GREENWOOD MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES

By Noah Werner, director of instruction/CTE (career and technical education) coordinator Greenwood families, I hope you are enjoying the mild winter weather and getting an opportunity to enjoy some of the great outdoor winter activities that Wisconsin has to offer. We have been busy the past few months at Greenwood Middle/High School. Winter sports are preparing for playoff competition, students are learning and growing as individuals in their classrooms, and our club members are actively engaged in activities that connect them with other students and staff across the state. The following are some updates and some highlights of the happenings at Greenwood Middle/High School.

Academic and career planning Course scheduling for all eighth-11th grade students for the 2024-2025 school year has started. High school students have been busy during their academic and career planning (ACP) time reviewing the course handbook, evaluating academic and career goals, and meeting with teachers/advisors to help select courses for the upcoming school year. Eighth grade students are working in their careers course with Mrs. Jaenke to create a four-year plan that aids them in mapping their high school course selections. We encourage our students to share their academic and career goals with their family and friends; being an active part of your student’s class choices is essential to overall student success.

On Feb. 21, Greenwood High School will host the Regional Youth Apprenticeship Interview Day sponsored by CESA 10. On this day, students who are interested in interviewing for a youth apprenticeship position will have an opportunity to interact with multiple companies in student-selected career _ields.

On April 10, all of our juniors will participate in our mock interview event. Mock interviews are a great opportunity for all of our students to experience an interview and prepare themselves for life after high school. The School District of Greenwood is thankful to those companies for supporting our students in their education.

CTE Month at Greenwood Middle/High School Happy CTE Month! Throughout this month, we have been celebrating CTE Month in various ways. Our students have participated in special activities, projects, and events that highlight the importance of CTE.

CTE stands for career and technical education; CTE directly prepares students for high-wage, highskill and high-demand careers. The School District of Greenwood is proud to support career and technical education, providing courses in agriculture education, business education, family and consumer sciences, and technology education. These courses provide students with valuable hands-on experiences and practical skills that will bene_it them in their future careers.

Wondering how CTE helps students? Let's spotlight some of the jobs and careers that our Greenwood Alumni currently hold, thanks to their experiences in Greenwood’s CTE courses.

Agriculture education Forester - Drop Tine Forestry and Wildlife, Clark Co. Forestry Dept.

Landscape Designer - Ayres Associates Agronomist - Vita Plus Dairy Nutritionist - Northside Elevator Environmental Health Specialist - Clark County Health Department Garden Center Associate - Schalow’s Nursery Inc.

Business education Talent Contact Center Supervisor - Kwik Trip Inc.

IS Financial Developer - Menards Business Development Manager - Direct Supply Account Executive - Verkada Project Manager - Associated Appraisal Consultants Personal Finance Major - University of Wisconsin-Madison Family and consumer sciences Physical Education Teacher - Owen - Withee School District Elementary Education Teacher - Colby School District, Spencer School District Speech Pathologist - Marsh_ield School District, West Salem School District Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher - School District of Nekoosa Special Education Teacher - Thorp School District Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Gundersen Health System Technology education Mechanical Designer - I-State Truck Center Welder - A& B Process Systems Electrical Lineman - Clark Electric Co-op, WE Energies Mechanical Engineering Major - Milwaukee School of Engineering Industrial Engineering Major - University of Wisconsin-Madison Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Major University of Wisconsin-Stout Plumber - Suda Plumbing Automotive Technician - Dahl Automotive HRS update The School District of Greenwood is continuing its work to become a High-Reliability School (HRS). High-Reliability Schools use the research-based work of Dr. Robert Marzano as a framework for district and school improvement. This school year the School District of Greenwood is focused on creating a safe and collaborative culture in our school buildings. A survey regarding this was sent out this fall; those results still are available on our school website.

The staff at both Greenwood Middle/High and Elementary are working together to maintain and improve our school culture. We thank all of those who contributed to the survey; your feedback allows us to grow as a district. A team of teachers and administrators have been working on providing evidence to prove that we meet each of the leading indicators of a High-Reliability School. That team along with all school staff created lagging indicators that prove we meet the leading indicators. Examples include a decision matrix for teachers and administration, a tool for reporting bullying, and a dedicated time for all teachers to collaborate and re_lect on their teaching.

Testing season Standardized testing season is coming up! This is an important time for our students to show what they know. While this can be a stressful time for students and staff, we encourage every student to do their best. The tips below can aid in relieving test stress and best prepare our students to perform well.

1. Sleep! Research shows that being well-rested helps students do better.

2. Eat! A good healthy breakfast the morning of the test helps students concentrate. A reminder that all Greenwood students have a free breakfast choice offered each morning!

3. Hydrate! The brain needs water to perform! 4. Stay in a routine – Keep routines as normal as possible, changes in daily routine can add stress to the day.

5. Be positive about the test! Tests are designed to challenge everyone, and doing the best is what matters most.

Important testing dates!

NAEP Testing: Grade 8 – March 7 ACT with Writing: Grade 11 – March 12 WI Forward Exam: Grades 3, 8, and 10 – March 18 through April 26* PreACT Secure: Grades 9-10 – March 18 through April 26* *More speci_ic dates and times will be shared with grade levels and families as the dates come closer.

Thank you to all of our students, teachers, families and community members who make the School District of Greenwood a great place for our students. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to contact me!