The Westside Weekly May 13, 2013

Building Renovation Update

We are excited to report to you that we have received all required building permits and our renovation of the space at 1903 Drew Drive will begin on Friday, May 17!  We have been told to expect a 60-day build-out, after which time furniture, books, computers, and other items will begin to inhabit the space that your children will call home for this next stage of their educational journeys!  As a reminder, school is scheduled to start August 5th, 2013.  

Sunshine

When I taught, we would end our week by “giving sunshine” on Friday. It was the opportunity for our classroom community to thank each other for actions and experiences throughout the week.

Since we are beginning a new school community with some new traditions, I would like to revive giving sunshine, but instead of just the walls of the classroom, we can spread some sunshine to the Westside Atlanta Charter School community.

I would like to give sunshine to our Atlanta City Council Representative, Felicia Moore, whom has been very supportive in assisting us with maneuvering through the Atlanta permitting process for our renovations.  If you have an opportunity, help us give Council Woman Moore a “Westside Thank You” by dropping her an email of appreciation, fmoore@atlantaga.gov.

Summer Reading

Kate Nails, along with the fantastic Westside staff are working on developing a summer reading list for each grade level.  Use the list to let your child pick out a couple of books to read over the summer, or find a couple of books that you can read as a family. Don’t make reading a task, make it fun!

Foreign Language Education

We are currently looking at alternate ways to introduce Foreign Language in the first couple of years at Westside and are investigating the Rosetta Stone K-12 program. This language curriculum follows speaking, reading and writing in its instruction and would be utilized during the school day, as well as, being available at home.  Stay Tuned for more details.

The Westside Weekly May 5, 2013

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Donates Books to Westside

The Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts donated over $3,000 worth of children’s literature to Westside Atlanta Charter School. The books were presented to us April 24 at a luncheon for the clients of the Four Seasons. The books will forever be part of the Westside library. I would like to thank Kate Pearce and Tom Stafford from the Four Seasons, who graciously thought of helping our school.

Walton Grant

We just received notification from the Walton Foundation that we will be recipients of a $225,000 grant! I would like to congratulate the board members who continue to work tirelessly to ensure that we have the funding in place for our students.

Staff Retreat

Thank you to all who sent their messages of support to the staff. We gathered this rainy weekend at Montara Farms just outside of Dahlonega to establish our expectations of each other and our goals for the coming school year.

One of the activities we participated in was to think about the “Top 5” expectations we had about what school should look like and the converse, what it shouldn’t look like. Here is what we came up with for our “must” list:

1. Teamwork/Collaboration
2. Create Intentional Diversity
3.  Build community and relationships
4. Have a growth mindset
5. Maintain curiosity

Our “must not” list:

1. Never say or think it’s just a job
2. Don’t make assumptions
3. Do not work in isolation
4. No Teacher centered rooms
5. Do not do things without purpose
6. Do not lose focus
7. No Worksheets

The weekend was filled with many great conversations and foundational activities that have put the wheels in motion for planning this up coming school year.

 

The Westside Weekly April 19, 2013

Spring Break

Last week I took the week off and powered down the laptop to look at this:

Sunday Gatherings at the West Highlands’ Park

Located in the center of the West Highlands Subdivision and just up the street from the site of Westside Atlanta Charter School (1903 Drew Drive), you will find our future families and other community members gathered from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM every Sunday at the West Highlands’ Park. This is a great opportunity to meet families and students that will make up the Westside Atlanta Charter School Community.

Come out this Sunday, April 21, 2013 from 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM and meet the family! 

Founding Staff Retreat and YOU! 

We will have our Founding Staff Retreat May 3 and May 4. This will be an excellent opportunity for all of our staff to begin the work of building a team. Our discussions will focus around our core principles of imagination, rigor and service as it relates to all aspects of Westside Atlanta Charter School.

You can be part of our staff retreat! If you would like to send some words of encouragement, reflections, hopes, dreams, etc… to our founding staff please email me, pete@wacs.us, and I will make this part of our team building exercise. I look forward to hearing from you. 

A big thanks to those families who already have sent their messages in; I know the staff will appreciate hearing your thoughts and dreams.

It Is Not Too Late! Student Profile Survey

In order to find out more about your child, we are asking that you complete the Student Profile Survey that can be found through this link: http://westsidecharterschool.squarespace.com/student-profile-survey/ .

Please fill out the survey and return it to pete@wacs.us . 

Forms can also be mailed to :

Westside Atlanta Charter School

P.O. Box 19823

Atlanta, GA 30325

The Westside Weekly April 5, 2013

Well Underway

We are well underway with collecting student enrollment packets. I would like to extend a big thank you to all of our community members for working at gathering that important information.

Class lists will be put together soon and will be posted no later than April 30, 2013. Please remember to submit your student profile survey (http://www.wacs.us/student-profile-survey/ ) to me ( pete@wacs.us)  by April 10.

Staff Retreat

We will have our Founding Staff Retreat May 3 and May 4. This will be an excellent opportunity for all of our staff to begin the work of building a team. Our discussions will focus around or core principles of imagination, rigor and service as it relates to all aspects of Westside Atlanta Charter School.

You can be part of our staff retreat! If you would like to send some words of encouragement, reflections, hopes, dreams etc… to our founding staff please email me, pete@wacs.us and I will make this part of our team building exercise. I look forward to hearing from you.

Food for Thought- Homework

It seems that part of the schooling debate always centers on the concept of homework and what place it has in education. We will discuss as a team what that looks like at Westside Atlanta Charter School and I wanted to share at least one of the articles we will be reading regarding this topic. Follow the link to this Education Week blog http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/classroom_qa_with_larry_ferlazzo/2013/03/response_best_homework_practices.html .

What do you think?

The Westside Weekly March 25, 2013

Westside Atlanta Charter School Introduces The Founding Staff

We were so proud to introduce the Westside Families to our founding staff members at last Saturday’s open house. The one consistent comment from all of the staff was that they could not wait to get going after meeting the community and their future students.

Our First Yearbook Editor.

Saturday, I had the honor of meeting many of our new students, who each shared with me their excitement. Henry seemed excited about Coach K, our PE Teacher, and others were excited they got to the cookies first. One student, Annie Reid, presented me with a proposal to start a yearbook club at Westside. This well written proposal demonstrated her keen interest in creating our first book that will chronicle our year together. Annie Reid, we are looking forward to supporting your vision for a school yearbook.

Divergent Thinking and Student-Centered Learning

At the core of our mission and vision is the concept of student-centered learning while fostering imagination, curiosity and critical thinking. Sir Ken Robison does an excellent job of talking about the educational paradigm and the need for schools to foster what he describes as divergent thinking. You might enjoy looking at his creative way of explaining this concept while continuing to delve into what education at Westside is truly about.

http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_changing_education_paradigms.html

REGISTRATION DEADLINE APRIL 1, 2013

Remember the registration deadline is April 1, 2013. You may turn in the registration packet this Saturday, March 30, 2013 from 2:00-3:30 PM at the school site, 1903 Drew Dr.