Special News Update for WCS Parents

banner link to grade level centers information web page

Exploring Grade Level Centers

At WCS we are always looking for ways to better meet the needs of our students and to improve the quality of education we provide. This Fall we began actively studying the feasibility of creating Grade Level Centers in our elementary buildings to better address the needs of each and every student.

We know that you will have lots of questions, so we want to invite you into our process and provide parents and community the opportunity to help us in this evaluation stage. In this newsletter we'll share a little background on Grade Level Centers and how they can positively impact learning.

We'll also share the progress that has been made by our steering committee and give you an opportunity to share your questions and concerns with us during this process.

In this Newsletter we'll cover:

Introduction to Grade Level Centers

Our Steering Committee and Progress

The Possibilities

Your Questions and Concerns

What are Grade Level Centers and why should we change?

What is a Grade Level Center? Currently, our elementary buildings are populated by geographic area. A Grade Level Center (GLC) is populated according to student grade level. There are a number of compelling educational benefits to this type of structure:

Allows for increased collaboration with grade level teachers

Experts on grade level together for collaboration and team mentoring
Focus on grade level expectations
All grade level teachers focused on standards and consistent assessment measures
Collaboration with all grade level teachers for project based learning, sharing innovative ideas and best teaching strategies

Builds student community

Students connect with all students in grade level bands throughout school
All students identify collectively as a Wilmington student
Students have increased opportunity to connect with various students throughout school
Students are connected together prior to the crucial middle school developmental age

Maximizes our resources

Provides the ability to balance class sizes among all grade levels
Allows us to focus curriculum resources, learning equipment, teaching materials to be shared and distributed among all grade level teams

Utilizes grade level experts

Teachers, Counselors, Paraprofessionals, Psychologists, Administrators, Coaches, Title Teachers

Each building allows the staff to be focused on the particular learning and social/emotional needs of that particular grade level bands (moved from 2-3 levels instead of 6)

Provides equity and access

Eliminates any perceived stigma or labels to a particular Elementary Building
When living arrangements and child care needs change, it allows the student to remain in the same building (family moves, foster care placements, changes in babysitters, homeless families, etc.)

Ultimately, the goal is to improve the educational experience for all our students and to increase learning and achievement. It's about more than improving our State Report Card, it's about actively seeking ways to provide a superior education for each and every child in our community.

Our Steering Committee and Our Process

This Fall we created a GLC Steering Committee of teachers, parents, administrators, bus drivers, and Board Members to begin exploring the feasibility of creating Grade Level Centers at our elementary buildings.

This committee has been working hard and asking lots of questions. We recognize that in order to proceed with this project, we first need to identify any and all potential challenges and measure their impact on providing the best education for our students. On December 13th our committee members invited additional parents to attend and to provide insight and feedback.

Some of the topics that are currently being addressed include the following:

Grade level groupings

Building attributes and student needs

Transportation/Bus Routes

The process is challenging, but the end result could mean taking a giant step forward in creating a superior educational experience for each and every student attending Wilmington City Schools.

We know that parents will have questions and concerns, and they are an important and valued part of this process. We encourage you to reach out to us by using the form link that can be found in this email, as well on our District website.

What does this mean for WCS elementary buildings?

When considering possible grade level groupings for our buildings, several things were considered:

Continuity for students
Availability and flexibility of classroom space
Structure of the current building to accommodate age levels

While no final decisions have been made, the committee is currently evaluating the feasibility of the configuration below.

POSSIBLE CONFIGURATION BEING CONSIDERED

Grade Levels	Considerations	Building
Preschool and 5th Grade	Structure of the building/stairs Special focus on 5th grade transition to Middle School 5th grade mentors to Preschool children	East End
Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd	3 years of continuity of school at the primary level Primary grades together	Holmes
3rd, 4th, and Multi-Handicapped	Critical grade levels together for reading acquisition Intermediate levels together without the range of 3rd to 5th	Denver Place

Please keep in mind that we are are only part of the way through this process. There are hurdles and challenges that must be addressed before moving forward. If the committee feels comfortable that concerns have been addressed, then we can begin planning the logistics of making this move for the beginning of the 2018-19 school year. If faced with challenges that are too big to overcome in that time frame, then implementation will be pushed back to allow for more planning.

Do you have questions and/or concerns?

Students aren't the only ones who get to ask questions! We know that change is often uncomfortable, particularly when it comes to our children.

As WCS parents, grandparents, and guardians, you are an integral part of the educational process, and we want to invite you to help us with this process.

Please take a moment, after reading through the information we have provided, and consider sharing your questions and/or concerns using any of the communication methods listed:

Online Response Form or at the link on our District's Grade Level Center Information page at wilmington.k12.oh.us/glc
Email one of our Elementary Principals
Denver: [email protected]
East End: [email protected]
Holmes: [email protected]
Mail your questions to:
  Wilmington City Schools
  Attn: GLC Steering Committee
  341 S Nelson Ave
  Wilmington, OH 45177
Drop off your written questions at your child's school. Please include your contact information so that we can follow up if we need more information or a clarification.

image link to district website page for news source links

Stay Connected

We will continue to update you on our progress through various communication channels over the next few months through face-to-face meetings, local media, social media, printed newsletters, and other avenues to keep the lines of communication open.

If you know of other parents who have not subscribed to our email newsletters we encourage you use the "forward" button to share the information.