4 Day School Week??

According to the Indy Star, an Indiana superintendent has proposed a 4 day school week to help save on transportations costs and heating and cooling costs.

The Indy Star ran this article and it was picked up by the District Administration Daily, which is a national website run by the superintendents' association.

Interestingly enough, I was at the conference referenced by the Star and these ideas were not widely discussed - but now it is a national story because the Star reporter heard it proposed in a brainstorming session.

Now that it is a national story, I guess it will be discussed more widely.

On a side note....I have talked with parents and teachers from other states who have gone to a four-day school week and their consensus is - "it works and they wouldn't go back."

The biggest obstacles are always childcare for working parents and concerns over the curricular implications.

Educational / Political Cartoons

Here is a cartoon poking a little fun at Margaret Spellings, Bush's new appointed head of the Department of Education. She replaced Rod Paige.

Background behind the cartoon:

Most community members may not be aware of all the aspects of the No Child Left Behind law.

While it is a worthwhile and noble goal to make sure that all children reach "grade-level proficiency," one of the most irrational parts of this law requires that 100% of all students in all schools in America reach "proficiency" by 2013-2014 or the school will be labeled "failing."

Failing schools will have punishments or sanctions outlined in the law.

This cartoon is a funny jab at the punishment aspects of the law as well as Bush's choice of Margaret Spellings as the new director.

Football Friday

If you haven't been out to watch the Warriors, Friday would be a good time to start. I am giving you a couple of days notice here.

They are an exciting team to watch and Friday is a big game against our NLC rivals, Plymouth.

Plymouth is undefeated and tied for the NLC lead so it should be a great game.

By the way, The Wawasee Warriors were featured this year in an IHSAA film that was used to promote proper sportsmanlike behaviors from the sidelines for players and coaches. It was nice for someone even outside the NLC to recognize the sportsmanlike behaviors of our coaches and athletes in game situations.

Also, don't forget the big tailgate party before the game in the parking lot of the Wawasee Heights Church across the street. You can get a burger or hot dog before the game and the proceeds go to the Wawasee Band Boosters.

Go Warriors!

Dinner with the family?

How often do you eat dinner with the family?

Despite noble intentions, most families today find this increasingly difficult to do. Between, soccer practice, dance lessons and mowing the ever growing lawns, most parents end up grabbing a burger at the drive-thru. What we end up missing might surprise you. Eating dinner together is a natural time to build relationships with our young people and provides a natural time to discuss family issues.

Monday, September 26 is Family Day. This a special day set aside for parents/caregivers to eat dinner with their children. CASA created Family Day - A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children as a national effort to promote family dinners as an effective way to reduce substance abuse among children and teens. Family Day is celebrated on the fourth Monday in September. For more information go to http://www.familytable.info/ .

Special thanks to Family and Consumer Science teacher, Mrs. Hively, for sending this information out.

Single Gender Classes

It seems as if single gender classes are making a comeback.

For many years single gender classes were the trademark of many private academies and special schools, but largely ignored by public schools.

Now, in the effort to leave no stone unturned to improve education, some schools are exploring the all male and all female classrooms again.

One of the more convincing arguments is that children "grow up so fast" today that there is no sense in rushing it.

Hmmmm.

ISTEP article today

Fort Wayne Gazette article today on ISTEP.

I found it interesting that they report Noblesville High School passed a requirement that you had to pass ISTEP in order to drive to high school.

I don't think I agree with that one.

Mrs. Hursh Named Academic Coach of the Year Finalist

Congratulations to Mrs. Beth Hursh. Mrs Hursh has been notified that she is a finalist for Indiana's Senior Division Academic Coach of the Year.

Mrs. Hursh retired last year after many years of serving Wawasee as a classroom teacher in the Foreign Language Department. She is well known for her love of the Academic Super Bowl program. She skillfully led Wawasee to many state finals and even state championships in the academic super bowl competitions.

The following web site link shows the announcements.

Congratulations Mrs Hursh!!

ISTEP testing coming up next week

As many of you know, it is time for the annual state testing that Indiana requires. Over the last few years Indiana has tried to make much more information about the testing available to parents and staff.

Clicking on this link will allow a parent to print sample questions for various grade levels that come from the testing manuals. In this way parents can get a better feel for what types of testing is being required.

Testing will begin next week.

Katrina Refugees

I understand that there is a possibility that some area church groups are considering offering help to Katrina refugees. We should be open to helping others in their time of need.

Here is a link discussing the educational impact on schools from the displacement of the students.