Mon Apr 23 2018, 5:30pm
WHS Room 2203
Regular Meeting

REPORTS TO THE BOARD

Woodland Primary School Report

To: Michael Green

From: Ingrid Colvard

Date: April 18, 2018

RE: Monthly Report Woodland Primary School (Grades PreK-1)

Kindergarten Kick Off: WPS will welcome families to our Kindergarten Kick Off on April 26th from 6:00-7:30 p.m. The format will be a bit different than in the past as we will have planned more of a fun, open house event. Children will have passports we stamp as they tour different areas of the school and will receive a welcome gift after receiving all of the stamps. In the past, children engaged in a screening process to inform class configuration decisions.

A review of the data for the past three years made it evident that the screening information was not congruent with what teachers observed in the classroom. For this reason, we are initiating the use of a very well-vetted parent screening form that is aligned with the state WaKIDS instrument we administer each year to new kindergarten students. Parents will collaborate on this screening with WPS staff during initial school registration. We are hopeful that this will result in better data and that separating the screening process from the Kindergarten Kick Off event will make for a stress-free and enjoyable first experience at WPS.   

Dual Language Parent Information Meeting: Families of incoming kindergarten students who are interested in participating in the WPS Dual Language Program next school year are invited to an information session on the evening of May 1st from 6:00-7:00 p.m.  During this time the program will be explained and questions answered. Families will learn about the selection criteria and how to indicate their preference for participation. It is important to recognize that Eric Jacobson has been an amazing partner in producing very high quality and informative print materials that highlight the key program elements. It is exciting to make this dream a reality!

“The Whale Guy”:  John Ford is a marine biologist specializing in whale research and rescue who recently visited WPS first grade students. Mr. Ford inspires young learners to explore this subject through a very interactive and engaging program. Children are researching ocean life and preparing presentations to share their learning with invited guests. This is experiential learning in action and children are demonstrating a very sophisticated ability to articulate what they know and understand. We are fortunate to have had Mr. Ford as an educational partner for so many years.