The Raider ACE!
What's Going On In Raider Nation Vol. 2 Issue 39
Volume 1 Issue 28 - March 11, 2024 - March 15, 2024
Engagement First!
As the weather changes, it seems as if the weeks
are getting longer and tougher. However, through
the storm, we must stay on target. In classrooms,
engagement has to be a priority. As students get
excited about learning, they are more willing to
master the content. Learning can be fun with a few
tweaks to our lesson.
Remind students they must focus on their productivity, participation, and performance. We are approaching a new quarter and they must start strong. Communication is key, so lets contact parents and keep them up to date on their child's progress.
Don't forget to use Consensus Squares, Think Share Pair, Role Play, Debates, and competitions to foster engagement.
We are W.J. Keenan High School. Home of the Champion Raiders!
Raider Reminders!
There are a few things that we will need to make sure we are doing to keep the natural order and flow of our school:
- School starts at 8:00 a.m. Remind students they need to report to class before then to avoid a tardy.
- Stand at your door during the change of each class.
- You must not leave your students unsupervised for any reason.
- Please do not allow students into the hallway without a pass.
- Please do not allow students that are not on your roster in your classroom. Students need to be in their scheduled classroom to receive credit. You are accountable for every student in your room.
- You may only sign out to leave on your planning period and/or with administrator approval in an emergency circumstance if you do not have a scheduled absence.
- If you are absent from school, it is your professional responsibility to input the appropriate information in Frontline in a timely manner. Substitutes are limited. Please check Munis prior to doing this so you are aware of your available days for an absence.
Raider Dates to Remember
Monday, March 11, 2024
- If you set your goals ridiculously high and it's a failure, you will fail above everyone else's success. -James Cameron
Mu Alpha Theta “Pie Week”
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
- PLC Meeting @ 3:30 p.m.
- The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. -Walt Disney
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
- "Get busy living or get busy dying." — Stephen King
- Raider Academy parent Meeting @ 6:00 p.m. (Virtually)
Thursday, March 14, 2024
- "Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."– Thomas A. Edison
Friday, March 15, 2024
- "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." — Mae West
We Are W.J. Keenan!
Mrs. Lawson-Wilson's Teaching and Learning News!
Hello Raiders,
Quarter 3 ends this week. Please make sure your grades are updated and grade verification is submitted to Ms. Sims by Thursday, March 14th. If you need to submit them on Friday, please let Ms. Sims know by 3:00 pm on Thursday. You need to sign when you submit your grade verification report.
If you have not already, please login to SCLead and complete your Summative Conference Reflection and sign at the bottom of your page to complete the SLO process. If your screen looks like this. You are done for the year. If it doesn't, there are still items you need to complete. This only applies to people that are not on renewal or receiving a formal evaluation this year. There are items that need to be completed by you and the chair of your committee before your screen looks like this.
Please see the information below about WIN testing. Each 11th grade student will be participating in this career readiness exam. Begin talking with them about their responsibility to this for themselves and their school. Information will be sent to you regarding student-specific test days.
The South Carolina Career Ready Test is a career readiness test administered to all eleventh-grade students to measure the most common skills that employers define as foundational for career readiness. Students are assessed in four key areas:
- Soft Skills Assessment
- Math Assessment
- Reading Assessment
- Data Assessment
Dates to Remember:
March 12, 2024 - ACT
March 14, 2024 - End of Q3
March 15 - Teacher Workday
March 20, 2024 - SAT
March 22 - Report Cards
March 22 - 27 - WIN Testing
March 28 - Early Release/Parent Conferences
March 29 - April 5 - Spring Break
April 15-18 End of Course Classes MVPA's (Benchmark Assessment)
April 24 - Interims
April 26 - Early Release
May 3- 22 End of Course exams
May - Holiday
May 31 - Graduation
Content Recovery
"Content recovery is defined as a course-specific, skill-based learning opportunity for students who are still enrolled in the course with the original teacher of record assigned by the school. Content recovery allows students to retake a subset of the course including a single unit, more than one unit, or supplemental assignments/activities assigned and approved by a certified teacher as needed for student mastery of course content." -SC State Dept. of Education
You should be beginning your content recovery efforts with your students as soon as you see that there is a need. This is an on-going process throughout the semester. Students should not fail a course if we are doing this with fidelity. The platform we are using Richland One is Edgenuity. Please see Mrs. Jeter or myself for more information on Content Recovery.
District Focus/Visible Learning:
Teacher CLARITY is our instructional focus this year. According to John Hattie's meta-analysis, teacher clarity has an effect size of .75 which doubles student gains in learning. Here are the questions your students should be able to answer for clarity.
- What am I learning? (Learning Intentions/Targets)
Why am I learning it? (Clarity & Motivation)
How will I know that I have learned it? (Success Criteria)
Each of these are non-negotiables and should be written on your board each day under the appropriate magnet and referred to for student understanding. Students should be able to answer these questions if called upon by the teacher.
Grading Practice:
Please be sure to access the Raiders Chest in One Drive for important information regarding the Secondary Grading Manual. See the information listed from the manual regarding grades:
"Each marking period should include a minimum of ten assignments/assessments of student learning documented in the gradebook/PowerSchool. Four of the ten assessments should be major assessments such as tests or exams, written compositions, performances, or projects. Five of ten assessments should occur before interim reports are issued, with two of those five assessments being major. Therefore, two of the four major assessments should occur prior to the interim report."
Certified Staff Certification/Recertification:
Renewal teachers/staff should have signed up for Read to Succeed if you have not taken the class. Information regarding this was sent out through District Announcements. You will also need to complete 120 hours to renew your certificate. If you have taken the Read to Succeed class and you need to have it added to your certificate, please sign into your educator portal on the SC state department of education website and upload it there.
https://ed.sc.gov/educators/certification/certification-forms/forms/renewal-matrix/
https://ed.sc.gov/educators/certification/professional/renewal-credit-options/
If you need a certificate extension, you need to request it in your portal on the SC state department website.
Have a great week Raiders!
JAG hosted "Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week."
Mr. Hankins' Hang Out!
School Photos
Please note the following dates for school photos:
- November 30—Fall Individuals makeup
Graduation 2024 Date Announced
This year’s Raider Graduation ceremony will be held Friday, May 31 at 11:00 am at the Colonial Life Arena. Seniors need to ensure they have met all requirements for graduation, pay any outstanding debts or fees and not have excessive discipline issues in order to participate.
Raider graduates are expected to conduct themselves with dignity, honor, and class. Inappropriate/disrespectful actions during the commencement ceremony WILL NOT be tolerated.
Keeping Seniors on Track
Class of 2024 students are meeting with school leaders to help them stay on track and be successful. Seniors are meeting with the Graduation Coach (Mrs. DuBard), School Counselors (Mrs. Hasinger, Ms. Humphrey and Mr. Oliver), and Mr. Hankins (Senior Class Administrator) to discuss their progress, requirements, future college/career goals, and plans for the year. All conferences are aimed at helping students be prepared to successfully graduate and meet their future goals.
Raider Community Student Support
Teachers and staff, we need your assistance in providing support for our young Raider students. Through our Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework, we are aiming to give our students the tools they need to be successful.
Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is a school-wide, data driven, proactive framework for improving both learning and behavioral outcomes for all students. MTSS uses the problem-solving process to meet the academic, behavioral, social, and emotional needs of each student. (https://www.richlandone.org/Domain/1736)
You may be asked to sit in on MTSS meetings as a classroom teacher, serve as a mentor, advocate or content expert for students. The goal is to surround students with as many caring adults and resources as possible to allow students to thrive. Thank you in advance for your assistance and cooperation.
Who We Are
W.J. Keenan High School is an engaging learning environment that provides educational opportunities that nurtures the learner to be an innovative thinker prepared with a rigorous curriculum, cutting edge technology, and partnerships to meet the challenges of the future.
Pathways
The W.J. Keenan High School Raider Academy offers five unique pathways aimed at engaging learners.
Business Management and Administration
Hospitality and Tourism Management
Government and Public Administration
Agriculture and Animal Science
Information Technology
Why Choose Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Interest in Culinary Arts and Food Management
- Interest in event planning experiences
- Coordinate large scale event promotions and productions.
- Gain ServSafe certification
- Discover pathways to college programs!
- Shadowing experiences
- Internships
Why Choose Business Management and Administration
- Interest in Fashion Design
- Interest in Product Development and Marketing
- Participate in FBLA
- Gain OSHA certification
- Discover pathways to college programs.
- Increase knowledge in Personal experiences.
- Internships
Why Choose Game and Interactive Design
- Gain problem solving skills.
- Discover ways to improve the world.
- Learn about in demand career options.
- Gain college credit honors level courses
- Gain technology certifications
- Shadowing experiences
Why Choose Government and Public Administration
- Work with people solving complex.
- Problems solving
- Opportunities to plan and execute government functions.
- Interest in national security, cybersecurity. planning, revenue, and taxation. and regulations
- Gain Human Resources skills.
- Gain CATE certification
- Shadowing experiences
- Internships
Why Choose Agriculture and Animal Science
- Work with small animals, livestock, dog grooming
- Join an award winning FFA chapter.
- Gain OSHA Vet Certification
- Dual Enrollment Opportunities
As of right now, transportation is not provided for 2023-2024 school year. Please plan to provide transportation. We are working on getting transportation for the 2023-2024.
The new way to apply for the Raider Academy is by completing a transfer application through Richland School District One's Registrar's Office during the transfer season. The transfer season is March 1, 2024, through May 1st. 2024.
If you are already enrolled at W. J. Keenan, you do not need to complete this application. Everyone else wanting to be in the program will need to apply March 1st as we only have a certain number of spots available for each program.
Raider Academy Parent Meeting On March 13
Good afternoon,
Mrs. Wine will be holding a virtual parent meeting on March 13, 2024, at 6:00 pm. The parent meeting will discuss changes for the 2024-2025 Raider Academy.
Shalise wine is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: W. J. Keenan Raider Academy Parent Session
Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/97870140697?pwd=amlyTkdDL0pCSWlGQTVYQm1jK2lzZz09
Meeting ID: 978 7014 0697
Passcode: d0tWyR
Absence Reporting/Morning Routine
Teachers and staff, please help us keep our students and school safe by reporting to work by 7:30 (morning duty) or 7:45 am. Please be at your doors ready to receive students by 7:50 am.
Please be reminded if you are going to be absent, report your absence by:
1. Submitting your absence in Frontline (Aesop).
2. Sending an email that you will be out.
a. To: Mr. Hankins
b. CC: Ms. Erving and Mrs. McIntee
c. Subject: Your Name Absent Date of Absence (Ex: Jabar Hankins Absent 1/16/23)
3. Calling the school (if an emergency happens on your way to work).
Substitutes and staff members covering classes should arrive by 7:45 am.
Thanks for your cooperation and for all you do for our students.
Notes for Raider Teachers!
Feedback From Observations: Focus on engaging students and having them do the work. Rather than standing up and writing on the smartboard as you are explaining, have students come up to the board and share what they know. Put students in groups and give meaningful activities. Use balls and other manipulatives to identify students for a response. Make these engaging strategies apart of your daily routine.
Handling Conflict: Please talk with our students about how to properly handle conflict. Encourage them to reach out to adults in the building to get help with situations that can potentially get them in trouble. Please convey the importance of working together resolve problems before they become bigger issues. It takes a village!
Student Work: Please start posting your best student work inside and outside your classroom in the hallways. You may also share by tagging WJK on social media.
Ask Yourself: What is the hook for today’s lesson that will keep them engaged? Is there an opportunity for my students to get up and move around with my lesson? How am I going to check for understanding? Am I giving students the opportunity to show me they have a grasp of the content? Am I using the DLE to enhance the lesson or am I simply giving electronic skill sheets?
Signing In and Out: If you need to leave campus for an emergency, please get approval from an administrator, and sign out in the main office. We are professionals.
PTSO: Please consider joining our Parent Teacher Student Association. It is a big part of communicating to our parents that we want to build a stronger partnership this year. The application is in the main office with Ms. Golston.
W.J. Keenan High School
Our Mission
The mission of W. J. Keenan High School is to provide engaging educational opportunities through a rigorous curriculum, cutting edge technology, and partnerships to extend to our diverse community and produce first class citizens who will contribute to the present and excel in the future. WE ARE KEENAN!
Our Vision
Our vision is to create a nationally known high school that is highly regarded for its academic excellence, leadership in cutting edge technology, science, environmental, and career based programs. A high school that builds strong relationships with all stakeholders and continues a culture where the expectation is to lead, set the example, and raise standards for all to follow.
Email: vondre.whaley@richlandone.org
Website: http://keenan.richlandone.org/
Location: 361 Pisgah Church Road, Columbia, SC, USA
Phone: 803-714-2500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keenanraiders/
Twitter: @wjkeenan