Dear Jaguar Families, It S Amazing That We Are Already Finished with the First Quarter

October 16, 2014 Dear Jaguar Families, It’s amazing that we are already finished with the first quarter of the school year. Our International Night was a huge success last week. I am always amazed at the wonderful food that is brought in by our families and then the incredible talent of our students. It’s a great night to celebrate and honor the diversity of our school. Students started in their new Connection classes this week and are busy with their work. As always, as grades come home, please take a few minutes to review the grades, making sure the students are focusing their energies on “the right stuff.” Our counselors are also busy working with the students and teachers with study skills so that the students can learn some tips for how to study better. Some helpful hints are listed below so that you can better support the children at home each night: • Have a place set aside at home that is free of distractions for study time. • Review the agenda and Edmodo each night to make sure the study time is focused. • Review for upcoming tests and quizzes (review notes, make flash cards, practice skills and basic facts, check out some current educational websites, etc). Sharing GREAT news! Just a couple of great tidbits to share: • Classroom Projector Installation: Our installation is nearing completion since my last letter. The teachers are very excited about this technology addition to the interactive projectors to classrooms. • PTA Mini Grants: Our wonderful PTA has just approved a bunch of mini grants that teachers applied for earlier this year. Our PTA is so generous…..these mini grants will support the work in many of our classrooms. School Governance Council Update: I am including this information again in this month’s newsletter. For those of you who are new to Webb Bridge Middle School, we now have a School Governance Council (SGC) in place of the traditional Local School Advisory Council (LSAC). The SGC is an integral component of Fulton’s Charter System. The SGC) is responsible for setting and monitoring the strategic direction of the school. The Webb Bridge Middle School SGC has nine voting members listed below. The principal serves on the council as a non-voting member. We are getting ready to go through the public comment for Request for Flexibility (RFF). I will send out a School Messenger once the RFF is ready for public review. Webb Bridge Governance Council Members: Tammara Baker Parent, SGC Chair Mary Paradis Appointed Staff Member Parent/Community Nan Bodeep Parent Shaloo Sawhney Member Nan Brown Elected Staff Member Shari Schwalbe Parent Carmen Hurst Elected Staff Member Jessica Tucker Community Member Susan Opferman Principal Michael Vorick Appointed Staff Member

Webb Bridge elected staff and parents to our council last spring and we have been busy attending training together to learn about writing the Strategic Plan for our school. The Webb Bridge Strategic Plan was derived from the results of needs assessments conducted with teachers, students, and parents last spring. Our council just voted on our Strategic Plan and submitted it to the district for final approval of our plan. The plan has three main focus areas: • Instructional Strategies: Utilizing strategies and activities that ensure a high degree of student engagement and student centered learning. • Climate and Culture: Creating a school environment that focuses on building positive relationships. • Student Support: Fostering programs and initiatives that help students grow into mature citizens. The Strategic Plan will be posted on our SGC website sometime next week. Several council members were able to attend the Request for Flexibility training and are excited about all the possibilities that can come with flexibility and seed fund monies. Make sure to check out our SGC website from time to time to stay updated on the progress of our Strategic Plan. Update on the Lighthouse School to Watch visit? Our re-designation visit is scheduled for October 30. I am very excited for the committee to visit so that we can share all the wonderful aspects of our school. As our Administrative team has been in classrooms, the students are learning at high levels, technology is being used to support instruction, and students are excited about their classes. It is a great honor to be designated as a Lighthouse School to Watch and we look forward to sharing all of our great work when the committee comes to visit with us. Georgia Lighthouse Schools to Watch seeks to identify high-performing middle grades schools in Georgia. Georgia was one of the first three states to qualify to be part of the prestigious National Forum Schools to Watch® program. Schools across the country that are committed to a journey of excellence are identified based on their levels of implementation of the 4 domains of the program: Academic Excellence – High-performing schools with middle grades are academically excellent. They challenge all students to use their minds well; Developmental Responsiveness – High-performing schools with middle grades are sensitive to the unique developmental challenges of early adolescence; Social Equity – High-performing schools with middle grades are socially equitable, democratic, and fair. They provide every student with high-quality teachers, resources, learning opportunities, and supports. They keep positive options open for all students; and Organizational Structures and Processes – High-performing schools with middle grades are learning organizations that establish norms, structures, and organizational arrangements to support and sustain their trajectory toward excellence. Follow me on Twitter! Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/Opferman1 if you want regular updates about what is happening at Webb Bridge! It is my pleasure and honor to serve as principal of Webb Bridge Middle School. Please reach out to me if I can be of assistance to you. I am committed to our E3: Exemplify Excellence Every Day! I look forward to meeting all of you in days, weeks, and months ahead! Proud Principal,

Susan Opferman