-of-the-year newsletter. Chapters cover key tasks for each month, beginning in July:

  • Nine essential skills for effective school leadership
  • Overview of key tasks—faculty meetings, budget process, evaluations
  • Communications—letters, memos, correspondence, social activities
  • Planning—workshops, field trips, standardized tests, fundraising activities
  • Personnel—orientation, schedules, rosters, tenure recommendations

A handy checklist for personalized use at the end of chapter offers flexibility for modification to help avoid reinventing the wheel. Also included is a rich resource of sample documents to help with a variety of communication needs from sample letters to the incoming class and new staff members to PTA presentations and board of education meetings. The Middle School Principal's Calendar is essential for the multitalented professional whose goal is to foster a positive educational environment for staff and students alike.


 
Preface
 
About the Authors
 
1. July
July Key Tasks

 
Monitor Summer School

 
Review Curriculum-Writing Projects

 
Review Teacher Evaluations

 
Meet With Custodial Staff

 
Review and Revise Student Handbook

 
Update Teacher Manual

 
Review School Board's Policy Manual

 
Develop a Mission Statement

 
Review and Revise Administrative Responsibilities

 
Attend Monthly Board of Education Meetings

 
Analyze Trends in Disciplinary Referrals

 
Examine School Statistics

 
Assess Each Department's Status

 
Review Team Assignments

 
Meet With Parents

 
Review District Calendar

 
Check Status of Purchase Orders

 
Contact Local Police and Fire Officials

 
Review Report Cards and Grades

 
July Communications

 
Write Letter to Staff

 
Develop a Public Relations Program

 
Write Letter to Incoming Class

 
Write Letter to New Faculty and Staff Members

 
Establish Membership in Civic Associations

 
Subscribe to Local Newspapers

 
Write Letter to Nonpublic Schools

 
Write Letter to Parents Suggesting Summer Activities for Students

 
July Planning

 
Finalize New Student Orientation Program

 
Conduct Administrative Team Workshop

 
Finalize Calendar for Field Trips and Fundraising Activities

 
July Personnel

 
Review Staffing and Tenure Recommendations

 
July Checklists

 
 
2. August
August Key Tasks

 
Prepare School Opening Remarks for Staff

 
Meet With All Supervisors

 
Complete Master Schedule

 
Review the School's Mission Statement

 
Register New Students

 
Conduct Final Walk-Through With Head Custodian

 
Complete Last-Minute Double Checks

 
August Communications

 
Prepare Board of Education Presentation

 
Meet With Parent-Teacher Association Leaders

 
Complete School Opening Memo for Staff

 
Review Interim Reports

 
Send Letters to Students with Schedules for Opening Day

 
Send Opening-of-School Letter to Faculty and Staff

 
Send Letter to Parents About Future PTA Meetings

 
Write Article for Student Newspaper

 
Prepare First Weekly Memo to Staff

 
Send Letter to Police, Fire Officials, and Local Politicians

 
Submit Grade Examination and Analysis

 
August Planning

 
Establish Field Trip Schedule

 
Establish Fire Drill Schedule

 
Establish Goals and Special Projects

 
August Personnel

 
Set Shared Decision-Making Committee Meeting Dates

 
Revise Staff Directory

 
Review Substitute Teacher Procedures

 
Complete New Teacher Orientation Plans

 
August Checklists

 
 
3. September
September Key Tasks

 
Conduct First Faculty Meeting

 
Review Opening Preparations

 
Meet With Staff to Discuss Security Plans

 
Oversee Orientation of New Students

 
Meet With New Teachers

 
Initiate Staff Development Plans

 
Establish the Disciplinary Process

 
Review Guidance Program's Direction

 
Establish an Advisory Program

 
Complete Superintendent Reports

 
Provide Orientation for Public Address System Users

 
Meet With Extracurricular Advisors

 
Conduct Required Safety Drills

 
Begin Student Spirit Activities

 
Complete Annual Grant Proposals

 
September Communications

 
Compose Weekly Memo to Staff

 
Meet with Each Teacher Team

 
Report to PTA, Superintendent, and Board of Education on School Opening

 
School Improvement Teams and Site-Based Councils

 
Meet With School Nurse(s)

 
Write and Distribute Memo Regarding Special Education Accommodations

 
Conduct Class Visits

 
Send Open School Night Invitation to All Parents

 
Write Article for Principal's Newsletter to Parents

 
September Planning

 
Develop Assesmbly Procedures and Plans

 
Prepare for Open School Night

 
Develop Guidance Newsletters

 
Make Plans for an Evening Event With Coaches and Advisors

 
Plan Schoolwide Staff Development Activities

 
Maintain and Review Student Activities Calendar

 
Monitor Field Trip Requests

 
September Personnel

 
Distribute Emergency Information

 
Meet With Faculty Sunshine Committee

 
Develop a School Directory

 
Mail Faculty Start-of-School Materials

 
Set Up Schedule Changes Week With Guidance Department

 
Schedule Teacher Observations and Evaluations

 
Review Administrative Team Objectives

 
September Checklists

 
 
4. October
October Key Tasks

 
Set Budget Development Timelines and Parameters

 
Review Interim Reports

 
Prepare for Open School Night

 
Plan Halloween Dance and Alternative Activities

 
Screen New Entrants

 
Review Progress of Students in Need of Special Services

 
Review Plans for Faculty Meetings

 
Hold First Site-Based Committee Meeting

 
Coordinate the Year's Testing Program

 
Initiate Grade-Level Plans

 
Plan Homecoming Parade and Activities

 
Coordinate Recognition Day With Board of Education

 
Conduct Fire and Emergency Drills

 
October Communications

 
Plan Monthly Board of Education Presentation

 
Help Plan Monthly PTA Meetings

 
Schedule K-12 Principals' Meetings

 
Attend Meetings of Local Service Clubs

 
Review Bulletin Boards and School Exhibits

 
Send Thank-You Notes After Open School Night

 
Update School Profile

 
Conduct Evening Social Activities for Students

 
October Planning

 
Prepare List of Capital Improvements

 
Plan American Education Week Activities

 
Join Principals' Associations

 
October Personnel

 
Check on Teacher Observation Process

 
Host Breakfast for Staff

 
October Checklists

 
 
5. November
November Key Tasks

 
Prepare Report Cards

 
Conduct Teacher Observations

 
Hold Monthly Faculty Meeting

 
Preview School Play

 
Encourage Schoolwide Service Projects

 
Review Fundraising Guidelines

 
November Communications

 
Prepare PTA Presentation

 
Compose HOliday School Policy Memo

 
Prepare Board of Education Presentation

 
Foster Appreciation of Religious and Cultural Diversity

 
Initiate Student Service Awards Program

 
November Planning

 
Review Procedures for Inclement Weather

 
Apply for Funds and Permission to Attend Conferences

 
Complete Enrollment Projections

 
Schedule Holiday and Community Service Events

 
November Personnel

 
Involve the Library/Media Center

 
Continue New Teacher Orientation

 
November Checklists

 
 
6. December
December Key Tasks

 
Plan Holiday Work Schedule With Head Custodian

 
Review Budget Proposals

 
Complete and Report Calendar Year Fire Drills

 
Conduct Faculty Meeting

 
Schedule Classroom Observations

 
Prepare Holiday or Variety Show

 
Determine Components of the Sixth-Grade Orientation Program

 
December Communications

 
Prepare PTA Presentation

 
Prepare Presentation for Board of Education Meeting

 
Prepare for Retirement Parties

 
December Planning

 
Prepare Standardized Tests Results

 
Devise Midyear Examination Schedule

 
Review Winter Concert Schedule

 
Conduct Midyear Locker Cleanup

 
December Personnel

 
Coordinate Purchase of Gifts for Office and Custodial Staff

 
Review Extracurricular Activities and Evaluate Advisors and Coaches

 
December Checklists

 
 
7. January
January Key Tasks

 
Review Teacher Performance Evaluations

 
Create Remedial Plans for Staff

 
Evaulate Custodial Staff

 
Distribute Midyear Report Cards

 
Review Department and Team Goals

 
Review Curriculum Initiatives

 
Finalize Budget Requests

 
Make Informal Class Visits

 
Conduct Faculty Meeting

 
Prepare for Winter Examinations

 
January Communications

 
Conduct Parent-Teacher Conferences

 
Coordinate PTA Presentation

 
Prepare for Board of Education Meeting

 
Obtain Feedback on Student Lunch Program

 
January Planning

 
Assess Sixth-Grade Orientation Program

 
Review Ongoing Grants

 
Monitor Bulletin Board Displays

 
Collect Course Selection Data

 
January Personnel

 
Finalize Staffing Needs

 
Send Superintendent All First-Semester Teacher Evaluations

 
Conduct Evaluations for Nonprofessional Staff

 
January Checklists

 
 
8. February
February Key Tasks

 
Evaluate the Second-Semester Schedule

 
Issue Second-Quarter Report Cards

 
Complete Evaluations of Nontenured Teachers

 
Plan Monthly Faculty Meeting

 
Meet With Key Personnel About Next Year's Master Schedule

 
Review Teacher and Departmental Grades

 
Host a Career Fair

 
Plan for Eighth-Grade Graduation

 
February Communications

 
Prepare Boad of Education Report

 
Request Congratulatory Letters From Elected Officials

 
Hold Midyear Conferences

 
Prepare PTA Presentation

 
Encourage Teachers to Schedule Parents Conferences

 
Compose Honor Roll Congratulatory Letters

 
February Planning

 
Meet With High School Counselors

 
Check on Status of School Supplies

 
Establish Due Dates for Chairpersons' Scheduling Input

 
Coordinate Preparation of Facilities and Grounds for Spring

 
February Personnel

 
Evaulate New Teacher Orientation Program

 
Develop a Dialogue With Support Staff

 
February Checklists

 
 
9. March
March Key Tasks

 
Prepare to Defend Budget Requests

 
Continue Work on Master Schedule

 
Prepare for Summer School Program

 
Finalize Summer Writing Projects

 
Complete All Teacher Evaluations

 
Begin to Organize School Recognition Program

 
Conduct Faculty Meeting

 
March Communications

 
Set Meeting Dates With Elementary Principals

 
Supervise Closing Activities

 
Plan Monthly Board of Education Presentation

 
Prepare PTA Meeting Presentation

 
March Planning

 
Conduct Statewide Examinations

 
Begin Summer School Preparations

 
Begin Planning for Annual Awards Assembly

 
March Personnel

 
Begin New Teacher Hiring Process

 
Sent Reminder Notes to Supervisory Staff

 
March Checklists

 
 
10. April
April Key Tasks

 
Complete Master Schedule for Coming Year

 
Conduct New Student Orientation for Fifth Graders

 
Participate in Orientation for Eighth Graders

 
Make Public Presentation on Proposed Budget

 
Conduct Election for Student Government Officers

 
Initiate Student Awards Selection Process

 
Review Quarterly Report Cards

 
April Communications

 
Make PTA Presentation

 
Attend Monthly Board of Education Meeting

 
Send Congratulatory Letter to Honor Roll Students

 
Establish Parameters for Spring Musical

 
Complete Faculty Evaluations

 
Contact Parents of Students in Danger of Not Graduating

 
April Planning

 
Establish Summer Vacation and Work Schedules

 
Finalize Plan for Academic Awards Assembly

 
Facilitate Planning for Cultural Arts Program

 
April Personnel

 
Advertise Teacher Openings

 
Celebrate Secretaries' Day

 
April Checklists

 
 
11. May
May Key Tasks

 
Encourage District Budget Vote Participation

 
Conduct Monthly Faculty Meeting

 
Supervise Interim Report Distribution

 
Complete Evaluations of Administrative Team

 
Help With Summer School Planning

 
Conduct Exit Interviews

 
Conduct Remaining Fire Drills

 
Conduct Locker Cleanups

 
Oversee Administration of Standardized Tests

 
Prepare Report on Goals

 
May Communications

 
Distribute Progress/Interim Reports

 
Complete and Distribute Closing Procedures

 
Give Monthly Presentation at PTA Meeting

 
Contact Elementary School Principals

 
May Planning

 
Begin Developing Activities Calendar for the Coming Year

 
Finalize Custodial Summer Work Schedule and Goals

 
Analyze Present Year's Budget

 
Plan to Supervise and Attend Spring Events

 
May Personnel

 
Submit Recommendations for Extracurricular Appointments

 
Complete Extracurricular Activity Report

 
Conduct Ongoing Teacher Hiring

 
May Checklists

 
 
12. June
June Key Tasks

 
Monitor Final Examinations

 
Issue Final Report Cards

 
Review Final Grades

 
Complete All End-of-Year Reports

 
Organize Final Locker Cleanup

 
Conduct Moving-Up Exercises

 
Organize and Conduct Awards Assembly

 
Hold Early Registration for Summer School

 
Publish Teacher Sign-Out Procedures

 
Attend Culminating Events

 
Submit Summer Work Recommendations

 
Collect All Outstanding Books and Equipment

 
Arrange for Fall Sports and Activity Physicals

 
Transfer Student Records

 
Complete All Required Staff Evaluations

 
June Communications

 
Write End-of-Year Newsletter

 
Promote Faculty Drop-Ins

 
Make Board of Education Presentation

 
Attend PTA Installation Night

 
June Planning

 
Set Deadlines for Submission of Grades and Failure Lists

 
Finalize Summer Cleaning and Painting Schedule

 
Obtain All Teachers' and Chairpersons' Schedules and Vacation Dates

 
Develop Preliminary Plans for the Opening of School

 
June Personnel

 
Annouce Next Year's Teaching Schedules

 
Conduct Last-Minute Hiring

 
June Checklists

 
 
Resources
Sample Documents

 
Resource 1: Student Handbook Topics

 
Resource 2: Teacher Manual Topics

 
Resource 3: How to Build a Mission Statement for School Improvement

 
Resource 4: How Parents Can Help Their Children Succeed

 
Resource 5: Building Inspection Checklist

 
Resource 6: Sample Interim/Progress Report

 
Resource 7: Middle School Substitutes' Memorandum

 
Resource 8: Characteristics of the Middle School Child

 
Resource 9: Building Security Memo

 
Resource 10: Principal's Orientation Presentation

 
Resource 11: Principal's Weekly Bulletin

 
Resource 12: Effective Teamwork and Group Leadership

 
Resource 13: Best Practices in Quality Education for Students With Severe Disabilities

 
Resource 14: Open School Night Memo to Teachers

 
Resource 15: Budget Process Calendar

 
Resource 16: Interim Progress Reports Memo

 
Resource 17: Attention-Deficit Disorders

 
Resource 18: American Education Week Memo

 
Resource 19: Fundraising Considerations

 
Resource 20: Principal's Newsletter to Parents

 
Resource 21: Holiday Gifts: A Challenge or a Burden

 
Resource 22: Administrator's Observation Worksheet

 
Resource 23: Rating Scale for Custodial Services

 
Resource 24: Scheduling Timeline

 
Resource 25: Inspirational Memorandum

 
Resource 26: Interviewing Questions for Teachers

 
Resource 27: Letter Sent to All Those Running for School Offices

 
Resource 28: Rating Your Middle School Principal

 
Resource 29: Teacher's Comments for Interim Reports and Report Cards

 
Resource 30: Student Activities Evaluation Report

 
Resource 31: Final Examination Schedule

 
Resource 32: Locker Cleanup

 
Resource 33: End-of-Year Sign-Out List

 
 
References

Sample Materials & Chapters

Preface

Chapter 1: July


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