Woods Lake Elementary: A Magnet Center for the Arts

Mr. William M. Hawkins, Principal: I am a 14-year educator with Kalamazoo Public Schools, and I am pleased to be the principal of Woods Lake Elementary: A Magnet Center for the Arts.

My experiences with Kalamazoo Public Schools include teaching 5th and 6th grade students at Woods Lake Elementary: A Magnet Center for the Arts and Maple Street Middle: A Magnet School for the Arts, monitoring and assessing upper elementary school literacy and fluency performance, being an assistant principal at Kalamazoo Central High School, coaching athletics, tutoring/mentoring, and being actively involved as a community volunteer. I am LCI (Lincoln Center Institute) trained in arts integration and A+ Integrated Arts certified. It is my belief that the arts are an essential vehicle to promote academic growth and achievement.

The ultimate environment for students to achieve academically via the arts is Woods Lake, the school where children are provided the opportunity to explore and discover the world, through the literary arts, performing arts, visual arts, technical arts, and music.
 

Mrs. Charmane Echols, Vice Principal: Woods Lake is indeed a place where the vision of the school (Where academics and the arts create opportunities for learning), is practiced and reflected upon. Your child will experience a year filled with excitement, challenges and achievement.

I am a graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School. I attended Western Michigan University where I received a bachelor's degree in communications, master's degree in reading and a specialist degree in education leadership.

You will discover our school to be a place where hard work, successes and innovation are recognized and supported and rewarded. Our highly competent and dedicated staff will provide a balanced curriculum integrated with the arts and maintain high expectations for all students. The motivation is to provide excellent teaching and learning based on Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligence theory.

Again on behalf of the entire staff, welcome to Woods Lake Magnet Center for the Arts. We value you as partners in education.

District Mission Statement: Kalamazoo Public Schools will educate every child, every opportunity, every time.

School Mission Statement: Woods Lake Elementary: A Magnet Center for the Arts - where academics and the arts create opportunities for learning.

Part II – Curriculum Development and Alignment / State Core Curriculum

The district is continuing to develop and implement a preK-12 core curriculum aligned with the state standards and benchmarks. The curriculum adheres to the Michigan School Improvement Framework. The district’s Curriculum Framework document sets the timeline and process for examining the content areas of mathematics, language arts, science, social studies, world languages, fine arts, health and physical education and information literacy. The purpose of the is to ensure that the district systematically increases the alignment of our curriculum, professional development and assessment to state and national standards. A copy of the Curriculum Framework and core curriculum documents are housed in Teaching and Learning Services, with the assistant superintendent. There are no deviations from the State core curriculum and benchmarks.

Part III – Plan Development

A. Decision-Making Process / Site Based Decision Making

District: Currently working under the following Board Policy: The District will use a site-based decision-making process, involving students, parents/guardians,staff and community members when developing and implementing designated District activities and programs as specified by the Board/Superintendent team. Building profiles (encompassing attendance, parent involvement, self-discipline, assessment and special services) as well as a comprehensive assessment system were reviewed with each school to determine district and individual building improvements necessary to meeting the needs of all our children.

Building: All staff members are invited to be actively involved in our school improvement process and serve on our school improvement team. Decision-making and goal setting are done with input generated by staff, parents, and community members. Important decisions are made using a consensus method that aligns with district’s continuous improvement plan.

B. Team Member Requirements / Parent Involvement Policies

Board Policy: the District will consistently work, in a variety of ways, to strengthen meaningful family participation in the education of their children.

Policy Specifics: Families should feel they are welcome participants in the successful education of their children. Families should feel they are informed participants in their children’s learning. District, building and staff decision-making should be enriched by family participation.

First-grade learning team norms:
We will meet on the scheduled Fridays from 2:00 to 3:00.
We will encourage each other to share ideas and thoughts.
We will not interrupt when someone is talking.
Our conversations will remain confidential.
We will reach decisions by a majority consensus.
We will deal with conflicts by having honest conversations.
We will ask specific questions for clarification.
We will participate, provide input and fulfill the tasks that are given to us in a timely manner.

Second-grade learning team norms:
We will meet on scheduled dates and will begin and end within 5 minutes of the start/stop time. We will be diligent about starting on time.
We will be active listeners and discuss what is said for clarity and understanding. We will be nonjudgmental and come to consensus on messages.
We will hold open meetings, where everything discusses will be open , but held in confidence, so that nothing is repeated out of context.
We will share all data, goals, and recorded outcomes. Discussion about students and staff will be held in confidence.
All decisions will be made through consensus. They will be made using dialogue and data. Conflicts will be discussed, and mediation will be an option using administrative staff as a neutral party.
We will encourage participation through active listening and attendance is mandatory. SIT meeting attendance will be rotated.
We expect professionalism and genuine engagement at all meetings.
We will come to consensus on and study data that can have immediate impact on our students.

Fifth-grade learning team norms:
Relating to Time:
We will meet at required times.
We will start on time.
We will be flexible and understanding if certain a circumstance arises that is unavoidable to cause tardiness or a missed meeting.
Relating to Listening:
We will encourage listening by asking questions of others at meetings.
We will discourage interruptions by giving a friendly reminder and then using a
“ T ” hand signal if necessary.
Relating to Confidentiality:
Everyone has the right to be heard.
What is said in the meeting stays in confidence.
After the meeting, anything that we decided needs to be discussed with the appropriate outside sources by the approved person.
Relating to Decision Making:
Majority rules or hold and open discussion if there is no consensus.
If conflicts arise discussion will occur between those involved.
Relating to Participation:
Make sure reminders are given to each other regarding meetings and tasks.
Come to meetings when possible.
Participate to best of ability
Relating to Expectations:
We expect to provide teamwork and continued support.
Have a relaxed, and productive working environment.
Laughing always appreciated.

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