Pre-Service 2012 is history

We tried some new things for Pre-Service this year:

1. The back to school family gathering at my house was successful as the 40 plus people that attended (I hope) had a good time. We will plan to continue that for next year.

2. The blood draw (aka finger prick) was a new thing and to start on that, I need to apologize as we were upgraded to the vile of your blood vs. the finger prick. I have no idea why they gave us the better test. Patti tried to talk to people as they came in, but I understand the change issue. Now that we have a year in on this, we will better know what questions to ask and how to notify people better. We appreciate your cooperation as we needed to hit the thresholds on the assessments to lock in our cap on insurance rates at a maximum of 8% increase for next year. This is very important to all employees with insurance as this increase in cost will most likely need to be the amount that is passed on to us. What ever health insurance goes up, that amount will most likely be what we will be paying for a premium increase starting July 1, 2013. Obviously, as close to a zero increase as possible helps all of us. Plus, and more importantly, the testing and the followup has the potential to give us  information to help us all to be a bit healthier. Most likely we will have something along these lines for next year, but for now we are not sure exactly what the followup will look like.

3. We are continuing to formalize the emphasis on cross disciplinary approaches and vertical professional learning communities (such as STEM and Humanities).
4. From what we are hearing on feedback, the Google training was great. We will most likely continue that approach for next year.

Next year:
1. For those of you who were not in the first round of Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training this year, this is fair warning that you are to plan on it for next year - book it in. By planning to train all employees, and bus drivers, we are going way over the minimums as expected under the state laws, but this is an important topic that we desire to stay ahead of. This is an intensive 8 hour long training that covers a lot of material.

2. We do not have any solid plans for the community tour for next year, so if you have ideas, let us know. The Cabela's tour was excellent. We are so fortunate to have great partners in this community.

3. If you know of ways we can improve the Pre-Service week let us know.

We never have enough time in Pre-Service to accomplish all that is needed. With the trainings on new programs, and required meetings, many of you got booked in fairly solid. These events and changes are needed to stay ahead of the curve and to set ourselves apart. As I noted in the presentation, we are a great school that is striving toward being the best school. You are all important in this mission. Have a great school year and Thank You!

Future AP Classes being considered

Based on the information in a previous post, there have been questions on:

1. What AP classes are seen as potential future additions to our PdC Public High School slate of offerings? 

2. What is the vision of a timeline for these additions?

The following is a rough outline of what is envisioned as being possible.

2013-2014
Art History (study to add)
Biology (study to add)
Chemistry (study to add)
Human Geography (plan in place to add for grade 9)

2014-2015
Macroeconomics (study to add)
Physics B (study to add) 

World History (plan to add for grade 10)

2015-2016
Microeconomics (study to add)
Physics C (study to add)

Other AP classes in consideration; but no timeline has been attached to any of these:
Chinese Language and Culture (study for future)
Comp Government & Politics (study for future) 

Computer Science A (study for future)
European History (study for future)
Spanish Literature and Culture (study for future)


Already in place:
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
English Language
English Literature
Environmental Science
U.S. Government & Politics
Music Theory
Psychology
Spanish Language
Statistics
Studio Art (Draw, 2D, 3D)
U.S. History

Wisconsin STEM, Navigators to the future

Vision for the Future
Working together on a clearly defined set of educational and workforce development goals, Wisconsin’s PreK-12 educators and employers of STEM talent will ensure that all Wisconsin learners have the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare for and succeed in STEM related careers.

Five major success markers have been identified by Wisconsin’s STEM advocates: 

1. Eliminate barriers that prevent learners from exploring STEM careers; 

2. Increase emphasis on acquiring STEM knowledge and skills for all learners; 

3. Increase public/private partnerships with a focus on STEM skills; 

4. Establish a statewide awareness campaign for STEM careers; 

5. Invest in pre- and post-professional development for educators to fully understand and integrate STEM throughout the curriculum. 

Click here to see the report

Public Service Announcement to encourage families to read with their children. From U.S. Department of Education

AP continues to expand at PdC Public

In each of the last two years we have given just short of a hundred Advanced Placement (AP) tests at our PdC Public High School. That ranks us in the top schools in Wisconsin for the ratio of AP tests per student. With the additions of some new classes, and additional students across the other AP offerings, we will be edging closer to doubling that this year. We have projected about 190 enrollments in various AP classes this year. So, we can fully expect that in this school year we will blow away the past numbers.

We need to thank the teachers who are offering these high level courses and congratulate the students who are taking these challenging classes as they are working hard to well position themselves for success beyond high school. Our AP goals for next year are to be over 250 tests and within a few years to be over 450 tests per year in our High School.

We have targeted adding even more AP classes for the future; however, for this year we are up to 14 different AP classes being offered across our High School departments:

1. US History 
2. Psychology
3. US Government 
4. Spanish Language
5. Statistics 
6. Calculus AB 
7. Calculus BC 
8. English Literature
9. English Language 
10. Music Theory
11. Art, Drawing 
12. Art, 2-D
13. Art, 3-D 
14. Environmental Sci.

Click the logo below to visit the College Board site to learn more about AP

Sometimes people ask what teachers do all summer...

An example, using our PdC Public School PK through 4 teachers, is that they have to learn a new set of materials so they can hit the ground running when school starts. In this specific case, these teachers have spent a lot of time over the summer getting ready to teach Everyday Math with fidelity. We have entered the Common core era and this is just one of the many changes across the district that will be needed to upgrade to the new higher standards.

The teachers had training days and a full checklist of items that needed to be done. Many of them collaborated in person and by e-mails going back and forth over the summer. The teachers, before they present to the students, have to read the units and learn how they are organized. The new math series comes with a UNIT Organizer and a Management guide for each classroom. With a new series, they have to literally go through the first units games and lessons to get prepared. Simple things like laminating the posters, for the classroom that are corresponding with the units, take a lot of time.

Each new series also has technology components. This year they will have eTools on-line, and to use this tool they had to build in their student accounts and open up the system. Also, they will be using the integration with the SmartBoards.

For the PK through 4 teachers, who desire to have a great start to the year, the summer has been very busy on the transition to a new math program. We have great teachers at PdC Public that care enough to work hard during the school year and during the summer.

Tucker Farm Under the Big Top

I want to make a plug for our latest author on our staff. Kudos to one of our Kindergarten teachers, Shawn Zeeh, who has a new book published.


It is available now to view (and purchase) in the High School Library. The following picture does not do the book justice. It is a great book. It would make a great Christmas present for the children in your life.


Description/excerpt from Xlibris:

The grass is always greener on the other side, they say.
But the animals on the Tucker Farm don't see it that way.

The chickens can juggle in the old chicken coop,
As the cows take turns with the hula hoop.
The goats like to swing from the rope in the glen,
While the pigs synchronize swim in their "Olympic-sized" pigpen.
Everything seemed to be perfect that day,
but things would soon change in a mysterious way.

In search of greener pastures that would never stop,
The animals soon find themselves under the big top!