Wilson Hill Parent Advisory Committee

One of Wilson Hill Elementary School’s new initiatives for the 2014-15 school year is to establish a Parent Advisory Committee.  This group is scheduled to meet at the minimum of four times this school year.  I have enjoyed watching this group form, collaborate and share with one another.

The purpose of this group is to establish connections between our staff/administration and parent representatives from each grade level that discuss our school’s needs and how we can improve our school for our families, students, staff and community.  Below is a summary of the framework we are establishing as a group:

• Identify common needs and goals among the parents of students enrolled at Wilson Hill.
• Facilitate strategies to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our school.
• Provide administration with feedback and insight from the parent’s perspective on school process, policies and initiatives to ensure that the needs of parents and their families are included.
• Bring to administration existing and emerging issues expressed by parents of Wilson Hill Families.
• Serve as an advisory, not a decision-making body, that makes recommendations, encourages brainstorming and begins to establish opportunities for parent involvement.

There have been several good conversations that have allowed our school to reflect on our practice and how we are meeting or not meeting the needs of our families.  A few examples of our discussions include: Meet the Teacher Event and Curriculum Night 2014 and discussions regarding our Building Improvement Plan.  Another more in depth example of how we are using this group to improve our school is how we can improve the transition of students from primary grades to intermediate grades.  From our Parent Advisory Committee discussions we recognized as a school we can improve on preparing our families for their child’s transition.  One idea developed by our committee is to hold transition meetings for families in the Spring for students transitioning to Grades 4,5 or 6. We will soon coordinate this event for families and we hope that the information we share along with a question and answer session provided allows us to better serve our students and families. No matter the topic we are discussing, we have decided as a group that we will be respectful and honest. Our conversations thus far have been just that!

As the principal of the school I don’t have all the answers, I never will, but the Parent Advisory Committee at Wilson Hill has allowed me to better understand our families needs and what we must do to make our school a better place.  

I would like to thank the following parents for serving on this committee this school year: Stephanie Rigsby (Kindergarten Representative), Jennifer Shankman (1st Grade Representative), Jessica Johns (2nd Grade Representative), Brian Fedorko (3rd Grade Representative), Mike and Amy Featherstone (4th Grade Representatives), Mike Beatty (5th Grade Representative), Kathleen Arkus (6th Grade Representative). I have enjoyed collaborating with these parents to improve our school.  If you get the opportunity, please take a moment to thank these parents for serving our school!

Matt Keller- Wilson Hill Elementary School Principal

Wilson Hill Elementary Assessment Calendar 2015

Dear Wilson Hill Families,

As you know, all students in grades 3-6 throughout the state will take new assessments this school year. I am sending this information to K-2 families so you may learn more about what the new assessments will look like for your child in the coming years.  The Ohio Department of Education is referring to these new assessments as the PARCC (Partnership of Assessments for Readiness of College and Careers) and the OCBA (Ohio Computer Based Assessments).  The PARCC assessments are in the areas of English Language Arts and Math.  The OCBA assessments are in the areas of Science and Social Studies.  A blog was written in October about these new assessments, which you can find this and additional resources by clicking here (http://wilsonhillelmentary.blogspot.com/2014/10/next-generation-of-assessments.html).

Changes at the state level continue to impact what tests students will take.  Recently in late December Governor Kasich passed a bill that eliminated the PARCC assessment for all 3rd Grade students for English Language Arts due to the 3rd Grade Reading Guarantee.  The change states that 3rd grade students will no longer take the PARCC assessment in English Language Arts but will take the 3rd Grade Ohio Academic Assessment (OAA) for Reading this Spring (April 28th at Wilson Hill).  You may read more about this if you would like by clicking here (http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Testing/News/Five-Thing-You-Need-to-Know-Week-of-12-19-14).  Wilson Hill will continue to update families of any changes that are made at the state level as the assessment dates approach.

The Wilson Hill staff has worked collaboratively to design a testing schedule for students that promotes the best opportunities for success and allows our students to keep routines at school. The schedule for all assessments is attached and is color coded by grade level.  With the exception of 6th grade, all grade levels will take their computer based assessments first thing in the morning.  Our 6th Grade will keep their current first period Related Arts Schedule and begin assessments after these classes.  

Please view the Wilson Hill Elementary Assessment Calendar by clicking here or go to the Wilson Hill website at www.worthington.k12.oh.us and click on the eBackpack tab and then PARCC/OCBA Assessment Calendar 2015.  Please note that there are two pages to the calendar which reflect both the March and April/May assessments that will take place.  

As always, please do not hesitate to contact our staff with questions.

Finally, we will have a PARCC/OCBA Assessment gathering on February 10th at 6:15 PM in our cafeteria, prior to the PTO Meeting.

Matt Keller

Principal