Westwood Way
Happenings In Panther Nation - October 2019
On October 4, I was honored to join the 1996 Joshua Owls football coaching staff and players for an induction ceremony into the Joshua ISD Athletic Hall of Fame. This group of coaches and players were very special in our lives, and we were excited to have the opportunity to participate in this special event.
The time leading up to October 4 evoked many emotions. There was happiness, excitement, nervousness, but one of the most dominant feeling was one of apprehension. I always worried if I would be able to recognize players that I had coached twenty-three years ago. We had special moments together during our playoff-run, but I kept wondering if I would remember these 17 year-old players in 40 year-old bodies.
On the night of the ceremony, Marla and I gathered together with the rest of the coaching staff and their families early and had a great time of reminiscing. We told stories, laughed, and reconnected after so long apart. The humorous part was that each of us had the same fear: we wouldn’t recognize the players!!
Shortly before the ceremony was scheduled to start, we walked down on the field, and finally, we were able to see the players. As they turned their heads, saw us, and said, “Hey Coach!” it was so easy to recognize them. It was as if they went back to being a 17 year-old high school kid, and we hugged and began sharing memories!! The evening was fantastic as we enjoyed the ceremony, visited with the players and their families, and had a chance to hear what they were doing today.
As I have reflected on that night, it would be easy to believe the highlight of the night was the induction ceremony, but for me, the opportunity to experience a reunion with a special group of coaches and players was the best part. Reconnecting with Bobby, Cody, Cade, BJ, Mookie, and so many more was special and reminded me of how important it is to build relationships.
Our reunion that night would not have been exceptional if we had not developed a deep bond while we were at Joshua High School. The moments we spent together in athletics and the classroom made us want to get together again.
As we approach the midpoint of the 2019-2020 school year, I believe we have to reflect on the moments we are creating. We must pause and consider the relationships we are developing with our coworkers and students. We must contemplate would those around us desire to reconnect twenty years from now. We must examine our journey and determine if we are living The Energy Bus Rule # 7 Enthusiasm attracts more passengers and energizes them during the ride.
In closing, I would like to challenge you to consider the following thoughts:
Am I spending quality time with my coworkers and students?
Am I investing in those around me?
Am I there to listen when my students need somebody to talk to?
Am I willing to hold those around me accountable with a loving heart?
Am I developing relationships today that will make me excited to get back together twenty-three years from now?
Which of your students will call you “Coach” when you meet up with them in the future?
Wade
School Board Update
During the October Board Meeting, the following items came before the School Board:
Christine Bedre began a discussion of The Impact Cycle during the Curriculum Moment. She covered Identify which is the first step in this cycle. Mrs. Bedre will cover the next two steps in upcoming board meetings.
Dr. Penn presented an overview of legislative changes to the small and midsize allotments.
Edwin Schuessler presented an overview of the work completed during the summer by the technology department.
Tiffany Carwell presented the ESL program evaluation.
Josh Schultz presented an overview of the work completed during the summer by the maintenance and custodial department.
The School Board unanimously voted to approve the purchase of two school buses.
The School Board unanimously voted to approve the After-School YMCA program.
Teacher contracts were acknowledged as presented.
Curriculum
As Jon Gordon states in the Energy Bus, “Thoughts are magnetic. What we think about we attract.” Jon’s quote can be applied to not only our personal thoughts but our thoughts when working with our amazing teams each day. Recently, I had the privilege to hear Kim Beardon from the Ron Clark Academy speak on her life and educational experiences. She made the statement that re-connected me back to Jon’s quote regarding magnetic thoughts. She stated, “High expectations are the outward manifestation in our belief in a child.” My question was then to myself, are we, as WISD, not only communicating high expectations to all students but also ourselves?
Looking forward to the fall semester, benchmarking season is upon us. It is imperative to get a reliable benchmark data to not only refine practices currently in place but also to adjust upcoming instruction to meet the needs of students. As we are benchmarking, remember the district’s amazing resource, Kurzweil, that can assist with accommodating individual students’ needs in benchmark assessment, CBA, or even daily work. Utilization of the program will not only assist students with the help needed to be successful but also give practice application of tools and resources available.
Our district is extremely blessed to have hard-working instructional coaches on each campus, assisting with teaching and learning. Attached are the SMORE links to each campus to view their amazing happenings.
HS - https://www.smore.com/aghrt
Elementary - https://www.smore.com/825x7
Primary - https://www.smore.com/85pq6
Special Programs
We had the opportunity to extend the learning of some of the students in our Gifted and Talented program this month. Our 1st-3rd-grade learners attended the Imagination Fair put on by Region 7. The Imagination Fair provided our students with an opportunity to hear a professional storyteller and showcase their storytelling and problem-solving skills by participating in storytelling groups and hands-on problem-solving activities. Ms. Schitoskey, a 3rd-grade teacher, shared that her students demonstrated great participation, and one of our 3rd graders even volunteered to share their story in front of everyone who attended! Mrs. Royle and Mrs. Morman, 1st and 2nd-grade teachers respectively, brought our primary students to the event, which was held in Tyler earlier in the month. They shared the following feedback. “The students were given no teacher instructions - it was all student lead. They had so much fun with this activity. When the time was up, all the teams raced their cars. All three students shared their wonderful stories that they worked so hard on with their peers.” Click here to view pictures of the event. The Gifted and Talented Program referral period is now open. Please click here if you have a student you would like to refer for possible placement in the Gifted and Talented program.
We are continually exploring ways to target the needs of all learners in our district. In education, when we think of “targeting needs,” our minds first typically go to assisting students who would benefit from some academic intervention. However, we know that our student’s needs often go much deeper than classroom instruction. In these first two months of school, I am happy to report that we have had several staff members reach out with concerns about some of our student’s living situations. Just as we are required to find and identify students who may have an impairment or disability and require special services, as a school district, we must also identify students who may be in a homeless situation and provide the necessary support. We are proud to have staff who get to know their students and provide a safe environment for them. If you ever have a concern about any of our student’s living situation, please reach out to your campus counselor or PEIMS clerk. In addition to this, our district’s School Health Advisory Council meets throughout the school year to proactively address the health and safety concerns of our students, families, and staff. Our next meeting will be on December 9th at 5:00 p.m. for anyone who would like to attend.
Business & Finance
October has flown by in a blur! There are several things happening in the business department, but here are a few key areas that deserve an update.
In addition to the regular operation of school business with POs, bills, travel, payroll, etc. there is the constant monitoring of attendance compared to the revenue projection tools a district receives from the state. This is truer than ever with the House Bill 3 legislation as information is still coming out in how all of the changes impact us. I am grateful for the work of the legislature this past session and am pleased with what the district has accomplished financially both currently and what will come in the future.
October also saw an emphasis on building capacity within the department. Some of the staff attended the annual Skyward training to build their skills, and we are working on cross-training across the department. This means each staff member is working to develop a colleague in their role, to ensure the highest quality of service to the district. We have also begun to look at areas within our processes that could be improved to serve our staff and are working in that direction.
Finally, there has also been bond election preparation. If the community decides to approve the bond, several events get set into motion, and we are prepared!
Lastly, thank you for fueling my ride! I love visiting your campuses and seeing you all serving the students of Westwood ISD!
PEIMS
Teamwork is the theme in the Westwood PEIMS department! I have been in the PEIMS director position for a month now, and it is just not possible to brag enough on how the district PEIMS clerks have rallied together! Your registrars wear so many hats, and they are so appreciated!
In the last month, the PEIMS department has been active in getting trained and up-to-date on the state data requirements - which are ever-changing. We have attended training at Region 7, and the TSUG (Texas Skyward User Group) Conference, and have learned so much!
This year’s Snapshot date fell on October 25, 2019. All student data must be accurate and verified, so registrars will be sending validation reports out very soon. Watch for validation reports and make sure that your piece of student coding (including grades) is accurate and on time.
Looking ahead at the PEIMS calendar, we have one submission after another. With your teamwork and cooperation, Westwood ISD’s data will be cleaner than ever for TEA submissions!
“This is my bus, and you’re going to enjoy the ride!”
Joy from The Energy BusFood Service
Hello, Westwood Family! Nice to talk to all y'all again. I hope everyone’s year is off to a great start.
From the last report in the food service department, we are working to continually improve and to provide the best product for students and staff.
Another area of focus is Thanksgiving. We have the menu set for Thanksgiving, and just working out the logistics for serving students and all our guests. I hope every one of y’all will join us for Thanksgiving lunch at your campus.
I would like to take the time to highlight one of my employees for outstanding work. Elvira Armenta is the Kitchen Manager at the Junior High; I have never seen someone as passionate as her. She cares deeply about the well-being of each student and staff. She regularly asks questions because she is always willing to learn.
That’s all for this report, have a great week. Please don’t hesitate if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you.
Manuel Loera
903-723-9379
Facilities Services
Our Facility Services Departments have been very productive over the past month, completing many projects and work requests. Though this is a hectic time of the year for our staff, they have done an excellent job of cleaning up after the events and completing work orders while keeping our facilities looking sharp. Thanks to the grounds and maintenance departments, our athletics facilities look good and continue to be ready for visiting teams.
As the cooler weather sets in, they will be looking forward to the change of pace into fall and winter maintenance needs. Along with the cooler weather, cold and flu season seems to have arrived early this year. We have disinfection machines to target the outbreak and keep it at bay. Our custodial team will be utilizing these tools at the request of our school nurses and principals. We hope to stay on top of issues as they arise.
Kudos to our Facility Services Departments for all of their hard work and swift response to incoming work requests. They all seem to have an unbelievable desire to be excellent and improve their craft on a daily basis. Thank you for taking the time to keep up with the happenings here at Westwood ISD. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to call or email me at (903) 373-5108 jkshultz@westwoodisd.net
Transportation
The Transportation Department continues to meet the needs of the District putting students first. Transportation Employees continue to raise the level of performance daily. I appreciate the continued effort.
Football, cross country, and Volleyball is still ongoing. Remember, with the upcoming time change, and colder weather, dress your kids for bad weather.
Beginning November 1, 2019, we will go to the Inclement weather schedule and pick up and drop off at each home. This will be until March 1, 2019.
A good job by the Westwood Panther Band on Saturday, advancing to the Area Competition this Saturday at SFA in Nacogdoches.
Technology
“Enthusiasm comes from the Greek word entheos, which means ‘inspired’ or ‘filled with the divine’…. When you get excited and enthusiastic about your life and work, you bring this powerful divine energy to everything you do.” (Page 108, The Energy Bus)
Our department is enthusiastically collecting data from our current systems and evaluating our existing processes to identify efficiencies that will help us develop and deploy technology solutions necessary to support the mission and vision of our district. As we focus on the technology being used throughout the district, we are excited about the opportunity to make it easier to access resources and display content. You may have noticed the first phase of this by the standardization of student logon names across our systems and 16 different online web programs. Resources are now centrally located on our website for easy access. They are also on each campus’ website.
We are exploring the functionality of a 65” Interactive display panel from Cleartouch. This panel is the same model that is used at Region 7 Service Center and has the capabilities to display content from a Chromebook. This panel looks to be very promising.
Helpdesk At A Glance: The Technology department has resolved 634 tickets since the start of school. Within the last 30 days, we have resolved 220 tickets.
With our bus full of excitement and enthusiasm, we continue to maintain and support our current systems and infrastructure by monitoring, tweaking, and resolving problems as they arise.
Athletics
We are focusing on building Champions instead of Winning Championships.
We have reached a pivotal phase in our athletes’ training regiment (the mental training).The athletic department focus during this phase (BOOT CAMP) is two-fold:
1.YOU WILL SINK TO THE LEVEL OF YOUR TRAINING.
2. F.A.M.I.L.Y. - Forget About Me I Love You.
We are excited about the opportunity to watch them GROW through this phase when faced with adversity.
Philosophy
The Panther Mission Statement: (program/coach’s part)
To GROW men and women of integrity who relentlessly pursue excellence.
The Panther Vision Statement: (athlete’s part)
GROW Everyday
Execute Westwood DNA
Be the toughest program in Texas
WESTWOOD DNA (core values):
Energy/Tempo Monday - relentless effort. We will attack with tenacity and make them quit.
Competition Tuesday - 1-0 Mentality. We are one play warriors who always compete.
Toughness Wednesday - comfortable being uncomfortable. We will impose our will and dominate with toughness.
Family Appreciation Thursday - value others above ourselves. We are a team of ‘foxhole’ brothers.
Discipline/Finish Friday - Discipline - always doing what needs to be done. We will continue to row the boat every day.
Finish - do more than is expected. We are a freight train that terrorizes with our finish.
Updated results from Volleyball, Cross Country, Football:
Volleyball:
The Lady Panther Volleyball team has battled through adversity all season long. They sit at 18-16 on the season, qualified for the playoffs, and will play Lexington in Bi-District on Tuesday, Nov. 5th, at 6:30 pm in North Zulch. The 7th and 8th-grade volleyball teams continued gROWing each time they stepped on the court, and both finished their seasons strong.
Cross Country:
Cross Country varsity boys team qualified for regionals as the 3rd place team in the district. Along with the boys' team, we had two individual varsity girls place in the top 10 at District and qualified to run at the regional cross country. At Regionals, the Varsity Boys finished 17th as a team, and our two individual girls posted PRs in Huntsville. The Junior Varsity Boys team and the Junior High Boys team both won district championships.
Football:
The Westwood Football program had a clean sweep (4-0) vs. Trinity at all levels.
The 7th and 8th grade Junior High Football teams took home wins from Trinity as well as JV Football on Thursday. The JV and JH teams have drastically improved throughout the season and are battling for a district championship. Varsity football hosted Trinity and beat them in overtime, 31-28, while falling to Diboll last week on the road. This district win put them in a position to be in the playoff hunt over the next several weeks. They host Crockett on Senior Night Friday at 7:30 pm.