Palmer Way Technology

Palmer Way School continues to excel in using technology to improve student achievement.  Here are some excellent examples.

• Matt Crosbie and Michael Clarken were featured guest speakers at the recent meeting of all the San Diego County Assistant Superintendents of Curriculum and Instruction.  They featured their weblogs Digikids and EnviroKids as examples of using technology to improve student achievement.  Truly, they are leaders in using technology to communicate with parents and other community members.
• Our after school Media Class, directed by Mr. Crosbie, continues to use electronic media to improve student learning.  One way has been the daily news broadcast.  These broadcasts are written, directed, filmed and delivered by students. 
• Tamlyn Mckean was just awarded a complete “Digital Media Lab” worth over $4,000  to support her work with student led digital media instruction.  Her morning technology class teaches students to use digital and video media.  This year, these students will be creating many Public Service Announcements with the focus of improving Palmer Way School. 
• Almost every teacher at Palmer Way has successfully designed their own weblog that shares information about their class and instructional program.  Check them out at PalmerWay.org.  Each classroom teacher has been sharing schedules, homework assignments and other important events in their class. 
• The Palmer Way PTSO Weblog continues to inform parents and staff about upcoming parent and school wide events and activities. 
• All classroom teachers now have Promethean Boards.  The Promethean Technology is a tremendous tool to support all aspects of the California State Standards.  It is also a great tool to improve our students’ vocabulary. 

Technology at Palmer Way not only supports the California State Standards, but it teaches our students the importance of technology and their own learning.  Palmer Way Students will leave us with the knowledge that technology will support their learning as they enter middle and high schools.  Palmer Way Students will have the confidence to use technology to increase their understanding of science, social studies, writing, speaking and mathematics.  They will be ready to excel!

Reading and Comprehension

This year, Palmer Way will continue to focus on reading and vocabulary development.  As always, it is the teachers’ instruction that will make the difference during the time students are in school.  However, parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles are also able to influence how well a student reads.  It is their expectations and attitudes about reading at home that greatly influences a child’s vocabulary development.  For the next few weeks, these pages, the Principal’s Pages, will highlight strategies to improve vocabulary development and ultimately improve reading understanding and enjoyment.

This week, I have linked the Principal’s Pages with the Sonoma County Office of Education and a series of videos by Dr. Anita Archer.  Here, you will be able to view several video clips on active participation and developing vocabulary.  These brief video clips are helpful to both teachers and parents.  What you will begin to see are very intentional strategies of expecting students to talk and use language. This week there are three video clips.  I would strongly encourage everyone to take a few minutes and view each one.  The one that is titled, Structuring Active Participation for 7th grade is very relevant to our goals for Palmer Way. 

Another resouce is iTunes.  Dr. Anita Archer’s Instructional Video Clips are now availabe as podcasts.  Just go to iTunes and seach the available podcasts.  The iTunes website is linked to the Sonoma County Office of Education Website.  Check it out!

Have fun and expand your vocabulary by reading daily!

Now What?

We are well into the school year. We have all met to discuss our school priorities. The Back to School Nights are over and information about Palmer Way has been shared as much as possible. Palmer Way has reached the California State Benchmark of 800 in the Academic Performance Index. Palmer Way’s API is 808!

The California English Language Test is nearing completion and we are completing the fall assessments. Students have been given tests in both reading and math to determine instructional level. Classroom adjustments have been made and Impact Teachers have been hired. Our guided reading groups are scheduled to begin September 22.

Now what?

As I have said repeatedly over the years, the single most important “reform” in education is the quality of the teacher. Teachers are what make the difference. At Palmer Way, we have outstanding teachers and classified staff, evidenced by the consistent growth of our students in many areas. Academic Success! Technology Innovation! Respect and Responsibility! Community Service! Our students at Palmer Way have grown academically in every measure. They have learned to use technology to widen their experiences and challenge their ideas. Our students are well behaved and have accepted responsibility for their learning and behavior.

What’s Next?

Instruction, Instruction, Instruction! Your teaching will now take center stage. Your planning, preparation, delivery and assessment over the next few months will be the deciding factor as we progress through the year.

Our commitment for the 2008-2009 school year is to improve our instruction in vocabulary, ultimately improving reading comprehension in all areas. Our staff meetings, our professional learning community meetings, buy back days and district staff development days will all be focused on how we can collectively improve our instruction in vocabulary. It is now up to us to continue on our path of excellence. Believe in yourself, believe in our children and believe in each other.

Back to School Nights

Thank you to everyone for making our Back to School Nights successful.  We had excellent attendance on both nights.  Again, I heard many positive comments from parents about the outstanding educational program that Palmer Way Teachers are providing for our students. 

Also, congratulations to everyone at Palmer Way School.  As you know, Palmer Way is now an “800″ School.  Our Academic Performance Index is 808.  Great work!

Don’t forget!  Tune in daily to PalmerWay.org to view teachers’ weblogs as well as PalmerWay TV and our PTSO weblog.  There, you will be able to check on activities in our teachers’ classrooms as well as what is happening with our PTSO.

Back to School Nights

Our Back to School Nights are this week.  Please make every effort to communicate with your parents not only the time and date of Back to School Night, but its importance.  This is an opportunity to share your vision and goals for the 2008-2009 school year.

Parents will meet in the cafeteria at 6:00 p.m.  I will be sharing last year’s CST results including both the API and the AYP.  In addition, I will spend several minutes highlighting PalmerWay.org and PalmerWay TV.  I will share several of the teachers’ blogs as well as the Principal’s Pages.  There will be a strong expectation for parents to view PalmerWay.org and to link regularly to their child’s teacher’s weblog.

The general meeting will end with the introductions of our outstanding PTSO Officers and the many activities and resouces they will bring to Palmer Way.  The parents will share their weblog as well.  The PTSO weblog can easily be found at PalmerWay.org.  Just click on the link PTSO.

Again, let’s make this the best ever Back to School Nights and have 100% participation.

September News

As always, September is a very busy month.  Please check the Palmer Way Calendar to keep track of the many activities in September. 

Today, Wednesday, September 3 is our Back to School Night for our Extended Day Kindergarten Classes.  Mrs. Mountain and Mrs. Whitaker will meet with parents tonight to share their Kindergarten Program including their extended day schedule.   Their students will begin at 8:15 a.m. and stay until 2:00 p.m.  Take a look at Mrs. Mountain’s and Mrs. Whitakers’ Blogs to learn more about schedules, programs and routines.

Primary Back to School Night is Tuesday, September 9 @ 6:00 p.m.  and Intermediate Back to School Night is Thursday, September 11 also at 6:00 p.m.  Back to School Nights are designed for parents.  Parents will receive information about their child’s classroom including schedules, routines and expectations for behavior.  Most importantly, parents will receive information about academic expectations. 

Parents will receive copies of the California State Standards in Mathematics, Language Arts and Science. The California State Academic Standards, both Language Arts, Math and Science may also be viewed on the California Department of Education Website.  On this site, you will be able to view the standards and the number and percentage of questions in each content standard.  Upon reading the standards, you may also view the released test questions.  These questions will help both parents and teachers better understand the format and content of the California State Standards Tests.

Back to School Nights are an important part of the school year.  We encouage everyone to attend.  Let’s make this year’s Back to School Night the best ever with 100% participation. 

Palmer Way Reigns

Yesterday’s first day of school was further evidence of the commitment and professionalism of the Palmer Way School Community.

Our staff and parents made every effort possible to welcome our new and returning students to the 2008-2009 school year.  Our office staff, as always, provided efficient, friendly and expert assistance to our families registering their students for the first time.

In addition, our support staff was out in force answering questions and escorting new and continuing students alike to their new classrooms. 

Teachers and instructional assistants also made every effort to welcome students to the new school year.  Their classrooms were open early and they were out meeting and introducing themselves to their new group of students.  Our students truly look forward to coming to school because they know their teachers care about them.

You also may have noticed our Palmer Way PTSO yesterday.  Throughout the day, they were out and about welcoming both new and returning families.  To end the day, they gave each student an otterpop to help celebrate the first day of school. 

As we enter the 2008-2009 school year, I hope and expect that both staff and community will be frequent visitors to PalmerWay.org.  There, everyone will be able to access important and interesting information about our school.  First, the monthly calendar is posted and will be updated frequently.  Secondly, both staff and community will be able to view “What You Need to Know” a daily news broadcast written and delivered by our students. 

Teachers will also be creating their own Weblogs designed to inform, entertain and communicate with parents and families.  Each teacher’s blog is accessed by going to PalmerWay.org and clicking on the specific teacher’s name. I strongly recommend that all of us, parents and teachers alike make a daily habit of logging on to PalmerWay.org.  You will be treated to the many outstanding happenings at Palmer Way School. 

Stay tuned, stay involved and stay informed!