High School Transition Plans

[we4]

I found this on ipsd.org at the Scullen MS site. A little bird must have been chirping.

www.ipsd.org/newsevents/news_item_detail.asp?id=19665
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Location: Scullen Middle School
Date/Time: 9/8/2008 (11:58:00 PM)

Below is a copy of an email sent by Kristine Marchiando, Principal of WVHS dated August 29 using an email distribution list entitled new-wvhs@listserv. Many parents have expressed a desire to have a transition plan outlined and in practice this school year to make the transition from NVHS to WVHS as smooth as it can be. In the spirit of sharing information that affects our Sharks (and alumni Sharks) we wanted to post this information. The email from Prinicpal Marchiando outlines a series of opportunities for students and parents/guardians (especially targeting classes of 2012 and 2013) to meet and speak with WVHS administrators and students as well outlining an opportunity to visit and tour WVHS. While we acknowledge this is a sensitive topic, we want to ensure that our community is aware of these opportunities.

We will be sharing additional transition infromation should become available including any information for our Sharks that are planned to be future Still Bulldogs.

If you have any questions about the transition events. please contact Principal Marchiando at the contact info included below. If there are questions about the Scullen PTSA, please direct them to me, Anne Mathews at [e-mail].

Welcome Future Warrior Families,

I would like to take a few minutes of your time to welcome you to Waubonsie Valley High School (WVHS). If you have driven by WVHS, you may have noticed the signs on the entrances - "Excellence In Every Endeavor." The signs are there to remind students, teachers, parents, and administrators that our efforts are geared toward working with our students to help them achieve excellence in their lives. With 3,750 students in attendance, 390 staff members ready to support them, and a welcoming community with aspirations of excellence, our first week was off to a great start!

This year of transition for the families with teens moving to a new school will be interesting. Having recently moved home from Arizona after being gone for nineteen years, I understand change. Working with the high school principals and Kathy Birkett, Deputy Superintendent for our District, I have developed a transition plan designed to make the move a positive experience for you.

On September 2nd, 3rd, and 9th, I will be visiting with the 9th graders during their Advisory periods at Neuqua. I will be answering questions and encouraging students to enjoy their year as Wildcats, while giving them information about the Warriors.

On September 10th, WVHS administration will be available from 6:30 p.m. until the Neuqua Parent Support Night begins at 7:00 p.m. We will be located in the lobby of Neuqua Gold and will be happy to answer questions you might have about WVHS.

On October 7th at 7:00 p.m., I invite you to attend a brief informational meeting at WVHS that will include a question and answer session in the student cafeteria. Student Council members will be on hand to provide tours of our campus.

In January I plan to visit Scullen Middle School to address questions.

Please feel free to access Waubonsie's website, wvhs.ipsd.org, to gain further insights to our Warrior community.

I look forward to answering your questions by email or telephone. My email address is [e-mail], and my telephone number is [phone].

In closing, please see the message below from our WVHS PTA president, Patty Smith.

In Warrior Spirit,
Kristine Marchiando
Principal


This year the WV PTA will be participating in the unique experience of assisting our new sister school, Metea Valley. We will dedicate the time and effort needed to assure the success of Metea's PTA. Additionally, we look forward to opening our doors to the incoming families of Waubonsie Valley. Please don't hesitate to contact any of the WVHS PTA executive officers. Contact information is located on the PTA link of the WV website.

I look forward to meeting you and assisting you throughout the year.

Patty Smith
WVHS PTA President
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[slp]

I am really happy to see this! I will definitely plan on going on Oct. 7th.

Thank you we4 for noticing this on the website. I think they should send it out via the email system too. Maybe someone should chirp that! ha!

[we4]

Sept 13, 2008 15:52:34 GMT -6 slp said:

I am really happy to see this! I will definitely plan on going on Oct. 7th.

Thank you we4 for noticing this on the website. I think they should send it out via the email system too. Maybe someone should chirp that! ha!

It looks like this is only on the Scullen website. Thank you Scullen Middle School for keeping us informed.

[we4]

I wouldn't mind if Still MS set up a tour or something in May for the current 6th graders at Scullen who will be switching to Still next year. Kind of like they do for 5th graders. Even though the layout, I hear, is similar, is lower A house, etc in the same place? The incoming 7th graders next year maybe in the same boat as incoming 6th graders, not sure where anything is.

Maybe another bird needs to chirp.

[sardines]

Sept 13, 2008 15:52:34 GMT -6 slp said:

I am really happy to see this! I will definitely plan on going on Oct. 7th.

Thank you we4 for noticing this on the website. I think they should send it out via the email system too. Maybe someone should chirp that! ha!

Thanks for posting we4! This is good to see

[steckmom]

It would be nice if something would happen for the new middle school. A principal perhaps? An acknowledgement that it will happen also? Anything?

Oh wait, it has a name. Very helpful.

From what I've heard, nothing has been said to the MS students about their transition either. At least the HS kids know they will be Warriors or Mustangs, who their principal will be and that there will be a PTA.

[steckmom]

I've tried to be patient about this, but it seems that you should have a principal at least named a year ahead of time. When was Jim Schmid named for Metea? March, April? And letting the kids choose the mascot to get them excited? From what I've heard that absolutely will not happen.

I realize that a high school is bigger and has more issues, but I think the new MS will have plenty of issues of its own.

I also know of many 6th grade MS kids who are tired of hearing "For your three years at this school...."

I'm all for patience, but it's time for something to start happening.

[we4]

Sept 15, 2008 7:26:19 GMT -6 @steckmom said:

I've tried to be patient about this, but it seems that you should have a principal at least named a year ahead of time. When was Jim Schmid named for Metea? March, April? And letting the kids choose the mascot to get them excited? From what I've heard that absolutely will not happen.

I realize that a high school is bigger and has more issues, but I think the new MS will have plenty of issues of its own.

I also know of many 6th grade MS kids who are tired of hearing "For your three years at this school...."

I'm all for patience, but it's time for something to start happening.

Smom, I agree with you. Just yesterday as we were passing by WV, my 6th grade daughter said that she really would like to stay a Scullen Shark next year. That she was starting to really enjoy and feel a part of Scullen (even though they have only been in school for a few weeks). I have only mentioned once or twice about changing schools and it was nothing very recent. I figure her and her friends may be talking about this.

I hope they do something to get all the students changing school excited.

[slp]

Sept 15, 2008 14:49:10 GMT -6 we4 said:

Sept 15, 2008 7:26:19 GMT -6 @steckmom said:

I've tried to be patient about this, but it seems that you should have a principal at least named a year ahead of time. When was Jim Schmid named for Metea? March, April? And letting the kids choose the mascot to get them excited? From what I've heard that absolutely will not happen.

I realize that a high school is bigger and has more issues, but I think the new MS will have plenty of issues of its own.

I also know of many 6th grade MS kids who are tired of hearing "For your three years at this school...."

I'm all for patience, but it's time for something to start happening.

Smom, I agree with you. Just yesterday as we were passing by WV, my 6th grade daughter said that she really would like to stay a Scullen Shark next year. That she was starting to really enjoy and feel a part of Scullen (even though they have only been in school for a few weeks). I have only mentioned once or twice about changing schools and it was nothing very recent. I figure her and her friends may be talking about this.

I hope they do something to get all the students changing school excited.

My youngest son (now in 3rd grade) was all bummed out because he won't be a Scullen Shark like his older siblings UNTIL I pointed out that Still has a 7-Eleven next to it.....he LOVES slurpees! Ever since then I tell him how Bulldogs are cooler than Sharks anyway AND that mommy will get you a slurpee every now and then if his grades are good. Try that we4!

Smom, I agree with you about the new MS. Your kids should start hearing more about their new MS ... and should start to hear info to get them excited. I feel sorry for them if everyone talks about "your 3 years here" and they know it doesn't apply to them. Hang in there and speak up to the powers that be!!

[we4]

Sept 15, 2008 15:17:50 GMT -6 slp said:

Sept 15, 2008 14:49:10 GMT -6 we4 said:

Smom, I agree with you. Just yesterday as we were passing by WV, my 6th grade daughter said that she really would like to stay a Scullen Shark next year. That she was starting to really enjoy and feel a part of Scullen (even though they have only been in school for a few weeks). I have only mentioned once or twice about changing schools and it was nothing very recent. I figure her and her friends may be talking about this.

I hope they do something to get all the students changing school excited.

My youngest son (now in 3rd grade) was all bummed out because he won't be a Scullen Shark like his older siblings UNTIL I pointed out that Still has a 7-Eleven next to it.....he LOVES slurpees! Ever since then I tell him how Bulldogs are cooler than Sharks anyway AND that mommy will get you a slurpee every now and then if his grades are good. Try that we4!

Smom, I agree with you about the new MS. Your kids should start hearing more about their new MS ... and should start to hear info to get them excited. I feel sorry for them if everyone talks about "your 3 years here" and they know it doesn't apply to them. Hang in there and speak up to the powers that be!!

Absolutely. Little birds have a way to get things done.

[momto4]

Sept 15, 2008 15:41:15 GMT -6 we4 said:

Sept 15, 2008 15:17:50 GMT -6 slp said:

My youngest son (now in 3rd grade) was all bummed out because he won't be a Scullen Shark like his older siblings UNTIL I pointed out that Still has a 7-Eleven next to it.....he LOVES slurpees! Ever since then I tell him how Bulldogs are cooler than Sharks anyway AND that mommy will get you a slurpee every now and then if his grades are good. Try that we4!

Smom, I agree with you about the new MS. Your kids should start hearing more about their new MS ... and should start to hear info to get them excited. I feel sorry for them if everyone talks about "your 3 years here" and they know it doesn't apply to them. Hang in there and speak up to the powers that be!!

Absolutely. Little birds have a way to get things done.

Things have been getting done and will continue to done, with or without little birds.

One of the biggest issues may be that some of the current HS and MS staff are not aware of all that's going on and not sensitive to the fact that there is a huge boundary shift next year.

[we4]

Sept 15, 2008 16:23:53 GMT -6 momto4 said:

Sept 15, 2008 15:41:15 GMT -6 we4 said:

Absolutely. Little birds have a way to get things done.

Things have been getting done and will continue to done, with or without little birds.

One of the biggest issues may be that some of the current HS and MS staff are not aware of all that's going on and not sensitive to the fact that there is a huge boundary shift next year.

The teachers need to know then. The middle school teachers and staff are dealing with 11/12 year olds. I don't know about boys at that age, but girls can be fine 1 minute and a wreck the next. My daughter was saying the stuff about not wanting to change schools like a punishment. I know because it's the same voice she uses when she has to do something she doesn't want to do because of a punishment. These kids talk. Who knows what else is being said. On her bus, all the 6th graders are all in the same boat, but not the same as the 7th graders who have the option to stay. And who know what parents are saying. A conversation can take place and the kids may only get one sentence out of it and it can be taken completely out of context.

[momto4]

Sept 15, 2008 17:02:34 GMT -6 we4 said:

Sept 15, 2008 16:23:53 GMT -6 momto4 said:

Things have been getting done and will continue to done, with or without little birds.

One of the biggest issues may be that some of the current HS and MS staff are not aware of all that's going on and not sensitive to the fact that there is a huge boundary shift next year.

The teachers need to know then. The middle school teachers and staff are dealing with 11/12 year olds. I don't know about boys at that age, but girls can be fine 1 minute and a wreck the next. My daughter was saying the stuff about not wanting to change schools like a punishment. I know because it's the same voice she uses when she has to do something she doesn't want to do because of a punishment. These kids talk. Who knows what else is being said. On her bus, all the 6th graders are all in the same boat, but not the same as the 7th graders who have the option to stay. And who know what parents are saying. A conversation can take place and the kids may only get one sentence out of it and it can be taken completely out of context.

IMO this is why it's important for the parents to talk to their kids about the changes and how their family will be affected and deal with any questions/issues that come up. I'm not sure what the MS staff should do other than business as usual and do their best for all kids to have a good school year this year, as they will with whatever students they are teaching next year in whichever building they're in anywhere in the district.

Maybe what is needed is a parent meeting to help the parents know what kind of talk is helpful and not helpful for their child's upcoming transitions

When my daughter moved from Hill to Granger after 7th grade there was not a big deal made out of the move to an "existing" school in a new building with a different student body than the year before. The kids knew who was going and who was staying, and the year was just a normal school year except that after it was over some kids moved out of Hill and others moved in. And this is not an overly resilient kid when it comes to change. She took it in stride.

It's a big deal when one family changes schools. When a whole neighborhood or more changes together, it's a very easy transition (or should be). Especially with all the things our district does to ease the transition. I would expect to see more about that when it's closer to the time, rather than now when kids should be settling into the current new school year.

[Arch]

It's also an easier transition when the school you move to is closer than the one you are leaving.

[steckmom]

momto4-

Why does it make a difference to you if people would like more information? It doesn't affect you, does it?