Welcome to the Principal's Office!
David Flynn is the principal at Westside. He is in his 13th year as
school principal and 19th year in the Macon County School System. He has
taught 5th grade, 7th & 8th English and Health, and 9-12 Science. Mr.
Flynn is married to Andrea Flynn and
they have two children-Aidan and Ella
What Is Inclusion and How Does It Affect Your Child?
Beginning two years ago, Westside implemented an Inclusion program.
Inclusion is a term meaning that students with an IEP for Special Education
services remain in their regular classroom to receive their services. For
example, a student who received special education services in reading or math
was pulled out of class before and worked with in a separate classroom by the
special education teacher, which is Mrs. Penny Carnahan at Westside. In an
Inclusion program, this student remains in the classroom during math and the
special education teacher or special education assistant comes to the classroom
to help the student. This approach allows the student to receive the same
instruction from their classroom teacher as their classmates while receiving
help in their own classroom. This approach also allows these students to
be taught using the correct grade level standards which they are tested on each
year with the TCAP. In addition, using the Inclusion method, students who
are not special education students can also receive extra help. We began
our program in one 3rd grade classroom two years ago. Last year, the
program was expanded to 3rd, 4th and 5th grade classrooms. For 2009-2010,
all grades at Westside have a classroom designated for Inclusion. Each of
these classrooms consist of a mix of ability levels of students and each one has
extra school personnel assigned to it to provide the extra help students need.
Why did we decide to make this change? The answer to that is
simple...students with learning disabilities were not making adequate progress
each year as indicated on the state TCAP test. NCLB(No Child Left Behind)
laws mandate that every couple years, the level of proficiency be increased
which makes it more difficult to score proficient on the TCAP test. For
example, this year, for the school to be considered proficient in Reading, 94%
of the students in grades 3-5 will have to score proficient on the reading part
of the TCAP. This is a very difficult goal to meet, especially for
students struggling to learn with an identified learning disability.
Therefore, Inclusion is another way we are doing our best to help all students
do their best to meet federal and state benchmarks.
Is It Working? Absolutely! Consider this.....5 years ago, 86% of
students with an identified disability were considered below proficient.
This year's data, which is a reflection of the spring 2009 TCAP test, shows us
that only 14% of these same students are now considered below proficient.
That is a dramatic change!!! Also, for regular education students at
Westside, 14% were below proficient in Reading in 2007. The latest data
available from the spring test shows that number to have dropped to 10% below
proficient. While not as large a drop in percentages, it's still very
significant.
Part of my job as principal is to closely monitor student progress and inform
teachers where there are strengths and areas of improvement. This is done
in the summer right before school starts during a meeting called Analyzing Test
Scores. You can view the latest data for Westside by clicking on the image
below. A window will pop up and ask you to open a powerpoint presentation.
Click open and the slides will advance themselves every 10 seconds. Please
feel free to review this data and contact me if you have any questions.
POWERPOINT PRESENTATION WILL BE AVAILABLE IN OCTOBER AFTER STATE LIFTS DATA
EMBARGO....PLEASE CHECK BACK TO VIEW THE DATA.
Summer 2010
The summer break is quickly passing by and there is lots to do in order to get
ready for starting school. Since school ended in May, I have been teaching
several inservice sessions for teachers. I attended a training last week
to learn about the new Tennessee curriculum standards that will take effect this
fall. This week, I attended a 3 day conference at Fall Creek Falls to
learn more about the new standards, the new TCAP test for next year and other
school related issues. My family goes with me to this conference, which is
held at Fall Creek Falls State Park, so they get to have fun in the pool and
then I get to join them after the sessions in to spend some down time. The
TCAP scores from the spring assessment are in and I am in the process of working
through them to see how Westside students performed on their tests.
Teachers at Westside will attend a meeting at Westside in early August to review
the results with me so we can identify our strengths and areas to improve for
the 2009-10 school year. I hope everyone is having a fun summer and
getting to play a lot-school will be starting back before you know it! See
you August!!!! Anyone who has any questions about getting ready for school
should feel free to call school or email me. My email address can be found
on this sites homepage.
Principal's Journal for March 10, 2009
Time has certainly passed quickly!! It's hard to believe that spring is here and the end of school is in sight. While we are getting closer to the last day of school, there is still lots of work to be done before then. Following Spring Break, TCAP prep will begin as we prepare for the required state testing program that will happen mid-April. This year's testing window has been increased by one day, so instead of the usual 5 days to give the TCAP, there will be 6 days. So, for that reason, TCAP will begin on a Friday.
Another aspect of spring is that field trips begin. Students always
enjoy taking trips and we try hard to find trips that are both entertaining and
educational. Please be aware that students who can not demonstrate proper
behavior may not be allowed to travel away from school. It is very
important that you talk with your child about trip safety and good behavior in
regards to trips.
If you have any questions about trips or anything that goes on at Westside,
please do not hesitate to ask. I hope you will always find this school to
be open to you and a pleasant place to be. If a time comes that you become
frustrated or don't understand an aspect of school, please come talk to us.
In 12 years, I can't think of many times, an issue couldn't be worked out and a
resolution found that worked out for everybody involved.
If you had a chance to join us for Read Across America events, we appreciate it!
We had several great events and contests for the students, an awesome bookfair
and then Abraham Lincoln to close it all out. Thanks for helping us have
another successful year celebrating reading!!!!!
Principal's Journal for August 29, 2008
School has been open now for almost four weeks and things are going well.
As mentioned earlier, we are tracking late arrivals and leaving early closely
this year. Everyone is doing a fantastic job getting your children to
school on time-THANK YOU!!!! It is so important that students arrive
before 8:00am so they can get off to a good start to their day. Also,
leaving early is being handled well! Students must be at school to learn
and we appreciate your support!!
Another new change this year is with the pickup location. While this is a
change from what we have done in the past, the result has been very positive.
It has taken some adjusting on everyone's part but it is going well.
Again, thanks for your support!!
Earlier this week, the first school fundraiser kicked off! We hope this
will be a very successful program for the school. Other than fall
festival, the fundraisers are the schools only source of revenue. Higher
fuel prices have had a drastic impact on everything-including supplies.
This week I received the bill for copy paper which was slightly over $2,000.00.
The copier bill alone is around $1,200.00 each month which times 12 months
during the year ends up being over $14,000.00. So, it becomes clear real
quick why fundraisers and fall festivals are important to the school and where
the money goes each year. In addition to the costs, I have always tried to
hold assemblies for the students at least once during the year that are provided
at no cost to the parents. We have had some great shows over the last few
years-Out of the Mist a Dragon, Backwoods Ramblin'(both of which were puppet
type shows), Biologist Brad and his animals, magician Bruce Amato and even
Abraham Lincoln himself!! While some of these shows were paid for by
grants I wrote to cover the cost, others were paid for by the school or by using
federal Title I dollars. Still, sometimes, I don't have the money and have
to charge admission. Please know that if admission is charged, it was my
last resort and that I have tried to find funds for a show every way possible
before deciding to charge admission.
I hope things are going well from your perspective as parents. If not,
please come by and see me. Most of the time, a simple conversation will
answer any questions you may have. I want you to know that your child's
safety is our primary concern-we are not going to let anyone bully your child.
And, if it is happening, please tell me. I can't fix what I don't know
about. The same is also true of visitors. We will not let just
anyone pickup your child-you have to approve anyone that picks up your child.
Also, we do not let anyone visiting the school into the main building for pickup
or drop off of a student. If you have brought your child to school, then
you know, the stopping point is in the front lobby. There are several
reasons for this, but the two main reasons are safety and to help students
develop a sense of responsibility. You and your family are always welcome
here at school and I hope you take advantage of coming to eat lunch with your
child, attend a party or see an assembly!!
I see many of you every morning. I like a routine-I firmly believe
children need and want a routine that is structured. If it's a normal day
for me, your child will see me sitting by the front door every day. I like
seeing them every morning and getting their waves/smiles-it such a great way for
my day to start! But also, it's part of the routine. Students know
I'm going to be sitting there. If they feel sick, they stop and tell me.
If they had a fun night, they tell me all about it. Sometimes they had
trouble on the bus and they talk about that. I get to see lots of new
shoes and haircuts-they are always so proud!! I started being by the front
door every morning several years ago and wouldn't change it for anything.
Just like students coming to the office for positive behaviors and good work,
greeting them at the front door gives me a chance to see the students in a
positive manner. Being in charge of discipline and punishment doesn't
always make for good days. In no way is discipline the "fun" part of the
job, but it is a necessary part. At 39 years old, I still have rules to
follow. Rules are part of everyone's life and will always be.
Let's work together and have a great year!! Please feel free to stop by
school any morning should you have questions or need information-I'll be sitting
by the front door!!
Author! Author!
New to the school website and on the Principal's Page is a featured children's book author! There are so many great ones out there and tons of great children's books! So, check below to see which author and books are being highlighted. You can also check the AR list on the Student Page to see if any titles featured below are on the school's AR list!!
I thought I would highlight a book that is the 3rd in a series that has become very popular! Many of our students are familiar with The Diary of A Worm and The Diary of A Spider! They are great books that I have highlighted here before. Now, author Doreen Cronin brings the next "diary" to us with the Diary of A Fly! Each of these books are very humorous and have fantastic artwork!! If you have not read them yet, start with the worm and work forward. The spider is introduced in the worm's diary and then the fly is introduced in the spider's diary. So, this fall, the fly get's her own diary published! It looks to be another great read from Doreen Cronin! And, you can visit Ms. Cronin and learn about her background and all her books(including the great Click Clack Moo and Giggle Giggle Quack books) on her website www.doreencronin.com
The Diary of A Worm
In this first diary, the worm accounts his day at school, frustration with his
sister and time with friends. The artwork is great and the illustrations
make the diary hilarious! Just imagine worms trying to do the Hokey
Pokey..."You put your head in...you put your head out....short game when you're
a worm!"
The Diary of A Spider
The fun continues with the daily routines of being a spider! In this
diary, spider has a friend that is not what everyone would expect...a fly!
Not too many spider and fly friendships around!! Again, the artwork is
fantastic and does great job illustrating the frustrations of being a spider!!!
The Diary of A Fly
Our new friend has big dreams....to be a superhero! And, why wouldn't she
want to be a hero when she can walk on walls, see in all directions and can
fly?! In addition to hero duties, when she is not landing on your head or
swimming in your soup, she's trying to escape from her 327 brothers and
sisters!! Again, Cronin and Bliss team up to bring us another great book
in this series. The book doesn't hit bookshelves until August 21st.
I can't wait to get a copy and see who fly meets up with for clues as to who
will be getting their own "diary" published next!!!
Check back for a new author highlight coming soon!!
READ READ READ READ READ READ READ READ