As the final school days of the 2011-2012 roll by, I would like to congratulate this year’s fine senior class. Forever to be known as the Wayne Trace Class of 2012, many fine young men and women are set to bring to an end a very important chapter in their lives, while embarking on what will be some of the most-critical years to come. The next four-five years of their lives may turn out to be some of the most important, if not the most important years of their lives. In today’s work-force environment, it is absolutely critical that men and women acquire the skills and training needed to compete in today’s competitive work-force. Thousands of jobs just in the state of Ohio are currently unfilled due to a lack of properly trained and skilled employees. Many of these jobs center around technology-based programs. Our soon-to-be high school graduates will have the opportunities over the next several years to get the skills and training needed to fill these demanding, and often times high-salary positions. With that said, let’s all do our very best to encourage our young people to pursue higher education and to take this opportunity very seriously. College students who attend class on a regular basis are much more likely to earn a degree and develop the skills needed to be gainfully employed for years to come.

 

Speaking of our seniors, the graduation ceremony is set for May 27, starting at 2:30 in the high school gym. This is sure to be a very nice event, and we encourage everyone to attend. I also encourage everyone to take the time to remind our young people of the potential dangers that exist over the next several weeks. I touched on this issue in last month’s newsletter as well, but I can’t emphasize enough how important this issue is. With prom and graduation right around the corner, we have entered what is statistically the most dangerous time of year for high school juniors and seniors. As parents, it’s our duty to ask lots of questions and to be on top of what is happening in our child(ren)’s lives. The young adults will be sure to grumble now, but they’ll also be sure to thank you in a few short years. Once again, thank you for all you do in this area of your child(ren)’s lives.

 

The annual “testing season” is winding down for the school year. We have put much emphasis on the importance of this season and thank all parents/guardians for supporting our teachers throughout the school year. OGT scores are normally released in May, while OAA scores are normally released in June. We will do our best to get this information out to you in a timely fashion.

 

This would also be a good time to introduce what appears to be a changing system for evaluating school buildings and school districts. You may have seen in local newspapers that the Ohio Department of Education will be issuing letter grades to schools, most likely starting with the 2012-2013 school year. Schools and school districts will be evaluated using similar criteria to what is used now, but schools and districts will receive a letter grade of A-B-C-D-F as opposed to the current system of Excellent, Effective, Continuous Improvement, Academic Watch, and Academic Emergency. In addition, the tests themselves are expected to become more difficult, and the percentage of correct answers needed for passing a test is expected to increase. What all this means is that schools and districts currently rated as Excellent or Effective may see a decline in their rating. Here at Wayne Trace, we have been, and will continue doing, all we can to prepare our students for success.  

Race to the Top also continues to play an important role in our educational plans as the days of more rigor are right around the corner.

 

Speaking of raising the bar, through the leadership of Mr. Wilson and Mrs. Sisson, Wayne Trace High School is in the early discussion stages of bring the one-to-one program into the high school level. The one-to-one program is where each student has his/her own computer that goes with him/her to each class throughout the day. This program is currently being used successfully at several area schools. Over the next several months, we will continue to research its effectiveness and how we may be able to incorporate this program into our school. Those parents and community members wishing to help with this process are encouraged to contact either Mr. Wilson, Mrs. Sisson, or me.

 

I have the great honor of announcing the Staff Hall of Fame Class of 2012. First revealed to the public at April’s board of education meeting, Mrs. Margaret Essex and Mr. Ed Hook will be inducted as the newest members of this prestigious group. Mr. Hook and members of each of their families will be invited to participate in a formal ceremony prior to the start of a 2012 home football game. More information will be advertised as we get closer to this event. Once again, members of the committee would like to thank everyone who nominated a worthy staff member for this honor.

 

Parents are reminded that school will operate on a two-hour delay on May 10 due to a district-wide teacher in-service. School buses will run two hours late that day.

 

As always, if you have questions or concerns about your child’s educational experience at Wayne Trace, feel free to contact your building principal or superintendent.

 

Go Raiders!

 

Sincerely,

Stephen Arnold, Superintendent