The Raider ACE!
What's Going On In Raider Nation Vol. 2 Issue 39
In the realm of education, the central priority of educators is undoubtedly their students. Entrusted with nurturing young minds, teachers bear the responsibility of imparting both academic knowledge and life lessons, forging relationships, and providing moral guidance. In many cases, teachers naturally become the cornerstone role models in their students' lives. This vital role involves not just teaching subjects, but also instilling values, ethics, and skills that pave the way for success.
However, within the dedication to their students, educators must also recognize the essential need for self-care. The truth is, educators can only offer their best when they themselves are at their best. This extends beyond the classroom; teachers' ability to provide for their own families is intertwined with their well-being. To truly serve their students and families effectively, educators must remember to care for themselves.
In the noble pursuit of shaping young lives, it's easy for educators to neglect their personal needs. Yet, it's important to acknowledge that self-care is not a luxury, but a necessity. It's a principle that speaks to the delicate balance between giving and receiving. Just as teachers give tirelessly to their students, they must also give back to themselves in the form of rest, reflection, and rejuvenation.
The analogy of the oxygen mask on an airplane rings true here: before assisting others, one must secure their own mask. Similarly, educators must ensure their well-being before extending their care to others. This involves carving out time for relaxation, hobbies, physical activity, and spending quality moments with their own families. By honoring their own needs, educators fortify themselves to fulfill their commitments in the classroom and beyond.
Moreover, the significance of educators' self-care radiates outward. When teachers tend to their own well-being, they exemplify a vital life lesson for their students: the importance of self-respect and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. This, in turn, enhances their ability to guide their students not just academically, but also in the realm of emotional intelligence and holistic growth.
In conclusion, the role of educators extends beyond the classroom's confines. They shoulder the responsibility of shaping future generations, a mission that encompasses both academic and moral nurturing. However, amid this calling, educators must not overlook the value of self-care. Just as they give their all to their students, they owe it to themselves and their families to nurture their own well-being. By striking this equilibrium, educators not only ensure their own vitality but also inspire their students through their actions. The path to serving others begins with caring for oneself.
We are W.J. Keenan High School. Home of the Champion Raiders!
There are a few things that we will need to make sure we are doing to keep the natural order and flow of our school:
- School starts at 8:00 a.m. Remind students they need to report to class before then to avoid a tardy.
- Stand at your door during the change of each class.
- You must not leave your students unsupervised for any reason.
- If you would like to have an end of year class gathering, food must be purchased and packaged to be consumed. Students/teachers may not bring food prepared at home.
- Please do not allow students into the hallway without a pass.
- Please do not allow students that are not on your roster in your classroom. Students need to be in their scheduled classroom to receive credit. You are accountable for every student in your room.
- You may only sign out to leave on your planning period and/or with administrator approval in an emergency circumstance if you do not have a scheduled absence.
- If you are absent from school, it is your professional responsibility to input the appropriate information in Frontline in a timely manner. Substitutes are limited. Please check Munis prior to doing this so you are aware of your available days for an absence.
Monday, August 28, 2023
- Senior Conferences (Hankins and Dubard Meeting with 12th graders)
- “We cannot solve problems with the kind of thinking we employed when we came up with them.” — Albert Einstein
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
- Faculty Meeting in the lecture hall @ 3:30 p.m.
- Senior Conferences (Hankins and Dubard Meeting with 12th graders)
- “Don't settle for average. Bring your best to the moment. Then, whether it fails or succeeds, at least you know you gave all you had.” —Angela Bassett
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
- Senior Conferences (Hankins and Dubard Meeting with 12th graders)
- “Learn as if you will live forever, live like you will die tomorrow.” — Mahatma Gandhi
Thursday, August 31, 2023
- Senior Conferences (Hankins and Dubard Meeting with 12th graders)
- WJ Keenan Lady Raiders Volleyball vs Orangeburg Wilkinson @ W.J. Keenan 5:30 / 7:00 p.m.
- “Stay away from those people who try to disparage your ambitions. Small minds will always do that, but great minds will give you a feeling that you can become great too.” — Mark Twain
Friday, September 1, 2023
- Varsity Football Vs. Richland Northeast @ Richland Northeast 7:30 p.m.
- Senior Conferences (Hankins and Dubard Meeting with 12th graders)
- “When you give joy to other people, you get more joy in return. You should give a good thought to happiness that you can give out.”— Eleanor Roosevelt
Hello Raiders,
Thank you for a great first few days of the start of school!
Here are a few Raider Reminders:
Weekly observations from your administration team will be based on Instructional Content in Classroom Mosaic. The following areas will be assessed:
Standards & Objectives
Activities & Materials
Presenting Instructional Content
Lesson Structure and Pacing
Learning targets and standards for the class should be communicated verbally and in writing. Students should also be able to communicate the learning outcomes of your class when observations are taking place.
Interims are September 15. Please plan in advance using the information from the Secondary Grading Manual to meet the district requirements. This may be found in the Raiders Chest under Instructional Resources in the One Drive. You may also find the Mastery Connect Handbook there as the district expectation is to use Mastery Connect for formative assessments.
Please make sure that your students leave the classroom with the blue passes. If you need a pass, please see Ms. Golston.
I really appreciate all that you are doing each day.
I hope you have a great week!
As this new school years officially takes off, it is important to recognize the students and staff who have already been ensuring the strong start of the 2023-2024 school year. For months, our athletes, marching band, coaches, and directors have been hard at work showing why we are The Champion Raiders! These fine musicians, dancers, and athletes have been working tirelessly through the summer to refine not only their programs but also themselves. Through hardship, hard work, and dedication, our fine students are demonstrating this year’s theme of ACE Leadership. They are Accountable to their school, their teammates, and themselves. They are Consistent in maintaining their programs, grades, and standards. Moreover, they are Engaged in the many fine programs our great school has to offer.
Our football season is off to a strong start with the season opener ending with a final score of Keenan 25- Dreher 26. The Champion Raider Football team returns to the turf this Thursday at Richland Northeast High School at 7:30PM.
Lady Raiders Volleyball had a tremendous week with a 3-0 victory over Lower Richland and 3-1 finish against Great Falls. The Lady Raiders will be on the road this week at Lower Richland on Tuesday and at Orangeburg-Wilkinson on Thursday. Best of luck!
You can catch our top tier WJ Keenan Raider Rubber Band in the stands at every football games this season as they make the stadiums come alive. The Raider Rubber Band plans to return to the competition circuit on September 16 at the Richland Northeast Gym Battle.
We have started strong and will finish stronger!
The 2023 – 2024 school year is off to a Championship start!
Our newest Raiders prepared for the school year by attending our 8.5 Start Strong Program. Our week was spent getting to know each other and participating in instructional activities that build content knowledge, while engaging with a guest speaker, Coach Cooper.
To ensure a smooth start of the year, we designed our 8.5 Freshman Orientation for students and their families. Students had an opportunity to take a Class of 2027 selfie, receive a Raider Swag Cup & gifts, and hear from the WJKHS Leadership staff. Before ending the evening students and families participated in a self-guided school tour. We were excited to have so many students and families participate.
As we enter into our second full week of school, we look forward to assisting, guiding, and supporting our newest Raiders on their personal pathways to success. We will achieve this by as ACE-ing this school year, as our principal, Mr. Vondre` T. Whaley has tasked us to do through holding ourselves and each other Accountable, being Consistent in our actions and decision-making, as well as remaining Engaged with our students and colleagues.
We look forward to a rewarding and exciting school year!
“A new approach to college and career readiness designed to give students the foundation to make a difference in the world!”
Student meeting with Mrs. Wine August 23, 2023, during enrichment.
Parent Meeting will be virtual date TBA
Transportation is not provided for the Raider Academy
Remember school starts at 8:00 AM and ends at 3:15 PM
Remember in order to remain in the Raider Academy students must adhere to the following:
Make a 70 or above in all of their classes
Have good attendance including minimal tardies
Have good behavior including adhering to the dress code policy
The WJ Keenan Swim Team competed in its first swim meet of the 2023 swim season versus Newberry High School, Dreher High School, and Greenwood High School. Takiyah Abernathy started her swim season by swimming her best time in the Girl's 50 freestyle, finishing fourth place. The Raiders' next swim meet is September 13th versus Irmo High School.
- Volleyball for the week of Aug. 28-Sept. 1:
- Aug 29 @ Lower Richland
- Aug 30 OW at WJK (JV)
- Aug 31 @ Orangeburg-Wilkerson
- Football for the week of Aug. 28 - Sept. 1:
- Aug 30 - RNE @ WJK (JV)
- Aug 31 - WJK @ RNE (Varsity)
Notes for Raider Teachers!
Feedback From Observations: Focus on engaging students and having them do the work. Rather than standing up and writing on the smartboard as you are explaining, have students come up to the board and share what they know. Put students in groups and give meaningful activities. Use balls and other manipulatives to identify students for a response. Make these engaging strategies apart of your daily routine.
Handling Conflict: Please talk with our students about how to properly handle conflict. Encourage them to reach out to adults in the building to get help with situations that can potentially get them in trouble. Please convey the importance of working together resolve problems before they become bigger issues. It takes a village!
Student Work: Please start posting your best student work inside and outside your classroom in the hallways. You may also share by tagging WJK on social media.
Ask Yourself: What is the hook for today’s lesson that will keep them engaged? Is there an opportunity for my students to get up and move around with my lesson? How am I going to check for understanding? Am I giving students the opportunity to show me they have a grasp of the content? Am I using the DLE to enhance the lesson or am I simply giving electronic skill sheets?
Signing In and Out: If you need to leave campus for an emergency, please get approval from an administrator, and sign out in the main office. We are professionals.
PTSO: Please consider joining our Parent Teacher Student Association. It is a big part of communicating to our parents that we want to build a stronger partnership this year. The application is in the main office with Ms. Golston.
W.J. Keenan High School
Our Mission
The mission of W. J. Keenan High School is to provide engaging educational opportunities through a rigorous curriculum, cutting edge technology, and partnerships to extend to our diverse community and produce first class citizens who will contribute to the present and excel in the future. WE ARE KEENAN!
Our Vision
Our vision is to create a nationally known high school that is highly regarded for its academic excellence, leadership in cutting edge technology, science, environmental, and career based programs. A high school that builds strong relationships with all stakeholders and continues a culture where the expectation is to lead, set the example, and raise standards for all to follow.
Email: vondre.whaley@richlandone.org
Website: http://keenan.richlandone.org/
Location: 361 Pisgah Church Road, Columbia, SC, USA
Phone: 803-714-2500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keenanraiders/
Twitter: @wjkeenan