The Power of Small July 2004 - Windward High School opened in February 2004, after a planning process that included community involvement, and the school continues to work to build sustainable connections with family and community.
Windward's program is tailored around students' interests. Staff has reached out to students and made personal invitations to events or programs because they know them better. This has helped to engage students who aren't active "joiners" but who, with individual contact, become involved. Their community coordinator was able to speak with students individually about their summer plans, and offer volunteer opportunities in the community that would match up with their interests and schedule. This engaged students who hadn't considered volunteering and wouldn't have responded to flyers inviting them to a meeting to discuss it.
Windward has made an effort to offer parents a variety of ways to be involved and to honor their different interests and talents. For example, when Windward received a grant to purchase bookshelves for their library, they invited parents and students to a "bookshelf-building party." Several families attended who had not come to previous events because they enjoyed building things, and would not have been interested in coming to the school to attend a traditional parent meeting.
Windward has also incorporated an advisory and a community meeting in to each week. Staff eagerly listen to students' perspectives on how the new school is going and how to improve it further. Teachers are able and willing to spend more time collaborating about curriculum, sharing projects, and looking for ways to integrate. They share spaces and resources. Teachers don't think of "my class" and "my students" as much as they think of "our school" and "our students" and that makes all the difference
Making Community Connections Early April 2004 -- Windward High Tech High in Ferndale just opened its doors at the beginning of February to 72 ninth and tenth graders. But the teachers and staff are already working hard to build sustainable connections with family and community.
At the end of February, Windward parents were invited to a Parent Open House, where they participated in student-led tours (the school is a converted bingo hall/car dealership) talked with teachers, and met other parents.
"This is the students' open house," said Principal Jill Iwasaki, as over a hundred students and parents milled about. "We wanted students to have an opportunity to show off their new school and to tell their parents what happens here."
The student comments included:
"I've heard there will be more kid-directed projects."
"In a big school, I wouldn't have a chance to get involved in things like students government. I'm going to run here."
"The classes aren't necessarily smaller, but they feel smaller because you know everyone."
"There is more one-on-one with teachers here. They will come over and help you figure stuff out."
Parent Michelle Sorenson, whose son Mathew is a sophomore, is pleased with what she's seen at the school. "I know he won't get lost here. By the time he's a senior, the school will only be the size of a class in a regular high school."
"Windward parents want to be involved in a way they haven't been in the past," says Allison Bennett, Windward's Community Coordinator."They aren't interested in selling cookie dough."
She points to the more than 60 parents who recently attended the first Windward Parent Community meeting (also known as the Parent Teacher Organization at other schools). "I hope the parents will connect with one another and support each other in this newness," she adds.
Helping All Students Reach High Standards February 2004 - Windward High School, a new school in Ferndale, opened its doors February 2 and welcomed 78 ninth and tenth grade students. Windward--which means "facing the wind, or a challenge head on"--is one of six rural schools in Washington that are part of the Gates Foundation's Connecting Schools and Community (CSAC) Initiative.
During the first day, Windward students visited the campus of Western Washington University. They broke into small groups to tour the campus, enjoyed lunch at one of the University's cafeterias, and participated in an asset/scavenger hunt. The students reunited to share what they had discovered and to brainstorm what they could do on Windward's campus to add to the school's assets.
"It was agreat first day," said Principal Jill Iwasaki. "Our goal is to prepare all of our students to graduate college ready. Having students spend time on campus, talking with undergraduates and faculty, was an important first step towards helping students begin to think about their future."
Each of the six CSAC schools is based on the San Diego High Tech High design principles of common intellectual mission, adult-world connections, and personalization.
At Windward, students will take core courses, plus Spanish, PE, fine arts, and technology. They will participate in a weekly advisory, plus a community meeting, and demonstrate what they have learned through projects, exhibits, and performances. Students will archive their work in digital portfolios, which parents and community members will be able to view through Windward's website.
Community organizations in each of the six CSAC communities also received grants from the Gates Foundation to foster partnerships between the school and community. "Our priority is to help students develop and explore their passions through mutually beneficial community-based learning opportunities," said Allison Bennett, Windward's Community Coordinator.
