The Raider Professional

• The freshmen service project ends on 12/9. Last week after school, boxes to collect supplies were placed outside of teacher doors. Please place the boxes in your classroom and collect supplies as your students bring them. A student council representative will come by to count and collect your items every day. The homeroom with the most total points will win a prize. Thank you for your support and encouragement of this service project. The freshmen are extremely excited to show their leadership with the planning and implementation of this project.
• The door decoration contest began on 12/2 and ends on 12/16. All teachers are encouraged to participate. The doors will be judged by a neutral party. The teacher that wins will receive a prize.
• Our gingerbread house contest began on 12/2 and also ends on 12/16. Homerooms are asked to submit a decorated gingerbread house by 12/16. Houses will be judged by a neutral party. The winning homeroom will receive free tickets to the holiday movie (only eligible students will receive the ticket).
• As we get closer to spirit week, which is 12/12-12/20, more information will be provided on the hot coco bar, ornament decoration, holiday movie, and where to submit your decorated gingerbread house.

Flight crew member MacKenzie joins the @usedgov #YouBelongInSTEM conference in D.C. to share her STEM experience and encourage other girls like her. #GirlsLeadSTEM

Raiders,

We have seven more days to Winter break! Here are a few things to remember:

End of Course Testing is still underway. This week, Mr. Menton, Mr. Rivera and Ms. Garner's students will test in the small gym Mon-Wednesday of this week. Make-up testing will occur on Thursday.

Please make sure that you are updating your grades and allowing students to make up any missed assignments in preparation for the close out of the first semester. Grades are due December 20 to Ms. Sims. Report cards will be issued January 12.

W.J. Keenan will have a district classroom observation in January. Please see your classroom learning walk tool that was emailed and be prepared each day of school to give your best. Be sure to pay attention to teacher actions and student actions on the form.

Students will begin new classes for semester 2 upon their return. Be prepared to start strong with classroom procedures, class management strategies, classroom community and lesson plans. A copy of your course syllabus should be available to your department leader.

Save the date: Professional Development/Early Release Day - January 13

Grading Reminders:

• You need to have at least 15 grades recorded in your gradebook to close out the quarter.
• You need to print out your grade verification and gradebook checklist and sign in with Ms. Sims' so that you can be cleared prior to leaving for break. This should be submitted by 2:00 pm on Dec. 20.
• There should not be any final grade reported lower than a 50 per district policy.
• There should not be ANY changes to the gradebook after grades are stored unless you have submitted a grade change form to Ms. Sims.
• Please see the grade verification cheat sheet.

Instructional Reminders:

• If you are teaching an EOC class and you have not completed the Online Tools Training with your students, please be sure to do this immediately. Students need to know how to navigate through this in preparation for the test. If there are any students who do not have the icon on the computer, you will need to know this before test day. Send an email to Ms. Davis and Mr. Adams with student names.
• Emergency lesson plans with five days of lessons should be available to your department leader. In your plans, you should have attendance rosters and class procedures accessible.
• Progress Learning (formerly USA Test Prep) is available for use. You should be able to use your login credentials from USA Test Prep. Let me know if you need support.

• If you are placing items outside of your classroom for display, please be advised that the standard addressed MUST accompany student work.
• As we plan, we need to make sure that we are addressing the Depth Of Knowledge levels in our lessons. An easy way to break this down is by having students answer each of these questions.

1. What are we learning?
2. How are we learning it?
3. Why are we learning it?
4. How can this learning be extended?

Observation non-negotiables:

1. Standards/Learning targets should be addressed prior to the start of the lesson. They should be written AND communicated verbally.
2. Gradual Release (I do, We do, You do)
3. Questions that move through different levels of thinking
4. Activities are aligned to standards and age-appropriate
5. Monitoring student progress and class management (moving about the room)

Have an outstanding week!

Magnet Meetings are now held on Friday. The next student Magnet meeting is scheduled for December 16, 2022. The next parent magnet meeting is scheduled for December 15, 2022 at 5:00 pm. Magnet student that are in need of assistance with classes can attend the Raider Priority Tutoring. Students can sign up for "RPT" by using the following link:

https://forms.office.com/r/hzBTPzSQMa

Remember in order to remain in the Magnet Program the students must maintain the following:

• 70 or above in all classes
• No behavior problems
• Minimum attendance issues

Please be sure to remember to nominate a student of the month for November. Check your email for the form link.

Within the last several weeks, I have had the opportunity to have quite a few meaningful conversations with students. My advice to each of those students was the same; "Choose You" and "Your Name is Your Brand".

It is imperative for our students to realize how important it is for them to make decisions which puts them in the best position to succeed academically, behaviorally, emotionally, mentally, and athletically. Those decisions will also cultivate and fortify their character and reputation.

Here at W. J. Keenan High School, we are molding, guiding, and teaching our students how to navigate their individual paths to achieving their goals. Please feel free to contact us for support and assistance.

We strive to ensure that all our Raiders are successful and receive their high school diplomas. To help reach these goals, we offer our students ways to achieve academic success both during and after school.

Students or parents may sign up for after school tutoring to receive support with their studies.

Students can sign up for tutoring by using the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/hzBTPzSQMa

Our student athletes are automatically eligible for Athletic Tutoring. This program meets Tuesday-Thursday immediately at the end of the school day. In addition to Athletic Tutoring, we also offer two other means of school support.

Raider Ready Tutoring is offered to students in grades 9 and 10. Tutoring is offered after school and offers help in core subjects (English, math, science and social studies). Raider Ready meets Monday-Thursday from 3:30-5:30. Students receive an after school meal and bus transportation home (with the exception of Magnet students).

Raider Priority Tutoring is available to all students in grades 9-12. This program offers students some flexibility in study support, as students may choose face to face assistance, or may select the virtual (online) option to receive help from home. Assistance is offered in English, math, social studies and science, Tuesday-Thursday afternoons. Face to face hours are from 3:30-4:30. Transportation is NOT provided. Students/parents must provide transportation home. If students do not have transportation, they may choose the online option, which meets Tuesday-Thursday from 4:30-6:30.

We are committed to offering as many avenues to success as possible. Students may talk with Coach S. Gilley (Athletic Tutoring), Mrs. S. DuBard (Raider Ready Tutoring) or Mrs. S. Wine or Mr. J. Hankins (Raider Priority Tutoring) with questions or for sign up information.

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.

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