7

             Welcome back! I hope the opening of the 2005-2006 school year went smoothly and that this year is off to a wonderful start. 

             PMSA is always looking for ways to give back to our membership.  This summer, we held a professional development workshop for our membership.  This workshop was a joint effort between PMSA Western Region and Duquesne University.  The free workshop was tailored for veteran principals and principal candidates.  Duquesne’s Dr. Robert Furman and PMSA’s Jim Smoyer organized the event.  The keynote speaker was Charlie Wayne, assessment expert, from The Pennsylvania Department of Education.  One hundred educators from across the state gathered for round table discussions, presentations, and professional networking.

             This year we plan to continue to provide professional development opportunities for our members.  We would like to see teachers add more

tools to their toolbox so that they can positively impact instruction in our schools.  Our goal is to see that every middle level child is receiving the best middle level practices. 

             Please mark your calendars and register for theses upcoming professional development opportunities:

PMSA Western Region Conference

Neshannock Township School District

Neshannock Junior High School

New Castle, Pennsylvania

January 16, 2006

             Check your mail for information on these professional development opportunities.  You can also register for these events and apply to present on-line at www.pmsaweb.org

Nick Perry, President

include nutrition and the young adolescent, scholastic transition, emotional needs of middle school children, and socializing and the middle school child.  We are optimistic about this format to provide information to parents.  Also in discussion were items relative to how we could better update our web access for and other general member benefits.

                 Our region is hosting its first planning session on November 10th in Waterford.  At this time  the 2006 Spring Conference will be discussed.  The format will be similar to the one utilized last year as it proved very successful.  Various booths of best practices and professional topics will be utilized.  We are tentatively looking at McDowell Intermediate High School in Millcreek Township, Erie, PA for our location.

                 We are very proud of state President elect Karen Jez , who hails from our region.  She has worked tirelessly as an advocate for middle school.  We are also pleased to see so many new faces as well as those who have served so selflessly in the past.  We are excited about a great year.

Tim Stoops, President

                 The Northwest Region met in Early August and in mid-September to discuss regional participation at the National Conference and formulate direction for our region for the 2005-2006 calendar year.

                 In August, our region hosted a breakfast for some of the more outlying districts in our region.  The location of Intermediate Unit Five proved a great geographic location for the meeting.  Members of the regional board spoke of member benefits as well as the some of the fundamentals of middle school philosophy as set forth by NMSA and PMSA.  We wish to extend special thanks to PHEAA and Lincoln investments for attending the breakfast as well.  Future breakfasts will hopefully develop a stronger regional membership and provide a great venue for professional development.

                 At our last regional meeting, we discussed a variety of upcoming activities relative to the Month of the Young Adolescent.  We are in the process of developing a panel discussion relative to informing parents of the complexities of middle school.  Topics