Monday, September 24, 2012

Rachel's Challenge Comes to Worley Middle School on October 11th


Worley Tigers are excited to bring Rachel's Challenge to Mansfield!



The Rachel's Challenge organization is a non profit, non political, non religious organization based in Littleton, Colorado. The objective of this program is to equip students and adults with strategies to combat bullying and feelings of isolation or despair.

Seventeen year old Rachel Scott was the first student killed at Columbine High School in 1999. Rachel left behind a legacy of positivity and caring for others through her writings and drawings. Rachel's story has been shared with the world through the Rachel's Challenge organization. Her hope was to start a "chain reaction" of kindness and compassion. (www.rachelschallenge.org)

Our number one reason for inviting Rachel's Challenge to Worley is to change the culture of bullying, teasing and harassment in today's society by empowering our students with the social and emotional tools they need to exist in an ever changing global society. According to the Rachel's Challenge website, the assembly conveys the power of deliberately reaching out in word and action to others. It also encourages listeners to examine their own lives, their relationships with the world around them and the impact their behavior has on others by taking on 5 challenges.

We believe that it is vitality important for our families and our community to hear the Rachel's Challenge message, understand what IS and IS NOT BULLYING and join our student body in taking on the 5 challenges.

Our students have raised the funds to bring Rachel's Challenge to our school through a Fund Run. Thanks to our coaches and students, we have raised enough to pay for the program and the prizes for the run.

Rachel's Challenge will be presented at Worley on Thursday, October 11th for our students at 9:00 am that morning and 7:00 pm for parents and the local community. The one hour evening community event will be held at the MISD Center for the Performing Arts in the Professional Development Room.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Save the Dates!! Upcoming Worley Events

Place these important dates on your family calendar:

1) The STUCO Blackout Dance is this Friday Night from 7-9 pm in the Worley Cafeteria.

2)Tiger Clubs begin next week and run through May 16th. Students may join: the: Soccer Club, Computer Club, Yearbook, Jazz Band, Syfy Club, Drama Club or the Chess Club. More info will be sent home with students this week. Also, check the message center when you log into Skyward Family Access for more detailed information.

3) Parent Conferences will begin on Sept 24th and end on October 12th. Please contact your child's teachers to set up a face to face conference with them.

4) Worley is hosting the first cross country meet of the year on Wednesday, Sept 26th at 5:00pm. Come on out and join us for some running fun!

5) Football and Volleyball are in full swing. Come on out and support our teams on any Monday Night (7th grade football), Tuesday Night (8th grade football) or Thursday Night (Volleyball). You can log onto our athletics website for specific schedule information.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Worley Implements The Ron Clark Experience

Last Spring, two Worley faculty members joined Dr. Butler on a trek to see the world famous Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Ga . as a part of an MISD district initiative. The team brought back several of Ron Clark's proven strategies to improve student performance and create smaller learning communities within our schools.



The 3 strategies that the team decided to implement for the 2012-13 school year were:
-Houses
-1:1 Mentoring Program
-Research Based Instructional Strategies

The Houses concept was created by Mr. Clark based on the Harry Potter Hogwarts School. In the popular book series, the houses were small learning and living communities students were assigned to upon enrolling in the school. Students were sorted into one of four houses in a Sorting Hat Ceremony. The houses competed throughout the school year by earning points or losing points for various activities.

We are incorporating the same idea at Worley!

What are the names of the houses at Worley and what do the names mean?

Cenit (pronounced say-neet). Red. Deriving from the Spanish word for zenith, CENIT is comprised of an elite group of students dedicated to being nothing less than the best. You don't just talk the talk, but you walk the walk. Consider yourself the cream of the crop!
Wazi (pronounced wah-zee). Yellow. Derived from the Swahili term for vivid, you and the others that make up the yellow house strive to let your excellence shine brighter and more brilliant than all others. A future so bright, you gotta wear shades!
Epimelís (pronounced app-pee-mall-is). Blue. Derived from the Greek term for diligent, you are industrious and hardworking, and you do all things with style. While others are slacking off and procrastinating, the blue house members know how to put on their hard hats and get the job done. You make the difficult things look so easy!
Biànbié (pronounced bee-an-bey). Orange. Derived from the traditional Chinese term for discern, you think positive and make the right choices. Members of the  orange house are not just all business, but they also know how to have fun! You have mastered the balance of work and play!
Kwé (pronounced kway). Purple. Deriving from the Haitian Creole word for believe, you are accepting, strong-willed and genuine. The purple house is comprised of people that have a firm conviction of what is right and are always in search of the truth. You possess power and strength because of truth!
Sam'māna (pronounced sah-mah-nah).  GreenDerived from the Hindi term for respect, Sam'māna members are held in the highest regard by everyone in the community. They know that in order to receive respect, they have to show it. They are a very caring and endearing group.
How were Houses determined?
At Meet the Teacher Night and during the first few days of school, students selected their house from a random drawing.

Who is in each House?
Each house is made up of 7th and 8th grade students and teachers, as well as office staff and even our custodians:)

What activities will take place this year?
Students and teachers will meet in Houses periodically during the school year. We will host House celebrations, as well.

How can students earn points for their Houses?
There are several reasons why students would earn points for their house. Students will receive tickets from teachers beginning in late September. Tickets can be given for "good behavior", such as - but not exclusive to:
-Encouraging or helping another student
-Helping pick up items dropped in the hallway
-Picking up trash in the cafeteria
-Consistently attending tutorials
-Parent participation in school events

*Tickets will also be given out by office staff members, cafeteria workers and custodians.

How can students lose points for their Houses?
-Poor behavior (referrals, consistent tardies)

Thanks for supporting Worley on this adventure. We are excited to incorporate a smaller community for students to feel like they belong to something worthwhile. Here are some pictures of the ways teachers have incorporated one of the Ron Clark strategies - personalizing the learning environment: