WELCom
New partnerships were established and celebrated when the Woodland Early Learning Community(WELCom) gathered to get to know one another and learn more about programs the afternoon of October 20th. In partnership with Cary Moore, the Child and Family Services Supervisor for Educational Opportunities for Children and Families(EOCF), WPS facilitated the gathering of early learning providers in our community to discuss school readiness issues, better transitional processes from preschool to kindergarten, as well as necessary skills for students as they grow. This rich and powerful discussion has been the impetus for exciting initiatives in the near future.
Learning “Power Walks”
Investing in the continual learning and collaboration of teachers is a key element to increasing student achievement. For this reason, November 2nd marked the first of many “Learning Walks” at WPS. This is a time where a teacher leaves the classroom to briefly observe other teachers, processing what they notice with either the principal or instructional coach. These were called “Power Walks” because they were very brief intervals and intentionally focused. We were fortunate to have Superintendent Green join us for the morning, and staff were extremely motivated to repeat the process very soon.
Building Leadership Team & School Improvement
Staff leaders from both WPS and WIS joined to begin the school improvement process on November 3rd. The two schools collaborated for a morning session together, then split into building-specific teams for the remainder of the day. The initial time together facilitates a cohesive K-4 approach to data analysis, the development of instructional strategies, and the design of goals that are aligned to our collective vision. The day was powerful, as WPS leaders started the work of dreaming together to craft a very intentional plan for school growth. Conversations were focused on data, community outreach, parent engagement and enhanced instructional strategies as the path toward increased achievement. There is much to still do, but it was a wonderful beginning!