Monday
May 25
Memorial Day
NO SCHOOL
Thursday
May 28
Jo Ann presents
the ERB
4:30pm
Friday,
June 5
Field Day
Pizza Day
Saturday
June 6
New Family
Social
1:30-3pm
Thursday
June 11
5th Grade Graduation
6:30pm
Friday
June 12
Last Day of School
Noon Dismissal;
No Aftercare
May 21, 2009
From Jo Ann - I Hear You on Graduation & Spirit Awards!
From Jo Ann - I Hear You on the Survey
ERB Talk May 28
Class Photos and Puzzles
Health Policy
Chez Renee
Summer Camp Changes
Spanish Update
Thank You for Teacher Appreciation Week
From Jo Ann - I Hear You on Graduation & SPIRIT Awards!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. Those of you who have been dedicated to Westside understand that the SPIRIT awards show the true spirit of who we are, and we are not ready to let go of this strong part of our tradition, so in the spirit of Westside, the SPIRIT awards will continue to be part of graduation.
From Jo Ann - I Hear You, Article 2 on the Survey
This is the second article where I would like to read aloud some of your survey comments. I hope that by sharing some of your thoughts with the rest of the Westside community other parents with similar concerns will find it helpful. In general, I found this year’s survey comments just as individualized as are our students. There was no one common over-arching concern. The most, on a common topic, were eight comments on how we provide individualized curriculum to both bright/struggling students.
Topic: My child’s strengths are addressed: 91% agree, 7% disagree, 1% didn’t know.
My child’s areas of difficulty are addressed: 90% agree, 5% disagree, 5% didn’t know.
Parent #1: “More focus on individualized curriculum and accelerated learning. Less “educational socialism.”
Parent #2: I would like to see how (documented curriculum?) Westside specifically addresses the needs of students on the opposite ends of the bell curve (those that need more help, and those that need more significant challenge.) I feel like parents who ask this question get lip service -- here’s what we do etc. but is there really a consistent, documented, agreed upon approach across grades?
Jo Ann: Westside School philosophy is to define “rigor” in terms of the individual skills of the student. Differentiated instruction is student-aware teaching. It is guided by the premise that schools should maximize student potential, not simply bring students to an externally established norm or a test. To grow as much and as rapidly as possible, students must not only learn essential content, but also increasingly take charge of their own lives as learners.
Westside School has defined standards, which are built by our teachers using the Washington state standards, the ERB standards, and the professional curriculum organizational standards to which the school belongs. (For example, the “Principles and Standards for School Mathematics” published by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM.) is used to set out math curriculum. Then teachers agree on baseline materials to support the standards. The published Saxon Math Program is our base for math. In Language Arts, we use the Fountas and Pinnell assessments, Six Traits for Writing, Primary Phonics, and Write Source Day Books, to name a few. Teachers are then expected to provide engaging lessons by pulling from a variety of sources, and bring their passion into the classroom. Throughout this process there is constant formative assessment to ensure student mastery of content, setting clear learning goals. Formative assessment can be through “tests,” but is also engaged moment to moment as teachers are listening to students, monitoring work and judging, “did he/she get that?” Teachers really know their students, adapting plans to the learner’s readiness, interest and preferred modes of learning. This makes learning relevant which has the end result of not only success in mastery, but in helping students take charge of their own learning.
Differentiation is more than skills, hence perhaps the perception that initiated the phase “educational socialism.” But when a teacher views students as persons of worth and believes in their capacity to succeed, trust is built. If learning fits the student, we are asking them to do what they are ready to do and express their learning in ways that facilitates their success. Our curriculum philosophy is to concentrate on the “depth and breathe” rather than acceleration, which will come when the student truly “owns” the learning. By honoring their voice, they are invited and encouraged to respond with honesty. By helping students understand how learning works, they learn to ask questions and gauge their own work. That is the criteria for success.
For more information about meeting needs, refer to the “Special Needs” policy in our Handbook. Our teachers can accommodate a wide range of skills and needs. They are working in tandem with other professionals as well as parents to implement them in the classrooms.
ERB Talk, May 28
Westside School has received the student results from our annual ERB testing. They will be mailed to you next week. The CTP IV test managed by ERB is a rigorous test which is a diagnostic tool to monitor curriculum effectiveness as well as to monitor student progress. It can be overwhelming to see your child’s performance compared to national peers. Every year I present to parents in order to explain the test and talk about what the results mean and how they should be used. Please plan to join me Thursday, May 28 at 4:30 in the fourth grade room for this presentation and discussion. Bring your questions!
Class Photos and Puzzles
Did you order a class puzzle or picture at the auction? They’re here! Puzzles are in the main office, and photos are in your parent folder.
Health Policy
We’re grateful that the swine flu is no longer a serious threat. We are returning to our standard sick policy of keeping your child home at least 24 hours after they have a fever.
Chez Renee
By Renee Smith, 1st Grade Teacher
I know, I know. It is getting ridiculously hard to be p.c.! Maybe your dinner guests are vegetarians! Is it okay to say “Let’s have a powwow about that?” (no!) Well, here is something else to think about…I recently rented the movie Hotel for Dogs for my kids to watch. I knew it was about dogs and kids. Sounded about right. Oops! The kids are foster kids, they have lost their parents, they have icky foster parents, they identify with abandoned dogs…You get the picture. But it’s okay! They all get adopted in the end. The kids at my house have been foster kids, abandoned by parents, finally adopted by a wonderful family (mine)!
Books written for children love to explore this situation. Just think: Peter Pan, Harry Potter, A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Tale of Despereaux, and even the Boxcar Children all deal with parentless children. So what’s the problem? Aren’t all movies and books rife with stereotypes? Of course. And we parents and teachers refer to the opportunity to debunk stereotypes as “teachable moments.” I am adding the life circumstance of adoption to your list of possible teachable moments.
In the city of Seattle there are some 6000 foster children. There are many, many adopted children from all over the world. We have a large population of adoptees at Westside School. The situations behind the adoptions are varied, but never pleasant. Adults know this. It is not romantic. Living in a foster home is difficult and undesirable, no matter how terrific the foster family is. Adoption is a relief, an opportunity for a loving family life and a happily ever after. What I am cautioning, however, is the purposeful look at our language, care and sensitivity when throwing around words like “abandoned,” and “adopted.” It’s unfortunate that we use the same language for pets as people, but we do. A simple reminder to us and our children that these terms can be painful is in order. Sensitivity and empathy is required. The topic of abandonment and adoption is a fearful one for many children. It is a reality for others.
PS. We liked Hotel for Dogs. I especially liked Shep (he has herding issues) and Georgia.
Summer Camp
Westside’s summer camp spans 3 weeks in the summer, and has fun programs for grades 1-5. (Children entering grades 1-5 starting fall 2009.) There will be no camps available for incoming kindergarteners. Camps run from 9am - 4pm, participants may also select a half day option. We are considering before and after camp programs to extend the day from 8am - 5pm. If this is something you need in order to register for camp, please let us know at the time of registration.
The Big Top Meets the Big Sky
July 13-17 - Join Joe for a fun-filled week of designing, building and experimenting with arcade games and things that fly. Students will love testing their balance and coordination, playing the games they create and flying kites, playing with Frisbees, learning to juggle and more!
Creatures, Crafts and Construction
July 20-24 - Students will join Joe on an exploration of the woods and seashore, learning about the art and science of nature. Inspired by their treks they will return to Westside to create crafts. Margery takes over in the afternoon guiding the students in the construction of structures and moveable creatures with popsicle sticks, wooden shapes, wire, glue guns and a lot of imagination.
In Search of Sasquatch
July 27-31 - Join Tara and explore the myths and legend of Sasquatch. Learn animal tracking skills, discover edible and useful plants, explore local forests and streams, conduct field research, play games, and much more. (Full Day Only)
Spanish Update
By Ashley Kloess, Spanish Teacher
Hola Families, I hope you are all doing well and are looking forward to summer vacation. Before I update you on what we’re working on in Spanish class, I want to take a minute to reiterate how wonderful a job your students did with our Spanish assembly on Cinco de Mayo. They worked very hard to learn the words to their songs and create actions. They were fantastico! The fifth graders worked hard to write their Spanish plays and I was proud of them for memorizing their lines before they performed for the school. It’s not easy acting in a different language!
As we wind down the school year, the pre-school and pre-kindergarten classes continue to learn new Spanish vocab that has to do with what they are learning in class. The kindergarteners are finishing a unit on the human body and have learned some fun new songs to help them remember the names of body parts in Spanish. The 1st and 2nd graders are learning new vocabulary. In 3rd grade, we’re learning the names of emotions in Spanish. The 4th graders are learning how to conjugate verbs in the present tense, and the 5th graders just finished learning how to conjugate a new verb and use it in sentences. Next, they will review body parts.
I can’t believe how fast this year has flown by! I’m looking forward to working with your students again next year!
Thank You for a Great Teacher Appreciation Week!
By Shannon Marsh and Lisa Medina, Teacher Appreciation Week Chairs
A warm thank you to our entire Westside community for a fantastic Teacher Appreciation Week! The wonderful flowers, contributions from the children to the teacher books, thank you notes from parents, and class photos, made the week memorable and fun for our teachers and staff. Special thanks to all room parents for your coordination efforts, and to Angie and Damon Graves for binding the books. Whether you helped out making or serving lunches and dessert, watering flowers, or delivering various teachers gifts - it all is appreciated and helped create a meaningful celebration of our teachers and staff!
Meal Hosts:
Monday Lunch: Megan Simmons, Lori Lieske, Rebecca Allen (PK & 2nd)
Tuesday Breakfast: Denise Tabbutt, Darren Medina, and Rob Watt (Board of Trustees)
Wednesday Lunch: Emily Ann Hindle, Christine Smith, Kati Petrich, and Christina Mastrangelo (PS & 1st)
Thursday Dessert: Carola Meyer, Phil Wallace, Taryn Call, and Shawn White (K & 3rd)
Friday Lunch: Mayme Fujita and Dale Stammen (4th & 5th)
Dessert makers and providers:
Gabby Moorhead & Mary Doerflin-Bohus - PS
Astrid Klopsch - PK
Carola Meyer - K
Alison Wallace - K
Megan Simmons - 1st
Cynthia Jordan - 1st
Lori Freer - 2nd
Cynthia Turner - 2nd
Taryn Call - 3rd
Jan Ellis - 4th
Laura Ehret - 5th
Room Parents
Christine Smith
Lindsay White
Rebecca Allen
Rachel Dory
Pam Allen
Alison Wallace
Cathy Howe
Ann Fosso
Cindy Burke
Cynthia Jordan
Emily Ann Hindle
Denise Edgar
Lori Lieske
Lori Freer
Angela Huntington
Sue Winter
Karri DeJong
Janet Cowles
Carol Loughlin
Tina Vickery
Special Thank You’s to:
Melissa Dayka
Sam Foucault
Damon and Angie Graves (Gratitude Books)
Caitlin Farrell
Angelina Schanen
Peter Levine
Carola Meyer
Chelann Cachero