Mustang Bulletin
September 9, 2022
Standards Based Mindset at West Wing
Dear Parents,
As part of the move toward more refined and accurate reporting of academic progress, this year West Wing teachers are working on creating rubrics to prepare for aligning our reporting of student progress to the content standards. West Wing is part of the final phase of DVUSD schools to adopt standards-based grading practices. During this school year, we will continue to report grades using the traditional 100-point scale, eliminate behavior from grades, and continue to record scores no lower than 50%. The main purpose of a standards-based mindset is to measure students on their performance of course standards with a proficiency-based grading scale and with behavioral elements removed from the academic reporting.
What does that mean?
In every course, there are state or national learning standards that students must master. Standards-based grading means that student grades are based upon how well the students perform toward mastery of those standards. Teachers at schools using standards-based grading give grades based upon student proficiency of each of the standards associated with an assignment rather than an overall score for the student's work. The result is that grades are more specific to the learning targets of the course.
Another aspect of the standards-based mindset is the removal of behavioral elements from academic grades. Course grades more accurately reflect student learning when behavioral issues such as tardiness, late work, participation, lack of supplies, etc. are addressed with behavioral consequences rather than academic consequences.
I will continue to share updates with our parents throughout the year and encourage all parents to visit the district website with additional information.
Thank you,
Mrs. Schubert
Principal
WW Summer Math Program Award Recipients!
Get your voice heard, join a strategic plan focus group!
DVUSD is in the process of developing our Strategic Plan for 2023 - 2028. A Strategic Plan helps an organization define its vision for the future and identify the organization's goals and objectives.
We’d love to hear from you. Feel free to join one of our focus groups to inform the Strategic Plan Work Team of our community’s needs and perspectives. See dates and times by clicking on the graphic to the right.
These focus groups will take about 90 minutes and will be held in-person and online. Please RSVP for your preferred date at this link.
Visit www.dvusd.org/FocusGroups for more details.
Mother Son Event!
MSE Event:
Our annual PTSA Mother Son Event is quickly approaching. PTSA members will receive early access to purchase tickets for the Mother Son Event. This event will only have a certain amount of tickets for sale so become a PTSA member TODAY to get early access! Tickets will go on sale soon. Here’s the link to become a member:
https://westwingptsa.memberhub.com/store?category=Family%20Memberships
Spirit Wear:
Spirit Wear Back to School Sale is on until 9/21! 30% off all merchandise and free shipping on orders over $60
Donations Needed
We are reaching out to ask for donations. We have had a golf cart for many years, but the ones that we have are very old and are past the point of repair. We use the golf cart every day for student safety, athletics, maintenance, and to get to our crosswalks. Not having one this year is having a big impact on our staff.
Golf Cart - We are specifically looking for an electric golf cart that ideally seats four.
Microwaves - We are in need of three new countertop microwaves for our staff lounge. Our current microwaves are well over 12 years old and burn our food. Teachers use these daily to heat up their lunches.
Please contact our office or PTSA if you are able to help us out!
Thank you for your consideration!
Hello Families,
The motto this week in school is: I am kind to the people I am with right now.
Friendships are a rewarding part of life. However, sometimes, it can be easy to expect too much out of our friendships, especially in elementary school. Declarative statements such as, "They are my very best friends" can prevent other friendship opportunities from developing.
In school, teachers often have students work in pairs, and it's all too common to have students’ express disappointment in their pairings when they aren't with their "preferred" friends. Feelings can get hurt when this disappointment is visible via a sigh or a longing look to their best friend.
Naturally, we don't want our child to be the cause of another person's hurt feelings any more than we want their own feelings to get hurt. This is why this week is all about being kind to the people we are with right now!
The habit builder for this week is to encourage your child to be curious about the people around them by asking, "Did you learn anything new about people this week?" Or "Did anyone do something you admired?"
These questions help our students keep an open mind about the people around them because people are much more than what our first impressions might suggest.
"Never lose an opportunity to see the good in someone." -Unknown
When our children seek to see the goodness in others, others cannot help but see it in them!
Danna Evans
All Things E.Q.
Monday, September 12
9/11 Remembrance Day
7:30 - Chess Emporium (Library)
3:30 - 5:00 Baseball & Softball Practice
3:45 - 4:30 Band Conservatory Club (Band Room)
Tuesday, September 13
7:30 - Daybreak Chorus (Choir Room)
4:30 - Baseball Game (Gavilan Peak @ WW)
4:30 - Softball Game (WW @ Gavilan Peak)
Wednesday, September 14
3:30 - 5:00 Baseball and Softball Practice
3:30 - 4:45 Young Rembrandts (Art Room #114)
3:45 - 4:30 Band Conservatory Club (Band Room)
Thursday, September 15
7:30 - Daybreak Chorus
4:30 - Baseball Game (WW @ Stetson Hills)
4:30 - Softball Game (Stetson Hills @ WW)
Friday, September 16
2:00pm - Early Release
Upcoming Dates:
9/17 Constitution Day (West Wing dedicated day is 9/19)
9/25 Sandra Day O'Connor Civics Day (West Wing dedicated day is 9/26)
9/26 No School, Fall Break Day
9/27 Fall Picture Day
West Wing School
Challenging today's students to achieve excellence through strong academics, athletics, and the arts.
Proud Home of the Mustangs!
An A+ School of Excellence
"A" Rated by the Arizona Department of Education
Deer Valley Unified School District
Website: www.dvusd.org/westwingschool
Location: 26716 North High Desert Drive, Peoria, AZ, USA
Phone: 623-376-5000
Twitter: @westwingmustangs