The CIA Report
November 2017 Edition
Please take some time to read through this prior to the November 28 administrator meeting. If you have any questions, please post them to this Google Doc.
Learning Today... Feeding Your Professional Soul
Kayla Delzer is a teacher on a mission to reimagine classrooms and instruction on a routine basis. In order to do this we must:
- Release the power.
- Embrace purposeful technology.
- Not feed the fear.
- Reinvent the skills of today.
Take a peek inside her classroom and be inspired by this teacher who believes that we must see our classrooms and students differently!
Teaching & Learning
Music - Recorders
This year recorders are required for our 4th and 5th grade students in Music. Given the fact that so many schools have been using recorders in the past and given that our schools all have different ways of proving recorders for students, the purchase of recorders will continue to be done by the individual buildings. Please work with your teachers to determine what is best for your building and students. The following are a few options:
- Purchase one class set of recorders
- Purchase one recorder per student
- Provide students with the option to purchase their own recorders (many students like to have their own)
If you have any questions about this or if you need any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Keri.
Feedback Needed for Improvement of Virtual Reality Access
We are very excited about the possibilities virtual reality offer to our students and the impact it can have on learning! In order to move forward with this effort, we are looking for feedback regarding a community phone drive to help us gather smartphones to use for the purpose of virtual reality. If you have questions about this, please feel free to reach out to Sam Knoll, Amanda Moody or Meghan Aydelott.
Please take a moment to complete this survey and help us determine elementary interest: https://tinyurl.com/WSDVRlearning
Information for All
Outdoor Classrooms/Gardens
Meghan Aydelott has been in touch with MU and they are pleased to be able to help us with our outdoor classrooms and/or school gardens. Through the MU Extension our schools can receive PD as well as help from a master gardener! Meghan is excited to help coordinate this for all schools if there is interest. Please take a moment to complete this survey to let us know if you are interested in pursuing this for your school:
https://tinyurl.com/WSDoutdoorlearningspaces
Geography Bee
National Geography Bee
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/bee
The National Geographic Bee is an annual competition organized by the National Geographic Society, designed to inspire and reward students' curiosity about the world. Students in grades four through eight (4-8) from 10,000 schools across the United States will compete in the 2018 National Geographic Bee for a chance to win college scholarships and the glory of being the National Geographic Bee Champion.
Please consider registering a team from your school to participate!
Key Info:
The minimum number of students required to participate is 6; the test must be administered on or before 2/2/18 at your school. Each school produces a winner and the top 100 ranked students in each state qualify to represent their school in the state Geography Bee on 4/2/18. The state champ then represents their school and state at the National Championship Bee in Washington, D.C. May 20-23, 2018. WSD already has South Middle School and Wentzville Middle School participating.
Cost is $120 to register a school until 12/21; registration increases to $140 from 12/22 through 1/26/18. *Registration is completed online -- credit cards and checks are accepted (no POs).
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Nichole Nolan. Thanks for your consideration of this great opportunity for our students to shine!
Important Upcoming Dates
STEM Olympics
- March 6th 5pm - 8pm @ Liberty High School Grade K-4
- March 13th 5pm - 8pm @ Liberty High School Grades 5-8
- April 12th 5pm - 8pm @ Wentzville Middle School County Wide
Film Festival
- March 21, 2018, 7:00 p.m at the Liberty High School Performing Arts Center
Assessment
SGA and Growth Data- All 2017 MAP growth data and Fall 2017 SGA data is now in PULSE!
Elementary & Middle School MAP- We are still waiting on more information from the state on MAP Practice Forms (formerly MAP interim tests). These are supposed to be much shorter and very similar to the new MAP tests. We will be sending more information out as it is released.
EOC’s- As we shared earlier, there will NOT be a 2018 Summer EOC session. Please be sure all seniors are not delayed in any way and take any needed tests in the 2017 Fall or Spring 2018.
EOC’s-We will not have Biology, Algebra 1, Algebra 2, or English 2 EOC scores back in time to give as final grades. As shared earlier, the policy states it is up to the principal to determine if a different project/unit test can be used in its place. We will touch base as a group during lunch at the admin meeting to discuss this further.
Professional & Program Development
Your expertise is needed, too! Please consider submitting a Share Fair (2/16) proposal: https://goo.gl/forms/LINPCGFnQVdYNtAM2 The purpose of this year’s WSD Best Practices Mini-Conference is to stretch our thinking. Here is a list of possible presentation topics: Innovation Trauma Informed PBL STEM MTSS Technology Content-specific Best Practices The updated iObservation Learning Map and learning strategies Canvas for Admin I am presenting on Similarities and Differences as a high impact instructional strategy. NEW Wait List on the Professional Release Calendar (aka PD Calendar) - Not room on the PD Calendar for your PD? Contact Billie D (billiedefriese@wsdr4.org) or Jeanne S (jeannesivewright@wsdr4.org) to get on the Wait List. If someone cancels, you may get to go! Students are loving Ignite! Help your students take advantage of this profession-based program. Please consider putting the following on your website, distributing to teachers, and announcing: Parent / Student Information Meeting: DATE: Jan 22 (Monday) TIME: 6:30 to 8:00 p LOCATION: TBD but likely in the new AC Student / Teacher Field Trip to Ignite! Startup / Business Solutions 2 DATES for students to choose from: Jan 8 and Jan 10 TIME: 12:00 to 2:00p LOCATION: Lindenwood Campus at 1102 E. Pitman in Wentzville, MO 63385 Students will be asked to provide their own transportation (like we asked them to do for CEA Job Shadows). Internships for Seniors - paid and unpaid can be found here.
Technology
Whom Do I Contact?
Who do I call when I can’t remember my password? What do I login with to access Destiny? We have many questions when it comes to the multiple resources district staff and students have access to in the Wentzville School District. The following document will provide answers to all of the commonly asked questions. Click here to view the Google Document.
Important Dates…
On January 1, 2018, the old website (web.wentzville.k12.mo.us) will be taken offline. Please ensure that you have downloaded any files that you may still need access to.
Moodle (our previous learning management system) will only be accessible in district only, starting January 1, 2018. Access will be turned off from outside of the district. On July 1, 2018, it will be taken permanently offline. Please ensure that you have downloaded any files that you may need access to.
Dr. Gregg Klinginsmith
Twitter: @GTKling