Our Open House 'event' was very well attended this evening with students, parents, and staff seeming to have a wonderful time together. I'd like to thank our many families for turning out this evening with such enthusiasm. I'd also like to thank the staff of WHS for being such wonderful hosts -- they showed us all a fantastic time!
While I'm thanking people, one goes out to all of the parents who took our technology usage survey and all of our staff who helped to administer it. The preliminary results are very interesting, and encouraging. Final results of the survey will be posted over the weekend.
Additionally, I'd like to share how amazing it was to see the students and staff demonstrating so much pride in their school. Many people have invested a great deal of time and energy over many years to make WHS the fabulous school that it is today, and the school that it will be tomorrow. It was a pleasure to see so many kids and adults beaming over the school and our many accomplishments so far over the few short weeks of this new school year.
Closing out the evening, I was extremely pleased to have the opportunity to speak to our families about the school year start-up, and about one of our initiatives that is generating a great deal of interest and enthusiasm at WHS this year: 21st Century Learning! Below you will find a link to a podcast we made of the presentation (in case you couldn't make it to Open House, or had to leave the event early) -- be patient, it takes a moment to load. As always, many thanks for your support!!
http://principaldobe.podomatic.com/entry/2010-09-30T17_45_44-07_00
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
WHS Open House: A Night of Excitement & Wonder.
On this coming Thursday evening, September 30th, the students and staff of Woodland Heights will be inviting families and guests into our school. We look forward to showing you all of the work that we have done, and the classroom communities that we have created since our opening day on September 1st. There will be a general 'Open House' from 6-7pm., during which you'll be invited to visit classrooms and many other areas around the school building. Please try to come early enough to see the entire school. This way you'll get a great sense of what we are doing as an entire school and in our various departments, as well as this year's focus areas for individual classrooms and grade-level teams. The themes and qualities that I'd expect you will observe most readily are: Community, Student Support, Educational Technology, Enthusiasm, and Pride!
From 7:00-7:30pm. I'll have the honor of speaking with any and all visitors 'still standing'. I could talk for hours (literally) about all that we are endeavoring to accomplish this year at Woodland Heights, and how very proud I am to be associated with your school, staff, and community -- which are absolutely FABULOUS!! However, with only 30-minutes available, I'll have to pick just one theme to address: "21st Century Learning at Woodland Heights School". Of the many important topics that could be shared, it is our recent initiative regarding the use of educational technology (as a tool to facilitate 21st Century Learning), that is probably the least understood.
I'd love to meet with you for this presentation in the warm and comfortable WHS Library (which I like to refer to as the WHS 'Commons'), but we may be too large a group for that area. Please stay tuned for more details on WHS Open House. They will be relayed to you through our various classroom and/or office wikis or blogs. I hope that you and your family have a fantastic start to your week, and that we'll see you on Thursday evening for one of our biggest nights of the year!
Warmly,
Dennis Dobe
From 7:00-7:30pm. I'll have the honor of speaking with any and all visitors 'still standing'. I could talk for hours (literally) about all that we are endeavoring to accomplish this year at Woodland Heights, and how very proud I am to be associated with your school, staff, and community -- which are absolutely FABULOUS!! However, with only 30-minutes available, I'll have to pick just one theme to address: "21st Century Learning at Woodland Heights School". Of the many important topics that could be shared, it is our recent initiative regarding the use of educational technology (as a tool to facilitate 21st Century Learning), that is probably the least understood.
I'd love to meet with you for this presentation in the warm and comfortable WHS Library (which I like to refer to as the WHS 'Commons'), but we may be too large a group for that area. Please stay tuned for more details on WHS Open House. They will be relayed to you through our various classroom and/or office wikis or blogs. I hope that you and your family have a fantastic start to your week, and that we'll see you on Thursday evening for one of our biggest nights of the year!
Warmly,
Dennis Dobe
Friday, September 24, 2010
WHS Hosts PSU Practicum Students!
At WHS we are extremely proud to have the opportunity to host education students from Plymouth State University, as they finish their work preparing to be tomorrow's teachers. This fall we are hosting four PSU students, and wish to thank Mrs. Reed, Ms. Mull, Mrs. McCulloch, and Mrs. Reynolds for serving as 'Cooperating Teachers' for these college interns.
I had a moment to spend with our PSU interns this morning, and took an opportunity to interview them for our website (i.e., creating a 'podcast'). The students were happy to oblige, and we made the experience part of their training to become '21st Century Teachers'. Just click on the link below to hear what they had to say. We hope that you enjoy the program, and have a wonderful weekend!
http://principaldobe.podomatic.com/player/web/2010-09-24T05_58_15-07_00
I had a moment to spend with our PSU interns this morning, and took an opportunity to interview them for our website (i.e., creating a 'podcast'). The students were happy to oblige, and we made the experience part of their training to become '21st Century Teachers'. Just click on the link below to hear what they had to say. We hope that you enjoy the program, and have a wonderful weekend!
http://principaldobe.podomatic.com/player/web/2010-09-24T05_58_15-07_00
Monday, September 20, 2010
All Systems Go!
Walk Around. At the close of last week, long after our students left on Friday afternoon, I had a chance to make my rounds of the WHS building and reflect with many teachers on the week that was: our first full week of the new school year.
The themes that were echoed again and again were of exhaustion, and elation.
Exhaustion. It had been a long week, one of NWEA testing for Grade 3-5 students (thank you Mrs. Bergman and Mrs. Plourde), more Project Adventure experiences with Mr, Kramer and Miss Babcock, the beginning of the DARE program with LPD Officer Michelle Cardinal, a fire drill with special visitors from the Laconia Fire Department, indoor recesses, extra classroom and duty coverages, fledgling teacher practicum students from Plymouth State University, the beginning of Project Extra, Ward 5 voting at WHS (with bag lunches in the classrooms), the first WHAVE meeting of the year, the first common cold wave, and so much more.
There is more activity, and more work done by more people at your child's elementary school than you could ever imagine. Your teachers expend more physical and emotional energy in a day, than many professionals do in a week. The talent and drive necessary to skillfully lead a diverse group of children to a happy and successful week, maintaining the physical and emotional safety of all every second of the day, attaining high academic standards, and continuously meeting the demanding expectations of parents and supervisors, are nothing short of remarkable.
WHS teachers are very good at what they do. Often they are better than they need to be, because they care so much about their students. It has not been at all uncommon to have a teacher forego a break, step up to fill a coverage, design a unique activity, cover a needed duty, or develop and share a better way of doing something at our school. In short: seize an opportunity to make the day better for our students, and make the school better for everyone.
By the way, when I write about 'teachers', I am not just talking about classroom teachers, I am speaking collectively about all of our amazing staff (custodians, kitchen staff, paraprofessionals, interventionists, specialists, secretaries, volunteers, foster grandparents, etc., etc.) -- everyone on the WHS Team. These people are always stepping up to do things that they don't have to do. They step up, even when no one is watching. They step up because they know that when they do, the school is better, and that is good for kids. I have only been in your school for a few weeks, but I can tell you without hesitation, that you are fortunate to have your child attend Woodland Heights School; a school that is very good now, and is only going to get better in the time ahead.
As has been said a number of times already in my correspondence to parents, we hope that you will partner with us and get on the WHS improvement train. As with all of the the staff members I had alluded to earlier, your contributions to the school and the quality of your child's education can be enormous in our school's ongoing improvement intiative -- your focused effort and sustained commitment will undoubtedly make a world of difference for your child and her/his future. Your child has only one childhood, as we did. Why wouldn't you make it the very best it could be? Material things are cheap, and diminish in value over time. However, your quality time, and personal investment in your child: priceless!
Elation. Did I mention it was Friday afternoon??
Seriously, the feeling of pride and accomplishment among the people I visited that afternoon was unmistakable. Not only had they done some pretty fine work which challenged them in many ways, but they also may have realized (I think) that the many new WHS students and staff members were going to work out just fine. Everything was going to be O.K. What a relief!
Wrap-Up. That should do it for now. I'd like to thank everyone for their ongoing support and contributions which have made our school start-up go so very well so far this year. I'd like to especially thank all of the parents who have been patient and safety-minded as they come to the school at either end of the school day. We really notice and appreciate our parents who have come to understand how important it is to 'follow the rules of school' and do all that they can to have arrival and dismissal run smoothly and (most of all) safely for our students and staff.
So long for now. I hope that you and your family have a fabulous week!
Warmly,
Dennis Dobe
The themes that were echoed again and again were of exhaustion, and elation.
Exhaustion. It had been a long week, one of NWEA testing for Grade 3-5 students (thank you Mrs. Bergman and Mrs. Plourde), more Project Adventure experiences with Mr, Kramer and Miss Babcock, the beginning of the DARE program with LPD Officer Michelle Cardinal, a fire drill with special visitors from the Laconia Fire Department, indoor recesses, extra classroom and duty coverages, fledgling teacher practicum students from Plymouth State University, the beginning of Project Extra, Ward 5 voting at WHS (with bag lunches in the classrooms), the first WHAVE meeting of the year, the first common cold wave, and so much more.
There is more activity, and more work done by more people at your child's elementary school than you could ever imagine. Your teachers expend more physical and emotional energy in a day, than many professionals do in a week. The talent and drive necessary to skillfully lead a diverse group of children to a happy and successful week, maintaining the physical and emotional safety of all every second of the day, attaining high academic standards, and continuously meeting the demanding expectations of parents and supervisors, are nothing short of remarkable.
WHS teachers are very good at what they do. Often they are better than they need to be, because they care so much about their students. It has not been at all uncommon to have a teacher forego a break, step up to fill a coverage, design a unique activity, cover a needed duty, or develop and share a better way of doing something at our school. In short: seize an opportunity to make the day better for our students, and make the school better for everyone.
By the way, when I write about 'teachers', I am not just talking about classroom teachers, I am speaking collectively about all of our amazing staff (custodians, kitchen staff, paraprofessionals, interventionists, specialists, secretaries, volunteers, foster grandparents, etc., etc.) -- everyone on the WHS Team. These people are always stepping up to do things that they don't have to do. They step up, even when no one is watching. They step up because they know that when they do, the school is better, and that is good for kids. I have only been in your school for a few weeks, but I can tell you without hesitation, that you are fortunate to have your child attend Woodland Heights School; a school that is very good now, and is only going to get better in the time ahead.
As has been said a number of times already in my correspondence to parents, we hope that you will partner with us and get on the WHS improvement train. As with all of the the staff members I had alluded to earlier, your contributions to the school and the quality of your child's education can be enormous in our school's ongoing improvement intiative -- your focused effort and sustained commitment will undoubtedly make a world of difference for your child and her/his future. Your child has only one childhood, as we did. Why wouldn't you make it the very best it could be? Material things are cheap, and diminish in value over time. However, your quality time, and personal investment in your child: priceless!
Elation. Did I mention it was Friday afternoon??
Seriously, the feeling of pride and accomplishment among the people I visited that afternoon was unmistakable. Not only had they done some pretty fine work which challenged them in many ways, but they also may have realized (I think) that the many new WHS students and staff members were going to work out just fine. Everything was going to be O.K. What a relief!
Wrap-Up. That should do it for now. I'd like to thank everyone for their ongoing support and contributions which have made our school start-up go so very well so far this year. I'd like to especially thank all of the parents who have been patient and safety-minded as they come to the school at either end of the school day. We really notice and appreciate our parents who have come to understand how important it is to 'follow the rules of school' and do all that they can to have arrival and dismissal run smoothly and (most of all) safely for our students and staff.
So long for now. I hope that you and your family have a fabulous week!
Warmly,
Dennis Dobe
Sunday, September 12, 2010
New School Year Gets Underway at WHS!!
After months of preparation, Woodland Heights School opened its doors to teachers, students and families on August 30th.
Teachers started the day by hosting a special breakfast to thank the WHS custodial crew for their outstanding effort over the summer months. During the hot and dry months of July and August, our custodians worked tirelessly to clean our building from top to bottom. By the time that school opened on August 30th, our building absolutely sparkled. On behalf of the entire WHS Community, I'd like to extend a heartfelt 'Thank You!' to Corey, Scott, Bill, Ben, and summer helpers Garrett and Zachary. You guys are amazing!
For the balance of the day on the 30th, the teachers were involved in whole staff and team meetings in preparation for the upcoming school year. Many staff members also made finishing touches to their classrooms before the evening, during which they invited students and families into the school for our annual 'Warm Woodland Welcome'.
The evening event drew a large and enthusiastic crowd. Everyone in attendance seemed to be very excited to be back in the building together again. Our Warm Woodland Welcome set a warm, comfortable, and joyous tone for a fabulous school opening day on September 1st.
On Tuesday, August 31st, the entire Laconia School District Staff got together at the Laconia Middle School for a series of meetings and workshops to bring everyone up to speed on district initiatives and projects for the coming year. School Board Chairman Scott Vachon and School Superintendent Bob Champlin gave inspirational, technologically rich presentations that got us all 'fired-up' to start school, and continue the district's strive for academic excellence.
Our first day of school on September 1st was largely uneventful, with all school systems operating like clockwork. Some people commented that it was like the students, staff and families had never left for the summer: everyone was already in rhythm! What a relief!!
A smooth-running school right from the start is quite a achievement given how many new students, families, and staff members we have in the building this year. To name a few big changes (that you might already be aware of), the following staff members have been welcomed into the WHS Community this fall: Jessica Ganchi (School Nurse), Deborah Burrell (Occupational Therapist), Catherine Pelletier (Preschool Tacher), Nicole Rogers (Attendance Coordinator), Jerome Kramer (Behavioral Specialist), Mollie Babcock (School Counselor), and Dennis Dobe (School Principal). That is a lot of new talent in your school!
Major developments over the past few days include: getting our school computer system up and running after major disassembly over the summer for cleaning, organizing our student support teams and coordinating student service times, conducting our first series of emergency preparedness drills, and scheduling NWEA testing for the coming two weeks -- NECAP testing will follow in early to mid-October.
It definitely feels like the school year is underway now, and everything is looking good for the time ahead. It has been absolutely wonderful getting to know the talented staff, wonderful students, and supportive families of WHS. I think it is going to be a fabulous year!
Teachers started the day by hosting a special breakfast to thank the WHS custodial crew for their outstanding effort over the summer months. During the hot and dry months of July and August, our custodians worked tirelessly to clean our building from top to bottom. By the time that school opened on August 30th, our building absolutely sparkled. On behalf of the entire WHS Community, I'd like to extend a heartfelt 'Thank You!' to Corey, Scott, Bill, Ben, and summer helpers Garrett and Zachary. You guys are amazing!
For the balance of the day on the 30th, the teachers were involved in whole staff and team meetings in preparation for the upcoming school year. Many staff members also made finishing touches to their classrooms before the evening, during which they invited students and families into the school for our annual 'Warm Woodland Welcome'.
The evening event drew a large and enthusiastic crowd. Everyone in attendance seemed to be very excited to be back in the building together again. Our Warm Woodland Welcome set a warm, comfortable, and joyous tone for a fabulous school opening day on September 1st.
On Tuesday, August 31st, the entire Laconia School District Staff got together at the Laconia Middle School for a series of meetings and workshops to bring everyone up to speed on district initiatives and projects for the coming year. School Board Chairman Scott Vachon and School Superintendent Bob Champlin gave inspirational, technologically rich presentations that got us all 'fired-up' to start school, and continue the district's strive for academic excellence.
Our first day of school on September 1st was largely uneventful, with all school systems operating like clockwork. Some people commented that it was like the students, staff and families had never left for the summer: everyone was already in rhythm! What a relief!!
A smooth-running school right from the start is quite a achievement given how many new students, families, and staff members we have in the building this year. To name a few big changes (that you might already be aware of), the following staff members have been welcomed into the WHS Community this fall: Jessica Ganchi (School Nurse), Deborah Burrell (Occupational Therapist), Catherine Pelletier (Preschool Tacher), Nicole Rogers (Attendance Coordinator), Jerome Kramer (Behavioral Specialist), Mollie Babcock (School Counselor), and Dennis Dobe (School Principal). That is a lot of new talent in your school!
Major developments over the past few days include: getting our school computer system up and running after major disassembly over the summer for cleaning, organizing our student support teams and coordinating student service times, conducting our first series of emergency preparedness drills, and scheduling NWEA testing for the coming two weeks -- NECAP testing will follow in early to mid-October.
It definitely feels like the school year is underway now, and everything is looking good for the time ahead. It has been absolutely wonderful getting to know the talented staff, wonderful students, and supportive families of WHS. I think it is going to be a fabulous year!
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