Today we start 2nd Semester of the 2015-16 school year! Once again, change is in the air! However, this time we have change we have systems in place and scaffolding to support our new semester and the upcoming state assessments, scheduling and spring 2016. Feel free to be updated further on the topics listed below:
A New Year -- Building success on new beginnings
Celebrating Success -- WMS learning community growing together
Robotics Team -- Once again, Tim Brown and our Robotics are award winners
Faithfulness of WMS Staff -- Building a plane as we fly it with great attitudes
Facilities Constantly Updated -- Scott Landrigan and his team improve our facilities
Thank you to WMS ASB -- New Trojan Helmet art in the office
A New Year!
At Woodland Middle School, we are excited about what is ahead of us in 2016! In just a few weeks, students will have new classes as we start second semester. Later this spring, WMS Trojans will show their skills on state assessments and 8th graders will set up their schedules as the incoming freshmen at Woodland High School! While 2015 may be characterized as the year of major changes, 2016 may be characterized as the year of building success. I am proud of the students, staff and families of Woodland Middle School for an overall great attitude and approach to making the new WMS awesome together.
Celebrating Success
Woodland Middle School Trojans and Staff are having a lot of success! Not only is each day progressively “brighter” with longer sun but also, and more importantly, our students and staff are cultivating a growth mindset on how to improve our learning community. Here are a few highlights from January 2016!
Robotics Team
The WMS Robotics team went to the University of Washington to collaborate with professors about an exciting program to build homes out of recycled items. Then the Robotics team competed with 60 other schools and took 1st Place in the category of “Teamwork”!
Faithfulness of WMS Staff
Whether rain or shine, WMS Staff help at the busses to make sure our students are safe. In addition to supervision, WMS Staff takes extra time outside of their work day to meet with students, families and colleagues to find winning solutions to perceived problems. WMS Staff has met about each and every Trojan to make sure they are accurately placed in classes essential for them individually second semester. The Yellow and Green Hallway have increasingly more student work prominently displayed as staff take the time to elevate student status. What’s more, our Science, Math and Special Education departments are leading the way of “hands-on” learning, the current research-based best practice way of maximizing student learning. English continues to implement new instructional materials with great unity because of their efforts to collaborate with each other and attend professional training.
Facilities Constantly Updated
In other exciting news, there will be a brand new “Rock Wall” for climbing installed in the Yellow Gym soon. In fact, parts of the wall have been arriving lately! Also, the WSD Facilities Department will install new backboards and basketball hoops in the outdoor covered area by the Yellow Gym. Next time you are at the school check out how great it looks. The floors are shiny, the paint and carpet in many places is updated, and the outdoor areas are cleaning up nicely. I’m proud of how functional and spiffed up facilities and I want to publicly thank our fabulous custodians and the new WSD Facilities Director, Scott Landrigan, for their tireless efforts.
Thank You to our 2015-16 WMS ASB
Next time you are in the office you’ll have to see our new Trojan Helmet designed by Paul Huddleston painted by Carey Sweyer! It is absolutely beautiful! It was paid for by the 2015-16 WMS ASB as a lasting legacy of the first ASB of the new WMS!