To: Michael Green
From: Jake Hall
Date: 4.21.22
Re: April 2022 Board Report
Alternative Learning Experiences
At Lewis River Academy, we have started having groups of students back on campus. It is absolutely fantastic to see each other offscreen, in real life, and we're taking time to (re)teach classroom routines and break the ice. Not all families are comfortable being back, so we're here when they're ready!
TEAM High staff is focused on finishing this school year strong. We had our first senior graduate on March 4th, with several others getting close. We are looking forward to a large cohort of 2022 graduates this year, possibly our largest graduating class in TEAM history -- about 50 students. Historically, TEAM has been an opportunity for students to graduate later than their graduating class but we are pleased to report that this graduating class includes twelve juniors and even one sophomore! TEAM is personalized learning with differentiated timelines for students. As such, students are able to graduate after -- or before -- their graduating class!
English Language Learners
State English Language Learner assessment and Parent-Teacher Conferences are both successfully completed for 2021-22! The EL Department is working on ways to better support our students' success. Two examples of this are an After-School Academic Success Club at WHS and Math Club at WMS.
Family and Community Resource Center
Our Latino & English Language Learners Resource Fair will be Saturday, May 21st in the Columbia Elementary School parking lot from 4:00 pm-6:00 pm. We have 10 community partners hosting tables at the event, and Amerigroup is providing funds for food and raffle prizes. We will also give away bags with important resources in Spanish, like Kindergarten registration for our district. The goal of the event is community bonding and practical support, as Spanish-speaking families often face unique barriers and economic and health disparities.
We applied for Community Foundation’s Cycle 1 Focus grant for FCRC staff hours and Driver’s Education courses for students experiencing homelessness. Our hope is that this could help address some of the transportation barriers that our unaccompanied youth face.
We were able to use this year’s Community Foundation Grant to supplement an Unaccompanied Homeless Youth’s rent for the remaining three months of the school year. The student has been successful in school but was considering dropping out in order to work and pay rent. Thanks to the grant and the work of all staff involved, the student is able to continue to graduation!
Highly Capable Program
We have completed the screener Cognitive Ability Test for all our new students, K-4, and students who were referred for consideration of highly capable designation. Our 4th-grade students that are currently placed in the Highly Capable Program also took the full Cognitive Ability Test. This year the students took the screener or the full test online. The test results will be added to an academic portfolio which will be reviewed by the Multidistrict Selection Committee (MDSC) which is comprised of representatives from teachers, school psychologists, and school administrators. The MDSC will review each student’s academic portfolio, and families will be notified of the team decision in May 2022.
Student Engagement Coordinator (K-12 Attendance)
I am thankful to report that we have filled the Student Engagement Coordinator position! Lindsay Noble will be our Student Engagement Coordinator. She is already familiarizing herself with state and district guidelines around attendance and making connections with her colleagues in other districts.
K-12 Health Services
Kerri Six, our district nurse, finished our annual health “district assessment” for ESD 112. Our health and nursing staff are keeping up to date on immunizations for the newly enrolled students for the upcoming school year.
LAP Program
The K-4 LAP program has continued to monitor data and make adjustments as students show solid growth. Recently, we have had many students show enough growth to cease needing LAP interventions! Students are energized by their success and are dedicated to meeting their goals.
Title Program
Title is humming along with supporting students in reading intervention and 5th grade Math CORE classes. Our newly hired paraeducators (Josiah Sanders & Amara Sanders), along with our long-lasting dedicated folks (Cindee Claycamp & Selena Smith), are doing AMAZING work connecting with students and helping them academically.
We hosted a family engagement table at student conferences. It was a delight to have round table conferences in person again. Teachers held a total of 1,664 conferences. Students and families who attended met with most, if not all, of their teachers.