The quality of a student's experience on their way to school or home can have a large effect on her or his day at school, as well as the child's general comfort with his or her overall schooling experience.
The experience of the child's morning at home and trip to school sets the tone for the new school day. The experience of the child's return trip to home in the afternoon has much to do with how the student perceives the school day. If a student's ride to school is poor, s/he arrives to school agitated and off balance. The rest of the day can be an uphill climb. If the ride home is poor, it can eclipse all the good work the that student and teachers had done that day. This is why it is so important that we assure a quality experience for our bus riders every day at Woodland Heights.
After meeting with bus company managers last week to begin our cooperative work toward improving our busing situation for both students and drivers, this week we will be celebrating 'WHS Bus Safety Week'. During the week I'll be hosting a meeting for our school's bus drivers to discuss and 'tweak' our school's busing system, and support the further development of their student management skills. I'll also be visiting classes at WHS to make presentations that remind students of bus safety and behavior guidelines, and the importance of their following the guidelines without exception. We will likely begin an assigned seating system on our buses whereby students will be seated with their grade level and school peers (i.e., WHS kids with WHS kids, 1st Graders with 1st Graders).
In addition, we are investigating the possibility of implementing the common practice of installing video cameras on our buses to assist in maintaining a safe and appropriate riding climate for our students and drivers. In other school districts that I have been fortunate to serve, a video camera system has done much to encourage better conduct by everyone on the bus, has been helpful in the accurate and efficient investigation of bus disciplinary infractions, and has actually exonerated students wrongly accused of bus infractions. Placing video cameras on our buses would be an enormous benefit to everyone involved in the bus riding experience at WHS.
Stay turned for more details! As always, don't hesitate to contact me at school, or by email (ddobe@laconia.k12.nh.us) if I can answer any of your questions of be of service to you in any way.
Have a great week!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
WHS Parent Forum on School Improvement Announced
Wow, another great week at WHS! Despite a soggy Friday, we enjoyed a lot of outstanding fall weather while at recesses earlier in the week. A highlight at the end of last week was the opportunity for some of our 1st Graders to plant two new apple trees on our campus (thank you Mrs. Levesque, Mr. Caruso, and Petal Pushers Farm!). Our students and staff worked hard in their classrooms this week, and our 3rd & 4th Graders took their NECAP assessment this week -- we were busy!
Speaking of NECAP, there have been some questions raised by parents about the tests and what the results tell us about our school. I would like to invite all WHS parents into the school on Thursday evening, October 21st, from 7-8pm. in our school library to discuss our most recent NECAP school results and our School in Need of Improvement (SINI) designation. Coffee and light refreshments will be served!
The WHS Staff is continually involved in personal professional development, and are actively and productively engaged in many school improvement initiatives as well. On the 19th, I'd like to share: an overview of the NECAP assessment program at WHS, our school's performance on that assessment over recent years, our SINI status and what that means, our school goals for this year, and an update on our school improvement intitiatives.
The night should be both informative and highly interactive. During the meeting, we hope to address your concerns and answer your questions about our school and our course for ongoing school improvement. We hope that you will be able to join us!
Speaking of NECAP, there have been some questions raised by parents about the tests and what the results tell us about our school. I would like to invite all WHS parents into the school on Thursday evening, October 21st, from 7-8pm. in our school library to discuss our most recent NECAP school results and our School in Need of Improvement (SINI) designation. Coffee and light refreshments will be served!
The WHS Staff is continually involved in personal professional development, and are actively and productively engaged in many school improvement initiatives as well. On the 19th, I'd like to share: an overview of the NECAP assessment program at WHS, our school's performance on that assessment over recent years, our SINI status and what that means, our school goals for this year, and an update on our school improvement intitiatives.
The night should be both informative and highly interactive. During the meeting, we hope to address your concerns and answer your questions about our school and our course for ongoing school improvement. We hope that you will be able to join us!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Lots of Hard Work and Testing Lead Up to Long Weekend
For the weeks prior to our fist long weekend since Labor Day, students and staff have been very busily attending to their program of study and participating in two important assessments: the NWEA Measures of Academic Progress and the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP). All of ur Grade 3-5 students have completed their fall NWEA testing (results due back shortly), and Grade 5 students have completed their NECAP testing (Grade 3 & 4 will take their NECAP tests this coming week).
Also recently, a number of classes have enjoyed their annual fall field trips that have been extremely educational and enjoyable for all in attendance. Our intrepid third graders even braved cool, blustery, and wet weather for their annual City of Laconia walking field trip.
Back to academics and testing. A couple of weeks ago, you received a letter authored by our school superintendent, Mr. Robert Champlin, notifying you of our 'School in Need of Improvement' status for the coming year. This is nothing new for our school district or for most school districts across our state. In fact, with the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) 'passing' bar raised significantly over the past year, many schools who have long enjoyed a reputation for academic excellence have now found themselves on the 'School in Need of Improvement' list -- in fact very few schools in the state have escaped the designation to this point. With the cut-off for a shool's passing grade at above 90% of their entire student population (and every subgroup as well -- i.e., special education, socioeconomic status, students with limited english proficiency, etc.) needing to achieve a score of 'Proficient' (a rigorous mark to meet for any student), many great schools are now being informed that they are a school in need of improvement.
A number of WHS parents have expressed an interest in learning more about the 'No Child Left Behind' law, the NECAP testing process (the results of this test determine our school's NCLB status), and our school's plan to adress our School in Need of Improvement designation. Fabulous! Even better: a few parents have offered to become part of the solution at WHS and join our School in Need of Improvement (SINI) Team!
I am looking to set a date in the next week or two to meet with parents to discuss these matters. Hopefully, we'll be able to conduct a webinar for those who can't attend our meeting, or at least record the meeting for a podcast to post on this blog. If you are interested in attending, please email me (ddobe@laconia.k12.nh.us) and share what upcoming days would be best for a 7:00-8:00pm. meeting (or which days should be avoided), and we will publicize the meeting as soon as the date is set.
In the interim, you can begin to review our school's recent NECAP results at : http://reporting.measuredprogress.org/nhprofile/reports.aspx. Results for this year's NECAP test administration will not be available until mid-winter.
Many thanks for your interest and involvement, everyone. At WHS, we are a very good school with a determination to become a GREAT school!! With your support, we are sure to get there.
Have a great week!!
Dennis
Also recently, a number of classes have enjoyed their annual fall field trips that have been extremely educational and enjoyable for all in attendance. Our intrepid third graders even braved cool, blustery, and wet weather for their annual City of Laconia walking field trip.
Back to academics and testing. A couple of weeks ago, you received a letter authored by our school superintendent, Mr. Robert Champlin, notifying you of our 'School in Need of Improvement' status for the coming year. This is nothing new for our school district or for most school districts across our state. In fact, with the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) 'passing' bar raised significantly over the past year, many schools who have long enjoyed a reputation for academic excellence have now found themselves on the 'School in Need of Improvement' list -- in fact very few schools in the state have escaped the designation to this point. With the cut-off for a shool's passing grade at above 90% of their entire student population (and every subgroup as well -- i.e., special education, socioeconomic status, students with limited english proficiency, etc.) needing to achieve a score of 'Proficient' (a rigorous mark to meet for any student), many great schools are now being informed that they are a school in need of improvement.
A number of WHS parents have expressed an interest in learning more about the 'No Child Left Behind' law, the NECAP testing process (the results of this test determine our school's NCLB status), and our school's plan to adress our School in Need of Improvement designation. Fabulous! Even better: a few parents have offered to become part of the solution at WHS and join our School in Need of Improvement (SINI) Team!
I am looking to set a date in the next week or two to meet with parents to discuss these matters. Hopefully, we'll be able to conduct a webinar for those who can't attend our meeting, or at least record the meeting for a podcast to post on this blog. If you are interested in attending, please email me (ddobe@laconia.k12.nh.us) and share what upcoming days would be best for a 7:00-8:00pm. meeting (or which days should be avoided), and we will publicize the meeting as soon as the date is set.
In the interim, you can begin to review our school's recent NECAP results at : http://reporting.measuredprogress.org/nhprofile/reports.aspx. Results for this year's NECAP test administration will not be available until mid-winter.
Many thanks for your interest and involvement, everyone. At WHS, we are a very good school with a determination to become a GREAT school!! With your support, we are sure to get there.
Have a great week!!
Dennis
Thursday, September 30, 2010
WHS Open House a Rousing Success!
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
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
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
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