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11/14/2006 8:05 AM  Fadlan wac 651-312-9015 si aad u heshid nuqul ku qoran Somali. Yog koj xav tau qhov no sau ua lus Hmoob, thov hu rau 651-312-9015. Por favor llame a 651-216-3415 para recibir esta carta en Espanol. Dear Families, Webster Magnet is at a crossroads. For years, we have offered students applied skills or enrichment classes. Life has changed a lot since the school was created in 1976. It is time to look critically at Webster. Who are the students and families we serve today? What are the needs of our students? How well are we meeting those needs? How can we provide the best service in the future? There are some things that we already know. Last spring we lost a part of our budget called the Magnet Base. This spring the District will take the other part of the Magnet Base. We will lose 2.5 teachers in addition to any other budget reductions. (See the last page for the Referendum impact.) Financially we cannot sustain the enrichment model as it exists. Webster students receive less time in reading, writing, math, and social studies with their homeroom teacher than any other students in the district. The reason is that the enrichment model requires an extra 50 minutes a day of instruction. The teachers want to make sure every student reaches grade level standards. They want to challenge students who are at grade level. Teachers struggle with time every day. Academically we cannot sustain the enrichment model as it exists. I am creating a Task Force to look at Webster’s Future. We will look at the demographic and student achievement data together. We will look at options for our future. We will communicate this to the broader community and give opportunities for input. We will make a recommendation to the Site Council by April. The Task Force will likely meet 5 or more times between now and April. I welcome your participation. If you are interested in the Task Force, please RSVP to me at 651-293-8625, extension 1504. Together I know we can ensure Webster remains a fine school! Sincerely, Jim Litwin, Principal Fall Picture Day after Long Weekend Our fall picture day is Tuesday, October 24. This is the first day back after a long weekend. Please make sure your child comes to school that day ready for pictures. If you have any questions, please call the office at 651-293-8625. October Book of the Month Students will be reading Beatrice’s Goat by Page McBrier with their class. Inspired by actual events, it’s the story of a girl who longs to attend school but instead must tend to her younger siblings and help her mother in the fields. Everything starts to change when the family receives a goat. Sunny acrylic paintings capture the hues of dusty thatched huts and verdant banana groves of the African landscape. ©Publisher’s Weekly  School-wide Discipline Plan The staff is developing a school-wide discipline plan working with consultants from Responsive Classroom. A vital step in this process is parent and family input. They are creating a survey for your ideas and thoughts. It will come home this month. Please return it to school. They are also looking for other ways to get your input. If you have any suggestions or ideas, please contact 651-293-8625, extension 1504 and leave a message. You can also email at jim.litwin@spps.org. Halloween at School There is no school-wide celebration of Halloween at Webster. Neither students nor staff should wear costumes to school. If there is a classroom celebration that day, it will be simple in nature and fitting a unit of study. The new District Wellness policy limits students to one treat (food or beverage) that is not healthy and nutritious. Bakken School Partnership Celebration You are invited to the Bakken Science Museum in Minneapolis on Saturday, November 11. Our students have been working with Bakken staff members in Science class, assemblies, and at our Math Carnival. Our school will participate in the Bakken Museum’s School Partnership Celebration Day. You can go to www.thebakken.org for more information. Admission is free. The museum is located at 3537 Zenith Avenue South near Lake Calhoun. Webster’s African Music Ensemble will play at the event. Webster to Receive Fresh Coat A fresh coat of paint will brighten Webster’s walls for the first time in a decade. The project begins the week of October 9 and will continue for several months. We hope to limit the effect on the learning environment. Students may have to spend a day in another class as their room is painted. Students and families may also notice the aroma of new paint. The paint is safe for students, staff, and families. Please be patient with the District as the project is completed. Safety and Security Webster has received the services of a security guard for the front door. Our guard will welcome you to the building, help you sign in, and give directions to the office. New Rules for Safety Drills Last year the state legislature passed a law requiring schools to practice 5 fire drills and 5 lockdown drills. We have practiced two fire drills and one lockdown to date. In the spring, we will hold one or two tornado drills. We use simple, clear language during the drills. Students need to quietly follow directions. Please talk with your children about the importance of the drills. Where is the Principal? At Webster Magnet, the entire staff is committed to help all students achieve. As a function of this, the school principal will be spending two days a week in classrooms in order to help improve the teaching and learning that happens on a daily basis. The principal may not always be able to speak with you when you drop in or telephone. However, Mr. Litwin really values communicating with you. When you want to speak with him, please contact the secretaries who can schedule a time to talk. Thanks for your support of our school and your patience and understanding as he implements these practices.
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