Talk With Your Kids about School Shootings

Principals and counselors in the Lake Forest School District have a wealth of resources and advice for parents who ask how to talk to their children about the most recent tragedy in Newton, Connecticut. 

What they would say if you asked is, "Talk with your child, not to your child."  When you talk with your child you ask them questions.  You can't know what to say until you know what they know, what they've heard, what they think of that and what questions they have.  Listening to your child is included when talking with your child.

The story unfolded on Friday, so we don't know what parents may have decided to share through the weekend.  We don't know if some children sat and watched TV news coverage.  We don't know if some parents made it a point to not discuss it at all.  We don't know, child by child, if they have been personally affected.

At the school level what we do offer is assurances that children are safe. We provide counselors and other caring adults for those who have questions or want to talk about what they've seen and heard.  We tell them that we know that such incidences are extremely rare.  We know that we have good, solid safety practices.

Such events as this compel each school to get out their safety plans, review with faculty and discuss what, if any, drills and practices need to be implemented.  We were safe on Friday. 

We will be safer tomorrow. 

Thanks

On behalf of the Lake Forest Board of Education and all of the employees, I want to say thank you to the community for approving the operating referendum this week.

Passage helps to assure a certain degree of financial security for many years.  We'll have no problem sustaining some programs that are critical to student success.   Not only that, but it will allow us to move forward with some of our newest initiatives.

Just this week, we have taken the first steps to form a committee, which will be charged with planning a one to one computer initiative, with hopes to launch in the 2014-2015 school year.  They need time to work on such questions as:  At what grade level will we begin?  Laptop or tablet?  Is our infrastructure sufficient?  What instructional materials and programs will be delivered via the technology?  What and how much training will our teachers need to maximize the use of this tool?  How much will we save in textbooks not purchased?

Finally, we now have some funds to open up negotiations with our employees to adjust the compensation package to bring them out of the cellar and into the middle of Kent County school districts.  That's a pretty modest goal, but ours is a modest community.

So, it's been a great couple of weeks to be a Spartan.  Lake Forest children, staff and activities have been all over the media for the past few weeks.  We're proud to have so many successes.

We can't be successful with out a supportive community.  Thanks again.

Capital Referendum Postponed

In August the Lake Forest Board of Education approved the pursuit of two referendums and established an election date of December 4, 2012. Last night, the Board decided to postpone the capital referendum but continue with pursuit of the operating referendum.


Why? The Capital referendum, which is for buildings and grounds improvements, was a small one by most standards – totaling $6.5 million in improvements around the district. The Lake Forest share would come from the Kent County funds and would require no tax increase. Plans had been submitted to the Delaware Department of Education requesting approval of a Certificate of Necessity, but that approval has been slow coming.

We were advised by state staff that requests for funds from the bond bill exceeded the amount available and that not even all priority 1 requests would be approved. It became clear that our CN would not be approved any time soon and that, if approved, it would likely be reduced, so we decided to hold off on those projects and resubmit next year.

The district will continue with plans for an operating referendum on December 4 that will request public approval for funds aimed at:

• Technology upgrades – essential equipment replacement and maintenance of student computers

• Student safety – support for the School Resource Officer and other safety programs

• Extra instructional time – homebound instruction, after school tutoring and transportation

• Transportation support – to fill the gap created by a 10% reduction in state support

• Attracting and retaining quality staff – move compensation for staff from the bottom to the middle of other area school districts

What does the Public think of Public Schools?

Highlights of the Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll on Public Schools


In this Kappan article, William Bushaw (of PDK International) and Shane Lopez (of Gallup) present the results of the 44th annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup poll of American attitudes and beliefs about the public schools. Some excerpts:

- 35% of this representative slice of Americans say lack of financial support is the biggest problem in their community’s schools, followed by lack of discipline, named by only 8%.

- 50% say the Common Core State Standards will improve the quality of education, versus 8% who say they will decrease the quality of education (40% say they will make no difference).

- 89% say it is very or somewhat important to close the racial achievement gap, and 84% think this can be done while maintaining high standards for all children.

- 62% say they are willing to pay more taxes to provide funds to improve the quality of the nation’s urban public schools (37% are unwilling).

- 58% oppose providing free public education, school lunches, and other benefits to the children of illegal immigrants (41% favor it).

- 52% are in favor of requiring that teacher evaluations include how well a teacher’s students perform on standardized tests (47% are opposed).

- 48% give a grade of A or B to their community’s public schools, versus 19% giving a grade of A or B to the nation’s public schools.

- 63% say students should be required to stay in school till they are 18 years old.

- 66% favor the idea of charter schools.

- 70% favor laws that allow parents to petition to remove the leadership and staff of failing schools.

- 45% say they were bullied by another student when they were in school; 16% confess to bullying another student.

- 58% say schools should investigate and discipline students involved in bullying incidents outside of school, including over the Internet.

- 71% say they have trust and confidence in the people who are teaching children in the public schools.



“Public Education in the United States: A Nation Divided” by William Bushaw and Shane Lopez in Phi Delta Kappan, September 2012 (Vol. 94, #1, p. 8-25); the full results of 44th Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools are available at http://www.pdkpoll.org.

Freshman - There is Hope

For years we have recognized that the most challenging year of high school is the first year – the lowly freshman. Often when I’m dealing with a fifth-year senior it becomes clear that it was the freshman year where they stumbled. We see classes failed and more academic struggles every year from the kids in grade 9.


So, this year at Lake Forest High School, they are launching a new initiative aimed at teaching 9th graders to think about the future. If you happen to have one in your house, you may respond “My child can’t see past Friday night and you’re going to get them to think about the future?”

Yes.  At least we hope so.

It’s called freshman seminar. Each 9th grader is enrolled. Ever student will be challenged to envision a future that includes:

• Graduation from high school

• Further education beyond high school

• Transition to workforce and economic self-sufficiency

They will be using the Career Choices curriculum which takes the kids through a step by step process to help them answer the questions: Who am I? What do I want? How do I get it? There will be more than 100 active-learning activities, each building upon the other. What does living on your own really cost? What does it cost to support and feed a family? How much money do I need for rent or mortgage?

The activities are designed to document the journey of self-exploration and can be used as a portfolio of sorts that can be modified as years go by.

We are excited about the introduction of Career Choices at Lake Forest High School as a part of the new Freshman Seminar. We feel confident it has the potential for creating many more successful Freshman Spartans

Beating the Odds

This announcement was just released this week from the Vision 2015 folks.  They identify 24 schools in Delaware that are beating the odds.  Four on the list are Lake Forest Schools.  W.T.Chipman Middle would be on the list because has consistently been among the highest achieving middle schools.  I suspect the poverty level is average so that's why it's not included.

Way to go Lake Forest students and staff!

Vision 2015 would like to commend a number of schools that have demonstrated through their DCAS results that they are “beating the odds.” These schools have a low-income student population that is greater than the state average and out-performed the state on math and reading DCAS. These schools demonstrate that zip codes don’t have to determine student performance.


The teachers, support professionals, and school leaders at these schools are placing their students on radically different life trajectories. From Delaware Department of Education public data, here are 24 schools that are beating the odds:

• Banneker Elementary (Milford)

• Brittingham Elementary (Cape Henlopen)

• Clayton Elementary (Indian River)

• East Millsboro Elementary (Indian River)

• Elbert-Palmer Elementary (Christina)

• Fairview Elementary (Capital)

• Hartly Elementary (Capital)

• Indian River High (Indian River)

• Keene Elementary (Christina)

• Kuumba Academy Charter School

• Lake Forest Central Elementary (Lake Forest)

• Lake Forest East Elementary (Lake Forest)

• Lake Forest North Elementary (Lake Forest)

• Lake Forest South Elementary (Lake Forest)

• Long Neck Elementary (Indian River)

• Millsboro Middle (Indian River)

• North Dover Elementary (Capital)

• North Georgetown Elementary (Indian River)

• Ross Elementary (Milford)

• Seaford Central Elementary (Seaford)

• Showell Elementary (Indian River)

• Smith Elementary (Christina)

• South Dover Elementary (Capital)

• Stokes Elementary (Caesar Rodney)

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Now is the Time to Establish Home Routines

For many families, the start of the school year means adding multiple activities and logistics. It can be a challenge to create consistency and calm when family members are going in different directions. Having set routines at the beginning and end of the day can not only help children build healthy habits but also give them a sense of security.

 

Starting out right — A good, peaceful start to the day has a powerful effect on the kind of day we have. Here are some tips to help those busy mornings go smoothly:

 

• Help your children pack up their backpacks for school the night before.
•  Make lunches, sign field trip permission slips, etc., the night before.
• Lay out clothes the night ahead.
• In a family meeting, work out a schedule for using the bathroom and getting breakfast that gets everyone out the door on time. Post the written schedule in a prominent place.
• Eat breakfast with your children.

 

After school and evening — As much as possible, set regular times for meals, homework, television, and bedtime routines. This will provide a much-needed structure to your children’s day and help them get the rest they need. To help bedtimes be relaxed and fun:

 

• Talk about the next day’s schedule so your children know what to expect. It can be helpful to have a weekly calendar posted in a prominent place. Include each person’s chores and when they are to be completed.
• Eat dinner together and talk about everyone’s day. Make it a practice to have every family member contribute at least one interesting thing they have learned that day.
• Have a family activity — play a game, work on math facts, practice spelling.
• Set rules about video games and television watching, and turn them off long before bedtime. Sometimes television images are too stimulating and make it hard for the child to get to sleep.
• Read with your children before bed.

Getting Kids Back in the Groove

Summer goes by so fast doesn’t it? It’s time now for back to school sales and all that stuff.


Parents should not only think about assembling school uniforms and book bags and school supplies for school. They also should consider doing a few things to help their children get back into the school groove. Studies have shown that when children take the same test as soon as school is out and again at the end of the summer, on average they will score lower the second time around. Losses are most apparent with math computation and spelling. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Help your children get in shape to start school on August 27 by doing some of these fun activities at home.

Math

• Find age appropriate math games to play.

• Use car times to review math facts.

• Help your children find appropriate internet sites with math activities and games.

• Provide math workbooks and puzzles for car trips and idle time.

• Provide a daily computation problem that will challenge them. Post it on the fridge.

Reading

• Visit the library and help your children find books that interest them. It’s especially important to select some non-fiction books such as biographies or books on science.

• Have your children read to you at bedtime. Ask them to tell you in their own words about what they have read.

• Take your children to local museums or art exhibits and have them read up on the things they found most interesting there.

• Start family book journals. Encourage children to keep a record of what they read, the date, title and author and a 2 sentence description. Set goals for a number of books to be read per week or month.

• Let your children see you reading. It is hard for them to be enthusiastic about reading if you don’t model that behavior.

There is still a month before school starts but now is the time to sharpen the pencils and exercise the brain.

Economic Impact of Graduates

On June 1, 2012  185 seniors walked across the stage at Lake Forest High School auditorium to receive their high school diploma.  When it was my turn to talk, I pointed out how important it was for them to have made that walk.  You see, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those with a high school diploma will earn almost $200 a week more on average than those without.  Pay day.  Ka ching!

Here's some information I didn't have for that night.  The Alliance for Excellent Education, using a sophisticated economic input/output model, provides economic projections of local benefits based upon the data of our region.  Here's what they've told me about the Lake Forest High School class of 2012:

• Collectively, this single class of graduates are expected to earn as much as $1.7 million more in an average year compared to their likely earnings had they not earned a high school diploma.
• By the midpoint of their careers, these new graduates combined, will likely purchase homes totaling in value of as much as $7.2 million more than what they would have spent without a diploma.
• The spending and investments made by this graduating class will likely be enought to support as many as 9.5 new jobs in Delaware and increase the gross state product by as much as $1.5 million by the time they reach their career midpoints.
• As a result of increased wages and higher levels of spending, federal, state and local tax revenues are expected to grow as much as $500,000 during and average year.

Graduation from high school makes a lot of dollars and sense.  Some college would be even better.  And a 4 year college degree will likely double their income.

Celebrating Who We Are

This week the Delaware State Education Association held its annual Human and Civil Rights Awards at the Sheraton Hotel in Dover. Lake Forest was well represented.


There are student competitions in computer graphics, art and writing. Of the 23 awards handed out, students from Lake Forest won 10 of them - pretty good for a contest that is open to the whole state.

I always enjoy this event. It is a celebration of diversity. It is a way of reinforcing with our kids that many people suffered ahead of them, so that they would be free. Go to school free with freedom to choose their future. They study and write about Martin Luther King and Gandhi. They study and write about the Holocaust. They study and write about many of the little events of American history, where average people showed uncommon bravery to advocate for change.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. For a rural community, we seem to be quite diverse. Among our Lake Forest award winners at this event you find black, Hispanic, Asian, white and bi-racial students. They are all happy. They are all getting a good education. They have friends of all colors.

Among the state-wide winners there were a couple of physically handicapped students who needed assistance getting on and off the stage. The underlying message and theme of the event , “We Are One, We Are Many” is not lost on the children. They embrace each other and their differences. We’re all humans. Each of us is unique. Together we make up a community. Together we are stronger.  We are all Spartans.

Thanks to Lake Forest High School Social Studies teacher Amy Reed for her dedication to this event and to the work of the Lake Forest Education Association. She makes sure we are in the competition each year and never fails to coach several into the top three. Thanks also to North teachers Pablo Reyes and Todd Weller. The students of North are always in the trophy class as well.

This is just another example of how Lake Forest Schools help to shape our future.

Early College School District.

Imagine if you will, a school system where teachers and parents say to their children, "when you go to college" rather than "if you go to college."

The research is clear, the difference in dollars that can be earned in a lifetime for someone with some college education is huge when compared to someone with only a high school diploma. A post high school tech school certificate, associates degree or bachelors degree should be a goal for every student. It is achieveable. It is affordable.

So, we are going to work toward making Lake Forest School District an Early College School District. Our goal will be for all, yes all of our kids to have earned some college credit by the time they get their high school diploma. It is possible for some students to be be well on their way to an associate degree at their high school graduation.

How do we get there?

First we have to make sure that our curriculum is rigorous enough to prepare all children for college work. That teachers hold all students to a high standard.

Second we have to allow students to accelerate through the core classes like Math and English more quickly so their Junior and Senior year schedules have more room for college classes.

Third, we have to partner with DTCC, Delaware State University and others to make available a variety of college courses to our students.

Fourth, we need to start promising our children that when they graduate from Lake Forest High School they will have had the opportunity to earn college credit and be prepared to provide the support needed to fulfil that promise.

You know college credits may be earned from the usual local state supported institutions, but there are some good private schools who may want to get involved. There are Advance Placement classes. There are also many accredited courses available from on-line universities and we should open that door more frequently.

 We have some ground work and preparation to do here, and we need to solidify our partnerships with DSU and DTCC. We also need to seek some legislation that will allow Delaware high school students to use SEEDS and Inspire scholarship money before high school graduation.

Lake Forest Schools, an Early College School District. I like it.

Planting Spartan Sprouts

It’s Spring! Time to think about planting.

I’m looking for some babies - preferably brand new to 1 year old. I’m planting seeds for Spartan Sprouts.

Spartan Sprouts is our early contact program where we sign new parents up to work with one of our home visitors as the baby develops. We all have questions about how our children grow and what we can do to help them grow in healthy ways and our Gardeners are ready to bring the tools and the fertilizer.

This program is only for residents of the Lake Forest Community. It’s one of a kind.

A family who signs up will have a trained home visitor come to your home 4 times a year to work with your little sprout. They will help parents discover their child’s unique interests and explore learning opportunities together until the child is three years old.

This gives us the opportunity to introduce the family to the caring services of the Lake Forest School district and helps ensure that the child will be ready for success when they start school.

Here at Lake Forest, we think it is important for your child to get off to a good start and we are interested in them as soon as they arrive. Why wait for kindergarten? We are “Your best choice” school district and we think making the best choice begins at birth. We care about your family and want to see your child’s success begin early.

If you or someone you know is a resident of the Lake Forest attendance area, have a child under 12 months or are expecting and would like to consider signing up for Spartan Sprouts please let us know. Contact our Spartan Sprout coordinator, Monica Sipes at 398-8945 extension 41 or email her at mlsipes@lf.k12.de.us .

Kindergarten Sub

Each year, as an incentive to get employees to contribute to the United Way, we put the names of all contributors in a hat and I draw one. That individual gets a free day off with me as a sub. Last fall I drew the name of Stephanie Breeding, Kindergarten teacher, South Elementary.

Last week it was time to pay up. Mrs. Breeding got her day off and I worked all day in Kindergarten. It was exhausting. The day went by so fast. I don’t remember if I used the bathroom or not. It’s brutal down there in kindergarten.

OK. I’ll be honest. I was not alone.

Mrs. Breeding is a team teacher with Lisa Fox. There is also a student teacher. So, there was help. But 5 year olds can be verrrry demanding.

Most of the time I was assigned to work at a kidney shaped table with small groups of varying abilities. In reading we worked on forming words with random consonants and vowels and sounding them out. Admittedly that makes some words that are nonsense, but the children understand that and gamely work on pronouncing them. Then we added the silent e – also called the magic e. The magic e, though silent, makes the vowel say its name. Did you know of the magic e?

In math we played subtraction bingo. There was calendar time and stories and computers and library time and recess and lunch. There was singing and dancing and movement. And there was a nice juicy plum for a snack in late afternoon. I needed that.

I feel I must point out that it was a very diverse group. There are a lot of misperceptions about a school district in agriculture country like this. This class was made up of students of various colors, students with special needs and students who were learning English – Guatemalan, Mexican, Haitian, Puerto Rican and Turkish.

We have good kids and this class was no exception - so fresh and innocent. They represented America’s future right in front of me. This is where they begin the American Dream. Right here in Lake Forest.

What's Next?

I just returned from the National Conference on Education in Houston (Texas not Delaware) sponsored by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). This annual gathering of school superintendents from around the country is a great place to pick up ideas that may have some potential in Lake Forest.

I purchased a few books and stuffed a couple of bags with materials given away by vendors. I have pages and pages of notes. I am a serious conference attender as demonstrated by the fact that I attended 8 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. presentations on Sunday morning when I had to leave for the airport at 10:15. I even sent some of our staff annoying texts telling them about one of them.

Of the many great ideas and programs I learned about, there are two sticking in my head that will be topics of discussion with our staff and the Board. Are they ripe for implementation in Lake Forest School District?

The first is 1 to 1 computers. There are school districts in this country that have replaced textbooks with electronic media. Students are issued lap tops and access much of the information they need for school through the school servers and the internet. Yes, they take them home. Assignments are submitted electronically.

Of course there is much to be considered here - development of lesson plans and teaching units dependent upon the digital world; training teachers; infrastructure; not to mention costs. Do you buy or lease? What platform? Some districts partner with local businesses to make sure low income families get affordable internet access, too.

The reason why I think now may be the time is that the more access to the digital world benefits our children who have computers with high speed internet at home, the wider the gap between them and those of our children who do not. The digital divide is very real. You can’t send a kid to college these days without a laptop in the backpack. If we’re preparing them for college and career, they need to use the computer outside of the school lab.

The second idea sticking in my head is the Early College High School. Presently there are around 240 Early College High Schools in the United States. Their goal is to introduce all students to college level courses before they exit high school. I heard one presentation from a very successful district situated across the river from Mexico - 90% Hispanic and 95% poor.

The successful ones have found that 95% of their graduates complete high school with at least one college class under their belt. They learn that they can do college material. Many are able to leave high school with associate degrees, often at little cost to the family. Early College Schools see increases in graduation rates and decreases in drop-out rate.

I’m just thinking.

Half-way Home

January 20 marks the end of the semester. Whatever your perspective – student, parent, school employee – it means the same to all. The school year is half over.

On January 23 students will stay home and staff will report for a day of training, lesson writing and grade recording. Report cards will be out on January 31.

This is an important time for parents to take a close look at their child’s progress and determine if things are going well or if intervention is necessary. Remember, teachers don’t “give” grades. Students “earn” grades as a result of the work they have completed. So, whatever you see on the report card should clearly reflect what your child has accomplished through his or her effort.

Most of our students give us their best effort and that effort is sufficient to earn satisfactory marks on the report card. If things are going well, I urge parents to send a note of appreciation to the teacher or teachers responsible. E-mail is fine. Send a copy to the principal, too. Teachers, like students, derive a lot of energy from the occasional pat on the back. Don’t presume that they know they are appreciated.

Not everyone will make satisfactory marks. (Heaven knows I didn’t - especially in middle school.) When that happens, I urge you to contact the teacher and find out what the trouble may be. If the child is genuinely struggling with the material, ask the teacher what options are available for extra help. All of our schools offer a variety of focused attention both during the school day and after school. Is your child getting that extra opportunity to learn?

Often, poor marks reflect poor effort and poor attitude. Assignments not turned in, failure to study for a test, entertaining the others in class – all are common contributors to poor marks. If the teacher advises you that issues such as these are the main reason behind poor grades, then we’re going to need more help from home. There could be a need for closer monitoring of homework, limits to T.V. and video games or some sort of reward plan for making positive improvements.

We like to think that we are partners in your child’s learning. The teacher, the child and the home must all be working together for maximum success. Teachers hate to see children fail, because it means the teacher failed as well.

There is no question that parent involvement enhances student success. Communication is the key to that positive partnership. By working together, we are confident your child will succeed.