School’s out but work is in for West Madison
Evanne Terry, from left, Macy Sluder, Megan Mack and Jillian Matthews study center of gravity by building a tower using ‘upcycled’ materials in their “Amazing Atlas” class at West Madison’s Camp Invention (CONTRIBUTED)
MADISON – School doors may have closed in May, but the hallways, classrooms and offices — even the roof — are still seeing action at West Madison Elementary School.
Principal Daphne Jah said construction for a new roof on the gym started on June 25. In February, the Madison Board of Education approved the roof replacement with Porter Roofing Contractors Inc. for $109,625.
Workers also are scheduled to install new security doors. Custodians are cleaning and waxing floors in their annual ritual.
During summer, West Madison’s office and buildings are open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parents and students visit for tours of the school.
“We interview for positions that are available,” Jah said. “We meet with teacher groups and committees to come up with activities for the upcoming year and work on the schedule. Grade levels meet to work on their lesson plans for the upcoming year.”
Important for summer 2013, workshops are being held to review the new College and Career Ready Standards (CCRS) and decide on strategies to best introduce heightened rigor in courses for elementary grades.
In professional development, two West Madison teachers are attending an art workshop this summer. “Our English Language Arts Committee has attended professional development on the CCRS for” that discipline, Jah said.
In student activities, West Madison hosted about 80 children for Camp Invention during the last week of June. “Geoquest” is the 2013 theme with studies like gravity and ‘upcycled’ materials. Instructors are Elizabeth Bero, Debbie Medeiros, Melissa Snider, Wendy Tibbs and Debra Weaver.
To prepare for students to return on Aug. 19, Jah and her staff are working on class rolls for the upcoming year, student schedules and updating the West Madison website (wmes.madisoncity.k12.al.us). In addition, they are printing reports that document the previous year’s data “to be able to make the most informed instructional decisions,” Jah said.
