fall 2013 MOVING TOWARDS the FUTURE Embracing educa on today, the Canal Winchester School District is working towards changes to prepare our students for their future. Incorpora ng technology, collabora ve learning and engaging students in the classroom every day provides the skills necessary to succeed in the ever changing world we live in. This newsle"er provides a snapshot of some of the programs and transforma ons being made that are essen al in educa ng our students today, to prepare for tomorrow. Blended Learning? Blended learning is where educa on is headed. But first you might ask, what exactly is blended learning? Blended learning is a combina on of online technology with face-toface instruc on from the teacher. Simple, yet the possibili es are endless in how this impacts our students. Blended learning can provide a unique way of not only engaging students in collaborative work and projects, but also personalizing and individualizing instruction for students to work at their own pace. Colleges and universities are already providing completely online classes in addition to blended learning. In the blended learning model an example might be students viewing material online and then attend an actual classroom to have discussion on the topic. Often this is called a flipped classroom. Covering material outside of class then doing the homework in class. Teachers in our district are currently working on variations of this model. Blended learning also caters to different learning styles such as visual, auditory and sensory or any combination of those. Brian Ames, a social studies teacher at the middle school, has been using an app called Schoology. Mr. Ames said, "One of the thrilling things about incorpora ng this kind of technology in the classroom is the increased engagement that I see from students. Students enjoy interac ng and discussing the topics we cover on our classroom discussion board. One feature of the Schoology app allows students to take quizzes online. The results are instant and can iden fy quickly any common ques ons that are incorrect, meaning more me spent on that topic before moving on to the next lesson. Mr. Ames stated, From a teacher s perspec ve, it is incredibly helpful to be able to get instant feedback and usable data from automa cally scored online quizzes. This informa on allows me to make immediate instruc onal adjustments specifically tailored to each class. I know that I have only begun to explore the possibili es and advantages that blended learning might add to my classroom, and that is exci ng!
Bring Your Own Device Canal Winchester High School is implemen ng Bring Your Own Device or BYOD. This opens up a new world for students to use their own personal devices (laptops, netbooks, tablets, smart phones, etc.) during the school day. (The Canal Winchester Middle School will announce this program in the near future!) By allowing students to use their own devices we are increasing the access students have to the technology they need to succeed. It also provides opportuni es to collaborate with other students. **Students need teacher permission to use during class and must follow district policy. Students also need to register for the school s wireless by logging into their Google apps account from anywhere to fill out the form. New Look to Math Blended learning on a larger scale is happening in our middle school. Introduced this year is the new Digits curriculum. Middle school math classes are engaging in this concept, personalizing student learning and providing op mal instruc onal me for teachers in the classroom. The program is new and of course with any change there can be a ge ng-used-to curve for students and teachers, although the students in Mrs. Kebe s 7th grade math class gave a consensus, don t make us go back to textbooks for homework. Students complete homework online and receive instant results. Seventh grade student Jake Haskins said, This homework is so much be er. If I do the first problem wrong I know it right away and can figure out my mistake or hit the help bu on for sugges ons. Before I could have done the whole page wrong and then not know I did them wrong un l the teacher graded it. Ms. Frosini s 6th grade math class was on task as they began a new topic through the interac ve white-board in the classroom. Working together students were sharing ideas on how to solve the problem and the tools that would help them complete the homework later that evening. While the system provides instant results for students it also provides a quicker way for teachers to analyze the student data. Teachers do spend less me grading homework but more me preparing for the instruc onal lessons. Ms. Frosini stated, but that s how it should be, teachers spending me where it has the most impact for the students. High school students have also been using a similar program to enhance classroom instruc on and the assist in homework help called Math XL. In Digits and Math XL there are assistance bu ons. View an Example gives students step-by-step instruc ons on how to solve the problem. Addi onally, Help Me Solve This walks students through the actual problem, then provides an iden cal problem with new numbers for the student to a empt on their own. These features are beneficial to students when trying to complete homework and a teacher or parent is not available to assist them. APEX Learning System Something new to the district this year is the use of APEX at the high school and middle school. APEX is a digital curriculum in math, science, English, social studies, world languages, and Advanced Placement and is widely used for original credit, credit recovery, remedia on, interven on, accelera on, and exam prepara on. This goes along with the blended learning in the classroom and the opportunity for teachers to access outside resources to support students. APEX helps those students who have failed a class or did not complete a class and need to recover that credit. APEX provides that opportunity to do that in a quicker manner and along with the ability to accelerate their educa on and graduate early. We currently have 22 students enrolled in the APEX program and are seeing success for those students. By con nuing to provide this alternate learning environment our district opens the door to students who would choose an online school environment versus a tradi onal classroom. 3
Google Apps for Education Canal Winchester Local Schools are going Google. This year, we are u lizing the FREE cloud-based resource provided by Google called Google Apps for Educa on. We will be joining over 8 million other students and teachers that are already using Google Apps at schools around the world. With this resource, students and staff will be empowered to problem solve, collaborate, communicate, and innovate in ways not previously available to them. Students and staff will have the power of Google Apps suppor ng them as they learn. The Google Apps for Educa on pla orm is cloud-based, which means it is 100% powered by the web. The informa on and tools are accessible and can be edited on almost any device that can connect to the Internet. Fast, easy collabora on opens a world of possibili es with Google Apps for Educa on. With access to Google Apps, they will be able to create, share, and collaborate on assignments with classmates and teachers. The sharing tools available in Google Apps provide an ideal environment for collabora ve learning. We are excited to offer Google Apps as it represents an important step towards developing a 21st century approach to curriculum and learning. These tools will support the high levels of collabora on that are required in today s classroom to prepare students with the communica on and collabora on skills they re going to need. As the staff and students become more familiar with Google Apps and its capabili es, we are sure to see students grow into effec ve and responsible ci zens capable of naviga ng through the ever changing wonders of the 21st century. GUIDELINES: Students will be provided filtered, logged email accounts in grades 2-12 with the following restric ons: Grades 2-5 Only allowed to email teachers Grades 6-8 Allowed to email students within grades 6-8 Allowed to email teachers Grades 9-12 Allowed to email students within grades 9-12 Allowed to email teachers Allowed to email school approved domains outside the school district All students must follow the student code of conduct, school board policies, and the Acceptable Use Policy of the Canal Winchester Local School District when using the school provided email. Science Olympiad Did you know that the Canal Winchester Middle School and High School have Science Olympiad Teams that compete with other local, regional and state-wide schools in a science compe on called Science Olympiad? Science Olympiad is a na onal non-profit organiza on dedicated to improving the quality of K-12 science educa on, increasing male, female and minority interest in science, crea ng a technologically-literate workforce and providing recogni on for outstanding achievement by both students and teachers. CW teams have been regional winners going to the state tournament on The Ohio State University Campus and compe ng with schools from all over Ohio. We need YOUR help - there are 23 events and we are looking for mentors and volunteers to help lead one or more events for these great students - you do not necessarily have to have a science degree - we need individuals who understand the need to inspire, support, and help kids ready themselves for these compe ons. Which means that we will need your help at one prac ce a week - as well as going to compe ons around the region. If you have any ques ons, or would like to volunteer please call Joan Hatley at 614-519-1517 or email her at joanhatley@gmail.com. Science, Technology, Engineering & Math The superintendent appointed a commi ee comprised of district teachers and administrators to ini ate conversa ons and ac vity to develop a STEM ini a ve for Canal Winchester Local Schools. The commi ee has visited several schools in the Columbus area to gain insight on innova ve and successful programs. The commi ee visited the McVey Innova ve Learning Center with Hilliard Schools and Summit Road STEM Elementary and the STEM Summit Campus High School in Reynoldsburg. Addi onal site visits are being scheduled. Exci ng opportuni es on the horizon!
Social & Emotional Learning for All Research shows that social and emo onal learning (SEL) can have a posi ve impact on students' academic performance. When students work together on project teams, they learn to collaborate, communicate, and resolve conflicts. Coopera ve learning and character development supports the social and emo onal development of students and prepares them for the future. Educa ng the whole child by including social and emo onal skills with academics is cri cal for success in school and in life. Below is part of a research review by Rick Rieser. Through a grant Mr. Rieser has been working in the Canal Winchester School District. He is an A"orney and Child/Adolescent Behavioral Healthcare Professional. Social and emo3onal learning (SEL) involves the development of: Self-awareness, like knowing your strengths and limita3ons Self-management, like being able to stay in control and persevere through challenges Social awareness, like understanding and empathizing with others Rela3onship skills, like being able to work in teams and resolve conflicts Responsible decision-making, like making ethical and safe choices Social Emo onal Learning provides students with opportuni es to contribute to their class, school, and community and experience the sa sfac on, sense of belonging, and enhanced mo va on that comes from such involvement. BENEFITS-The findings from several individual studies and narra ve reviews indicate that SEL programs are associated with posi ve results such as improved a4tudes about the self and others, increased pro-social behavior, lower levels of problem behaviors and emo onal distress, and improved academic performance. Specific benefits include: Increased Academic Performance Increased Student Interest in Learning Student Behavior Improvement Reduced Harmful Student Interac ons (Bullying) School Climate Improvement Further, social emo onal learning programming fosters students social-emo onal development through establishing safe, caring learning environments involving peer and family ini a ves, improved classroom management and teaching prac ces, and wholeschool community-building ac vi es Together these components promote personal and environmental resources so that students feel valued, experience greater intrinsic mo va on to achieve, and develop a broadly applicable set of social-emo onal competencies that mediate be"er academic performance, health-promo ng behavior, and ci zenship. In Our Buildings Social Skills Class Grades K-2 Star ng with the very basics students learn what words mean and what they LOOK like. The students here are learning what it looks like and feels like to be pa ent and wait their turn while others in the class are playing with ADAHM grant for counselor at IT & WT bubbles! Auto-B-Good Grades 3-5 Theme revolves around CARS Caring A ributes of Responsible Students Students learn about characteris cs and then work on modeling those. Students nominate those in their class who demonstrate good characteris cs and recognize them at the C.A.R. show. This Includes pit crews selected to be helpers and leaders in the school each 9 weeks. STAR Grades 6-8 Students Taking Advantage of Resources. Time is spent each day developing academic and social skills. Aside from teacher instruc on there are peer-to-peer presenta ons and lessons. Students are engaged in acquiring knowledge for all facets of life. FOCUS Grades 9-12 Teachers and students make relevant connec ons to build academic rela onships, open up dialogue and work on building a strong sense of self! FOCUS on self FOCUS on team FOCUS on academics FOCUS on now FOCUS on future FOCUS on community 3
Tax Payer Bill of Rights To further enhance our commitment to quality schools at a great value to taxpayers, school district leadership, in consulta on with the community members and the Business Advisory Commi ee, wanted to create something that will serve as the founda on to help us achieve not only the goals set forth in the 3 Point Plan for Financial Stability, but also an overall mission that reflects the community s values in ensuring that the district is using the taxpayers money efficiently and transparently. To address these needs, we have created the Canal Winchester Schools Taxpayer Bill of Rights. It s community driven and it represents the district s pledge to conserva ve fiscal management. It includes the following: Canal Winchester will con nue to find innova ve ways to save taxpayer money while s ll striving for the excellent academic standards we have set for ourselves. Canal Winchester will reaffirm its commitment to fiscal transparency and accountability. All budget informa on will be readily available and easy to access for every ci zen. Canal Winchester Schools will reaffirm its commitment to achieving the goals laid out in the 3 Point Financial Plan and to constantly strive towards maintaining financial stability and quality schools. Financial decisions are not made in a vacuum or as challenges arise, rather, our school leaders and board of educa on remain sensi ve to the fiscal reali es of today, and have an ac on plan to address any challenges ahead. By issuing the Canal Winchester Schools Taxpayer Bill of Rights, our community will be confident in knowing that all financial decisions will be made with these priori es in mind. Over two years ago, the Canal Winchester board of educa on made a commitment to taxpayers that we would work to ensure the district s finances remain in-check, while s ll protec ng the quality schools that our residents value. We also knew we must come up with a specific plan to deal with our immediate financial challenges, including stagnate revenues, the uncertainty of state and federal funding, and the poten al fiscal cliff we face if an emergency levy is not renewed by voters. In response, we developed an ac on plan known as the 3-Point Plan for Financial Stability. We came up with three goals that served as a road map that will keep us on a path of financial stability. Here s a quick update on these goals and the progress we ve made: 3-Point Financial Plan Establish a Cash Balance Policy Just as families maintain money for emergencies, so must schools. That s why our school district has adopted a cash balance policy to ensure financial stability. We ve reached this goal by maintaining a modest cash reserve of one month s annual expenditures. Curb Infla onary Personnel Costs We con nue to watch hiring closely, keeping staffing levels in line with student enrollment. Addi onally, we con nue to review how we compensate staff. Our goal is to have high quality teachers in the classroom in the most efficient manner for taxpayers. A er receiving a 0% increase in the base salary over the past 4 out of 5 years, a 1% increase was agreed on in 2013-14. Our employees also pay more towards their health care costs than all but ONE school district in all of Franklin County. Create a Plan for a Longer Term Levy to Avoid a Fiscal Cliff We are commi ed to breaking the constant cycle of levy requests by exploring, with community support, breaking the endless levy cycle and consider longer term levies to protect us from being on that financial edge too o en. With the possibility of an upcoming renewal levy this spring, we are talking with community members about extending the term of the levy beyond three years. That way voters will con nue to have a voice in approval of this levy, but for a me period that allows our school district to plan more reliably for the future. Upcoming Financial Discussions During the upcoming Board of Educa on Mee ngs there will be discussion on the financial future of our district. The current levy will expire on December 31st, 2014. With that expira on the district will lose 5.8 million dollars out of the $35 million dollar budget. Saturday November 16th SPECIAL Board Mee ng - 8:30AM discussion on specific levy op ons Monday November 18th 7PM Regular Board Mee ng Monday December 16th 7PM Regular Board Mee ng Always check our webpage for news and more details about upcoming events. www.cwschools.org Follow Superintendent Mr. Jim Sotlar on Twi er for quick info on daily ac vi es in the district. @JSotlar Check out the district Facebook page for informa on and reminders. Search Canal Winchester Schools
Update from the Treasurer Every May and October, the Ohio Department of Educa on requires an update of the five-year financial forecast of all public schools. The purpose is to provide a planning tool for Boards of Educa on to analyze the trends within the school district budget. The forecast is a snapshot in me that changes as new informa on becomes known. On October 21, the Board of Educa on reviewed a very lean but stable five-year financial forecast for the district. Much of this stability can be a ributed to Canal Winchester School s focus on conserva ve fiscal management and efficient budge ng. The school district has worked hard to live within its means, and reduced $3 million from the budget over the past three years. The district and board have enacted a sensible and efficient budget for taxpayers, while s ll protec ng the classroom and the high quality programs our community values. As we look to the future, a major factor contribu ng to the stability of our schools and community is an upcoming emergency levy that is set to expire on December 31st, 2014. This levy is vital to our day-to-day opera ons and represents over $5.8 million of our current funding. The superintendent, board of educa on and I are in the process of talking about this levy and its impact on our schools and community. The Canal Winchester community has made it very clear that it wants a solid educa onal product at a great value. We agree, and we have worked hard and in a very transparent way to communicate with our residents about both the good news as well as the challenges facing our district. We look forward to this con nued dialogue and deciding what it takes to maintain and protect excellence in both our community and schools. Joyce Boyer Treasurer, Canal Winchester Schools Important Dates Nov 5 Nov 6 NO SCHOOL Conversation w/ the Superintendent Nov 11 High School College Application Day Nov 16 SPECIAL Board Meeting Nov 18 Board Meeting Nov 20 Parent Information Night: Focus on Special Education Nov 27-29 Thanksgiving Break Dec 9 NO SCHOOL Dec 16 Board Meeting Dec 21-Jan 6 Winter Break Check our website for more details www.cwschools.org