Warren Woods Middle School Update
Professional Learning Opportunities
Beginning this month, the WWMS staff will participate in Professional Learning opportunities during part of our staff meeting time. In January, staff completed a survey to indicate their “Points of Pride” (strengths) and “Areas of Need” (perceived weakness). The School Improvement Team analyzed the data to determine the areas of immediate interest (Cooperative Learning Structures and Knowledge of Outside Resources). The team then identified staff whose survey indicated those areas as strengths. Two teams were created to facilitate Professional Learning sessions (approximately 30 minute sessions) that will be conducted on February 26. Staff will select a session to attend during that time, then provide feedback to the leaders of the session. The plan is to continue these opportunities, as we commit to strengthen our Professional Learning Community.
WWMS Social Studies Department
The Middle School Social Studies department has been digging in to the new Social Studies standards. With the help of Kara Beal, and ISD consultant Sean McBrady, we have completed the process of identifying our new power standards, and are now focusing on the process of unpacking these essential standards and reorganizing units. The department is also currently testing out an argument rubric that vertically aligns associated literacy standards for all three grade levels, with plans to create similar rubrics for other skill-based areas within the content area.
WWMS Math Department
The WWMS Math PLC continues its commitment to collecting data in our academic advisory classes. Recall that the academic advisory classes consist of those students who fall just short of proficient on the MSTEP from the 2019 Spring assessment. We devote time during each PLC meeting to discussions on gathered data results across grade levels both vertically and horizontally with the goal of increasing student proficiency on MSTEP and PSAT. Learning targets have been posted for each course and time has been allotted during each meeting to check off completed learning targets. Each grade level has been developing a mathematics vocabulary curriculum together with assessments and study methods through Quizlet. As time permits, grading practices will be studied, compared, revised, and developed to create consistency from class to class and grade level to grade level.
WWMS Science Department
The science department has been evaluating phenomenon (a fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, especially one whose cause or explanation is in question), and organizing them to fit our instructional standards to better engage our students. We have organized the phenomenon to connect to our instruction. We are also exploring the idea of creating an advanced science class for the 8th grade. Our NWEA data suggests that some of our student scores plateau in 7th grade, so we are looking for ways to push their learning and prepare them for honors and AP science courses at the high school level.
WWMS ELA Department
The language arts department has been using early release time to create reflections and criteria for reassessments that will be consistent across the grade levels. All grades are also including learning targets or “I can” statements on both formative and summative common assessments. The department has made a goal of using student created assessments by the end of the year, and will use our next early release to find resources to facilitate this endeavor.
Warren Woods Tower Update
Celebrations
We Hired A New English Teacher (She started at the beginning of the semester)
Kristy Thielk
The WWT Counselors are continuing the scheduling process with our students. We have our counselors meet individually with each of their students to discuss their schedule for next year as well as graduation progress and post secondary plans. This is not something that most high schools do, but we feel it is worth the time to build the personal connection between students and staff.
Promoting WWT - Week
For the week of February 10th, each day we had different presentations in the commons. Students were allowed to leave the cafe during their lunch and talk to people running the various displays. Part of the focus is to provide students with information to help them make decisions on what classes to take next year as well as what they may want to do after high school. This is our second year and it was a huge success.
Monday - AP/Advanced Class
Tuesday - CTE/Elective Awareness (approx. 20 displays including some from consortium schools
Wednesday - WWT Clubs/Teams
Thursday - Skilled Trades/Military (representatives from various locals/corp/navy presented post secondary opportunities)
PBIS
PBIS continues to be the focal point of our School Improvement Process. Our PBIS Team has come up with the following activities:
- Friday, February 14th - "Pie a Staff Member" Assembly for students with perfect attendance in February
Discipline Referrals for January
2020 - 102
2019 - 77
2018 - 49
2017 - 94
2016 - 95
2015 - 251
2014 - 131
PLC's
- All PLC Teams (individuals) have been asked to complete the "Critical Issues for Team Consideration" evaulation. This data will be compared to the data collected in November when staff completed it for the first time.
- During our staff meeting we discussed the importance of having essential standards, being aware of what the those essential standards are and then making sure we are teacing the fidelity. Much of the conversation stemmed from the LEARNING BY DOING conference by Thomas Many.
About Us
Email: kbeal@mywwps.org
Website: www.mywwps.org
Location: 12900 Frazho Road, Warren, MI, USA
Phone: (586) 439-4469
Facebook: facebook.com/warrenwoodspublicschools
Twitter: @warrenwoodsPS
