Warsaw Teachers Attend Back to School Event
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
The official first day for students at WCS is today.
McCormack was the final speaker at the “Welcome Back to School” convocation for all WCS faculty and staff. After giving a brief biography of herself – she was born in Michigan in 1946, started teaching in 1970, came to Warsaw in 1975 and retired this year – she spoke about the importance of teachers.
“My thoughts today are going to come genuinely straight from my heart,” she said.
She expressed how much she loves teaching by stating, “Teaching is the greatest profession in the world because it’s filled with some of the greatest hearts in the world.”
McCormack told WCS teachers that they are in a profession where the spirit can not, should not and will not die.
She recalled an episode of “Family Feud” where contestants had to name the top professions parents love to brag that their child is in. The top four answers were doctor as number one, lawyer, athlete and teacher as fourth.
At first, she said she got upset that teaching was fourth. Then looking at how teachers were on the bottom of the column, she realized they got it right. “Look at who’s on the bottom of the column, holding everyone else up,” she said.
She had everyone proudly and loudly proclaim, “I am a teacher.” She then have everyone stand and say “I feel good” while doing a little dance move.
Over her four decades of teaching, she learned to read the invisible signs on every students’ forehead, which reads, “Make me feel important.”
“If you see the sign and it never goes away, you’re lucky and all your students are lucky,” McCormack said.
Even as teachers are trying to figure out who their students are, she said students are trying to figure out who their teachers are. She encouraged teachers to share a little about themselves with their students because it will do wonders.
McCormack closed her comments by telling everyone to ask themselves, “Who is better off because I lived today?” And told them to say to themselves, “I am in the greatest profession in the world because I am a teacher.”
WCS Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert introduced McCormack after speaking himself.
Even though summer break is over, he listed the many activities WCS has been involved in over the past three months. That includes Math Science Partnerships I and II, summer lunch programs, school safety building updates, construction meetings, summer school and professional learning communities.
“School looks pretty different than it ever did before,” Hoffert said.
He talked about WCS’s mission statement, which is now in its fifth year, and the pieces that go into it. Enrollment at WCS is about 7,200 students who come from rural, suburban and urban communities. The school district has students that speak 36 different languages and 49 percent of its students are provided free and/or reduced lunch.
“We have a unique and diverse group coming into our school corporation,” Hoffert said.
Warsaw has the number one ranked career center in Indiana and a 93.8 percent graduation rate, he said.
Last year, Hoffert said the sixth-grade teachers implemented 1:1 technology and did so well it’s being implemented faster than planned to include this year’s sixth- through eighth-graders. In 1:1 technology, every student has their own computer device.
In May, the community approved the WCS building project referendum, which included building a new Lincoln Elementary School and improving/expanding Washington STEM Academy and Edgewood Middle School. He said the community saw the need, came together and approved it.
During the 2015-16 school year, Hoffert said WCS will move forward with its 1:1 plan; initiate Project Lead The Way at the elementary levels; and look into 3D printers in classrooms.
As for the building project, the Request For Qualifications were sent out in July, with the Request For Proposals and focus groups taking place in August and September. Once the school board approves a final construction company, Hoffert said it is hoped shovels will hit the ground in October. The timeline puts the schools opening in January 2017.
Jennifer Tandy, Warsaw School Board president, told the faculty and staff how important they were and to be passionate about their work in the classroom. She thanked everyone for their service.
Warsaw Education Foundation Executive Director Barb Smolen explained how the Foundation raises money for teachers to use for learning projects in the classroom. Over $295,000 has gone back into WCS from the community from just grants alone.
Also speaking were Warsaw Community High School student Brynn Durecki on role models; and a group of five students sharing their best days with teachers and support staff.
WCHS Junior ROTC cadets presented the Colors, national anthem and pledge of allegiance.
After the convocation, all faculty and staff went outside for a group photo.[[In-content Ad]]
The official first day for students at WCS is today.
McCormack was the final speaker at the “Welcome Back to School” convocation for all WCS faculty and staff. After giving a brief biography of herself – she was born in Michigan in 1946, started teaching in 1970, came to Warsaw in 1975 and retired this year – she spoke about the importance of teachers.
“My thoughts today are going to come genuinely straight from my heart,” she said.
She expressed how much she loves teaching by stating, “Teaching is the greatest profession in the world because it’s filled with some of the greatest hearts in the world.”
McCormack told WCS teachers that they are in a profession where the spirit can not, should not and will not die.
She recalled an episode of “Family Feud” where contestants had to name the top professions parents love to brag that their child is in. The top four answers were doctor as number one, lawyer, athlete and teacher as fourth.
At first, she said she got upset that teaching was fourth. Then looking at how teachers were on the bottom of the column, she realized they got it right. “Look at who’s on the bottom of the column, holding everyone else up,” she said.
She had everyone proudly and loudly proclaim, “I am a teacher.” She then have everyone stand and say “I feel good” while doing a little dance move.
Over her four decades of teaching, she learned to read the invisible signs on every students’ forehead, which reads, “Make me feel important.”
“If you see the sign and it never goes away, you’re lucky and all your students are lucky,” McCormack said.
Even as teachers are trying to figure out who their students are, she said students are trying to figure out who their teachers are. She encouraged teachers to share a little about themselves with their students because it will do wonders.
McCormack closed her comments by telling everyone to ask themselves, “Who is better off because I lived today?” And told them to say to themselves, “I am in the greatest profession in the world because I am a teacher.”
WCS Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert introduced McCormack after speaking himself.
Even though summer break is over, he listed the many activities WCS has been involved in over the past three months. That includes Math Science Partnerships I and II, summer lunch programs, school safety building updates, construction meetings, summer school and professional learning communities.
“School looks pretty different than it ever did before,” Hoffert said.
He talked about WCS’s mission statement, which is now in its fifth year, and the pieces that go into it. Enrollment at WCS is about 7,200 students who come from rural, suburban and urban communities. The school district has students that speak 36 different languages and 49 percent of its students are provided free and/or reduced lunch.
“We have a unique and diverse group coming into our school corporation,” Hoffert said.
Warsaw has the number one ranked career center in Indiana and a 93.8 percent graduation rate, he said.
Last year, Hoffert said the sixth-grade teachers implemented 1:1 technology and did so well it’s being implemented faster than planned to include this year’s sixth- through eighth-graders. In 1:1 technology, every student has their own computer device.
In May, the community approved the WCS building project referendum, which included building a new Lincoln Elementary School and improving/expanding Washington STEM Academy and Edgewood Middle School. He said the community saw the need, came together and approved it.
During the 2015-16 school year, Hoffert said WCS will move forward with its 1:1 plan; initiate Project Lead The Way at the elementary levels; and look into 3D printers in classrooms.
As for the building project, the Request For Qualifications were sent out in July, with the Request For Proposals and focus groups taking place in August and September. Once the school board approves a final construction company, Hoffert said it is hoped shovels will hit the ground in October. The timeline puts the schools opening in January 2017.
Jennifer Tandy, Warsaw School Board president, told the faculty and staff how important they were and to be passionate about their work in the classroom. She thanked everyone for their service.
Warsaw Education Foundation Executive Director Barb Smolen explained how the Foundation raises money for teachers to use for learning projects in the classroom. Over $295,000 has gone back into WCS from the community from just grants alone.
Also speaking were Warsaw Community High School student Brynn Durecki on role models; and a group of five students sharing their best days with teachers and support staff.
WCHS Junior ROTC cadets presented the Colors, national anthem and pledge of allegiance.
After the convocation, all faculty and staff went outside for a group photo.[[In-content Ad]]
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