REDEFINING WISSAHICKON: A BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS

REDEFINING WISSAHICKON: A BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS

2 01 2 -2 01 3 ANNUAL REPORT

DILIG ENCE

TRICT DIS

A WISS HIC

L

N SCHOO O K

Dear Wissahickon Community: Drafting a blueprint for success in the Wissahickon School District starts with big dreams, lofty aspirations and ultimately a clear definition of what it will take to transform them into physical realities.

Evaluating the facilities that house our students, the curriculum that enlightens them and the technologies that empower them is a crucial and ongoing process...one that ensures the blueprint that defines Wissahickon is the best blueprint that it can be.

The District recognizes the important role that the community plays in redefining Wissahickon’s blueprint for success. Therefore, 2012-2013 has been a year of proactive outreach and community input as our District contemplates the ideal plan for delivering a 21st century education within our schools.

These are exciting times with wonderful implications. Read through this year’s Annual Report and discover them for yourself. The District is confident that our blueprint for success will foster an educational experience that produces graduates who are prepared to spearhead meaningful change, participate confidently in the global economy and lead intelligently.

If it has been many years since you have visited our District, we encourage you to reacquaint yourself by attending our school plays and concerts or cheering on our teams on our athletic fields. Visit our website at www.wsdweb.org or watch WTV (Comcast Channel 28 or Verizon Channel 41). Your presence is yet another essential part of our blueprint!

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.

Wissahickon’s Plan for Facilities and Commitment to Community Input The Wissahickon School District is steadfast in its commitment to finalizing a long-range plan for District facilities that addresses changing educational needs and ensures that resources are allocated efficiently and effectively.

Recognizing the vital importance of broad community input, the District invited residents into the input process in 2012. They have played a significant role in evaluating facility options for the District.

Milestones on the Road to Recommendations Dedicated to providing facilities that support and enhance technology integration, research, and innovative instructional practices, the District embarked on an evaluation process that considered several questions in the context of the findings of the 2010 Enrollment Projections Study and the 2011 Facilities Report: What are the enrollment trends in the District over the next 5 to 10 years and how to accommodate these trends?

Can the existing buildings accommodate 21st century skills preparation?

Are existing facilities environmentally sound, safe, and technologically compatible?

What is the District’s existing level of debt and borrowing capacity?

What is the community support for facilities recommendations?

Subsequent to this review, the School Board and administration are continuing to consider issues related to the age and conditions of existing facilities, transportation, traffic, and unmet facility needs.

Requesting the Voice of the Community A Facilities Plan Community Input Group was appointed by the School Board in July 2012 to provide stakeholder perspectives on District facility needs. The 25-member group included two representatives from each school and four at-large community members with no ties to any school. The group generally met twice each month until December 2012.

Group discussions focused on a range of topics including enrollment, capacity and building information, 21st century teaching and learning, building concepts and District finances.

Topics such as green, sustainable energy and value engineering were also discussed. The CIG members have provided their individual opinions and perspectives to the School District.

A Time for Careful Reflection The School Board will carefully and thoroughly review all options over the months ahead before making a decision.

This process was a true collaboration of the community. The District is pleased that Wissahickon’s blueprint for success will continue the vision of our stakeholders.

Stay Informed Keep abreast of facility planning updates through any or all of the following: Visit www.wsdweb.org and review the District News section of the homepage Attend Board meetings and Facilities Committee meetings Review the “Facilities Update” section of the website (icon is at the bottom left on the homepage)

The 21st Century Teaching and Learning Initiative To succeed beyond high school, students must be capable of participating in the 21st century economy.

Technological proficiency is essential. The District has introduced proactive measures that ensure the skills of its students are competitive. When the 2012-2013 school year began in September, sixth graders and ninth graders were issued laptops as part of the District’s 21st Century Initiative.

Sixth graders were presented with Dell netbooks, and ninth graders received Dell laptops. The students will keep the computers throughout the school year. During the summer, the District will hold the computers and reissue them to those students at the start of the 20132014 academic year.

In the fall of 2013, incoming sixth and ninth graders will receive laptops.

This process will continue annually until all secondary students in the District have access to a personal computer. According to John McGowan, the District’s Director of Technology, “The way in which information is presented and taught to students is changing as a result of this program. We are confident that not only will the laptops enhance learning but also will adequately equip our students to participate in college and work experiences beyond high school.”

Data Dashboard Offers a Window into Achievement The Wissahickon Board of School Directors sets annual goals, which include: maximizing the academic achievement of students, eliminating the achievement gap, and operating programs efficiently. Annual progress toward achieving these goals is being facilitated by a data dashboard. The dashboard is a web application that organizes the District’s goals into a series of easy-to-read color-coded charts and graphs. With the dashboard, the District can track progress by highlighting specific achievement measures. Students, parents, teachers, principals and staff can access the dashboard to evaluate the District’s performance. Wissahickon’s Data Dashboard is scheduled to be released in the first quarter of 2013.

Students Adapt to New High School Schedule After months of planning and preparation, the new High School Schedule took effect in the fall of 2012. Aided by homeroom videos, information sessions for students and parents, and other prep materials, the transition went smoothly.

The change in the schedule increases the length of class periods to enhance the amount of time students are engaged with classroom material. Longer classes encourage deeper involvement in subject matter. According to Thomas Andrzejewski, the High School’s Associate Principal, “As we educate our students for the 21st century, we are committed to creating an environment that emphasizes critical thinking and evaluation. Extended class periods shift the focus away from lectures during class, and class time is instead used to address homework questions, provide extra activities and promote meaningful discussions.”

The new schedule allows for an Intervention and Enrichment option. This feature supports learning and encourages students to pursue instruction in areas that interest them.

As anticipated, the new schedule required only a brief period of adjustment. In fact, when asked about student reaction to the new schedule, Mr. Andrzejewski said he thought the change had been well received. A formal survey to elicit student opinions will be conducted later in the year.

Inspiring Students to Connect to the World Andrea Lewis, a social studies teacher at Wissahickon Middle School, was awarded a 2012 Voices of Inspiration Award for Teaching Excellence.

Sponsored by the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit and Freedom Credit Union, the awards are given to one teacher from each of Montgomery County’s 21 school districts.

Mrs. Lewis received one of three grand prizes awarded during a Voices of Inspiration dinner. She was recognized as the county’s top middle school teacher.

Committed to creating a learning environment that encourages students to make connections to current events on the local, national and global levels, Mrs. Lewis asserted that one of the most gratifying aspects of being a teacher is when students “ultimately understand something in the world around them that was discussed in class.” She said she was “thrilled and surprised to receive the award.”

Athletic Points of Pride ii Four fall sports teams (Girls Tennis, Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer and Field Hockey) won a Suburban I League, American Conference Championship and qualified for PIAA District I and/or state post-season events. Girls Tennis also won the District I Team Tennis Tournament. ii Both Girls and Boys Cross Country participated in the District I Cross Country Meet, Freshman Lotte Black qualified for States. ii The Football team’s 7-3 record earned it a spot in the District I post-season playoffs and it won its opening game by defeating No. 1 seed Downingtown East. ii The Boys Water Polo team qualified for the Eastern Conference Championship tournament. ii The Golf team finished second in the American Conference. Jalen Griffin qualified for States and finished in 5th place. ii Middle School Wrestling culminated a strong season by winning the league tournament championship. ii Other Middle School teams celebrating undefeated seasons were Boys Track and 120 lb. Football.

Academic Points of Pride ii The High School had eight semifinalists recognized in the National Merit Scholarship Program. ii The High School was recognized as fifth in Pennsylvania by the Washington Post’s Challenge Index, a measurement of how effectively a school prepares its students for college. ii The High School was recognized by the Philadelphia Inquirer as one of the top 25 schools in the state. -- Best of the Area’s Scholastic Aptitude Test. ii The Middle School is proud of a newly implemented Vision statement developed collaboratively by staff and administration. ii The Middle School MathCounts Club has been recognized nationally as a Gold Level Club for five consecutive years, a distinction shared by no other school in the state of Pennsylvania. ii Stony Creek achieved Adequate Yearly Progress as measured by the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment 2012. ii Stony Creek students continue to engage in exciting opportunities: Reading Olympics, The KidWriting Program, National Geographic Bee Program and Drexel University’s Math Forum. ii Blue Bell attained Adequate Yearly Progress in all grade levels. ii Blue Bell was designated as a “No Place for Hate” school for the third consecutive year by the National Anti-Defamation League. ii Lower Gwynedd received Keystone Achievement Recognition for two consecutive years of making Adequate Yearly Progress 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. ii Lower Gwynedd has established the GOLD KEYS program to recognize good citizenship among students and is participating in the OLWEUS Bullying Prevention Program. ii Mattison Avenue devoted an entire week to science assemblies and experiments to raise student interest in science. ii Mattison Avenue hosted the Fifth Annual schoolwide Thanksgiving Feast. Proceeds raised were donated to local charities. ii Shady Grove students and teachers continue to participate in “Fiddleheads,” a program aligned with the District science curriculum that connects the school with leading scientists and organizations. ii Shady Grove’s Leaders in Exercise and Nutrition (L.E.A.N.) Committee has planned and facilitated many school-wide events to encourage healthy habits.

The Wissahickon Educational Opportunities Foundation (WEOF) is a nonprofit, community-based organization that provides funding and support for educational programs outside the School District’s traditional budget.

In the past year, WEOF has provided funding for many programs, including performing arts assemblies, digital cameras for art classes, the Academic Quiz Team, a NASA videoconference, Mathematics Application Lab, Global Positioning System Units, and iPads for special education.

The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is in full swing at Blue Bell Elementary and Wissahickon Middle School. A grant that funds training and support has been used to equip teachers, administrators, support staff, parents and community members to carry out the tenets of the program. They then use their expertise to pass along these skills to other District employees, parents, community members and students.

WEOF also gave $30,000 toward the improvement of the Wissahickon High School Fitness Center. These funds were used to purchase new cardio equipment.

The Fitness Center is used by all students at WHS as part of their physical education.

Athletic teams also use the center. This grant is one part of a plan to upgrade and restructure the Fitness Center to better meet state standards for health and wellness and the needs of an active student community

The program empowers students and adults to prevent bullying.

Weekly classes focus on strategies for making friends and disarming the bully. Those who engage in intimidating behavior are put in education classes aimed at changing their behavior and teaching them the consequences of their actions. The District is clear that those who protect or support the bully are considered complicit.

In addition, WEOF facilitated procurement of a $30,000 grant from Dow Chemical for the Robotics Team to create a Mobile Robotics Learning Center.

For more information about WEOF, please visit http://www. weof.org.

Response to Intervention and Instruction This year, the District introduced its Response to Intervention and Instruction (RTII) initiative in all K-2 classes. The goal of the program is to ensure that every child is reading at or above grade level by third grade.

According to Matt Walsh, Director of Elementary Teaching and Learning,“With this program, the District is proactive. We can reach students earlier in the learning process.” Students are tested at 12-week intervals three times a year using DIBEL, the universal screener. The data indicate gaps in learning and are the basis for grouping students according to a tier system.

Eighty percent of students will fall within Tier 1 and will learn to read based on input from the classroom teacher. Tier II will comprise 15 percent of students who will use the classroom teacher and a reading specialist three times a week. Tier III will contain 5 percent of students who have the support of a reading specialist throughout the week. As students are tested, they may move up or down the tiers.

Plans to expand the reading program to the third grade are being finalized.

The impact of the program appears to be positive with the number of reported bullying incidents decreasing. When students learn to express their feelings and protect themselves, they are more comfortable standing up for those being bullied and seeking adult intervention when required.

In 2011, the Peaceful Bus program was rolled out. Because the bus is often a haven for inappropriate behavior, the program highlights appropriate bus behavior and establishes a bus protocol that includes: fostering relationships between the older and younger bus riders, showing respect and appreciation to the bus driver, and improving the bus climate to ensure a pleasant, stress-free ride.

Denise D. Fagan, Principal at Blue Bell, noted, “What our students learn will allow them to function anywhere in our society.

Our school motto is ‘Make your MARK at Blue Bell’ (Manner, Academics, Respect and Kindness). The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is allowing us to extend our motto and to have everyone who works and learns at Blue Bell treat each other with respect.”

2012 Graduating Class Profile Outcome Number % of students 2–Year College 60 17% 4–Year College 284 78% Employed 8 2% Military 6 2% Unknown 5 1% Total 363 100%

Enrollment

by Ethnicity African American – 10% Asian – 12% Hispanic – 5% Multiracial – 6% Other – 1% White – 66%

Scholastic Aptitude Test Results for 2011 - 2012 WSD Verbal Mean Score 536

PA Verbal Mean Score National Verbal Mean Score

491 496

WSD Math Mean Score

569

PA Math Mean Score National Math Mean Score

501 514

WSD Writing Mean Score

543

PA Writing Mean Score National Writing Mean Score

480 488

PSSA Results for 2011-2012 Grade/Content Area

Wissahickon

State

Grade 3 Math Grade 3 Reading

Function • Bachelor’s Degree • Master’s Degree • Doctorate • National Board Certification

231 131

# of Staff 49 307 6 7

Note: The 7 who hold National Board Certification are included in the Master’s and/or Doctoral Degree.

92.8%

72.1%

Grade 4 Science

Number of teachers with • 15 years of experience or less • More than 15 years of experience

96.5%

82.6%

Grade 4 Reading

The professional staff is composed of 362 certified teachers:

87.1%

74%

Grade 4 Math

Faculty Profile

91.5%

80%

93%

82.3%

Grade 5 Math

73.3%

Grade 5 Reading

65%

Grade 5 Science

93.1% 83.4% 85.4%

64.2%

Grade 6 Math

92.6%

77.2%

Grade 6 Reading

87.5%

68.5%

Grade 7 Math

80.1%

Grade 7 Reading

76%

Grade 8 Math

76.4%

Grade 8 Reading Grade 8 Science

59.7%

Grade 8 Writing

90% 88.9% 94.9%

79.8% 74.6%

94.1%

72.7%

Grade 11 Math

80.3%

60%

Grade 11 Reading Grade 11 Science

41.8%

67.8% 62.1%

Grade 11 Writing

86.8%

82.9%

0 20 40 60 80 100

Enrollment 2012 – 2013 School Year 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.

97.1%

High School Middle School Shady Grove Elementary Blue Bell Elementary Mattison Avenue Elementary Stony Creek Elementary Lower Gwynedd Elementary

1449 1010 497 425 177 369 488

Total

4415

96.7%

The Budget The District continues to make cost-cutting and efficiency top priorities. Through careful planning, total expenditures have been reduced by approximately $1 million in each of the past three budgets. The savings for 2012-2013 were attained primarily through a reduction in staffing levels.

The 2012-2013 budget adopted May 29, 2012, represented nearly $85.8 million in expenditures, including $38.4 million for regular education, and $14.1 million for special education.

Transportation costs totaled about 6.3% of the budget, or $5.4 million. Staffing costs accounted for 78.5% of the expenditure budget, and debt services amounted to 5.2% of the budget.

The 2012-2013 budget was created without a tax increase. In the past four years a tax increase was only necessary once.

Funding Sources: 2012-13 Budget Revenue Source Local State Federal Other Total

Amount Budget $69,312,359 $13,386,243 $621,141 $5,000 $83,324,743

Percentage Total 83.18% 16.07% .74% .01% 100%

Where the Money Goes: 2012-13 Budget Classroom Instructional Expenses – 62.26% Teachers and Assistants, Textbooks and Materials, Supplies Classroom Support Expenses – 30.13% 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 – 5.74% Debt Services Fund Transfers

Grants The District received several grants to encourage innovative programs and improve the quality of education. These grants include: ii A Johnson & Johnson–sponsored grant providing funding for three years, in the amount of $100,000. Under the provisions of the program, Montgomery County Community College is partnering with Wissahickon High School and Janssen Biotech, Inc., Janssen Research & Development, LLC, and Janssen Supply Group, LLC, of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson in the Bridge to Employment (BTE) program, which is based in Ambler. Students in the three-year program continue their studies at the High School and participate in quarterly visits to Janssen campuses. During their visits, students spend time with Janssen mentors learning about careers in pharmaceutical research, clinical development, regulatory affairs, finance, technical operations, marketing, and engineering. ii A Dow Chemical Company grant to support High School robotics in the amount of $7,000. ii A PECO grant for $1,500 that allows students to participate in an Energy Audit.

Noninstructional Services – 1.87% Student Activities, Community Services

Wissahickon School District 601 Knight Road Ambler, PA 19002

Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 117 FORT WASHINGTON, PA

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 McIntyre 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 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.