Badger Bulletin
Working the Willkie Way!
Word of the week....Perserverance!
Welcome Back!
It is my sincere hope that you were able to find some rest and rejuvenation this thanksgiving week. It was fast and furious for the Knowles family as we spent time taking in one of the 7 wonders of the world...The Grand Canyon. What an amazing, awe inspiring adventure. Never have I been so humbled as I was the moment I first glimpsed the grandeur that is the Grand Canyon. It was a bucket list thing for me and I am so thankful that I was able to have this experience and especially to share it with my family.
So, to think that something so massive was carved out of rock, not by power, but instead by the persistent movement of water is even more amazing to consider. What a great analogy for educator, especially this time of the school year, when perseverance is key to success.
I want to encourage you to be persistent and consistent as we work through the next few weeks. I know that student behavior has been trying at times, but it is important to remember that being consistent in addressing behavior is key. Make sure you are following the discipline protocol as outlined in the Willkie Way Binder, which includes parent contact, teacher issued consequences, documentation and parent/teacher meetings when patterns of behavior emerge. Parents need to be part of the process. We need to give them an chance to help us help their student.
To that end, it is also important to consider how we approach both parents and students when discussing behavior concerns. Keep in mind that parents send the best they have to us every day. These children are their most prized possession and we need to remember that every time we visit with them. When calling parents, always introduce yourself and then ask them for their help. Keep conversations factual, not emotional.
I am aware we have some work to do and I am considering ways with which to support you. Just stay the course and continue to communicate your concerns and any resolutions you may have. I believe in you and trust you and I am open to your ideas.
So, to think that something so massive was carved out of rock, not by power, but instead by the persistent movement of water is even more amazing to consider. What a great analogy for educator, especially this time of the school year, when perseverance is key to success.
I want to encourage you to be persistent and consistent as we work through the next few weeks. I know that student behavior has been trying at times, but it is important to remember that being consistent in addressing behavior is key. Make sure you are following the discipline protocol as outlined in the Willkie Way Binder, which includes parent contact, teacher issued consequences, documentation and parent/teacher meetings when patterns of behavior emerge. Parents need to be part of the process. We need to give them an chance to help us help their student.
To that end, it is also important to consider how we approach both parents and students when discussing behavior concerns. Keep in mind that parents send the best they have to us every day. These children are their most prized possession and we need to remember that every time we visit with them. When calling parents, always introduce yourself and then ask them for their help. Keep conversations factual, not emotional.
I am aware we have some work to do and I am considering ways with which to support you. Just stay the course and continue to communicate your concerns and any resolutions you may have. I believe in you and trust you and I am open to your ideas.
Newest Baby Badger
We want to welcome our newest Baby Badger into the world! Meet Bristol Lee Huddleston. Bristol made her appearance on November 22, 2016. Both mom and baby are doing great!
Thank you for your Community Link Donations!
I want to thank everyone for your donations to Community Link. Ed Willkie faculty and staff donated $460 toward holiday meals for families in our community. I was fortunate enough to join many others from the district's leadership team in volunteering at Community Link and seeing firsthand how our donations are affecting our families. If you are looking for volunteer opportunities, I would encourage you consider giving your time to this cause as well. Here is a link if interested.
Personnel Changes
I wanted to let you know that Mr. Leary has decided resign his position at EWMS in order to pursue other opportunities. This position probably won't post until after the holidays, but we have Mrs. Leticia Sturm acting as a long term sub in the interim. Stop by CM and welcome her when you get a chance.
Edivate is here!
Edivate has taken the place of PD 360. It is an online professional development program that has more professional development opportunities than you cane ever imagine.
Everyone should have gotten an email with your username and password recently. If you deleted it, not knowing what it was, then go find it inn your deleted file because you will need it. You can find a link in the Employee tab on the district website if you want to explore.
I will be setting up a training very soon to introduce you to Edivate. It's going to be AWESOME!
Everyone should have gotten an email with your username and password recently. If you deleted it, not knowing what it was, then go find it inn your deleted file because you will need it. You can find a link in the Employee tab on the district website if you want to explore.
I will be setting up a training very soon to introduce you to Edivate. It's going to be AWESOME!
Shout outs!
If you have any shout outs please email them to me with "Shout Outs" in the subject line.
This weeks Shout Outs!
This weeks Shout Outs!
- From Katie Munk: I am SO very thankful for Tracie's work ethic and positive attitude about everything that comes her way! She has done an amazing job with grades and has made the process as easy as possible for teachers. We are blessed to have her as a Badger!
The week ahead...
Monday November 28 , 2016
Tuesday November 29, 2016
Wednesday November 30, 2016
- Boys Basketball 8th Grade @ Pike Middle School 7th Grade @ Home
Tuesday November 29, 2016
- AP LEAD @ Community Link
- Knowles off campus 10:30 - 1:30
Wednesday November 30, 2016
- 11:00am Knowles at HCTC
- 8th Grade HTCT Tour
- Knowles off campus all day
- Girls Basketball 8th Grade @ Pike 7th Grade@ Home
- Dr. Parker Campus/Classroom visit
- All Region Band Clinic/Concert
Past Posts
Student Behavior: Everyone has a role to play
I continue to get concerns about hallway behavior from all grade levels. Likewise, a large number of student issues that we see in the office occur in the hallways between classes.
I can assure you that there is no place I had rather be than in the hallways and in the classrooms every minute of every day. I can promise you that Mrs. Warden and Mr. Driver feel the same way, but it is simply not possible. We do the best we can and I don't mean to be so direct, but let me be very clear...I can't fix these hallway issues. I can't, but we can.
There is only one way this issue will get any better and I don't know how else to address this except to speak candidly...I need everyone, standing in the middle of the hallway, spread out up and down the hallway, between every period addressing this issue, and prompting students to walk on the right side. This is an expectation and it is the only way to address these concerns.
I want to thank those of you who are consistent in monitoring the hallways. Your help in this matter does not go unnoticed, but the lack of hallway supervision to too pervasive for me to address this concern individually. We are all in this together and we all have a role to play in ensuring our hallways are safe.
It is easy to point fingers and place blame as to why and how we got here, but that doesn't change things. The only way to affect change is to take action. Please, everyone, act on these expectations. Be the change you want to see.
If you have questions or concerns I would like to encourage you to bring them to me.
Thank you.
I can assure you that there is no place I had rather be than in the hallways and in the classrooms every minute of every day. I can promise you that Mrs. Warden and Mr. Driver feel the same way, but it is simply not possible. We do the best we can and I don't mean to be so direct, but let me be very clear...I can't fix these hallway issues. I can't, but we can.
There is only one way this issue will get any better and I don't know how else to address this except to speak candidly...I need everyone, standing in the middle of the hallway, spread out up and down the hallway, between every period addressing this issue, and prompting students to walk on the right side. This is an expectation and it is the only way to address these concerns.
I want to thank those of you who are consistent in monitoring the hallways. Your help in this matter does not go unnoticed, but the lack of hallway supervision to too pervasive for me to address this concern individually. We are all in this together and we all have a role to play in ensuring our hallways are safe.
It is easy to point fingers and place blame as to why and how we got here, but that doesn't change things. The only way to affect change is to take action. Please, everyone, act on these expectations. Be the change you want to see.
If you have questions or concerns I would like to encourage you to bring them to me.
Thank you.
Instructional Rounds Update: Thank You!
I want to thank everyone who took the time to take part in Instructional Rounds last week and a HUGE Thank You to Mr. Sellers for leading the learning n that day.
Remember, for those that were able to participate and chose to do so, we have lowered the number of face to face parent conferences required from 5 down to 2 so you can use this Friday 11/11 to gain back some of the time spent learning. Thank you again for your dedication to your craft.
We will continue with future instructional rounds based on the schedule below.
How this works.
On the designated day you are invited to meet in the large conference room during your conference period. You will be assigned a group and your instructional leader will give you brief instructions and you will then go visit classrooms.
Each visit will last about 10 minutes each and you will be collecting data as you look through the lens of a specific rubric.
Once you complete your walk throughs you will return to the conference room and collaborate/calibrate your findings.
The purpose is to see what the student are doing and where it falls on the specific rubric.
Schedule
Wednesday, November 2nd:
Remember, for those that were able to participate and chose to do so, we have lowered the number of face to face parent conferences required from 5 down to 2 so you can use this Friday 11/11 to gain back some of the time spent learning. Thank you again for your dedication to your craft.
We will continue with future instructional rounds based on the schedule below.
How this works.
On the designated day you are invited to meet in the large conference room during your conference period. You will be assigned a group and your instructional leader will give you brief instructions and you will then go visit classrooms.
Each visit will last about 10 minutes each and you will be collecting data as you look through the lens of a specific rubric.
Once you complete your walk throughs you will return to the conference room and collaborate/calibrate your findings.
The purpose is to see what the student are doing and where it falls on the specific rubric.
Schedule
Wednesday, November 2nd:
· Lens: Rigor-Sellers
· AP Cadre Walks
Wednesday, December 7th:
· Lens: Relevance-Willis
Wednesday, February 15th:
· Lens: Student Engagement-Williams
Wednesday, March 8th:
· Lens: Rigor-Stevens/Walker
Wednesday, April 19:
· Lens: Relevance-Pandit
Donors Choose
Donors Choose is a great way to fund ideas in the classroom. Dr. Parker had a chance to visit with the founder of Donors choose and gained a great deal of insight. This has prompted our district to consider guidelines for those of you who are considering using tis awesome resource. If you are in the process of creating a donors choose or are thinking about it in the near future, please visit with me first.
More details to come as the district solidifies the process.
More details to come as the district solidifies the process.
Housekeeping Items
Attendance
Everyone has done a great job at getting your 2nd period attendance in on time, but we still need everyone's help in making sure attendance is taken in every period, every day. I suggest setting an alarm on your phone each period to help remind you.
Sending students to the Counselors
When sending students to the counselor, please call the counselor's secretary, Tracie Sprehe, and let her know you are sending a student. Many time the counselors are visiting with students or parents and can't answer their phone so Tracie will be your point of contact.
Consistency: Stay the course!
It is very important that we stay consistent in everything we do, especially regarding our parent communication. Remember, we need to partner with our parents, particularly when we start seeing patterns of behavior emerge. This goes for dress code violations, tardiness, disruptive behavior, etc. We must keep parents informed and give them a chance to help us change behavior.
Everyone has done a great job at getting your 2nd period attendance in on time, but we still need everyone's help in making sure attendance is taken in every period, every day. I suggest setting an alarm on your phone each period to help remind you.
Sending students to the Counselors
When sending students to the counselor, please call the counselor's secretary, Tracie Sprehe, and let her know you are sending a student. Many time the counselors are visiting with students or parents and can't answer their phone so Tracie will be your point of contact.
Consistency: Stay the course!
It is very important that we stay consistent in everything we do, especially regarding our parent communication. Remember, we need to partner with our parents, particularly when we start seeing patterns of behavior emerge. This goes for dress code violations, tardiness, disruptive behavior, etc. We must keep parents informed and give them a chance to help us change behavior.
Emergency Plan
Did you know that we have a team on campus that handles medical emergency situations? Our entire office staff makes up that team and we each have specific roles and responsibilities when a medical emergency happens.
You also have a role in the event of an emergency so here are some important things you need to know:
You also have a role in the event of an emergency so here are some important things you need to know:
- If you see a medical emergency it is important you call the front office. Not the nurses office. The reason for this is the fact that the nurse may not always be in the office, but there should always be someone at the front desk who will then contact the team via radio.
- When you call the office make sure you provide the following information:
Location, student's name, and a brief description as to what's going on.
- In the event of a medical emergency, someone will announce a Code Red. When you hear this you need to do a quick sweep of the hall and pull in any kids you see and then keep all students in the classroom until further notice. That means if the bell rings you still keep them in the classroom.
We will be having AED drills in the near future as we practice in case we do have an actual emergency.
Lesson Plans
Just a reminder:
- Lesson plans should be in Eduphoria no later than the beginning of school every Monday.
- Lesson plans should follow the template that is in your Willkie Way Binder based on the ICLE model.
- The lessons and activities in your classroom should reflect your lesson plans.
- Each content area/grade level should be planning together to create your upcoming lessons.
Please keep in mind that this correlates to the Planning Domain and the Professional Practices and Responsibilities Domain in TTESS.
Web Sites
Please make sure your website is up to date. Parents really rely on your website for information about your classes. I really would like to see your sites be as comprehensive as possible. Take some time and look at what others are doing both in your content area an out. Explore other middle school's faculty sites as well for ideas. If you need help, please ask.