WGSD in the News for Learning

Good afternoon,

I hope each of you is doing well and enjoying the milder weather we're having.

As you may have heard, yesterday President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) which reauthorized the Elementary Secondary Education Act created approximately 50 years ago in support of equal opportunities for the country's students.  The passage of the ESSA signifies the end of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) that was approved in 2002.  Once the "dust settles," I will provide some information regarding ESSA and it's impact and influence on all that we do in the Webster Groves School District.

In the meantime, here are two powerful videos which serve as samples of the amazing learning that happens across our great district!

Each child, Each day...John

Click here to view the Channel 4 News Story regarding a learning community at Hudson working to create an educational experience and space for students grounded in the concepts from the district's School for Today Report.

Highlights from the 3rd-5th grade music concert at Hudson.

Democratic Learning in the WGSD

Good afternoon,

As we continue to move toward the district's vision of creating opportunities for learners to "discover and pursue our (their) passions," it's important that autonomy be encouraged and present in the learning of both the children and adults in the WGSD.  Please enjoy the videos below that provide rich examples of what happens when teachers and administrators put trust in the students to guide their own learning and experiences.

Each child, Each day...John

The first WGHS LipDub!

Desmond Reichold, first year music teacher at Hudson, provides 3-5th grade students with the opportunity to design their performance.

Patrick Bommarito, Spanish teacher at WGHS, provides his Spanish V students with the opportunity to creatively express their feelings regarding a Spanish song (another example below).