Wakefield High School PTA
Meeting 1/13/2014
Wakefield High School, Room A134
Minutes
In Attendance: Kate McCauley, Tara Cassidy, Liz Lichter, Sonia Quiñónez, Lydia Robertson, Amy Jones,
Kay Tiernan, Carole Gates, Kate VanSlyck, Mahender Dudani, Deidre Grant, Susan Scott, Maria Abarca,
Nancy Brown, Felichia Ward, Alicia Guajardo, Mike Jackson, Dan Harris, Theresa Schweser, Tiera
Bonnefond
Kate McCauley called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. All present introduced themselves by name,
child’s name & grade, and their goal for their child this year.
Minutes from the November meeting were approved with no edits. Kate explained there would be no
speaker at this meeting.
Principal's Report ~ Dr. Willmore
 There were some 160 projects in the Science Fair held this past weekend. 25 individuals and 1
team of 3 will advance to the regional competition. The judges were very pleased with the
experience and with the students. They appreciated the refreshments provided by the PTA.
o Teacher Dan Harris shared that the science fair projects were once again mandatory for
students in intensified science classes this year (having experimented with not having
that requirement last year). The staff also found ways to make it easier this year. On
reflection, Mr. Harris suggested that teachers want to guide students in the future to
limit themselves to projects they can do with equipment we have at Wakefield. This will
reduce barriers and frustrations faced by kids who plan to use other resources that then
don’t materialize or work as expected.
o Theresa reported that the PTA traditionally provides breakfast for the judges plus water
and snacks for all. Many volunteers helped this year (Thank you!) and we will do the
same for the Tech Expo in the spring.
 Aidan was selected for District Band and several Wakefield students are competing for
Governor’s School.
 Counselors are currently meeting with students to plan courses for next year:
o Look for the form to sign to come home in the coming weeks.
o They are challenging students to take at least one stretch course.
o Wakefield expects to offer an American Sign Language class next year. Eventually the
goal is to offer ASL-I, II and III, which can count toward the Foreign Language
requirement for the Advanced Diploma.
o Also new next year, Dr. Willmore expects to be able to offer intensified 9th grade Biology
in Spanish for immersion students and the Personal Finance course in Spanish. Both of
the offerings help move toward Wakefield’s long-held desire to strengthen the high
school bilingual dual-immersion program. Eighth graders are deciding on high school
selections this Friday. Dr. Willmore will send a message to the Gunston listserv about
these new offerings.
o Current 9th and 10th graders are also now required to take at least one online course to
graduate. Wakefield will offer an online personal finance course and maybe SAT prep in
the future to help students meet this requirement.
 The Superintendent and School Board have had discussions about the possibility of offering an
International Baccalaureate program at Wakefield. Dr. Willmore expressed that he is neither for
nor against the idea but that any new program would have to serve all students – not be a
school within a school. Some models train all teachers in a philosophy whether that is IB
Wakefield High School PTA
1/13/2014 Minutes, p. 2
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approach or another. They are also looking at the Cambridge Program (from England). A few
schools in Prince William have adopted this approach. Some schools have a default curriculum in
9th & 10th grade while offering AP options in 11th and 12th. Teacher workgroups are now
gathering within Wakefield to explore both models and identify their pros and cons. Some see
offering a program like this as a solution to expected high school overcrowding in future years
but the Superintendent and Dr. Willmore agree that they will only proceed if the plan would
benefit Wakefield. We are seeking a pervasive instructional strategy model that would provide
common, shared instructional language and methodology that permeates all classes at all levels.
Nothing will be decided on this year, but a proposal may be presented about this time next year
for implementation in fall of 2015.
A bell schedule was created prior to getting into the new building last fall. Based on experience
during first semester, staff now plans to modify the bell schedule as of the start of the new
semester (January 22), extending the transitional break between classes from 5 to 6 minutes
and lunch from 30 to 35 minutes, by reducing each period slightly and taking a bit more from
the Warriors period.
The 300 students at Wakefield who are currently in or recently exited the HILT program will be
taking the WIDA test which is required by state law until they reach a minimum score regardless
of whether the student is still receiving HILT services.
Arlington is participating in the OECD test for the international PISA assessment. It will be
offered to 85 15-year olds at random in late February or March. It is a 3.5 hour test;
participating students will be excused from class and paid $30 for their participation. A selected
student can choose to opt out and then the next student on the list would be offered that
opportunity instead. Kate will send a video over the listserv that explains more about the PISA
tests.
Parents asked Dr. Willmore for feedback on the experiment this year with having a Warriors
Period. Dr. Willmore reported that his sense is that seniors have not “bought into” the idea; on
the other hand, when he points out how they have used it, they tend to agree it was helpful.
Admittedly, others are not taking full advantage of the opportunities Warriors period provides
to meet with a teacher, make up work, etc. He plans to conduct surveys of staff and select
student groups to collect data that could help staff modify Warriors Period for next year.
Different teachers have taken different approaches to the Warriors Period and no one
expectation has been set. Instead, we are encouraging innovation and then will evaluate what
seems to work well. Some form of Warriors Period will be incorporated in the schedule next
year but it may look different as we incorporate the feedback gathered this year.
Dr. Willmore passed out the January and February calendars:
o January 17 is the end of the 2nd marking period
o The school play, Rebel Without a Cause, will be presented Saturday, Jan 18th, Friday, Jan
24th and Saturday, Jan 25th. There is no matinee; all performances begin at 7pm.
o January 21st is a teacher work day with no student attendance.
o February 7th is an Early Release day at 12:34
o Saturday, February 8th is the televised presentation of It’s Academic at 10am on Channel
4. Wakefield has a young but vivacious team this year.
o There is an 8pm Winter Dance sponsored by the Junior class scheduled to take place Jan
8th in the cafeteria. Stay tuned to see whether those plans evolve to fruition.
Wakefield High School PTA
1/13/2014 Minutes, p. 3
Treasurer’s Report ~ Liz Lichter
 Liz provided a treasurer’s report on the PTA budget implementation and no questions were
posed.
ACI Committee Report ~ Nancy Brown and Maria Abarca, Wakefield Representatives
 Nancy explained the purpose and structure of the Advisory Council on Instruction (ACI) and
distributed a hand-out summarizing recommendations proposed to date this year by the
recommending committee reports. Many are focusing on tangible strategies to address
achievement gaps in Arlington.
 Nancy’s summary is appended to these minutes. Parents were particularly encouraged to click
on the link in the academic planning section of Pupil Services (B). Susan noted that the new
methodology proposed by the special education committee has strong support from both
parents and teachers.
 In the next step, all ACI members will rank their top 10 of the recommendations, which should
be public later this spring. More information is available on the ACI webpage.
Teacher Grants ~ Tara Cassidy, Vice President
 The committee worked closely with boosters and principal Willmore and were successfully able
to fund almost all of the requests and found ways to move forward on the others:
Proposal
Classroom Library
Tech Expo
Hire Professional
Musicians
Incentives for Alg 1
pt.2
Math XL for School
Scholastic Magazine
(Spanish/French)
French Short Novels
ELL Bilingual
dictionaries
Digital Players
VA Science
Olympead Team
Language Support
for HILT-EX
Students
Model UN
Materials to help
promote college and
career readiness
Books for the
NOVA Teen Book
Festival in March.
Red Cross
Wakefield High School Teacher Proposal Docket 2013-2014
Applicant
Department
PTA/Booster
Funding
Notes
Jack Lane
Wendy Maitland
Gene Pohl
HILT/Social Studies
Gifted Services
Music
$500.00 PTA Fully Fund
$500.00 PTA Fullt Fund
PTA Fully Fund
$200.00
Laurell Wiersma &
John Palmer
Mercedes Huffman
Zoralis Gonzalez
Math & Spec Ed
Math
World Languages
$500.00 PTA Fully Fund
PTA Fully Fund
$482.79
Kathryn Wheelock
Leslie Norber
World Languages
Social Studies
$500.00 PTA Fully Fund
PTA Fully Fund
$180.70
Leslie Norber
Mike Megargee
Social Studies
Science
$224.54 PTA Fully Fund
Boosters Fully Fund
$215.00
Michelle CottrellWilliams
Social Studies
$80.00
PTA Fully Fund
PTA Fully Fund
$182.70
Denis Babichenko & Social Studies
Lisa Labella
John Clisham
Counseling
$500.00
Boosters Fully Fund
Boosters Fully Fund
$500.00
Gina Glassman
Library
PTA Fully Fund
$500.00
Miss Gaither
Red Cross
PTA Sub Total
Booster Sub Total
Grand Total
$500.00 Boosters Fully Fund
$3,850.73
$1,715.00
$5,565.73
Wakefield High School PTA
1/13/2014 Minutes, p. 4
President's Report ~ Kate McCauley
 Kate recently attended the CCPTA meeting (which often conflicts with Wakefield’s PTA meeting
time):
o Kate brought and distributed a fact sheet/infographic which was distributed there
entitled APS Economic Value report. A more complete presentation of this study can be
found online at
https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.apsva.us/cms/lib2/VA01000586/Centricity
/Domain/99/APS%2520Economic%2520Impact%2520Study%2520%2520PowerPoint.pdf&sa=U&ei=RXfgUuLtFrLFsASPqoD4AQ&ved=0CAYQFjAB&client=in
ternal-uds-cse&usg=AFQjCNEsWLrUOMcAzGmbbqyb48cS9nU8Bw.
o The Capital Improvement Process is also under discussion. Relocatables (aka trailers) are
likely a permanent option. Stakeholders are being surveyed (surveys are due Jan 17th)
and more data is available for review online by searching “More Seats for More
Students” on the www.apsva.us website. Several community presentations are planned.
Several South Arlington community groups are questioning the projections that may not
be taking into accurate account the increasing populations of apartment-based families
in South Arlington communities. One proposal floated recommends a K-8 Montessori
school be located on the current Kenmore campus to address both elementary and
middle school crowding expected in future years in the southern part of the county.
 Anna won Reflections. More submissions could be generated if a parent would volunteer to
coordinate promotions next year.
 3 of the 5 decal finalists were Wakefield students! The winner will be announced at the next
County Board meeting.
 The Holiday Breakfast was a big success – lots of food, lots of volunteers. The new cafeteria
doesn’t provide a private space to hold the staff breakfast separate from student breakfasts so it
was held in room A134.
Committee Reports
 Transportation: A Safe Routes to Schools Committee is being formed at Wakefield. Studies show
that schools with a SRtS committee result in increased walkership to school. Betty Saunders will
lead the WHS committee and is looking for members. This is part of an overall APS initiative.
 Holiday Bazaar: Susan Scott reported that the Holiday Bazaar run by CPRO was very busy. They
sold out of poinsettias. The orchestra and choir performed. Better signage is needed next year,
but other clubs could raise funds by selling something at a booth at next year’s Bazaar.
 Boosters: Tiera Bonnefond, Boosters President, reported that the Boosters inaugurated the new
indoor concession stands at the recent basketball games. Power needs flipped fuses during first
use but upgraded electrical wiring has now been addressed. Jan 30th is a wrestling and dive
meet. Jan 31st and Feb 1st is a Friday/Saturday swimming District Meet from 6-10pm (with Friday
being busier than Saturday). The PTA will take on running the concession stand at the meet
since Tiera and Gretchen both have children competing in the meet. Maria, Kate, Carole and Liz
offered to help and will request other volunteers via the listserv. Maria will coordinate. Tiera
also announced that new spirit wear is now on sale, including new sweatshirts, baby onesies,
and long-sleeve t-shirts.
There being no other new business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 pm.
Advisory Council on Instruction (ACI) Summary
1. What is ACI?
- “The Advisory Council on Instruction (ACI) is made up of representatives from each
school and certain community organizations to assist in reviewing the system-wide
curriculum and instructional program and in developing recommendations for
improvement.”
- Comprised of one representative from each Arlington primary and middle school and
two representatives from each high school.
- All 14 committees report to ACI once each year (7 “Recommending Committees”, 7
“Non-Recommending Committees)
- ACI votes on recommendations at the time of meeting where the committee presents,
then prioritizes all recommendations at end of the year. Aggregated data is forwarded to
School Board in time for the budget discussions.
2. Recommending Committee Reports to Date:
A. Arts
(1) Ensure that joint-use facilities are accessible for instruction
25 Yes/0 No/0 Ab
(2) Establish line item funding ($11.10/student) for Visual Arts supplies throughout all
secondary schools
23 Yes/1 No/1 Ab
(3) Provide funding for accompanists for all school productions
15 Yes/5 No/5 Ab
B. Pupil Services
(1) Make academic planning information on APS websites prominent and consistent
in content
**http://www.apsva.us/cms/lib2/VA01000586/Centricity/Domain/102/AcademicPlannin
g-Poster.pdf (APS website, search “academic planning”)
24 Yes/0 No/2 Ab
(2) Evaluate (improve as necessary) methods of communicating college, career,
academic planning; develop APS website tutorial
21 Yes/0 No/4 Ab
(3) Improve collaboration/communication between schools/parents 23 Yes/0 No/3 Ab
C. Special Education
(1) Implement 5-year plan to deploy Arlington Tiered System of Supports (ATSS)
throughout APS schools. Mirrors statewide initiative; expands current Intervention
Assistance Teams (IAT); anticipated to address educational outcomes for students with
disabilities, minority students, English language learners (ELLs). Budgeted at $350,000500,000.
22 Yes/0 No/4 Ab
D. Science
(1) Implement the Science portion of Interactive Achievement Formative Assessment
for grades 2-5 whose science SOL pass rates are <70%
22 Yes/1 No/3 Ab
(2) Develop instructional pacing guides for teachers linking assessment results with
current texts
24 Yes/1 No/1 Ab
(3) Foster integration across disciplines by linking pacing guides with language arts
instruction
24 Yes/0 No/2 Ab
(4) Re-establish Science Computer Fund (separate line item in APS budget) to provide
6 laptops/secondary school science classroom and establish 3-yr replacement cycle
22 Yes/2 No/2 Ab
E. English and Language Arts (ELA)
(1) Adopt ATSS model (see Special Ed)
21 Yes/1 No/6 Ab
(2) Research best practices in/out of APS in improving reading, writing proficiency
(especially in addressing achievement gap)
25 Yes/o No/3 Ab
(3) Develop short/long-term strategies to make better use of time outside traditional
school day (before/after school, summer) to target/support students not reading/writing at
grade level
24 Yes/1 No/3 Ab
(4) Hire additional ELA staff to implement recommendations
18 Yes/1 No/9 Ab
F. Social Studies
(1) All teachers in Grades 3-5 (90 teachers) receive training in the “History Alive!”
teaching strategies by the end of the 2015-16 school year.
25 Yes/0 No/0 Ab
(2A) Performance Assessment Tests (PATs) should be developed for 3rd grade by
start of 2014-15 year
(2B) School Board should require PATs for 3rd grade if state suspends/eliminates 3rd
grade Social Studies SOL
25 Yes/0 No/0 Ab
G. Mathematics
(1) Gather information and study “Flipped Classroom” approach at secondary-level
and assess its impact on learning. Flipped classroom involves viewing the lesson as
homework and devoting class time to working through problems while teacher is
available for questions, assistance.
21 Yes/2 No/3 Ab
(2) Ensure full-time Math Coach in every APS elementary school 22 Yes/1 No/3 Ab
(3) Continue to devote more time to Mathematics instruction in middle schools
25 Yes/0 No/1 Ab
3. Non-Recommending Committees
A. Career, Technical, Adult Education (CTAE), Early Childhood
January 22
B. ESOL/HILT, Family/Consumer Sciences (FACS)
February 12
C. Gifted Services, Health/PE
March 12
D. World Languages
April 9