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WPS News Now - Issue 8 - Spring 2020
Westminster Public Schools’ Thank you for your patience and Buildings Closed for School Year kindness as we work our way through these difficult times.
Remember, we are #WestyStrong.
WPS joined other metro districts in Colorado to announce that in-person education will not resume for the spring of 2020. Extended learning will continue through the remainder of the school year. WPS hosted a virtual town hall on April 6 to discuss the innovative ways WPS is adapting to distance learning and serving the community.
See the entire announcement: mywps.org/announcement Watch the town hall: mywps.org/townhall
“This is a difficult decision but the right decision,” said Superintendent Pam Swanson. “The safety and health of our students and staff must be the highest priority. We are fortunate that we can continue to provide our students with Anytime/Anywhere Learning that delivers quality instruction so that all of our students can continue with their education.”
Learning Continues Ensure Your Student(s) Connect with Teachers Though our school buildings are closed, WPS teachers continue to provide high-quality instruction to students using remote learning tools. It is so important that all students stay connected with their teachers and continue to learn. This is essential work and students are expected to fully participate. Those who don’t risk falling behind their peers. In addition to student contact with individual teachers, a resource page has been created here: mywps.org/extendedlearning
What is Anytime/Anywhere Learning? Anytime/Anywhere Learning is an extension of WPS’ Competency Based System. Students are able to create, track, and manage their own learning with increased access to collaborative tools. This approach enables learners to rapidly shift from being consumers of information to becoming producers of creative and innovative work. As a result, students often take greater pride in their knowledge and schoolwork and are more likely to see the value of education.
It is very important that we all pay attention to our physical and emotional health during these difficult times. WPS has created resource pages to provide the latest information, advice, and updates as follows: current health information and other valuable links: mywps.org/coronavirus social and emotional health: mywps.org/resources
Report on WPS’ Response to Covid-19 School districts across Colorado are required to report on how they are providing learning outside of the classroom during the COVID-19 crisis. In compiling its report, WPS went a step further to create a comprehensive overview of the district response; everything from our free meal program to communication efforts to activities taken to promote equitable treatment for all students. See the report: mywps.org/report.
Free Meal Distribution WPS will continue to distribute free meals to people 18 and under through the duration of the school year. We will then transition to our summer meal program and provide details as they are finalized. Drive-up distribution sites are open Monday - Friday from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Westminster High School, Ranum Middle School, Shaw Heights Middle School, Scott Carpenter Middle School, and four small satellite locations. By mid- April, WPS had provided more than a quarter million meals to our families. A special shout out to Board of Education members Ryan McCoy, Joe Davidek, Ken Ciancio, Max Math, and Christine Martinez who have spent countless hours helping with food distribution. It has been a total team effort!
Graduation Ceremonies CONGRATULATIONS!
GRADUATES
Westminster High School May 16th Hidden Lake High School May 21st Graduation ceremonies for Westminster and Hidden Lake High Schools will be delivered virtually in May with hopes that in-person celebrations can be held at a later date. Vego Pictures will produce high-quality video graduations featuring speeches from selected guests and a picture of each student as their name is called. Vego Pictures is staffed by talented professionals who have worked on numerous Hollywood productions and live streaming events. Our goal is to provide as personalized and intimate an event as technology will allow. Viewing details will be provided in advance and can be shared with families far and wide. Both events will be recorded so that families may view them in the future.
We are so proud of the Class of 2020. Congratulations on your accomplishments!
A Personal Note from Superintendent Swanson
Education Security Fund
I send this with mixed emotions, feelings of sadness and also great pride. The sadness is for those facing sickness and economic uncertainty. My heart breaks for the amazing class of 2020. The students at Hidden Lake and Westminster High have worked so hard to make it to the spring of their senior year, only to be disappointed by the outbreak of a virus that none of us has any control over. There will not be a Junior/Senior Prom. However, I am guaranteeing the students that we will find an appropriate and meaningful way to celebrate their graduation. The sense of pride comes from the way this community, and the students and staff of WPS, has responded. The examples of kindness, giving, and of individuals going above and beyond to help others are overwhelming. As for the education of our students, I feel like we have been preparing for this moment for more than a decade. Our Competency Based System (CBS), and the Empower platform that supports it, has always encouraged student ownership of their learning. I know that we are as well prepared for this learning challenge as any district in the state of Colorado. I firmly believe that when this crisis passes, and it will, our teachers and our students will be even better prepared to embrace 21st Century technology with the fundamentals of traditional classroom teaching. Over the next several months we will all learn and grow together. After all, we are #WestyStrong. Kindest Regards, Dr. Pamela Swanson
As our community deals with the COVID-19 pandemic, Westminster Public Schools Foundation is working with partners to identify additional needs of our students. A special fund called the Education Security Fund has been established and will be used for items that ensure every student has what they need to continue with their education and support learning at home. The fund has already filled a critical role in purchasing mobile hot spots for students who don’t have internet connectivity to ensure these students can continue to connect with their teachers and engage in their learning for the remainder of the school year. Donations to the fund help the foundation to remain flexible to meet the needs as situations change. Direct donations in any amount to support the Education Security Fund can be made here: www.fundwps.org
“We are all about equity in Westminster Public Schools and as we pursue Anytime/Anywhere learning, we need to make sure that all of our students can take advantage of this technology,” said Superintendent Pam Swanson. “When the Foundation learned of this new challenge, their board immediately stepped up and said they wanted to help. We are so appreciative.”
An exciting new option will be available for K-8 students when Colorado Sports Leadership Academy (CSLA) opens this fall. Located on the site of Scott Carpenter Middle School, CSLA will provide a unique opportunity for students to receive a well-rounded education while exploring career options and interests connected to the sports industry, including: physical therapy, nutrition and sports medicine, statistics, broadcast and print journalism, and marketing. These elective pathways flow directly into real-life opportunities available at Westminster High School.
APPLY TODAY!
2020-2021 Enrollment Is Open for All WPS Schools WPS has more exciting choices than ever before. Explore public education opportunities from daycare to diplomas: Mywps.org/enrollment
Stay STAYConnected CONNECTED Download our app: WestminsterPublicSchools.org/wpsapp Follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/WestminsterPublicSchools Follow us on Twitter: @WPSNewsNow Students will also be immersed in a culture that places a value on leadership and life lessons learned through athletics. Principal Camile Carlson says, “Even for a student who isn’t going to play sports, we are going to bring in those ideas around being part of a team, responsibility, perseverance—doing the things it would take to become an elite athlete. To be the best you have to give your best.”
We welcome your feedback! For questions or feedback about this publication please contact: communications@westminsterpublicschools.org