Thank you to all the parents who came out for the WG Annual Fall Harvest Parade. While there was a chill in the air, together with strong winds, the weather could not stop us from having a great time. Our indoor parade, led by the SFHS drum line, was a huge success!
Be sure to follow me on Twitter, as I shared pictures of the afternoon!
Please consider joining us on November 13 at 9:00am for the next Parent Advisory Council Meeting. We will be discussing how to build success with reading at home, and we will also be talking about PBIS. This is a wonderful opportunity to further connect the home and school!
Looking forward to seeing everyone at Parent-Teacher conferences this coming week (and the following week)!
Friday, November 7, 2014
Friday, October 31, 2014
Week of October 27-31
Happy Fall Harvest Day!
Today, October 31, will be our annual Fall Harvest Day Parade. It will begin at 2:00pm. Please visit the Willow Glen Website for a parade route. Looking forward to seeing many of you there!
Classroom Highlights: (Notice that celebrating writing seems to be a theme this week!)
K5 -
K5 has been learning all about pumpkins. In math, they have been counting and learning how to write numbers. Students continue to read and write daily during our Daily 5 literacy time.
Grade 1 -
Children have been working on revising, editing and publishing their personal narrative (small moment) stories. They are looking forward to our upcoming writers celebration. First graders have also been working on words, words, words! They are noticing spelling patterns and word chunks that are helping them become even better readers and writers.
Grade 2 -
Second graders just celebrated their small moment stories. They are starting to create Non-fiction books. Some of the topics include baseball, weather, cacti and bats. The students are very excited about being the experts on their topics. They will even include an author's page and tell us all about themselves.
Grade 3 -
Third graders have been writing up a storm. They just had our first Author Celebration for our personal narrative writing. The students really enjoyed learning about a true event that happened in each other's lives. They are now learning how to state an opinion and support it with reasons and examples so that theycan write an organized opinion piece. In science they have been learning a lot about the parts of a plant and what those parts do to help the plant survive.
Thank you for partnering with us in your child's education...And as always, remember to read!
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Week of October 6
This week, I'd like to share with you some classroom highlights...
K4 - Students enjoyed sorting apples by color this week. They were each able to sample 3 types of apples, and then graphed the kinds that they liked the best. Additionally, children used apples to make patterns, and wrote a "spin off" class book after reading Dr. Seuss's "Ten Apples On Top." K4 students learned the word "apple" begins with the letter A
K5 - The children discussed fire safety, which included a visit from the St. Francis Fire Department. Also, they have been talking and learning about the signs of Fall. In math they are learning about patterns and shapes. K5 students are enjoying writers workshop and jumping into the Daily 5, which they are doing a great job in!
Grade 1 - This week, first graders have been focusing on short /i/ word families, along with identifying cause and effect while reading. They are also continuing to work on handwriting, small moment stories and learning about living and non-living things.
Grade 2 - Second graders have settled in nicely to the Daily 5 and into writer's workshop. They are continuing to learn more about PBIS, and have earned many leaves to fill up our school tree!
Grade 3 - In math, students are just starting a new chapter on addition and subtraction. They will also be working on number stories. In writing, third graders are nearing the end of their personal narrative and working on revision, by adding in author's craft and elaboration. In reading, children are working on connecting characters, reading with expression and adjusting rate, increasing our vocab by understanding idioms, and engaging in collaborative conversations about poems.
I hope that these classroom highlights provided you with an opportunity to learn more about what is happening in your child/s classroom, as well as what is happening across the school!
K4 - Students enjoyed sorting apples by color this week. They were each able to sample 3 types of apples, and then graphed the kinds that they liked the best. Additionally, children used apples to make patterns, and wrote a "spin off" class book after reading Dr. Seuss's "Ten Apples On Top." K4 students learned the word "apple" begins with the letter A
K5 - The children discussed fire safety, which included a visit from the St. Francis Fire Department. Also, they have been talking and learning about the signs of Fall. In math they are learning about patterns and shapes. K5 students are enjoying writers workshop and jumping into the Daily 5, which they are doing a great job in!
Grade 1 - This week, first graders have been focusing on short /i/ word families, along with identifying cause and effect while reading. They are also continuing to work on handwriting, small moment stories and learning about living and non-living things.
Grade 2 - Second graders have settled in nicely to the Daily 5 and into writer's workshop. They are continuing to learn more about PBIS, and have earned many leaves to fill up our school tree!
Grade 3 - In math, students are just starting a new chapter on addition and subtraction. They will also be working on number stories. In writing, third graders are nearing the end of their personal narrative and working on revision, by adding in author's craft and elaboration. In reading, children are working on connecting characters, reading with expression and adjusting rate, increasing our vocab by understanding idioms, and engaging in collaborative conversations about poems.
I hope that these classroom highlights provided you with an opportunity to learn more about what is happening in your child/s classroom, as well as what is happening across the school!
Friday, October 3, 2014
Week of September 29
Welcome to October!
First, a message from the City of St. Francis...
The railroad will be closing the crossing on St. Francis Avenue beginning October 6, 2014. Signage is posted near the crossing to alert drivers of the closure. If all goes as planned, St. Francis Avenue will be reopened October 10, 2014.
At Willow Glen...
Nearly all fall assessments have been wrapped up. Teachers are using this data to inform their instruction, and identify students in need of reading and math intervention. If your son/daughter was identified for these services, you may have already received a letter. We have 3 outstanding interventionists working at Willow Glen: Char Skenedore, Laura Frombach and Sara Bailey. These ladies are all certified teachers and are eager to begin supporting children!
MAP assessment results will be sent home during the week of October 13. If you have any questions, please contact your child's teacher.
Our Literacy Framework is fully functioning at every grade level. Be sure to ask your child about their experiences with Word Work, Guided Reading Groups, Computer Time, Writing, and Independent Reading. This is a research-based, balanced approach to literacy instruction.
Coming Soon...
"Grade Level Highlights"
Each week, I will share highlights from grade levels. You will hear about things that children are learning in their classrooms. It is nice to see what is happening at your own grade level, as well as learn about what might be ahead!
Friday, September 26, 2014
Week of September 22
Thank you to all the parents that attended the PTO meeting on Wednesday, and the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) meeting on Thursday night!
At both events, information was shared on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.
Our Gator Goals are:
Students have been practicing expected behavior in the hallways, cafeteria bathrooms,
drive-thru and in the classrooms. Recognitions/Acknowledgements are given to individual students for displaying the expected behaviors..GATOR GOTCHA'S! Additionally, whole classrooms are awarded leaves for showing great hallway behavior. Our schoolwide goal is to fill up a tree with fall leaves...This will involve a special whole-school celebration!
Fall assessments are winding down. These assessments provide us with important data to meet your child' needs. You will be receiving MAP data during the week of October 6. Please feel free to contact your child's teacher if you have any questions regarding the results.
Enjoy your day and remember to read!!!!
At both events, information was shared on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.
- Be Responsible
- Be Respectful
- Be Safe
- Be a Leaner
Students have been practicing expected behavior in the hallways, cafeteria bathrooms,
drive-thru and in the classrooms. Recognitions/Acknowledgements are given to individual students for displaying the expected behaviors..GATOR GOTCHA'S! Additionally, whole classrooms are awarded leaves for showing great hallway behavior. Our schoolwide goal is to fill up a tree with fall leaves...This will involve a special whole-school celebration!
Fall assessments are winding down. These assessments provide us with important data to meet your child' needs. You will be receiving MAP data during the week of October 6. Please feel free to contact your child's teacher if you have any questions regarding the results.
Enjoy your day and remember to read!!!!
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
State and District Report Cards Released
Dear Willow Glen Families,
In September, 2014 the Department of Public Instruction released district report cards to help parents and students compare districts across the state using common criteria in the areas of: Student Achievement, Student Growth, Closing Gaps, and Post-Secondary Readiness. These report cards are set for public release today.
St. Francis uses the report card as one measure to evaluate the success of individual schools and of the district. Please visit the DPI Report Card Web Site for further explanation of these report cards.
The staff and students at Willow Glen have much to celebrate, with the release of the school report card. Due to the staff's dedication to children, commitment to professional growth, and focus on student needs and achievement, we are proud to say that Willow Glen School EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS! We thank our families for their continued support of the learning that occurs in classrooms every day.
Willow Glen's data over the years is as follows:
2011-2012 66.8 Meets Expectations
2012-2013 70.3 Meets Expectations
2013-2014 76.7 Exceeds Expectations
Across the District...Both Deer Creek and St. Francis High School "Meet Expectations". As a school system, we all have been working the last several years to ensure all students are learning,all students are growing, and our schools continue becoming kinder and compassionate places for all to learn and grow. We all are part of this vital endeavor.
In September, 2014 the Department of Public Instruction released district report cards to help parents and students compare districts across the state using common criteria in the areas of: Student Achievement, Student Growth, Closing Gaps, and Post-Secondary Readiness. These report cards are set for public release today.
St. Francis uses the report card as one measure to evaluate the success of individual schools and of the district. Please visit the DPI Report Card Web Site for further explanation of these report cards.
The staff and students at Willow Glen have much to celebrate, with the release of the school report card. Due to the staff's dedication to children, commitment to professional growth, and focus on student needs and achievement, we are proud to say that Willow Glen School EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS! We thank our families for their continued support of the learning that occurs in classrooms every day.
Willow Glen's data over the years is as follows:
2011-2012 66.8 Meets Expectations
2012-2013 70.3 Meets Expectations
2013-2014 76.7 Exceeds Expectations
Across the District...Both Deer Creek and St. Francis High School "Meet Expectations". As a school system, we all have been working the last several years to ensure all students are learning,all students are growing, and our schools continue becoming kinder and compassionate places for all to learn and grow. We all are part of this vital endeavor.
We also know it is our positive relationships with our students, parents and community that will continue defining the SFSD as a place to be.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Welcome to the 2014-2015 School Year!
Congratulations on a successful first week! Your students have been absolutely wonderful! They are skillfully following routines, showing respect and care for one another, and bringing positive attitudes and smiles each day.
As you may know through newletters and Open House, we are embarking on PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports). We've already begun talking to students about what this means, and they're making us proud.
You, parents, are our partners in helping our students have the best year possible. We will keep our Willow Glen website updated with useful information throughout the year. We will also communicate with you through this Blog, as well as through Twitter.
Wishing everyone a continued great launch into the 2014-2015!
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