WMS - Weekly Wauna Know

January 8, 2024

UPCOMING DATES TO PUT ON YOUR CALENDAR

January 15- No School - Staff Development Day

January 16 - High School Planning Conference - 3:45pm MS Cafe

January 18 - Staff Meeting - 7:30am-8am

January 19 - First Semester Ends

January 22 - No School Staff Work Day

January 23 - Future Freshman Night 6pm-7pm, HS PAC

January 29 - FFA Meeting, Mrs. Puntney's classroom

January 30 - Yearbook Meeting 7:30am Rm 221

Grading Window for 2nd Quarter/1st Semester

The Grading Window for 2nd Quarter, 1st Semester will open on Wednesday, January 17, and will close on Wednesday, January 24. The last day of the Quarter/Semester is Friday, January 19.

Spotlight on PLC

Welcome Back!

The 2023-2024 school year will be remembered as the year that WMS doubled-down on PLC culture and practices. Last summer, we sent a horde of hungry educators to the PLC Conference. We kicked off the school year with the now famous PLC Escape Room Mania (thanks Terri and Jess!). We started a PLC Committee! We added a third day of WYN for interventions and extensions. We brought in experts from Stephenson High to help energize us for a productive fall. ELA is exploring new curriculum and talking through assessment, intervention, and extension daily. We watched Zach Spielberg and the rest of the 7th grade math team model how data chats are done! Social Studies added learning targets to their white boards so students could measure their own progress toward learning goals! Staff are sharing teaching strategies and inviting other staff into their classrooms for feedback and observation. We are using data to inform instruction! This year there is an urgency and bias toward action. Go team!

Here are some of the main indicators of a PLC at Work in a building:

Collaborative teams realize that ongoing analysis of the evidence of student learning is critical to the teaching and learning process
Teams create opportunities to gain frequent and timely information about the achievement of their students (classroom and common formative assessments) and use that information to:

respond to students who are struggling
enrich and extend for students who are already proficient
inform and improve the individual and collective practice of team members
identify team professional development needs
measure progress toward team goals

In the spirit of action research, continuous improvement, and reflection, talk through these indicators with your PLC team as we round out semester one and start semester two. How can we continue to deepen our commitment and investment in PLC work? What are we doing well? What things need our immediate focus? This reflection helps to focus our attention, keep momentum, and measure our progress. With learning at the forefront of our conversations, our students will make incredible progress.

Coaches Corner

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One Word

A few years ago, I was introduced to the One Word Project through my coaching team. The ultimate goal is to choose one word to guide you through your efforts and intentions during the new year. It appealed to me because, in all honesty, I fail miserably with resolutions. I set a resolution with the greatest intent and usually do well until about February 1st. I’m sure my resolutions were too lofty and almost impossible to achieve or, quite frankly, unrealistic. We all know where I’m heading with this…failure.

The One Word Project had the opposite effect on my success. Each new year, I find myself scouring words that match my intentions and land on one that resonates with me and write it down in various places: a post-it on my computer, a note in my office, and on a bookmark that follows my year in books. I lean into that one word when making decisions that are significant to myself and my loved ones, as well as in my daily life. This year, I’ve chosen purpose. I want to live my life with purpose on a variety of levels, whether it be with family, friends, coworkers, travel, health, wellness, fun, etc.

I’m including a One Word banner for you to use for yourself or share with with students.

I challenge you to set a word for yourself this year. See where it takes you.

Staff Shout-Outs

Shout out to…

Bridget Marsh for assisting in the Forensics Club and has been SO WONDERFUL (no surprise there). She is kind, positive, and hardworking, We love Bridget!!

Special Ed Para Educators for being flexible as your schedule has to be altered often. I see you and appreciate each and every one of you.

Sarah Nolden for providing great support to ALL students all the time! She is such a great asset to have in our classrooms!

Michelle Richards for being so helpful and informative in my classes! She shares such great insight for students in regards to our current learning in science class. She makes an effort to connect with all students, and I really appreciate all her help!

Kristi P. and Erica S . for doing an awesome job organizing and leading the Staff SEL Committee this year and bringing energy to the group!

Adam Houzner for continuing to strive for ways to improve the education and culture in this building for students and staff.

Beth Stachour for being one of the most flexible and organized teachers as she travels from room to room all throughout the day! She takes the traveling in stride as she modifies lessons based on the room she has that hour, and she does it all with a positive attitude. We are so lucky to have her on our team!

Jonathon Wild for being so present in our hallways, and your work on the Tier 2 team.

Brooke Kinney My gemela- thank you for being so positive and lifting the rest of us up! You are amazing at what you do, and SO appreciated!

Kyles Jones for his bad jokes, killer bow ties, and fantastic energy brought to 7th Grade Social Studies.

Lindsey Hying for having an upbeat, energetic attitude while working with students with complex needs. She always brings the party, and keeps everyone laughing! I appreciate it.

Pat Rivard for being a fantastic substitute paraeducator (who seems permanent lately : )). She is very independent, knows her students, and mixes music activities seamlessly.

Marta Roccco , Camryn Booms, Brooke Kinney, Mike Zibell, and Christen Pothof for all of your positive words and ideas shared at our recent IEP meetings. :)

Holiday Light and Cord Recycling Drive

As you are cleaning and organizing after the holidays, please keep in mind our cord drive, which runs through the end of January. This includes Christmas lights, phone chargers, and any other electrical cords (leave plugs on).

The cords can be in ANY condition. They are recycled and WNC gets money per pound for each type of wire. The proceeds are then used to support WNC programs and clients...AND we keep the non-renewable resources out of our landfills! Bins are located by the front office at each school.

Thanks for considering!

Bingo Numbers for This Week

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BINGO

Each week you will receive 2 numbers. When you get a regular bingo (across, down, or diagonal) bring your card to the office for a prize. Look for your card in your mailbox. Good Luck.

Congratulations to our Bingo winners:

Bonnie Helt

Jonathon Wild

Cathy Keenan

Cindy Adams

Jess Spicer

Briana Thibo

Terri Miller

Mike Zibell

Lynn Miller

Ty Jury

Scott Nesbitt

Rachel Zarzyski

This week's numbers:

B 14, O 73

AM/PM SUPERVISION

AM/PM Supervision Reminder - Week of 1/8-1/12

Pedersen-- AM**Flagpole - Direct students to the playground

Korth ----AM**Bus Loop - Direct students to go to the back of the school to enter

L. Kaltenberg--- AM**West Door #7 OR Entryway outside Gym (inclement or cold weather days)

Nesbitt--AM **West Door #7 OR Entryway outside Gym (inclement or cold weather days)

T. Miller---AM**West Door #6 OR Cafe (inclement or cold weather days)

Boegh--- AM**West Door #6 OR Cafe (inclement or cold weather days)

O'Connell --PM**Bike Racks

Keenan--- PM**Bus Loop (near where the second to last bus lines up)

Pothof---PM**Bus Loop (near the fire hydrant)

Grabarski--- PM**Flagpole (outside the main entrance)

Referendum Update

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Stay up-to-date on the design and construction updates for the new Heritage Elementary School and the new Waunakee Community Middle School. Click here to view Volume 7. Visit our website for additional pictures and updates from our 2022 fall referendum!

Please Submit Pictures For Our Yearbook

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Did you take a Great Picture? We'd Love to Use it in our Yearbook!

Attention Teachers,

If you are taking pictures of students in your classroom or attending school events and have a great picture, please use this QR Code to submit them to us for review and possibly use in our yearbook! We'd greatly appreciate it! Submit photos via the QR code or clicking on this link.

TEACHER CHALLENGE

90 DAY CHALLENGE

Please fill out this form each time you visit a colleagues classroom! Thanks for taking part in promoting a culture of learning for staff and students!