In the Home Stretch
As the days of May are on us and another school year winds down, I have once again taken the opportunity to reflect on the year and truly appreciate being part of a terrific organization.
Let’s begin with the success of our students. From the athletic fields to the classrooms W-G students and athletes have represented themselves, their families and the district with immense dignity, pride and accomplishment. We are proud of our student achievements but we will continue to challenge them to greater heights.
In the academic arena our students have continued to display improvement in not only overall systems test scores but in individual student growth. Students are gradually pressing the academic envelope to shape Woodward-Granger CSD into one of the best achieving schools in the state.
Students, staff and community were the beneficiaries of the new 10 million dollar, 69,000 sq. ft. Elementary building. This two-story structure has provided the space and the amenities that were greatly needed to accompany student comfort in learning and eventual growth in the community. In addition to the new facility, the Middle School and Early Learning Center will both undergo improvements this summer to include air conditioning, lighting, safety upgrades and windows. Once this round of summer projects is complete, the voter approved $9.85M dollars will be exhausted and the language will be satisfied.
Summer school will once again be an option for students who need the extra support. Please note that you will receive more information at the elementary and middle school levels if your children qualify for these services.
Thank you for a wonderful school year, enjoy your summer and we will look forward to your return this fall.
If you have questions about this article and/or any additional questions pertaining to Woodward-Granger CSD please contact Superintendent, Brad Anderson, (515) 438-4263 or banderson@woodward-granger.k12.ia.us at your convenience.
Science Fair
The annual 8th Grade Science Fair took place on Friday, April 8th in the auditorium. It was the culmination of several weeks of work during which students created and tested a hypothesis and came up with a conclusion based on the data they collected. The main goal of this project is to create an accurate experiment. It also shows evidence for two of the essential standards for 8th grade science, which are:
- Identify and generate questions that can be answered through scientific investigations.
- Design and conduct different kinds of scientific investigations.
Students are able to choose projects that interested them, or that they have a desire to learn more about. Topics this year included: cleaning product effectiveness, sports skills, taste, conductivity of materials, elasticity, oxidation, germination, concentration and many more.
Students’ projects were scored on a rubric by several teachers. Observations by the classroom teacher and judges confirmed that students were not only learning at a higher level, but also working together to help each other be successful. Conversations between students involved the understanding and importance of a control test, possible variables and drawing conclusions that were supported by the data collected in their experiments. Students helped each other with conducting the actual experiments in either the administration of tests or as test subjects.
Thanks to Mr. Wunschel and the 8th grade students for making this year’s science fair a success!
Brad Anderson
Superintendent
