New information on the 4-day week

The following link has been provided to me by a representative of the British Columbia teacher's organization.

He e-mailed me after noticing I had put the information out in front of our community for discussion on The Wawascene blog site.

The power and connectivity of the internet...it still amazes me at times.

This website is a compilation of various sources of information on the 4-day school week. It represents a variety of views, not necessarily mine or the BC teachers.

I have not personally read all of them yet, but I thought I would pass it along.

2 Hour Fog Delay

There is a 2 hour fog delay for Wawasee on Thursday, October 27.

Conditions as of 5:40 AM are - Light to medium fog covering most of the district. Some clear spots with fog hovering at tree lines and heavy fog west of 300 East towards Milford.

Have an extra cup of java.

From the mouths of babes....

This was passed along by Kindergarten teacher Cherie Sweatland from Milford School.

This morning she gave directions for the first activity and when they were set she said, "Let's get to work!"

One of the boys said, "I'm on it...my grandpa says if you don't work, you don't eat!"

Alphabet Soup

I received a 5 page letter today from the state department explaining new monitoring procedures for No Child Left Behind.

This is what it said in abbreviated form.

The NCLB legislation requires the IDOE to monitor each LEA in reviewing the SWP and SIP's as soon as EIS has it up and running.

There don't you feel enlightened!

It's a good thing I was mostly paying attention in kindergarten and learned my letters!

Have a good day. EIEIO

Another Big Fat Mandate

Are the public schools the best solution to EVERY social problem?

Read this Preliminary Draft (PD) of a bill that has passed through the Health Commission and will be presented in this year's legislative session here in Indiana.

20061293
PD 3156/DI 104 2006
PRELIMINARY DRAFT
No. 3156
PREPARED BY
LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY
2006 GENERAL ASSEMBLY
DIGEST
Citations Affected: IC 20-34-3-21.

Synopsis: Student health measurements. Requires each school
corporation to report certain student health data to the state department
of health. Requires the state department to publish an annual report
summarizing the data.
Effective: July 1, 2006.
PD 3156/DI 104 2006
Second Regular Session 114th General Assembly (2006)
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
education.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 20-34-3-21 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
2 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
3 1, 2006]: Sec. 21. (a) Each school corporation shall annually report
4 to the state department of health the height, weight, ethnicity, age,
5 and sex of the school corporation's students.
6 (b) A school corporation shall report data required under
7 subsection (a) according to rules adopted under this section. The
8 rules must include the following:
9 (1) Information regarding the importance of accurate
10 measurements and the collection of measurements for
11 improving children's health.
12 (2) Procedures for the measurement of children in a respectful
13 and dignified manner.
14 (c) Data may not be reported under this section in a way that
15 makes students personally identifiable.
16 (d) The state department of health, in consultation with the
17 department, shall publish and make available to the public an
18 annual report summarizing data collected under this section.
19 (e) The state department of health and the state board shall
20 adopt joint rules under IC 4-22-2 to implement this section.

Here we go again...another social need that is now being handed off to the public schools. Meanwhile, keep those national NAEP scores rising everyone (tongue-in-cheek).

This bill will pass because it sounds harmless and helpful. It shouldn't take too long to weigh, measure, record on spreadsheets and upload to the state every student in the school, should it?

No place in this bill does it tell the teachers what previous state-mandated curriculum they are supposed to ignore while they implement the latest big fat mandate. Just squeeze one more thing in. Every single curriculum study done in the last several years validates what every teacher instinctively knows already. There are not enough days in the year and hours in the day, to teach the mandated curriculum we already have. But hey, I guess what's one more thing when your plate already looks like it does at the church potluck!

There, I got that off my chest. To bad it will still end up the plate! :-)

Another good idea that doesn't help anything?

Congratulations Kelsey

We hear congratulations are in order for Kelsey McAdams, who recently received the Mitch Winger Courage award presented by the Indiana Girls’ Golf Association in Indy. She was nominated by Coach DeHart and received the award in a ceremony in Greenwood. She gave a speech as her part of the ceremony. Way to go Kelsey!!!! Thanks for representing yourself and Wawasee so well!

E-transcripts

Starting this year, students needing copies of transcripts for college will be able to request them by e-mail and the high school transcripts will be sent to the colleges electronically.

This should be a big help to parents and students trying to negotiate their way through the university maze.

More Information on 4-Day School Week

This link provides a fairly concise and easy to read overview of the benefits and concerns of moving to a 4-day school week.

Some have asked if we are really serious about this. I would characterize our interest as more curious than serious at this point.

However, I personally feel that the benefits may merit some serious discussion.

Moving forward from here would involve more research and study of the costs, benefits and concerns. Then we would have to take the information directly to the parents in the schools and to the greater community to see if there is any interest.

FFA National Champs!

Congratulations to Mr. Warren and his FFA students who have won the National Horticulture Judging championship this week in Ohio.

The students representing Wawasee High School were Katie Pollock, Scott Gerke, Tim Bowling, and Becky Clayton.

We are proud of you all!

Research on 4 - Day School Week

Thanks to Mrs. Baird's thoughtful post in the comment section, I have taken the liberty to provide the link to the research she refers to.

This link is from a school district that has posted for the public, a compilation of the history, the research on the pros and cons of 4-day school weeks, and their own district's journey in exploring the concept.

More info on 4-day school week

The four-day school week was a discussion at the superintendents' meetings today.

Evidently the position of the state office is that it would NOT require a change in state law, it would only require a waiver from the Department of Education, similar to snow day waivers.

In other words, the local school district would have to explain it's rationale in several areas and ask the state for an exemption from the 180 day rule.

Issues:

1. Curriculum requirements (How do we make sure we get it all in?)
2. Time on task issues (How much additional time do we provide on the other days?)
3. Extra-curricular impact (Does this limit opportunities for students after school?)
4. Community response (How do the parents and community members feel about it?)
5. Financial impact (What is the impact financially?)

A professor attending our meeting indicated that another state had mandated this in the 70's due to financial difficulties and found out that the academic impact was actually positive. The only theory that made sense was that teaching and learning became much more focused and intentional, perhaps due to more time for planning and organization.

I believe this topic will become more of a public issue in time.

I would like to hear from parents to know more about their opinions.

We have not had any formal discussions about this at the administrative level or the school board level at this time. I am just asking to find out more about your opinions.

If you are uncomfortable with the public comments section, feel free to send me an e-mail at mstock@wawasee.k12.in.us

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.