The Raider Professional

Classroom engagement is vital for creating a positive learning environment that promotes student success. When students are engaged, they are more likely to retain information, perform better academically, and develop social skills. Engaged students also form positive relationships with their teachers and peers, which can lead to improved emotional well-being. Classroom engagement can be fostered by creating a learning environment that encourages active participation, uses a variety of teaching methods, and incorporates hands-on activities. Additionally, providing regular feedback and creating a safe and respectful classroom environment can help students feel supported and motivated to learn. Ultimately, classroom engagement is critical for promoting student success and creating a positive learning experience that prepares students for academic and personal success.

There are many strategies that teachers can use to keep their classrooms engaged. Here are a few:

1. Use a variety of teaching methods, such as lectures, group discussions, debates, videos, and interactive activities to keep students engaged and interested.

2. Encourage participation by asking students questions and giving them opportunities to share their thoughts and opinions. This can help keep them engaged and interested in the topic.

3. Use technology such as interactive whiteboards, tablets, and online resources to make the lesson more engaging and interactive.

4. Incorporate hands-on activities such as experiments, simulations, and projects to help students apply what they are learning and stay engaged.

5. Use humor and storytelling to make the lesson more interesting and memorable.

6. Create a positive classroom environment by being supportive, respectful, and enthusiastic. Students are more likely to be engaged and interested in a subject if they feel comfortable and safe in the classroom.

7. Provide regular feedback to students to help them understand their progress and encourage them to continue learning. This can help keep them motivated and engaged.

8. Vary the pace of the lesson to keep students engaged. Use faster-paced activities and slow-paced activities to keep students engaged and interested in the topic.

Overall, the key to keeping a classroom engaged is to make the lesson interesting, interactive, and relevant to students' lives. This week, let's focus on having an engaged classroom.

We are W.J. Keenan High School. Home of the Champion Raiders!

There are a few things that we will need to make sure we are doing to keep the natural order and flow of our school:

• School starts at 8:00 a.m. Remind students they need to report to class before then to avoid a tardy.
• Stand at your door during the change of each class.
• You must not leave your students unsupervised for any reason.
• If you would like to have an end of year class gathering, food must be purchased and packaged to be consumed. Students/teachers may not bring food prepared at home.
• Please do not allow students into the hallway without a pass.
• Please do not allow students that are not on your roster in your classroom. Students need to be in their scheduled classroom to receive credit. You are accountable for every student in your room.
• You may only sign out to leave on your planning period and/or with administrator approval in an emergency circumstance if you do not have a scheduled absence.
• If you are absent from school, it is your professional responsibility to input the appropriate information in Frontline in a timely manner. Substitutes are limited. Please check Munis prior to doing this so you are aware of your available days for an absence.

Monday, March 6, 2023

• Baseball (Away at Bowman Bethune H.S.) @ 6:00 p.m.
• "When you have a dream, you've got to grab it and never let go."— Carol Burnett

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

• Faculty Meeting @ 3:30 p.m.
• Boys Tennis (At Fairfield H.S.) @ 5:00 p.m.
• "Nothing is impossible. The word itself says 'I'm possible!'"— Audrey Hepburn

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

• Baseball (Away at Great Falls H.S.) @ 6:00 p.m.
• Lady Raiders Softball (Away at Irmo) JV@ 5:30 p.m. Varsity @ 7:15 p.m.
• Track at the Falcon Meet (Away at Ben Lippen) @ 5:00 p.m.
• Bus evacuation drill @9:00 a.m.
• "Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you."— Walt Whitman

Thursday, March 9, 2023

• National Honor Society Induction - In the lecture hall @ 6:00 p.m.
• Boys Tennis (At W.J. Keenan H.S.) @ 5:00 p.m.
• "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."- Winston Churchill

Friday, March 10, 2023

• Baseball (Away at Crestwood H.S.) @ 6:00 p.m.
• "Do not allow people to dim your shine because they are blinded. Tell them to put some sunglasses on."— Lady Gaga

More than 100 career and technical education (CTE) students were recognized this morning at Richland One’s 2023 CTE Internship and Apprenticeship Signing Day at

Heyward Career and Technical Center. W.J. Keenan High School was well represented!

Hello Raiders,

Welcome to another week in Raider Nation!

Keep in mind that we are near the end of 3rd quarter. Grades should be updated in preparation for grade verification. See the email sent on February 27th for reminders.

SCLead: Please login and go to your Student Growth & Professional Goals. Make sure that you have completed A & B under your Summative Conference tab. Place your signature at the bottom of that page. Send me an email if you need support.

If you are interested in earning endorsement for AP classes, please see the following link: https://glasscock.rice.edu/ap-summer-institute#workshops

If you have students that registered for the ACT on March 7, please share this resource that they may use as daily practice to prepare: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation/free-act-test-prep.html

If you are teaching an EOC course, you do not have to wait to expose your students to the Online Tools Training.

Please be sure to follow the links that will help you prepare for testing.

https://ed.sc.gov/tests/tests-files/eocep-files/algebra1-test-blueprint-2022-23
https://ed.sc.gov/tests/tests-files/eocep-files/biology-test-blueprint-2022-23

https://ed.sc.gov/tests/tests-files/eocep-files/biology1-teachers-guide-and-sample-items/

https://ed.sc.gov/tests/tests-files/eocep-files/english2-test-blueprint-2022-23

https://ed.sc.gov/tests/tests-files/eocep-files/2019-eocep-sample-release-items-for-english-2

https://ed.sc.gov/tests/tests-files/eocep-files/eocep-english-1-writer-s-checklist/

https://ed.sc.gov/tests/tests-files/eocep-files/eocep-text-dependent-analysis-scoring-rubric/

https://ed.sc.gov/tests/tests-files/eocep-files/ushc-test-blueprint-2022-23

Dates to Remember:

ACT - March 7 in the Lecture Hall

End of 3rd quarter - March 10

Teacher Workday - March 13

Early Release for students/parent conferences - March 20

CCR WIN Testing March 27-April 14

End of Course Testing - May 1 - May 19 in the small gym

AP Calculus Test - May 8

Spring STAR testing - May 10-24

Instructional Reminders:

· Prior to interims, you need to have at least 7 grades reported in your gradebook. Prior to the end of quarter, you need to have at least 15 grades reported.

· Emergency lesson plans with five days of lessons should be available to your department leader. In your plans, you should have attendance rosters and class procedures accessible.

· Progress Learning (formerly USA Test Prep) is available for use. You should be able to use your login credentials from USA Test Prep. Let me know if you need support.

· If you are placing items outside of your classroom for display, please be advised that the standard addressed MUST accompany student work.

· As we plan, we need to make sure that we are addressing the Depth Of Knowledge levels in our lessons. An easy way to break this down is by having students answer each of these questions.

1. What are we learning?

2. How are we learning it?

3. Why are we learning it?

4. How can this learning be extended?

Observation non-negotiables:

1. Standards & Learning intentions should be addressed prior to the start of the lesson. They should be written AND communicated verbally as well as explicitly.

2. Gradual Release (I do, We do, You do)

3. Questions that move through different levels of thinking

4. Activities are aligned to standards and age-appropriate

5. Monitoring student progress and class management (moving about the room)

Have an outstanding week!

As we are quickly making our way through the 22-23 school year; conversations with our 9th grade students have centered on this simple, but complex question, "Do your habits match your goals?"

The Raider Freshman Academy, emphasizes the importance of positive habits and character traits such as a strong work ethic, resilience, perseverance, self-determination, and self-regulation. High school presents all students, especially 9th graders with opportunities to grow in each of these areas. High school studies as well as life will present both successes and failures. As we approach the 4th quarter it is my continued task and mission to work together with Raider Academy teachers to teach, cultivate, and foster the growth of these skills to ensure our students have the best shot at academic, emotional, and behavioral success.

2nd Round Applications are being accepted. Please go to https://www.richlandone.org/domain/3016 to apply by April 28, 2023.

After you apply you must attend one of the parent information sessions.

W. J. Keenan Parent Information Sessions:

Virtual Meetings:

Wednesday March 8, 2023; 10:00 AM

Wednesday March 15, 2023; 10:00 AM

Monday March 20, 2023; 5:30 PM

To Join our Virtual Zoom Meetings:

https://us05web.zoom.us/j/97870140697?pwd=amlyTkdDL0pCSWlGQTVYQm1jK2lzZz09

Meeting ID: 978 7014 0697

Passcode: d0tWyR

In Person at W. J. Keenan High School Lecture Hall

Wednesday March 8, 2023; 5:30 PM

Tuesday March 14, 2023; 5:30 PM

Thursday March 30, 2023; 5:30 PM

W. J. Keenan High School

361 Pisgah Church Rd.

Columbia SC 29203

If you have any questions, please contact:

Mrs. Shalise Wine at 803-714-2500

The Raider Academy is Coming

Changes are coming in 2023-2024 school year. We are now a school within a school. We are called The Raider Academy. You will be receiving a letter discussing all of the changes that are coming up by the end of this week.

We have been invited to attend camp at the University of South Carolina's Hospitality program over the summer for two days. If you are interested in this amazing opportunity, please reach out to Mrs. Wine.

8th Grade Virtual Parent Meeting will be held on 3/30/2023 at 6:30 PM

Student Meeting will be held 3/17/2023 at 9:00 AM

Remember to remain in the magnet program you must maintain a 70 or above in all of your classes; if you need assistance, please utilize our afterschool tutoring programs: Raider Ready Program and the Raider Priority Tutoring Program.

The Raider Ready Program

The hours of operations will be Monday – Friday 3:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Students will receive a meal and transportation will be provided if they are zoned for W.J. Keenan High School. Please use the QR code to register your child for assistance.

The hours of operations will be Monday – Friday 3:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Students will receive a meal and transportation will be provided if they are zoned for W.J. Keenan High School. Please use the QR code to register your child for assistance.

Hey, wjkeenan Raiders! Make sure to take advantage of the 1st window of 3rd quarter content recovery! Teachers, make sure to inform your students and get them set up to make improvements.

Teachers and staff, please help us keep our students and school safe by reporting to work by 7:30 (morning duty) or 7:45 am. Please be at your doors ready to receive students by 7:50 am.

Please be reminded if you are going to be absent, report your absence by:

1. Submitting your absence in Frontline (Aesop).

2. Sending an email that you will be out.

a. To: Mr. Hankins

b. CC: Ms. Erving and Mrs. McIntee

c. Subject: Your Name Absent Date of Absence (Ex: Jabar Hankins Absent 1/16/23)

3. Calling the school (if an emergency happens on your way to work).

Substitutes and staff members covering classes should arrive by 7:45 am.

Thanks for your cooperation and for all you do for our students.

Please be reminded that the deadline to make up attendance recovery (seat time) hours is Saturday, February 4. After this date, FAs (Failure due to Absence) will become a grade of F in students’ historical grades, if they have not completed seat time for their courses. This will mean students will have to re-take some courses to satisfy graduation/promotion requirements. This may also mean that some students may not graduate on time or may not be promoted to the next grade level.

Students who have seat time hours to make up may see Mrs. Wine, Mrs. DuBard or Mr. Hankins to get information for sign up and completion. Attendance recovery hours are offered Monday-Friday from 3:30 pm-5:30 pm and Saturdays (January 28 and February 4) from 9:00 am-1:00 pm.

We strive to ensure that all our Raiders are successful and receive their high school diplomas. To help reach these goals, we offer our students ways to achieve academic success both during and after school.

Students or parents may sign up for after school tutoring to receive support with their studies.

Students can sign up for tutoring by using the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/hzBTPzSQMa

Our student athletes are automatically eligible for Athletic Tutoring. This program meets Tuesday-Thursday immediately at the end of the school day. In addition to Athletic Tutoring, we also offer two other means of school support.

Raider Ready Tutoring is offered to students in grades 9 and 10. Tutoring is offered after school and offers help in core subjects (English, math, science and social studies). Raider Ready meets Monday-Thursday from 3:30-5:30. Students receive an after school meal and bus transportation home (with the exception of Magnet students).

Raider Priority Tutoring is available to all students in grades 9-12. This program offers students some flexibility in study support, as students may choose face to face assistance, or may select the virtual (online) option to receive help from home. Assistance is offered in English, math, social studies and science, Tuesday-Thursday afternoons. Face to face hours are from 3:30-4:30. Transportation is NOT provided. Students/parents must provide transportation home. If students do not have transportation, they may choose the online option, which meets Tuesday-Thursday from 4:30-6:30.

We are committed to offering as many avenues to success as possible. Students may talk with Coach S. Gilley (Athletic Tutoring), Mrs. S. DuBard (Raider Ready Tutoring) or Mrs. S. Wine or Mr. J. Hankins (Raider Priority Tutoring) with questions or for sign up information.

Feedback From Observations: Focus on engaging students and having them do the work. Rather than standing up and writing on the smartboard as you are explaining, have students come up to the board and share what they know. Put students in groups and give meaningful activities. Use balls and other manipulatives to identify students for a response. Make these engaging strategies apart of your daily routine.

Handling Conflict: Please talk with our students about how to properly handle conflict. Encourage them to reach out to adults in the building to get help with situations that can potentially get them in trouble. Please convey the importance of working together resolve problems before they become bigger issues. It takes a village!

Student Work: Please start posting your best student work inside and outside your classroom in the hallways. You may also share by tagging WJK on social media.

Ask Yourself: What is the hook for today’s lesson that will keep them engaged? Is there an opportunity for my students to get up and move around with my lesson? How am I going to check for understanding? Am I giving students the opportunity to show me they have a grasp of the content? Am I using the DLE to enhance the lesson or am I simply giving electronic skill sheets?

Signing In and Out: If you need to leave campus for an emergency, please get approval from an administrator, and sign out in the main office. We are professionals.

PTSO: Please consider joining our Parent Teacher Student Association. It is a big part of communicating to our parents that we want to build a stronger partnership this year. The application is in the main office with Ms. Golston.

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