Waverly-Shell Rock Go-Hawks Motto:
"Creating a passion for learning that will sustain students for a lifetime!"
"Creating a passion for learning that will sustain students for a lifetime!"
Waverly-Shell Rock is an example of taking a negative such as a natural disaster and turning it into a positive. Their middle school, in a district of close to 2000 students, is a result of flooding in the area as well as community support through a bond issue. They spent three years in a strip mall as a result of the flood before moving into these stellar facilities resulting in people saying, "From the mall to the Taj Mahal!"
District Demographics:
4 Elementary schools grades K-4
1 Middle School grade 5-8
1 High School grades 9-12
There is a residential facility for students who do not live in their homes - Bremwood
Within the high school, there is an alternative high school.
There is a partnership with both Wartburg (field experiences and student teachers) and University of Northern Iowa (middle level educators participate in field experiences).
District Demographics:
4 Elementary schools grades K-4
1 Middle School grade 5-8
1 High School grades 9-12
There is a residential facility for students who do not live in their homes - Bremwood
Within the high school, there is an alternative high school.
There is a partnership with both Wartburg (field experiences and student teachers) and University of Northern Iowa (middle level educators participate in field experiences).
The middle school houses grades 5-8 with approximately 675 students. Free and reduced lunch runs between 18-19%. The facility is lovely - organized into wings for easy location and the architect has built in room for expansion. The Fine Arts wing boasts sound proof walls. Science and art rooms have a prep room between them for storage and preparation for hands on activities. The Wellness Wing houses the gym and athletic facilities. The auditorium also serves as a safe room. In all rooms, teachers were able to design their rooms by choosing the styles of cabinetry. Many have seats that rotate so students can face the speaker where ever they are in the room. Each room has three whiteboard tables. Student computers are iPads and rooms have Apple TVs with interactivity through projectors. Art has a "clean shop" and a "dirty shop," depending on the type of art projects being created. The Family Consumer Science room has 30 sewing machines, 6 kitchen areas, and accommodates Human Growth and Development classes (4 weeks each for both 7th and 8th grade). 7th and 8th graders also have art and Gateway to Technology (a Project Lead the Way program for middle school). A 3D printer helps in the creation of projects in the Gateway classes. For 5th and 6th graders, there is art, music, PE, and recess two times per week.
Initiatives at Waverly-Shell Rock include instructional rounds. During these visits, classrooms are examined for differentiation of instruction and teaching for learning differences. Their Teacher Quality money is used to hire substitute teachers so teachers can visit other classrooms in their building, at the elementary, and at the high school in order to develop a K-12 vision.
Anthony J. D'Angleo once said, "Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow." One cannot help but feel the passion for learning at Waverly-Shell Rock. Facilities are important but most important is the heartbeat of passionate educators who strive to do their best. Waverly-Shell Rock possesses both.
Initiatives at Waverly-Shell Rock include instructional rounds. During these visits, classrooms are examined for differentiation of instruction and teaching for learning differences. Their Teacher Quality money is used to hire substitute teachers so teachers can visit other classrooms in their building, at the elementary, and at the high school in order to develop a K-12 vision.
Anthony J. D'Angleo once said, "Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow." One cannot help but feel the passion for learning at Waverly-Shell Rock. Facilities are important but most important is the heartbeat of passionate educators who strive to do their best. Waverly-Shell Rock possesses both.
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