Eagle Express
January 19-February 2, 2024
Principal's Corner
Dear Woodlawn Academy Parents,
As we navigate through the latter part of the academic year, I wanted to share some updates and insights from our journey over the past week and our focus moving forward.
Firstly, I'm pleased to report that our boiler issues have seen significant improvement, leading to much more comfortable temperatures within our classrooms. There were moments when our efforts worked a little too well, creating a somewhat tropical atmosphere, but we've since adjusted and are now enjoying more balanced conditions. We remain vigilant and prepared should we face another cold snap.
Our thanks go out to the independent contractors and maintenance teams from other districts who have lent their expertise to ensure our students and staff stay warm. Their support has been invaluable in stabilizing our facilities.
With our environment now conducive to learning, our attention turns entirely toward our academic path as we approach the end of the year. This period marks a crucial time for consolidating direct instruction and reviewing the standards covered throughout the year. We are intensifying our efforts to enhance reading and writing competencies among our students, with a particular focus on analyzing informational texts and fostering robust writing skills.
Recent metrics at campus, district, state, and federal levels indicate a concerning trend in reading proficiency. It is more important than ever to ensure our students have the skills to meet and exceed grade-level expectations. To this end, we are committed to providing our students every possible opportunity to develop their reading abilities.
We would like your partnership in this endeavor to support these goals. Here are three ways you can assist your child in improving their reading skills:
- Encourage Daily Reading: Set aside a specific time for your child to read each day. This could be a mix of school-assigned literature and books of personal interest. Discussing what they've read with them can further enhance comprehension and engagement.
- Explore a Variety of Texts: Introduce your child to various reading materials, including newspapers, magazines, and online articles. This will broaden their knowledge and improve their ability to analyze different types of texts.
- Writing Practice: Encourage your child to write summaries or opinions about the texts they read. This practice reinforces their understanding and enhances their ability to express thoughts coherently and critically.
Your support and involvement are pivotal as we strive to improve literacy across the campus. Together, we can overcome challenges and ensure our students are well-prepared to face the future confidently and competently.
Thank you for your continued partnership and trust in Woodlawn Academy.
Ever Stalwart, Eagles!
Luis De La Garza
Head of School, Woodlawn Academy
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Estimados padres de Woodlawn Academy,
Al navegar por la última parte del año académico, quería compartir algunas actualizaciones y perspectivas de nuestro viaje durante la última semana y nuestro enfoque hacia adelante.
En primer lugar, me complace informar que hemos visto una mejora significativa en los problemas con las calderas, lo que ha llevado a temperaturas mucho más cómodas dentro de nuestras aulas. Hubo momentos en los que nuestros esfuerzos funcionaron demasiado bien, creando una atmósfera algo tropical, pero desde entonces hemos ajustado y ahora estamos disfrutando de condiciones más equilibradas. Permanecemos vigilantes y preparados en caso de que enfrentemos otra ola de frío.
Nuestro agradecimiento a los contratistas independientes y a los equipos de mantenimiento de otros distritos que han prestado su experiencia para asegurar que nuestros estudiantes y personal permanezcan cálidos. Su apoyo ha sido invaluable para estabilizar nuestras instalaciones.
Ahora que nuestro entorno es propicio para el aprendizaje, nuestra atención se dirige por completo hacia nuestro camino académico a medida que nos acercamos al final del año. Este período marca un momento crucial para consolidar la instrucción directa y revisar los estándares cubiertos durante el año. Estamos intensificando nuestros esfuerzos para mejorar las competencias de lectura y escritura entre nuestros estudiantes, con un enfoque particular en analizar textos informativos y fomentar habilidades de escritura sólidas.
Las métricas recientes a nivel de campus, distrito, estado y federal indican una tendencia preocupante en la competencia lectora. Es más importante que nunca asegurar que nuestros estudiantes tengan las habilidades para cumplir y superar las expectativas de su nivel de grado. Con este fin, estamos comprometidos a brindar a nuestros estudiantes todas las oportunidades posibles para desarrollar sus habilidades de lectura.
Nos gustaría contar con su colaboración en este empeño para apoyar estos objetivos. Aquí hay tres maneras en que puede ayudar a su hijo a mejorar sus habilidades de lectura:
1. Fomentar la lectura diaria: Reserve un tiempo específico cada día para que su hijo lea. Esto podría ser una mezcla de literatura asignada por la escuela y libros de interés personal. Discutir lo que han leído con ellos puede mejorar aún más la comprensión y el compromiso.
2. Explorar una variedad de textos: Presente a su hijo a diversos materiales de lectura, incluyendo periódicos, revistas y artículos en línea. Esto ampliará su conocimiento y mejorará su capacidad para analizar diferentes tipos de textos.
3. Práctica de escritura: Anime a su hijo a escribir resúmenes u opiniones sobre los textos que leen. Esta práctica refuerza su comprensión y mejora su capacidad para expresar pensamientos de manera coherente y crítica.
Su apoyo y participación son fundamentales mientras nos esforzamos por mejorar la alfabetización en todo el campus. Juntos, podemos superar desafíos y asegurar que nuestros estudiantes estén bien preparados para enfrentar el futuro con confianza y competencia.
Gracias por su continua colaboración y confianza en Woodlawn Academy.
¡Siempre Estables, Águilas!
Luis De La Garza
Director de Woodlawn Academy
Learning
Around the PYP
Students focus on their learning activity for the moment whether it be learning, applying, or recording new knowledge.
Student uses a game to learn more about relationships within food chains.
PYPX continues in motion. Students meet with their groups and work on their weekly goals depending on the groups progress.
Students record notes to reference math concepts and models throughout the school. Here 4th graders review fractional models to document in their journals.
2nd Grade
2nd Grade students have been diligently researching different landmarks throughout the world for their IB Unit: How We Express Ourselves which in 2nd grade focuses on the central idea: Expressions reflect perspectives.
Throughout this unit, students studied landmarks throughout the world, observed artifacts from different countries, as well as different forms of expression in the arts. They explored how different cultures express themselves through different means of art whether by art, music, dance, and food. For their summative, they were tasked with expressing creatively one of the world landmarks and writing a reflection on what this landmark means to the people in that culture/location.
Finished student products will be showcased at our Spring IB Night in March.
1st Grade
Collaboration is one of the principle approaches to learning we have at all IB schools across the globe. Our 1st grade and 2nd grade team partnered since they noticed alignment between their two current IB Units. 1st Grade is focusing on the central idea: culture impacts the way people see themselves. The students enjoyed a day of switching between classes to "visit different countries". The travel included a passport, a mini presentation on the country, and an activity or food tasting for that country. Students were smiling ear to ear as they enjoyed "traveling across the world".
8th Grade Transition to 9th Grade Night at Woodlawn Academy
Students and parents gathered to listen to presentations about the various options that our 8th graders have when choosing a high school. There are IB options at Jefferson High School, Dual Language, and other specialty magnet opportunities here within our SAISD Familia.
Attention all current 8th Grade Families- February 7-8th
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PYP Exhibition in Action
Consider helping build up our Woodlawn Pantry. One of our exhibition groups is leading a fight against hunger by calling all to action to donate items to benefit our Woodlawn Pantry. They will be picking up items from class (PYP) and advisory homerooms (MYP) every Friday.
Collection of Donations
Rhianna & Isis collect cans from a 3rd grade class. All donations will be part of our Woodlawn Academy food pantry. Keep the donations coming!
SAISD Food Distribution
Employment Opportunity
If you have a bachelors degree in any discipline and 18 qualifying credit hours of math or science on your transcript, you could be teaching math or science for SAISD! In addition to the starting salary ($57,500) we pay an additional $3000 stipend for these positions. Let us know if you’re interested and I’ll get you in touch with the right people…PLEASE SHARE!
Cross Country Schedule
Proud TCIS Partner
Woodlawn Academy is an authorized IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme and Middle Years Programme. In 2019, we became an SAISD In-District Charter School with Texas Council forInternational Studies, (TCIS) as our managing partner.Through this partnership, we receive additional funding.
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Parent Volunteer
Campus Website
Woodlawn Academy IB World School
Website: https://schools.saisd.net/page/175.homepage/
Location: 1717 West Magnolia Avenue, San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone: (210) 438-6560
Facebook: facebook.com/SAISDWoodlawnAcademy
Twitter: @IB_Woodlawn