C
MMUNITY BUILDER Extra
Alexandria Detroit Lakes Morris East Ottertail Focus Park Rapids Wadena This issue of Community Builder, a quarterly publication of local Forum Communications newspapers, is focused on education. Wadena Pioneer Journal
Dana Pavek
August 27, 2011 • Page 7A
WDC welcomes new teachers
Special to the PJ
Wadena-Deer Creek Public Schools welcomes eight new teachers, who were on campus for the first time as official WDC staff on Monday. The teachers attended an orientation session at WDC Elementary School where each teacher was assigned a mentor-teacher to help with the transition. The orientation session was coordinated by WDC music teacher, Mike Ortmann. WDC extended a warm Wolverine welcome to Chelsey Weiss, grade 4; Andrew Waldbillig, grade 4; Bethany Danielson, K-6 art/ graphic design; Jason Mielke, grade 6; Cami Oakes, high school special education; Zachary Martin, grade 5; Nicole Schumacher, grade 3; and Mike Shrode, high school engineering/technology. WDC welcomed back Holly Becker, high school math teacher, who returns from maternity leave, as well as Kali Matthiesen, who taught at WDC a few years ago and is now back as a second-grade teacher. The eight teacher openings at WDC are due to retirements. Back-to-School open houses are scheduled at Deer Creek School on Monday, Aug. 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Wednesday, Aug. 31 at the elementary school, preschool and M State from 4 to 6 p.m. Photos by Dana Pavek/WDC Schools WDC School’s first day of WDC extended a warm Wolverine welcome to (l-r): Chelsey Weiss, grade 4; Andrew Waldbillig, grade 4; Bethany Danielson, K-6 art/graphic design; Jason Mielke, classes is Tuesday, Sept. 6. grade 6; Cami Oakes, high school special education; Zachary Martin, grade 5; Nicole Schumacher, grade 3; and Mike Shrode, high school engineering/technology.
Illustration provided by Perkins & Will
Sketch of the WDC high performance school.
WDC School to be considered a ‘high performance’ school Dana Pavek Special to the PJ
When the new Wadena-Deer Creek School opens its doors the fall of 2012, the school will be in a class by itself. The school will be considered a “high performance” school. These are schools specifically built to improve the learning environment while saving energy, resources and money. According to Perkins & Will Architect Steve Miller, the key is understanding the lifetime value of high-performance schools and effectively managing priorities, time and budget during the design and construction process. “Good teachers and motivated students can overcome inadequate facilities and perform at a high level almost anywhere,” Miller said. “But a well-designed facility can enhance performance and make education a more enjoyable and rewarding experience.” Following is a list of questions asked of Miller to define in more detail what WDC’s high-performance will feature:
have a positive effect on health and comfort, and design strategies such as daylighting have been shown to enhance student learning. Good indoor air quality is essential for teacher and student health. Good design also produces more comfortable environments with proper lighting, air temperature, humidity and noise levels. This reduces distractions and creates environments where students and teachers can see clearly, hear accurately, and not feel too warm or too cold. Is a high-performance design cost effective? Yes. High-performance design creates environments that are energy and resource efficient. These increased efficiencies save money on utility bills. Furthermore, healthier environments can bring money into the school by lowering absenteeism and increasing funding based on Average Daily Attendance. These financial, health and productivity benefits are the result of integrated design (for example, understanding how building elements affect one another to optimize the performance of the entire school).
No. They do not require any more maintenance than traditional designs. High-performance design does not imply using overly complicated, maintenance intensive systems. It is a design philosophy that integrates daylight, electric lighting, air conditioning and ventilation systems, site planning, materials and controls to create the best facility for a school’s budget. All schools, from traditional to high performance buildings, require regular maintenance to ensure they perform as designed.
Benefits of a high-performance school High-performance schools have advantages from the local classroom to the district office, including: • Higher test scores: A growing number of studies are confirming the relationship between a school’s physical condition, especially its lighting and indoor air quality, and student performance. One recent study of school districts in California, Washington, and Colorado indicates a strong correlation between increased day lighting and improved student performance. In the California district, for example, students in How will high performance Will a high-performance school classrooms with the most day lightschools help educate students? ing progressed 20 percent faster on High-performance design can demand more maintenance?
math tests and 26 percent faster on reading tests in one year than those in classrooms with the least amount of daylight. This study confirms what teachers, students, and parents have known for years: a better facility — one with appropriate acoustics, lighting, indoor air quality, and other high performance features — will enhance learning and may improve test results. • Increased Average Daily Attendance (ADA): A high-performance school provides superior indoor air quality by controlling sources of contaminants, providing adequate ventilation, and preventing moisture accumulation. These tactics, designed to reduce sources of health problems and inhibit the spread of airborne infections, help keep pollutants, stale air and mold growth out of the classroom. The result will be fewer sick days for students and teachers, especially those suffering from asthma or other respiratory problems. The majority of a school’s operating budget is directly dependent on ADA, so even a small increase can significantly boost the operating budget. • Reduced operating costs: Highperformance schools are specifically designed — using life-cycle cost methods — to minimize the long-
term costs of facility ownership. By using less energy and water than standard schools, overall operating costs are lower — particularly helpful in times of rising and uncertain energy prices — and with good operation and maintenance will remain so for the life of the facility. School districts can save 20 to 40 percent on annual utility costs for new schools. • Increased teacher satisfaction and retention: High-performance classrooms are designed to be pleasant and effective places to work. Visual and thermal comfort is high, acoustics are good, and the indoor air is fresh and clean. Such environments become positive factors in recruiting and retaining teachers and in improving their overall satisfaction with their work. • Reduced liability exposure: Because they are healthy and emphasize superior indoor environmental quality, high-performance school buildings reduce a district’s exposure to health-related problems, lawsuits and loss of credibility. Remediation expenses for schools with indoor environment problems often reach a quarter of a million dollars, and legal costs can be much higher. Consequently, proactive measures that prevent problems are good investments.
Page 8A • August 27, 2011
PJ Community Builder
Wadena Pioneer Journal
WDC Schools offer back-to-school safety tips; installs security cameras in buses Dana Pavek Special to the PJ
As summer days grow shorter, Wadena-Deer Creek Public School is gearing up for the start of school on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Unfortunately, the beginning of school is also a time when students are at increased risk of transportation-related injuries from pedestrian, bicycle, school bus, and vehicle crashes because there are many more children on the road each morning and afternoon and many drivers’ patterns change. According to Tim Wohlert, transportation director at WDC Schools, shorter daylight hours make it especially difficult to see young pedestrians and bicyclists. So as schools open their doors, it’s time for everyone – drivers, parents, educators and students – to improve their traffic safety practices. Wohlert offered the following tips to help make this a safe school year for everyone.
Tips for drivers
• When a school bus or children are present, slow
down and proceed with caution, obeying all traffic laws and speed limits. • Always stop for a school bus that has stopped to load or unload passengers. Red flashing lights and an extended stop arm tell you the school bus is stopped to load or unload children. • If you are on a two-lane roadway, you must stop. • If you are on a roadway that has two or more travel lanes traveling in each direction and you are traveling the same direction as the bus, you must stop. • If you are on a roadway that has at least two or more travel lanes traveling in each direction and you are approaching, meeting the bus, you do not have to stop, merely proceed with caution. • Be alert and ready to stop. Watch for children walking in the street, especially where there are no sidewalks. Watch for children playing and gathering near bus stops. Watch for children arriving late for the bus, who may dart into the street without looking for traffic. When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch for children walking or
biking to school. • When driving in neighborhoods or school zones, watch for young people who may be in a hurry to get to school and may not be thinking about getting there safely.
Tips for parents
• Help your children learn and practice the safety rules for walking, bicycling or riding in a car or school bus. • Supervise young children as they are walking or biking to school or as they wait at the school bus stop. • Be a good role model, especially when you are with your kids. Always buckle up in the car, wear a helmet when biking, and follow pedestrian safety rules.
Tips for students
• Always buckle up when you’re riding in a car. • Always ride in the back seat. It’s the safest place for children. • Always wear a helmet and follow traffic safety rules when riding your bike. • If you ride a school bus, learn and practice the safety rules for waiting at the bus
Photos by Dana Pavek/WDC Schools
WDC Transportation Director Tim Wohlert points to one of two video digital cameras located on a WDC school bus. All WDC school buses are now equipped with security cameras to ensure student safety on buses. Wohlert said a few of the buses were outfitted with the cameras last year and he said it did discourage bad behavior. If a incident does arise with behavior, safety or vandalism, only Wohlert and principals review the video, which also captures audio.
stop, getting on and off the bus, and riding the bus. • If you walk to school, learn and practice the safety rules for pedestrians. Always cross at crosswalks, obey all traffic signs, traffic lights and WDC Safety Patrol instructions.
• Be a good role model for your younger brothers and sisters and friends, and help them learn and practice the safety rules.
weeks of school as pickup and dropoff times may vary slightly. Any questions in regards to bus routes, contact Tim Wohlert at 632-2168. Any school-related questions, Wohlert oversees 13 routes contact WDC Schools at and asks families to be under- (218) 632-2155. standing during the first few
Nelson retires after 18 years as a special education paraprofessional at WDC her work for the district,” said Church. What will you miss most Nelson reflected on her ca- about WDC? This summer, Jan Nelson reer at WDC with the follow“I will truly miss the cadecided to retire after 18 years ing responses: maraderie that working in a as a special education paraschool setting creates. You professional at Wadena-Deer When did you start at develop a closeness with the Creek High School. While her WDC? teachers and staff you work work as a para was at times “I began my career at with -- each one trying to demanding and stressful, she WDC as a substitute parapro- make school a good experisaid her ultimate reward was fessional during the 1992-93 ence for each student they seeing her students succeed. school year and was hired full work with.” “The rewards come when time in 1994.” a student finally trusts you and What are your plans for know they can depend on you What did you like best retirement? for help,” said Nelson. about working as a parapro“I’m both excited and a WDC High School Princi- fessional? Challenges? Re- little nervous as Sept. 6 (the pal Tyler Church said Nelson wards? first day of school) approachhas been a tremendous mem“Over the years, I’ve es. School has been a huge ber of their school staff and worked in almost all aspects part of my life for the last 18 will be greatly missed. of special education, starting years. I’m looking forward to “In my time working with with the lowest functioning spending more time with my Jan, she has been an extreme- kids and into high school and four — soon to be five — ly dependable employee who junior high school. The big- grandchildren, so there will has provided a great deal of gest challenges have been be lots of school programs support for our special edu- working with the kids that in my future! I’m also going cation students in the main- come with emotional and dis- to travel with my husband, stream and resource room cipline issues. The rewards Steve, especially this winter, Photo by Dana Pavek/WDC Schools as a special educa- settings. She will certainly come when a student finally when his work takes him to Nelson retired this be difficult to replace, and it trusts you and know they can warmer climates.” has been a privilege having depend on you for help.”
Dana Pavek Special to the PJ
619071
After 18 years of serving tion paraprofessional, Jan summer.
Anything else you’d like to add? “This last year at WDC will probably go down as a favorite. Not only because I had a great bunch of students to work with at Deer Creek [School], but mostly because it was such a great experience as the administration, the faculty and the staff took such a devastating loss and made it work for everyone. I hope the community appreciates what a wonderful group of people that make up our school district and how hard they work to give each child a positive education.”
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Visit WDC’s redesigned website for school news and information: www.wdc2155.k12.mn.us
PJ Community Builder
Wadena Pioneer Journal
August 27, 2011 • Page 9A
Photo by Rachelle Klemme
After the tornado, Sonrise received new trees to replace what it lost.
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Sonrise Christian School is starting its second school year after the East Otter Tail EF4 tornado that laid bare much of the landscape
around it. Sonrise is just west of Bluffton and was in the path of the June 17, 2010 tornado. A tree fell on the roof, and while most of the building was intact, they had to fix the roof and drywall and replace the carpet in
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one room. were totaled and trees were down. Some items in the playground Last year, Sonrise started a week late Dentists because of the repairs process. also needed to be replaced. “We did have to get new equip“When the tornado came Charly Baune 218-346-8890 ment,” teacher Julie Lambert said. through, we wondered if – because “Insurance paid for most of that.” enrollment went down – if this was Nearby buildings in the rural area the time when this school was done,
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but we really prayed about it and called up the insurance about fixing it,” Lambert said. “We really felt like we should go ahead and open ... It X was like God provided everything See SONRISE on PAGE 10A
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Page 10A • August 27, 2011
PJ Community Builder
Wadena Pioneer Journal
Photos by Dana Pavek/WDC Schools
A view of the northeast corner of the new school on Aug. 24. Pictured are the walls of the “Tech Lab” where WDC’s industrial arts will be located. Industrial arts includes metals, woods and automotive classes.
WDC School walls are going up
schedule. The school is tentatively planned to be ready the fall of 2012 for grades 5 through 12. The WDC High School was destroyed by a tornado At left is the staircase and to the right is the elevator shaft. Work is underway in this area on the on June 17, 2010. The cost of walls of the media center and the lecture hall. the school construction and contents are being covered by insurance.
WDC School offers Golden Pass cards
SONRISE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9A we need.” Donors provided enough for them to stay open and stay in the black. This time around, part of the landscape is being restored: Trees for Wadena, otherwise known as the Wadena Area Replant Project, brought in new trees for the school earlier this year. Lambert said some of the students are from Wadena and lived through the other EF4 tornado there. “They get a little nervous when we do tornado drills – the ones that have been through it – but we have the teachers talk to them, and we let them know when the drills are going to be,” she said. Otherwise, Lambert said, it is the economy and not the tornado that has presented the biggest challenge to the small country school. The enrollment is down – there were 16 students at the time of the interview, but some people sign up at the last minute. Lambert said that the recession has made it harder for parents to pay tuition for a private school. Even then, the tuition does not cover the costs of education. “We couldn’t survive without the donations,” she said. Sonrise Christian School started in the basement of Blowers Chapel, a church north of Bluffton. In the late 1990s, enough money was raised to have their own building. The building has its own classrooms, storage facility, locker area and kitchen area where students bring their own lunches. Its location in the open country is part of the education, too. “We do a lot of outside stuff,” Lambert said. The kids do science experiments
and look for bugs and frogs. Right now, there are four teachers and small classes with some grades in the same classroom. “Last year I taught kindergarten. I had four students. You really can make sure each of those students is getting every concept,” Lambert said. Sonrise has also done some classes through streaming video of the A Beka curriculum out of Florida. Lambert said that while students often go through grade school at Sonrise and then transfer to the public school districts later on when they are old enough for sports, drivers’ training and other activities, the school has the option of completing all the way
Photo by Rachelle Klemme
Julie Lambert is one of the teachers at Sonrise Christian School near Bluffton.
through 12th grade. “This year will be our first graduating senior. We just have one, but she’s been here all through high school,” Lambert said.
Wadena-Deer Creek School has introduced the Golden Pass card for adults 62 years of age or older, who are residents of the WadenaDeer Creek School District. Golden Passes entitle free admission to all home sporting events — except for hockey and post-season tournaments. To receive a Golden Pass, contact the Activities Office at (218) 632-2381 or you can pick one up at any WDC home game. The GOLDEN PASS card is good for life, so Gear up to watch your favorite high school sporting event. there’s no need to apply for new one each year. The price for admission to 2011-12 WDC games are: Adults — $5. Students K-12 — $3. Preschool are free.
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Work is under way on the walls of the new WadenaDeer Creek School at the construction site. The two walls of the “Tech Lab” on the northeast corner of the school are visible from Highway 29. In the middle of the school, the staircase is taking shape
next to the elevator shaft, as well as the walls of the media center and lecture hall are under way. Plans are to see steel beams erected sometime in the couple of weeks. The geothermal wells are nearly half done being drilled with 100 wells now completed. According to Kraus-Anderson Project Supervisor Bill Born, construction is still on
-2 0 1
Special to the PJ
61
Dana Pavek
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PJ Community Builder
Wadena Pioneer Journal
August 27, 2011 • Page 11A
Schmitz to direct iPad pilot program Brian Hansel
bhansel@wadenapj.com
Sam Schmitz and her social studies classes will be their own Star Trek adventure this school year in Verndale. The difference is that they will not be working with science fiction; they will be working with facts. Schmitz will be conducting a pilot program in the use of Apple iPad technology that could lead to big savings for District 818. Imagine it: no textbooks, many assignments given and completed without the use of paper or pens, information available in video, picture and text from a device the size of a tablet. Schmitz already has students that play online video games with kids in other countries in their free time. Her students have grown up with technology so iPads are a logical step to take. “It’s something they understand,” Schmitz said. “This is just where we’re at now.” Schmitz will have 25 Apple iPads in her 10-12 grade social studies classes. The iPads will not leave the room. Students will do their class work using Moodle, an online classroom where you can download or upload assignments. Students can save their work and go back to it. Schmitz will teach in
"As a teacher to make anything relevant you have to make a connection with your students" – Sam Schmitz the same manner but sees the need to be very specific with iPad work. One of the interesting facts about computer technology is that it changes so quickly that teachers can expect to pick up some user information from their students. “They’ll know things that I don’t even know,” Schmitz laughed. Completely paperless is an exaggeration. Schmitz sees her students using paper and pen for some of their work as she conducts her classes. She also sees them communicating with each other through group projects. What is wonderful about online information is that it is so vast and accessible that no text-
book can contain all of it. Schmitz is the daughter a Hawley elementary teacher who latched onto class room technology with both hands. “She’s always been very protechnology in the classroom so I just took her from her I guess,” Schmitz said. Schmitz started using iPads in her classes last year after Verndale received a technology grant but the decision to make it a pilot program was not made until the school year was over. By then, the popularity of iPads as learning tools had taken root. The pilot program has received phenomenal support, according to Schmitz. “Everyone seems excited about it,” Schmitz said. “We’re ready to take that step.” Schmitz sees her workload increasing initially but she believes the rewards are also out there. “As a teacher to make anything relevant you have to make a connection with your students,” Schmitz said. Apple iPad technology will not necessarily make students any smarter but it should make them more capable. Living in a digital age, students will have to know how to use their resources when they push on from District 818. The rest of the 21st Century is waiting.
Photo by Brian Hansel
Sam Schmitz will be running a Apple iPad pilot program this year at Verndale.
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Photo by Dana Pavek/WDC Schools
Wadena-Deer Creek High School alum Hannah Larson, middle, shared her time and cheers with WDC football cheerleaders this week during the opening week of practice. Larson, a football cheerleader for Concordia College in Moorhead, taught the WDC cheerleaders some new cheers for the upcoming football season. This year’s cheerleaders will have 75 cheers in their repertoire, according to co-cheerleading advisors Holly Becker and Jackie Becker. The cheerleaders include, from left: Brittany Andrews, Mariah Wood, Sadie Anderson and Addie Dunker. Not pictured: Britta Kern. The WDC football team moves into a new conference this season: the Prairie North Conference. The Wolverine football team open their season at home at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 1 against West Central.
Pay Attention
Always keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel, to react quickly with the unexpected. Children walking to school or playing may not be focused on safety, and drivers should be extra cautious.
Are you ready to make your move for the better?
Brandi Anderson 218-639-8788
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brandianderson@kw.com
is proud to be there to help our friends and neighbors in Wadena and surrounding areas.
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