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VOLUME 24 ISSUE 2 | WWW.GREENDALESCHOOLS.ORG | SPRING 2020
SCHOOL CONNECTION
Join the Zoom webinar, “School Finance 101” on Tuesday, May 5, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Learn how school funding works.
Register on the district website: www.greendaleschools.org
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6815 Southway Greendale, WI 53129 www.greendaleschools.org
GREENDALE SCHOOLS’ VISION 2020 STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR STUDENT GROWTHPROJECT-BASED LEARNING TO PERSONALIZE LEARNING
CAREER PATHWAYS TO VIABLE CAREERS
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY
SERVICE EXCELLENCE
LIKE AND FOLLOW US6815 Southway Greendale, WI 53129 Phone: 414-423-2700 Fax: 414-423-2723 www.greendaleschools.org
DISTRICT OFFICE
Joe Crapitto, President [email protected] (414) 425-7132
Noelle Joers-Yanisch, Treasurer [email protected] (414) 207-6175
Kathleen Wied-Vincent, Clerk [email protected] (262) 225-9433
Thor Misko, Member [email protected] (414) 214-0240
Kim Salem, Member [email protected] (414) 207-4809
2019-2020 BOARD OF EDUCATION
Non-Profit Org.ECRWSS
U.S. PostagePAID
Greendale, WI 53129Permit 19
During the school closure period mandated by the COVID-19 public health emergency, construction work is continuing in line with Governor Evers order that construction work is essential as of this writing. Our General Contractor, CG Schmidt, Inc., has set forth strict jobsite requirements in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The company has assigned a jobsite monitor at each location to ensure compliance with social distancing and other public wellness measures. Work will continue through the summer and we will open our newly improved facilities on the first day of school, September 1, 2020. For more information, visit the district website construction updates page or call the district office at 414-423-2700.
We all look forward to the new spaces in our school buildings! We are grateful to the taxpayers of Greendale for their commitment to and support of our schools! Details on open houses to celebrate the new spaces with our community will be available later this summer.
Beginning in 2016, district and school leaders focused on understanding participation gaps and outcome gaps as part of improvement goals. This led to research around inequities in our schools and the development of strategies to increase equity and access for all students. Academic outcomes are improving for all students and the gaps in participation are getting smaller in some areas. The efforts to provide a welcoming environment for all have accelerated in the last two years as teachers, administrators and the community have expanded equity focus beyond academic and participation outcomes. The Welcoming Diversity Action Plan was developed over the summer of 2019 and finalized with community input in October. The goals outlined in the plan are advancing with programs such as “Speak Up at School (and in the Community)”, Walking with MLK event and essay contest, the Nefertari Dance performance, and an upcoming assembly focusing on the history of segregation in Milwaukee. The Village Board and the School Board are taking action on policies targeting racism, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Greendale Schools has redefined the role vacated by Mrs. Amidzich. The process for hiring a Director for Equity and Instruction is underway, and the successful candidate will continue leading the work in the community in partnership with the superintendent, administrators, staff, students, and community leaders. We look forward to welcoming someone to this role in time for the 2020-2021 school year.
INTRODUCING THE NEW SUPERINTENDENTThe Board of Education approved the hiring of Mrs. Kim Amidzich as Superintendent of Greendale Schools at its Board meeting on March 23. Mrs. Amidzich is the first woman to be appointed to the position in Greendale, and she has taken the lead during a period of uncertainty. The announcement of her appointment was shared with families and the community in a letter from the Board president earlier in the month.
“Mrs. Amidzich is a highly-qualified candidate who is a perfect fit for our school district and our community,” said Joe Crapitto, President of the Greendale Board of Education. “She has proven her commitment to our students in countless ways over the nearly two decades she has served in Greendale. Her complete understanding of our district strategic goals and the community culture of Greendale will help us to advance our district’s work in providing the best educational experience possible for our students.”
Mrs. Amidzich joined Greendale Schools in 2001. A graduate of Greendale Schools, she has worked as a teacher in Greendale, Milwaukee Public Schools, and the School District of Elmbrook. Since beginning work as an administrator in Greendale, she has served as an Associate Principal and the Director of Curriculum and Instruction. Amidzich earned her Bachelor’s degree in French and teacher certification at Marquette University. She has a Master’s degree from Cardinal Stritch University in Educational Leadership. She has earned her superintendent license from the Department of Public Instruction and is currently completing her doctoral work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis focusing research on the role of equity in continuous improvement.
“Mrs. Amidzich’s prior work as Director of Curriculum and Instruction in our district makes her extremely qualified to assume this role. She has proven time and again that she is capable, willing and excited to lead our district forward in the coming years,” Crapitto added. “Her 19 years of successful work in the district is the best possible ‘interview’ that a candidate for the role could have. We have the greatest confidence in her ability to lead the district.”
LEARNINGLEARNING
REMOTELYREMOTELYSCHOOL FINANCE 101
EQUITY IS A PRIORITY IN OUR WORK
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READ HOW GREENDALE SCHOOLS LAUNCHED ONLINE LEARNING
GREENDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT | WWW.GREENDALESCHOOLS.ORG | SPRING 2020 SPRING 2020 | WWW.GREENDALESCHOOLS.ORG | GREENDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT
TOOLS FOR LEARNINGGreendale Schools work in both instruction and technology over the past five years helped the district to make the transition from in-person instruction to digital learning quickly. In the fall of 2015, the district launched its Ready Access to a Digital Device initiative. This program provides Chromebooks to all third through twelfth grade students and iPads to Kindergarten through second grade students within the existing technology replacement budget. Students in grades five through 12 take their computers home for afterschool learning.
Greendale’s Ready Access program allowed learning in the schools to shift in many positive ways. Student engagement changed as teachers are able to use face-to-face time more effectively and more efficiently to develop more personalized instruction to match student needs. Technology literacy and learning also advanced for students allowing them to expand this life skill in today’s world under the umbrella of education and staff oversight. Learning is also stretched beyond the confines of the school walls and bells. Students reflect on content and collaborate with peers and teachers, and have a voice to create content for audiences beyond the classroom. With district provided tools, this important digital collaboration is available to every student. No one is excluded.
Staff are also well prepared for teaching in the digital world. Since the launch of Ready Access, Google for Education has been a tool used widely by district teachers with continued training and support offered to staff, especially during this time. Students, families and staff continue to become more comfortable with digital learning, teaching and routines largely because of the in-person, in-classroom use of these tools.
DIGITAL LEARNING PLANSTo continue student learning in the digital format, teachers are communicating with students (and their families) weekly, providing plans, assignments and information on the first school day of the week. An introductory email with an overview of plans was sent to all families prior to the first day of online learning in March. At the elementary level, parents received a sample schedule for educational activities and links to online learning activities. For the secondary level, middle and high school students received emails with assignments and due dates directly from their teachers.
Following the first week of digital learning (second week for GMS and GHS), the schools surveyed students and families to find out if the plans and assignments were working for their needs at home. Adjustments have been made to the plans going forward based on this feedback, including the introduction of real-time learning. Teachers provide video instruction and are available online daily to address questions, provide support, and connect with students to real time video.
Special education staff is providing services within Individual Education Plans to the best of their ability. Some individual services are not conducive to the current remote learning environment and case managers are working to meet the needs of each individual learner. The primary goal of special education staff is to provide access to the regular education environment through the use of modifications and accommodations. Greendale Schools special education staff is working to do that.
WEEKDAY MEALS AND CHILD CARE ASSISTANCEGreendale Schools is offering weekday meal service free of charge to all district enrolled students age 18 and under. Grab-and-go meals (lunch and a breakfast pack) are distributed from the circle drives at College Park and Greendale High School. Over 2,000 meals are distributed weekly to families. Parents and guardians picking up the meals are asked for their student(s)’ grade and school when they come to collect the meals. This service began on March 16 and will continue until school resumes or the last scheduled day of learning.
Child care services for district students ages 5 through 12 whose parents are essential services workers was opened on March 24. In collaboration with the Greendale Park and Rec Department, Greendale Health Department, and the school nurse, between 10 and 20 students are cared for by Park and Rec child care staff and Greendale Schools paraprofessionals at Greendale Middle School on weekdays. Essential workers were defined using the State of Minnesota definition of Tier 1 support workers and includes emergency services personnel (EMT, fire, police workers), health care providers, and court personnel. The Greendale Health Department and school nurse are in daily contact with staff to ensure the health and wellbeing of students and child care attendants.
COMMITTED TO MILESTONESGreendale Schools is working with students and families in a hopeful manner to ensure its students don’t miss out on the important springtime milestone events and experiences. Mrs. Amidzich and GHS Principal Steve Lodes reached out recently to graduating seniors and families committing to provide the Class of 2020 the opportunity to celebrate its achievements “with all the traditions of a Greendale High School graduation even if they must be postponed to a time when it is safe for us to all gather again.”
The administration met in a virtual format with senior class officers to discuss plans for the very special graduation events, including creative options for elementary graduation walks. A separate meeting was held with junior class officers to discuss possibilities for Prom, which would have been held on Saturday, April 18. Prom is postponed due to the state’s social distancing orders, and staff and students are investigating alternate dates over the summer months.
Work is also underway to reschedule other springtime traditional events including Outdoor Ed and the Eighth Grade Farewell Assembly, as well as fifth grade promotion celebrations and the annual trip to Madison for students at College Park and Highland View whose trip was scheduled to take place during the school closing period. Information on all these events will be shared with families and the community when social distancing restrictions are lifted and plans are confirmed.
SUPPORTING OUR FAMILIESSchool is more than academic opportunities for students. Greendale Schools obligation to students and families extends
beyond book-learning and supports students social and emotional wellbeing (See Winter 2020 School Connection Newsletter for more information). Pupil services staff is providing support to families with office hours for one-to-one
contact and to address individual concerns. The team is also creating weekly wellness updates for all families, which are included with the principals’ newsletters sent each Friday. “Care for the Caregiver” materials are
also shared with teachers and staff with wellness tips and support as we all work through this stressful time.
On Friday, March 13, 2020, Greendale Schools Superintendent Kim Amidzich made an important decision on behalf of the more than 2,700 students enrolled in the district. With their safety, and the safety of staff, families and the greater Greendale Community in mind, Mrs. Amidzich closed the schools effective Monday, March 16, 2020, in response to the escalating public health emergency caused by the increasing spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
That afternoon, with the support of the administrative team, the district launched a plan to move instruction of Greendale Schools students to a digital format. News of the plan was shared with staff, students and families through email. In that message, families were informed of the plans to continue student learning in a digital format. Digital Learning began for students at Greendale Middle School and Greendale High School on March 18. Elementary students began the Digital Learning experience on March 23.
This ever-fluid situation has taken multiple turns since the schools were closed that afternoon, but the mission remains unchanged. “The Greendale School District, in partnership with students, families, and the community, is committed to developing leadership, creativity, and educational excellence. By creating multiple opportunities for learning, each student’s unique abilities are developed to achieve success and contribute positively to our global society.” In fact, the new learning environment offers an opportunity to find innovative ways to drive towards our mission that will impact our return to schools.
The district staff continues to work to meet student needs and family and community expectations during this extraordinary time.
LEARNING REMOTELY
Teachers connect with students using real-time video chats.
Students from College Park participate in digital learning from their home using Chromebooks and iPads provided by Greendale Schools.
Pupil Services Staff (school counselors, school psychologists, social workers) are providing weekly lessons with support for social and emotional health during the stressful time.
Mrs. Sara Totero, College Park fourth grade teacher, prepares a video lesson for her students.
DIGITAL LEARNING PLANS GRADES 5K-2 DIGITAL LEARNING PLANS GRADES 3-5
20 3020-30 20-3060 6030 3030 3030 30
minutes per day of reading
minutes per day of reading
minutes of Math Practice on Dreambox or other learning apps assigned
minutes of Math Practice on IXL or other learning apps assigned
minutes of physical activity daily (ideas will be shared by teachers)
minutes of physical activity daily (ideas will be shared by teachers)
minutes of Spanish two times each week
minutes of Spanish two times each week
minutes of Music two times each week
minutes of Music two times each week
minutes of Art one time each week
minutes of Art one time each week
• Response to reading or reading log to be completed per teacher directions
• Teachers will share two Read Alouds for students each week
• Daily Writing Opportunities to be assigned by teachers
• Response to reading or reading log to be completed per teacher directions
• Teachers will share two Read Alouds for students each week
• IXL Grammar 15 minutes per day
• Daily Writing Opportunities to be assigned by teachers
AN EXAMPLE OF A SUGGESTED BALANCED SCHEDULE
To ensure equitable access, Greendale Schools offered mobile WiFi to students and delivered just under 100 hot spots to families.
