The Raider Professional
What's Going On In Raider Nation Vol. 1 Issue 20
Success is a Choice!
I am reminded each and every day that success is a choice. We have to decide daily that we are going to give our very best. This includes delivering great lessons, keeping our young people engaged, and pushing them to new heights. Education is a calling more than an occupation. It is our responsibility to help shape the minds of our students. We must practice intentional bonding, strategic implementation, and have the willingness to try new things.
This is even more evident, during a pandemic, where we are facing challenges never seen before during our lifetime.
Let's remember to stay vigilant and stand at our doors between classes. Talk to our kids about what we expect of them this week in terms of behavior and academics.
Please share what we are focusing on with your students and colleagues.
1. Practicing Explicit Direct Instruction (E.D.I) strategies for student engagement.
2. Taking a closer look at individual students and employing interventions with the help of parents.
3. Reducing student tardies and holding students accountable for being to class on time.
4. Wearing ID's (Our ID machine had ID issues at the start of the school year, but we will have more focus on ID's this week)
5. Interpreting student data and making decisions for student improvement.
Reflecting and Refocusing is key to being the best professional educators for the success of our young Raiders!
We are champions, indeed!
Featured Points To Focus On
- Talk with our students about what we stand for and how to define our school in a positive light.
- Assign students at least one NewsELA article per week in your class.
- Use Schoology daily to upload assignments and require students to use it as a resource.
- Require students sign out before using the restroom and turn your signature record in at the end of the day.
- Continue to discuss the dress code with students and the importance of avoiding being tardy by getting to class on time.
- Make sure to take attendance every block and communicate to students the importance of being on time (Please check your email regarding attendance and allow time to teach our students expectations.)
- Submit your lesson plans to your Department Leader and Subject Administrator weekly.
- Make sure you communicate your standards, objectives, and agenda when teaching. Also, write them on your board or have them clearly posted in the room.
- Constantly check for understanding using different methods.
- Contact parents regarding attendance/ behavior/academic issues. Maintain a contact log, which will be turned in each Wednesday to your subject administrator.
- Develop rapport, build strong relationships, and set expectations for students.
Raider Dates To Remember
Monday, January 17, 2022
Faculty and Staff works from home
Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Students will report to Quarter Three/Semester Two classes
Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Varsity boys and girls basketball vs. Chester @Chester 6:30 p.m.
JV boys and girls basketball vs. Chester @Keenan 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 20, 2022
JV boys and girls basketball vs. Chester @Chester 6:30 p.m.
Friday, January 21, 2022
Varsity boys and girls basketball vs. Chester @Keenan 6:00 p.m.
Engineering Students Present Their Redevelopment Concepts
It's remarkable what our young people can do, when they learn certain skills, and apply imagination.
Congratulations to Ms. Dominique Davis and her students on a wonderful job!
Join Our PTSO and Win A Laptop!
All you have to do is join W.J. Keenan's PTSO. It's only $10 and all funds go to enhancing our school experience.
Click here for a PTSO form to complete and turn in to the front office.
Delta Sigma Theta Gives $200 to W.J. Keenan High School!
To celebrate founders day, our W.J. Keenan Delta's and local Delta chapter donated $200 to our school.
We are thankful and appreciate the donation, which will go toward supporting our students.
Keenan Students Get OSHA Certified
After School Tutoring and Seat Time for Absences
This is an intervention to help our students improve academically.
Seat Time due to absences
Students can make up seat time Mondays-Thursdays, from 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. in our tutoring program. Students need to contact Ms, Horton during their lunch period to sign up.
Congratulations To Dr. Deirdre Hutson For Being Selected As Our 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year!
Dr. Deirdre Hutson is our 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year for W.J. Keenan High School.
"She is so much more than a Math teacher. She gets us. Because she cares, we want to get our work done," are the words from one of her students.
It's fitting, as Dr. Hutson continues to mold our student's minds as it relates to numbers and life.
Make sure to give her a big high five and congratulations!
- Report cards will go home on the January 20, 2022.
- Per district policy, you should have at least fifteen grades reported at this time and there should be no grade reported lower than a 50. If you are teaching an EOC class, for the exception of US History, you will need to place the EOC grade in the appropriate column to calculate the 20%.
- Students will report to Quarter Three/Semester Two classes on January 18, 2022.
- The SLO process should be closed out in SCLead. Check your email from Mrs. Lawson-Wilson to know if there are any outstanding items that you need to complete.
- If you are posting work outside of your classroom, make sure that a standard is posted with it. If you have work outside of your classroom, a standard should be added.
- Make sure that your phone has a current outgoing message so that parents can get in touch with you.
- All students should have a blue pass when they are permitted to be in the hall. Please see Mrs. Lawson-Wilson if you need another pass.
We Will Refocus On Reading and Math Skills!
After analyzing our most recent STAR data and interim reports, we need a stronger focus on reading and math skills. More than 50% of our students in both categories need some form of intervention.
Here are some key strategies we will be rolling out in the next few days.
- Teachers will be asked to have students read and answer questions from a NewsELA article each week.
- Students will be provided with additional assignments based on their intervention level in Math and ELA to complete during Raider Time.
- Identified students will be required to use the homework focus plan and tutoring help forms.
Quick Reads For Motivation and Growth
Good Teaching Is Not Just About the Right Practices - Working from a place of caring, Rizga reports, the best teachers establish deep connections with students, and then build up to a “daily commitment to bringing in well-considered, purposeful practices and working child by child. Click Here For The Entire Article
The case for professional kindness in teaching - A teacher can be effective, efficient, inclusive, and strategic. Still, unless they are professionally kind along with these things, the learners suffer. Click Here For The Entire Article
W.J. Keenan High School
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