DEPT. NOTES WEST SPRINGFIELD HIGH SCHOOL / SEPTEMBER 22, 2016

ELA

Math

Guidance

The English department continues to use PLC time and the curriculum time this week to revise our Language Skills scope and sequence for each grade level. Our goal is to create language skill lessons that possess more engaging qualities.

In this week’s curriculum meeting teams are organized to analyze the DoK of their unit assessments, suggest appropriate changes, and then reflect back on lessons that lead to those assessments to make sure the levels of DoK are present. The professional learning communities continue to talk about questioning within the classroom and how to change the DoK through the questions we ask and the responses we elicit from students in our lessons.

The guidance department continues to meet with seniors and review college and career planning information. By next week, about 50% of seniors will have seen their counselors. Guidance is working on streamlining the transition process between 8th a n d 9 t h g r a d e . M e e t i n g s h ave occurred between the MS and HS and will continue each month. Guidance is also working behind the scenes of PowerSchool to ensure that students can take courses in the appropriate order. Mrs. Bard is working on clarifying CTEC requirements and creating a flowchar t to help students and parents understand what is required.

Art Faculty will review/discuss teacher evaluation goals and identify specific opportunities, in the curriculum, to work towards the goal(s).

PE & Health New units this week in ultimate frisbee, sof tball, r ugby, tennis, badminton, fitness, come check it out.

History The History Dept is working with DOK and learning conversations across the board to increase rigor. We are on task with our curricular coverage and preparing for our first benchmark!

SPED

BTCE

Two of our teachers, Ms. Hayes and Mrs. Svec, returned to Westminster this week to attend a session of a Focus Academy: Using Data to Improve Teaching and Learning in Special Education.   They are looking forward to sharing what they’ve learned here at the high school. Teachers also have been enjoying lunch from the Terrier Cafe.

Robotics classes are excited to have Lego Mindstorms kits to work with, thanks to the Alternative High School sharing their summer prog ram resources with us. We are using our curriculum meeting time to discuss common ideas for ed eval goals, and ways to find and share curriculum resources with new depar tment members.

Science

Students are engaged in lab activities.

Foreign Language

 

Eyes on Italian: Italian students researched and presented on a famous Italian American in honor of October, National Italian American Heritage Month. Some Italian Americans presented were: Al Pacino, Hope Solo, Danny DeVito, Leonardo Di Caprio, Phil Mickelson, and Frank Sinatra. There will be a display on the 3rd floor for everyone to enjoy!