On the morning of Friday, December 16th, the the Woodland Heights Community came together to honor and celebrate the achievements of more than 130 WHS scholars and student citizens. 109 students (25% of our student population) garnered 'Perfect Attendance' accolades for the month of November, and an additional 25 students were recognized for their distinction as either a classroom 'Student of the Month' or a program 'Outstanding Student in Specials'.
In addition to student recognition, we held our customary schoolwide morning routines in a 'Schoolwide Morning Meeting' format, and engaged in a few activities centered on promoting school spirit. A few of these activities included singing our school song together (a major hit with the kids), celebrating several 'Keys to Character' awards, and some commentary and observations on the past month shared by the building principal.
Although the assembly was a bit more lengthy than we had intended, it was a great way to start our Friday, and the program set a very positive tone and a warm sense of community that lasted the entire day.
At Woodland Heights, we teach academics well, and we do so much more for our students, families and the greater Laconia Community. For that, we are extremely proud. Great job, Kids! We can't wait to celebrate your excellence, and the strength of our school community again next month!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
WHS School Climate Initiative Gathering Steam
After our school's Warm Woodland Welcome in August, and Fall Open House in September got our school community activity schedule off to great start, our school's well-attended and much enjoyed Fall Harvest Festival in October and Family Turkey Dinner in November kept the ball rolling, our WHS-PTO Polar Express Night in December has our school community partnership activities gathering steam. Truly, the frequency and pace of school activities that promote the growth of our school community continues to increase.
Community building efforts for students, families, staff, and the greater Laconia community (as outlined in the paragraph above)is the first of a three-tiered approach to continuous improvement of our school's climate and culture. 'School Climate' has to do with how our school looks and feels, how safe it is, and how comfortable and happy our school community members are when they are here.
In addition to our multi-layered community-building efforts, we continue to focus our attention to our ongoing character development program for our students. These efforts take many forms and are most frequently lead by our teachers and our entire school staff through our commitment to the Responsive Classroom Approach to help promote social skills and peaceful problem-solving, guidance classes and friendship groups offered by our school counselor, and DARE classes offered to our 5th Graders by the Laconia Police Department. Our goal is to help develop Woodland students who are smart, capable, and good! It is many of these 'soft skills' that will have a great deal to do with the success and happiness that our students will experience as they further their education and pursue their families and careers.
The last part of our school climate improvement initiative is a concentrated effort to promote student citizenship. In this effort we have two major components: developing a school-wide behavior expectation system (PBIS)that creates and promotes a positive code of conduct for our school community, and a program to address and support students who are challenged with persistent behaviors that are contrary to the safe and orderly conduct of our school.
Here is a link to the 'Prezi' slide show that I'll be sharing with the WHS-PTO meeting on Tuesday evening, December 13th, at 6:30pm. Please join us if you would like to learn more about what we are working on to further improve our school climate and all that we intend to do for our students beyond teaching academics.
Community building efforts for students, families, staff, and the greater Laconia community (as outlined in the paragraph above)is the first of a three-tiered approach to continuous improvement of our school's climate and culture. 'School Climate' has to do with how our school looks and feels, how safe it is, and how comfortable and happy our school community members are when they are here.
In addition to our multi-layered community-building efforts, we continue to focus our attention to our ongoing character development program for our students. These efforts take many forms and are most frequently lead by our teachers and our entire school staff through our commitment to the Responsive Classroom Approach to help promote social skills and peaceful problem-solving, guidance classes and friendship groups offered by our school counselor, and DARE classes offered to our 5th Graders by the Laconia Police Department. Our goal is to help develop Woodland students who are smart, capable, and good! It is many of these 'soft skills' that will have a great deal to do with the success and happiness that our students will experience as they further their education and pursue their families and careers.
The last part of our school climate improvement initiative is a concentrated effort to promote student citizenship. In this effort we have two major components: developing a school-wide behavior expectation system (PBIS)that creates and promotes a positive code of conduct for our school community, and a program to address and support students who are challenged with persistent behaviors that are contrary to the safe and orderly conduct of our school.
Here is a link to the 'Prezi' slide show that I'll be sharing with the WHS-PTO meeting on Tuesday evening, December 13th, at 6:30pm. Please join us if you would like to learn more about what we are working on to further improve our school climate and all that we intend to do for our students beyond teaching academics.
WHS-PTO Polar Express Brings Woodland Families Together
On the evening of Friday, December 2nd, WHS came alive with the rumble and roar of holiday excitement that only 'The Polar Express' can bring. With help from the Laconia Santa Fund, the PTO hosted a splendid evening of treats, gifts, and a holiday movie on the WHS big screen.
For several years running, the WHS community has come together to share a memorable night that is all about the magic of the holidays, family, joy, and wonder. Our Polar Express night features our families coming into the school (most in 'jammies'), laying out a blanket on our multi-purpose room floor, and settling in to see a holiday movie together in high-definition video and cinema sound. Our WHS-PTO accepts a $2 donation per family, or a holiday child's gift to donate to a local charity. Families are served hot chocolate and cookies provided by the PTO, and are given a Polar Express book and a stuffed holiday stocking provided by our local Santa Fund. We have also been fortunate to have a special guest from the North Pole join us for the event.
If you missed us this year at the WHS-PTO Polar Express, be sure that you do not do so again next year. Be sure to answer the call, "All aboard!!!" when you hear it in December, 2012.
Happy Holidays to all Woodland Heights family and friends!
For several years running, the WHS community has come together to share a memorable night that is all about the magic of the holidays, family, joy, and wonder. Our Polar Express night features our families coming into the school (most in 'jammies'), laying out a blanket on our multi-purpose room floor, and settling in to see a holiday movie together in high-definition video and cinema sound. Our WHS-PTO accepts a $2 donation per family, or a holiday child's gift to donate to a local charity. Families are served hot chocolate and cookies provided by the PTO, and are given a Polar Express book and a stuffed holiday stocking provided by our local Santa Fund. We have also been fortunate to have a special guest from the North Pole join us for the event.
If you missed us this year at the WHS-PTO Polar Express, be sure that you do not do so again next year. Be sure to answer the call, "All aboard!!!" when you hear it in December, 2012.
Happy Holidays to all Woodland Heights family and friends!
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