Opening Week Messages, 2012, a set on Flickr.
This set of pictures were taken prior to our school opening spirit assembly on August 30, 2012. It was shown to students as they entered and exited our multipurpose room. The kids loved the show!
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
WHS Parent Newsletter, 9-18-12
September 18, 2012
Dear Woodland Parents,
What a great school opening! We’d like to thank you for working so well with us over the last few weeks to make our school opening smooth for our students and staff. So far, so good.
Here are a few notes from some of my friends here at Woodland Heights that will help to bring you up to speed on their activities and what is going on at our school from their perspective.
A.] Tami Horan & Kim Lacasse (School Management Assistants):
Here are a couple of reminders from your friends in the WHS Main Office to help things run smoothly:
• We do have a new phone system as many of you already know. If in the event of emergency and you want to be connected right away when the voice starts just push “0”.
• Please be certain to let us know if you have a change of address or phone number as soon as possible. This will help us to keep our records current and be able to contact you, if necessary.
• If your child will be absent from school for any reason, please inform us as soon as possible by phone (524-8733) or by email (tmartelhoran@laconiaschools.org) or (klacasse@laconiaschools.org)
B.] Jessica Ganchi (School Nurse and Health Educator):
Here are a few reminders from the Nurse:
• Flu season is fast approaching. WHS will be holding a free flu clinic for WHS students on November 6th from 9-11am. Registration information will be sent home soon. Your child will only get the flu vaccine at this clinic if you register them for it.
• If your child is feeling sick in the morning, please take the time to see if they are well enough to come to school. If your child has had a fever, 100.0 degrees or higher, or has been vomiting within the past 24 hours they need to stay home. Please see my website http://whsnurse.wikispaces.com/ for a full list of exclusion criteria to help you better assess if they can be at school. If they have nasal congestion and/or cough without a fever and are eating well, playing well and acting like themselves, they are good to come to school!
• Please make sure your child has safe, comfortable shoes to wear to school. If they do not have shoes that attach securely to their feet they will not be allowed to participate in gym class or recess. Please, no flip flops if possible.
• Do you need health insurance for your child? NH Healthy Kids provides free and low-cost health and dental coverage for uninsured children. Call toll-free 1-877-464-2447 or go to www.nhhealthykids.comfor more information
• Please take some time to visit my website. Hopefully you will find a lot of helpful information on it. Feel free to call me, 524-8733, or email me, jganchi@laconia.k12.nh.us if you have any questions. I am looking forward to a healthy and safe year. **Jessica Ganchi, RN**
C.] Mollie Greeley (School Guidance Counselor):
As our school counselor, I will continue to support our students’ social, emotional, and academic needs here at WHS. This will be done through classroom guidance, small groups, and individual work. Students will be encouraged to work on improving their self-concept, or how they see and feel about themselves, having healthy and appropriate relationships and interactions with others, and contributing to our school community. As always, I am here to help empower our students to be problem-solvers, social thinkers, and caring citizens.
To continue to encourage positive choices and recognize those students who have been doing so, we have revamped the Keys to Character program and are now calling it “Wildcat Watch.” Through this program, staff members submit names and stories of students who are “Caught Being a Wildcat.” Students act as Wildcats when they are demonstrating the traits and skills suggested in our school motto, including being caring, responsible, respectful and reflective. This program also enhances our feeling of collaboration, belonging, and community spirit!
Upcoming Guidance Classes:
Kindergarten and 5th grade have started this week!
D.] Jen Paronto (Behavior Specialist):
Welcome Back Wildcats! If you have been in the building you may have noticed my new location. I have moved to the outer office closest to the stairs. This was to allow for easier access for the students to find me. My new extension is x3006 or you can use the dial by last name directory. Please feel free to contact me at any time with any questions, concerns, or to share information. We are a TEAM here at Woodland Heights! I am looking forward to a Great Year!!
E.] Marcy Kelley (Student Services Coordinator):
What a wonderful and warm reception I have had as the new WHS Student Services Coordinator! I look forward to an exciting year with students, staff and families working together to meet all of our student’s needs. Below are highlights of our upcoming year:
• We will be doing some exciting work with our preschool programs in order to maximize our programming and ensure all of our students are prepared for Kindergarten.
• WHS welcomes a new special education teacher, Rebecca (Becky) Ciulla, who comes to us from Plymouth Elementary School. Becky is settling in nicely with her new Kindergarten team.
•Christina Flanders, school psychologist, continues to work toward her Doctoral degree in psychology – I think she is seeing light at the end of the tunnel!
•We have begun sorting through our materials that may no longer be used and will be able to share these with our community at Open House. We have many, many gently used games to give away for families to enjoy at home.
• Our intervention teams will have tremendous professional development opportunities this year. A big thanks to Gail Bourn, Academic Coordinator of Teaching and Learning (ACTL) for her work with our staff.
As we go through the year, I hope to meet as many of you as I can and welcome feedback. I can be contacted at WHS or via email at mkelley@laconia.k12.nh.us . I recognize how crucial your role is in your child’s education and look forward to working together.
F.] Dennis Dobe (School Principal):
Here are a few items to share with you about upcoming events:
• The WHS-PTO fundraiser will be wrapping up on Tuesday (10/5), and our delivery will arrive in the first week of November. Please support this fundraiser if it fits into your family plans. Funds from this activity help pay for our field trips, guest speakers, and enrichment programs. Thanks!
• Our Fall Curriculum Night is scheduled for this coming Thursday evening (9/20) from 6:00-7:30. Please join us for an hour visiting classrooms to learn about our academic program and classroom communities. At 7:00, you will be asked to join me for a presentation on our school goals and initiatives for this year. As a result of attending this evening at WHS, you’ll have a very good understanding of what we do here at WHS to make your child’s educational experience so great at WHS!
• All of our WHS New Teachers have been doing a fantastic job here at Woodland, and have been actively contributing to all of our great work so far this year. We are so grateful for our new friends!
• A handful of Plymouth State University students will be joining us this semester as part of their training to become teachers. We are proud of our partnership with PSU, and were pleased to welcome the college students to WHS to start their program this morning.
• Keep up the great work at arrival and dismissal time! Our system seems to be running very smoothly, and it will continue to do so as long as we remain patient and considerate, and continue to follow the ‘rules of school’.
G.] Jake Colby-Project Extra Coordinator @WHS
Project E.X.T.R.A.! is Laconia School District's 21st CCLC Program which runs at every school site, after school, during the school year and through most of the summer. The program is focused around enhancing student potential, at all of our schools, through academic enrichment activities. These activities strive to keep the student engaged academically in fun and meaningful ways.
The program provides a Snack, a Recess, and Homework time at the end of enrichment activities. Despite being just a week in, we already have limited spots available. For further information about the WHS program, scholarships and policies please contact me @524-8733 ext. 3057.
There are great things happening here at WHS all the time, and I warmly invite you to be a part of it whenever your schedule will allow. Keep on top of all of our news by accessing our school website at www.laconiaschools.org/whs. Many thanks for your ongoing support!
Dennis Dobe, Principal
Dear Woodland Parents,
What a great school opening! We’d like to thank you for working so well with us over the last few weeks to make our school opening smooth for our students and staff. So far, so good.
Here are a few notes from some of my friends here at Woodland Heights that will help to bring you up to speed on their activities and what is going on at our school from their perspective.
A.] Tami Horan & Kim Lacasse (School Management Assistants):
Here are a couple of reminders from your friends in the WHS Main Office to help things run smoothly:
• We do have a new phone system as many of you already know. If in the event of emergency and you want to be connected right away when the voice starts just push “0”.
• Please be certain to let us know if you have a change of address or phone number as soon as possible. This will help us to keep our records current and be able to contact you, if necessary.
• If your child will be absent from school for any reason, please inform us as soon as possible by phone (524-8733) or by email (tmartelhoran@laconiaschools.org) or (klacasse@laconiaschools.org)
B.] Jessica Ganchi (School Nurse and Health Educator):
Here are a few reminders from the Nurse:
• Flu season is fast approaching. WHS will be holding a free flu clinic for WHS students on November 6th from 9-11am. Registration information will be sent home soon. Your child will only get the flu vaccine at this clinic if you register them for it.
• If your child is feeling sick in the morning, please take the time to see if they are well enough to come to school. If your child has had a fever, 100.0 degrees or higher, or has been vomiting within the past 24 hours they need to stay home. Please see my website http://whsnurse.wikispaces.com/ for a full list of exclusion criteria to help you better assess if they can be at school. If they have nasal congestion and/or cough without a fever and are eating well, playing well and acting like themselves, they are good to come to school!
• Please make sure your child has safe, comfortable shoes to wear to school. If they do not have shoes that attach securely to their feet they will not be allowed to participate in gym class or recess. Please, no flip flops if possible.
• Do you need health insurance for your child? NH Healthy Kids provides free and low-cost health and dental coverage for uninsured children. Call toll-free 1-877-464-2447 or go to www.nhhealthykids.comfor more information
• Please take some time to visit my website. Hopefully you will find a lot of helpful information on it. Feel free to call me, 524-8733, or email me, jganchi@laconia.k12.nh.us if you have any questions. I am looking forward to a healthy and safe year. **Jessica Ganchi, RN**
C.] Mollie Greeley (School Guidance Counselor):
As our school counselor, I will continue to support our students’ social, emotional, and academic needs here at WHS. This will be done through classroom guidance, small groups, and individual work. Students will be encouraged to work on improving their self-concept, or how they see and feel about themselves, having healthy and appropriate relationships and interactions with others, and contributing to our school community. As always, I am here to help empower our students to be problem-solvers, social thinkers, and caring citizens.
To continue to encourage positive choices and recognize those students who have been doing so, we have revamped the Keys to Character program and are now calling it “Wildcat Watch.” Through this program, staff members submit names and stories of students who are “Caught Being a Wildcat.” Students act as Wildcats when they are demonstrating the traits and skills suggested in our school motto, including being caring, responsible, respectful and reflective. This program also enhances our feeling of collaboration, belonging, and community spirit!
Upcoming Guidance Classes:
Kindergarten and 5th grade have started this week!
D.] Jen Paronto (Behavior Specialist):
Welcome Back Wildcats! If you have been in the building you may have noticed my new location. I have moved to the outer office closest to the stairs. This was to allow for easier access for the students to find me. My new extension is x3006 or you can use the dial by last name directory. Please feel free to contact me at any time with any questions, concerns, or to share information. We are a TEAM here at Woodland Heights! I am looking forward to a Great Year!!
E.] Marcy Kelley (Student Services Coordinator):
What a wonderful and warm reception I have had as the new WHS Student Services Coordinator! I look forward to an exciting year with students, staff and families working together to meet all of our student’s needs. Below are highlights of our upcoming year:
• We will be doing some exciting work with our preschool programs in order to maximize our programming and ensure all of our students are prepared for Kindergarten.
• WHS welcomes a new special education teacher, Rebecca (Becky) Ciulla, who comes to us from Plymouth Elementary School. Becky is settling in nicely with her new Kindergarten team.
•Christina Flanders, school psychologist, continues to work toward her Doctoral degree in psychology – I think she is seeing light at the end of the tunnel!
•We have begun sorting through our materials that may no longer be used and will be able to share these with our community at Open House. We have many, many gently used games to give away for families to enjoy at home.
• Our intervention teams will have tremendous professional development opportunities this year. A big thanks to Gail Bourn, Academic Coordinator of Teaching and Learning (ACTL) for her work with our staff.
As we go through the year, I hope to meet as many of you as I can and welcome feedback. I can be contacted at WHS or via email at mkelley@laconia.k12.nh.us . I recognize how crucial your role is in your child’s education and look forward to working together.
F.] Dennis Dobe (School Principal):
Here are a few items to share with you about upcoming events:
• The WHS-PTO fundraiser will be wrapping up on Tuesday (10/5), and our delivery will arrive in the first week of November. Please support this fundraiser if it fits into your family plans. Funds from this activity help pay for our field trips, guest speakers, and enrichment programs. Thanks!
• Our Fall Curriculum Night is scheduled for this coming Thursday evening (9/20) from 6:00-7:30. Please join us for an hour visiting classrooms to learn about our academic program and classroom communities. At 7:00, you will be asked to join me for a presentation on our school goals and initiatives for this year. As a result of attending this evening at WHS, you’ll have a very good understanding of what we do here at WHS to make your child’s educational experience so great at WHS!
• All of our WHS New Teachers have been doing a fantastic job here at Woodland, and have been actively contributing to all of our great work so far this year. We are so grateful for our new friends!
• A handful of Plymouth State University students will be joining us this semester as part of their training to become teachers. We are proud of our partnership with PSU, and were pleased to welcome the college students to WHS to start their program this morning.
• Keep up the great work at arrival and dismissal time! Our system seems to be running very smoothly, and it will continue to do so as long as we remain patient and considerate, and continue to follow the ‘rules of school’.
G.] Jake Colby-Project Extra Coordinator @WHS
Project E.X.T.R.A.! is Laconia School District's 21st CCLC Program which runs at every school site, after school, during the school year and through most of the summer. The program is focused around enhancing student potential, at all of our schools, through academic enrichment activities. These activities strive to keep the student engaged academically in fun and meaningful ways.
The program provides a Snack, a Recess, and Homework time at the end of enrichment activities. Despite being just a week in, we already have limited spots available. For further information about the WHS program, scholarships and policies please contact me @524-8733 ext. 3057.
There are great things happening here at WHS all the time, and I warmly invite you to be a part of it whenever your schedule will allow. Keep on top of all of our news by accessing our school website at www.laconiaschools.org/whs. Many thanks for your ongoing support!
Dennis Dobe, Principal
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Meet Our New (and Fabulous) Woodland Heights Teachers!
If you heard that we have some wonderful new teachers this year at Woodland, you DEFINITELY heard right!! I am extremely pleased to introduce you to some very talented young educators who have joined our school community over the summer months. Intensive search processes were conducted in order to find the very 'best of the best', and bring their talent, enthusiasm, and ability to Woodland Heights. As you get to know our new friends, I know that you are going to be impressed. Please join me in extending a 'Warm Woodland Welcome to ....
Name: Marcy Kelley WHS Teaching Assignment: Student Services Coordinator College(s) Attended: University of Rhode Island & Plymouth State University (M.Ed.) Also Taught At: Newport School District, Hollis School District, Franklin School District Some Things About Me: I love all things sports & outdoors, spending time with family and friends, and traveling. Why I Became a Teacher: To connect with and hopefully enrich the lives of children in some way. What I Am Looking Forward To At Woodland Heights: I am looking forward to working with such a diverse, talented and dedicated group of professionals. Most of all, I am looking forward to meeting the students.
Name: Rebecca McKellar WHS Teaching Assignment: Kindergarten Classroom Teacher College(s) Attended: Keen State College (B.A.) Also Taught At: Strafford County Head Start (Rochester & Farmington, NH), Windham Cooperative Kindergarten & Nursery (Windham, NH) Some Things About Me: I grew up in southern Massachusetts and have had the same best friend since I was four. There is a zoo in my original hometown. When not teaching and learning I enjoy knitting, reading, swimming, and hiking. Why I Became a Teacher: Teaching was always something that I always wanted to do. I have a strong love of learning, instilled by fabulous early and secondary educators, and I can think of nothing more rewarding than passing on that passion to future generations. What I Am Looking Forward To At Woodland Heights: I am excited about sharing my passion for learning with children and families, as well as, forming a greater understanding of the Laconia community.
Name: Becky Ciulla WHS Teaching Assignment: Kindergarten Special Education Teacher College(s) Attended: Plymouth State University (M.Ed.) Also Taught At: Plymouth Elementary School, Franklin Middle School, Campton Elementary School Some Things About Me: I enjoy being active such as running, hiking, biking, kayaking/canoeing, snowboarding, and sports. I played volleyball in high school and college, and am still playing! Also, I have hiked 39 out of the 48 4,000 foot mountains within NH. Why I Became a Teacher: I wanted to give students the support and guidance that I received throughout my schooling from teachers, school staff, and adults. What I Am Looking Forward To At Woodland Heights: I am excited about being a part of a great Kindergarten Team, as well as the Laconia school and community. I look forward to collaborating and being actively involved within the classrooms.
Name: Jessica Coulombe WHS Teaching Assignment: Grade 2 Classroom Teacher College(s) Attended: Plymouth State University (B.A.) Also Taught At: Tollhouse Preschool (Merrimack), Woodland Heights & Pleasant Street Schools (Laconia) Some Things About Me: I am an avid crafter. I love scrapbooking, photography and quilting. I also enjoy running, hiking and mountain biking. Why I Became a Teacher: I have always known I wanted to teach. I want to help children find a joy in learning, like I did when I was young. I want to be the support system that aids all students in being successful. What I Am Looking Forward To At Woodland Heights: I student taught at WHS last year and loved the supportive and caring environment here. I can’t wait to reconnect with my past students and make new connections with the students and staff here at WHS.
Name: Ashley Galicki WHS Teaching Assignment: Grade 2 Classroom Teacher College(s) Attended: University of New Hampshire (M.Ed.) Also Taught At: Mast Way School (Lee), Little Harbor School (Portsmouth) Some Things About Me: During my college career, I spent one semester studying abroad in Florence, Italy and loved every minute of the adventure! Why I Became a Teacher: I became a teacher because I want to be a positive role model for children and inspire them to give their best effort while encouraging them to love coming to school everyday! What I Am Looking Forward To At Woodland Heights: I am most looking forward to working collaboratively with a warm and friendly community :)
Name: Kelsey Hubbard WHS Teaching Assignment: Grade 3 Classroom Teacher College(s) Attended: Keene State College (B.S.) Also Taught At: The Early Enrichment Center (Concord), Belmont High School, Beaver Meadow School (Concord) Some Things About Me:I completed an internship during my senior year in a 2nd grade classroom at Woodland Heights so it is great to officially be a Wildcat! I enjoy being outside as much as possible and staying active. I also love to travel! I have been to Canada, the Dominican Republic, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and El Salvador. Why I Became a Teacher: I truly love helping children to succeed beyond anything that they ever thought possible! What I Am Looking Forward To At Woodland Heights: Getting to know my students, families, and the wonderful Woodland Heights community!
Name: Heather Whitmore WHS Teaching Assignment: Grade 3 Classroom Teacher College(s) Attended: Southern New Hampshire University (M.Ed.) Also Taught At: Beech Street Elementary School in Manchester Some Things About Me: I have spent almost half of my life living in Florida, but I consider myself a Manchester native. After graduating college, I spent four years working at Fidelity Investments in Merrimack. Although I learned a great deal while working there, it helped to confirm that teaching is what I’m truly PASSIONATE about! Why I Became a Teacher: I’ve had many inspiring teachers that made a lasting impact in my life. I want to do the same for my students and show them they are capable of achieving amazing things. After working at an inner city school, I realize how much one person can change the life of a child just by being a positive, encouraging role model. What I Am Looking Forward To At Woodland Heights: I am excited to collaborate with the great teachers of WHS and embrace the open concept of the school.
Name: Tom Pringle WHS Teaching Assignment: Grade 5 Classroom Teacher College(s) Attended: University of New Hampshire (M.Ed.) Also Taught At: Pembroke Hill Elementary School, Epping High School Some Things About Me: I love athletics, the arts, being outside, but most importantly, learning. Learning new things is one of my favorite past times. I love to explore, investigate and make discoveries, big and small. Why I Became a Teacher: I became an educator due to my Elementary School teachers. They instilled a passion to not only learn but to share my knowledge and help others. What I Am Looking Forward To At Woodland Heights: Meeting my students, making connections, and moving forward in a positive direction.
Welcome to Woodland Heights, New Staff!!
Welcome to Woodland Heights, New Staff!!
In Case You Missed It: Our Welcome Back Letter ....
In case you missed our school's 'Welcome Back' letter sent home on our first day of this fabulous new school year .... Here it is!!
August 28th, 2012
Warm Woodland Greetings to All of Our New and Returning Friends!!
It is a tremendous pleasure, and honor, to welcome you back to a new and exciting year at the Woodland Heights School. There are just a few notes and reminders I wanted to share with you today.
Our Opening Days -- First of all, we are off to an absolutely fantastic start this year. The WHS students, staff, and families worked so very well together today. Everyone was extremely upbeat and excited to begin our new school year (especially our new students & teachers!). All of our systems (arrival, lunch, recess, and dismissal) went like clockwork – almost like we never left for the summer! Remember, we are closed on Friday and this coming Monday in observance of the Labor Day Holiday!
Help Make It A Great Start For Your Child – Every Day! On that note, we really want to thank you for all that you have done to prepare your child(ren) for school. Also, your support in helping your child get off to a smooth start each day is extremely important. If a child ‘gets off on the wrong foot’, s/he plays catch up all day, and that is both difficult and exhausting. Please do all that you can to help ensure that your child gets plenty of rest every night, enjoys a nutritious breakfast, and has a calm morning experience before school. Again, if your child has a great morning at home and gets to school on time, s/he comes to school steps ahead of the game, rather than steps behind.
Arrivals and Dismissals -- Regarding buses to start the year, it can take a little while for our families and bus drivers to work out the kinks of their new routines and get everything working smoothly and efficiently. Anticipate that your child’s bus might be early or arrive a bit late at both ends of the day. Thank you, in advance, for your patience! Parents have been doing an absolutely fantastic job following our student drop-off and student pick-up routines to begin the school year. Your continued support in this area will help us to be most efficient with our procedures, and will help us to assure the safety of all people involved during these times of day.
To be In The Know ….. Check out our school website at www.laconiaschools.org/whs/. At our website we have all the information you would ever want about our school (and more!). Please take some time to check it out soon.
New Staff Members at WHS -- You may have heard that we had a few teachers retire, a few teachers relocate out of the area, and a couple of teachers that elected to pursue new professional opportunities. What does this mean for us at Woodland? NEW TALENT!! We hate to have friends leave our school, but when they do, we have the opportunity to welcome new members into our Woodland Community.
Join the Team! The Woodland Heights School PTO meets on the second Tuesday evening of every month at 6:30pm. Our first meeting of the year will be held on Tuesday, September 11th. To learn more about the organization and how you can help support the PTO and our school, please plan to stop by the meeting or contact one of the PTO officers (and/or visit the PTO webpage from our school website).
In the time ahead we look forward to partnering with you to make it a great year for your student(s) here at Woodland Heights. Please do not hesitate to contact us whenever you have a question, concern, or need. We will do our best you help in any way that we can.
Warmly and sincerely,
Dennis W. Dobe, Principal
August 28th, 2012
Warm Woodland Greetings to All of Our New and Returning Friends!!
It is a tremendous pleasure, and honor, to welcome you back to a new and exciting year at the Woodland Heights School. There are just a few notes and reminders I wanted to share with you today.
Our Opening Days -- First of all, we are off to an absolutely fantastic start this year. The WHS students, staff, and families worked so very well together today. Everyone was extremely upbeat and excited to begin our new school year (especially our new students & teachers!). All of our systems (arrival, lunch, recess, and dismissal) went like clockwork – almost like we never left for the summer! Remember, we are closed on Friday and this coming Monday in observance of the Labor Day Holiday!
Help Make It A Great Start For Your Child – Every Day! On that note, we really want to thank you for all that you have done to prepare your child(ren) for school. Also, your support in helping your child get off to a smooth start each day is extremely important. If a child ‘gets off on the wrong foot’, s/he plays catch up all day, and that is both difficult and exhausting. Please do all that you can to help ensure that your child gets plenty of rest every night, enjoys a nutritious breakfast, and has a calm morning experience before school. Again, if your child has a great morning at home and gets to school on time, s/he comes to school steps ahead of the game, rather than steps behind.
Arrivals and Dismissals -- Regarding buses to start the year, it can take a little while for our families and bus drivers to work out the kinks of their new routines and get everything working smoothly and efficiently. Anticipate that your child’s bus might be early or arrive a bit late at both ends of the day. Thank you, in advance, for your patience! Parents have been doing an absolutely fantastic job following our student drop-off and student pick-up routines to begin the school year. Your continued support in this area will help us to be most efficient with our procedures, and will help us to assure the safety of all people involved during these times of day.
To be In The Know ….. Check out our school website at www.laconiaschools.org/whs/. At our website we have all the information you would ever want about our school (and more!). Please take some time to check it out soon.
New Staff Members at WHS -- You may have heard that we had a few teachers retire, a few teachers relocate out of the area, and a couple of teachers that elected to pursue new professional opportunities. What does this mean for us at Woodland? NEW TALENT!! We hate to have friends leave our school, but when they do, we have the opportunity to welcome new members into our Woodland Community.
Join the Team! The Woodland Heights School PTO meets on the second Tuesday evening of every month at 6:30pm. Our first meeting of the year will be held on Tuesday, September 11th. To learn more about the organization and how you can help support the PTO and our school, please plan to stop by the meeting or contact one of the PTO officers (and/or visit the PTO webpage from our school website).
In the time ahead we look forward to partnering with you to make it a great year for your student(s) here at Woodland Heights. Please do not hesitate to contact us whenever you have a question, concern, or need. We will do our best you help in any way that we can.
Warmly and sincerely,
Dennis W. Dobe, Principal
WHS: The Evolution Continues, and The Great Conversation Begins!
"My, how time flies!"
So much has happened here at WHS since my last post. The pace of activity, change, and innovation has been break-neck for the past 6 months, with teachers fully engaged and working harder (and smarter) than ever to promote high student achievement and help students embody high expectations for their academic performance and personal growth.
As we begin our new school year, I am extremely pleased to report that our many efforts are working, and our ambitions are being realized. We hope that as you visit our school this fall, you will see, hear, and feel a change of tone, school climate, and culture that is more settled, more focused, and even more attuned to reaching our challenging goals and aspirations.
At WHS, we have always wanted and intended to be great, now we have a much better sense of how to get there. The road map is clear, and we have resolve.
A large part of our work this year will be getting our parents 'on the bus' and working with us to do all that we can, cooperatively and collaboratively, to make Woodland Heights all that it can be for all of our young learners. This is extremely important and meaningful work. We want and need you to be engaged with us every step of the way. Without you, we will not make it, because Schools Cannot Do It Alone.
In a future post, I will describe what we know in the Laconia School District as "The Great Conversation". This effort is an extension of what we have worked toward for quite some time, and involves partnering with parents and the community in a new and positive way. We will work to get everyone onboard for a journey to true excellence in our school system (students, staff, parents, and the greater Laconia Community).
In other posts, I will share infomation about our activities over recent months that have laid the foundation for what WHS is today, as we open our doors for a new year of learning and growth. There will also be information shared regularly about our various school improvement initiatives, how they are being implemented, and how you can support our continued growth to excellence in education.
It's all happening right now at Woodland Heights School. The bus is loading, and your ticket is in your hand.
Please join us for a year full of engaging communication, organizational progress, improved learning, and fun!
So much has happened here at WHS since my last post. The pace of activity, change, and innovation has been break-neck for the past 6 months, with teachers fully engaged and working harder (and smarter) than ever to promote high student achievement and help students embody high expectations for their academic performance and personal growth.
As we begin our new school year, I am extremely pleased to report that our many efforts are working, and our ambitions are being realized. We hope that as you visit our school this fall, you will see, hear, and feel a change of tone, school climate, and culture that is more settled, more focused, and even more attuned to reaching our challenging goals and aspirations.
At WHS, we have always wanted and intended to be great, now we have a much better sense of how to get there. The road map is clear, and we have resolve.
A large part of our work this year will be getting our parents 'on the bus' and working with us to do all that we can, cooperatively and collaboratively, to make Woodland Heights all that it can be for all of our young learners. This is extremely important and meaningful work. We want and need you to be engaged with us every step of the way. Without you, we will not make it, because Schools Cannot Do It Alone.
In a future post, I will describe what we know in the Laconia School District as "The Great Conversation". This effort is an extension of what we have worked toward for quite some time, and involves partnering with parents and the community in a new and positive way. We will work to get everyone onboard for a journey to true excellence in our school system (students, staff, parents, and the greater Laconia Community).
In other posts, I will share infomation about our activities over recent months that have laid the foundation for what WHS is today, as we open our doors for a new year of learning and growth. There will also be information shared regularly about our various school improvement initiatives, how they are being implemented, and how you can support our continued growth to excellence in education.
It's all happening right now at Woodland Heights School. The bus is loading, and your ticket is in your hand.
Please join us for a year full of engaging communication, organizational progress, improved learning, and fun!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
WHS Motto Serves as the Foundation for whsRULES!
At a recent student recognition assembly, we unveiled our new school motto which was developed and adopted by a our WHS Staff, but inspired by our students after half a year of discussion about our Hopes and Dreams for our school community. Our new motto states: "At WHS, we are a Caring Community of Responsible, Respectful, and Reflective Learners." In this statement there is so much said, to some extent in words not familiar or well-understood by many of our young students. At the assembly in which the motto was unveiled, a handful of great Grade 5 school citizens participated in a presentation in which they shared with their schoolmates what the words 'caring', 'responsible', and 'respectful' meant to them. In addition, our school counselor, Mollie Babcock, shared some thoughts about what being 'reflective' means in our school. In a special encore performance, the school motto presentation team assembled to record this podcast. We hope that you enjoy their thoughts about what our motto and school mean to them.
At the upcoming student recognition assembly, we will unveil whsRULES! These new area-specific student behavior guidelines promote the key ideas for how we should behave and treat one another in areas of the building outside of our classrooms such as our hallways, buses, restrooms, cafeteria, and play spaces. After our whsRULES! are shared with students, we'll begin our work of teaching the rules to our students. Invariably, if children know what we expect, and how to be successful, they will strive to meet those expectations. All kids want to be smart, and good. At WHS, it is our work to help make certain that they all get there. Here are the new whsRULES!
For Hallways >
"Show me 'SAFE' and let's stay 'SAFE' all the way to ... "
S- silent and straight
A- arms at our sides
F- facing forward
E- enough personal space
For Bathrooms >
"In our Woodland Heights Bathrooms, We Are Always 'Quick, Quiet, and Clean'!"
For the Cafeteria >
"During Woodland Wildcat Lunches, we 'EAT'!"
E- eat the food that you take
A-always use your manners (friendly, considerate, neat, respectful of food and personal space)
T- table talk (quiet voices, appropriate conversation)
For Our Playgrounds >
"When we are on the playground today, we will 'PLAY the Woodland Way'!"
P- always positive with your playmates
L- line up when asked
A- always be safe
Y- you can't say "you can't play"
For Buses >
"Remind me what it looks like to ride the 'BUS'."
B- be respectful (and kind)
U- use quiet voices
S- stay seated and safe
In the Computer Clusters >
Be Safe, Careful, Considerate, and Clean.
Please share any thoughts, comments, questions, or suggestions regarding our comprehensive school climate improvement initiatve with any of us here at WHS. We want to partner with our parents and our community to make Woodland Heights a truly outstanding place for all members of our learning community.
At the upcoming student recognition assembly, we will unveil whsRULES! These new area-specific student behavior guidelines promote the key ideas for how we should behave and treat one another in areas of the building outside of our classrooms such as our hallways, buses, restrooms, cafeteria, and play spaces. After our whsRULES! are shared with students, we'll begin our work of teaching the rules to our students. Invariably, if children know what we expect, and how to be successful, they will strive to meet those expectations. All kids want to be smart, and good. At WHS, it is our work to help make certain that they all get there. Here are the new whsRULES!
For Hallways >
"Show me 'SAFE' and let's stay 'SAFE' all the way to ... "
S- silent and straight
A- arms at our sides
F- facing forward
E- enough personal space
For Bathrooms >
"In our Woodland Heights Bathrooms, We Are Always 'Quick, Quiet, and Clean'!"
For the Cafeteria >
"During Woodland Wildcat Lunches, we 'EAT'!"
E- eat the food that you take
A-always use your manners (friendly, considerate, neat, respectful of food and personal space)
T- table talk (quiet voices, appropriate conversation)
For Our Playgrounds >
"When we are on the playground today, we will 'PLAY the Woodland Way'!"
P- always positive with your playmates
L- line up when asked
A- always be safe
Y- you can't say "you can't play"
For Buses >
"Remind me what it looks like to ride the 'BUS'."
B- be respectful (and kind)
U- use quiet voices
S- stay seated and safe
In the Computer Clusters >
Be Safe, Careful, Considerate, and Clean.
Please share any thoughts, comments, questions, or suggestions regarding our comprehensive school climate improvement initiatve with any of us here at WHS. We want to partner with our parents and our community to make Woodland Heights a truly outstanding place for all members of our learning community.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
New Publications for New Woodland Families!
Coming into a new school community can be confusing, and a little scary for parents (just as it is for their children). As open, inviting, and as welcoming as we try to be here at Woodland Heights School, we get that. For that reason, we are proud to roll out two new publications for our new families. One is an extremely user-friendly and brief document that includes all the information you really need to get settled here at WHS, and another, more long-winded and thorough document that I have authored. Tami Horan, school secretary and daily operations manager for our school is 'not working' during this vacation week, yet she came in to school today, and (in addition to a million other things) has got her new family brochure nearly ready to go -- it will be ready for distribution as soon as we get back from Break. As I was in the office all day, and because it was a quiet school vacation day, I could focus on just a few projects at once (what a treat!). The result was the new document we have to share with families new to our district that I have pasted below -- it also appears in the 'News and Bulletins' banner to the right. Even if you are not new to Woodland Heights, you might find this informative reading. As always, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me at school during normal business hours, or an time through email. All of your friends here at WHS hope that you and your family are enjoying a wonder Winter Break. See you in March!!
Monday, February 27, 2012
At WHS, We Are A Professional Learning Community. What Does That Mean?
Although our school staff began its journey toward becoming a Professional Learning Community last year, it wasn't until this year that the formal movement gained real momentum. This circumstance was in large part due to the foresight of our school district administration and school board who supported the creation of a new position within our school district, Academic Coordinator of Teaching and Learning -- Elementary. You may recall that this position was created by eliminating three other popsitions in our school district (elementary level 'Literacy Coaches'). Mrs. Gail Bourn has made enormous contributions to the ongoing improvement of our school (and district) curriculum, instruction, and assessment (C.I.A.) practices, but perhaps no contribution has been greater than in formalizing our school's weekly grade-level Professional Learning Community (PLC) meetings. Gail's skill in facilitating these meetings is amazing -- matched only by the tremendous level of commitment, ownership, and engagement in these meetings demonstrated by our school's teaching staff!
Once a week during their preparatory period (while their students are in Art, Music, P.E., etc.) grade level teachers and interventionists meet with Mrs. Bourn and myself to make progress on an initiative selected and agreed upon by the group. There is typically a particular protocol/procedure chosen to give form to our weekly discussions which results in tangible outcomes that help our school 'get to the next level'. At WHS, we are constantly on the move: always reflecting, assessing, researching, adjusting, and implementing.
The keys to effective PLCs are a high degree of teacher collaboration, shared goals, and mutual accountability. Our teachers and interventionists are organized into functional teams that are committed to excellence in practice and in continuous improvement. With their continued collaborative efforts toward mutually held 'SMART' goals, we know that student learning experiences at Woodland Heights will continue to improve.
Thank you, Mrs. Bourn, and thank you teachers, for all that you are doing to help our school assure quality learning experiences and maximize the opportunity for achievement for all of our students. Committing to a focused and vibrant Professional Learning Community system is an enormous step toward that goal. Way to go, Team!!!
For more information on PLCs, check out this website at your convenience.
Once a week during their preparatory period (while their students are in Art, Music, P.E., etc.) grade level teachers and interventionists meet with Mrs. Bourn and myself to make progress on an initiative selected and agreed upon by the group. There is typically a particular protocol/procedure chosen to give form to our weekly discussions which results in tangible outcomes that help our school 'get to the next level'. At WHS, we are constantly on the move: always reflecting, assessing, researching, adjusting, and implementing.
The keys to effective PLCs are a high degree of teacher collaboration, shared goals, and mutual accountability. Our teachers and interventionists are organized into functional teams that are committed to excellence in practice and in continuous improvement. With their continued collaborative efforts toward mutually held 'SMART' goals, we know that student learning experiences at Woodland Heights will continue to improve.
Thank you, Mrs. Bourn, and thank you teachers, for all that you are doing to help our school assure quality learning experiences and maximize the opportunity for achievement for all of our students. Committing to a focused and vibrant Professional Learning Community system is an enormous step toward that goal. Way to go, Team!!!
For more information on PLCs, check out this website at your convenience.
Math Games to Play with Your Family to Improve Math Skills
During our recent Family Math Night Event featuring a special presentation by our school district's mathematics instruction consultant, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, families were reminded how much mathematics skill and reasoning can ge cultivated through the play of many favorite family games. After his presentation, Professor Sharma answered questions from parents and faculty, and then rotated from game table to game table to converse, coach, and enjoy the company of his new found friends. At each game table, families were invited to engage in play of several games set up and modeled by members of our school district's Math & Science Council and other interested teacher volunteers. At the end of the evening, families could exchange a coupoun given to them by our Assistnat Superintendent, Terri Forsten, for a game of their choice to take home and enjoy with their families for many years to come.
Thank you, Mahesh, Mrs. Forsten, teachers, families, and students, for making our Family Math Night so educational -- and so enjoyable!
For more information on mathematical skills development through the playing of games, check out Dr. Sharma's paper posted on this blog.
Thank you, Mahesh, Mrs. Forsten, teachers, families, and students, for making our Family Math Night so educational -- and so enjoyable!
For more information on mathematical skills development through the playing of games, check out Dr. Sharma's paper posted on this blog.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Beginning our 'Second Half' at THE Woodland Heights School!
Just a couple of weeks ago we were treated to an outstanding Superbowl contest between two great teams that represent so much that we stand for here at Woodland Heights School: hard work, dedication, resilience, courage, intelligence, teamwork, expectation, excellence. During the climax of my 'You Be A Champion in 2012' speech given at the close of our February School Spirit Assembly, I showed this video to our school community for dramatic effect. The clip fit so perfectly just two days before our beloved New England Patriots took the field against another local favorite, the New York football Giants in Superbowl XLVI. On the field that evening, the NFL 'Champion' team would be crowned, though we all know that every player and coach who took the field that day were true champions, regardless of the final score at the end of the game.
The same is true of the members of our Woodland Heights School Community. We all seek to be champions in our own way, bringing our best to the 'field' at Woodland Heights. In doing so, we become better, and we make our team stronger. No school I have ever had the good fortune to be associated with (and that is quite a few now), enjoys and lives in a stronger community than Woodland Heights School in the fine City of Laconia, NH.
During our WHS Staff Meeting this past Thursday morning, I showed teachers this commercial which appeared during half-time of the Superbowl in order to punctuate my message that we are currently at the half-time of our school year. After an amazingly productive and successful first half of this school year, we anticipate even greater things during our own 'second half'.
I assure you that I own no stock in the automotive companies featured in the advertisements. However, I believe very strongly in and relate very passionately to their messages about our country; its past, its present, and its future. The same message can be made for our city, its school system, and our very own Woodland Heights School. In fact, I have used this similar superbowl advertisement in staff meetings last year to dramatically make a case for the need of our staff to pool our collective strength and resilience in the face of the challenges we face, and take awesome pride in the truly amazing and literally life-saving work that we do every day. As we often say at WHS: "We are Woodland, and this is what we do."
The Laconia School District, and Woodland Heights School: so impressive, and so glad to be here. Be on our team, Laconia; our second half is about to begin, and you won't want to miss a minute of our program [go to our school website, scroll down to 'What's Up Woodland', and check it out!!].
Your principal, colleague, and friend,
Dennis W. Dobe
The same is true of the members of our Woodland Heights School Community. We all seek to be champions in our own way, bringing our best to the 'field' at Woodland Heights. In doing so, we become better, and we make our team stronger. No school I have ever had the good fortune to be associated with (and that is quite a few now), enjoys and lives in a stronger community than Woodland Heights School in the fine City of Laconia, NH.
During our WHS Staff Meeting this past Thursday morning, I showed teachers this commercial which appeared during half-time of the Superbowl in order to punctuate my message that we are currently at the half-time of our school year. After an amazingly productive and successful first half of this school year, we anticipate even greater things during our own 'second half'.
I assure you that I own no stock in the automotive companies featured in the advertisements. However, I believe very strongly in and relate very passionately to their messages about our country; its past, its present, and its future. The same message can be made for our city, its school system, and our very own Woodland Heights School. In fact, I have used this similar superbowl advertisement in staff meetings last year to dramatically make a case for the need of our staff to pool our collective strength and resilience in the face of the challenges we face, and take awesome pride in the truly amazing and literally life-saving work that we do every day. As we often say at WHS: "We are Woodland, and this is what we do."
The Laconia School District, and Woodland Heights School: so impressive, and so glad to be here. Be on our team, Laconia; our second half is about to begin, and you won't want to miss a minute of our program [go to our school website, scroll down to 'What's Up Woodland', and check it out!!].
Your principal, colleague, and friend,
Dennis W. Dobe
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Woodland Heights Offers New 'Woodland Wildcat' Apparel
Thanks to the contributions of many WHS staff members and students, we now have new school colors (green & white), and a new 'Woodland Wildcat' mascot logo. Here is a peak at our new wildcat -- I think you'll agree that he is a serious, smart, and friendly looking fellow:
Now thanks to our beloved WHS-PTO, we have a new opportunity to purchase Woodland Wildcat apparel to promote school identity and pride. After all, "WE ARE WOODLAND!!"
Here is some information on what a local vendor has put together for our new school apparel drive. Students were recently sent home with order forms for this WHS 'bling'. If you missed the mailing, you can call or email us for an additional form -- or just stop by and visit your friends in the WHS Main Office anytime.
Show your Woodland Pride, and order your Wildcat gear soon!
Now thanks to our beloved WHS-PTO, we have a new opportunity to purchase Woodland Wildcat apparel to promote school identity and pride. After all, "WE ARE WOODLAND!!"
Here is some information on what a local vendor has put together for our new school apparel drive. Students were recently sent home with order forms for this WHS 'bling'. If you missed the mailing, you can call or email us for an additional form -- or just stop by and visit your friends in the WHS Main Office anytime.
Show your Woodland Pride, and order your Wildcat gear soon!
Join Us For A Title I Family Math Night With Dr. Mahesh Sharma
The Laconia School District is pleased to be hosting a week with Professor Mahesh Sharma from February 13-17.
Over the course of the coming week, Dr. Sharma will be visiting classrooms and meeting with teachers across the district at our elementary, middle, and high schools. Mahesh will be working with us to consult on our progress in implementing our district's new mathematics non-negotiable curriculum standards. As our math initiative unfolds, and if we are able to deliver on the promise of attaining the grade level standards/expectations for every student, we will be further along at the start of each and every year. This will allow our students to advance in their acquisition of mathematics skills at a faster pace each year, which will ultimately promote greater conceptual understanding, analytical abilities, and mathematics problem-solving skills as they progress through our mathematics program continuum. In the Laconia School District we are making certain that we can walk before we attempt to run. In the forseeable future, we will do more than run -- every Laconia student will SOAR, each and every day!!
Join us for a fun and informative math night hosted by your very own Woodland Heights School on Wednesday evening, February 15th, from 5:45-6:45pm in the WHS MPR. We hope to see you there!
Over the course of the coming week, Dr. Sharma will be visiting classrooms and meeting with teachers across the district at our elementary, middle, and high schools. Mahesh will be working with us to consult on our progress in implementing our district's new mathematics non-negotiable curriculum standards. As our math initiative unfolds, and if we are able to deliver on the promise of attaining the grade level standards/expectations for every student, we will be further along at the start of each and every year. This will allow our students to advance in their acquisition of mathematics skills at a faster pace each year, which will ultimately promote greater conceptual understanding, analytical abilities, and mathematics problem-solving skills as they progress through our mathematics program continuum. In the Laconia School District we are making certain that we can walk before we attempt to run. In the forseeable future, we will do more than run -- every Laconia student will SOAR, each and every day!!
Join us for a fun and informative math night hosted by your very own Woodland Heights School on Wednesday evening, February 15th, from 5:45-6:45pm in the WHS MPR. We hope to see you there!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Title I Grant Funds Comprehensive Professional Development at WHS
At Woodland Heights School, we are fortunate to receive a large amount of funding from the federal government to support our work meeting the learning needs of struggling students, many of whom suffer from low socioeconomic status.
Much of this support is dedicated to funding professional staff positions to support the development of fundamental literacy and mathematics skills in students who need extra support to catch up and be successful learning in the regular education environment. Some of the funding is dedicated to the purchase of materials to support this instruction (intervention program materials, general teaching materials and manipulatives, as well as student text material and 'trade books').
A significant facet of our work to which this funding must be dedicated is the professional development of our teachers and tutors. At WHS, we are very good at what we do. In fact, I'd say we are great -- but we can always do better! Hence, this year, some of our Title One Professional Development funding will be dedicated to further training that will develop 'Professional Learning Community' (PLC) leadership ability amongst our staff members, training in analyzing data from our AIMSweb and NWEA assessments to inform our instructional decision-making, training to further develop our 'Response to Intervention' and 'Differentiated instruction' techniques, further refinement of our mathematics instruction through continued training with mathematics professor Dr. Mahesh Sharma, taking a Laconia-based Plymouth State University writing instruction course, and conducting book study groups associated with our district-wide initiative to 'Teach Like a Champion'.
At WHS, we are a true community of learners, and for our educators, the learning never stops. Thanks to the support of our federal government, we have opportunities to learn and become even better educators, better meeting the learning needs of ALL learners who comprise our diverse student population. Title I funding helps us be all that we can be for all of our students -- students who will grow to inherit our nation. Title I grants have been a sound investment in our children, our nation, and its future. Call or stop by WHS to learn more about how our school improvement initiatives are supported through federal and state grant funding. Without their support, we would be totally on our own, and so would Laconia children.
Much of this support is dedicated to funding professional staff positions to support the development of fundamental literacy and mathematics skills in students who need extra support to catch up and be successful learning in the regular education environment. Some of the funding is dedicated to the purchase of materials to support this instruction (intervention program materials, general teaching materials and manipulatives, as well as student text material and 'trade books').
A significant facet of our work to which this funding must be dedicated is the professional development of our teachers and tutors. At WHS, we are very good at what we do. In fact, I'd say we are great -- but we can always do better! Hence, this year, some of our Title One Professional Development funding will be dedicated to further training that will develop 'Professional Learning Community' (PLC) leadership ability amongst our staff members, training in analyzing data from our AIMSweb and NWEA assessments to inform our instructional decision-making, training to further develop our 'Response to Intervention' and 'Differentiated instruction' techniques, further refinement of our mathematics instruction through continued training with mathematics professor Dr. Mahesh Sharma, taking a Laconia-based Plymouth State University writing instruction course, and conducting book study groups associated with our district-wide initiative to 'Teach Like a Champion'.
At WHS, we are a true community of learners, and for our educators, the learning never stops. Thanks to the support of our federal government, we have opportunities to learn and become even better educators, better meeting the learning needs of ALL learners who comprise our diverse student population. Title I funding helps us be all that we can be for all of our students -- students who will grow to inherit our nation. Title I grants have been a sound investment in our children, our nation, and its future. Call or stop by WHS to learn more about how our school improvement initiatives are supported through federal and state grant funding. Without their support, we would be totally on our own, and so would Laconia children.
Getting School Climate Right at Woodland Heights
Understanding that exemplary schools enjoy exemplary school climate, the Woodland Heights School Community has embarked on a comprehensive program of self-inquiry, reflection, discussion, and commitment in an effort to clarify our intentions and promote a school climate at WHS that every student and every staff member deserves. We have conducted surveys of students, staff, and families, and continue our discussions with, and presentations to the same. We are attempting to make certain that we are get 'School Climate' right at Woodland, and have established this goal as one of our most significant priorities this year.
Here is a sampling of some recent activity associated with our school climate initiative: developing a comprehensive schematic of our school climate improvement initiative which serves as a blueprint and roadmap for our staff as we move toward project completion; presenting to our WHS-PTO on our School Climate Improvment Initiative; conducting an ongoing series of 'work session' meetings for staff to continue making progress on our plan; conducting surveys of students, staff, and families with regard to expressions/markings of school spirit (colors, mascot logo, and mascot name). Look for information coming out soon regarding opportunities to purchase Woodland Heights apparel, schwag, and bling. We have also held many discussions at our WHS Staff Meetings on the initiative and have recently arrived at consensus regarding affirmations of our school mission and vision, and a new belief statement that embodies all that we hope for our work on this initiative: "Woodland Heights School: a caring community of responsible, respectful, and reflective learners." At the upcoming Student Recognition / School Spirit Assembly (February 3rd), we will be rolling our new belief statement and begin our instruction regarding what it means, and what it looks and sounds like to be caring, responsible, respectful, and reflective in our school community.
In the time ahead we will be formalizing student behavior expectations, in accordance with this belief/values statement, for different areas of our building to include our classrooms, cafeteria, on the playground and buses, in our halls, and during our assemblies. After determining how we will teach, encourage, and reward these behaviors, we will develop systems to support students who encounter challenges meeting our school community behavioral expectations.
It is important to note that establishing 'improving school climate' as a major initiative at WHS this year is not to suggest that our school climate is not very good. It is -- but it could be even better, and it is important to recognize that improving school climate will translate into better student character development, and better student achievement will result. At WHS, we endeavor to grow children smart, and good. What pursuit in public schools could be more appropriate or more noble than that? If you'd like to learn more about our school climate improvement initiative, please contact your child's teacher or any of your friends in the WHS Main Office. As always, we are here for your children, and for you!
Here is a sampling of some recent activity associated with our school climate initiative: developing a comprehensive schematic of our school climate improvement initiative which serves as a blueprint and roadmap for our staff as we move toward project completion; presenting to our WHS-PTO on our School Climate Improvment Initiative; conducting an ongoing series of 'work session' meetings for staff to continue making progress on our plan; conducting surveys of students, staff, and families with regard to expressions/markings of school spirit (colors, mascot logo, and mascot name). Look for information coming out soon regarding opportunities to purchase Woodland Heights apparel, schwag, and bling. We have also held many discussions at our WHS Staff Meetings on the initiative and have recently arrived at consensus regarding affirmations of our school mission and vision, and a new belief statement that embodies all that we hope for our work on this initiative: "Woodland Heights School: a caring community of responsible, respectful, and reflective learners." At the upcoming Student Recognition / School Spirit Assembly (February 3rd), we will be rolling our new belief statement and begin our instruction regarding what it means, and what it looks and sounds like to be caring, responsible, respectful, and reflective in our school community.
In the time ahead we will be formalizing student behavior expectations, in accordance with this belief/values statement, for different areas of our building to include our classrooms, cafeteria, on the playground and buses, in our halls, and during our assemblies. After determining how we will teach, encourage, and reward these behaviors, we will develop systems to support students who encounter challenges meeting our school community behavioral expectations.
It is important to note that establishing 'improving school climate' as a major initiative at WHS this year is not to suggest that our school climate is not very good. It is -- but it could be even better, and it is important to recognize that improving school climate will translate into better student character development, and better student achievement will result. At WHS, we endeavor to grow children smart, and good. What pursuit in public schools could be more appropriate or more noble than that? If you'd like to learn more about our school climate improvement initiative, please contact your child's teacher or any of your friends in the WHS Main Office. As always, we are here for your children, and for you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)