|
Strengthening its sense of community and improving student performance in writing are the focus at Winchester Elementary School. In its Kids Helping Kids initiative, Winchester’s Student Council sponsored a pop and can drive raising $1,000 for the Make A Wish Foundation. The moneys sponsored a cancer patient’s trip to Disney. First grade classes adopted the servicemen of the 82nd Airborne and sent packages filled with letters, socks, flashlights, batteries, gum, and other non-perishable items at Christmas. When the 82nd Airborne returned to the United States, one of the soldiers visited Winchester.
Second graders created a Butterfly Garden with the help of a parent. The garden will provide a natural habitat for monarchs and milkweed needed for their Science classes. The entire school participated in Civic Concern and provided Christmas gifts for several area families. Most students shopped for these gifts and put a lot of TLC and thought into the gifts selected. Our Social Worker began a Circle of Friends support group for students as well as a Peer Mediation Program. Fourth and fifth grade Peer Mediators were trained and scheduled to be on the playground each day at lunch recess. This was problem solving at its finest and carried beyond the playground.
Under the leadership of art teacher Kelly Drake about 25 students partnered with members of the Arts Council to brainstorm and provide input for the creation and design of the recently dedicated historical monument at 8 Mile and Center streets.
PAL, Parents at Lunch, was successfully implemented this year with the help and organization of parents. Each day there are two volunteer parents in the lunchroom and outside on the playground. This has been a great way to support students as well as partner with and involve parents in a meaningful way. Parent-teacher conference attendance was 99 percent last year,
To help improve student performance in writing, teachers provided in-service at staff meetings. Several teachers shared successful strategies to teach writing. Winchester is working to create common writing assessments at each grade level to be used each quarter. This practice has already provided much meaningful discussion about student learning as teachers are sharing successful strategies. Writing is improving! A focus has been placed on using assessment to shape and influence instruction.
In addition, a Writing Handbook was created for each teacher that contains mini-lessons aligned with 6-Trait writing. A "common language" has been created at Winchester to be used with writing instruction so that students will be familiar with good writing attributes/expectations. Common rubrics also are being used for writing assessment. Teachers also participate in after- school writing in-services using video and professionals sharing effective writing techniques. Staff book clubs are used to promote dialogue about student learning.
Winchester’s enrollment is 496 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Staff at Winchester includes principal Patricia Messing , and 55 staff including classroom teachers, special area teachers for media, art, foreign language, physical education, a learning room consultant, resource room and instructional support teachers, speech and language teacher and support staff for students with special needs.
|
