September 9, 2011
West Salem High School parents:
We are off to a great start. We had an amazing first week. Even though we have 1,730 students (and more still enrolling), hot weather (and no air-flow), running short on desks and chairs and adjusting to the 7 period day..... we are still having a great start of the school year.
Our students have been wonderful to work with as we have worked out issues with their class schedules.
At the First Wednesday event downtown on Wednesday, I was so proud to see so many of our students there and to hear our award winning band perform
A couple events I want to remind parents of:
a) Music Day - Saturday, September 10th
b) PTO on Monday, September 12th at 6:30pm in the media center
c) Education Foundation on Monday, September 12th at 7:00pm in the Titan room
d) Campus beautification project - Saturday, September 17th 8:00-11:00am
e) Latino Family Night - Thursday, September 29th at 6:00pm
Again, thank you for your continued support.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to give me a call.
In appreciation,
Ed John
Principal
503-399-5533
Friday, September 9, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
June 16, 2011
West Salem High School families:
Our school year has rapidly drawn to a close and I know students and staff welcome many changes that come with summer break. This is a time of great change for our school district. I have some news to share about some changes for next fall – the elimination of some staff positions.
The gravity of the school district’s $55 million budget deficit has left few alternatives for balancing the budget. Deep cuts are necessary and all schools have eliminated staff positions for next school year. In making staff reductions and determining which staff remain, the district must consider many variables based on collective bargaining agreements (negotiated agreements with employee groups), including seniority, competency (licensure, special skills or training) and related experience (the type of work the employee has done in the last five years). The district also took a hard look at programs and prioritized cuts with the goal of preserving, in every way possible, the programs tied closest to student achievement.
Sadly, the budget cuts mean that certain staff members will not be returning next year. We have cuts in the classified staff, the teaching staff, counselors and administrators.
These changes are difficult, however, it presents our school community with an important opportunity to say “thank you” and express our heart-felt appreciation to these valued staff members. As a school community of staff, students and families, we also have the challenge to pull together to continue providing the best education for our students.
West Salem High School finished this school year proudly, and returning staff members will arrive in August ready for a new year of excellence. We remain committed to the well-being and education of our students. Thank you for supporting excellence in education, and please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions.
Sincerely,
Ed John
Principal
West Salem High School families:
Our school year has rapidly drawn to a close and I know students and staff welcome many changes that come with summer break. This is a time of great change for our school district. I have some news to share about some changes for next fall – the elimination of some staff positions.
The gravity of the school district’s $55 million budget deficit has left few alternatives for balancing the budget. Deep cuts are necessary and all schools have eliminated staff positions for next school year. In making staff reductions and determining which staff remain, the district must consider many variables based on collective bargaining agreements (negotiated agreements with employee groups), including seniority, competency (licensure, special skills or training) and related experience (the type of work the employee has done in the last five years). The district also took a hard look at programs and prioritized cuts with the goal of preserving, in every way possible, the programs tied closest to student achievement.
Sadly, the budget cuts mean that certain staff members will not be returning next year. We have cuts in the classified staff, the teaching staff, counselors and administrators.
These changes are difficult, however, it presents our school community with an important opportunity to say “thank you” and express our heart-felt appreciation to these valued staff members. As a school community of staff, students and families, we also have the challenge to pull together to continue providing the best education for our students.
West Salem High School finished this school year proudly, and returning staff members will arrive in August ready for a new year of excellence. We remain committed to the well-being and education of our students. Thank you for supporting excellence in education, and please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions.
Sincerely,
Ed John
Principal
Monday, January 31, 2011
February 1, 2011
West Salem High School Parents:
We just finished the first semester and moving towards the end of the year. The year is going by too fast.
We have a lot to be excited about with the many accomplishments of our students. Our state report card indicated that we showed significant improvement in each of the four state assessments.
I appreciate your support as we deal with a number of issues facing us next year due to the budget crisis. We do not know the exact numbers yet, however we anticipate that we will have a reduction in our teaching staff for next fall. Whatever the outcome, we will provide a quality education for our students. We had a well attended parent meeting last month to discuss the 7 period day. Certainly there are issues to address, but I know we will be able to develop a schedule that will meet the needs of our students.
Hopefully you have seen the link for the science students ..... they are in the top ten and need your vote (5 per day): www.samsungsolvefortomorrow.com
In appreciation,
Ed John
Principal
West Salem High School Parents:
We just finished the first semester and moving towards the end of the year. The year is going by too fast.
We have a lot to be excited about with the many accomplishments of our students. Our state report card indicated that we showed significant improvement in each of the four state assessments.
I appreciate your support as we deal with a number of issues facing us next year due to the budget crisis. We do not know the exact numbers yet, however we anticipate that we will have a reduction in our teaching staff for next fall. Whatever the outcome, we will provide a quality education for our students. We had a well attended parent meeting last month to discuss the 7 period day. Certainly there are issues to address, but I know we will be able to develop a schedule that will meet the needs of our students.
Hopefully you have seen the link for the science students ..... they are in the top ten and need your vote (5 per day): www.samsungsolvefortomorrow.com
In appreciation,
Ed John
Principal
Sunday, October 3, 2010
School district boundary change process begins in West Salem
A community forum October 13 kicks off the planning process for new school attendance area boundaries in West Salem. With current elementary schools Chapman Hill, Harritt, and Myers, Walker MS, and West Salem HS all with student enrollments over capacity, new elementary and middle schools now under construction north of Orchard Heights Road NW will provide much-needed overcrowding relief throughout West Salem. The new elementary and middle schools were part of the $242.1 million construction bond approved by Salem-Keizer voters in November 2008.
The community forum is Wednesday, October 13 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the West Salem High School library. Parents, staff, and interested community members are invited to attend.
The forum will share information about the boundary change work plan, school enrollments and capacities, and the School Board’s criteria for making boundary changes. People attending will examine current attendance area boundary maps and suggest possible changes. Another community forum this winter will share proposals developed by a neighborhood work team and gather reactions and input from those attending. New boundaries would be adopted by March 2011 for the 2011-12 school year. For more information, contact any West Salem school principal or project coordinator Mike Bednarek at (503) 399-3290.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
September 3, 2010
West Salem High School parents and community:
The most exciting day of the year (first day of school) is a weekend away. I am certainly looking forward to the start of the 2010 / 2011 academic year.
I wanted to update you on a couple things.....
1) The school district is forming a neighborhood work team that will develop proposals for new and realigned school attendance area boundaries due to the new schools opening next fall. If you are interested in being on that work team, please plan to attend the September 13th PTO meeting at 7:30pm. We will take names of interested individuals at that time and determine a process to send the names of our two representatives to the district office.
2) During in-service this week we have provided training to our teachers, classified staff, student council and peer mentoring group on The Power of Respect. The focus for students is: Respect self, respect others and respect property. We want to communicate this message at assemblies, on posters, in morning announcements and in the classroom. The message we have given the staff is that students are looking for these things from the staff:
R - respect
A - accepted
I - important
S - secure
I - included
N - noticed
Again, thank you for your continued support.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to give me a call.
In appreciation,
Ed John
Principal
West Salem High School parents and community:
The most exciting day of the year (first day of school) is a weekend away. I am certainly looking forward to the start of the 2010 / 2011 academic year.
I wanted to update you on a couple things.....
1) The school district is forming a neighborhood work team that will develop proposals for new and realigned school attendance area boundaries due to the new schools opening next fall. If you are interested in being on that work team, please plan to attend the September 13th PTO meeting at 7:30pm. We will take names of interested individuals at that time and determine a process to send the names of our two representatives to the district office.
2) During in-service this week we have provided training to our teachers, classified staff, student council and peer mentoring group on The Power of Respect. The focus for students is: Respect self, respect others and respect property. We want to communicate this message at assemblies, on posters, in morning announcements and in the classroom. The message we have given the staff is that students are looking for these things from the staff:
R - respect
A - accepted
I - important
S - secure
I - included
N - noticed
Again, thank you for your continued support.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to give me a call.
In appreciation,
Ed John
Principal
Monday, August 30, 2010
September 2010
West Salem parents and community:
We are excited about the start of the 2010/2011 academic year. We were able to hire some exceptional folks this summer to join our staff.
Saturday, August 21st was an amazing event. The Dream Center and West Salem Foursquare Church organized a wonderful event that brought 300 people together to spend the day pulling weeds and spreading barkdust in a community-wide campus beautification project. It was an other example of the West Salem community pulling together to support their school.
We are celebrating the fact that our state testing results indicate that we went up in each of the four state assessment areas (reading, writing, math and science). Math, writing and science showed significant gains.
This past week was a reminder that school is about ready to start with the sounds of band camp, athletic practices and teachers coming in to get their rooms ready.
Just a reminder, as we have big events at school, we have the special events parking lot behind the school for overflow parking. We want to be good neighbors and not park in the neighborhood.
Thank you for your continued support.
Ed John
Principal
West Salem parents and community:
We are excited about the start of the 2010/2011 academic year. We were able to hire some exceptional folks this summer to join our staff.
Saturday, August 21st was an amazing event. The Dream Center and West Salem Foursquare Church organized a wonderful event that brought 300 people together to spend the day pulling weeds and spreading barkdust in a community-wide campus beautification project. It was an other example of the West Salem community pulling together to support their school.
We are celebrating the fact that our state testing results indicate that we went up in each of the four state assessment areas (reading, writing, math and science). Math, writing and science showed significant gains.
This past week was a reminder that school is about ready to start with the sounds of band camp, athletic practices and teachers coming in to get their rooms ready.
Just a reminder, as we have big events at school, we have the special events parking lot behind the school for overflow parking. We want to be good neighbors and not park in the neighborhood.
Thank you for your continued support.
Ed John
Principal
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