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Dear Wissahickon Community:

2011-2012 Annual Report

Creating pathways to excellence within the Wissahickon School District is a meticulous, reflective and dynamic process. We know that a single path alone cannot yield success. Multiple paths, defined by a relevant and rigorous curriculum, innovative instruction, and goal-focused administrative and School Board leadership, provide the essential route to knowledge that inspires 4,400 students each day.

What efforts are being taken to ensure that the pathways to excellence are smooth ones? We encourage you to browse through the pages of this year’s annual report, or view the electronic version and its accompanying videos. We hope you will discover for yourself the programs and initiatives that are helping Wissahickon’s students to stride toward success. While you are there, we hope you will take a look at our trail-blazing test scores and the stepping-stones we are putting in place to support a greener planet.

If it has been many years since you have participated in Wissahickon School District events, we encourage you to learn about our schools. Come cheer on our teams at our athletic fields or join us for a school play or concert. Visit our website at www.wsdweb. org or watch WTV (Comcast Channel 28 or Verizon Channel 41) to learn about the great things taking place every day. Here at Wissahickon, we believe in providing a first-rate education for our students through an unrelenting commitment to excellence. The journey towards achieving this level of success continues to be a collaborative effort between our teachers, staff, administrators, the School Board and you, our community. On behalf of the entire district, we look forward to educating our students for the 21st century together.

Warmly,

Judith M. Clark, Superintendent

Young K. Park, Board President

P.S. View our digital version of this annual report and corresponding videos at www.wsdweb.org.

All District Schools Achieve AYP on PSSAs The District’s commitment to creating a curriculum that is relevant, rigorous, engaging and globally minded yielded outstanding outcomes this past year as all schools in all subgroups achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessments (PSSAs) during the 2010-2011 school year.

The High School saw significant improvements in test data after implementing a multi-step plan to improve subgroup performance. Strategies included the use of assessments to monitor and remediate deficiencies and instructional support labs. These strategies, paired with a thorough review of specific indicators – such as lesson design and student engagement – yielded significant improvements in 2010-11 results and noteworthy outcomes district-wide. In several cases, proficiency far exceeded the state standards.

Specific school highlights for the 2010-11 PSSAs included: ii Blue Bell Elementary School exceeded 90 percent proficiency in reading and mathematics. ii 99 percent of Lower Gwynedd Elementary School’s 4th graders were proficient or advanced in reading and mathematics. ii Mattison Avenue Elementary School increased the math performance of all 3rd graders by 3 percent. ii Shady Grove Elementary School students increased their PSSA performance by 7 percent in mathematics and 5 percent in reading. ii 96 percent of students at Stony Creek Elementary School performed at or above the proficient level in mathematics. ii Wissahickon Middle School met 33 of 33 reportable AYP targets for students in grades 6 through 8.

Eighty-eight percent of students scored proficient or advanced in reading and mathematics. ii Wissahickon High School attained AYP for the first time in four school years, meeting 21 of 21 AYP targets. Eighty-eight percent of 11th graders scored proficient or advanced on the 11th grade reading PSSA, ranking Wissahickon High School third in Montgomery County for high school performance.

“This is a true testament of our District’s collective efforts for the sole purpose of maximizing student achievement,” stressed Judith Clark, Superintendent of Schools.

PSSA Results for 2010-2011 Grade/Content Area

Wissahickon

State

Grade 3 Math Grade 3 Reading Grade 4 Math Grade 4 Reading Grade 4 Science Grade 5 Math Grade 5 Reading Grade 5 Writing Grade 6 Math Grade 6 Reading Grade 7 Math Grade 7 Reading Grade 8 Math Grade 8 Reading Grade 8 Science Grade 8 Writing Grade 11 Math Grade 11 Reading Grade 11 Science Grade 11 Writing 0 20 40 60 80

100

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) Results Exceed State and National Averages Wissahickon High School’s 2010-2011 Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores are well above the state and national averages. The SAT, a series of standardized tests used across the nation to measure verbal, writing and math reasoning skills, is one indicator of the effectiveness of the District’s secondary curriculum.

SAT Results for 2010 - 2011 WSD Verbal Mean Score

535

PA Verbal Mean Score National Verbal Mean Score

493 497

WSD Math Mean Score

562

PA Math Mean Score National Math Mean Score

501 514

WSD Writing Mean Score

545

PA Writing Mean Score National Writing Mean Score

479 489

a New Route to Heightened Knowledge District Plans for the Future with Facilities Study Recognizing the importance of planning for the future needs of Wissahickon students, the District commissioned an enrollment study with the Pennsylvania Economy League in May 2010 to determine demographic trends.

A study of this nature was last conducted in 2000. After receipt of the new study, a facilities committee composed of board members and administrators selected Breslin & D’Huy to develop a long-range plan for the District’s facilities. The committee shared its desired educational specifications for the current and future use of its buildings. Instructional priorities included: classroom spaces that are open with natural sunlight, thus promoting greater student collaboration and project-based instructional practices; classrooms equipped to properly support technology as a learning tool; the transformation of libraries into multimedia centers; and use of gymnasiums to support education, community events and lifelong wellness.

In December, options for supporting desired specifications were shared with the School Board. Further discussions on options, associated costs, and ways to fund the desired options will be carefully considered in the months ahead.

District Establishes Plan for 21St Century Learning Recognizing the critical role that technology plays in fostering collaboration and a heightened level of student engagement, the District has formed a technology steering committee to guide the implementation of the District’s 21st Century Teaching and Learning initiative.

The plan is designed to provide computer technology to each middle and high school student over a four year period, beginning in September, 2012. Intensive staff development has been planned to maximize the teaching and learning opportunities for students. “This program will provide a level of cross interaction that surpasses that which is possible in a traditional classroom,” explained Christopher Marchese, Assistant Superintendent. “It will also ensure that Wissahickon graduates have already been exposed to the interactive technologies they need to succeed in college and their future careers.”

New High School Schedule to Provide Longer Learning Experiences Recognizing that longer classroom periods allow for more intensive opportunities for student learning, Wissahickon High School will be adopting a revamped schedule of extended class periods and block period schedules in the 2012-2013 school year.

The decision was made after six months of research by a Scheduling Review Committee composed of teachers and administrators. Feedback was sought from teachers who expressed the need for longer learning periods without compromising the number of course options. Dr. Michael Rettig, an international expert on school scheduling, worked with the committee to design and evaluate the impact of a new schedule.

Under the new schedule, students will experience learning in both 58-minute and 80-minute class periods. Courses will meet three times in the 58-minute schedule and once in the 80-minute schedule.

Administrators and teachers agree that the new schedule will provide more time for project-based learning and collaboration.

Toward Success by Learning & Achieving – Points of Pride ii The High School offers 27 clubs and activities. Of note are mentor and peer-to-peer programs and the Future Business Leaders Association, which is the third largest in the state with over 130 students. ii The High School had nine semifinalists recognized in the National Merit Scholarship Program. ii The Middle School’s MathCounts Club has achieved Gold Level for four consecutive years. ii The Middle School Science Club was recognized at a Regional Qualifying Tournament; two Wissahickon teams took home trophies. ii Stony Creek embraces a team approach and fosters a respectful atmosphere where expectations are high and learning is engaging. ii Stony Creek students benefit from a range of learning resources made possible by its PTO. These programs include new library books; laptops; a climbing wall; iPods; a SMART document camera; and a sound system for the cafetorium. ii Blue Bell was designated as a “No Place for Hate School” for the second year in a row by the AntiDefamation League. ii Blue Bell was recognized by PDE for outstanding Inclusionary Practices and Programming for special education students. ii Mattison Avenue guidance counselor Donna Wolfert was selected for a Teacher as Hero Award by the National Liberty Museum for her outstanding work with students. ii Mattison Avenue teachers and students gather for a community meeting each month. Each child is recognized with a “Paw Award” for successes. ii Lower Gwynedd received Keystone Achievement Recognition for Two Consecutive Years of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). The most recent award was for years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. ii Lower Gwynedd established “The Green Team” – 5th graders who assist with recycling paper, cardboard and CapriSun juice packs – as an extension of the district-wide Green Initiative. ii Shady Grove’s Leaders in Exercise and Nutrition(L.E.A.N.) Committee has planned and facilitated many school-wide events to encourage the healthy habits of students. Activities have included a focus on both fitness and nutrition. ii Shady Grove has a very active Green Committee, focusing on expanding the school garden, establishing a student garden club and increasing recycling efforts.

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Physical Education Teacher of the Year

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Mike Jackson, a physical education teacher at Lower Gwynedd Elementary School, was selected Physical Education Teacher of the Year twice by the Pennsylvania State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (PSAHPERD) on the regional and state levels. In spring 2011, Mr. Jackson was named 2011 Southeast Region Teacher of the Year at the organization’s regional meeting. In November, he was recognized at the PSAHPERD State Conference, where he was named the 2011 PSAHPERD Teacher of the Year for the State.

“I am very proud to have achieved such honors during my professional career, and I look forward to further promoting the importance of health and physical education,” Mr. Jackson said.

Athletic Points of Pride ii In the Spring of 2011, High School Boys’ Tennis team, Boys’ Track and the Softball team all won Suburban I, American Conference Championships. These teams, in addition to Girls’ Lacrosse and Girls’ Track, all qualified for PIAA District 1 competition. A number of athletes from Tennis and Track also qualified for State competition. ii High School Girls’ Tennis, Boys’ Cross Country, Boys’ Soccer and Field Hockey won an American Conference Suburban I League Championship and qualified for PIAA District I post-season events. ii High School Girls’ Water Polo qualified for the Eastern Conference Championship. ii High School Golf finished second in the American Conference. ii Ninth-grade football finished an undefeated season at 7-0 and High School football finished 7-3. ii Middle School Boys’ Lacrosse celebrated its first undefeated season in school history. ii Other Middle School teams celebrating undefeated seasons were 8th grade Basketball, 8th grade Field Hockey and the 120 lb. Football Team

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Wissahickon Goes Even Greener When it comes to “going green,” the District practices what it preaches. The results have been academically and fiscally rewarding. District-wide efforts are coordinated by a Green Committee and have included a solar panel scoreboard at the Middle School, the purchase of eco-friendly cleaning products, Abitibi Paper Recycling, and trashless lunch Tuesdays. One of the newest testaments of the District’s commitment to green living is the Wissahickon Gardens program, which teaches students about math, science, art and horticulture and how food is grown through the maintenance of vegetable gardens at all of the District’s schools. This initiative has given rise to multiple community partnerships with local food pantries, businesses, school parent groups and even a cooking show on Wissahickon Television.

Middle School Begins Anti-Bullying Initiative

Throughout the 2010-2011 school year, a strong movement to combat bullying took root, based on the work of Dr. Dan Olweus, widely recognized for his antibullying education programs.

A Bullying Prevention Coordinating Committee created a program based on responses to the 950-plus student surveys administered in October 2010. The results shed light on what bullying looks (and feels) like at the Middle School and served as the baseline from which to measure the program’s effectiveness.

Proactive education – classroom lessons, or “meetings,” as they are also known – provides students and staff with a forum for meaningful discussion. A committee helped to develop and share lessons, which included these topics: creating a common definition of bullying; strategies to support victims; empowering bystanders; the significance of reporting; appreciation and acceptance of differences; and consequences for bullying.

The school will continue to explore ways to combat bullying behaviors by advocating for victims, increasing the frequency of reporting, building meaningful relationships, and enlisting support from parents and the community.

New Science Curriculum Takes Learning Outside High School Food Drive and Empty Bowl Project Feed the Hungry Several District schools support the Mattie Dixon Community Cupboard throughout the year. Wissahickon High School used a Blue and Gold homeroom spirit competition to garner interest for the first food drive of the year. Organized by the Student Council, National Honor Society and Interact Clubs, the drive netted 3,600 canned goods, exceeding the goal of 1,500 canned goods. The “Wissahickon Cooks” TV show coordinated “Empty Bowls and Soup” to raise money for the Community Cupboard in conjunction with a senior class project. Students made soups and ceramic bowls for a District In-Service Day. Teachers could buy a $10 ticket and get soup in a hand-made bowl that they could keep. The event raised $800. The school’s Robotics Team through Ramp Riot and the football teams also collected canned goods for the Community Cupboard. “This was an amazing effort on the part of our student groups and organizations and Wissahickon High School,” said Principal Lyn Fields.

There is no better way to gain an environmental education than to take the learning process out of the classroom and into the great outdoors.

Thanks to a grant from Dow, the District launched Fiddleheads, an inquirybased science curriculum designed to guide teachers in grades 3 through 5 through the delivery of outdoor education. The two-phase program was initiated last year through teacher training and will continue this year, with students using hand lenses and journals to record observations in outdoor education centers and parks.

“The program provides a tangible way to teach students to use resources right in their own backyards,” emphasized Dr. Christopher Marchese, Assistant Superintendent.

Faculty Profile The professional staff is composed of 380 certified teachers: Number of teachers with • 15 years of experience or less • more than 15 years of experience

278 102

Function # of Staff • Bachelor’s Degree 66 • Master’s Degree 306 • Doctorate Degree 8 • National Board Certification 8

Note: The 8 that hold National Board Certification are included in the Masters and/or Doctors Degree.

2011 Graduating Class Profile Outcome 2 Year College 4 Year College Apprenticeship Program Career Education Employed Military Unknown Total

Number % of students 71 20.11% 258 73.09% 2 0.57% 3 0.85% 8 2.27% 4 1.13% 7 1.98% 353 100.00%

College Transition Made Smoother

by New High School Services In the past year, the High School guidance department has dramatically increased available resources and has hired a college counselor, Christopher Plentus, to establish connections with college admission professionals and fellow college counselors. Wissahickon High School’s guidance department begins to prepare students for college and careers in their freshman year. Each year, students see a different presentation that guides them in the process. Ninth graders learn about study habits, career goals and Naviance. Tenth graders take the PSAT and update their career goals. Juniors are introduced to the logistics of applying to college, and most take the SATs and/or ACTs. By senior year, the college counselor, the transition coordinator and guidance counselors are working closely with each student to ensure a proper transition to a college or career path. This can include multiple meetings with students and their families and group presentations for students as well as for parents.

Enrollment

by Ethnicity

African American – 10% Asian – 13% Hispanic – 5% Multiracial – 5% Other – 1% White – 66%

The Wissahickon School District, established in 1964, is located 22 miles north of Philadelphia, in the heart of Montgomery County. It serves over 4,400 students from a population of 36,697 in Lower Gwynedd Township, the Borough of Ambler and Whitpain Township.

Enrollment 2011 – 2012 School Year High School Middle School

Shady Grove Elementary Blue Bell Elementary Mattison Avenue Elementary Stony Creek Elementary Lower Gwynedd Elementary

1456 1038 473 419 171 368 476

Total

4401

The Budget

The Wissahickon Educational Opportunities Foundation The Wissahickon Educational Opportunities Foundation is a nonprofit, community-based organization that provides funding for special projects and programs in the District.

In the past year, Foundation donations have enabled the District to purchase a baby grand piano for the High School and offer a special anti-bullying presentation at the elementary schools and Family Awareness Night at the High School. A new mobile broadcast system for the high school TV studio will be funded this year. For details on the Foundation’s fund-raising efforts, visit www.weof.org.

The District made cost-cutting and efficiency top priorities this year. Through careful planning, total expenditures for the 2010-2011 fiscal year yielded a savings of $1 million less than the previous year and cost-cutting measures continue in the 2011-2012 school year. The savings were attained through a reduction in staffing levels, creation of special education classrooms (replacing outside programs), and renegotiation of work performed by outside contractors.

The 2011-2012 budget adopted June 13, 2011, represented nearly $86.7 million in expenditures, $37.6 million for regular education and $13.6 million for special education.

Transportation costs totaled about 6% of the budget, or $5.2 million. Staffing costs accounted for 76% of the expenditure budget and debt services amounted to 8% of the budget.

Funding Sources: 2011-12 Budget Revenue Source Local State Federal Other Total

Amount Budget $70,556,126 $11,498,419 $808,628 $5,000 $82,868,173

Percentage Total 85.14% 13.88% .97% .01% 100%

Where The Money Goes: 2011-12 Budget Play Video

Grants The District received several grants to encourage innovative programs and improve the quality of education.

They were: ii Dow Grant Award of $30,000 for the creation of a mobile lab to introduce all students to robotics. ii Dow Grant Award of $25,000 for ninth-grade environmental education. ii Dow Grant Award of $25,000 for Fiddleheads program, which will continue a two-year environmental education program for students in third through fifth grades. ii Rep. Mike Gerber secured a $10,000 grant to install a scoreboard for the Middle School athletics field and track.

Classroom Instructional Expenses - 60% Teachers and Assistants, Textbooks and Materials, Supplies Classroom Support Expenses - 30% Student Services Guidance, Library, Curriculum Development, Transportation, Health Services, Technology Operational Leadership Administration, Business Office, Human Resources, Utility Costs, Maintenance Other Expenditures and Financing Uses - 8% Debt Services Fund Transfers Noninstructional Services - 2% Student Activities, Community Services

A mid-point review of the District’s strategic plan was conducted in 2011 and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The four goals of the plan, which span from 2009 to 2014, are reviewed internally on an annual basis.

They are: Goal 1: Eliminate the achievement gap.

Goal 2: Maximize the academic achievement of each student.

Goal 3: Provide and maintain open communication between the school district and the community.

Goal 4: Operate the school district with efficiency and effectiveness.

Wissahickon School District 601 Knight Road Ambler, PA 19002

District School Board Top Row From Left: Seth E. Grant Burunda Prince-Jones Barbara Ullery Barbara P. Moyer Richard P. Stanton Bottom Row From Left: Charles McIntire Young K. Park, President Janice Singer, Vice President Marjorie A. Brown

District Administrative Team (Left to right) Cathy Rossi, Director of Personnel M. Christopher Marchese, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent Judith M. Clark, Superintendent of Schools Wade Coleman, Business Administrator

Wissahickon Making Headlines Wissahickon School District is gaining positive national press for its programs and initiatives. The PSBA Bulletin, the official publication of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, profiled “Wissahickon Cooks” in the August 2011 issue. “Wissahickon Cooks” is a student-produced cable TV program on meal preparation and nutrition. The fullpage article also provided pointers on how other districts can launch and fund a similar program.

Later in the summer, the District was featured in www.

BusinessReview.com, an e-magazine that devoted a 14page, full-color spread to the District’s commitment to technology, community involvement and sustainability. The article was titled Wissahickon School District: Educating the Whole Learner.

Save the Date!

A Silver Anniversary of the Wissahickon School District Art Show will be held on May 23rd and 24th, 6:30-9:00 p.m. in the Wissahickon High School Circle Gym.

New Alumni Association Formed Looking to reconnect with other Wissahickon graduates? Wissahickon High School launched a new Alumni Association in 2011 thanks to the planning and research efforts of High School Principal Lyn Fields and teachers Anthony Gabriele and Larry Cannon. The new Alumni Association also serves as a conduit to the High School’s Hall of Fame. Each of these groups works independently of and in conjunction with each other to connect, recognize and celebrate Wissahickon alumni. Graduates of each class are encouraged to register online and to provide class reps who would create and maintain active lists of alumni with contact information and class announcements. For details, visit the “Community” section of the District website at www.wsdweb.org.

Wissahickon School District 601 Knight Road Ambler PA 19002 • 215-619-8000 • www.wsdweb.org View our digital version of this annual report and corresponding videos at www.wsdweb.org.

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