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!
