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Selah, WA
Permit No. 3
Selah School District’s
Education Report
An education update for the Selah community
105 West Bartlett, Selah, WA 98942 509-697-0706
Fall 2014
Superintendent's Message...Grading in Selah Secondary Schools
I
f you have a student in one of
the secondary schools in Selah
then chances are you’ve been exposed to some shifts in grading that
the District has been involved with
over the past
couple of years.
This has been
a
challenging
transition for all
involved. Grading is a very
complicated
topic that people
Shane Backlund
are passionate
and opinionated about. The fact is
that the traditional grading system–
the one that most of us are used
to‒is outdated and needs a major
overhaul if it is going to be used for
its intended purpose. What is that
intended purpose? It’s to clearly
communicate to students their level
of learning of the standards identified in every subject and class. It
sounds simple enough, but it’s actu-
ally very complex when you begin to
peel back all of the layers.
Before I try to explain how we
make this shift, I need to point out
the first major hurdle we have to
overcome in trying to make a change
to grading. That hurdle is tradition.
Just about everyone educated in a
public school system was graded
with traditional methods. It’s what
we’re used to. A traditional grading system was generally based
upon points assigned by the teacher
to assignments, projects, quizzes,
tests, reading logs, attendance, effort, etc. These points were given
a percentage which was converted
to a letter grade (i.e. 86% is a B).
Sound familiar?
There are many problems with
a traditional grading system. The
most glaring is that the 100 point
percentage scale, while familiar, is
lopsided towards failure. Anything
percentage wise below a 59% is
traditionally an “F”. That’s a lot of
the scale tipped towards defeat. In
addition, with a traditional system
these percentages are often averaged across the term to get a final
grade. With the 100 point percentage scale, a “0” creates a hole that
is hard to dig out of. For example, if
a student receives 100% on one assignment and then a “0” on the next,
the average of that would be 50%...
or an F. Research is clear that this
is not motivating for students and ultimately leads to a lack of desire to
learn. This isn’t what we want to be
communicating to our students.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to
communicate to students in terms
of specific skills and standards?
Wouldn’t they want to know with
more accuracy what were their specific strengths and areas for growth?
That really is the essence of what
we are trying to accomplish with our
shifts in grading. We want a system
See Grading/Cont. on Page 10
Middle School Moving Day!
The boxes are packed, the furniture assembled,
the excitement building and finally, after 15 months of
construction, it is moving day for Selah Middle School!
On January 5, when students return to school from
Winter Break, they will be welcomed by staff and begin classes at the new Selah Middle School campus.
"We are excited about the opportunity to open a
new building," said Selah Middle School Principal,
Marc Gallaway. "There are a lot of memories in our
old building but the staff and students are ready to
make Selah Middle School the best in the state!"
See Middle School/Cont. on Page 3
Above: A sneak peek inside the gymnasium at the new Selah Middle School. It's moving day in to the new Selah Middle School and
January 5 will be the first day of classes for students and staff in
the facility.
A Look at Selah School Board News...
Briefings from the Board!
A Message from the Selah School Board President, Kelliann Ergeson
I
n the spirit of the season, when thankfulness and reflection abound, I am filled with gratitude for our community’s support of the Selah School District. Thank You. Our capital projects are only the most visible sign of your
support. The trust you put in the District gives us the courage to ask the most important‒and most challenging‒question of all: how do we meet the learning needs of each of our 3,386 students? It is
a daunting proposition, one that requires commitment, introspection – and a willingness to
recognize when we can to do better.
As the District has tackled the question of how to ensure high levels of learning for all of
our students, we have affirmed that learning must be the constant. No matter the limits of
the school day or the school year, learning must be our guide. Gone are the days when it
was enough to present information to students and move on without providing students an
opportunity to gain mastery or to delve deeper. As one of my daughter’s teachers is quick
to point out: “The consequence of not doing the work, is doing the work!” We strive to hold
ourselves and our students accountable for achieving the objective.
Board President,
With the new calendar year fast approaching, the Selah School Board’s New Year’s resoKelliann Ergeson
lution remains the same: we will keep student learning at the forefront of every decision we
make. The Board is looking forward to a year filled with many opportunities to study and to celebrate our students’
growth. Happy 2015!
Meeting Reminder
School Board Meetings are generally held the second and fourth
Thursday of the month. Meetings
begin at 7:00 p.m. unless indicated
otherwise. Currently, meetings are
held at Selah City Hall.
Board Officers Elected
The Selah School District Board of Directors has
elected its officers for the next year. Retaining her
Presidency position is Kelliann Ergeson. Elected
as Vice-president is Jeff Hartwick. Kathy Lambert
remains the Legislative Representative.
Jeff Hartwick, School Board Vice-President
High School Student Appointed to Board
Earlier this fall the Selah School District Board of Directors welcomed Madeline "Maddy" Hoppis, a junior, as a new
student representative to its panel. Hoppis joins senior Garrhett Petrea, who served in the position last year.
In addition to her role as a student board representative, Hoppis, serves as the Junior Class ASB Secretary. Also,
Hoppis is a member of National Honor Society and was a captain on
the high school cross-country team this past fall.
The role of the high school representatives is to provide student
insight and perspective to the Board of Directors while serving as a
liaison between the Board and the student body. Many Districts across
the state have implemented programs where students serve in representative positions on the Board and acquire leadership traits, learn
civic responsibility and gain insight into local politics. Student representatives participate in Board discussion but do not vote, hold office, or
Madeline Hoppis
Garhett Petrea
attend executive discussions.
Looking Ahead...January is School Board Appreciation Month
Please Thank a School Board Member for their Service!
2 • Selah Education Report
Selah School District News and Notes...
Middle School/Cont. from Pg. 1
February
Open House Planned
Gallaway continued, "Change can
be challenging but this is one we
look forward to."
On the interior of the building
maintenance crews have been moving items into the new facility, while
contractor teams have been assembling and installing furniture. This
work will continue through Winter
Break. In this year's transition to the
new middle school eighth grade students and staff will be the only occupants in the building through the end
of the school year. An Open House
will be held in February.
"The transition of our eighth
grade students and staff into the
new middle school is very exciting
for our District and community," said
Superintendent, Shane Backlund.
"A lot of people have worked very
hard to prepare for this day. Once
again, this is an example of the District's priority of providing high level
learning facilities with quality opportunities for students."
Once the old junior high is vacated in January, the structure will
be prepared for demolition. Once
the building is demolished site work
begins including abatement, landscaping and enhancements to the
parking lot, drop-off and pick up areas, grounds, and athletic fields. In
the fall of 2015, the new campus in
its entirety will greet approximately
800 students in sixth through eighth
grades, at which time an official dedication ceremony will occur.
Also, although students and staff
will enjoy many amenities of the new
building this winter and spring, because of the continued site work and
ongoing attention to the grounds the
auditorium will be used sparingly
for the remainder of the year. Beginning with the 2015-2016 school
year there will be an opportunity to
reserve the facility online.
"I want to thank patrons for their
continued support," said Backlund.
"As we remain focused on our facilities we will also continue to work on
our school realignment and transition plans which will continue into
next fall. It continues to be an exciting time for Selah!"
Selah School District: Culture of Achievement
‒By Susan Bennett; District Culture Coordinator
What is achievement? For a school district, achievement means ensuring high levels of learning for all students.
For the students, achievement means getting results through sustained effort. The Selah School District is fostering
a culture of achievement by an intentional focus on culture. Culture is comprised of the shared assumptions, beliefs,
values, traditions and norms that define a group of people. The SSD culture boils down to one central theme: helping our students achieve (both academically and socially) through high school and beyond. Throughout the district
students will being doing their best work and being their best selves.
In order to take our achievement culture from good to great, staff members throughout the district are developing
Compacts for Excellence. A Compact for Excellence is an agreement in principle by all stake holders that dictates day
to day behavior which will lead to the realization of the schools we want to have.
Our core purpose, mission, and the following belief statements are the foundation for our Compacts for Excellence.
Our Beliefs:
• Every student is worthy and capable of making meaningful contributions to his or her communities (classroom,
team, home, etc.).
• Strong character is at the heart of preparing our students for lifelong success.
• In a culture of excellence, every student graduates on
time prepared for college and career opportunities.
With these beliefs in the forefront, every school and department is being challenged to align behaviors according to
these belief statements. The Compact focuses on two areas:
doing your best work and being your best self. Compacts for
Excellence lead to excellent schools where student achievement goes from good to great.
For more information about the achievement culture in
the Selah School District, see the District's website left-hand
column titled District Culture Our Emphasis. This includes a
short video overview that provides more detail on our process.
For more information, contact Susie Bennett, District Culture
Selah's custodial staff participate in culture training.
Coordinator at [email protected].
Selah Education Report • 3
A Look at News and Other Notes...
Remember You Can Pay Online!
Weather News
As a reminder parents of Selah Middle School and Selah High School
students can log-on to view and pay their students’ outstanding fines or
fees. Parents can also purchase other items District wide such as club
dues, athletic fees, yearbook ads, senior baby pictures and make donations. Visit the middle school or high school websites for the link or go to
https://wa-selah.intouchreceipting.com and check out the information.
If you suspect schools may be
delayed or canceled because of
weather, tune into these T.V. and
radio stations for more information.
KIMA TV; KAPP TV; KNDO TV
KDBL—92.9 FM
KATS—94.5 FM
KQMY—99.3 FM
HOT FM—99.7 FM
Oldies FM—100.9 FM
KXDD—104.1 FM
BOB FM—105.7 FM
KFFM—107.3 FM
KIT—1280 AM
KUTI—1460 AM
Parents can also call the
weather hot line at 698-8080, or
access the District's website at
www.selah.k12.wa.us to learn of
operating decisions.
Drivers Wanted!
Do you like kids?
Do you like to drive?
If yes, then inquire about being
a part of the Selah School District's
transportation team as a substitute
bus driver! Substitute bus drivers earn $15.98/hour. If interested
in joining the transportation team,
please inquire at 697-0510 and start
the online application process at
http://selahjobs.hrmplus.net.
A Sale You Don't
Want to Miss!
Surplus Property Sale
Thursday, January 8
@ "Old" Selah Junior High
9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
General List of Surplus Items:
Lockers, Library Books/Miscellaneous Books,
Binders/Office Supplies,
AV Equipment/TV's/Stands Carts
Miscellaneous Furniture
Miscellaneous Tables/Cabinets/Chairs Desks
A Fieldhouse of Dreams
O
pening day for Selah softball
is a couple of months away,
but the program has already
hit a home-run as it is excited to
showcase its new indoor practice facility. Initiated from an idea by a couple of coaches, funded by private
donations and the Selah School District, and built with community energy, the Viking Fastpitch Program
now has a fieldhouse of dreams.
A year in the making, the indoor
complex will be used by the Viking
Softball teams and also available to
the baseball program for hitting and
pitching during the winter off-season, as well as for practices during
inclement weather.
Spearheaded by Selah High
School Fastpitch head coach, Bill
Harris, and volunteer coach, Ben
Graf, their idea was set in motion
when they realized there were limited facilities in the valley where athletes could work on hitting and pitching development during the winter.
4 • Selah Education Report
The fieldhouse will be used by Selah High School Softball Teams and available to
the Baseball Team.
Even when securing a location to
work-out, it was “hit-and-miss” due
to other players and programs in the
area also wanting to play indoors.
So, Harris and Graf organized the
initial effort to build the softball fieldhouse, located on the high school
campus, specifically for Selah athletes. The facility includes indoor
grass for fielding exercises, secured
nets for hitting drills, and an area for
pitching practice. The complex also
includes storage units, as well as
murals and signage representative
of Selah’s softball history.
“We knew there was a need for
an indoor hitting facility in the area
and we thought if we could find a
place and secure funding ‘why not
build a fieldhouse for our athletes,’”
said Harris. “We knew once we
could build the complex the facility
would be put to use and appreciated
by our athletes and parents.”
After receiving approval from the
Selah School Board to proceed with
See Fieldhouse/Cont. on Page 7
Hitting a High Note—A Look at Selah Students...
Selah High School Band Hits a High Note!
Viking Band Showcases New Uniforms During Veterans' Day Parade
D
owntown Yakima was a sea
of red, white, and blue on
November 11, as spectators
watched the Annual Veteran’s Day
Parade. Standing out among the
patriotic attire were the colors of Viking blue and gold as the Selah High
School marching band hit a high
note by leading all bands down Yakima Avenue as they debuted their
new uniforms.
Previously dressed in uniforms in
use for over two decades, leaders of
the Viking band program decided a
tune-up was in order.
The project was initially spearheaded by long-time band boosters
Todd and Sandy Kinyon who have
been vested in the project for over
a year, Suzann Noe, also a band
booster who spent months researching various uniforms and contacting
musical programs, and Selah High
School Band Director, Linda Doria.
Hitting a high note, the Selah High School Viking Marching Band leads all bands
during the Veterans' Day Parade while debuting their new blue and gold uniforms.
Partly funded by a donation from the
Selah School District, the arrival of
the new uniforms represents many
hours of work including fabric research, and the selection, ordering
and fitting processes.
“I would like to thank everyone
who worked on behalf of Selah students to help us get these uniforms,”
said Doria. “We were honored to
debut our new uniforms at the Vet-
eran’s Day Parade.”
The growing Viking Band were
joined in the parade by students in
Brian Dibble’s class at Selah Middle
School who donned military uniforms significant to history.
The Selah High School marching band definitely hit a high note
as they debuted their new uniforms.
And, with the colors of Viking blue
and gold, they looked sharp!
Hitting Another High Note!
Eleven Selah Students Chosen for Honors Band
The Selah High School Band Program has definitely hit another high note as 11 students recently were selected to
participate in the Western International Honors Band.
Auditioning against band students from Western Region States, Selah’s contingent of musicians received the opportunity to work with professional conductors and composers as well as perform in concert during November in
Seattle. Selah musicians selected to participate in the
honors band clinic include: Kassidy Buchanan, Kristien Butterfield, Mariah Byrd, Nate Cites, Danielle
Gutierrez, Sara Harper, Richard Weaver, Bryan Neill,
Madison Rath, Sean Walker, and Faith Wendelken.
According to Selah High School band instructor, Linda Doria, this is another accomplishment highlighting the
achievements of the growing program.
“I am so proud of these students,” said Doria. “Last
year we had two students selected to participate in the
honors band and this year all 11 who auditioned were
selected. Thanks to the support, there are amazing performers in the growing Selah Band Program!”
Congratulations to the 11 members of the Selah High School
band that were selected to participate in the Honors Band.
Congratulations Selah Band students!
Selah Education Report • 5
A Look at Selah Students and Classrooms...
Pitch Perfect and Patriotic!
S
tudents and staff from Robert Lince and John
Campbell Elementary Schools were pitch perfect
in their display of patriotism as they celebrated the
200th anniversary of the writing of the Star Spangled Banner earlier this fall by mass singing the National Anthem
during separate events.
In celebrating the occasion students learned the story
surrounding the writing of the anthem which began on the
morning of September 14, 1814, when soldiers at Baltimore’s Fort McHenry hoisted a massive banner celebrating a crucial victory over British forces during the War of
1812. As history goes, on a ship out in the cloudy harbor
Francis Scott Key noticed the enormous flag once the
air had cleared. Moved by the sight of the Broad Stripes
and Bright Stars, Key penned the first verse of the poem
In Defense of Fort McHenry on an envelope. Later Key
wrote out all four verses and set the words to music, thus,
creating the Star Spangled Banner.
To commemorate this piece of history, Robert Lince
music teacher, Mary Duren, alerted her District musical
colleagues to the significance of the event. Duren then organized Lince’s mass vocal celebration which began with
the Color Guard raising the American flag outside, at the
center of the campus. Students and staff then followed
with the Pledge of Allegiance and the 600+ voices strong
Robert Lince and John Campbell Elementary Schools celea cappella performance of the Star Spangled Banner.
Voices were also heard at John Campbell Elementary brate the 200th anniversary of the Star Spangled Banner.
where a similar event was orchestrated by the school’s music teacher, Bart Roderick. The ceremony began with an
instrumental solo of the Star Spangled Banner, followed by the presentation of the flag by a local Boy Scout Troop.
After the flag’s delivery, students from the intermediate, middle school and high school bands played the introduction
to the Star Spangled Banner, which led John Campbell students, staff and audience into the singing of the anthem.
We are All Vikings!
In the Selah School District
we are all Vikings and are working to build a culture reflective
of the Viking Way. Here, a Selah Intermediate School student displays his Viking spirit.
This past fall students at Selah
Middle School and Selah High
School began utilizing the full
Viking mascot. Starting with
the 2015-2016 school year, all
students in grades K-12 will be
full-fledged Vikings. The conversion to one District mascot
coincides with the realignment
and renaming of schools and
will bring enhanced unification to the District.
6 • Selah Education Report
What a Haul!
What a Haul! Robert Lince students collected
over 2 1/2 tons of
food during its Annual Harvest Food
Drive. In collecting
over 5,000 pounds
of canned and packaged
items
the
school will donate
its compilation of
goods to the local Lince students collected over
food bank.
Con- 5,000 pounds of food.
gratulations to the top class from each grade: Kindergarten, Mrs. Maybee; First Grade, Mrs. Anglin,
Second Grade, Mrs. Munson; Third Grade, Mrs.
Skeen; and Fourth Grade, Mrs. Cleem.
A Look at Selah Student-Athletes...
It's a Three-Peat for the Selah High School Varsity Football Team!
Viking Football Team Crowned Academic State Champs for Third Year in a Row
I
t’s a three-peat, but who’s counting?
In addition to its stellar football season, the
Selah High School Varsity Football Team again
scored big by earning its third consecutive academic
state championship awarded for Washington at the
2A level. After earning top state academic honors for
the past two years for having the highest grade point
average (GPA), the Viking Football Squad threepeated the feat during the fall sports campaign.
Selah High School Varsity Football Coach, Scott
Ditter, said the academic achievement coincides with
the program’s emphasis on excellence.
“One of the philosophies of our program is to strive The Selah High School Football Team earned the academic
to be excellent in everything we do,” said Ditter. “Our state championship at the 2A level for the third year in a row.
players understand the importance of education and being excellent in the classroom. It is an honor to be awarded
the Academic Championship for the third year in a row and is a positive reflection on our student-athletes.”
The award is presented by the Washington State Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). In earning the
recognition the football team had an average team GPA of 3.322 and were honored during the state championships in December. Each athletic season the WIAA State Academic Championship is presented to the sport
specific team with the highest grade point average in each high school division.
Congratulations to the Viking Football Team for its third consecutive academic state championship!
Fieldhouse/Cont. from Page 4
Fieldhouse to be used by Selah Athletes
the project, Harris and Graf “threw
out their pitch” to secure donations
from private individuals and assemble volunteers to work on the project.
From there, the fieldhouse was built.
“This was not the effort of only
a couple of people,” said Harris.
Softball Coach, Bill Harris, Superintendent, Shane Backlund, and Athletic Director, Mike Lewis enjoy the filedhouse.
“The fieldhouse was built because
of contributions from many individuals. Whether it was by donations or
volunteering to work, a lot of people
have invested time in this project!”
Selah School District Superintendent, Shane Backlund, echoed Harris’ sentiment and said the project
exemplifies the Viking Way.
“This is the fieldhouse the community built,” said Backlund. “This
correlates with the culture we are
building in Selah and exemplifies
community partnership with a large
group of individuals working together
to provide Selah students and athletes with quality facilities and opportunities. I appreciate everyone
who contributed to the project which
provides the District with an indoor
softball complex for years to come.”
Athletes Honored
for Academics
All six of Selah High School’s
fall varsity athletic teams qualified for academic excellence
awards according to Washington
Interscholastic Association (WIAA)
standards for their grade point averages (GPA's). Two teams qualified as Outstanding with GPA’s over
3.5. Girls' Cross-Country averaged a 3.789 GPA, while Boys’
Cross-Country posted a 3.582.
Additionally, four Viking squads
were recognized as Distinguished
with GPA’s between 3.0 and 3.5.
Girls’ Soccer averaged a 3.458
GPA, while the Lady Viks Volleyball Team posted a 3.416 average.
Also Distinguished, Girls' Swimming averaged a 3.393 grade
point, while the Football Team
posted 3.322.
Selah Education Report • 7
A Look at Selah's Athletic Honor Roll
Below and on the accompanying page is a recap of the accomplishments by student athletes from Selah High
School's fall athletic teams. Congratulations to all participants from all teams who displayed the Viking Way.
Viking Football
T
he Selah High School Football had a very successful season both on and off the field. On the field the team finished 7-3 (third in the CWAC). Off the field, the team’s 13 seniors led the way for the team demonstrating great
leadership, character, and hard work from start to finish. The team continues to show these attributes by helping out in
the school cleaning tables after lunch, and involvement in clubs and other sports. This year’s team was also awarded
the 2A State Academic Championship for the third straight year with a GPA of 3.322.
Selah Football All-League Recipients
Kyle Ditter
First Team;
Outside Linebacker
Kyle Ditter
Honorable Mention;
Tight End
Dain Kuhn
First Team; Wide Receiver
Dain Kuhn
Second Team;
Defensive Back
Dain Kuhn
Honorable Mention; Punter
Riley Maier
First Team; Guard
Riley Maier
First Team; Defensive End
Vance Wood
First Team; Running Back
Montana Blehm
Second Team; Quarterback
Chez Jackson
Second Team;
Wide Receiver
Lucas Mahugh
Second Team; Center
Calvin Smith
Honorable Mention;
PAT/FG Kicker
Selah Viking Football Team
Volleyball
Selah Volleyball All-League Recipients
T
Payton Gibbs
First Team; Outside Hitter
Kerista Goodpaster
First Team; Outside Hitter
Madison Jewett
First Team; Setter
Carly Davis
Second Team; Libero
Jennifer Pelzel
Second Team; Right Side
Lauren McDevitt
Honorable Mention;
Middle Blocker
Selah Volleyball Team
he Selah High School Lady Viking Volleyball had another
very successful season. The team went undefeated in
league to earn the Central Washington Athletic Conference Championship. They continued with a sweep at the district
tournament to earn the YVIAA District V/VI Championship. After a one year’s absence from state, the Lady Viks traveled to Pierce College and earned a WIAA 2A Third Place trophy, losing to the eventual state champions in five sets.
8 • Selah Education Report
A Look at Selah's Athletic Honor Roll
Girls' Swimming
T
he Girls' Swimming Team completed its first season under
new head coach Tracy Wright with a 6-3 dual meet record.
The Lady Vikings had an impressive post-season with a fourth
place finish at Districts and a 30th place finish at State. The 200
Medley Relay placed third at Districts and 19th at State. The
200 Freestyle Relay captured second at Districts and 14th at
State. The 400 Freestyle Relay set a school record by over four
seconds with a fourth place finish at districts and 17th place
at State. Individually the Lady Viking swimmers were led by
four-year letter-winner Melanie Garza who qualified for State in
both the 50 and 100 freestyle, placing 21st in both events. Erin
Herzog also qualified individually for State in the 100 Butterfly,
finishing 24th. Other State qualifiers for the relays were Kathy
Cousins, Natalie Borchert, Nicole Smith, and Elyse Kuebler.
Girls' Swimming Team
Boys' and Girls' Cross-Country
S
elah High School's Cross-Country Program had the largest turnout in the school’s history with 50 participants.
The team had a successful retreat at Lost Creek Village. The Girls’ finished third in the CWAC and the Boys
finished second. Three individuals qualified for the 2A State Tournament: Matthew Schrenk, Molly Mattson, Maggie
Ballew. On several occasions both teams visited the elderly at a local rest home.
Selah Cross-Country All-League Recipients
Matthew Schrenk
First Team
**CWAC Runner of the Year
Molly Mattson
First Team
Maggie Ballew
Second Team
Brigham Cardon
Second Team
Reggie Hull
Second Team
Lily Tyrrell
Second Team
Isaac Levitt
Honorable Mention
Kaelan Nettleship
Honorable Mention
Girls' Soccer
Selah Cross-Country Team
Selah Soccer Team
Selah Soccer All-League Recipients
Emily Backlund
First Team; Defender
Ashley Kuhlman
First Team; Forward
MaryKate Henning
Second Team; Midfielder
G
irls' Soccer made exceptional improvements from last season. The Lady Vikings were competitive in every contest
and finished fourth in the Central Washington Athletic Conference. The girls’ squad qualified for the YVIAA District V/VI tournament and advanced through the first two rounds to finish 4th.
Selah Education Report • 9
More from Superintendent Backlund...
Grading/Cont. from Page 1
of grading that truly communicates to
students what they know in terms of
standards and skills. What they actually know doesn’t take into account
factors such as effort, behavior or
attitude; while those things are important, they have nothing to do with
their knowledge of a standard or skill.
To accomplish this shift we need to
communicate with students both
what they have learned (the product)
with how they are learning it (the process). And, the product needs to be a
large majority of what makes up their
final grade. This helps ensure that
the grade truly reflects their knowledge and isn’t padded with process
pieces that don’t represent learning.
By separating process and product, and then placing a heavy emphasis on the product, one might believe
we don’t value the accountability part
of grading. This simply isn’t true.
Character skills such as responsibility and accountability are extremely
important. In fact, we know through
our communication with parents and
community these character traits do
matter greatly. Character building
must continue to be part of our system by being taught, reinforced and
celebrated. We can do all that and
still communicate to students clearly
what they know. We can and should
be doing both.
Where we should be focusing our
accountability efforts is towards the
learning. By holding students accountable to the learning we work
towards setting up a system that
doesn’t tolerate failure. After all,
if students fail then we fail. It’s as
simple as that. So, how do we make
students accountable to the learning?
We do it by not letting them opt out.
We do it by providing them with multiple opportunities to show what they
know. We do it by understanding that
not all kids are going to learn at the
same time and in the same way. We
do it by making the consequence for
not doing the learning…actually doing the learning!
Changing the mind-set about
what we’re ultimately accountable to–
student learning–is another important
piece of the puzzle in making a successful shift in grading. I realize this
is a different way of thinking of things.
It’s another one of those traditional
components of grading that we need
to overcome. In the traditional system, if you didn’t do the learning you
got a “0” or an “F”. What we’re trying
to accomplish is a system where we
provide additional opportunities and
insist that the learning happens. This
doesn’t mean just handing a kid another test if they fail or allowing them
to not take responsibility for doing
work; it means that we provide additional opportunities and support, with
accountability, for students to show
their learning. That’s what we hold
them accountable to because that is
why we exist as a school district…
their learning!
One question that has arisen is,
why now? What was it that led to the
District making these grading shifts
for our students? As everyone knows
who has a student in Selah, we have
a Monday morning late arrival each
week dedicated to collaboration for
student learning, or CSL time as we
call it. Now in its fourth year, CSL time
is a structured opportunity for teachers
to work on 4 essential questions about
student learning. These include:
1. What is it we expect students to
learn?
2. How will we know if students
have learned?
3. How will we respond when students do not learn?
4. How will we respond when students already know it?
The foundational question in this
process is question #1. In this step
the grade levels and/or departments
work together to clearly identify what
it is students should know and be able
to do. They accomplish this by clearly
identifying the standards that will be
learned for each grade, subject and
class. This process helps ensure that
students are learning the same essential content no matter what grade
level or subject they are in. This creates consistency for students and allows teachers to use student results of
these standards to help make decisions about future learning by working together. Questions 2 through 4
address that part of the process.
When teachers spend time talking about specific standards and
skills that students are learning, it is
a natural next step to want to report
to students and parents in a way that
communicates this learning clearly.
This is difficult in a traditional system
since all skills are typically lumped together to give a numeric grade. For
example, in a traditional system a
student may be given a test that has
20 questions about their learning. If
a student receives 17 correct out of
20 then that would likely be translated
into a percentage (85%) and grade
(B). That’s what we’re used to. In
the system we are working to create the student receives test results
that provide feedback by standard or
skill so that they know clearly what
they mastered and what they didn’t.
Again, teachers will then be able to
use this accurate information to collaborate with colleagues on ideas
for helping students who didn’t learn
specific standards or provide enrichment opportunities for students who
clearly master standards.
This specific reporting by standard, coupled with students having
multiple opportunities to show their
learning, are the heart of what we are
trying to accomplish with our shifts in
grading. Again, several factors make
this a difficult task. It’s tough to overcome years of tradition and change
peoples’ thinking about the grading
process. However, research is clear,
if we do so we will see large gains in
learning for both students who struggle and for those who excel.
As I mentioned at the beginning
of this column, I know making these
shifts has been a challenging transition for some students, parents and
even staff. As leaders we’ve learned
lessons along the way and gained insight on how we can improve. This is
where we will focus our efforts. Despite the bumps in the road, we know
this is the right thing to do for students. We will persevere and work
harder than ever to get this right.