Fairfield High is leading the pack and forging new ground. At our second round IPR meeting last week we discussed many things. A theme that continued to come up no matter what we were talking about was the integration of technology at FHS. It is clear that we have a "critical mass" in terms of EdTech @FHS. To date we have sent 33 teachers to attend a GAFE, Google Apps for Education, Summit. The outcome of the summits have been plentiful: two different Tech Slams at staff meetings, Twitter challenges for both teachers and students, 95%+ implementation of Google Classroom, and many colleague to colleague how to's and collaborative discussions on how to change the face of instruction.
What we are seeing at FHS doesn't happen everywhere. It is happening here because the teachers truly believe in adapting and delivering instruction in such a way that is engaging, creative, and stimulating for students. It is happening here because teachers feel safe to take risks and try new things.
We are now embarking on new ground. Yesterday more than half of the 9th grade class received their 1:1 personal Chromebook. By Thursday of this week every single 9th grader on our campus will have his/her own Chromebook to use at school and at home. As a site we will continue to work together collaboratively to ensure that the instruction that is delivered follows the SAMR model. We want to ensure that the Ed Tech integration is not just Substitution or Augmentation, but that it is Modifying curriculum/delivery and ultimately Redefining how the material is delivered/taught.
As Falcons we are not afraid to lead the pack and forge new ground. We embrace new ideas and accept the challenges that are placed in front of us. We are determined to ensure success for ALL of our students. I am truly proud to be a FALCON!!
Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!!
These two weeks away from work have been an amazing two weeks for me. It has allowed me to concentrate on my family, enabled me to recharge, and hit my personal reset button for the second half of the school year. I am truly excited about what 2016 has to offer!
So many people make New Year resolutions. Some are able to make them come to fruition while others try but struggle to stick to their lofty ideas of radical change. What if we think of the new year as a Fresh Start instead? Just like we start out the school year in August charged and pumped about great lesson ideas we want to try, we can do the same for the New Year and the new semester. Both students and teachers have been away from the "daily grind" for over two weeks now and are ready for some mental stimulation.
Let's embark on the New Year of 2016 with as much gusto as we can. Continue to stretch yourself and your students to new heights. Make your lessons relevant for your students so that they are engaged and taking away with them skills and strategies that will set them apart from their peers in the ever changing job market.
Make your work day FUN!! Remember why you got into education. You didn't get your teaching credential so that you could give students tests. Nope, you spent time earning your highly respected teaching credential so that you could be in front of young minds on a daily basis sparking their creativity and excitement for learning new things.
If you haven't yet hit your own personal restart button, DO IT NOW!! This is 2016: a New Year, a Fresh Start, and a time of endless possibilities......
Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!!
Over the past few months there has definitely been a theme at the conferences I've attended and in the reading I have done. Many educators are continuing to encourage others to rethink what school looks like. I feel that we are joining that conversation and beginning to rethink our own approaches. We have embarked on the XQ Super School redesign project at FHS, the district is working on its Facilities Master Plan Project, and students are asking, "What if...."
We all know that we can't predict what the jobs of 2030 will look like, but we do know that we are preparing our students today for those jobs of tomorrow. With quite a bit of certainty we can say that there will be many jobs that require computer skills. We know that jobs will require collaboration and team work. Many jobs will require individuals to problem solve and work with others from across the world, no longer just on the other side of the cubicle. Employers will be looking for individuals that are dependable, positive, prepared, unique, and able to network.
Ask yourself this one question, Is your classroom environment preparing students to be successful for their future career? If the answer is yes, great job keep it going. If the answer is no, take some time to rethink how you could approach things differently. What opportunities could you design for collaborative team work? What opportunities could you design for public speaking? What opportunities could you design to network with other classes, members of industry, or someone in another country?
Here is one way to make an immediate impact on your classroom. We all know that this week is Computer Science Education Week and there is a great opportunity to incorporate computer science into your classroom. I will make the pitch one more time for EVERYONE to participate in The Hour of Code!!! Find at least one hour this week for you and your students to complete a tutorial. Certificates of completion and stickers are already in your boxes. Log into the tutorial page at: https://code.org/learn.Here is a link to a video that shows what students and staff did last year for the Hour of Code: https://youtu.be/773-gSLEcw8Tweet using hashtags #codeFSUSD and #HourofCode
Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!!
The week before Thanksgiving break, I had an unbelievable experience. I was coming back to my office from a meeting off site and there was a young lady in her twenties in the waiting area. As I approached my door she said, "Mrs. Witt do you have a few minutes to talk?" I looked at her and recognized her face but was not sure of her name or how I knew her. I told her, "Absolutely, come on in."
As soon as we walked into my office she said to me, "Do you remember me?" I told her that I remembered her face, but that I couldn't remember her name. She reminded me she was Antoinette and had been a student in my sixth grade class twelve years ago. I instantly remembered who she was. I told her it was so great she was here and asked her how she was doing.
Antoinette proceeded to tell me that she had been living in Louisiana for the last seven years and just recently returned to California. She said she had a purpose for the visit, she had to tell me something. She went on to explain that she had majored in Political Science in college and that she had to write a paper recently explaining why she chose the path in college that she did. She said that as she was writing her paper she connected her decision all the way back to sixth grade. She actually said to me, "Mrs. Witt it is because of you and the debates you had us do in class that I knew I wanted to be an attorney. I wanted you to know that it is because of you." She even remembered the topic of the debate we had in class. I can't even begin to explain the emotions I was feeling at that time. Goose bumps ran up and down my arms. It was such a great feeling to have her come back after all these years to reconnect and to let me know that her decision to follow a career path had to do with something we had done in class.
If she had never come and shared her story I would have never known what impact our sixth grade class had on her. She was a great way to end the week and go into the Thanksgiving break.
I am thankful for so many different things in my life right now. I am thankful for all the students that I have been able to teach. I am thankful for all the teachers and staff members that I have been able to work with over the last eighteen years. I am thankful for the opportunity to continue to work in education and help students every day. I am thankful for my family and friends. I am thankful to be here today taking one more step towards being the change I want to see in the world.
Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!!
Our staff and students are Being the Change They Want to See in the World!! Thursday was a highlight of the year when we hosted the First Annual Special Olympics Soccer Event!! There were over 500 students participating, staff from across the District, volunteers from ASB, AFJROTC, and donations by FHS staff and community members. The event was in partnership with Special Olympics and Unified Sports. It was such an amazing day that FHS has committed to hosting this on a yearly basis and expanding to more people. The event would not have been possible without adaptive PE teachers Matt Miller and Alex Aragon!!! Below is a video compilation of the event.
Our Super School Design Team met again on Wednesday and the meeting was AMAZING!! We had more students join us for the conversation. It was so encouraging to see our students taking an active role in FHS and sharing their ideas to make it even better for the years to come. We have submitted our preliminary proposal to the XQ group. Several students at the meeting kept emphasizing the importance for students to give back and do more in the community.
Friday afternoon we saw another 1st for FHS and surrounding schools. Our Key Club under the leadership of Peter Gelpke organized a dodge ball tournament. We had several student teams from FHS, a staff team from FHS, AND.... student teams from Vanden, Armijo, Rodrgiguez, and American Canyon participating. This event had a similar feel to our AAG competitions. It brought people together for light competition all in the name of a good cause, raising money for Pediatric Trauma. Here is a short video of the tournament.
Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!!
A little over a week ago I sent out an email to staff and students informing everyone about a Redesigning High School Challenge. I was looking for people interested in joining the effort. I was beyond ecstatic to see how many staff and students were interested in taking on the challenge. We now have a team composed of 21 people and 8 of those are students.
We held our first meeting on Wednesday to talk about the positives and negatives of Fairfield High as it is, and what our school could potentially look like if we redesigned it. The central theme that came up from both staff and students alike was that the school needs to be designed around student interests. Listening to the students explain what they want to get out of their high school education was enlightening. The students want relevance, they want purpose, and they want skills that will help them be successful after high school in the paths they choose to take. The students also shared that part of the success of Band and ROTC are that they are composed of like minded individuals all working together towards a common goal.
The team has drafted a concept name for our redesign, "Fairfield High School Discovery Academy," and an idea that will be at the center of this proposed redesign: "A school designed around vibrant participation in a student interest themed environment. We will empower our students to access pathways through exploration of different fields. This access and exploration will allow our students to engage in learning that will prepare them for a life of learning and career opportunities." We have the opportunity to win $10 million to make this proposed plan a reality. Want to share ideas or join the team? Our next meeting is this Tuesday at lunch! Please let me know if you want to join or share your ideas!
Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!!
What is a Super Hero? According to Wikipedia, a Super Hero is "A heroic character possessing extraordinary talents, supernatural phenomena, or superhuman powers and is dedicated to a moral goal or protecting the public."
We are very fortunate to have many Super Heroes among us at Fairfield High!! These are individuals that do everything in their power to make sure students are safe, happy, and successful. They don't let anyone or anything get in their way and are able to overcome many obstacles to ensure a student is taken care of!! These are true Super Heroes and individuals that need to be publicly recognized! Here are just a few of our FHS Super Heroes.
Dale Horton: Dale lent his car and his time to the FSUSD Trunk or Treat event on Thursday night. Then, as if Dale hadn't done enough. He went above and beyond his call of duty when he met with Liz Teresi at the home of one of his students.
The visit extended past Dale's contracted work day and without hesitation he continued to review the student's IEP in an extremely patient and parent friendly manner. The student's father and step-mother appeared extremely appreciative and excited about the goals and resources explained during the meeting.
Dale's service to our families is an excellent example of Gold Standard Customer Service and exhibits the qualities of a true Super Hero!
Elizabeth "Ellie" Velazquez:
Ellie was called into my office on Friday to help translate. The topic that Ellie had to translate was for a very emotionally charged situation. Ellie maintained complete and total composure and professionalism throughout. Later in the day, after her work hours, Ellie once again was found translating for a parent that was going through a very difficult emotional situation. Ellie not only translated for the mom but afterwards sat one on one with her ensuring that she was okay. Ellie was a true hero on Friday in both situations. It was because of her that both parents were able to understand and deal with a difficult situation, and leave knowing they were heard and understood, because of her language skills and her human compassion. Ellie is a Super Hero!
Val Quijas: In the words of James Macariola, "Val, you are the bomb! You had a long day already with leadership at 7:00 AM, teaching all day and dressed like a zombie, blood drive, sports rush at lunch, flash mob, and still found time to decorate for FHS at the mall? Someone get her some oxygen and a pay raise." This is NORMAL for Val Quijas! Val is a Super Hero to everyone at FHS!
Kelly Briggs: A one woman machine that managed to transform FHS into a Zombie Apocalypse on Friday!! Kelly started the movement and succeeded in getting a majority of staff members to come to school dressed as zombies and participate in a Flashmob at lunch! Kelly isn't afraid to take risks and have fun all in the spirit of THE STUDENTS COME FIRST!!! Kelly is a Super Hero!
CHECK OUT THE FLASH MOB!!
Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!!
