December 2010 Update
TO: Michael Green, SuperintendentFROM: Mark Houk RE: WPS MONTHLY UPDATE
Fall Food Drive item donations were down this year, though we have more families in clear need of assistance throughout our community. Some classrooms stood out with terrific efforts of contributions - in 1st grade Mrs. Pitt-Garland's room, Ms. Austin's 2nd grade classroom, and Mrs. Schlenz's 3rd graders really stepped up with the effort and recently celebrated with a hot chocolate party! Good job, classes!
A major goal of our instructional program has been to introduce the implementation of common grade level math assessments at each grade level. As December arrives, we have accomplished the goal of first implementation, scoring and entering results into our data base system and are now going through guided exercises in analyzing what this data shows in terms of trends. Grade levels are going through that first "messy" effort at figuring our potential trends, and pieces to concentrate on for students as upcoming math units arrive. Asha Riley has done an excellent job of helping us dip into this process - I am so thankful for her instructional coaching support! Hard work, uncomfortable at times due to it being a new way considering our teaching habits.
My appreciation to our teaching staff who has remembered that our initial main goal was the organization and implementation of these tools - now we are moving beyond into areas that will bring us more thorough knowledge of adjustments needed for student learning.
As of press time, it is nearing the final days of Head Secretary Danielle McLendon's tenure with the district. Of course she has been an invaluable factor in any success I have had as principal the past 12 years in Woodland - a confidant, task master, and supportive figure that has always sought to keep me on the straight and narrow, Danielle is a lot of things to a lot of people, but this principal cannot fully articulate all that she has meant to me while always keeping her focus on her love for kids!
On Wednesday, December 15th from 3:00-6:00 PM we were to host a drop-In Open-House in honor of Danielle - hope several school and community choose to return.