The main themes of our school since returning from the Holiday Break are Assessment, and Technology (sometimes both).
In the area of assessment .....
Mrs. Bergman and our team of 'Interventionists' (Title I Tutors and Special Educators) began the new year administering the DIBELS reading assessment to all of our students in Grades K-5. This test is quick and easy to administer, and gives students an opportunity to work one-on-one with a teacher who administers the test and analyzes student performance. These test results are then used by our interventionists and classroom teachers to measure student progress, effectiveness of programs, and organizing students for new instructional groups.
The F&P Benchmark Assessment is administered by our Grade 3-5 classroom teachers and measures student reading levels. This helps teachers chart student progress, connect students with 'just right' books, and form reading groups (Literature Circles).
A computer-based test of reading and math proficiency, the NWEA Measures of Academic Progress, was administered by Mrs. Bergmann and Grade 3-5 classroom teachers during the weeks of January 10th and 17th.
There are formal mid-year tests specific to our district-wide reading program, Houghton-Mifflin, that teacher teams in Grades 1-5 administer to students that help us track their performance relative to the literacy program adopted by the school district four years ago.
Meanwhile, our Kindergarten teachers have been administering a comprehensive mid-year assessments of their own. The PALS tests measure student progress in key academic areas. This assessment is administered by our Kindergarten teachers.
In the area of technology ...
The new WHS Commons has been buzzing with activity during the school day, after school, and in the evenings.
Both small and large groups of students have been visiting the Commons on a daily basis now, and the area is already becoming a powerful new component of our overall school program for students. The access that this cluster has offered our students and staff has been remarkable. It is such a joy to see an under-utilized part of our school come to life with such vitality and energy.
The Commons has also been used by Project Extra! for some closely supervised academic enrichment opportunities during the after school hours. Additionally, it has been wonderful to open the area to families during our 'Family Night in the Commons' series which is really starting to catch some steam and is growing into an important opportunity for students and their families to access some great technology and receive computer training and support in the process!
Did you notice that we have a new look? That's right, WHS now has a brand new website. As part of a district-wide initiative to clean-up, upgrade,and update our school websites, we had the district's team of 'webmasters' (we are pleased to be represented by Mrs. Plourde in this group)meet this past Monday to begin the transitional process of moving to the new website format. We still have a lot of work to do, and are hopeful that you will be pleased with the final result. Please do not hesitate to share any feedback that you have to offer about our new website -- you can email Mrs. Plourde at mplourde@laconia.k12.nh.us with compliments or suggestions.
Lastly, our school's new 'Pathways to Learning' computer cluster was networked and made available to students just today. Some of Mr. Beyer's students were the very first to use the new computers. This cluster was established through a grant for reading and math interventions (to afford students extra support for their learning).
That should do it for now. Many thanks for your ongoing support of our school, its staff, and (most of all) its students!
