If you've ever been in or watched a race, you know that the end of the race is not the time to coast. It is the time to "kick it in!"
Having been at WJHS for the last four years, I've had a first hand look at how our teachers continue to have school to the very last bell.
Will we celebrate? Absolutely. The effort and achievement of our students and staff members is worthy of celebration. So, we will have fun events to honor and reward our students and staff members.
However, for us, the end of standardized testing doesn't signal that the school year is over.
In fact, we see the end of the year as an opportunity to "kick it in."
The focus that we place on establishing positive relationships with students will only become more important. We know that a positive classroom environment is just as relevant the last month of the year as it is during the first.
Our instruction will continue to focus on the essential learning that our students must master. We will set clear learning targets, assess progress toward mastery, and provide meaningful feedback.
Professionally, we will continue to grow by reading educational research, trying new practices without fear of failure, visiting other classrooms, etc.
Our teachers will strive to create memorable learning opportunities for students. We will look for ways to demonstrate our love for teaching/learning. We want our students to see our passion for learning, reading, making, thinking critically...Maybe some of it will rub off on them!
To get a behind the scenes view of just how we "kick it in" down the stretch, check out our hashtag- #gowjhswildcats.
Tim Sparacino, Principal
