Monday
Tuesday
PBiS Tier 2
Math is hosting a pi day event in the cafeteria
Sped Meeting after school
Board of Education Meeting after school
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Upon return, March 27th
Upcoming/Ongoing
Shadow Days for the 8th Graders
Step Up Days for the 5th Graders
Daylight Savings Time begins March 12
Summer School Registration till March 16th - ALL STUDENTS WELCOME
SPRING BREAK - March 17th - 24th
Ac Lab Challenge - March 31st Gracey/Stroud hosting
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Semi - April 21st
BOGO Book Fair - April 24 - 28
NJHS Induction - April 25 at 6:30 pm in MS Gym
Spring Choir Concert - May 2nd
Middle School MAP Testing - May 4th - 11th
Field Day - May 15th
Spring Band Concert - May 16th
Six Flags - May 12th - Begin to sell after Spring Break.
Last Day of School - May 17th
Graduation - May 21st at 2:00 PM
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The following is the Board of Education Report
We submitted for the month of March.
Dear Board of Education,
The Middle School is excited to present promising positive data on their formative eValuate scores from the completed month. Charts clearly depict diminishing size of the lowest Below Basic category implying the higher scoring categories are growing. Indeed, a few scores show a near balance in the number of students in the Proficient, Basic and the Below Basic categories for the first time in recent history. This trend demonstrates better awareness of the test, deeper thinking levels, detailed close reading over passages and methodical processes working through the test questions. Classes reviewing the questions of the day, practicing problems regularly in entire group, small group and individual instruction all contribute to the rising scores. Although it is still too early to celebrate, these scores warrant an announcement of solid growth and encouragement.
Report Highlights:
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Three considerations about Education:
What is the curriculum?
Is it aligned with what’s tested?
Is the pedagogy (teaching) the best possible?
Academic Progress: Readers might become bored seeing these monthly data charts. As teachers, we try and inspect our data as much as possible and with as many perspectives as possible. A few clues and highlights might help readers while reviewing these comparisons.
The Green Box (above) is typically the current status
The Red Box (below) portrays last year’s data.
We see growth all across the spectrum.
We often times adjust our teaching based on the results, both from year to year and month to month.
2015-16
We’ve looked at the scores above.
(This is really exciting!)
Last year at this time our test projected just 33 students (top chart) in Math and
79 students (Lower chart) in ELA to meet the expectations. (Red is still last year)
2016-17
This year, those projections have climbed to 89 students (top chart) in Math and
158 students (Lower chart) in ELA to meet the expectations.
See the Green Charts below:
Our Spring MAP testing (coming up May 4th -11th) is the exact gauge for our growth and progress. Please plan to have everyone here during those dates.
BECAUSE, AFTER THE MAP TEST...
...Another First for Winfield Middle School!
The day after MAP TESTING is complete,
Winfield Middle School is hosting a student trip to Six Flags!
Would you pay up to $39 to go to Six Flags for a day instead of staying at school all day?
I would!
Start saving pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters.
Here are some rough details:
May 12th, from 9 - 5 at Six Flags over St Louis
$39 includes admission and a meal.
$27 includes just an admission*
We will bring school brown bag lunches from school for those that register.
Signups will be through Ac Lab teachers and a GOOGLE SURVEY.
Backstory: Last year, a few busloads of middle school students went to Six Flags for a leadership day. It was such a successful trip that we expanded it this year to invite each and every student in the building to spend the day with us at Six Flags over St Louis at the OUTDOOR CLASSROOM DAY. This perk for doing so well this year will give students the opportunity to join us in a fun filled day to learn concrete lessons in an outdoor environment. EVERYONE* will be invited.
*Only student on Social Probation will be un-invited to attend and no pre-paid refunds will be available since we have to pre-purchase tickets.
Attendance:
Strep, Colds, Flu, and just about any other ailment hit Winfield Middle School this year.
It looks like we made it through our bouts of flu, strep, flu, and strep! Our attendance rates have begun to inch back up. Some days brought challenging attendance numbers.
Our expectation is that we have 90% of the students here 90% of the time! A few students will get tapped to try and reach that goal of 90%, especially if they are right there at the edge.
Soft Skills typical our Middle School but
Unbelievable for any other Middle School
One technique we use to help motivate students to get to school is a “Scooter Give Away.” Last month, Maddigan won it. This month William won it. He took his victory lap around the lunchroom, then did something totally unexpected. He DONATED THE SCOOTER BACK TO THE WARRIOR WAY STORE to allow someone else the opportunity to win it as well! What an amazing act of selfless generosity. Nice Job Will!
Of these inspirational sagas, essays, and stories, many describe hidden or latent reasons behind our jobs, careers, and positions in society as teachers. One of my favorites was from Lily Eskelsen Garcia, #7. There are many more you might find fun to watch, especially as we motor through this late season. Spring Break is right around the corner.
To try and describe ALL the considerations of school in just one image leaves so much untouched, uncovered, and behind the scene. At Winfield Middle School it could be the communication, the procedures, the care of the adults serving children, the security or a myriad of possible subtleties that go unnoticed by all, but a few! Winfield Middle School is working to get #onthemap.
Upcoming & Ongoing Events at the Middle School
Shadow Days for the 8th Graders in preparation for going to the High School
Step Up Days for the 5th Graders
Board of Education Monthly Meeting - March 14th
Summer School Registration - ALL STUDENTS WELCOME
SPRING BREAK - March 17th - 24th
Ac Lab Challenge - March 31st Gracey/Stroud hosting
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Middle School Semi formal Dance- April 21st
BOGO Book Fair - April 24 - 28
NJHS Induction - April 25 at 6:30 pm in MS Gym
Spring Choir Concert - May 2nd
Middle School MAP Testing - May 4th - 11th - Very important!
Six Flags over St Louis - May 12th
Field Day - May 15th
Spring Band Concert - May 16th
Six Flags - May 12th - Begin to sell after Spring Break. 0
Last Day of School - May 17th
Graduation - May 21st at 2:00 PM
From the Top:
Three considerations about education:
What is the curriculum?
Is it aligned with what’s tested?
Is the pedagogy (teaching) the best possible?
Teachers think in terms of these questions. They guide our planning, discussions, professional development, and just about what we consider when building a daily lesson plan.
Initially, we must look at what we are teaching. We reframe the question in various perspectives: Do we teach what we want to teach? Do we just covering the basics? Do we delve deeper and look to truly investigate the content? Do we chase too many rabbits? Do we start on Page 1 of the textbook and head to the back? Cover to cover?
Progressing, we look at the standards the state (DESE) publishes. When the state develops a test, they tell us what is going to be on the test. We then have to ask if our curriculum matches what they have published. We have to align our efforts to their scale and teach what is most important. We get some leeway and flexibility but our top focus is the Missouri Learning Standards.
Finally, we consider what we are actually doing in classrooms. Are we going from worksheet to worksheet? How engaged are our students? Do the materials look like they are from 1995 or are they current and fresh? Are we preparing students for a future that does not exist yet to solve problems that we don’t even know about yet?
Often times, we are asked about the problems or issues in education. Seldom is there one problem but a myriad of issues to address before we can teach a child about meiosis or mitosis. Meals, hygiene, clean clothes, and safety influence the outcome and predict if a student will be able to work and participate in class, or will be too distracted to focus.
Will we be able to ever replace a teacher with a robot? Only time will tell but for now, only teachers are sensitive enough to gather all the supporting data, process the facts, and then create a plan or the next step to address deficiencies - all while taking attendance, looking for pencils, prompting students to get to work, and collecting homework! True multi-tasking!
Well done Winfield!.
We are proud to serve and be a part of your community.
Tom McCracken
