WVUSD: 2016 / 2017 Year-End Results
Develop the Whole Child
The Diamond Bar High School Wellness Center is in its second year of service. The students and teachers continue to collect data on the number of visits and additional referrals. A presentation was made at the California School Boards Association( CSBA) Annual Education Conference in December 2016. The Walnut High School Peer Counseling group was recognized by the Walnut City Council for their continued success in supporting students in need of help. At the elementary level, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports( PBIS) completed its fourth year of implementation in WVUSD. Training and collaboration across elementary schools has supported the success of this program. Other character education programs, such as Character Counts and Project Wisdom, have continued at school sites.
The Diversity Think Tank( DTT) has continued for its second year. The DTT Team has embraced the work of Dr. Anthony Muhammad as they read his book,“ Overcoming the Achievement Gap Trap: Liberating Mindsets to Effect Change.” The group has taken a deeper look at discovering factors that impact achievement inequality, the importance of mindset and frameworks as they relate to the achievement gap, and review processes that other schools have taken to close the achievement gap. The group will continue to focus on the indicators that help assess the values of responsibility, advocacy, and equality; and will look at diagnostic surveys and rubrics for the purpose of assessment and decision making.
The Arts for All strategic plan allowed for WVUSD to hire two District lead teachers to provide support for all Districtwide Visual and Performing Arts( VAPA) teachers. WVUSD is working alongside the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. Teachers are collaborating on best practices and being introduced to all elementary schools with Technology Enhanced Arts Learning( TEAL).
Schools continue to hold assemblies and activities for students focused on character, antibullying, and social development. Examples include the Cougar Challenge, IMAGINE, Panther Camp, Dee Hanks Motivation Assembly, I THINK BIG, and Jeff Eben’ s“ How Many Wins Have You Had?” Each elementary school is provided funding to host assemblies throughout the year that support character education, bullying prevention, and positive behavior.
The Social and Emotional Learning( SEL) Task Force encompasses staff, community members, and administrators from a diverse group within the District to address needs and to focus on future steps for WVUSD. SEL is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. The Task Force recognizes the importance of helping all students through their challenges and stressors by acknowledging and regulating their emotions. Nine members of the Task Force visited Brentwood School( K- 12) to observe the research done by Yale University based on an initiative called,“ RULER”( Recognizing emotions in self and others, Understanding the causes and consequences of emotions, Labeling emotions accurately, Expressing emotions appropriately, and Regulating emotions effectively) as one way to provide continuity for our District.
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