WELDON ELEMENTARY GLOBAL ACADEMY
805 Washington Avenue, Weldon, NC 27890
Phone (252) 536-4815 * Fax (252) 536-3633
Lakesha McPhail-Tann, Principal
Thomas McGeachy, Assistant Principal
December 18, 2018
Dear Parent/Guardian:
I hope the school year has started successfully for all of you. As a parent/guardian of a student in Weldon Elementary Global Academy(WEGA), I am writing this letter to let you know that WEGA, has been designated as a Targeted Support & Improvement Additional Targeted Support (TSI-AT) school by the North Carolina State Board of Education. As stated in ESSA Section 1111(d)(2), North Carolina had to identify schools for targeted support and improvement. TSI-AT schools in North Carolina are those that have a subgroup that is under-performing. The intent of this opportunity is to improve educational outcomes for all students, close achievement gaps, increase equity, and improve the quality of instruction.
As a TSI-AT school, WEGA is required to develop a comprehensive plan that specifically addresses how the school will improve student achievement. The plan will also include how our district will support us and monitor the progress of our school. The comprehensive plan will address the following areas:
● Classroom Management
● Aligned Standards to the NC Standard Course of Study
● Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
● Instructional Leadership
● Recruitment & Retention of Effective Teachers
● Support for Grade-to-Grade Transitions
● Individual Instructional support with Best Practices
● Data-Driven Decision Making
● Student Support Services
● Family and Community Engagement
We have set the following goals for Weldon Elementary Global Academy this year:
● WEGA students will increase their Reading proficiency from 36.3% to 44% as measured by the NC EOG by June 2019.
● WEGA students will increase their Math proficiency from EOG 37.9% to 44% as measured by the NC EOG by June 2019.
● WEGA Students with Disabilities (SWD) subgroup will increase proficiency from 20% to at least 30% as measured by the NC EOG in Reading and Math by June 2019.
● WEGA will increase parental engagement opportunities that will encourage at least 40% participation of our families.
Our students need to experience higher achievement levels, but it will require hard work on the part of the staff, students, and families. Here are some strategies Weldon Elementary Global Academy will be implementing:
● Teachers will incorporate inclusive small group and individualized instruction to students in reading.
● Teachers will utilize data to drive instruction for both regular ed. and students with disabilities.
● Provide individual instructional support with best practices.
● Provide professional development to 3rd and 4th grade teachers on strategies to increase student achievement in Reading & Math.
Students who are in the 3-4 Transition and 2nd grade Spanish Immersion
● Students who are in the 3-4 Transition and 2nd grade Spanish Immersion classrooms will receive additional small group instructional support from Resource teacher and Literacy Coach. This will enhance reading comprehension skills impacting problem-solving.
● Provide monthly activities for students and parents to participate in grades Pre-K through 4th {ie. Watch D.O.G.S (Dads of Great Students)}.
Parent engagement is at the heart of our school improvement efforts. Here are some ways we can work together:
● Make sure that both you and your student are aware of the academic expectations set for your student this school year. A list of learning objectives in student-friendly language is available from your student’s teacher(s).
● Call the school administration at 252-536-4815 if you have questions or concerns about your student or to set up an appointment to meet with a school staff member who will be working with your student.
● Make sure that your student is prepared and attends school each day.
● Monitor your student’s homework.
● Monitor the progress your student is making and attend meetings with your student’s teacher(s).
● Keep track of our school website (wes.weldoncityschools.org/) and WEGA Facebook page.
● Volunteer in our school to support academics and social growth.
● Join and become an active member of Parent on Demand.
Sounds like a lot but preparing our students so that they can succeed is not easy and is a group effort. Here are some resources available to help:
● Graduation requirements: www.ncpublicschools.org/gradrequirements/
● K-12 standards in academic subjects: www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/
● State student achievement test results: www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/
● N.C. School Report Cards: https://ncreportcards.ondemand.sas.com/src
We’re excited about this school year and are working to make it a success for your student. Already, we have:
● Met growth in Reading for the 2017-2018 school year
● Increased our Parent Engagement Activities
● 100% Teacher Retention from SY 2017-18 to Present
If you have questions about the content of this letter, please contact school administration by email or by phone at (252)536-4815.
Sincerely,
Lakesha McPhail-Tann, Ed.S
Principal