Weyauwega-Fremont School District

Welcome to Weyauwega-Fremont School District

CHANGING WITH TECHNOLOGY

December 2009

With the advent of modern electronic technology, the world around us has undergone a dramatic transformation of communications. Schools across the world are scrambling to keep pace. It’s not uncommon for students to be more proficient and adept with new technology than staff. In many homes, students are the technology “experts” and parents are struggling to keep up.

Improvements in technology have initiated revolutionary changes in the way students will be able to learn and the kinds of information not previously available. We now have the capacity to electronically store and access information equal to virtually the entire Library of Congress on one computer. Most importantly, the new capacity for information sharing has expanded the volume of information exponentially.

To successfully compete in this new environment, we must prepare our students to become skilled users of the new devices and software that will enable them to successfully navigate their new world to increase their capacity for learning and contributing to our society. One of the primary responsibilities of schools is to teach students how to use these new tools responsibly. Because much of the new electronic world lacks the types of quality controls previously required of the public media, schools must place a major emphasis on teaching today’s students the differences between quality information and that which lacks redeeming value. As technology access increases and devices become easier to use, issues related to responsible and ethical use become more important. In the same way we previously taught students to differentiate between responsible journalism and tabloid reporting, we must now teach students and society to become more proficient at recognizing the characteristics of slander cloaked in the guise of information sharing.

To insure that technology is used as a positive learning and communications tool in the Weyauwega-Fremont Schools, the District has taken steps to train staff to recognize electronic abuse and protect students from inappropriate content in as much as possible. In July 2009, the District enacted Board Policy 522.5 to govern the acceptable use of its email communications system. Guidelines established that prohibit obscenity, libel, slander, harassment and other similar abuses. The District closely monitors all email communication that occurs on its system.

An article entitled “Managing Manufactured Crises” ,authored by Nora Carr, featured in the December 2009 edition of the American School Board Journal addressed the increasing use of email and the internet in communities to spread messages of misinformation, anger and hate in much the same vein as employed by shock radio. Unfortunately, our District has experienced some of these same tactics over the past couple of months. A local citizen attempted to spam district staff email and sent out a mailing to households using student mailing addresses. Please know that these actions were not in any way authorized by the district. Regrettably, the author of these emails refused to stop despite being informed that these actions were serving as a distraction during critical student testing. Steps have been taken to more quickly identify and block further access to our system to this person and others attempting to use the district technology system to spread hostility and manufacture crises where none exist.

Happily, most parents and students use district technology responsibly to strengthen communications. Our recently noted academic success throughout the system is, in part, the result of using technology to help students better prepare for state examination. The level of student – teacher – parent communications during the past few years has dramatically increased with our technology system. Most importantly, parents and community members now have a fast, reliable source for accessing accurate information about students and school activities.

I strongly encourage parents and citizens to model for our students the importance of using technology to secure reliable, accurate information directly from credible sources. Whenever you hear a rumor or have a question, take the time to contact me directly at jharlan@wegafremont.k12.wi.us . The price for a response is that the author of an inquiry must properly identify him/herself. The district is focused on maintaining a high standard of integrity in its communications with the community. I encourage citizens to take time to learn more about our schools. We have a great deal of very positive information to share and like other districts, face some challenges important for everyone to understand.

Lastly, I want to remind everyone that the Winter Season is upon us. Please review the “School Closings” information on this website for a detailed explanation of the process we use to make closing decisions.

F. James Harlan, Ph.D.

District Administrator

Press Release: 10/9/09

WKCE Progress Report

Five years ago, the Weyauwega-Fremont district was faced with some very disappointing WKCE test results. District scores were below minimum standards in some areas with state standards set to increase the next year. Members of the Board of Education expressed concern and challenged staff to improve student performance. Staff took up the challenge, beginning with a close review of our curriculum and realignment to more closely reflect state standards. Staff also embraced adoption and implementation of computerized NWEA testing to provide prompt feedback on student progress towards state standards.

In addition to this major effort to align the curriculum, staff implemented a series of steps designed to encourage students to give their best efforts and provide optimal testing conditions.

Throughout the past five years, the District has consistently evidenced significant progress in the form of increased student achievement scores on the WKCE. The District recognizes that these examinations are but one indicator of student progress and that student performance is subject to annual variations based on a host of factors. District administration urges caution against inferring too much from any single year’s variations and stress the importance of viewing student performance on a longitudinal basis.

With all the customary cautions, it is a privilege to report that the review of last year’s WKCE student performance relative to other schools and districts in the state provides the most convincing evidence to date supporting the hypothesis that student test performance is positively correlated to curriculum changes and support activities implemented. It is difficult to contain enthusiasm for the progresss evidenced. Below is a brief synopsis of student performance results for 2008 WKCE relative to their peers across the state:

Weyauwega-Fremont

2008 WKCE Performance by School

School	Test Grade	State Rank	Number of Schools	State %	CESA 6 Rank	Number of Schools
Fremont Elementary	4	1	1075	99.9	1	129
Weyauwega Elementary	4	215	1075	80.0	8	56
Weyauwega-Fremont Middle	8	54	561	90.4	8	56
Weyauwega-Fremont High	10	53	470	88.7	5	43

When the Weyauwega and Fremont elementary school scores are combined and compared to overall elementary performance relative to districts with larger elementary schools, Weyauwega-Fremont ranks approximately 11 out of 145 or in the top 92.4% of that group.

While there are a host of comparisons that can be made with the 2008 WKCE exams, there can be no doubt that our students performed very well. This does not happen by chance. It is the direct result of the determination and dedication of our staff to insure our students perform successfully. For that, I am deeply grateful. Learning that Weyauwega-Fremont Middle School is being recognized for achievement among the top 10% of all middle schools in the state was a wonderful way to start the week. The strong positive summary ranking for all of the District’s schools is especially noteworthy. Every staff member who, in any way contributed to last year’s testing effort should take a bow!

A significant positive result by Weyauwega-Fremont students on the state WKCE test battery is testimony to the ability of our staff to make real positive change when determined to do so.

Congratulations to all members of the Weyauwega-Freemont staff on a job well done!

F. James Harlan, Ph.D.

District Administrator

Parents:

As summer draws to a close and we begin a new school year, it is important to take some time to set the stage for success. The staff and administration of the Weyauwega-Fremont School District are dedicated to the success of all our students. All of our facilities have been cleaned. Additional technology improvements have been added to several classrooms and new mobile computers have been purchased to increase student access throughout the district. The district’s bus fleet has been thoroughly inspected and is ready to provide safe, reliable transportation for students. Many staff spent part of their break in summer training.

Over the past five years, the district has engaged in a concerted effort to improve student achievement on state achievement exams. Our staff takes great pride in the gains made by district students and will continue to focus on student academic growth again this year. We recognize that the achievement of our students is directly related to the quality of the partnership we can build with parents. Parents are uniquely positioned to make a critical positive contribution to the school experience of their children.

The key to a successful partnership between the school and parents is effective communication. During the past several years, the district has installed a new technology system, a new telephone communications system, new signage and electronic access through the website. The district has also streamlined grade reporting to provide specific performance detail and recently issued a district-wide newsletter. All of these changes have been instituted to improve the frequency and quality of communications with parents. We hope you will find them helpful as you communicate with us throughout the year.

Part of working together is resolving issues. Communicating with the school about concerns is a lot like solving other kinds of issues. Most issues can be effectively resolved by focusing communications as close to the parties involved as possible. Most school issues begin with communications to the supervising teacher. When issues cannot be resolved between a parent and a teacher, then it is appropriate to ask the principal to intervene. All staff are encouraged to resolve issues at the source whenever possible.

Please accept my continued commitment to provide the children of the Weyauwega-Fremont School District with a first-class educational experience. I welcome the opportunity to visit with parents. Together we can provide every student with a great school experience and a bright future.

F. James Harlan, Ph.D.
District Administrator
jharlan@wegafremont.k12.wi.us

Dear Parents and Guardians:

As we enter the new school year and the new traditional influenza season, we expect Wisconsin to continue seeing cases of the new pandemic flu. School and public health officials are working to keep our children safe and healthy. We need your help!

The most important thing you can do is to keep your child home if he or she is ill. If your child is so sick that you would normally seek medical care, please do so. The new pandemic flu is very similar to ordinary seasonal flu. Each morning, parents and caregivers should check their children and other family members for flu symptoms such as fever, cough, or sore throat. A few cases of pandemic influenza have begun with nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea symptoms.

If your child has Influenza-Like-Illness (ILI) symptoms please keep him/her home for 24 hours after the fever is gone (without using fever-reducing medications). Ill students should not attend alternative childcare. If a child or adult is ill with other symptoms, they should stay home at least one day to see how the illness develops and until completely well for 24 hours. Children who are ill upon arrival at school or become ill during the school day will be sent home. Children and adults who are ill should stay home and not go into the community unless they need medical care. Notify the school of all flu-like absences and symptoms or confirmed cases of pandemic flu.

At this time, health and school officials are not recommending school closures for individual cases of H1N1 flu. However, as with regular seasonal flu, we might recommend closing schools if larger numbers of students or faculty become ill.

In addition to staying home when sick, here are three important things you and your family can do to help stay healthy and keep others safe:

· Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

· Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.

· Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Again, contact your medical provider and seek medical care if that is what you would normally do.

More information about new H1N1 flu is available on the following web sites:

http://pandemic.wi.gov/

http://www.cdc.gov

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html

You may contact the school nurse, Holly Bauer (867-8840) for more information. You may also call the Public Health Flu Information line at 211.

Thank you for your cooperation during this time. With your help, we can help keep everyone safe and healthy.

Sincerely,