"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail"
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Hopefully, everyone is having a
relaxing summer and is recharging for the upcoming school year. A new school year presents opportunities for various
beginnings – new classes, new faces, sometimes new courses and new challenges. Starting a new year gives us the opportunity
to make new plans, design new strategies and implement new ideas.
Together we have created something
special here at Waldwick High School and that only happens with commitment and sacrifice. I know how hard you work and I have the utmost
respect for what you do as educators.
Just like in life, there is always something we can improve upon or learn
something new to make us better. I ask
you to embrace challenges, take risks and set professional and personal goals
for yourself to keep you focused on being the best you can be.
Last year in my welcome back letter
to all of you I mentioned the educational landscape in New Jersey is changing and
with those changes brought greater accountability for all of us. I believe an increase in accountability can
only help us as individual’s, grow as educators and in turn, our students should benefit
as well. I will continue to reinforce to
all of you - do not stress over the new observations and/or the SGO’s. If you hold yourself accountable to teaching
every lesson the best you can, work on areas you think you could become better at,
be open to feedback or recommendations to help you grow as an educator, then
this new evaluation process will be something you will embrace, not fear.
Earlier in the summer I wrote a blog post regarding Professional Growth Time @ WHS which I hope you had a chance to read. In that post I set a deadline of August 9 to signup if you were interested but I have decided to extend that deadline and will be speaking more about the PGT model when I see you on September 4.
We have three new staff members
joining us this year who I know are going to be strong additions to the Waldwick
High School staff. They are:
- Amanda
Fernicola – Social Studies Teacher
- Daniel
Freeman – Social Studies Teacher
- Amanda
Lentino – Language Arts Teacher
Let me update you on a few
changes that have taken place over the summer.
- The boilers
(which were original) have been replaced. Not the most exciting project
but something that was needed.
- The
following rooms were painted: 139, 140,
141, 142, 144 and 501
- The BOE
will be moving forward on a renovation project for the HS Gym which will
include: New bleachers and a new paint design for the gym floor. Completion date is TBA.
Your Genesis Gradebook is available to view your class lists.
Below are two links you will
need to click on and fill out the information required. Each form should
take you less than two minutes to fill out. This needs to be done
prior to the start of school.
The first link asks for your
automobile information and the second link is for your personal information.
Once you fill out the form make sure you hit the submit button.
Important Links/Resources
WHS Faculty Manual - It is also available on Google Drive under the WHS Staff Resources Folder. (For new staff I will show/explain the Google Drive Folder when I see on August 28).Laptop Cart Sign-out sheet - This Google form will be used to signup for the laptops throughout the school year.
Parent/Student Handbook
Please have your staff webpages updated by September 6 for the first day of class.
Important BOE Policies and other
documents – will be posted later in the summer.
NOTE:
Back to School Night
- Thursday, September 26, 2013
September Faculty
Meeting Learning & Collaborating Time
Wednesday, September 18, 2013 @ 3:10pm
Enjoy the rest of your summer, and I look forward to seeing
you on September 4, 2013.
(I am off to Ireland today and will be disconnecting, powering down, not tweeting/blogging for the next 10 days. Well, at least I am going to try)
(I am off to Ireland today and will be disconnecting, powering down, not tweeting/blogging for the next 10 days. Well, at least I am going to try)
Agenda for September 4 & 5:
