To: Michael Green
From: Jake Hall
Date: 2.17.23
Re: February 2023 Board Report
Family and Community Resource Center
In each of our schools we have a Food Pantry to give away food for any students in need. The Food Pantry is 100% community funded, including staff contributions. In 2022’s “Dutch Luv Day” event, Woodland Dutch Bros raised over $1100 for Woodland Public Schools’ Food Pantry. Thanks to Gabby’s continued partnership with this business, Dutch Bros is sponsoring Woodland Schools’ Food Pantry again this year, donating $1 from every drink sold on Friday, February 17 to our Food Pantry!
Our 3rd Annual Multilingual/Latino Resource Fair will be in May again this year at Columbia Elementary School.
Health
Health rooms are continuing with direct student care, immunization compliance, and wrapping up vision and hearing screenings.
Highly Capable Program
Over the past month, Hi-C students have worked on a variety of projects.
First graders did an inquiry project on how animals survive in the winter. They did an experiment using Crisco, a glove, and ice water to see how blubber keeps you warmer in freezing temperatures. Students timed things just right so they could transition into hibernation.
Second graders have been learning to code robots called “Ozo Bots”. They have learned how to use color patterns to code their robot to move at various speeds and directions.
Third and fourth graders are working on a biography research project that they will present as a living wax museum. Students are studying a person they find interesting, creating a poster display and writing a short speech. They will then share their work while dressed as their chosen person at an upcoming learning exhibition. Prior to starting this project, fourth graders were using their video editing skills to create a project of their choice. Several students chose to make commercials, one did a read aloud of a book to share with younger students, and others presented information on something they found interesting.
The sixth-grade class is starting their robotics projects. They will be learning engineering and programming principles using LEGO robot kits. It is always amazing to see what kind of creations they make to solve challenges. A couple of LEGO Team students are doing special projects this semester using the same robot that the High School uses on its team.
Lewis River Academy
We are still having students and families come into the LRA space for in-person learning activities. As active student engagement is one of our school goals, we have been tracking our attendance at Workshop Wednesdays and other events such as Writer’s Workshop. We are encouraged to see so many of our students engaged in “in person” learning!
Student Engagement
Our Student Engagement Coordinator, Lindsay Noble, currently has over 250 students on her caseload to work with regarding attendance at school. During Winter Break, Lindsay worked with families one on one to provide resources. Her work, along with our Family Community Resource Center’s Gabby and Jonathan, provided several families experiencing homelessness with heaters, clothing and food. Lindsay continues to do Home Visits along with our school Social Workers and Counselors to provide a better understanding of barriers that have prevented students from attending school, and building a relationship of trust and compassion with these students and families.
Lindsay has been working closely with ESD-112’s Youth Support Specialist to provide better accommodations around school for our students who are on truancy petitions. She has begun using the WARNS system for assessments, an inquiry for our students to better understand their needs around school and what could be hindering their attendance. This system has given Lindsay better talking points for when she meets with families, with the goal to remove barriers for attendance and not end in truancy court. For example, Lindsay has found that most of our chronic non-attenders at the high school level feel they do not have a safe person to talk to at WHS; she has been working closely with WHS counselors to remove this barrier by introducing students to their counselor. Keeping up on weekly check ins with these students is showing a positive outcome with their attendance.
Special Services
We now have 370 students with Individual Education Plans, up 18 students from January 2023.
Our Safety Net Team is in the middle of our work applying for Safety Net reimbursement for some of our students who have high costs for the services they need. Our goal is to submit our Safety Net documentation to OSPI by Friday, March 3, 2023.
Title 1 Program -- Woodland Middle School
We are planning Trojan Family Fun Night to help increase family engagement. We are super excited to be bringing this back again this year. There is a lot going into this massive event. It is a whole school effort with all WMS staff.