Message from Principal Kuhnert
Dear Stilwell Parents/Guardians,
The state just released new information on school performance as required by a federal education law called the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA):
The Iowa School Performance Profiles reflects how public schools performed on a set of core accountability measures, such as results on the statewide assessment. The tool displays a school’s score based on overall performance, as well as scores based on the performance of specified groups of students. These groups include students who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, students receiving special education services, English learners, and students from racial/ethnic minority groups.
Based on these scores, some schools in Iowa have been identified for additional support and improvement (Comprehensive or Targeted) and some schools have been identified for extended supports if they continue to be identified after three years (Extended Comprehensive or Extended Targeted). These determinations are not punitive; rather, they come with funding and support.
Based on Iowa’s school accountability and support under ESSA, our school has received an overall score rating of Acceptable. However, we will continue to receive Extended Targeted Support and Improvement because we are in year two of a three-year plan. This is because last year we had two specified groups, students receiving special education services and Black/African American students, that performed as low as the lowest five percent of Title I schools.
Stilwell will receive support through the state’s Differentiated Accountability system and includes identifying causes of performance issues, strategies and interventions to put in place, and an evaluation of what’s working. This is a continuous improvement cycle. As you know, no two schools are the same and each has its own unique context.
While we have many things to celebrate in our school, such as strong social emotional programming for all students, a new delivery model for special education students, and many team level interventions to catch struggling students early, we also have work to do. Our team will continue to implement our plan for improvement that fits the individual needs of our school. You can help by continuing to support our school, our staff, and our students. We welcome your thoughts.
To locate our school’s results, as well as more information about the Iowa School Performance Profiles and ESSA, visit the following website: www.iaschoolperformance.gov. If you’d like to read more Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on this topic, please visit the WDMCS website.
Mitch Kuhnert
Principal
David Perrigo
Assistant Principal
School Committees
The equity committee presented to staff during our Monday, November 6 professional development day. One of our major focuses for professional development is the book Trauma-Sensitive Instruction.
For Monday, we focused on the idea of accepting students for who they are. We all develop "baggage" from the negative experiences we've had in the past hours, days, months, years. These events can sometimes prevent us, and especially our adolescent students, from being at our best. Our goal as teachers is to welcome students as they are and help them develop resilience to these events to help them focus on learning in our classrooms.
We participated in activities to help build empathy with students and with each other. And studied chapter two from Trauma-Sensitive Instruction to guide our learning.
PBIS-
The Stilwell PBIS store is looking for donations to help keep our store up and running! The PBIS store is a place where students spend their PBIS points that they earn for good behavior on fun school supplies, snacks and WDM apparel. Please check out our Amazon wish list if you are interested in helping out! Thank you. https://a.co/epEwzWK
Tier 1-
We are planning for our November 6th PD day. Heavy focus on our sub-group data and being able to get supports in place for students early.
Student and Staff Wellness-
The committee discussed how to continue to improve staff and student relationships and a place of belonging. We reflected on our own learning from the PD day about SEL, zones of regulation, emotions, and what we can(not) control. We will continue to learn about adult resiliency and how that can be modeled for our students. We continued to look at and adjust our SEL lessons for student learning and enriched conversations around topics like managing conflicts.
School Highlights
Student Anouncements:
Parents if you want to see our daily anouncements you can save this link:
Stilwell Parent/Guardian Group Meeting
December 5, 2023 Virtual @ 12:30pm
PTO Meeting
Tuesday, December 5 · 12:30 – 1:30pm
Time zone: America/Chicago
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/owu-kjik-ngf
Or dial: (US) +1 402-735-0275 PIN: 345 796 201#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/owu-kjik-ngf?pin=3137869453276
Stilwell Dance
There will be a dance at Stilwell on Friday, December 8th from 5:30 - 7:30pm. Students are
invited to attend with the payment of either five dollars or a donation of one non-perishable food
item. Students' parents/guardians are allowed to attend as chaperones. Wearing white or neon
clothes is recommended, as we plan to have black lights in the cafeteria.
Wanting to assist with the dance? There are many ways you can help! You can help by
chaperoning, helping with set up/tear down, or donating items.
If you are interested in chaperoning, please fill out this form. We are looking for adults to assist
before, during, and after the dance. Chaperoning would include helping to work the concessions
or monitoring the hallways and cafeteria. With enough volunteers, we also hope to have the
gymnasium open for games.
Dallas Brass
Our high school music directors have established a partnership with the Dallas Brass, and have created a learning opportunity they would like to share with our 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. On December 1st, we would like to bring our 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students enrolled in band to the Valley PAC to engage with the members of Dallas Brass.
Important Dates
Parent Survey's:
Hello. Recent legislation now requires parent/guardians to give permission for some student surveys. We MUST get your permission ASAP for your [School] student to participate in a district survey starting this month.
On home page, find “Documents Need Attention”
Click on link(s) to review survey information and approve or decline.
This is a NEW requirement by law. View a short video tutorial.
Thank you for your help.
Mitchell Kuhnert
Familia Stilwell: La nueva ley requiere su permiso para algunas encuestas. Ver correo electrónico. Necesitamos tu ayuda.
Kona Ice Day:
Stilwell Junior High School is having a Kona Ice on Tuesday,
December 10th, 2023! Kona Ice will be giving back 20% of all sales to the school!!
Please follow the above instructions to place your order and either
use the QR code attached to this flyer or use this code: F00803659.
You can also Pay it Forward.
We will continue to bring in our 'mini' while the winter weather is in
force. Thank you for your participation!
Pre-pay online: app.konaicepay.com
code: F00803659
ACTIVITIES
4:30pm Girls Wrestling vs SEP @ SEP High School
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
4:00pm Girls 8th Basketball vs Waukee Timberline @ Indian Hills JH
4:30pm Boys Wrestling vs Multiple Schools @ Marshalltown MS
Thursday, November 30, 2023
4:00pm Girls 8th Basketball vs Waukee Prairieview @ Stilwell JH
7:00pm Stilwell 7th grade Vocal Music Concert @ Stilwell Auditorium
8:00pm Stilwell 8th grade Vocal Music Concert @ Stilwell Auditorium
Monday, December 4, 2023
5:30pm- 8:00pm Indian Hills/ Stilwell Orchestra Concert @ Valley HS PAC
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
4:30pm Girls Basketball vs Ames @ Ames MS
5:00pm Girls Wrestling vs Norwalk Middle @ Norwalk MS
Thursday, December 7, 2023
4:30pm Girls Basketball vs SEP @ Stilwell JH
4:30pm Boys Wrestling vs Multiple School @ SEP Junior High
Principal
Mitch Kuhnert
Assistant Principal
David Perrigo