Subject Areas
- Arts
- Career and Technical Education
- Instructional Technology
- Health and Fitness
- Language Arts
- Math
- Science
- Social Studies
Arts
Band Calendar
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South Whidbey Middle & High School, 5675 Maxwelton Rd, Langley, WA 98260, USA
The following statement is from the Office of Superintendent of Public Education (OSPI) on the adoption of The Arts K–12 Learning Standards for Dance, Media Arts, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts.
The state of Washington recognizes that the arts are an integral part of every student’s educational experience. The 2017 Arts K–12 Learning Standards for Dance, Media Arts, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts provide a framework for effective K–12 arts education by setting out a coherent structure for building students’ knowledge, understanding, and skills, while also encouraging them to explore and express their own creativity. These standards include the National Core Arts Standards, along with additional content developed by K–12 educators in the arts. These educators came together from across the state to participate in the Arts Cadre, which developed “suggestions for students” and “examples” to accompany the standards, thereby providing more specificity and practical ideas for demonstrating the knowledge and skills indicated.
This link connects to the Washington State Learning Standards for the Arts. These standards are used in a variety of classes and programs throughout the district's K-12 programs.
The Performing Arts Booster (PAB) supports the Band and Choir Programs. To join or support the PAB, click here.
Grades 5-12 Band Teacher Chris Harshman - charshman@sw.wednet.edu. Jazz bands are by audition only.
HS Choir Teacher Paula Ludke pludke@sw.wednet.edu.
Career and Technical Education
In-depth information regarding CTE academics can be found on the SWHS academics webpage.
Instructional Technology
The South Whidbey School District strives for technology integration as a seamless part of the learning process where use in the classroom is routine and accessible for all students. Technology integration provides avenues for children to think visibly, have a voice, collaborate and easily share their work. Technology creates a new relevancy to the learning environment in which students, teachers and experts engage new ideas, communicate and work together.
What Tech Looks Like at SWSD
Technology is alive and well in all of our schools. The following profiles will give you a quick look at how we meet the Washington State Standards by grade level.
At the K- 2 level students are introduced to technology skills and concepts in a safe, structured environment. Technology is integrated into the daily curriculum in a variety of ways. Our younger students work with their teachers on class projects, use interactive tools in group lessons and do teacher guided research. They use apps and web tools which include Accelerated Reader, IXL Math and Language Arts, and Spelling City for independent skills practice. At this time our K-2 students have access to iPads and chromebooks and are developing skills that enable them to use digital tools to create and problem solve with technology. The focus of at this level digital citizenship is on safety and responsibility.
At the 3-4 level there is a shift from teacher led projects to more independent work. 3rd - 4th graders participate in self paced keyboarding programs, interact with their teachers through Google Classroom and use digital tools for for daily classwork and projects. These students also use a variety of apps and web tools for independent skills practice in math, reading, writing and spelling. Examples of these are Accelerated Reader, IXL math and language arts, and Spelling city. Students at this level are taught to use research tools and responsibly cite sources. Digital Citizenship at this level builds on the teaching of safety and responsibility and adds cyberbullying, digital footprint and information literacy.
At the 5-8 level students continue to expand on their technology skills through classroom and independent work. The middle level student is immersed in a technology infused classroom where the focus is on using a variety of technology programs, websites, and applications to generate creative solutions and present ideas. Students are encouraged to explore a variety of these digital tools to expand ways of self expression and create original work. Students use these tools to write, produce and publish where specific technology like google classroom, and docs, allows them to link up with other individuals and groups for collaboration on shared projects. Middle level students demonstrate a command of keyboarding skills that allow them to efficiently process words. Emphasis on digital citizenship includes technology user safety rules, citation tools, and a better understanding of intellectual property and fair use. Technology is the cornerstone for middle level students to solve authentic problems with the ethical use of information in a media literate way that allows differentiation and connection to self and the world.
At the 9-12 level students focus on creativity and collaboration, often working independently and in small groups to explore and assess a wide range of curriculum appropriate media and create presentations containing graphics, video, audio and text. In all core classrooms, each high school level student has access to laptops or tablets with an online connection. Teachers use interactive whiteboards and wireless technology that allow them to project and manipulate media and source materials. Most teachers and all students digitally create and share assignments using cloud-based document and presentation software (primarily Google Docs and Slides). Many teachers and students use Google Classroom and other applications to foster collaboration, share assignments and supplementary sources, and encourage a paperless workflow. Digital citizenship continues to be a focus for these older students, with an emphasis on safe, appropriate and effective social media presence, proper email manners, and a clear understanding of copyright and fair use laws.
Health and Fitness
Health and Physical Education teaches our students that good health and safety principles can lead to a lifetime of healthy practices, resulting in more productive, active, and successful lives.
This link will take you to the OSPI website for Health and Fitness: http://www.k12.wa.us/HealthFitness/default.aspx where you will find info on the following:
Learning Standards
The Health and Physical Education Standards and grade-level outcomes describe what students should know and be able to do. They establish the concepts and skills necessary for safe and healthy living, and in turn, for successful learning.
Assessments
The OSPI-developed assessments are the state assessment models designed to help schools and districts determine whether students have met the health and physical education learning standards.
Laws and Regulations/Graduation Requirements
The WACs and RCWs that outline Health and Physical Education requirements in our state.
Sexual Education is a component of the Health and Physical Education for grades K-12
Sexual Health Education
The South Whidbey School District implements the FLASH (Family Life and Sexual Health) curriculum, for students in 5th grade through high school A general summary is provided at: https://kingcounty.gov/
Information is presented to families each year during parent open house and curriculum events. In addition, curriculum binders are available at the front office (both South Campus and 7-12 Campus) for review. A selection of lesson plans for Grades 4-6 can be viewed online at:
Related Resources:
- Sexual Health Education Standards for Washington State (OSPI)
- Senate Bill 5395, implementation timeline and changes summarized (OSPI)
Parents can review the curriculum binders at the school and choose whether to have their students Opt-Out of the program. Questions regarding the curriculum can be submitted to the SWSD School Nurse, Emmy Atwood at eatwood@sw.wednet.edu
Language Arts
This link will take you to the OSPI website http://www.k12.wa.us/ELA/default.aspx where you can find information on the following:
Washington State K-12 ELA Learning Standards
The Common Core State Standards are now the Washington State K-12 ELA Learning Standards. The standards describe what students should know and be able to do at each grade level.
Assessments are designed to help districts, schools, teachers, parents and students determine the level of proficiency of a student's understanding of the ELA learning standards.
Instructional Materials, Resources and Course Supports
Resources to support alignment of instruction materials to the CCSS, curriculum alignment, classroom instructional supports, Open Educational Resources (OER) curricular reviews, and materials adoption
Resources that support the development and implementation of ELA related professional learning.
Additional Information:
Math
During the 2017-2018 school year our Math Curriculum Review Committee participated in an extensive process of research and review of various Mathematics curriculum. We involved the entire staff, along with parents and community when we made the final selection. We are certain the new materials, which are aligned with the Common Core State Standards, will help more students meet expectations.
Grades K-4 Ready Math https://www.curriculumassociates.com/products/ready
Grades 6-Algebra 2 Big Ideas Mathematics https://ca.bigideasmath.com/features/program_overview_ca.php?ref=static
Science
Science Education Mission
The South Whidbey School District, in partnership with an informed and engaged community, will provide an aligned K-12 science program that promotes inquiry-centered learning, use of technology, curiosity, and the pursuit of scientific understanding.
South Whidbey School District has adopted the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The science standards are weaved throughout our science curriculum through teacher integration into lessons and the use of updated text -books, electronic resources, and science kits.
If you don't have time to read through all of the standards, here's a video explaining the benefit of the Next Generation Science Standards.
Social Studies
The Washington State Learning standards in Social Studies are outlined on the OSPI website.
Along with the scope and sequence
Our district completed a study of the standards and a major purchase of text and online material in the 2011-2012 school year.
For complete coursework information please speak with your child's teacher.