Fall 2018 Newsletter
Fall 2018
The 2018-19 school year is off to a great start! Our West Fork students and staff enjoyed a fun-filled homecoming celebration kicked off by a first-ever Booster Club rally held the Sunday before homecoming week. In addition, our students partnered with local businesses to decorate storefronts along with filling our own buildings with school spirit by decorating lockers and halls. Although the week was generally rainy, the skies cleared so we could bring the preschool thru grade 12 Warhawks together for a parade and pep rally. The energy in the gymnasium on this day is something you have to experience to believe.
During professional learning time this year, our staff has been working on breaking down the Iowa Core Curriculum to identify the essential skills students need to be successful. Through this work, we are establishing new ways to identify the essential curricular components, methods of instruction and the appropriate assessment to monitor student growth. Our district has also created an intervention system (MTSS- Multi –Tiered System of Support) that we are utilizing during our “Warhawk Time / WIN Time” which is scheduled into every school day. During this time, many students are getting support on the specific skills they may need to create that solid educational foundation. This instructional work coupled with the support of our district-wide Teacher Leadership Program has paved the way for rising achievement levels for all learners. An additional piece has been added for our professional learning time this year. The district has provided all teachers and para-educators with a copy of the book “Help for Billy” by Heather T. Forbes, LCSW. Staff members will be reading the book throughout the year and once per month they will take time to process the content of the book utilizing the study guide to support the learning. It is our goal to have this work help staff understand the social and emotional needs of children and how to best understand student needs so all students can perform at high levels.
As the fall season begins to wind down, West Fork CSD encourages students and parents to get involved and take an active role in the education process. The 21st Century is upon us and preparing students to be successful in all endeavors requires a team approach. Let’s make the 2018-19 school year the best one yet and show our Warhawk Pride!
Yours in Education,
Darrin Strike
Superintendent