Date: 10/31/11
To: Michael Z. Green, Superintendent
From: Cari Thomson, PhD
RE: October Summary of Teaching and Learning
During the month of October WMS staff spent time on Monday mornings on department collaboration, math training, and school improvement planning. Integrated I and pre-algebra teachers has release days to discuss curriculum development and common assessments and grading practices. There is parent math night scheduled for November 7, 2011 for parent/students who want to be in the second semester Integrated I extension class.
Conference week occurred October 22-28. All students participated in student-led conferences. Talking points included their initial academic goals and plans for attainment, work samples, and the transition into middle school. Staff has done a great job of facilitating these and we will be repeating these conferences in the spring. The conferences in the spring will revisit the student's goal progress as well as address the planning for the 2012-2013 school year.
Kelly Sloniker attended the Navigation 101 fall conference. Navigations 101 is in its second year of full implementation. Staff has familiarized themselves with the on-line lessons and the second year through is proving to be easier. We devote a Monday a month to Navigation training by grade-level home rooms.
The WMS Lego Robotics Team is gearing up for another great year of competition. This year's research topic is food safety. The team is looking at ways to prevent salmon from spoiling. They are currently working with a local hatchery as well as a local processing plant to investigate the causes of salmon spoilage and current preservation techniques.
Michael Smith's Art II class did a nice job proposing murals for the district office. Students worked alone or in groups. They had to design a mural, write a written explanation, and cost out the project. The design then went in front of the district committee and two were selected. It will be nice to have WMS student art showcased in the district office.
Students at WMS participated in Red Ribbon Week in October. This is a nation-wide designated prevention week. Khristina Williams had several lunchtime activities and contests and all were promoted by the WMS Prevention Club. The prevention club has really taken off this year and is attended by more than 25 students! Additionally, WMS Prevention Club students participated in the Cowlitz County Youth Summit in Kelso.
NJHS also held a book drive in October to donate books to the Share House in Vancouver. WMS students collected over 898 books in less than a week. The canned food drive for World Food Day was also a huge success. Way to go NJHS!
On the CTE front, students are doing great things. CTE students and staff were out in force on Make a Difference Day, which the CTE department organizes with the city. Kim Miller's students catered a port commissioner's dinner in October and also went to Gustav's in Vancouver to explore German cooking. Charlie Farnell is advising FFA with Mr. and Mrs. Vetter and his advisory met and came up with some great storage ideas and class projects to get the wood shop organized. If you haven't been in there in a while, you should really check it out.
Joanne Rooney has Shelby Linnemeyer, who administers the early childhood program at LCC, on her advisory. Joanne has been advertising her early childhood playgroup and there has been interest from Longview and Kelso parents because their community has a need for this program. Ms. Rooney has bilingual students so Hispanic parents and children are more than welcome. Joanne has also applied for a $10,000 apprenticeship program grant.
Woodland Middle School staff will have their first non-working day on November 11, Veteran's Day.