2010 08 August Communicator

August 2010

Communicator Legislative Candidate Forum to focus on education issues

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arents, community members and staff members are invited to attend the 2010 Legislative Candidate Forum set for Monday, October 18, 6:30-8 p.m., at Gleason Lake Elementary School, 310 County Road 101 North, Plymouth. Mark this date on your calendar and plan to attend.

All state House of Representative and Senate candidates from Districts 32, 33 and 43 have been invited to participate in the forum.

These candidates are:

CMS math teacher Dan Nielsen helps a student with her Scratch program during a summer school class.

Learning math from Scratch over the summer

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olorful lines pinwheel out on each of the computer screens in the lab as 13 middle school students chime in, “Reciprocal” in answer to teacher Dan Nielsen’s question, “What’s the ‘R’ word for the day?”

This is Wayzata Public Schools’ summer math class for next year’s seventh grade students. Some of the students might not realize they are using math, but the complex animations they are creating each day utilize many important math concepts and the lessons are based on concepts they have learned or will learn in the future.

The students are using Scratch, a programming tool developed by graduate students at MIT and free to download. The lessons developed by Nielsen teach kids logic, sequential processing and persistence, which are all vital to excelling at math. The problems the students solve by creating animations are based on fundamental math concepts they will learn as middle school students such as slope, fractions and reciprocals.

The summer class is an opportunity for students to practice some of the skills they learned in sixth

A pair of students help each other in the lab during teacher Dan Nielsen’s Scratch programming class.

grade and for Nielsen, a chance to pre-teach some seventh grade concepts like slope in a format that is practical and easier for students to grasp.

“Students find it more engaging and real than regular math,” said middle school summer coordinator Allan Christopherson. “There are very few middle school math requirements we couldn’t teach using Scratch,” he said about the software.

Several elementary schools in the district teach Scratch as a programming tool during the school year and use it to create animations for stories the students have written. At the middle school level, and for math, there isn’t enough time currently during the year to incorporate the use of Scratch into the curriculum. But it is the center of the sixth grade to seventh grade summer math program and Nielsen said there is interest in creating an intramural Scratch club during the school year.

For the summer school curriculum, Nielsen said he identifies concepts the students should practice or learn for next year and develops a challenge using Scratch that utilizes the skills necessary for each math concept. Often, once the students meet his challenge on Scratch, they begin developing new challenges using the software and math concepts that build on the original idea.

Senate District 32 • Warren Limmer Senate District 33 • Monica Dawson • Gen Olson Senate District 43 • Terri Bonoff • Norann Dillon House District 32A • David Hoden • Joyce Peppin House District 32B • Katie Rodriguez • Kurt Zellers

House District 33A • Denise Bader • Steve Smith House District 33B • Connie Doepke • Kim Kang House District 43A • Sarah Anderson • Audrey Britton House District 43B • John Benson • Brian Grogan

The forum is an opportunity for voters to learn more about legislative candidates prior to Election Day on Tuesday, November 2. The forum will include opportunities for attendees to interact with candidates from their specific House or Senate district. The forum is sponsored by the Wayzata Public Schools Legislative Action Committee (LAC). All questions will focus on issues that affect public education.

If you have questions about the forum, contact Bob Noyed, director of communication and staff liaison to the LAC, at robert.noyed@ wayzata.k12.mn.us or 763-745-5068.

Parents:

Important change in bus transportation

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he district’s transportation department has changed the way that buses are identified from bus numbers to route numbers.

In the past, parents have identified their student’s bus by the number painted on the bus. Starting this fall, buses will be identified by route number. A three-digit number will be posted in the window of the bus. This is the number that will identify the bus route, and not the number on the side of the bus. All regular bus routes will be posted as a 300 series number and all special education mini-bus routes will be posted with a 400 series number.

This change was made to reduce confusion when it is necessary to use a different bus to complete a route. With the new system, the route number can be easily moved to a different bus. So remember, look for the three-digit number in the window of the bus to identify your child’s bus route.

2 WPS offers math test preparation courses for qualified students

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ith a higher success rate in mind both for passing the district’s test-out exams for middle and high school math and for confidence in the students’ next math class, Wayzata Public Schools community education offered its first math test preparation courses this summer.

Partnering with the teaching and learning department and Wayzata High School, community education created teacher-facilitated, peer-to-peer experiences that are aligned to the district’s curriculum in Connected Mathematics Program 8, Integrated 1X, Integrated 2X and Integrated 3X. The courses are available to students who qualify to take the math test-out exam by scoring in the 97th percentile or higher on the MAP test.

The courses were developed in light of more students qualifying to test out of math at the middle and high school level and either not passing the math test-out exam or struggling in the next level of math they tested into. According to the district math coordinator Allan Christopherson, “prior to the course, students were learning in isolation and their success rate wasn’t as good on the test-out exam and the longterm success rate for students who passed the exams was suspect.”

Sandra Stevenson, community education adult enrichment coordinator, who partnered with Christopherson to develop the courses, said the test prep courses provided students an opportunity to engage in dialogue about math in a cooperative learning environment.

The structure of these courses is different from the traditional classroom environment in that students teach each other and learn from the teacher when they run into barriers. Students met four days a week, two hours a day for the opportunity to work together under the direction of a teacher. Typically, students who qualify for the test-out exam are highly motivated to work well beyond the curriculum and are willing to study many hours each week during summer vacation.

The test-out exam does not count as credit for math classes, but allows students to skip over a class with material they understand in order to take additional, higher math classes in high school.

Stevenson said the future of this course is yet to be determind. By comparing this year’s test-out results to previous years, district administrators should be able to determine how successful this pilot project was in helping prepare students for the exams.

WPS receives AYP results from state

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ith the recent release of the results from the 2010 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment II (MCA-II), Wayzata Public Schools was found to be making adequate yearly progress (AYP) with the exception of the special education subgroup at West Middle School.

The Minnesota Department of Education released the results from the 2010 MCA-II in July to school districts. The AYP results were embargoed to the public until August 10.

With regard to the special education subgroup at WMS that did not make adequate yearly progress, Wayzata Public Schools has appealed this matter with the state and is waiting for the outcome of the appeals process.

These tests are given to all students in grades 3-8, reading and math; grade 10, reading; and grade 11, math. The results from these tests are used by the state to designate which districts and schools are and are not designated as making AYP. The reporting of these results is part of the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation.

“We are extremely pleased with the students’ scores on the 2010 MCA-II,” said Wayzata Public Schools Superintendent Chace Anderson. “These results demonstrate the success of the district’s efforts to prepare students for the future. Our teachers, support

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staff and principals deserve tremendous credit for this achievement,” Anderson said.

The state’s MCA-II and its AYP designation is one method for indicating academic progress. Wayzata Public Schools’ teachers and administrators consider this and other data as they plan instruction and assessment approaches to address student learning needs. “It has been and will continue to be the district’s intent to help all students meet or exceed the standards and to maximize their learning,” Anderson added.

The results from the tests are divided into nine separate subgroups, as defined and required by the NCLB legislation, which include the following: • All students • American Indian/Alaskan Native • Asian/Pacific Islander • Hispanic • Black, not of Hispanic origin • White, not of Hispanic origin • Limited English Proficient (LEP) • Special education • Free/reduced price lunch To receive the AYP designation, test scores of districts and schools must be at or above the target established by the state. This target is increased each year.

District launching single online payment option for parents

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eginning with the start of the 2010-11 shool year, Wayzata Public Schools is launching a new district-wide online payment system that will allow parents to pay for school, program, athletic and other fees through a single system.

Several district schools and programs have used online payment systems in the past, but the new single system will provide greater convenience to parents.

The district has selected the EduTrak software as its single online payment system. Designed specifically for K-12 schools, EduTrak’s ePayTrak 4.0 simplifies registration and payment for schoolrelated programs. The software product is a division of Advanced Payment Technologies, LLC, which is a Wayzata-based company.

The company was founded in 1996 and began providing payment services to schools in 1998. It currently provides payment services to schools in more than 30 states.

The EduTrak system will be implemented in the district in phases on the following schedule: • 2010-2011 school year – Payment of program fees available through all district schools; implementation time line will vary by school • October 2010 – High school athletic and activity fees • Start of 2011-2012 school year – Culinary Express meal fees Parents will be able to use the system through a simple, one-time account set-up. The system will allow parents to quickly and easily manage both one-time and recurring fees for all students in their households.

More details on how to set up an account and to use the system will be provided to parents in late August. Information will also be posted on the district’s website at www.wayzata.k12.mn.us as well on school websites.

State makes changes to dangerous weapons statute

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he 2010 Legislature made changes to the dangerous weapons on school property provision. The changes include the following: • The law provides that any person who possesses, stores or keeps a dangerous weapon while knowingly on school property is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five years or to a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.

Under the prior law, the penalty was imprisonment for not more than two years and a fine of not more than $5,000.

• The law provides that any person who uses or brandishes a replica firearm or a BB gun while knowingly on school property is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

• The law provides that any person who possesses, stores or keeps a replica firearm or a BB gun while knowingly on school property is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

These provisions went into effect on August 1, 2010, and apply to situations committed on or after that date.

Automated phone notification for bus delays

f necessary, the automated phone notification system will be used to notify parents in case of bus delays. Calls can be made by bus route number on morning, afternoon and kindergarten routes. In order to provide consistency among schools and to create common expectations for parents on when they may be notified, the following guidelines have been established: Weather-related or district-wide delays • If situations arise – such as delays caused by serious inclement weather or by local traffic issues – that will cause bus delays of more than 25 minutes affecting all or multiple schools, the decision to initiate a parent call will come from the district’s transportation department.

• In these cases, the call will be initiated by either the district’s transportation department or communication department. School offices will be notified when these calls

will be made.

• These calls will be sent to all parent phone numbers included in the system.

General delays • It is assumed that the expected departure time for buses from a school’s parking lot is within 10 minutes after the dismissal time.

• If a bus or buses are late in leaving a school’s parking lot (25 minutes after dismissal time or 15 minutes after expected departure time), a call may be made to alert parents of the late bus or buses. This decision is at the discretion of the principal.

• The calls will be sent to only those parents of students on the buses that are late.

• These calls will be sent to all parent phone numbers included in the system.

• Similar guidelines will apply to morning bus routes. If a bus is going to be more than 15 minutes late in picking up students, a call may be made to parents.

The guidelines for general delays do not apply to the following situations: • First two weeks of school in the fall – it takes up to two weeks to make adjustments to the bus routes.

• Late-run activity buses.

• Special transportation including special education and early childhood special education – notification will be handled by First Student and the district’s transportation department.

• Transportation of Choice Is Yours students – notification will be handled by Watts Transportation and the district’s transportation department.

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New and continuing initiatives bring energy to district

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s an organization committed to continuous improvement, Wayzata Public Schools continues to explore and implement initiatives that increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our district. We are also continuously looking for ways to better serve our students and to meet their everexpanding learning needs.

With the start of another school year coming soon, I wanted to highlight just a few of the new and continuing changes that the board and administration will be pursuing in the coming year.

Even during these difficult financial times, we are working to effectively use our financial resources in order to keep moving forward. We are excited about the changes that these and other initiatives will bring to our district.

Implementation of new data system The use of data to most effectively deliver targeted instruction to students is critically important to our success as a school district. While our teachers have had tools to examine and use data for several years, the district is implementing a new data system called “Performance Matters.” This system allows teachers and

principals to “drill down” into student data to better understand how to address learning needs. This is a powerful tool for our teachers.

New teaching and learning leadership The district’s long-time executive director of curriculum and instruction, Jane Sigford, retired from the district in June 2010. Jane was an outstanding leader for our district and was responsible for many positive changes in our schools.

In response to Jane’s retirement, the district hired Jill Johnson as the new executive director of teaching and learning. We are excited about the new leadership in the teaching and learning area and are pleased to continue to have extraordinarily capable people leading our district in this area and working directly with our principals and teachers.

Process to revise overall strategic directions Every two years, the board and administration work through a process to develop overall strategic directions for our district. The previous set of directions were developed using input from the district’s Futures Conference

held in December 2007.

During the first part of the 2010-2011 school year, we will be working on establishing a new set of directions, which will set the course for our district for the next twofive years. These directions provide focus for our work and are the source for many of the initiatives that will be implemented in future years. This work will also provide guidance for the district to continuously improve.

Board Chair’s Column

“We are excited about the changes that these and other initiatives will bring to our district.”

—Carter Peterson Board Chair

Continued growth and use of technology Last year at this time, the district was beginning the process of updating its technology plan. The process continued through most of the 2009-2010 school year and culminated with the completion of the revised plan in April 2010. The district’s technology team has begun implementing the new plan during the summer. Along with the installation of new computers for many teachers, many

other changes will flow from this plan including expanding wireless computer access in our schools. The continued use of technology as a key learning tool for our students is an exciting and important part of our plan.

These are just a few of the innovative concepts that our district is pursuing this school year. As a board, we greatly appreciate the support we receive from the community that allows us to accomplish so many tremendous goals for our students.

Recent enrollment study provides important data

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n a school district like Wayzata Public Schools where housing continues to be built, it is critical to regularly study student enrollment to determine how our schools will be affected by the addition of new homes.

One of the ways our district examines enrollment patterns is by conducting enrollment and demographic studies.

The district has conducted several studies during the past 10 years with the most recent study completed in June 2010.

This study – like some previous studies – was completed by Hazel Reinhardt, a demographic consultant who has conducted similar studies for school districts throughout Minnesota and across the nation.

The district’s previous demographic study was completed in October 2009. Typically, the district would not undertake another study so soon, but unanticipated enrollment growth occurred in the 2009-2010 school year.

In addition, the quickening of new housing starts was another incentive to look more closely at our district’s demographics.

Specifically in this study, we examined our district’s seven elementary schools and how enrollments will affect each

attendance area. As our consultant regularly reminds us, such a study is not an exact science and has the potential for errors. Nonetheless, this study provided a better understanding of our district’s enrollment growth.

To limit the typical challenges in this type of study, our consultant used two separate methodologies to project enrollment. The first methodology is called the cohort survival method. This method shows how the size of existing grade level groups of students affect future enrollment. This method allows projections to be made by grade level.

The challenge in this method – and in most enrollment projection methods – is to predict kindergarten enrollment.

The second method the consultant used to project our future enrollment is called the housing start method.

This method is designed to reflect new housing development and the projected number of students that will come from each new home. It is important to remember that each new home does not necessarily generate elementary-age children. The challenge with this method is the difficulty of quantifying the effect of the aging of the school-age population in existing houses. This method also does

Superintendent’s Column

not allow for projections at each grade level. However, by using both methods and comparing the results, the “As we explore possibility of errors in the options for handling projections are reduced. our enrollment The data from the cohort growth, we will survival method shows continue to share enrollment growth in all information with but two elementary schools. parents and seek According to this method, input on possible Greenwood’s enrollment options.”

—Chace Anderson, is projected to decline by Superintendent about 78 students in the next five years and Sunset Hill’s enrollment decline is method is about 251 students. projected at about 27 students for the There is much more detail included same period. All other schools show an in the recent demographic report, enrollment increase with a total projected but this overview provides a sense five-year increase of about 245 students. of what is likely to occur with the The data from the housing start district’s elementary enrollment in method shows that projected K-5 the next five years. As I stated in my enrollment is nearly flat at five of the June Communicator column, we will seven elementary schools. Plymouth continue to examine this and other Creek and Kimberly Lane both show enrollment information. As we explore projected enrollment increases. This options for handling our enrollment projection is consistent with the growth, we will continue to share anticipated construction of new housing information with parents and seek input developments in the attendance areas on possible options. of both schools. The total projected enrollment increase for the housing starts

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everal new administrators have been hired by Wayzata Public Schools since the end of the 2009-10 school year as replacements for employees that have retired or resigned.

The following new administrators began their new positions with the district this summer.

Brad Anderson

His goal of student growth has remained the same, but Brad Anderson is now working to achieve the end result as Wayzata Public Schools Alternative Compensation Coordinator.

Anderson was appointed to the position effective July 1 and will be working with the district’s professional development team through the teaching and learning department to help teachers reach their full potential as educators.

With a passion for students and learning, Anderson began his career in education as a biology teacher and had the opportunity to teach at the middle and high school levels. He spent the past three years as a peer coach, which expanded his experience by working with teachers while still achieving the end result of increasing student growth.

Anderson said he is looking forward to the challenge of continuing this very successful program. In this new role, Anderson will have more administrative duties, correspond with the state and work with the district’s peer coaching staff.

One of the big goals this year for his team is teaching the effective use of student data. The district now has a large amount of data based on standardized testing from the district and the state and all of this information is at the fingertips of teachers. Anderson and his staff will be working to develop effective methods of using the data so teachers can continue to personalize the learning experience for all students.

He will also continue as the Wayzata High School’s head football coach and is looking forward to the start of the season.

Brad Anderson

Brenda Arrington

Brenda Arrington assumed the role of director of research and evaluation for Wayzata Public Schools on July 1 and is working diligently to shape this position in the district.

Arrington said her vision for her position is that her time in the office will not be spent with endless data requests because the information will already be at the fingertips of staff members who need it. Instead, “I plan on spending my time using the data for developing curriculum and meeting the specific needs of the students by meeting with teachers and principals to analyze the data to better affect individual school learning plans,” she said.

The director of research and evaluation reports to the executive director of teaching and learning under the recently modified organization structure in Wayzata Public Schools. Arrington is tasked with providing leadership and management to the functions of student data management and analysis, research data and survey analysis, education program evaluation and student testing services.

She is already a fan of the district’s local assessment tests, the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP). Her past research at her last district identified the MAP test as a powerful tool and she is excited for the opportunity to examine data from this standardized test.

Drawing on her past experience in Illinois, Arrington plans on standardizing how the teachers and principals examine student data by creating a committee with representatives from all of the district’s buildings.

Her first goal is to build relationships as much as possible with building administrators and teachers in order to be as effective as possible in her position. Being new to the district and the state, Arrington said she is familiarizing herself with her new surroundings, team members and the different education standards. She said she is very thankful for her knowledgeable team members and staff as she begins her work with Wayzata Public Schools.

Brenda Arrington

Sarabeth deNeui Wayzata Public Schools has hired Sarabeth deNeui (pronounced Deny) as the new 10th grade associate principal.

Formerly the director of students at St. Louis Park High School, deNeui has 12 years experience working in St. Louis Park Public Schools and earned her undergraduate degree at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa, and completed her post-graduate work at Mankato State University.

After working as an elementary teacher and moving to a high school position, deNeui said she really enjoys working with students and helping them plan for their future. Her short term goals after beginning at WHS are to meet and get to know the staff in the building and get ready for the start of school. She has experience with small unique

populations of students from working with a Smaller Learning Communities (SLC) Grant from the federal government at St. Louis Park High School. She used the grant to purchase curriculum for English as a Second Language (ESL) students and it is being used for a ESL speech class next fall.

At Wayzata High School, deNeui will be the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program advisor. The program’s mission is to ensure that all students, especially middle-performing students, will succeed in the most rigorous curriculum; enter mainstream activities; increase their enrollment in four-year colleges; and become educated, responsible participants and leaders in society.

Sarabeth deNeui

Brad Gustafson Looking forward to meeting all of Greenwood Elementary’s students in the fall, the new principal, Brad Gustafson is getting familiar with his new surroundings and planning for the start of the school year.

Since starting his position on July 1, Gustafson said he has had the opportunity to meet with a few parents and students during summer tutoring sessions and is excited about the high expectations that parents have of the school. “That’s great. That’s what we, as educators, want to see in parents – a real team effort.”

His initial goal as the new principal is to maintain the momentum that Greenwood has built up. “I’m not interested in change simply to change,” he added. He’s looking forward to and planning for his staff’s first meeting of the school year that takes place in August. The meeting is an opportunity for his staff to get to know him and to meet as a

team to work on the education plan for this school year.

As parents and students come in this summer, Gustafson said he is making a concerted effort to meet with them and listen to their concerns. At this point though, he said he is likely to be the least of any parent’s worries though, as most parents and students wonder who their teacher will be in the fall. He is working to make families feel comfortable and to allow students to grow to their potential.

Gustafson was previously the principal at Tracy Area Elementary School in Tracy, Minnesota. He started his career as a second grade teacher for the North Branch Schools. He received his bachelor of science degree and master of science degree from St. Cloud State University and his education specialist degree from Minnesota State University at Mankato.

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Brad Gustafson

Welcome

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Welcome to new staff members continued Jill Johnson Jill Johnson has hit the ground running and has outlined her immediate priorities for the remainder of the summer and the 2010-11 school year as Wayzata Public Schools’ new executive director of teaching and learning.

Johnson said with the change of the department’s name and the new jobs created prior to her hiring, the district will see a shift in responsibilities for student and staff development. Her top priorities since starting are to communicate this change to the community, assemble her new team and build in it a sense of community and learn everyone’s responsibilities and areas of expertise in order to carry out the job responsibilities.

“Our core business is teaching and learning,” said Johnson. “We want to move the district to an even better spot than it has been in, while providing the best education possible for students by personalizing their learning experience.”

As the principal of Richfield High School, Johnson said she gained a lot of experience with change and improvement because of the shifting demographic of the city. She said her experience provided her with the skills necessary to make changes in a way that motivated people instead of scaring them.

As one of the original participants in the Principal Leadership Across Minnesota group, Johnson gained valuable experience through

professional development training at the National Institution of School Leadership in Washington, D.C. and has been training principals throughout the state for the past three to five years. She possesses a strong sense of where the district needs to be and keeps her focus on attaining the goal instead of floundering in the mentality of just trying.

With regard to the changes to what is now the department of teaching and learning, Johnson said “The way Superintendent Chace Anderson restructured the department is very strategic.” The structure leads to a lot of collaboration and teamwork. The new structure prevents any one individual from becoming overwhelmed with responsibility and provides the ability to focus on their area of expertise.

She said Wayzata Public Schools is also unique in a very beneficial way toward student education in that it uses a bottom to top approach for innovation. Many of the innovative instructional methods are developed by the creative teaching staff in the district and are then examined by district leadership in order to quantify the results and apply the instructional methods elsewhere as necessary. She said this model allows for a lot more innovation than a top-down approach.

Johnson said she looks forward to continuing Wayzata Public Schools’ reputation for excellence in education and will enjoy the challenge of developing new methods to improve the learning experience for all of the district’s students.

Jill Johnson

Shelly Nelson Shelly Nelson, the district’s former alternative compensation supervisor, began as the district’s director of curriculum and instruction on July 1.

Her position is part of the restructuring of the teaching and learning department by Superintendent Chace Anderson. “I think it was a good organizational change for the district that allows more focus on each area of development in the district,” said Nelson about the restructured department.

As the director of curriculum and instruction, Nelson said she will work as part of a team to review and develop curriculum as necessary to continue the education growth of all students in the district. Her position is teamed with the director of academic excellence and equity, the director of research and evaluation and the alternative compensation coordinator and she reports to the executive director of teaching and learning.

“I’m excited about the team I’ll be working with and the strong sense of collaboration and diversity in experience. We will complement each other well,” said Nelson.

Having the opportunity to collaborate as a team in a more effective manner, her work will take a more instructional focus to increase student achievement, said Nelson.

Currently, the district is in the process of reviewing the science curriculum, said Nelson. This review process timeline is aligned with recent changes at the state level for science standards. The Alternative Learning Center curriculum is also under review. Beginning this year, the district’s social studies curriculum is up for review. Nelson said the teaching and learning team will also be monitoring student achievement data to identify potential curricular and instructional needs to ensure student achievement is increasing. She will also be working with the Brad Anderson, the district’s alternative compensation supervisor, to tie in staff professional development to maintain effective teaching practices in the district’s schools.

Nelson began her employment with Wayzata Public Schools in 1986 and has served as an elementary teacher, math resource teacher, dean of students and elementary summer school administrator. She received her advanced degrees at the University of Minnesota.

Shelly Nelson

Wayzata Public Schools undergoes summer building projects

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everal construction projects have been underway during the summer to improve buildings and grounds in Wayzata Public Schools.

Individual building projects completed this summer include the following: • At Birchview, a parent drop off and pick-up parking lot area is being expanded.

• At Gleason Lake, lockdown locksets are being installed on interior doors.

• At Greenwood, the Vision 21 area is being remodeled.

• At Kimberly Lane, lockdown locksets are being installed on interior doors.

• At Oakwood, new lighting and ceilings and cabinets are being installed in the east corridor in 12 rooms.

• At Plymouth Creek, flooring projects are underway this summer.

• At Sunset Hill, the café windows are receiving tinting and the publishing center is being remodeled.

• At Central Middle School, a science lab is being remodeled as a computer lab, an upgrade to room C-03 is being completed and store-

room C26 is being turned into a classroom.

Exterior improvements include the sidewalk to the ice arena and parking lot overlay.

• At East Middle School, masonry restoration is being completed as well as window and door replacements. A new wall is being installed at the swimming pool. As part of the district’s continuing indoor air quality project, five air handlers are being replaced with cooling and energy recovery. Also at EMS, a new high efficiency boiler is being installed and the health office is being remodeled.

• At West Middle School, lockers are being repainted and some classroom doors and hardware will be replaced. The stage was improved with new lighting and new stage curtains.

• At the high school, security improvements are being installed at the athletics entrance to match the building’s new front door security measures that were installed last summer. Three special education rooms and the culinary arts classroom are being remodeled. The culinary arts classroom is receiving stainless steel tables and new exhaust systems.

During the summer, a security entrance similar to the main entrance at Wayzata High School, was installed at the athletics department entrance. The improvements include security doors, check-in counter and ticket sales counter. Several floor to ceiling trophy cases will also be installed in the lobby as part of the remodel.

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School closings or late start information

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f inclement weather forces Wayzata Public Schools to close, start late or dismiss early, one of the three following announcements will be made: 1. Two-hour late start: All K-12 schools will open two hours later than regular start times. Morning kindergarten classes will be cancelled. All Family Learning Center (FLC), early childhood family education (ECFE), Peppermint Fence, and Care for Kids programs, and community education’s morning classes and activities will be cancelled. Home Base programs will open two hours later than regular start times. All after-school and evening classes and activities will meet as scheduled.

2. No school: All K-12 schools will be closed for the entire day. All FLC and ESCE classes, activities and athletics will be cancelled for the day. All community education after-school activities including Home Base programs will be cancelled. Evening community education and ECFE classes will also be cancelled.

3. Emergency early dismissal: All K-12 schools will close early and students will be sent home. If school is dismissed early, the buses will pick up students in the following order:

• Dismissal #1 – Wayzata High School, Greenwood and Oakwood • Dismissal #2 (will begin about 55 minutes after dismissal #1) – Central, East, and West middle schools, Holy Name, St. Bartholomew, Redeemer Lutheran and FAIR School shuttles • Dismissal #3 (will begin about 45 minutes after dismissal #2) – Birchview, Gleason Lake, Kimberly Lane, Plymouth Creek, Sunset Hill and Blake-Highcroft FLC and ECSE classes and activities for the remainder of the day (afternoon and evening) will be cancelled. All community education after school and evening classes will also be cancelled for the balance of the day.

If possible, a decision to close or delay the start of school will be made by 5:30 a.m.

School closing or late start announcements for Wayzata Public Schools will be on WCCO 830 AM radio; WCCO-TV, Channel 4; KSTPTV Channel 5; KMSP/FOX-TV, Channel 9; KARE-TV, Channel 11; and posted on the district’s website at www.wayzata.k12. mn.us. Phone calls using the district’s parent notification system will also be made to all parents and staff members.

WPSEF pancake breakfast planned September 25 at WHS

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he Wayzata Public Schools Education Foundation (WPSEF) has planned its second annual pancake breakfast on Saturday, September 25 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Wayzata High School.

This event is open to students, parents and alumni and is jointly sponsored by

the WPSEF and the Wayzata High School Student Council. Tickets will be sold beginning in September at WHS and will also be available on the WPSEF website.

All proceeds benefit the WPSEF to further its mission to maintain the high quality of education in Wayzata Public Schools.

Wayzata Public Schools students score well on MCA-II

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ayzata Public Schools students continue to score well on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment II (MCA-II). Results from the 2010 MCA-II test show that approximately 84.49 percent of Wayzata students are proficient in math and 89.74 percent are proficient in reading up from 84 and 89 respectively.

The MCA-IIs are the state reading and mathematics tests that meet the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Each year, the assessments measure student performance on the Minnesota Academic Standards, which define what students should know and be able to do in a particular grade. The MCAII was first administered in 2006 and is aligned to Minnesota’s more rigorous academic standards. This year was the fourth time that English Language Learners (ELL) took the MTELL alternative assessment in math and special education students with severe cognitive disabilities took the MTAS alternative assessment.

The mathematics MCA-II was

taken this spring by students in grades three through eight and 11.

The reading MCA-II was taken by students in grades three through eight and 10.

On the MCA-II, each student earns a score that falls in one of four achievement levels: • Does not meet the standards • Partially meets the standards • Meets the standards • Exceeds the standards.

Students who meet or exceed the standards on the MCA-II are considered to be proficient in the subject area.

Sometime early this school year, Wayzata Public Schools will be sending MCA-II reports to parents explaining their child’s individual results. This report gives parents information on their child’s reading and mathematics skills and shows their child’s performance compared to other students taking the same assessment. School and district officials also use the information from the MCA-IIs to improve classroom teaching and learning.

WHS sports schedules are online

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he most current schedules for all Wayzata High School athletic teams are available online. For current and up-to-date athletic schedules and directions, visit the Lake Conference website, www.lakeconference.org and click on “Member Schools” then “Wayzata

High School,” then on “Advanced View” and pick the schedule you are interested in. Directions to athletic venues can also be found on the site. You can also go to www. wayzata.k12.mn.us/whs/ and click on “Athletics and Activities” on the left side of the screen.

Calendars at a glance

2010-2011

2011-2012

Tuesday, September 7, 2010 ….........….........................… School begins

Tuesday, September 6, 2011 ….........….........................… School begins

Thursday, October 21-Friday, October 22 ............ No school for students

Thursday, October 20-Friday, October 21 ............ No school for students

Thursday, November 11-Friday, November 12 .... No school for students

Thursday, November 10-Friday, November 11 .... No school for students

Wednesday, November 24-Friday, November 26... No school for students

Wednesday, November 23-Friday, November 25... No school for students

Thursday, December 23-Friday December 31, 2010 .No school for students

Thursday, December 22-Monday, January 2, 2012 .. No school for students

Monday, January 17 ............................................. No school for students

Monday, January 16 ............................................. No school for students

Friday, January 28 ................................................ No school for students

Friday, January 27 ................................................ No school for students

Monday, February 21 ........................................... No school for students

Monday, February 20 ........................................... No school for students

Thursday, March 31-Friday, April 8 ..................... No school for students

Thursday, March 29-Friday, March 30 ................. No school for students

Monday, May 30 .................................................. No school for students

Monday, April 2-Friday, April 6 ........................... No school for students

Wednesday, June 8 .................................... Last day of school for students

Monday, May 28 .................................................. No school for students Thursday, June 7 ..................................... Last day of school for students

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In Brief

WPS grounds to be treated The lawns and playfields of Wayzata Public Schools were treated with a weed and feed product on August 6, 7 and 8 and/ or August 13, 14 and 15 depending on weather conditions. A licensed, professional company will treat the lawn and play field areas.

Although the fields can be used shortly after treatment, any person with sensitivities or allergies to these products should take precautions.

Not all fields and areas will be treated.

Specific information may be obtained at the school site or at the Central Services Facility.

For more information, call 763-745-5150.

Parenting with Vision event planned October 13

Wayzata Public Schools Parenting with Vision has planned an event Wednesday, October 13 with guest speaker Plymouth Police and district School Resource Officer Randall Richardson called, “Your Kid’s Technology: It’s more than Facebook,” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Central Middle School room A413.

This presentation is geared for middle school parents and will provide awareness about online safety and how threats online are constantly changing for children.

Richardson will also talk about the risks of cyberbullying, revealing too much information and online predators.

Parenting with Vision is sponsored by the Wayzata PTA/PTO Liaison Committee, Wayzata Public Schools and Communities in Collaboration Council. This event is free and open to the public and no registration is necessary. For more information, call 763745-5200.

WPSEF grant program renewed for 2010-11

The Wayzata Public Schools Education Foundation (WPSEF) is renewing its “From Excellent to Exceptional” grant program for the 2010-11 school year.

This program funds small projects that extend the regular curriculum in collaborative and innovative ways and awards up to $10,000 to staff members that develop and submit projects. The WPSEF will accept applications beginning in September. Submissions are due November 1 and successful applicants will be notified in January 2011 with funds available in February 2011.

For more information or to view previous grant award winners, visit www.wpsef.org.

Change of enrollment notification now online

Wayzata Public Schools’ yellow “Change of Enrollment Notification” cards will no longer be sent home with students this year and instead, the form should be filled out on the district’s website at www.wayzata. k12.mn.us.

The district’s Change of Enrollment Notification form should be filled out by families moving out of the district, moving to another address in the district or not attending Wayzata Public Schools for any reason in the 2010-11 school year.

To fill out the form online, visit the district’s website and click on the Change of Enrollment Notification badge on the right side of the page.

2010-11 school board meeting schedule

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he following is the schedule of school board meetings for the 2010-11 school year.

• August 23 — work session • September 13 — regular meeting • September 27 — work session • October 11 — regular meeting • October 25 — work session • November 8 — regular meeting • November 22 — work session • December 6 — special work session - organizational • December 13 — regular meeting • December 20 — work session • January 10 — organizational/regular meeting • January 24 — work session • February 14 — regular meeting • February 28 — work session • March 14 — regular meeting • March 28 — work session • April 11 — regular meeting • April 25 — work session • May 9 — regular meeting • May 23 — work session

• June 13 — regular meeting • June 27 — work session The start time of regular meetings is 7 p.m. Work sessions begin at 4 p.m.

A list of agenda items for each work session, regular and special board meeting is posted in all district buildings prior to the meeting and on the district’s website (www.wayzata.k12.mn.us).

Regular board meetings are held in Wayzata City Hall, 600 Rice Street, Wayzata, and work sessions are held in the board room of the District Administration building, 210 County Road 101 North, Plymouth. In addition, all regular board meetings are scheduled to be cablecast live and replayed on ED’s TV, the West Metro Education Channel. ED’s TV can be found on the following channels: • Cable Channel 22 — Comcast Cable, Plymouth and northwest suburbs • Cable Channel 19 — MediaCom Cable, Wayzata and Lake Minnetonka area • Cable Channel 17 — Comcast Cable, Minnetonka and southwest suburbs (replay only) For replay dates and times, check the “School Board Meetings” section of the ED’s TV web pages on the district’s website.

WHS will host first JamFEST fundraiser October 9

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ayzata High School will host its first JamFEST fundraiser on October 9 from 2 to 7 p.m. in the school to benefit the Fund-A-Need program and replace the district’s annual Gala event.

With the help of Lucas Phelan from KDWB Radio, JamFEST will feature a Battle of the Bands competition, local celebrities, a WHS version of “The Amazing Race,” food

vendors and dozens of activities.

Students and clubs will be participating in the JamFEST through their creation of booths and volunteering their time.

Admission to JamFEST is $10 and for children six and under, the event is free.

For more information on how to volunteer, register to have your band be involved in the Battle of the Bands or to see updates about the event, visit the Facebook page: WHS

JamFEST ’10.

The Fund-A-Need Program is an organization within the high school that assists students who would otherwise not be able to participate in various activities, field trips, or basic needs of clothing, food and school supplies. With the current state of the economy, we are seeing more and more students who are referred to, or utilizing Fund-A-Need within WHS.

District seeking parents to serve on website redesign committee

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ayzata Public Schools is beginning the process of reconfiguring and redesigning its website and is seeking parent volunteers to serve on the parent website working group.

The purpose of the parent website working group is to provide input and feedback on design, navigation and function for the district’s redesigned/reconfigured website including school and program pages. The parent working group will be asked to provide feedback on drafts developed by the staff website working group.

The parent website working group will be facilitated by Bob Noyed, director of communication, and Wade Phillips, director of technology.

The group will include 12-15 members. While “non-techie” parents are encouraged to apply to serve on the group, the district is also looking for parents with technical, web communication, marketing and other related backgrounds.

The parent working group will meet three times. All meetings will

be held at 6-8 p.m. on the following schedule: • Tuesday, October 26 • Tuesday, November 16 • Tuesday, January 11 The overall vision for the website reconfiguration/redesign project is to re-create the district’s website along with school and program pages, and the staff Intranet in order to accomplish the following: • Enhance the district’s web presence • Focus content to address the greatest interests of site visitors • Utilize the website as the district’s primary engagement tool with parents, staff members and community members If you are interested in serving on the parent website working group, send a short description of your interest and qualifications for serving on the group to Bob Noyed at robert.noyed@wayzata.k12. mn.us, or call with questions at 763-745-5068.

Wayzata Public Schools 2010-11 calendar now available

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he Wayzata Public Schools’ 2010-11 district calendar is now available. Calendars have been mailed to all families in the district and extra copies are available in all district buildings. Call the district office at 763-745-5000 to request a copy.

WHS Festival of Nations

8 WPS launches Facebook fan page

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hether you are a Wayzata student, an alumnus, a local business person, parent, grandparent, or a fan of the Wayzata Public Schools, you are invited to join the Wayzata Public Schools Facebook page.

The WPS Facebook page provides friends of the district with an opportunity to stay in touch with what’s happening in the district with news posts and event listings, connect with alumni and staff that participate on the site and share in dialogue about the future of education in Wayzata Public Schools.

To become a fan, visit www.facebook.com and search for Wayzata Public Schools.

Employees of the Month Two employees have been recognized as Employees of the Month since the previous edition of the Communicator.

They are: •July 2010 — Kim Hilt, driver education coordinator with community education • August 2010 — Jim Leuer, maintenance foreman with buildings and grounds department

Nonprofit Org. US Postage PAID Wayzata, MN Permit 43

The second annual Wayzata High School Festival of Nations attracted a crowd of 550 participants last spring to visit the 28 countries represented at the event. The event features WHS high school students representing their ethnic heritage with displays of artifacts, food samples and traditional clothing. The event is organized by WHS ELL teacher Fauzia Siddiqui. Pictured above, Kathleen Jiang (at right) demonstrates Chinese character writing with Leona Cao (at Left), both juniors, during the Chinese culture table.

The Communicator is published for residents and staff of Wayzata Public Schools. Contact Bob Noyed, director of communication, at 763-745-5068 or robert.noyed@wayzata.k12.mn.us with questions or comments.

Communicator

Wayzata Public Schools 210 County Road 101 N. P.O. Box 660 Wayzata, MN 55391-0060

August 2010

Immunization program planned for WPS

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innesota law requires immunizations, or written proof of exemption, for school-age children to attend school. Parents and students are encouraged to work with their primary care clinic to assure that immunizations are up to date.

Park Nicollet Foundation, through its Healthy Communities Initiative, is collaborating with 22 school districts (including Wayzata Public Schools) and area primary care clinics to help meet these requirements. As part of the “No Shots, No School” program, clinics allow “enhanced access” for children needing immunizations.

This program is available in August and the first two weeks of September. A parent or legal guardian must be present during immunizations. If possible, parents should bring their

children’s immunization history.

Participating clinics have agreed to: • provide immunization-only visits usually on a same-day appointment basis • immunize children without requirement of a doctor visit or preventive care exam at that visit • immunize children not previously established as patients with the clinic • provide immunizations to children with no direct charge to families Local clinics participating in “No Shots, No School” are listed on the district’s website. Please call ahead to arrange an appointment for an immunization-only visit.

Education credit and subtraction benefits parents

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arents are eligible for a state tax credit or subtraction for costs of their children’s education or related materials. This credit is available to parents of children in kindergarten through high school and the maximum credit available is $1,000 per child. The credit can be used to offset the cost of tutors, academic books and materials, fees paid for transportation, music lessons, after school programs and

academic summer camps to earn the credit. It can also be used to offset the cost of computer hardware or education software with a $200 limit.

To receive the credit, fill out form M-1ED. To use the subtraction, fill out the worksheet on the back of form M-1.

The forms are available online at www.taxes.state.mn.us

Walk for Kids and Families planned September 11

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he Walk for Kids and Families fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, September 11 from 9:15 to 11 a.m. at Klapprich Park and is the kickoff event for the James J. Hill Days.

The event is organized by the Caring for Kids Initiative (CfKI), which is a collaborative partnership among Wayzata Public Schools’ Family Learning Center, Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners and Kids Care Connection Child Care Center. CfKI scholarships provide low-income families in the

community with access to quality early childhood programs, parent education and family support to ensure all children in Wayzata Public Schools enter kindergarten ready to learn.

To register for The Walk for Kids and Families online, visit the website at www.iocp.org, or pick up a brochure at Wayzata Schools Community Education and Family Learning Center offices. For more information, email jiversarch@comcast.net, or lkotten@comcast.net, or call the CfKI office at 952-288-2568.