Emotional 3rd Annual Veterans’ Day Assembly By: Christy Weaver, Bugle Editor SERVING THE TheThe BugleBugle OCTOBER 2009 WOODRIDGE LOCAL SCHOOLS COMMUNITY Survey Says—Students and Staff Agree, Woodridge is a Safe Place to Be Woodridge Schools are a safe and caring place according to 95% of parents felt that their school provides a safe learn- students and parents surveyed by the district last spring. ing environment for all students. Inside this This is important information, because of the impact of learn- Less than 4% of students reported that the adults in their ing climate on children and adolescents. If students do not issue: building did not care about them. feel safe, then common sense as well as achievement data, 13% of students reported being bullied. (Grades 7-12) tell us that they may have trouble with both behavior and 5% of students admitted to bullying. (Grades 7-12) academics. 7% of elementary students felt that other students were WMS Homework 2 mean to them. Center Non-academic barriers like feeling disrespected or being uncomfortable with both teachers and peers can have a 4% of elementary students reported being mean to others. WPS Students of negative impact on our students’ ability to concentrate, re- 2 Less than 5% of the students reported feeling that they the Month flect, and comprehend what they are reading and learning. were treated unfairly by adults in the building. Is Your Child The district’s Continuous Improvement Planning Committee 96% of students felt that they have multiple Gifted in Visual 2 opportunities to participate in co-curricular activities. or Performing recognized this concern when they met in the 2008-2009 Arts? school year and decided to survey parents and students 88% of parents said that their school cared about all stu- about their perceptions of the learning climate in the Wood- dents. Woodridge Graduate ridge Schools. The survey was designed by the Summit 95% of parents said that their school taught students the 2 Receives Emmy County Educational Service Center. They also compiled the difference between right and wrong. Award results and recently made them available to the district. 32% of parents worried about crime and violence in the WIS Boo at the school. 2 School The survey included questions about fair treatment, interac- tions with teachers, interactions with other students, vio- Superintendent Jeff Graham reflected on the survey, “Although Engrave Your lence, and respect among all members of the school commu- the overall results of the survey are positive, until 100% of our Name in 3 kids feel safe and cared about, we still have work to do. In Woodridge nity. The overall result was that parents and students feel History good about the learning climate in Woodridge. Woodridge, it is not acceptable for any child to slip through the cracks. Through the district Continuous Improvement Planning Here are some highlights of the results of the WMS PSO process, the data from the surveys will help us to guide our Election Day 3 survey given in May of 2009: Bake Sale decision making so we can meet the needs of all of our stu- 95% of our students did not have concerns about their dents. Although learning climate is not one of the measures WMS Students safety in school. 3 required by the No Child Left Behind accountability system of the Month 96% of parents did not have concerns about the safety (NCLB measures reading, math, physical violence, and sci- of their children in school or at school activities. A Few Gifted ence), if Woodridge is to maintain its Excellent with Distinction 3 Updates rating, then we must look at all aspects of our learning Is Your Child Gifted in Visual or Performing Arts? community.” Latin Club Pulls 3 By: Terri Sigler, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Chariot of Victory A Few Gifted Updates from This Year’s Gifted Staff Sally Murphy, Gifted Intervention Specialist, WIS Woodridge Local Support Your Laura Rorrer, Challenge by Choice Coordinator, WMS School Through 4 Schools is searching Terri Sigler, Director of Curriculum and Gifted Coordinator Market Day for students who are gifted in the visual WPS Visited by Looking for opportunities for 4 Brass Quintet and/or performing gifted students or enrichment for arts. This includes your child? Look no further. We WIS Destination music, drama, have completed phase one of the 4 Book Fair dance, and art. If district resources for gifted stu- you believe your dents and enrichment opportuni- Barbershop child is gifted in any of these areas, pleased call Christy ties in the Woodridge Local Quartet to 4 Perform for Weaver, Secretary to the Director of Curriculum, at 330-928- School District. The site is 9074 ext. 591213, before November 13, 2009. housed under the Curriculum and Kindergarten Instruction link, which is included in the pull down menu on the 4 Upon receipt of your nomination, a brief evaluation form will be Pumpkin Pickin’ district homepage. This site has a new link titled ‘District Gifted sent to your child’s teacher(s). If your child meets the criteria, Program.’ On this updated site, we have included information he/she will be given the opportunity to be evaluated at the about the Student Acceleration Policy and the District Gifted county-wide level to determine if he/she is, in fact, gifted in this Program Brochure. In the future we intend to also incorporate area. This evaluation will occur in February 2010. If you have various website links and titles of books and movies for parents any questions, please call Terri Sigler, Director of Curriculum and students. We hope to showcase the vast opportunities and Gifted Coordinator, at 330-928-9074, Ext. 591214. Woodridge students have for enrichment. Middle School Homework Center Open Woodridge Graduate Receives Emmy Award By: Linda Singer, WMS Teacher By: Christy Weaver, Bugle Editor The Middle School Homework Cen- Vince Balunas, a 1994 graduate of Wood- ter is available to middle school ridge High School, was recently awarded students who desire a designated an Emmy for Outstanding Sound Editing time for study. It is open Mondays for a Series for his work on Battlestar – Thursdays from 2:30 – 4:30. Stu- Galactica “Daybreak” on the SyFy dents have a certified teacher in the Channel. room to help with organizational skills, homework, and research After graduating from Woodridge, Vince projects. The students will meet in the library where there are 12 attended the University of Akron for three computers for their use and have the library resources at their years and then relocated to California. disposal. Students should pick up a permission form from the Now residing in Los Angeles, Vince works main office, guidance office, or from Mrs. Singer in Room 811. for a small company called AnEFX in Any questions, contact Mrs. Singer at 330-928-7420. Burbank, California. For his award, he was the Dialogue and ADR Editor. He states, “I supervise and direct the cast members in any re-recording of production WPS Students of the Month dialog as well as any added lines, then edit that into the edited dialogue By: Pat Kennedy, WPS Guidance Counselor session. Pretty much any spoken word in the show, I was responsible for.” Along with his work on Battlestar Galactica, Vince works on Gossip Girl, Trauma, Warehouse 13, Royal Pains, Psych, In Plain Sight, Eureka, and the Battlestar Galactica prequel series Caprica, coming out next year. Vince was part of the Woodridge Local Schools from second grade to graduation, and he attributes his time here to forming a large part of who he is as an adult. During high school, Vince was part of the band and choir, as well as tennis, golf, basketball, French club, and Honors Society. He states that the knowledge in music he received from band and choir has help tremendously in his line of work. One of his fondest memories of Woodridge was the opportunity to sing a solo Harry Connick Jr. song in front of more than 1000 people at Blossom for graduation. “I am very grateful to all of my teachers for the inspiration they provided during my time at Woodridge. I would have to say a special thanks and shout out to Mrs. Murphy (PACE), Mr. Morton (Band), Mrs. Wright (French), and Mr. Weaver (Chemistry/Physics).” Congratulations to the Woodridge Primary School Students of the Month WIS Boo at the School for September. These students were chosen from their classrooms for By: Besty Gorrell, WIS Principal doing an excellent job showing respect; our Building Character Word of the Month. On the evening of October 29th, there Back row: Ryan Miller, Daisha Lewis, Atavia Robinson, Libby Howard. were many scary faces and boo-tiful 3rd row: Ariela Peters, Lidija Pyle, Anastasia Bakuhn, Kaden Papa, artwork appearing on pumpkins at the Jaliyah Bonner. 2nd row: Ellie Kleinhenz, Jayda Radovic, Arianna second annual Boo At the School at Kendrick, Collin Bragg, Ebany Ray. Front row: Joseph Colby, Falyn Woodridge Intermediate. Families Stalnaker, Molly McDermott, Max Batu. Not pictured: Madison Randall, gathered for pumpkin carving, Allison Palm, Baylee Shumaker fellowship, and snacks as the continued success at our greenhouse was discussed. WMS PSO Election Day Bake Sale Teachers Jodi Crawfis and Jayna Treen were awarded a GAR grant By: Linda Ocepek, WMS Principal in the Spring of 2007 to develop a greenhouse program for the The Woodridge Middle School Parent students of Woodridge Intermediate School. Inspiration came from Service Organization will be holding a a novel the fifth grade students read, Seed Folks. It was their hope bake sale at the school on election that the greenhouse, and the lessons concerning it, would actively day, November 3.