WHS Staff News - Week of 1/14/19

Just because I like Eagles 

New Faces @ WHS 
Dr. Janet Testerman, Physics Teacher - Dr. Testerman took over for Mrs. O'Hara. Please stop by Room 303 and introduce yourself.  

Valentina Esteves is back, as I'm sure most of you have noticed.  For the new staff, Mrs. Esteves is the Secretary to the Athletic Director. 

Mid-Year Assessments 
We are off and running with the mid-years.  Since this is a pilot year, we need to collect data related to the assessments. Please add your information to this sheet. Each class should be listed separately.  
Data for Mid-Year Assessments

Students out of the Learning Rooms 
I am noticing a lot more students walking around, going to the bathroom in groups and not working productively in the hallways. Recently we have had a few issues in the bathrooms which are not acceptable. This being one of them. 

As a staff, let's all be more vigilant in who is leaving our room, for how long and if we have students working in the hallways, make sure we are monitoring them. 

A few "Little Things"we can all do:

• In most cases, only allow one student out of the room at a time. "Can I go with him"... NO!
• Feel free to say ... Is it an emergency? Can you wait till the end of class? 
• Note the time they leave. Let them know they have 2 minutes.  
• Have the student leave their phone. Phones in bathrooms is disgusting anyway!
• Be so engaging, that they don't want to leave your class. 

If you have "frequent flyers" who are giving you a hard time, send Mr. Clancy an email and those students will be spoken to. 

Communication with Parents - As we wrap-up the second marking period, please be sure you are keeping parents in the loop about grades and behavior.  Both negative and positive. 

Important Dates 
Monday, 1/21 - No School
Monday, 1/28 - Minimum Day/Professional Development 
Marking Period 2 Grades Due Monday, 1/28/19, at 8AM
Report Cards will be released Tuesday, 1/29

Good Cause

Junior, Tara Lambert, is holding a soccer cleat collection until Friday, 1/18. If you have any old, smelly soccer cleats around the house that you planned on getting rid of, please bring them in.  There are two bins outside the main office. 

WHS Staff News - First Post for 2019

I hope everyone had an amazing break and took advantage of the time off. 

Before break we had our 2nd Annual Alumni Day. We had over 40 graduates back at WHS and they shared some great insight for our current seniors. Special thanks to the ScIP Team for all of their work putting the event together. Thank you ... Danny, Kris Ann, Peggy, Ryan and Vanessa! 

We also had our staff holiday luncheon on Thursday before break. Special thanks to Terais and all of her elves for putting the luncheon together. We also had some help from a few NHS members. 

View this post on Instagram

Thanks to these five for covering the main office today during the common lunch. We are in good hands. #OwnitWHS KC

A post shared by WaldwickWHS (@waldwickwhs) on Dec 20, 2018 at 8:29am PST

Mid-Year Assessments (Schedule)
All assessments are scheduled for the week of January 14. Please keep the following in mind for that week:
*No Unit/Chapter Tests for your classes can be given during the week of January 14. Please plan accordingly.
*Please keep hallway traffic to a minimum and limit the use of the high top tables for the week.
Marking Period 2 (Ends Friday, 1/18)
The marking period will be over before we know it.  Please keep your grade book up-to-date and be proactive with students and parents if you have a student struggling or in danger of failing. 
Changes we made because of the mid-year assessments:
Grades Due Monday, 1/28/19, at 8AM (was 1/23)
Report Cards will be released Tuesday, 1/29

Some news over the break regarding PARCC.  Honestly, not sure what it means for us but hopefully, we will find out soon. 
Court strikes down PARCC requirements for high school graduation

Looking ahead ... We have an R-Day (Recovery Day) scheduled for February 14. If we don't have any snow days before February 14, we will run a special schedule with all classes meeting that day. 

Something to Consider
Some of you might be into New Year's resolutions and some may not.  Some of us keep them and for some of us, by February we have forgotten all about them.  This year I am trying the One Word.  The idea is to choose one word that represents what you want to focus on in 2019.  There is a book about it (I have the book, if any one wants to borrow it) and a  hashtag, #oneword2019  Some of our coaches have used the one word as a motivational tool for their teams.

I invite you to join me in picking your one word for 2019. Take some time to think about what you want to change, add, remove, or improve in your life. My word has meaning for me, personally and professionally. The choice is yours on what the word represents for you.  Once you have selected your word, consider posting it online, sharing it via email, drawing a picture, posting it in your room, etc. For those of you who decide to choose a word, I would be honored if you would share it with me so together we can help and support each other throughout the year. 

My One Word for 2019 is: Consistent

WHS Staff News - Week of 12/3/18

Midyear Assessments (Update)
All assessments will be approved by Friday, December 7
Can anyone give their assessment before the break? If you can please add your name/course to this doc. 
Our next step will be mapping out the assessments so that they are manageable for the students.  I plan to share a draft of the schedule with all of you next week, as well as get it out to the students. 

Waldwick School District Newsletter 
Please see Doc from Kristen Strauss for information related to district newsletter. 

Working Wednesday Schedule 
This Wednesday, December 5, we will meet for 10-15 minutes in the Little Theater.  Focus will be on school security.  I attended a training session on Friday and want to share some things I learned about. As an FYI we will be doing a lunch time drill later this week.  I will talk more about this on Wednesday.

Warrior Gear Sale - Last call. Sale ends Friday at 8am. 

Alumni Day - Friday, December 21st from 8 - 11:30. More details to follow. 

WHS Staff News - Week of 11/26/18

I hope everyone had an awesome break and enjoyed their time with family and friends. We have 20 days to the holiday break! Not sure how that is possible, but it is.  Let's make the most of those days. Here are a few ideas for what you could do during those 20 days:

• Make one positive parent/guardian call/email each day for the 20 the days
• Take 20 minutes each day to reflect and appreciate life
• Take 20 minutes each day to read and learn. Alternate, one day for professional, one day for pleasure
• Go for a 2o minute walk each day. During school, get outside or walk the halls.  
• Over the next four weeks, spend 20 minutes a week talking with your students about their interests, hobbies, what makes them laugh, favorite movies, music, etc. This can happening during lunch, before school, after school, in the hallways, etc. 
• Take 20 minutes to reach out to old friends, colleagues, mentors. Let them know you are thinking of them.  If someone made a positive impact on your life, let them know.    

These are just some fun ideas I thought of.  Come up with your own list,  I made my own list. 

Thanks for all the work you did on the budget over the last few weeks. I believe we are in a good place moving into the 19-20 school year. 

See Instagram post below, I would to love have a few teachers participate in the 20 day Takeover.  

Important Dates 
Tuesday 11/27 - Heroes and Cool Kids Training at BCC - 8:30 - 1pm (Names on Calendar)

Wednesday 11/28 - Working Wednesday (Agenda will be updated later today)
*ScIP Meeting 

Tuesday 12/11 - 9th Grade Assembly - 12 - 1pm @ Little Th (This will be a three part series for the freshmen class http://www.scottchesney.com/ )

Tuesday 12/12 - Winter Concert - 7pm @ Little Th


What I'm Reading
Leadership Contradictions via Jeff Zoul
Teaching Responsibility or Compliance? via George Couros
Lead Communicator via Tony Sinanis


Tweets/Posts

Alumni Day @ WHS - 12/21/18

Waldwick Gear Sale (Sale ends 12/7)

View this post on Instagram

Looking for volunteers for Instagram take over ... Let me know why I should pick you? We have 20 days to the holiday break so let’s have some fun leading up to it. Email me or send a remind why you and what your plan is for the takeover. Looking for 20 volunteers. One per day. Students, teachers, administrators, secretaries, aides, etc.

A post shared by WaldwickWHS (@waldwickwhs) on Nov 25, 2018 at 12:35pm PST

2nd annual Orlaksgiving!! Happy Turkey Day @WaldwickWHS 🦃🍽 pic.twitter.com/cfcO3aIMt1

— Dayna Orlak (@desiorlak) November 21, 2018

Staff News (Video Message) - Week of 11/12/18

WHS Staff News- Week of 10/15/18

Boys Soccer is heading to the Bergen County Semifinals after beating Ridgewood tonight 0-0 (PKs 4-3) ! Great team effort. ⚽️⚽️⚽️#Proud #OwnitWHS #WarriorNation pic.twitter.com/5MDV6qAyNh

— Waldwick Athletics (@WHSWarrior_ATHL) October 15, 2018

Fun times around Waldwick High School

Congratulations to the Boys Soccer Team on their HUGE win in the County Playoffs! Final Four! 

Spirit Rally Pics - A lot of laughs and smiles at the Rally on Friday.  Great job by Mr. Freeman and the Student Council for putting on great show!  Thanks Mr. Opderbeck for all the great pics! 

First edition of The Echo - Special Edition Great job by the Echo Staff, Mrs. Larson and Mr. Opderbeck's students.   

This Week

Tuesday, 10/16 - Voting Assembly in the Little Theater
1:00 - 1:25  Seniors
1:30 - 2:00 Juniors 
Bergen County Clerk, John Hogan will be speaking to our students regarding voter awareness.  

The goal of the program is to get students near voting age registered to vote and excited about participating in elections. What the program entails is a presentation from Clerk Hogan on the reasons why it is important to vote, the elections process in general, how to get registered, and most importantly, how to be an active participant in the electoral process. At the end of his presentation, Mr. Hogan sends members of his office around to students with voter registration forms and booklets with additional information about elections and voting. All students that are 17 and older can fill out a voter registration form and be free to vote in the first election after they turn 18 if he/she is not already. 

Tuesday, 10/16 - Becton HS Math teachers will be visiting and spending time with a few of our teachers 

Working Wednesday - Will update Agenda later today.  Please check back on Wednesday.  

Thursday and Friday - I will be attending the NJPSA Fall Conference and will not be in district.   

SGO's 
I know a lot of you have been working on your SGO's. As a reminder, data needs to be entered into the Staff Portal. The original due date set back in June was Monday, October 15 (Timeline).  If you will not have your data in by 3pm today, please email me so we can talk. 

New Field Trip Request Form/Procedures
Dr. Casarico has created a new Field Trip Request Form.  You no longer need to print it or have it on Goldenrod paper. It does require you to justify the trip and how it relates to the curriculum by answering the following four questions: (If your trip was already approved, you do not need to fill-out any new paper)

1. What is the purpose of this trip?  How does it support the curriculum?
2. What preparations will take place prior to the trip?
3. Describe the learning activities that will take place during the trip.  
4. How will it be determined if the trip was successful and that intended goals were met?

There is also a new Field Trip Permission Slip (Page 3)  which is on the doc as well. 

Process 

• "Make a Copy" of the Field Trip Request Form 
• (Naming Format: WHS FIELD TRIP/Teacher's Name, Date of Trip , Location)
• Compete the form (Same old stuff and new questions)
• Share the new Doc with me, which will be the first level of approval
• I will share it with Mrs. Malagone who be the second level of approval
• It will then go to Dr. Casarico for final approval and then be added to the next BOE agenda

WHS Staff News - Week of 10/2/18

Video Message regarding Semester Assessments and Monday's Professional Development Day. 




Resources

Semester Assessments Pilot - Information Sheet 
WHS Semester Assessments Survey

Working Wednesday Agenda 

Monday's Professional Development Schedule (I will add link here when finalized and send out)

Week of Respect - October 1 - 5
Wednesday - Assembly David Flood (2pm in the MSMPR)
*An announcement will be made for students to report to the MS MPR towards the end of Block 5 (Period 7) at approximately 1:55 PM

Friday - District-wide wearing Orange and Jeans