|
|
WMS Newsletter - January 10, 2025
|
Inside this Newsletter
- From the Principal
- PTO News
- Woodward Seminar
- Character Strong Family Dares
- Chromebook Insurance - Purchase Window Open 1/13 through 2/28
- Builders Club - Helpline House Immediate Needs
- Lost and Found
- FACSE Cupcake Wars
- BISD Budget Community Focus Groups
- Calendar
|
|
|
Dear Woodward Families,
Student Led Conferences are right around the corner! January 22, 23 & 24 are non-school days dedicated to our Student Led Conferences (SLC). These have been in place for many years and are a key piece of the student experience here at Woodward with very good reasons. I want to take this opportunity to let you know why these are such a valuable part of education for our 7th and 8th grade students.
It’s important to focus on the purpose of SLC, which is very different from the very familiar K-6 Parent Teacher Conferences that you have been accustomed to over the years. In the traditional teacher-led conferences, the purpose is for teachers to take the lead to share student progress, both academically and behaviorally. In the SLC, students take the lead role in sharing their learning and progress in each of their classes - we want them talking to you about what and how they are doing in school. This is the beginning of learning to take responsibility for their success in school and is part of the Common Core State Standards.
SLC help develop student accountability, self-reflection and goal setting while fostering a sense of ownership in their education. These conferences provide a formal time and space for students to engage in purposeful discussion with their family centered around their academic growth.
During the Student Led Conference, your student will share with you their portfolio which is a collection of representative work and self-reflective evaluations from all First Semester subject areas. Students are working with their 4th period teachers who are providing guidance in organizing, preparing and practicing their portfolio presentations.
We have close to 100% participation in Student Led Conferences and are looking forward to continuing this valuable tradition again with you!
|
|
|
Scheduling
If you have not signed up for a time with your student, please sit down with your child tonight and select a time. The spreadsheet is available in your student’s 4th period Seminar Google Classroom; your student needs to register with your guidance as soon as possible.
Schedule a 30 minute, in-person SLC, which includes meeting with your student and their 4th period teacher who will act as a facilitator. At the conclusion of the SLC, you will have the opportunity to meet with another teacher on an individual basis for up to five minutes, as they become available. If you require a conversation that will take more than five minutes, please schedule another time to meet with the teacher. We hope you have already been in communication with your child’s teacher if you have any questions.
For students who do not have a Seminar/4th period class, or who may be in specialized programming and require support to sign up for conferences, we advise families to reach out directly to case managers or to Danielle Warman, dwarman@bisd303.org, to schedule a SLC
We look forward to seeing you at Woodward during the conference days. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Jeannie Donoghue
WMS Principal
jdonoghue@bisd303.org
What I'm reading now:
Behind Their Screens; What Teens are Facing and What Adults are Missing, Emily Weinstein & Carrie James
Hello Beautiful, Ann Napolitano
|
|
|
|
Conference Week Teacher Goodies
Let's show our appreciation for our amazing teaching staff during conference week by providing them with some delicious food! We are planning a Taco Bar Lunch for Wednesday, January 22nd, Snacks for Thursday, January 23rd and a Coffee Bar for the morning of Friday, January 24th. Thank you to those parents who have signed up! There are more spots available; please sign up to support our teachers and keep them fueled for conference week. Every contribution makes a difference.
Your Friendly Neighborhood PTO Officers
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seminar Lessons for the Month of January
Woodward’s Seminar is one of Woodward’s social/emotional learning platforms where students participate in a 35 minute class and discussion every Monday. Seminar covers various topics that are connected to student’s social emotional health and well being. On January 6th, students used their Seminar time to learn about Student Led Conferences which take place January 22nd, 23rd & 24th and how they need to prepare. The January 13th Seminar lesson is in honor of Martin Luther King and his legacy. On January 27th, 7th grade students examine the impact that drama, rumors and gossip have on themselves and the Woodward community. 8th grade students also explore the topic of gossip and how to be an upstander in gossip and rumor situations.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Character Strong Family Dares
|
In each of our community newsletters, we are challenging you to participate in Family Character Dares this year! Here are our next two challenges. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Neighborhood Beautification
|
Go for a walk in your neighborhood or at a local park ... |
|
|
Whenever someone leaves the house this week, make the goodbye last! ... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chromebook Insurance - Purchase Window Open 1/13 through 2/28
|
The Chromebook Insurance window has reopened and will be available from January 13th through February 28th, 2025. The price to replace uninsured devices can be up to $428 while insurance coverage for the remainder of the school year is only $24. Spills and drops happen and insurance coverage is the easiest way to prevent an unanticipated fee on your student’s account. Chromebook insurance coverage lasts for one school year and must be applied for each year. Sign Up
Families facing financial challenges may request to have the insurance fee waived for the year through this online form.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Builders Club - Helpline House Immediate Need
|
Helpline House is in desperate need for 3 specific items: flour, sugar and oil. Builders Club will manage this specific food drive from Monday, January 13th through Friday January 31st. There will be a collection box in the Woodward Commons. Families can even bring their items in when they come for Student Led Conferences! Thank you for considering our neighbors in need. |
|
|
|
|
|
Our Lost and Found is Full!
Please have your student check Lost and Found in the Commons for clothing items, lunch containers, water bottles and books that you have been missing. Last call: We will have items available for families to claim during Student Led Conferences, January 22nd - 24th. After that, items will be donated to charity.
|
|
|
|
|
|
An annual Woodward tradition in the Family and Consumer Sciences classroom, Cupcake Wars, did not disappoint this past December. All 7th and 8th grade FACSE classes participated. Leading up to the day, students practiced making and piping cupcakes in preparation for the competition. Next, the teams chose their own recipes in pursuit of sweet victory. December 18th was the Cupcake War competition date where student teams prepared and presented their entries to a panel of local judges. Many thanks to our judges who came to Woodward for the day: Sarah Clowery (Big Leaf Maple Bakery), Erik Peterson (Island Larder), Claire Moe (Fig and Spice Catering), Christine Chapman (Crumbs Cakery), Lisbet Halverson (Ravishing Radish Catering) and Tristin Voget (previously of Croquette Bake Shop). Not only did the judges give our students great feedback on their entries, but they also left with positive impressions on the capabilities of middle schoolers. The following photos are from the 5th period Cupcake Wars event. |
|
|
|
|
|
Team 1 presents their Eggnog Cupcake with Fresh Grated Nutmeg to the judges. |
|
|
Team 2 presents their Red Velvet Cupcake with Peppermint Stick Accents. |
|
|
|
|
|
Team 3 presents their Mint Chocolate Chip Cupcake with Shaved Chocolate on top. |
|
|
Team 4 presents their Chocolate Cupcake with Chocolate Ganache filling and Red Peppermint Frosting. |
|
|
|
|
|
Team 5 presents their Banana Cupcake topped with Chocolate Frosting and a Banana Chip. |
|
|
Team 6 presents their Chocolate Cupcake with Peppermint Cream Filling and Peppermint Vanilla Frosting. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
BISD Budget Community Focus Groups
|
Superintendent Amii Thompson and Chief Financial Officer Kim Knight will host Focus Groups throughout the month of January and into early February.
|
|
|
|
|
|
JANUARY
17: Winter Choir Concert - WMS @ 5:45 pm
20: MLK Holiday - No School
21: MLK Assembly by Living Voices
22-24: Student Led Conferences - No School
27: Second Semester Begins
FEBRUARY
8: BSF Gala - Kiana Lodge @ 5:30 pm
2/17-2/21: Mid-Winter Break - No School
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Discrimination Statement
|
Bainbridge Island School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups. The following employee has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Kristen Haizlip, Civil Rights Coordinator and Title IX Compliance Officer 8489 Madison Ave. N, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110; 206-780-1058; khaizlip@bisd303.org BISD: All Are Welcome
|
|
|
|
Additional settings for Safari Browser.
