To: Michael Green
From: James Johnston
Date: 9/14/21
Re: WMS September 2021 Board Report
Woodland Middle School staff are off and running for the new school year! The following topics are explained in more detail below:
Schedules and Snacks
We had a great turnout for our first ever “Schedules and Snacks” event. This event replaced our traditional “Lunch and Lockers” event since we did not issue lockers and did not have lunch due to social distancing in the lunchroom. During this event, students were able to tour the school, meet their teachers, and grab a snack bag. We appreciated all of the parents and guardians who came to this event to help launch a great school year.
First Weeks of School
The first few weeks of school went incredibly well. Students were respectful, excited, and following expectations. It was nice to start out in person even with the obstacles of masks and social distancing. The staff jumped right in to establish classroom norms and begin lessons. It is awesome to see students back socializing and being able to see each other without masks when outside.
District Directed Professional Development (DDPD) Days
We had a positive six days during professional development week with staff. Our focus this fall was on “What Great Teachers Do Differently” (tied to the work of Todd Whitaker out of Indiana State University). We also spent some time working as professional learning teams to address the following:
We also spent time collaborating and providing vertical articulation between grade levels and cohorts to identify student progress and needs.
Athletics
This year the middle school league has expanded to include a “North” and “South” roster. By having these leagues combine we are able to cut down on travel time and stay within a 40-mile radius for most sports. We have the following number of athletes for each fall sport:
During outdoor sports, no masks are needed for athletes. During indoor sports, all coaches, trainers, school officials, and spectators are required to wear masks whether vaccinated or not. Spectators also need to be spaced out. If players are vaccinated, they will not have to wear a mask during playing time. If they are not vaccinated, they either have to wear a mask or undergo regular testing.
State Testing
WMS will begin fall state testing the week of October 4th. The testing occurs during a three-week window during core classes utilizing chrome books. It will be shorter than in previous years during the fall session. For SBA Math and English Language Arts, students will take only a Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) and not have a Performance Task (PT).
The test will take place during core over 1-2 days during the following windows: