August 23, 2011

Dear Parents and Community Members:

We are pleased to present you with the Annual Education Report (AER) which provides key information on the 2010-2011 educational progress for Washington Street Elementary School.   The AER addresses the complex reporting information required by federal and state laws.  The school’s report contains information about student assessment, Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and teacher quality.  If you have any questions about the AER, please contact Principal Heather Badders for assistance.

Click here for the complete report for the above data.

School Overview

Mission Statement: The staff at Washington Street Elementary School believes all children can learn and become positive, contributing members of their community. It is our goal to provide a safe environment which focuses on academic achievement and enhances the physical, social and emotional growth of our students. We encourage parents and community members to join us in the responsibility of fostering positive self concepts and behaviors in pursuit of this mission.

Principal........................................................................          Mrs. Heather Badders
Grades Served...............................................................         K-5
Total Number of Certified Teachers.............................          26
Total Number of Other Staff........................................          27
Highly Qualified Teachers............................................          100%
Enrollment....................................................................          425

AYP Status

For 2010-2011, Washington Street Elementary made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in English language arts and mathematics and received a grade of “A” from the state. While we are pleased to have reached this important goal, we are continuously working to improve. We appreciate the continued support of parents, staff and our community in this effort.

We are very proud of all we do and offer at Washington Street Elementary, from our curriculum to activities. I encourage you to look at our Points of Pride that demonstrate the wide range of experiences and involvement in which our students take part.

A copy of the AER is available for you to review at the Washington Street Elementary office.

Sincerely,
Heather Badders, Principal

State law requires that we also report additional information:

• Process for Assigning Pupils to the School: Elementary students are assigned to one of three school buildings based on geographical boundaries established and modified from time to time, to assure full utilization of the district’s teaching and facility resources. It is sometimes necessary to transfer some students from one attendance area to another. We attempt to assign Schools of Choice students to the closest building geographically, but it is first dependent upon availability.

• School Improvement Plan Status: The faculty and staff at Washington Street Elementary have been firmly committed to the school improvement process for more than 14 years. Again this year our teaching staff targeted reading as a main goal. Our certified teachers and Title I parapros are extensively trained in neuroplasticity, better known as Rewiring the Brain.

• Specialized Schools:

Programs and services located in the Otsego Public Schools include:

1. Early Childhood Special Education - a special education classroom designed to provide preschool aged students with disabilities services to prepare them for Kindergarten.
2. Autism Spectrum Disorder Regional Elementary Classroom - a special education classroom designed to provide intensive services to elementary aged students with ASD. Students from all districts in Allegan County are invited to participate in this classroom if they qualify.
3. Hearing and Visual Consultant Services - specialists in the area s of hearing and visual impairments work with students in our local schools to support them in the general education classroom.
4. Level 3 Programs - these programs are designed to provide educational services to students with disabilities who need more intensive learning support both in the classroom and in life.
5. Level 2 Programs - these services are designed to provide students with disabilities academic and social support within the general education classroom and curriculum
6. Level 1 Programs - these services are designed to provide support to students with disabilities who need minimal help in the general education curriculum.

Specialized Schools:

In addition to the programs and services provided locally in the Otsego Public Schools, students with special needs also attend specialized county programs at the Hillside Learning and Behavior Center. Hillside's West campus houses programs for students with severe cognitive, physical, and neurologic impairments. Hillside's East campus houses programs for students with severe emotional and behavioral impairments.

• Core Curriculum: As mandated by the State of Michigan, Otsego Public Schools has developed a core curriculum at all school levels. Outcomes to be achieved by all students have been defined based upon the district’s educational mission, student performance objectives and the Michigan Grade Level Content expectation for K-8 students and the Michigan High School Content Expectations for 9-12. For a copy of the Core Curriculum guide, contact Melissa Koenig, Director of Elementary Instruction, at 269-692-6149.

• Parent involvement in parent-teacher conferences:
  • 2009-10 School Year
    • Fall Conferences.................... 96%
    • Spring Conferences................ 89%
  • 2010-11 School Year
    • Fall Conferences.................... 96%
    • Spring Conferences................ 93%

Points of Pride

• A total of 22 fifth grade students qualified for the President’s Award for Educational Excellence.
• Thirty-three third through fifth grade students received all A’s for the entire school year.
• Recognition assemblies were held each trimester to recognize students for exemplary attendance, academic success, and good citizenship.
• Washington Street Elementary participated in several service learning projects. In December, we joined hands with Wings of Hope Hospice to provide close to 150 platters of cookies for patients, bereaved families, and nursing home residents. In May, our first grade classes cleaned up an area park.
• For the 13th consecutive year, four students’ artwork will be displayed in China as part of a contest sponsored by the Michigan State University Extension Service’s 4-H program.
• Ninth annual Career Fair for our third, fourth and fifth graders. Parents and local businesses presented to give students a glimpse of some career opportunities.
• During our WSE Mileage Club walking program, organized by physical education teacher Amy Nieuwenhuis, students walked over 16,900 miles during recess, breaking a new record! We also had 4 students reach 100 miles!  Thirty-four percent of WSE students earned and/or surpassed 40 miles.  These students were invited to a special pool party.
• Three teams of third through fifth graders competed in the Battle of the Books.
• Maintained a strong financial backing for our Backpack Buddies program. This program serviced 16 students.
• Eight WSE staff received OPS Foundation grants for specialized programs!
  • We will be able to outfit our fourth grade with exercise balls, supply several classrooms with Bal-A-Vis equipment, expand our Title I guided reading program, equip two second grade classrooms with Ipods and enhance our writing centers at the lower elementary.
• We had two teams for Girls On the Run this year.
• Thirty-seven third through fifth graders participated in our Envisions program. This advanced and accelerated course provided two different opportunities for students to create and organize special projects.
• Over fifty students participated in the Borgess Fitness Run in April. Fourth grader Will Eldred took fourth place! There were over 1,500 students in the race.
• Last year our staff did a book study on Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortensen. The book inspired us to create a Pennies of Peace campaign to educate students and community members about the importance of education. We raised another $200.00 for schools in Afghanistan by just having a penny jar in the office.
• All staff members are trained in Capturing Kids Hearts.
• Eleven classrooms are outfitted with exercise ball chairs for their entire class with much success!
• Third through fifth graders had the opportunity to participate in our Homework Intervention Program afterschool to assist with classroom assignments.
• Fifty-two students participated in our JumpStart program each day. This cardio-vascular program helped students improve focus for academics and build self-esteem.
• In August we hosted our Third Annual Clothing Exchange. Families are invited to browse after Parent Orientation for clothing items, students are offered hygiene items/free haircuts and a free shoe voucher from Walmart.
• Thirty-six students in fourth and fifth grades are trained and participate in our Conflict Manager Program.
• Four classrooms participated in Junior Achievement.
• The second grade adopted a service project for Sylvia’s Place this year.  They collected and filled twenty-six boxes with stuffed animals, games, small toys and hygiene products.
• We added a fourth physical education class for our kindergarten through second grade classes and a technology class for our third through fifth graders.
• In March, students raised $6,900 for The American Heart Association in the Jump Rope For Heart event.
• Our building theme ‘Get Your Green On’ centered around promoting recycling and helping to make the world a better place.  In April, we had over 10 community members and over 60 volunteers work at stations at our Party For the Planet Day to educate our students on topics like composting, recycling, National Forest Service and yard art.
• P.A.W.S. (Physical Activity With Spirit) was started as an afterschool program to keep kids healthy and active.
• Lori Bronkema, a Health and Physical/Education Teacher, was awarded a grant through the Dairy Council to help fund more equipment for our JumpZone.