Our Path to First Choice No. 2
"Educate and Empower Students for Future Success"
Our Path to First Choice No. 2 August 31, 2022
Here's Our Path note for this week. Thank you for all you do for our learners!
WASD Leadership Model
WASD First Choice Pyramid
WASD Strategic Plan
"Trying to predict the future is like driving down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window".--Peter Drucker, Business Author
Our Path Note Topic
One of the challenges with transforming an organization or just implementing a new program or strategy is dealing with our mindsets as employees/humans. There is research that says it takes 7-10 years to transform an organization. There is some research that says maybe five years. It may take schools longer due to not operating 365/52/24.
First Choice is a huge undertaking. It is not in a book. It is not a canned program. It is a vision. WASD has to build it from inside.
With that in mind, our mindsets may have to adjust to the direction of the vision. One example of First Choice is promoting innovation. Innovation is important to any business or organization's purpose. People change and things change, so creating and developing new approaches should be a constant.
We are not used to innovating in schools. We are used to being told by the state, through the board and administration that this is what we teach. Okay, that has to be that way. However, helping students learn the content is where we can use innovation when some students do not learn through the means used for most of the time. However, things like technology, policy, finances, and other various systems can block innovation. That is frustrating. Nevertheless, we have to work to persevere.
As you work with administration and others to innovate as a group, an individual or a department, please remember that it can take time and perseverance. Somethings may not happen at all, but some innovations may just need a new mindset.
#BoroStrong!!
School Board Information
- September 13, 2022 Regular Board Meeting 7PM
- September 27, 2022 Regular Board Meeting 7PM
Can you answer this?
Teacher Advisory
One teacher per school building is the representative at the meetings. If more than one person volunteers in one building, the names are put in a basket, and Jane Helman will pick the name as she has in the past. Maybe she'll be willing to do it again!
The meetings are one time per month, and start about 3:45 to 4PM and go until 5PM. Although it is only an advisory, many suggestions and recommendations have come to fruition due to the advisory. It is also a great way to learn how some things work that you didn't realize.
If you are interested, please email Tod. We hope to start the first meeting by the end of September.
Thanks!
Piece of the Puzzle
This Week's Piece of the Puzzle is Kimberly Ruby. Kim is a Para educator at Hooverville. She does whatever is needed of her as well as going above and beyond without any hesitation. She fills in for anyone and helps out without being asked. Even if she is having a rough day, she always has a cheerful and positive attitude about her. She even tries to go out of her way to make a child's day either filled with more joy or finds some way to turn it around.
Honestly, she really fits the meaning of being piece of the puzzle at our school.
New Policies
Suggested revisions and new policies come from the PA School Board Association, board memebers, staff, administration and others. The proposed policy goes to the Policy Committee for review. The Policy Committee will either approve the proposed policy to go to full board for review and adoption or will deny or wait for a different time to revisit it.
Even though it will not be weekly, stay tuned for any new and/or recently adopted policies in this section.
Moving First Choice Ahead--Share with Tod
This is a recognition of those that share lessons and activities being done in or out of the classroom that demonstrate the use of newly promoted WASD professionally developed strategies and other activities that support First Choice. Those activities can be in any Pillar--Academic, Whole Child, Career and/or Innovation.
If you have something to share. Email it to Tod!
Challenge Answer
(Information directly from PDE as written) One-year Extension of Continuing Professional Education Requirements
Enacted July 8, Act 55 of 2022 provides professional educators, school administrators, and paraprofessionals one additional year to complete their continuing professional education requirements. Please share the following information with staff.
Professional educators and school administrators with an active certification and current compliance period as of July 8, 2022, now have until July 8, 2023, to complete the requirements under 24 P.S. §12-1205.2 and 1205.5, respectively. These requirements are commonly referred to as Act 48 and Act 45 continuing professional education.
Paraprofessionals employed by a school entity as of March 13, 2020, have until June 30, 2023, to satisfy staff development activity hour requirements under 22 Pa. Code § 14.105 (relating to personnel).
For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s website to review Act 55 of 2022 Continuing Education Status Extension’s Frequently Asked Questions.
For Our Staff
Our WellSpan WASD Clinic
Unfortunately, due to the staffing challenges during the COVD-19 pandemic, WASD and WellSpan decided to close the clinic. Nevertheless, WASD will continue to work with WellSpan and others to provide opportunities for vaccinations and the flu shot for our WASD employees. WASD will continue to explore better ways to improve health care services for WASD staff.
Other Health News
Mental Wellness Blog
Please see Healthy Franklin County's most recent blog on Mental Health Awareness Month in the link below. Feel free to share with your contacts!
https://www.healthyfranklincounty.org/mental-health-awareness-month
WellSpan Health will be offering FREE Virtual Breathing Technique Workshops on Sept. 20th and Sept. 29th.
Learn more about intentional breathing and practice several breathing techniques to bring a sense of calm and peace.
Find more information in the attached flyer and register in the links below:
Sept. 20th- https://www.wellspan.org/events/details/Breathing-Technique-Workshop---VIRTUAL/7404
Sept. 29th- https://www.wellspan.org/events/details/Breathing-Technique-Workshop---VIRTUAL/7405
An Opportunity
WellSpan Health is offering their next FREE year-long Virtual National Diabetes Prevention Program (Prevent T2) beginning on September 27th at 6:00 p.m.
This program has been proven to help those with pre-diabetes make lifestyle changes that can cut the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by more than half. A Prevent T2 lifestyle coach will help you lose weight, become more physically active and reduce stress.
Register today if you:
-Have ever been told by your doctor that you have pre-diabetes and/or at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
-Are 45 years or older.
-Overweight.
-Have a family history of diabetes.
-Are physically active less than 3 times per week.
-If you had diabetes while pregnant.
If you think you may be at risk or have already been told by your physician that you have pre-diabetes, join us and attend the introduction session on September 27th to find out more about the program.
The first class is scheduled for October 4th at 6:00 p.m. It is highly recommended that anyone interested in this program attend this introduction session first. If you are NOT able to make the September 27th introduction session or if you have any questions, please call (717) 262-4602.
Register for the year-long class here: https://www.wellspan.org/events/details/National-Diabetes-Prevention-Program-Prevent-T2-Introduction-Session----VIRTUAL/6303
Our Path to First Choice from the Superintendent
Email: tod_kline@wasdpa.org
Website: https://www.wasd.k12.pa.us/
Location: 210 Clayton Avenue, Waynesboro, PA, USA
Phone: 717762-1191