Scarlet News and Notes
September 13, 2019
Assuring Learning Excellence and Readiness for a Changing World
Feeling Values and developing a Sense of Belonging
We all know this work can be hard, but so important. That is why it is important for the adults in the building to be having fun and building community as well. Little things can go a long way! Thank you to Lisa Welle and our Social Studies department for taking on the charge of Pay Day Donuts! Maybe the "border battle" doesn't build community, but it does add to the fun! (Could be an interesting Sunday at the Wiese home!)
Let's Get to Know...
Chris Wollmuth from the Mathematics department. Chris grew up in Wyoming. He is married to Lori and has twins, Dylan and Freddie. He enjoys watching sports, running, hiking, and reading. He’s been teaching for 20 years, 19 of which has been a West. This year he’s teaching Geometry, Algebra 2 and PreCalculus.
Stacy Mortensen from the Science department. Stacy is starting her 15th year at West, teaching Chemistry and Chemistry Enriched. She’s excited to return to school to meet her students. When you see her, give Stacy a, “Whoot! Whoot!” to celebrate the 15 graduate credits she finished last summer. Stacy grew up in Alden as a farm girl which, coincidentally, is the name of her husband's favorite beer. Stacy loves to read and golf and spend time with her family on their boat in the summer. She’s married to Officer Morty, East’s resource officer. Her daughter Taylor, 25, is married to Zachary and expecting the family’s first grandchild on November 5. Stacy’s son, Lucas, 20, is a junior at MSU, and her youngest son, Liam, 5, is a collector of all things Thomas the Train. Stacy graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato and finished her Master's at U. St. Mary's.
Tom Woodside, Speech Pathologist. Tom has been in education for 28 years, six of which have been at West. What excites him about the school year? “The kids,” he says.
Tom grew up in Albert Lea. He completed his BS and MS degrees at Minnesota State University, Mankato. He enjoys biking, hiking, fishing, and softball. He shares five children--Zack, Taylor, Matt, Ben and Allie--with his wife, Christina.
Reminders
Our staff website is a resource that you will want to bookmark. This has the answers to many questions. If there is something we should add, please let me know.
Add the following calendars to your google calendar to stay in the know:
- WHS - Staff Master Calendar
- WHS - Field Trips/Activities
- WHS - Family School Calendar
1st hour teachers - Read the daily announcements each morning to your students.
This week was better with keeping students in class bell to bell, including Scarlet Time. Let's keep it up!
Wednesday will be College wear day. Each Wednesday after a late start Tuesday, we will wear college apparel. Just like Fridays (if you wear Scarlet attire, you can wear jeans), if you are wearing college attire, you can wear jeans. All other days, please dress professionally!
PD Opportunities
Thursday, September 26, 3:15 in the MC
Meghan Eberhart and Bambi Dubke will be here to present on "Read and Write for Google Tool Support" to any teachers/staff who are interested.
Tuesday, September 17, 3:15pm or Thursday, September 19, at 7:45am in room 215
Kim Hermer will provide training on Focused Note-Taking. "The Focused Note-Taking Process turns the information students gather into a learning tool. The process can be applied to any form of gathering information - lecture, worksheet, quiz, study guide, article, graphic organizer, etc. Come learn the 5 steps (you are likely already doing) to increase student engagement."
This year Kevin Haggerty, our school psychologist, will offer monthly after school discussion sessions focused on behavioral management skills and mental health awareness. This month's session will be offered on September 19, at 3:15 in room 116 and will focus on an in-depth understanding of how the sequence of behavioral learning operates. You may just show up if you'd like, but if you wish to give Kevin a heads up regarding your attendance, feel free to use this Link.
There is AVID training available November 6 and 7 in Austin. Our goal is to have 100% of our teachers participate in an AVID training. We already have 60%! There is a Science strand and a Culturally Relevant Teaching strand. We are trying to have the majority of our staff participate in one of the Culturally Relevant strands and this is the first opportunity. There will be other opportunities, including Summer Institute, July 29th. It will be best if there is a team that attends the CRT strands, so get your friends together and let Kim Hermer know if you would like to attend on November 6 and 7.
Game On Thursdays
Have you visited another classroom? I have! This week I saw students and teachers engaging in their content. You can tell we are in the second week of school - it's getting serious! I was invited in to Ms. Mastromano's Spanish class to be interviewed, in Spanish - Yikes! The kids know a lot more than I do, Hola!
Here is the link to a quick Google form that helps us get a sense of what you are seeing as well as helps move us closer to our goal of 75% participation.
There will be a drawing at the end of September for fabulous prizes for participating.
Tuesday is our PLC Day!
Staff Meetings
This Wednesday, the Staff Meeting is your small group meeting for Life Journey. A few changes for the small group meetings this year. Your group will meet on the designated Wednesday after school. We will be using Google Classroom to share information and complete assignments. For this meeting, there is a 4 minute video to view, a short reading, a form for your group to fill out (contact person and meeting location), and one reflection question for each individual to submit. You may want to view the video and complete the reading before your group meets, to leave you more time for discussion, or you could also use your small group time to complete all of the tasks.
September 25th will be our large group staff meeting and October 2nd is set aside for departments to meet, if they choose to do so.
A Message from Your Assistant Principals
Movement Strategies
As students transition and settle into the school year, there is a change for some who have been active and full of movement throughout the summer months. As students potentially transition into a more static environment, please remember that some students think and learn best with movement. This increases the engagement of kinesthetic learners and also provides other learners the opportunity to experience a different perspective with learning.
To Boost Learning, Just Add Movement | Cult of Pedagogy
Fun Teaching Strategies that Integrate Movement
Standards Based Grading
Here is a quick video discussing, "Letter grades, rubric scores, percentages are nonsense symbols." Rick Wormeli offers a different perspective on implementing grading in your classroom.
Article on equitable grading practices
Things I Have Been Reading/Watching
Wayne Johnson's Retirement
Stay tuned for retirement celebration plans...
The Week at a Glance
Tuesday
Late Start
PLCs at East 7:45am
Wednesday
Link Crew Academic Follow Up Schedule
Staff Meeting - Life Journey, small group 3:15pm
Thursday
Hall of Fame meeting 7:45am room 224
Fire Drill - 2:10pm
Events: Girls' Swim & Dive 6:00pm MSU
Volleyball 7:00 gymnasium
Friday
High Five Friday
Picture Retakes
Birthdays This Week
Happy Birthday
Coming Soon
Late Start PLCs - September 17
Staff Meeting - Life Journey meet with your small group September 18
Picture Retake - September 20
Soccer Pack the Stands - September 21
Educare Grant due date - September 24
Staff Meeting - Large Group Life Journey/CRT September 25
October 1 - Staff Meeting - Departments (optional)
New Course Proposal deadline - October 31