Secondary Update

February 2019

Warren Woods Middle School Update

WWMS ELA Department

6th grade is currently working on informational text structures. We have discussed how to identify each text structure by using "signal words" and through examination of characteristics of each structure. Students are also discovering what types of graphic organizers work best for gathering important information from each type of structure. Together, we are filling out a graphic organizer for each text structure. After, in groups and independently, students are choosing paragraphs to complete their own graphic organizers. Once completed, students share parts of their organizers and answers are discussed with the class for formative assessments. Later students will be assessed on pertaining information through a summative assessment.

7th grade just started argument essay planning and writing. In social studies the students analyzed a chapter on Athens and Sparta, and created an argument quadrant for each of the main topics. The students are using those quadrants and a planning sheet to begin planning each paragraph of the essay. They are writing a claim, thesis statement, topic sentences, correctly cited evidence to support their claim, and correctly cited evidence to support a counterclaim before they even begin writing their paragraphs. This unit will last four weeks, and will conclude with a final essay due on 3/1/19.

8th grade turned in their historical fiction narratives and Mrs. Colaluca and Mrs. Rasi are in the process of grading them via turnitin.com. Students began with choosing a topic, researching chosen topic, brainstorming/ planning narrative, drafting a rough draft, and then typing and publishing their narrative. As an introduction to our next unit, poetry, we watched Dead Poets Society. The movie referenced poets and poems that we have included in our unit. Throughout the unit, students will be assessed on literary terms for poetry as well as the analysis of poems. Students will have the chance to create different types of poetry throughout the unit.

WWMS Math Department

The WWMS Math department is working to prepare our students for higher level thinking tasks, both within our own curriculum and on assessments coming soon this year. We have been discussing ways to support our students who lack basic skills when we are asking them to apply that knowledge (that they lack) to a higher level task.

WWMS Social Studies Department

The WWMS Social Studies department continues their focus on argument writing and the use of primary sources and inquiry to drive instruction. All grade levels will be planning another inquiry arc using the C3 Framework to implement during second semester. Teams will use PLC time to plan, and reflect on the success of the lessons and what we can add to make them more accessible and engaging. 7th grade Language Arts and Social Studies are currently collaborating on a cross curricular argument essay about Ancient Greece.

WWMS Science Department

The WWMS Science department is focused on evaluating our curriculum needs. We are looking at our sequence of instruction and essentials to insure we are focusing on what it is our students need to learn.

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Warren Woods Tower Update

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Enterprise High School Update

Enterprise is in the middle of enrollment since the Third Quarter has started. We would like to congratulate our seven first semester graduates: Jacob Peddy, Nabeela Musa, Nicholas Chang, Nicholas Haus, Cecilia Porter, Brianna Sims, and Kelsey Socia. Presently, Enterprise has enrolled and welcomed 16 new students to the school.

The School Improvement team has been working to analyze the results of the practice SAT test and getting those results to students. Also, staff is looking to add an incentive for exams by allowing students to get a "question pass" based on completed homework and attendance.

Due to the recent inclement weather, Enterprise has missed PLC time to evaluate Second Quarter exams. The plan in the future will be to analyze the results of those exams.

Adult Education Update

Adult Education continues to enroll students through the year. As of December 2019, our stats are as follows:

174 registrants for the Learning Center [diploma, HSE prep, ABE, school-year credit recovery]
115 registrants for ESL classes

Not all registrants follow through with the registration process and begin classes. Registrants must take an assessment prior to beginning classes, as the assessment helps place the student into appropriate levels of coursework.

To visualize the education levels of enrolling students for the Learning Center (excluding credit recovery), please see the chart below. Based upon state data, all of our adult participants are considered "Adult Basic Education" students at the time of enrollment, as all of them have at least one area in which they do not test at a secondary level or higher.

We have also had 18 students successfully complete at least one HSE subtest this academic year. Two students completed their entire battery of tests and have earned a High School Equivalency certificate from the State of Michigan. The program will continue to test these students until they complete and has several others signed up for upcoming test dates. An adult need not be enrolled in WWACE to take a High School Equivalency test through our program. The cost per subtest is $26.20, and there are 5 subtests in the TASC.