WHS Staff News - Week of 9/18/23

Thanks for a great start to the school year! Only nine days in but a lot of good stuff is already going on around the building. The changes we have implemented are off to a great start. The feedback from the staff that I have spoken to has been positive. Some quick notes:

SmartPass is up and running. There will be some bumps in the road but overall, I think it has made a positive change in the building. On October 19, a few teachers  and I will be reviewing the data from the first four weeks and making any adjustments that might be needed.

Loaners - I believe we made the right decision with this one. One small change from what I said on 9/5, if you want to allow a student to charge their Chromebook in class, that will be your call. I suggest you let the student know that this will not be an everyday thing. Remember why we did this, accountability and responsibility beyond the walls of WHS.

Cell phones - I think this change is having the biggest impact on what we are trying to accomplish in the classroom. Students are less distracted and more focused on their learning. As a staff, we are doing a great job with this!

I know some of you have asked me about allowing kids to listen to music while working on independent work or allowing students to go on their phones after the lesson. My thoughts on this:

If you allow students on their phones, for whatever reason you feel appropriate during your class time, the admin team will not call you out on it, but we might ask at a later time what was going on.

I understand rewarding a student for working hard. I get using it as a type of incentive. The teacher / student relationship means everything to me, but be smart with bending the rules when it comes to cell phones. Once that door is open, it’s hard to pull back.

If something goes wrong in your class with a cell phone being used inappropriately, that will be on you and the student.

Another change that happened, which was not planned but has had a positive effect, is the Study Halls being moved out of the Cafeteria. When students are out on pass there is really nowhere for them to go besides the bathroom. As of now, I don’t see the Study Halls going back into the Cafeteria when it opens.

Construction Update 
The Greenberg Center swipe access is working now.
The Cafeteria may be delayed to open - I will know more later today.
AC control and the temperature in your classroom - This is still a work in progress and I know it's colder in some rooms than others. We have someone on site that can look at the unit / make small adjustments so let me know if a certain room needs to be looked at.

Counseling Center News 

Virtual Coffee with the Counselors (For 9th Grade Parents on Friday, 9/22)

NAVIANCE TEACHER RECOMMENDER PROFILE & TEACHER LETTERS OF REFERENCE

Dates to keep in mind
No School - Monday, 9/25
Club Fair - Wednesday, 9/20 - 2nd half of lunch in the Gym
DLC Meetings - 9/20 Yes, 9/27 No
Back to School Night - Thursday, 9/28 - 7-9pm

Recent Blog Posts

New Procedures for Reporting a Student Absent  (For Parents)

New Staff @ WHS - Sofia Hernandez

New Staff @ WHS - Jillian Beckerle 

WHS Staff News - 5/23/23

A lot of information to share with not a lot of time left in this school year! Please review this post/links and if you have any questions please reachout.  

Wellness and Community Day sponsored by the Mind Over Matter Club
Wednesday, 5/31/23
8 - 11am
Juniors and Seniors Only

Semester Assessment Schedule / Expectations
Assessment Schedule - 6/8 - 6/15

• Please review the schedule with your students 
• Classes that have semester assessments are to have students report and stay for the full assessment period
• Please have all copies of your final assessments made before 6/8
• The copy machine in Room 417 will be moved out on 6/9 at 2pm

Construction Update - (Helping out the Middle School)
The Middle School needs High School classrooms on June 9 because of construction. See below for what Mr. Meyers shared with his staff and what rooms will be used. Feel free to find the best place for you to grade your assessments.

Friday, June 9, 2023 - The custodians will start to move furniture out of the classrooms and into the back part of the MPR, where it will be stored. This means that we will have to relocate all of the classes in these rooms for Friday, June 9th.

I have spoken with Mr. Carroll and he will be able to provide us with classrooms after the HS testing is completed.

Here are the room assignments for the 9th

HS Classroom Assignments - These rooms are available at 10:30 AM -

- MS Room 110 to HS Room 138
- MS Room 108 to HS Room 141
- MS Room 109 to HS Room 142
- MS Room 210 to HS Room 303

NOTE - Starting with 4th period, all classes in these rooms will be in the assigned HS classrooms. At 10:30 4th period classes in these rooms should be taken over to the assigned HS room. The custodians will be coming in at 10:30 AM to start removing furniture from MS rooms.

HS Classroom Assignments - These rooms are available at 12:30 PM -

- MS Room 105 to HS Room 139
- MS Room 106 to HS Room 143
- MS Room 107 to HS Room 140
- MS Room 205 to HS Room 144
- MS Room 206 to HS Room 145
- MS Room 207 to HS Room 201
- MS Room 208 to HS Room 203
- MS Room 209 to HS Room 205

NOTE - At 12:30 PM teachers in the above identified rooms should walk their students over to the assigned HS rooms. All remaining afternoon classes in these rooms will be in the assigned HS rooms. The custodians will be coming in at 12:30 PM to start removing furniture from these MS rooms

GradBall Update

• The Cafeteria and Room 417 will be handed over to the Grad Ball on Friday, 6/9 at 3pm
• Staff Workroom/Rm 417 - T5 if needed
• If you need to use a refrigerator after 6/9, you can use the one in 305
• The full art wing will be handed over as of 6/15 at 2pm

WHS End of Year Checklist 

We are trying something new with eliminating the paper copy and going with a Google Form.  This form needs to be completed by: 6/15/23

Staff End of Year Get Together
Faculty Pool Party
Rain or shine, we will have fun no matter what!

RSVP Form 
 

Senior Events/Schedule for Last Week of School

Thursday 6/8 or Friday 6/9 (Pending Yearbook delivery/organizing)
Yearbook Signing/Ice Cream Social - 12:15 (JJ Memorial)

Tuesday, June 13
Pool Party/BBQ - 12:30pm – 2:00pm (Waldwick Pool) 

*Staff is invited to stop by the pool

Wednesday, June, 14
Graduation Practice - 1:00pm (Turf)
Hand out Caps and Gowns (Gym)

Thursday, June 15
Chromebook Collection 9:45am (Room 501)
Graduation Practice - 10:15am (Turf)

Friday, June 16
Grad Ball Bag Drop off - 1 - 1:20pm (Greenberg Center) 
Report to the senior wing by 6pm 

Graduation Ceremony starts at 7pm (Turf)  

WHS Staff News - Week of 4/17/23

Welcome back!!! I hope you had a great Spring Break! The weather was perfect if you were still in Jersey. We still have some work to do but the end is in sight. 

What's left: 

10 school days in April 

20 school days in May

In June we have 5 school days with classes and 6 days for semester assessments/last day. 

Please find time to sit and review this post.  

Think about the rest of the year and what you want to accomplish

Map out your lessons

Note testing dates/events/etc. 

Spend time updating/creating your semester assessment 

Construction update (Doc I shared last week)
I need to thank Andy Gamper and his crew for all the work they did to get us ready for Phase 4. I also need to praise David and Jonathan for all they do to make sure the technology is ready to go.
People don’t understand how much goes into these phase changes and without a great team, things don’t go as smoothly as they have.

End of Year Eval Meeting
All meetings have been scheduled. You should have received an invite from Donna or I. If you did no, please check with Donna. Meetings will start on 4/27 and finish up on 5/5. For the meeting, please have your 20 PD hours entered, and your PDP updated and signed.

TESTING UPDATE

PSAT 10 - Thursday, April 20 (All Sophomores)
All students will be testing in the cafeteria. There will be no extended time offered.
Proctoring Schedule
Blog Post for Students & Parents
All other grade levels will follow our normal bell schedule

NJSLA Testing Grade 9 (Testing Dates - 5/1 - 5/5)
9th Grade - ELA (3 sections) 90 minute units
9th Grade - Geometry & Algebra 1 H (2 sections) 90 minute units
AM Testing window each day 8 - 10am
Grade 9 will be isolated for testing
All other grade levels will follow our normal bell schedule

NJSLA Testing Grade 11 (Testing Dates 5/11 - 5/12)
11th Grade - Science (4 Units - 60 minutes each)
AM Testing window each day 8 - 10:30am
All other grade levels will follow our normal bell schedule

AP Testing (Testing Dates 5/1 - 5/12)

All testing will be done in the Greenberg Center 

*For both NJSLA tests, adjustments need to be made for the extended time rooms b/c of the construction schedule. We will have that updated in the next week or two.

Semester 2 Assessments

Overview  (What you need to know/due dates)

Updated Schedule 

Special Events / Important dates 

Wednesday, April 26 - Staff Meeting / Testing 
Thursday, 5/11 - Voter Registration Presentation (2 - 3pm)
Wednesday, 5/31 - Wellness Day (8 - 11am) / PM speaker? / Prom Night

(Minds Over Matter is working on this. More info will be shared soon)
Tuesday, 5/16 Spring Signing Day at 9am

Tuesday, 5/16 NHS Induction Ceremony at 7pm

Thursday, 5/18 Spring Concert at 7pm

Friday, 5/19 Semester 2 Assessments due by 8am 
Monday, 5/22 Senior Awards Night at 7pm

WHS Staff News - Week of 3/27/23

End of the marking period is almost here. Please make sure your gradebook is up to date so there are no surprises. Also keep parents informed about students who have fallen behind, are off track or failing for the marking period.

A little late but, Great job with NJGPA testing! Everything ran extremely well and I think testing all the juniors in the cafeteria allowed the rest of the school to function as normal and continue with instruction.

A lot happened last week related to construction. What I’m sharing with you, I think is the plan but things could change.

Construction Updates - 3/27/23

Due to the Main Office construction starting soon, please be sure to stop by the office today and empty your mailbox.
The refrigerator in the Main Office kitchen must be cleaned out as well.
Anything left behind will be discarded in the demolition.

Recent Blog Post

WHS Senior Class Fundraiser - Blue Moon (4/3/23

Waldwick Music Parents Association (WMPA) Clothing & Shoe Fund Drive

WHS Staff News - 2/28/23

Please consider nominating a deserving teacher or an educational service professional for this year's Educator of the Year for Waldwick HS. We have so many deserving educators here @ WHS. Please complete this nomination form by Friday, March 10th.

FYI - Junior Class meeting - Wednesday, 3/1 at 11:45 in theLittle Theater.  Focus will be on the NJGPA.  Testing dates - 3/13 - 3/17.

REMINDER - NJGPA Testing Meeting for all staff - 3/8/23 at 3:05.  All staff must attend this meeting. 

I NEED YOUR HELP - Drama Club Production
WHS Drama Club is proud to present: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Dates/times are - 3/9, 3/10, 3/11 @ 7pm  

**Chaperones Needed
Ticket Taker List - Drama Club (Please sign up to Chaperone one of the three shows)

WHS Staff News - Week of 1/9/23

Next week we will have an all staff meeting on Wednesday, 1/18 in the Media Center. Please make sure your schedule is cleared for you to attend.

Change is coming to working Wednesday. Last week I mentioned to the ScIP committee that I will be looking to make changes to when department meetings are held. Starting at the end of the month, not all departments will be meeting on Wednesday's. I will share my plan later this week and review it at the staff meeting.

Marking Period 2 ends in 15 school days (Friday 1/27/23)
A few things to do as the marking period comes to an end:

This week make sure your Gradebook is up to date
Make calls home for students in danger of failing (No surprises for parents)
Send positive emails for students that have improved from the 1st MP or showed growth during the 2nd MP
*Last week the counselors and I reviewed mid-marking grades and will be speaking with students

Documenting Student Issues
Some teachers have been using the Discipline tab in Genesis this year to submit referrals. Moving forward, if a teacher wants to write up a student, it should be submitted in Genesis. Here are two videos to show the different ways teachers can submit (Genesis calls them different names but they end up in the same place).

Discipline Tab in Gradebook - Discipline Tab Video
Referral Tab in Gradebook - Referral Video (This tab was added on Friday to your Gradebook)

Starting this week, parents will be able to see the referrals in Parent Access after an administrator addresses the issue. The teacher description in the referral does not get posted to the portal.

Monday 1/16 - Minimum Day / Professional Development
Dr. Elias posted the schedule this morning. 

Semester 1 Assessment blog for Students and Parents. This will go out tonight to parents and students.

WHS Staff News - Week of 1/2/23

Happy New Year! I know the break was short, but I hope you had a chance to relax and spend time with family and friends. 

Construction Update
Senior Wing - All HVAC units have been installed but have not been hooked up to a thermostat yet. Hopefully, that will happen soon. The fan speed was lowered this morning so that should help with the heat today. The panel was left open so teachers should be able to adjust the fan speed if needed. Please do not store any items on top of the new HVAC units.

Last week all of the HVAC units were delivered. Having them onsite will help bring closure to the future phases.

Phase 2 is moving along. All exterior windows and doors have been installed. Progress is moving along at a good pace.

The construction company is hoping to wrap up Phase 2 by the February break (2/17). I will keep everyone updated as we get closer.

Semester Assessments
Back on December 5, I shared information about the Semester Assessments. They will be here before you know it. Please take the following steps:

Review the Semester Assessment doc
Update/create your assessments and submit by 1/12
Work with colleagues on common assessments
Review the schedule (It’s different then years past)
*Delayed openings and early release are for students only. Staff should use the time to grade assessments.
Plan for assessment feedback during the week of 1/30.

Since we don't have an official meeting on Wednesday, I will be available to answer any questions related to the Semester Assessments in the Media Center after school.

FYI - The Sean Fisher Memorial Heart Screenings will be taking place on February 6 & 7 this year.  Blog post for Students/Parents.