Mr. Winkle Wakes

The 2010-2011 school year is off and running! In our classrooms, around our school and beyond the school day there are many exciting, engaging and positive things happening. As most principal's would do, I typically use this forum to highlight several of these for you, the parent reader. Instead, I'd ask you to join me in examining our school from a historical perspective…

At a recent training a YouTube video entitled "Mr. Winkle Wakes" was mentioned. If you're interested you can view it here. The idea is that Mr. Winkle awakes from a 100-year slumber. He ventures out into the world and sees businesses using videoconferencing tools and other technology that leaves him feeling confused and out of sorts. Mr. Winkle heads to a hospital. There he sees "machines keeping people alive…lasers… X-Rays.". His anxiety rises as he travels through an increasingly foreign feeling land. He heads to a school - and finds relief. He is comforted in seeing the setting for education being "just as Mr. Winkle remembered it" 100 years ago…

This left me thinking about how much "we" (education as a whole, and our school specifically) have advanced in the past century. It is difficult to argue with parts of this idea. Schools are housed in similar physical structures, our calendar is "agrarian" (three summer months off to complement the cycle of farming) and bells largely govern our 7:30-2:30 schedule.

However, if my grandfather were to enter our school I know that he would be amazed by much of what he would see. This isn't to say that our evolution and growth is completed: we always have work to do. But, I would encourage you to look closely at our school through the lens of "Mr. Winkle". Consider your experience as a learner compared to the adventures of our present middle schoolers. Some of the most powerful differences are "behind the scenes." Extensive teacher collaboration, curricula focused on deeper learning, assessments driving individualized instruction, the infusion of technology, partnerships with the community and outside organizations… *

We are fortunate to have great community and family support. Our staff is very thankful for the super attendance we've had at our Open Houses and Parent Night. Your partnership is one thing that makes us great. If "Mr. Winkle" has you wondering about what really is different at our school I would welcome you to join us in learning more! Parent Teacher Conferences are right around the corner and our doors are open to you. Feel free to stop in, call, e-mail and learn more about our school and the opportunities we provide together.