What is Happening at Washougal High School

Instruction, Learning & Communication

During a recent observation, I witnessed students working in teams as they were answering questions from a video they had recently watched. This was a science class, but you wouldn’t necessarily have known that based on the questions.  This was an activity that spanned multiple disciplines and dealt with real world issues.  The students moved from question to question in the room as the questions were posted on butcher paper in various parts of the room.  After all the questions were answered, each group was responsible for sharing their responses.

During an observation, I witnessed students in groups of 3 and 4.  This was the Monday after a unit test was taken on Friday.  The students were asked to go over each question that was missed by at least one member in the group.  The teacher moved around the room checking in with individual groups.  If asked a question the teacher would ask the group to work together to find the solution.   She encouraged the students to use the resources available to them.  Encouraging students to reach out to one another to solve problems and ask questions not only builds collaboration skills but leads to deeper learning and understanding.  This is a good example of a teacher “yielding the floor” so the students can teach each other.

During a recent walk-through, I observed students working in groups of 3, 4 and 5.  The students were using a graphic organizer to demonstrate their level of understanding on a variety of concepts.  In the middle of the paper the students were asked to represent their thoughts using a picture, diagram, etc.  Around the outside of the paper the students wrote specific information highlighting the key ideas or information. Using graphic organizers can be a tremendously helpful learning tool.  This teacher was having students identify the most important characteristics, then draw a picture or diagram to represent those characteristics. 

I spoke with a teacher regarding an opportunity she was providing students who have failed a unit exam. The teacher has created unit packets that include the most crucial concepts/skills for each unit. She has eliminated any busy work….it is the most important ideas. Once the students complete the packet, they take an assessment to improve their previous score.  She is documenting the results to see the impact and will share with her department. 

An email that was sent to all parents included a progress report for each student.  The request to the parents was to schedule a conference if their student had a grade less than a “C”.  It also included information about what the students were doing in class.  I have heard numerous compliments about the information that is provided by the WHS staff.  Those parents that are reading the emails you are sending really do appreciate the updates, deadlines, etc.

Student Behavior

We have seen a substantial increase in the number of students serving detention after school and during lunch.  Students serve detention in the WGIL after school from 2:30 – 3:30pm with Chuck Grall.  When students serve during lunch they serve in the main office in the back room with Teresa Nelson.  We would rather have students serve after school.  If students work with individual teachers after school that counts for detention as long as we know about it.  Students are assigned detention for tardies, unexcused absences and poor behavior.  Students who do not serve detention will lose the privilege to attend school-sponsored events and to participate in extra-curricular activities.  Obviously, this does not include all of our students because we have some students who are not interested in participating; however, we have seen a heighten interest in clearing unverified absences and students serving detention.  We are hopeful that will see a decrease in tardies and unexcused absences.  Fewer tardies represents, fewer interruptions and added instructional time.  The same goes for absences.

I have spoken with several students (individuals and small groups) the last couple of weeks regarding improving school spirit as well as discussing rules, procedures, senior walk-in, graduation caps, etc.  Students have initiated the discussions.  During Homecoming Week the topic was about increasing the size of the student section in the stadium, class competitions at assemblies, adding a few more assemblies and extending the length of assemblies.  As I have shared with a few individuals the last couple of days, I am appreciative of how our students are making their requests.  They appear to understand that it is necessary to include staff, parents and the community in certain situations when making changes to standard operating procedure. They are solution-focused.  In each case, the students brought ideas to the discussion.  We have outstanding students.

After the Homecoming game between ten to fifteen students helped clean up the stadium (especially the students’ section).  How often does that happen?

Right after school on Friday about twenty students set up for the Homecoming Dance and it looks great.  Kudos to ASB and Mr. Condon for their hard work!

In order for video announcements to be ready, students spend about an hour after school getting them ready.  This is why we were able to have video announcements each day.  I want to thank those individuals for their commitment to the WHS community.

ASL Students Participate in Global Read Aloud

The Global Read Aloud (GRA) program works to demonstrate how one book can connect the world.  Currently the GRA program is connecting a Washougal High School class with middle school students in a French speaking part of Ontario, Canada.

For six weeks, starting October 6, participating classrooms across the world read a book, different for each grade grouping, aloud. Each week has designated chapters to be read.  Students then share their thoughts about the book and its characters with their distant partner classrooms through a safe social media platform.

Tami Grants classroom is reading “One for the Murphy’s” by Lynda Mullaly Hunt.  Her teacher partner is Serena Thatcher who teaches at Duke of Cambridge School (French Immersion Centre) in Bowmanville, Ontario in Canada. “Her students are using this experience to practice writing in English,” Grant said. “This is forcing my students to use proper grammar in order to help their counterparts learn.”

"We are helping them with their English, and in a way we are learning from them as well," said WHS senior, Jenny Wilson.  And because the Canadian students are in middle school, Wilson added that it’s requiring them to be more mature when they discuss the emotional and relationship themes in the book.  “It’s requiring us to be more mature when we talk to them and dealing with hard emotions like adults do,” she said.

A global collaboration such as this shows students that they are part of something bigger than just themselves.  It demonstrates that other kids are like them, even if they live far apart and in different countries. “My ultimate goal is for these students, when they leave high school, that even if they have not traveled that they have an appreciation for people with different cultures,” Grant explained.  “I hope they begin to realize there are many similarities between them and people who live in a different part of the world. I hope they see that it is not so scary in the world once you make connections.”

The GRA project believes that reading books can be a very personal experience, and there is a tremendous impact when students understand that the experience they have with a book may be similar to an experience another child had in another place.

Although the focus is for students to share their thoughts on the book’s characters and plot, the project and discussions go far beyond that. “It is fun to meet new people and help them to learn about Washington State,” said WHS Senior Matt Grant.  “They are very intrigued by Mt. St. Helens and asked us about living next to a volcano.  But it is really no big deal to us.”

WHS Senior, Madisen Baldwin agrees. "I really like how we can talk to people in Canada and be able to discuss mutual things like the book.  It’s also interesting that things we don't think about may be a major concern for them.  The students always ask us questions about Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Hood and if it’s scary living next to a volcano.  This helped me realize that we live in a completely different culture but we are all connected in some way.”

The class collected Washington items to send to their new Canadian friends which includes Mt. St. Helens ash and photos, sand from Cottonwood Beach and apples. “Students are also feeling a new appreciation for what they have here in the Pacific Northwest,” Grant added.

“Having book discussions online is very interesting and lets you see what everyone’s thinking,” Matt Grant said. “And we see that kids are just kids where ever they live.  It shows how literature can really bring people together.”

Rotary Scholar of the Month for October: Abigail (Abby) Young

Abigail (Abby) Young was selected as the Camas Washougal Rotary Scholar of the Month for October 2014.  Abby is sophomore at Washougal High School and has a GPA of 4.0.  Donna Nolan, Abby’s Chemistry teacher, shares that “Abby is incredibly friendly, outgoing and has a great sense of humor.  She is genuinely a nice person as well as a great student.”  Sophomore English teacher Vina Black adds that “Abby is kind to everyone and very well liked.  She is always on task and works hard to do what is right.  WHS is lucky to have her.”

ASB Secretary Mary LaFrance and ASB Advisor Jeff Condon noted that “Abby is a 4.0 student and strives to do her best.  She is currently in ASB and the Sophomore class secretary.  Her leadership skills in that role are important and she takes it seriously.  Abby also plays girls soccer for WHS, and her desire to help her team win is evident on the field.  Abby is an all-around great student and WHS is a better place because she attends school here.”  ASL Teacher Tami Grant describes Abby as “a wonderful student who is always respectful to staff and her peers” and further notes that she “helps others and is a conscientious student.”  Abby is the daughter of Joseph and Misty Young.  Congratulations, Abby!

Chamber Choir Retreat Prepares Students for Successful Season

The WHS Chamber Choir had a very successful Choir Retreat in Seaside, Oregon last weekend. The choir is preparing for a choir exchange with the JMS choirs on Oct 24, and they began working on Handel's Hallelujah Chorus, which will be performed at the Grotto and at the Holiday Choir Concert in December. They also did several activities designed to help the group know each other better, and promote leadership. It was a fun student growth weekend.