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Performing and Visual Arts
The North
Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) accredited
Waterford high schools a number of years ago. Our middle schools
entered the process in 1999 and the elementary schools in 2000.
All Waterford schools have met the resource standards of NCA and
are considered accredited schools.
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Teachers use a variety of assessment techniques
to monitor student progress, including observation, journals,
projects, portfolios, teacher-made tests, and student
performances. Students are also given two standardized tests.
TerraNova
Students took the TerraNova test in grades three,
six, and nine. Tests were given in the areas of reading,
mathematics, and potential aptitude. These test scores are
reported in mean T-scores, a “standard score”. They are
expressed in numbers from about 20 to 80. The national mean
score for all subtests will be a T-score of 50.
Michigan Educational Assessment Program
Students in grade 4, 7 and 11* took the
MEAP
test is reading and writing, and grade 5, 8 and 11* students
took a similar test in mathematics, science and social studies.
MEAP is a statewide test of essential objectives.
*High School students take the High School Test (HST)
is the four core content areas. They take the test in eleventh
grade, although special circumstances may permit tenth or
twelfth graders to take the tests.
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The role of interscholastic
athletics
in the Waterford School District is to provide educational
experiences in the framework of competitive athletics. By focusing
on educational outcomes and student learning, athletics provides
avenues for physical, emotional, social, and intellectual growth.
Our teams have received many divisional, regional, and state
titles over the years.
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Seventhy-three
percent of the Waterford School District’s budget is derived from
the State of Michigan, 19% from local dollars, and 8% from the
Federal Government.
Waterford
ranks 6th in Oakland County, out of 28 districts, in the
percentage of dollars spent for basic instruction and
instructional and pupil support services. There are only five
school districts ranked higher in commitment towards direct
instructional services in the county. Waterford Schools enjoys an
AA+ school improvement bond rating which supports the district’s
financial stability.
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The
Waterford School District is a Class A school district and is a
member of the Kenningston Lakes Activity Association (KLAA).
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The Waterford School District
has a comprehensive instruction and professional development
department that oversees the development and implementation of all
curriculum in the schools. Student learning and achievement is the
focus of the District’s curriculum. Assessing student academic
growth and the effectiveness of the curriculum is viewed as an
essential function.
An
extensive staff development program supports the professional
growth of all employees and provides a strong in-service component
for the District’s curriculum. Waterford believes strongly in the
importance of its employees strengthening their skills and
organizes in-service for teachers, support staff, and
administrators throughout the year.
Over the
years, Waterford has been recognized as an innovative and creative
curriculum leader in education. Other districts have counted on
Waterford to lead the way in developing student programming and
curriculum based on the best and most current educational
research. Our students are offered an excellent instructional
program in the basic academic areas of English/language arts,
math, science, and social studies as well as a great variety of
programming options, including some highly specialized courses.
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Waterford facilities underwent extensive remodeling and
construction made possible through the passage of a 1999 $60
million dollar bond. In 2003, voters approved a $100 million
dollar bond proposal that includes $8 million to be spent on
classroom computers, printers, scanners, and other related
technology for our students District wide. Eighteen new
classrooms, instructional support areas, and locker rooms are
outlined in the new construction plan. Pool and
Fitness Centers were constructed at each high school as well. Expansion of
existing elementary gymnasiums, cafeterias, kitchens, and serving
areas at the elementary schools has occurred. New entrances,
lobbies, classrooms, and support areas are constructed at each
middle school. New construction costs total approximately $34
million adding an additional 164,760 square feet. Remodeling
costs total approximately $45 million with an estimated
1,106,575 square feet being remodeled at the elementary, middle,
and high schools. Classroom furniture including desks, chairs, and
tables and operational/maintenance equipment such as lawn mowers,
snow blowers, and tools will be purchased. New buses and band and
orchestra instruments are included within the $8 million allocated
for equipment purchases. Capital improvements
include upgrading and/or replacing new roofs, boilers, heating and
cooling systems, exterior doors, windows, and electrical systems.
Parking lot improvements and expansion, sidewalk replacement, site
and athletic field development will occur. Five million dollars has be
allocated for these projects.
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In
the Waterford School District, we believe music, theatre and
visual arts are vital components of a holistic education. As a
department, Performing and Visual Arts (PAVA) exists to
provide an essential element of the core curriculum, as defined by
No Child Left Behind, improving the lives and culture of students
and the community through a comprehensive arts education. Our
Performing and Visual Arts students consistently excel.
The American Music Conference recognized the Waterford School
District as one of the “BEST 100 Communities for Music Education
in America” for three consecutive
years. Each
year our visual arts students garner many Gold Key and Portfolio
awards at Scholastic Arts Exhibits at state and national levels.
The performing arts students in band, choir, and orchestra
regularly receive Division I ratings at Michigan School Vocal
Music Association & Michigan School Band & Orchestra Association
festivals. Waterford Mott HS will host the State Conference of
the International Thespian Society, and once again, Waterford
Kettering HS will host the MSBOA District IV Band and
Orchestra Festival. Many of the Performing and Visual Arts staff
members are working artists and contribute their
talents to commercials, big bands, gallery openings, operas, and
national conferences. The opening of our two Performing Arts
Centers have afforded our students greater opportunities on stage,
including the Summer Children’s Theatre and community musical
productions. The availability of these state-of-the-art venues
allow our students to interact with professional artists and
programs, gaining real world connections into the performing arts
arenas.
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The
Waterford School District’s Student Support Services Department
provides a comprehensive range of services for our students and
families from birth through 25 years of age. Services are provided
by psychologists, school social workers, occupational therapists,
physical therapists, teachers of speech and language impaired,
certified special education classroom teachers, and instructional
assistants.
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The
Waterford School District is "ahead of the curve" when it comes to
preventative and precautionary safety and security measures. In
Waterford, we have a safety and security cabinet whose members
meet monthly to review safety and security practices in our
schools. Additionally, this cabinet meets quarterly with the
Waterford Police and Fire Departments and the White Lake Police
and Fire Departments to ensure the safety and security of our
students. Here are
just a few of the measures taken to make Waterford’s high school
campuses safe for students and staff:
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Plain-clothes and uniformed officers on duty or on call at our
campuses.
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Parking lots restricted by permits.
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Parking lots patrolled by attendants during school hours.
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Hall monitors for inside area security.
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Two-way radios for supervisory staff.
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Security
cameras at all secondary school buildings.
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Swipe
access in all secondary school buildings.
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Many staff members trained in handling aggressive behavior.
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Adult mediation.
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Peer mediation.
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Incident Management Plan (District-wide)
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Crisis Team
in every building
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School
policies and state law regarding firearms, weapons, and illegal
substances strictly enforced.
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Waterford School District made
a major commitment to improving opportunities for high-performing
students by hiring a teacher consultant to coordinate the Talent
Development Program (TDP) in 2000. While the district has
previously offered support services for teachers with gifted
students in their class and a number of extracurricular enrichment
activities (Odyssey of the Mind/Destination Imagination, after
school programs, etc.), the current approach recognizes that all
students have talents that need to be developed. High schools have
traditionally offered opportunities for high-performing students
through Honors and Advanced Placement courses, and Waterford
compares favorably with surrounding districts in the number of
these offerings available.
The current plans for meeting
the needs of high-performing students focuses on differentiation
to meet the needs of K-8 students, though there are other avenues
for students, including flexible grouping alternatives, cluster
grouping, dual enrollment, etc. Differentiation involves
identifying areas of high performance, ability, and interest in
individuals or groups of students and providing for those needs
through different (not additional) types of learning,
expectations, or topics of study. Identification, planning, and
instructional programming are key elements of a differentiated
program of instruction.
We have begun training for
all teachers in their 4th year of the Waterford Probationary
Teacher Program. All teachers K-12 in all subject areas receive
training on how to differentiate their instruction for high
performing students. Likewise, we have been writing
differentiated lessons into our math and science programs for
the elementary grades. The 8th grade teams at all middle schools
have been working for the last 3 years to integrate
differentiation into the MTSI programs.
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The Waterford School District
is a leader in the implementation of technology in its schools. The installation of a high quality voice, data and video network
through out the school district put it among the elite school
districts in the country.
The national standard has
established that every classroom should have access to a phone. Waterford has met this standard. Every classroom in the district
has a hands free speakerphone. Teachers have also been assigned a
voice mailbox number in which parents are able to dial directly into the
teacher’s mailbox without disturbing the teacher in class. The
teacher may return calls after class is completed.
The district has established a
district television network and every classroom has a large screen
television. These TV’s only receive predetermined programs. Each
classroom has the ability to broadcast from their room to anywhere
in the District. The building has established announcements over
the television network. Students produce, write and perform these
each day.
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