Scarlet News and Notes
October 20, 2019
Assuring Learning Excellence and Readiness for a Changing World
“A great teacher shapes a vision that acknowledges each individual student's personality, interests, background and skill levels.”
Natalie Odom Pough & Justin Ballenger
Welcome Back!
Here are a few things that happened with our kids over the break...
Boys' Soccer are Section Champs!
Jug Game
Girls'Swimming competed at True Team State Meet
Let's Get to Know...
Steve Jones from the Mathematics department. Steven has been teaching classes such as Geometry, PreCalculus, and AP Statistics at West for 37 years. During the summer, Steven attended a conference focused on assessment. He may call himself a dinosaur, but he’s not stuck in the Mesozoic period in his thinking. “I want to grow [in my profession],” he says. “Every year we should keep getting better.” Steve has two adult children and one grandchild, Samuel. He’s been married to his wife, Janet, for 36 years.
Matt Weichert from the English department. Matt teaches Humanities I and II, Communications, and English 11. He spent the summer participating in AVID training as well as co-teacher training. He took part in a few book clubs, and he wrote curriculum for communications, arts and literature, and humanities. Matt has been teaching for nine years; this is his fifth at West.
Matt is from Fairmont, MN. He completed his BA in English at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and his MAT at Simmons College in Boston, MA.
He says, “My family is awesome. My wife Tiffany and I share our home with two giant super-mutts named Rosie and Fat Elvis.” Matt enjoys reading, watching movies, spending time with family and friends, and “being forcefully escorted around the neighborhood by the hounds.”
Sam Udermann from the Special Education department. Sam is in his second year of teaching and his second year at West. When he did his student teaching at West, he “fell in love with the school.” He also says, “I am very excited to build on what I learned last year and continue building relationships with my students.”
Sam grew up in Foley, MN the youngest of 4 kids. He is now an uncle to 10 nieces and nephews. Sam completed his bachelor's degree at Minnesota State University, Mankato. He loves coaching football and track, and in his free time, you may find him kayaking, hunting, fishing, or hiking.
Standards Based Grading
MAPS Standards Based Grading Timeline
If you would like more information about SBG, here is a link to Rick Wormeli's Standards Based Practices Part 3.
Game On Thursdays
Have you visited another classroom? If you haven't, and you feel uncomfortable going into someone else's classroom, let me know and you can come with me and do some walkthroughs.
Here is the link to a quick Google form that helps us get a sense of what you are seeing as well as helps move us closer to our goal of 75% participation.
Next winner will be drawn the end of October.
Reminders
We have 14 days left in the quarter, 14 days to be sure our Champion Students pass all of their classes. We had 11 teachers who reported that they invited their Champion Student's parents to conferences, and they came! That positive connection with parents can help support student success. It was exciting to hear at our staff meeting all of the ways teachers are connecting with their Champion Students to support their success.
Social Media
Our Science Department is killing it on social media. Thank you! Be like Science, send your posts to socialmedia@isd77.org.
College Knowledge Month
October continues to be College Knowledge Month. Share your college stories with your students, and wear your college swag on Wednesdays.
News to Share
Boys' Soccer is going to State and we will have a State Sendoff Wednesday afternoon between 6th and 7th period. We will follow Schedule A under the Special Events schedules found on the Staff Website. The boys will play Orono at 7:30pm on Wednesday in Farmington.
Haley Ling, special education para, had a baby girl October 18th. Welcome, Madeline Leona Ling.
Sad News
Barb Knutson, who was a teacher and coach at West for 35 years, passed away on October 17. Visitation is at 9:30am on Friday at Messiah Lutheran Church, funeral service follows at 11:00.
Staff Meetings
This week's staff meeting is with your small group. There is an article to read "White Fragility" by Robin DiAngelo. I would recommend reading the article before your small group meeting, or your group may decide to jigsaw the article when you meet. (This article is a little longer, about 15 pages, but remember, you are receiving 50 CEUs for our work in Life Journey. )
You will find the article and an assignment in google classroom.
United Way
It is our goal to have 100% of our staff participate in United Way. You can contribute as much or as little as you want, including the ability to have your contribution deducted from payroll. You can also choose which agency you want your money to go to, such as our own Project for Teens!
Thank you to those of you who paid $2 last week to wear your pajamas after conference night! This week, $2 will allow you to wear jeans on Monday. You can pay your $2 in the office.
GIVE AWAYS: Drawing will be held November 1, 2019
Scheels Card
Aveda Card
All Donations no matter the amount will get a 5.00 gift card to Pub 500!
FUN EVENTS!
10/21-Monday JEANS DAY Pay $2.00
10/28-Monday JEANS DAY Pay $2.00
Department Wars: Whichever department raises the most money will have coffee and donuts delivered to their department. We will divide per person per department so it is equal.
Last But Not Least- IF EVERY STAFF FILLS OUT THE UNITED WAY FORM TO DONATE EVEN $1.00 (100% PARTICIPATION). Some or all of the District Cabinet team will be serving our building breakfast.
Molly will send out reminders each week with some cool impact stats. The last day to donate will be November 1, 2019! Thank you for your support and giving! It makes such an amazing impact that we see every single day!!
The Week at a Glance
Monday
BLT meeting 3:15pm - 116
Wednesday
College Wear Wednesday
Boys' Soccer State Sendoff 1:57pm - Auditorium
Staff Meeting 3:15pm small groups
Events: Boys' Soccer State 7:30pm - Farmington
Thursday
Game On!
Friday
High Five Friday
Fire Drill approximately 10:00am
Saturday
Events: Football Section game 3:00pm - Todnem Field
Things I Have Been Reading...
Birthdays This Week
Happy Birthday!
Dana Patenaude - October 22
Gabriela Mastromano - October 26
Terri Helland - October 27
Jug Game - Tackle Cancer
Coming Soon
October 29 - Link Crew Freshmen Retreat
October 31 - New Course Proposal deadline
November 7 - End of Quarter
November 7 - Inflatable Lung Event
November 7 - Learning Academy
November 8 - Teacher Work Day, Staff Meeting 10:00 - 11:30