Warhawk Wise
February Issue
A Note from the Principal
We talk a lot about collaboration around here. We have collaborative teams. We have collaborative projects. We collaborate to discuss strategies to equip everyone better collaborate, and then we collaborate to reflect on our effectiveness!
We know that as our world becomes more and more interconnected, the ability to effectively collaborate is a critical skill successful people will need. As a school we model this for many reasons:
- Together, we are better: The effectiveness of our ideas, plans, and resources is multiplied when we get together. So, if I teach a lesson that bombs, but my partner teacher finds a way to help all students learn the same material, I need to learn from her so my students can be successful as well. Additionally, if I am having a hard time connecting with a student, my team can share with me what has worked (or not worked!) for them.
- This job is too difficult to do alone: We’ve all heard the proverb, “many hands make light work,” and if you have ever tried to ensure 550 students are focused on the speaker during an assembly, you would know that it’s true. Much of what we do at Wilson would simply be impossible without a strong collaborative culture among all staff. That is our goal every day.
- We are role models for students: When our students see us working together, they get a glimpse of their future. They understand that the annoying group project they were assigned that fell on them to complete would have been more effective and efficient if they had pulled together as a team. When they see two teachers talking about a classroom challenge, they see a strategy they can use for the struggles life will send their way.
Sometimes, it would be easier for all of us to retreat to our own corners and just do our own work. No messiness. No conflict. No problems. But, at the end of the day, this will limit us to our own vision, skills, and imagination. Collaboration allows us all to be much, much better than we could ever be alone.
State Forward Exam Update
Testing Days (Please mark your calendars):
- April 2nd: Forward Exam ALL STUDENTS
- April 7th: Forward Exam ALL STUDENTS
- April 8th: Forward Exam ALL STUDENTS
- April 9th: Forward Exam 8th GRADE ONLY
Parent Resources:
Parent's Guide to Student Success
How to Help Your Child Prepare for the State Assessment
Wilson Registration & Orientation
Resource:
Restorative Practices: How & Why
Our goal directly links to how we work with students when conflict arises. A typical middle schooler can be impulsive and emotional. We often work with students who say or do something without thinking about the possible effects. We utilize restorative practices with our students when they misbehave. Our focus is to collaboratively work with students to identify the problem behavior, how it affected others, how they felt in the moment and why they behaved the way they did. We further discuss how we can work towards repairing the relationship/harm done. Restorative practices allow for reflection and problem-solving. That said, there are times when further consequences need to be assigned in addition to our collaborative reflection. Through this process our students become aware of how their actions impact others, learn how to make it up to people, and create a plan for the future (discussing what the student needs to be successful).
The reflection and problem-solving empower students to make better choices in the future, while working towards restoring relationships. We want our students to live a life of integrity, but we understand they will make mistakes, everyone does. Students learn it's okay to make mistakes as long as you learn from them and work to make better choices from the lessons learned.
Parent Engagement Meeting
Upcoming Events
- 20th: Wilson Conferences 1 pm-7 pm
- 20th: Half Day for Students
- 21st: NO SCHOOL
- 26th: Parent Engagement Meeting @ 5:30-6:30 pm
March:
- 1st: Youth Art Month: Opening @ Rahr West Art Museum 1-5 pm
- 6th: WEB Party 1:30-3 pm
- 13th: Staff Development NO SCHOOL for STUDENTS
- 20th: End of 3rd Quarter
- 23rd-27th: NO SCHOOL SPRING BREAK
April:
- 2nd: Forward Exam ALL STUDENTS
- 6th: Author Visit- Baptiste Paul
- 7th: Forward Exam ALL STUDENTS
- 8th: Forward Exam ALL STUDENTS
- 9th: Forward Exam 8th GRADE ONLY
- 10th: NO SCHOOL
- 13th: NO SCHOOL
For more details on sport practices & games, go to Wilson's Calendar
May the Next Advisory Competition Begin!!
Advisory groups are asked to bring in Box Top For Education points and Coke points from now until Spring Break.
Both of these programs make it very easy to donate and make money for our school. You can either donate online with Coke Rewards or bring in bottle caps/the code from cases (12 packs) of Coke products. Cut out and bring in Box Top coupons found on many products. Each coupon is worth $0.10 and they can really add up quick.
The Advisory bringing in or donating the most will win their choice of a sweet treat and a liter of soda or a cash reward!! Start saving and bring in your coupons to your advisory group today!!