The Source - Last post for 2013

Credit to K. Carroll

I want to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.  This upcoming twelve day break is well deserved!  These past four months have been stressful and full of a lot of change for all of us.   All of the new educational mandates will start to become part of our normal routines, but unfortunately, as we all know there will be more to come.   As I said back on September 3rd, if we focus on good instruction, professionalism and doing what's best for students, then all these new mandates (New Evaluation System, SGO's, AchieveNJ) will just be a formality.  

When we get back in January I ask all of you to again look in the mirror and ask yourself:

• Have I adjusted my teaching to meet the needs of the common core
• Am I teaching my students the right skills that will help them be successful
• Are my classes engaging?  Do students look forward to come to my class?  If not, why? What can I do to change that? 

Important dates: 
1/8/14 - Learning & Collaborating Time (We will be meeting) 
(All staff is required to attend.  Coaches... practices will not begin until 4pm)
1/20/14 - Professional Development Day (EdCamp Waldwick)


Staff News:

Baby Sal

Mrs. Olivo and her son, Sal Felice Olivo, are home and doing great. Let me officially welcome Sal to WarriorNation!! 


Filling in for Mrs. Olivo is a familiar face to Waldwick High School, Matt Jimenez.   Matt graduated WHS in 2007 and attended Montclair State University, where he studied Exercise Science and Physical Education.   

WHS Principal's Blog 

Recently I have been trying to use my Principal's Blog more as a communication tool and to highlight all of the great happenings going on at WHS.  I can only post what I hear about or what I see, so that's where I need your help.  You might not realize that many of you are doing amazing things in your classrooms or with your clubs and teams, but you are.  We need to share these highlights with the Waldwick community and the world.  You work so hard, be proud of what you are doing with your students and share.  Here is how you can help: 

SUBMITTING A POST

 

The Waldwick High School Blog exists to share information about our school, showcase the achievements of our students and staff and keep the community informed.  Your experiences are the content we are looking for.  Please help us share the great work and accomplishments of our students and staff by submitting posts. 

To make posting simple and efficient, please follow the guidelines below when submitting posts:

• Send text in the body of an email, in paragraph form, so that it may be copied easily.
• When referring to students or programs, identify them as being part of Waldwick High School.  For example, instead of “five basketball players” or “the Ski Club,” write “five Waldwick High School basketball players” or “the Waldwick High School Ski Club,” respectively.
• Write in the third person.
• Send pictures and images as an attachment.  Please do not embed them into word or .pdf documents.
• Name your pictures.  Search engines pick up image titles.
• Use complete dates (August 4, 2012 versus Aug. 4 or August 4 or August 4th).  The blog spans more than a year and searches may bring up posts from multiple years.
• Include flyers or posters as attachments (.pdf is best) if you would like them attached to the post; however, please do not send them as the post.
• Please check your spelling and grammar.
• Write the post as you would read it on the blog.  Avoid “Who:, What:, Where:” descriptions and opt instead for complete sentences.

I created a separate page on this blog regarding"Submitting a Blog Post" for you to refer to throughout the year.  

Again have a great break and Happy New Year!!  

Technology Update

First, I know how frustrated a lot of you are in regards to the technology here at the high school.  Right now you can't plan a lesson and have 100% confidence that the internet will work or that the laptops will connect.  We all agree that this is unacceptable.  
Last week there were a few meetings specifically related to technology and the issues we are experiencing.  Here's a quick summary:

Ms. Angelli presented to the District Administration and the Board of Education a complete technology upgrade.  The upgrade addresses all of the current technology issues within the district, as well as insures the district is ready for  PARCC.  Her proposal was almost $400,000 and would be part of the 2014-2015 school budget.  I'm not going to get into details about the plan, but I can assure you if everything gets done, we will be in great shape.  Right now this plan has the support of Dr. Raupers and all four Principals.  

That's next year.  What about the rest of this year here at the High School?  I meet with Dianna and Joel last week and we have some answers:

In the senior wing, new wireless access points have been installed, which will help with the issue of laptops not being able to connect.

The loss of internet at certain parts of the day has been fixed.  We were having issues with our filter, which has been resolved.  There should be no more 12:30 - 1:30 black outs.  

Laptop Cart 3 has been put down.  It gave us many years of joy, but its time has come.   The working computers from Carts 3 & 4 have been combined into Cart 4.  

We all have to do our part

To be very honest with you, I need some of you to look in the mirror!  They way we treat the laptops is totally unacceptable.  I have been talking about this for years.  Putting the computers back neatly, making sure they are plugged in, not leaving laptops in the classroom... I could go on and on.  Most of you have experienced opening the cart door and being discouraged with what you see.  The lack of respect and care is not only about the equipment, but for your fellow teachers! 

For this not to happen, you, the teacher, need to:  manage your classroom time, manage the students while they put the laptops away, assign two or three students to mange the cart, but you need to monitor them as well.  Dianna put out an email with some great suggestions that seem to help.  - Link to Dianna's email 

I also need to remind everyone that at the end of the day, you need to turn off the projectors. The projector bulbs don't grow on trees and are expensive.  Please remember to turn them off.  

Another issue related to technology has come to my attention - use of the Media Center Computer Lab.  Over the years we have never established clear expectations for the use of the Computer Lab, but I think its time.   It's great that so many teachers want to incorporate technology into their lessons, but everyone needs to have that opportunity. Starting in January, the Computer Lab will only be available for two consecutive days per teacher/period.  In addition, I want to see the lesson/activity you have planned for the  Computer Lab noted in your lesson plans.  It should be in bold type and in red.   If you are working on a big project that may require more than two days in the lab, email or see me and we will discuss the options.   This is something I discussed with multiple teachers and we all agree its fair; we have to start somewhere.  

I am working on a staff technology survey so the Administrative Team can get a better understanding of the needs, concerns, wants and strengths of the staff.   

I hope this information helps. Stay positive, stay focused and work to be better each and everyday.  #ownit