WCE Traditions

Grandparents' Day was a tremendous success. We want to thank all of our grandparents, families, and friends for the great turnout. Traditions and celebrations like Grandparents' Day help shape the culture of a school and a community. What traditions and celebrations are special for your family at Walker Creek?

Homework

What has been your experience this year with homework? There are many ideas about what homework should look like, how much should be assigned, how much it should count, etc. Even teachers have varying philosophies about homework. We have had discussions in grade level meetings this year about homework, and I am impressed with our teachers' insight when it comes to homework. What are your thoughts about homework?

Coyote Fun Run

The Fun Run was a hit! I loved seeing all of the scholars so excited about participating. It was really great to see teachers bring their classes out to cheer on everyone else. I hope your child had a great time. If you were not able to come out and see the event, you definitely need to make plans to see it next year. What are your thoughts about the Coyote Fun Run?

Fun Run and Public School Funding

As we gear up for the Coyote Fun Run, I started thinking about how our school is funded and all the questions surrounding fund raising and Public School Finance.

• Why do we need to raise money?


• Do we need money because of the state financial crisis?


• Where does the money from the Fun Run go?


• How does my child benefit?

Texas public schools receive money from the state based on a complicated formula. Most of the money we receive comes from local property tax and state sales tax and is used to cover operations costs and salaries. A small amount of discretionary money (called Site-Based funds) is distributed to each campus to be used for supplies. After we cover some basic needs such as office supplies, library needs, and computer maintenance there is about $10,000 left for classroom supplies. With over 30 teachers on campus, each classroom receives less than $300 for supplies. Elementary schools in Texas have never received substantial amounts of site-based funds from the state, and our need for fund raising is not directly tied to the recent budget crisis.

With such a small amount of money coming in from the state for supplies we have to turn to extra sources of income if we are going to equip our classrooms with excellent tools for learning. Fundraising is one way to get big ticket items such as smart boards, digital cameras, and laptop computers. We hope to raise enough money from the Coyote Fun Run this year to provide some new technology tools for our scholars in every grade level. If we reach our goal, you can expect to see these new tools in place and used this school year.

Allowing Scholars to Make Mistakes

Mistakes are an important part of the learning process. The attached article by Alina Tugend published in Edutopia explains the research on how children use mistakes to learn. How adults react to children when mistakes are made is critical to the learning process. What are your thoughts about the role of mistakes in the learning process? You can access the article by clicking on the wordle.

Traffic

We are working hard to make our afternoon traffic as safe and convenient as possible. I've been observing our afternoon pick up, and I have seen our teachers and staff working very hard. We have a few ideas that we will put in place over the next couple of days to make our afternoon traffic flow more smoothly. We will continue to monitor our afternoon traffic and make improvements where we can. We appreciate your patience. If you have lived through afternoon pick up, you know that it can be tedious. Success boils down to good procedures, a willingness to adapt, and a little grace from everyone. I have invited the NRH police department to observe our afternoon traffic to see if they have suggestions on how to improve. If you have suggestions on how to improve, we invite you to comment here.

The Role of Technology in School

It has been suggested that today's school-age children think and process information differently than their parents. The reason for this fundamental difference is the availability of technology. Smart phones, computers, and unlimited access to information are things that our children simply view as part of life. For them to imagine life without them would be like me trying to imagine life without vehicles or electricity. There are serious questions and responsibilities for educators and parents when dealing with technology and children. What role does technology play in today's elementary school, and how would you like to see technology used in your child's education?

Building Background Knowledge and Vocabulary

One of the most important things a parent can do for their child's education is work on vocabulary. Vocabulary increases academic achievement in every subject. Excellent vocabulary also builds background knowledge that provides context for future learning. I believe the most effective way to work on vocabulary is through life experiences and using rich language in daily conversation. You can also find fun vocabulary games online at places like pbskids.org and funbrain.com. What are some fun ways you build vocabulary in your home?

Traditions - What Makes Walker Creek Elementary Special?

Walker Creek Elementary has a stellar reputation in Birdville and beyond as an exceptional place for scholars. What would you tell this new principal about Walker Creek Elementary? What are the traditions and customs that are important to your family? What makes Walker Creek a special school?