APPENDIX

 B   • Communications  needs  to  be  improved  

  • More  life  and  careers  to  junior  year  
 
Question  2:  What  changes  in  practice  would  our  district  need  to  •make   in  order  
Emphasis   on  “tsoft  
o  hselp   students  become  the  
kills”  
 
graduates   you  just  described?   • Assign  peer  mentor  to  incoming  freshmen  
    • More  career  exploration  
  • More  input  from  community  business  to  be  in  
Compilation  of  all  recorded  comments:   the  schools  
 
th th th
• By  7 ,  8 ,  9  grade  typically  can  identify  if   • Encourage  kids  that  they  can  make  college  a  
student  is  college  material  or  not  -­‐  not  call  it   reality  -­‐  it’s  never  too  late  
tracking  but  helping  them  know  what  they   • Provide  healthy  options  to  make  healthy  kids  
want  to  do  
th • Supply  every  school  with  their  own  computers  
• Do  we  need  to  move  6  grade  to  middle  
school?  It  will  upset  the  athletic  set-­‐up.   • Year  round  school  (9  weeks  on,  two  weeks  
Maybe  it’s  time  to  challenge  mentality  of   off)  
athletics  is  priority   • More  after-­‐school  programs  
• AAU  -­‐  American  Athletic  Unions  -­‐  recruit  for   • Online  textbooks  
college  from  summer  competitions  instead  of   • Critical  thinking  (mostly  reading)  
high  schools  
• Better  punishment  
• Music,  PE  (obesity  kids  issue),  arts  -­‐    typically  
• Redo  homework  with  bad  grades  on  them  
cut  due  to  $  
• Use  facebook  instead  of  Moodle  
• Change  perspective  -­‐  everyone  doesn’t  have  
to  go  to  college   • Better  internet  sources  
• College  graduates  can’t  find  jobs  today  -­‐  more   • Clubs  for  different  skills  
career  counseling   • More  team  building  activities  
• How  we  should  encompass  ethnic  groups  and   • Different  variety  of  classes  
languages  because  the  world  is  changing  so   • Intramurals  
much  we  need  to  be  informed  -­‐  foreign   • Skills  for  the  future  
languages  
• Spend  time  on  certain  subjects  
• The  teachers  that  really  challenge  us  are  the  
• Orchestra  
ones  we  like  the  most  
• Coaches  for  children  who  need  help  staying  in  
• Teachers  that  aren’t  doing  their  jobs  should   school  
be  fired,  just  like  in  business  
• Other  than  sports  to  help  with  academics  
• Lots  of  money  
• “science  is  the  future”  more  science  classes  
• Input  for  staff  growth  opportunities  not  just  
• More  self-­‐expression  opportunities  
teachers  
• STEM  becoming  more  aggressive  with  
• Laptops  for  
learning  
students/rented/funds/grants/return  at  end  
• Time  over  summer  for  over-­‐achievers  to  study  
of  year  
more  
• Stay  on  the  edge  
• Graduation  coaches  on  larger  scale  
• Better  test  scores  
• Ensure  students  graduate  with  the  skills  of  
• High  school  counselor/manpower  
reading,  writing,  and  math  focus  
• Interaction  with  teachers  who  care/stay  
• Getting  ahead  -­‐  use  it  to  identify  and  help  at-­‐
active  in  helping  students  grow  
risk  students  
• Wireless  option  
• Sports  &  drama  as  example:  give  other  
• Work  value   students  challenges/pressures  
• We  would  like  the  best  of  the  best  for  our  kids   • Responsive  advisors  
in  terms  of  teachers  
• Counselors  to  address  student  needs  
• Much  better  PR  of  what’s  available   • Communicate  club  &  intramural  information  
• Much  better  (nonjudgmental)  outreach  to   table  
parents  who  struggle   • Average  student  needs  to  be  challenged:  
• Start  much  earlier  to  show  kids  and  parents   great  amount  of  dissatisfaction  with  non-­‐AP  
why  technology  is  so  important  to  their  future   courses  -­‐  not  challenging  
• More  opportunity  for  math  and  science   • STEM  needs  a  better/increased  focus  
outside  the  classroom   • Stay  ahead  of  technology  

1
• Get  all  materials  online   • Continue  to  offer  more  lunch  choices  -­‐  less  
• 1  to  1  computers  for  students   unhealthy  food  
• Make  learning  relevant/interesting  -­‐  help   • Language  skills  -­‐  more  review  for  testing  
students  relate  to  content   • More  review  for  final  exams  -­‐  one  week  to  
• Increase  in  technology  oriented  classes  (i.e.   prepare  for  final  exams  
Creating  apps)   • More  time  spent  on  areas  of  strengths  
• Social  networking?  Could  it  help  with  courses?   • Create  venues  that  help  areas  of  strength  
• Increased  use  of  Moodle    and  online  content   after  school  (i.e.  Depths  of  strengths)  
• Students  interact  with  material  instead  of   • More  AP  classes  in  math  and  reading  
lecture  -­‐  re-­‐enact  history   • Teachers  should  remember  that  they  mentor  
• All  students  have  some  hours  to  help   the  student  (did  you  know  me  and  care  about  
transportation  cost  -­‐  more  money  for  other   me?)  
activities  (i.e.  Field  trips)   • Every  building  in  WCS  must  be  wireless  to  
• Re-­‐evaluate  required  courses  to  see  if  they   keep  up  with  other  systems  
are  really  needed   • Collaborate  
• Focus  more  on  career  oriented  classes  in  high   • More  cooperation/less  competition  
school  over  general  content   • E-­‐readers  &  e-­‐books  
• Open  campus  for  courses  -­‐  multiple   • Technology,  technology,  technology  (for  every  
scheduling  options   student)  
• Change  high  school  schedule  to  fit  college   • Elementary  social  studies  and  science  
atmosphere   discovery  based  learning  -­‐  consistent  among  
• Changes  in  drug  awareness   schools  and  grade  levels  
• Elementary  and  high  school  go  to  school   • Address  the  health  of  our  children  -­‐  our  sports  
together  or  have  elementary  school  go  first   meet  the  needs  of  our  elite  ($  and  physically)  -­‐  
• Maybe  do  all  year  around  school   tracking  students  way  too  early  -­‐  phys  ed  for  
one  semester  at  the  freshman  level  and  no  
• Better  technology  
more?  
• One-­‐on-­‐one  time  with  teacher  
• Phys  ed,  art,  music  
• Hire  teachers  that  like  being  around  
kids/teens   • Read  ESPN  -­‐  Game  On  
• Clubs/classes  that  help  prepare  you  for  the   • Healthy  food  -­‐  take  out  the  unhealthy  choices  
future   • Start  bilingual  teaching  in  kindergarten  
• Students  with  own  laptops  (do  away  with   (Spanish  and  English  for  everyone  with  
books),  one-­‐to-­‐one  technology   options  for  other  languages)  
• Start  language  study  sooner   • Classes  for  parents  to  help  prepare  for  college  
-­‐  what  are  AP  classes,  etc  
• Better,  more  in-­‐depth  communication  classes  
(include  language  arts  skills  in  all  courses)   • Give  “average”  kids  a  reason  to  try  harder  -­‐  a  
• Better,  more  diverse  classes  (keyboarding,   good  reason  -­‐  like  knowing  math  allow  us  to  
science,  technology,  engineering,   check  our  paycheck  
mathematics)  throughout   • Ability  to  communicate  
• More  creative  classes  -­‐  music,  art   • Requiring  classes  during  sophomore  year  
(opportunity  to  play  a  musical  instrument  at   (speech,  debate,  parenting)  
an  earlier  age)   • Replace  books  with  eBooks,  laptops  
• Critical  thinking  skills  (effective  debate)   • Students  need  more  help  with  schedules  
• Team  building  activities   • Exchange  students  don’t  need  required  
• Observe  the  types  of  careers  you  can  have   classes  except  English  
(mentoring  and  job  sharing)   • Balanced  calendar  
• Ensure  that  students  are  pushed  to  excel   • World  languages  in  elementary  
• More  time  in  science  and  math   • Latin  in  all  elementaries  
• Language  skills  -­‐  start  in  kindergarten   • Technology  in  all  elementaries  
• Students  with  gifted  skills  should  be  able  to   • Using  technology  like  online  textbooks  
move/advance   • Because  some  kids  that  get  notes  or  anything  
• A  writing  club  -­‐  use  writing  talent  in  class   else  they  need  to  work  
freedom  
• The  same  across  the  board  
• Flexibility  in  classroom/high  school  schedules  

2
• Ability  to  “test  out”  of  classes,  online  high   • Today  students  have  things  given  to  them  or  
school  classes   we  allow  them  to  be  passive  about  what  they  
• It  should  be  a  fact  -­‐  every  child  can  succeed  at   do  
a  high  level   • We  need  to  focus  in  on  what  the  students  
• Self-­‐responsibility  -­‐  self-­‐care  -­‐  things  kids   interests  are  and  help  develop  their  skills  to  
don’t  get  at  home   enhance  the  community  where  they  live  
• Life  skills   • Recognition  of  different  fits  and  skills  
• Community  garden   • Praise  of  students  
• More  electives   • Smaller  class  sizes  where  teacher  is  able  to  
spend  time  and  actually  invest  in  children  
• Full  day  kindergarten  
• Change  curriculum  actually  be  based  on  life  
• Provide  pre-­‐school  
skills  and  things  they  will  use  -­‐  example  -­‐  
• Problem-­‐solving   weight,  exercise,  etc.  Don’t  serve  chips  and  
• Critical  thinking/discerning   hamburgers  and  say  eat  healthy  =  high  school  
• Know  students  better  (counselors)   • Activities  and  skills  that  the  student  learns  to  
• Technology  curriculum   believe  in  themselves  as  this  really  sets  the  
• Learning  communities  -­‐  classrooms   stage  for  everything  else  
• Sense  of  belonging  socially  &  globally   • More  praise  for  teachers  and  less  dumping  
ground  
• EdCom  in  some  form  
• Motivation  and  speakers  for  teachers  to  keep  
• More  authentic  learning,  less  standardized  
spirits  up  
testing  
• STOP  the  testing!   • Less  testing  and  more  teaching  and  
connecting  with  the  students  
• Working  in  teams  -­‐  people  skills  
• Less  testing,  more  personal  relationships  with  
• More  project-­‐based  learning   students  
• Smaller  class  sizes  or  more  assistants     • Destination  postcard  based  on  where  student  
• Volunteers   wants  to  get  to  in  life  (example:  if  a  student  
• Modeling  of  passion   likes  airplanes,  give  them  books  that  relate  to  
• Community  involvement   that  interest)  
• Teacher  professional  -­‐  not  teaching  to  the  test   • Ability  to  dabble  in  several  areas  to  see  what  
they  like  and  are  good  at  
• Passionate  teachers  
• Quality  adult  interaction  because  you  may  be  
• Administrators  connected  to  teachers  visiting  
the  only  adult  that  they  really  have  
more  often  -­‐  teaching  
• Adult  mentor  that  follows  with  the  student  
• Following  students  through  their  careers  
longer  than  a  year  
• We  need  to  meet  student  needs  but  students  
have  different  needs  and  we  are  not  meeting   • Introduction  of  students  from  elementary  to  
their  needs  (we  assume  everyone  should  take   middle  and  then  middle  to  high  school  
the  highest  math  possible  but  this  may  not   • Every  year  the  destination  postcard  (and  a  life  
help  them  be  successful  long  term  if  they  are   coach)  goes  in  a  file  and  the  life  coach  helps  
failing)   to  evaluate  and  move  the  progress  -­‐  life  coach  
• We  teach  to  the  test  or  we  have  so  many   for  students  and  stays  in  touch  with  students  
tests  that  we  forget  to  teach  the  basics  to  our   throughout  career  
students  that  have  not  mastered  the  basic   • Not  all  kids  need  the  same  things  in  school  
skills   and  that  needs  to  be  recognized  
• We  need  to  incorporate  “life  skills”  into  our   • Destination  post  card  -­‐  teacher  as  a  dream  
curriculum   manager  with  a  life  coach  
• Business  skills  -­‐  checkbook,  taxes,  budget   • Being  able  to  create  new  knowledge  
skills   • More  activities  to  encourage  how-­‐to  thinking  
• We  need  to  promote  “self  esteem”  in  our   • Synthesize  new  information  with  current  
students  to  be  successful   information  
• Problem-­‐solving  skills  -­‐  students  expect  the   • Consider  changes/modifications  in  school  
answers  but  know  how  to  find  answers   calendar  and  the  school  day  
• Community  skills  -­‐  students  don’t  know  how   • Find  a  way  to  involve  the  family  and  social  
to  work  together,  coming  together  as  a  group   services  in  the  educational  process  

3
• Structure  the  groups  of  students  for  tracking   • Destination  post-­‐card  -­‐  finding  the  interests  of  
and  building  relationships   the  child  and  gearing  their  reading  towards  
• Communication  through  the  different  levels   their  future  goals  in  life  (ask  Rob  Paton)  
(professional  learning  communities  -­‐  elem,   • Maybe  more  training  for  parents  -­‐  in  how  to  
middle,  high)   read  to  children  
• Get  students  ready  for  newest  technology   • Work  this  -­‐  how  we  instill  this,  improve  this  
resources   report  
• Adjust  the  school  day  and  calendar   • Educating  parents  to  work  to  instill  this  in  
• Perhaps  change  teaching  styles  -­‐  encourage   students  
critical  thinking   • Too  much  technology  is  not  always  good  -­‐  
kids  are  too  much  into  iPods,  etc  =  not  talking  
• Most  valuable  college  classes  are  those  where   to  others  
the  professor  points  in  the  right  direction  and  
• Channeling  tech  so  it  doesn’t  negatively  affect  
lets  students  go  
personal  relationships  and  reading  skills  
• Encourage  speech  and  debate  skills  to  
• Think  outside  the  box  -­‐  not  looking  for  answer  
develop  communication  skills  
• Educators  need  to  respect  kids  answers  on  
• Sense  of  community  -­‐  develop  service  learning  
methods  to  answer  
projects  which  are  related  to  the  subject  
• Inquiry  base  learning  -­‐  labs  
• Peer  mentoring/learning  communities  to  
build  connections  to  each  other   • Start  languages  earlier  
• Teach  kids  to  problem  solve  -­‐  not  clear  cut  
• Lots  of  enthusiasm  to  build  a  sense  of  
answers  
community  by  the  teacher  
• Look  beyond  the  school  day  -­‐  use  school  time  
• We  see  doing  many  things  right  already   more  wisely  -­‐  offer  enrichments  -­‐  what  is  the  
• Bring  in  more  members  of  the  community  to   school  year  going  to  look  like?  Does  9  months  
create  relevance   work?  
• Develop  self-­‐respect  and  self-­‐reliance  in   • Broadening  vocational  programs  -­‐  offer  more  
students  who  lack  support  at  home   variety  of  subjects  -­‐  career  and  vocational  ed  -­‐  
• High-­‐stakes  tests  should  be  related  to  the   can’t  focus  on  college  type  degrees  -­‐  life-­‐long  
independent  thinker  that  we  are  trying  to   learners  
develop   • Improve  technology  -­‐  keep  teaching  science  
• Have  time  for  reading   and  math  skills  
• Establish  IT  curriculum  K-­‐12  -­‐  ISTE  -­‐  all   • World  changing  so  quickly  -­‐  need  to  keep  up  
teachers  should  know   • Oral  and  written  communication  increase  
• Finalize/communicate   • Need  to  each  reading  -­‐  maybe  need  all  day  K  
• PBIS  -­‐  continued   • Invest  in  the  kids  -­‐  need  social  skills  
• Character/community  education  (core  values)   • Too  much  testing  
• Better  communication  throughout   • Problem  solving  skills  -­‐  know  how  to  still  find  
corporation  =  get  connected   info  with  new  technology  
• Need  professional  communities   • Need  to  make  school  real  life  experiences  
• Need  professional  development   • Teachers  need  to  learn  new  technology  
• One-­‐on-­‐one  computers   • Improve  parent  communication  and  
• Too  much  testing  (standardized)  -­‐  45  minutes   education  and  K-­‐12  system  wide  flow  
a  kid  -­‐  reading  testing   • Education  should  flow  for  each  student  -­‐  
th th th th
• Relationships  =  life  skill   collaborating  teachers  5 ,  6 ,  7  (6  talks  
th th
• Respect  for  others  -­‐  class  size   with  5  and  7  etc)  
• Getting  students  to  be  more  engaged  in   • Structural  changes  to  allow  collaboration  
reading   between  grade  levels,  buildings,  departments  
• More  individual  study  into  what  students  are   • “Knowing”  our  students  especially  as  they  
interested  in  -­‐  teachers  asking  students  what   move  from  one  grade  level  to  the  next  and  
their  interests  are   secondary  schools  with  7  teachers  
• Less  emphasis  on  quantity  of  reading  but   • Building  student  communities,  helping  
maybe  more  emphasis  on  quality  -­‐  what  the   students  feel  more  a  part  of  the  community  
child  is  reading  -­‐  is  it  interesting  to  that  child   • More  vocational/trade  opportunities  to  hook  
students  
• Better  guidance  for  students  on  their  future  

4
• How  are  teachers  evaluated  -­‐  students  are   • Speaking  -­‐  communication  skills  
constantly  evaluated  -­‐  goals  and  objectives   • Ability  to  work  in  a  team  
for  teachers  and  provide  mentors  -­‐  hold  
• Articulate  what  they  know  
teachers  accountable  -­‐  union  vs.  getting  rid  of  
teachers  who  should  not  be  there   • Team  -­‐  cooperatively  
• More  transparent  in  how  we  hold  our   • Embrace  lifelong  learning!  
employees  accountable   • Character  building  
• More  teeth  in  the  discipline   • Help  students  find  niche  
• More  education  in  being  well-­‐mannered,   • Develop  options  
classy,  good  citizen   • Allow  for  more  experiences  with  different  
• IOWA  positive  action  behavior  program  (PBIS)   career  courses  
• More  “life  and  careers”  type  learning  K-­‐12   • Are  we  communicating  well  what  we  have  
• Uncrowd  the  plate/create  more  time   available  for  students  to  experience?  
• Work  as  a  team   • Need  more  global  experience  &  better  career  
counseling  
• K-­‐12  guidance  and  direction  
• Provide  space  in  curriculum  for  learning  life  
• Better/more  healthy  choices  for  lunch   skills  
• Make  students  and  teachers  accountable  for   • Provide  extra  time  for  students  to  get  help  
grades  and  study  habits  
• Better  guidance  -­‐  need  more  people  to  work  
• Teachers  need  to  learn  how  to  adjust  to   with  students  
different  ability  children   • Career  guidance  &  curriculum  need  to  work  
• Parents  need  to  be  more  involved  in  children’s   closer  
education   • Opportunities  to  explore  a  variety  of  courses  
• Teacher  and  parents  need  to  be  informed  of   (don’t  make  the  freshman  decide  what  they  
techniques  used  in  addressing  different  ability   want)  
children  (PLC)  or  parent  informational   • Provide  more  purpose  in  class  choices  
meetings  
• Ability  to  access  information  and  use  a  more  
• Less  video  in  the  classroom  
public  manner  -­‐  practice  more  public  speaking  
• Guided  level  math  just  like  guided  reading   and  public  interaction  -­‐  write  memos  instead  
• Foreign  language  at  a  younger  age   of  just  texting  -­‐  communicate  face  to  face  
• Mentoring  in  lower  grades  (exploring   • Using  proper  grammar  and  spelling  
different  professions)   • Improve  opportunities  for  trade  school  
• Connect  notes  to  school  work   • Ways  for  students  to  re-­‐take  or  re-­‐learn  
• Start  with  a  problem  and  work  on  it  during   concepts  
the  year   • Find  more  time  for  retesting  and  reteaching  
• Spend  more  time  on  fewer  standards   • Find  way  for  students  to  pass  after  failure    
• One-­‐to-­‐one  computers   • Find  a  way  to  pass  a  nine-­‐weeks  
• Use  the  technology  that  we  have   • Student  accountability  
• Community  give  back   • Place  more  emphasis  on  the  middle  of  the  
• World  languages   road  students  
• Balanced  year   • Less  testing  
• Educators  and  teachers  (all  staff)  trained  with   • Increase  instruction  in  personal  finance  and  
technology   life  skills  -­‐  require  financial  literacy  
• $  spent  on  training   • Emphasis  on  long-­‐term  planning  &  
• $  for  computers/upgrades   organization  
• Students  and  teachers  get  into  the  field  more!   • Increase  accountability  for  all  
(beyond  the  classroom)   • Character  education  
• Too  much  testing  -­‐  streamline  evaluation  of   • Use  technology  with  appropriate  
standards   interpersonal  skills  
• Technical  schools  and  vocational  program  -­‐   • Increase  awareness  of  extra-­‐curricular  
start  sooner   th
offerings  -­‐  8  graders  heading  to  high  school  
• Every  student  has  a  laptop  (technology)   • Develop  mentor/mentee  program  -­‐  student  
• Consistency  across  the  board  (writing)   panel  for  peer  to  peer  guidance  
• Reading  -­‐  good  writing  -­‐  curriculum   • More  exposure  -­‐  1  to  1  laptops  

5
• Teaching  technology  as  a  tool  -­‐  using   • Let  older  students  share  experiences  and  
technology  to  make  learning  more  efficient   opportunities  with  young  students  (ex.  
• More  emphasis/practice  on  writing!   Seniors  sharing  with  freshmen)  
• Focus  on  writing/communication  that  is   • Giving  students  more  opportunities  to  present  
needed  in  college/business   learning/experiences  (communication,  
• Presenting  more/teaching  more   confidence,  etc)  
• Less  worksheets!  
• Incorporating  more  business/corp  into  
curriculum/exposure  to  businesses   • Immersed  in  learning,  practicing  new  skills  
• More  exposure  to  critical  thinking   • English/LA  -­‐  practice  technical  writing  (look  at  
exercises/problem  solving   world  of  work)  
• More  modeling  of  expected  behaviors   • Develop  stronger  persuasive  writing  skills  
• Move  away  from  lecture  based  classroom   • Develop  character  development  curriculum  
structure   (responsibility,  respect,  manners,  compassion)  
• More  project  based  instruction  -­‐  students   • Teaching  more  than  just  state/core  standards  
become  more  teacher  based   • Integrate  subject  areas  and  curriculum  into  
• Business  telling  schools  what  they  need   more  connected  lesson  topics  
• Better  knowledge  of  students   • Establish  adult  culture  of  stewardship  in  
• Identify  what  we  value  and  convey  to   education  -­‐  have  people  always  thinking  
students   about  education,  helping  kids  grow  
• Make  writing  skills  inclusive  in  all  curriculum   • More  parental  and  community  involved  at  
• Make  more  correlation  between  writing  and   ALL  levels,  with  any  skills/talents  that  each  
real  world   person  has  
• Start  early  in  impressing  value  of  education   • How  can  we  encourage  more  parental  
for  students   involvement?  How  can  we  create  meaningful,  
nonthreatening  opportunities  for  
• Teaching  ownership  and  accountability  to  
parents/community  to  get  involved?  
students  (done  by  teacher?)  
• Be  more  accepting  to  all  types  of  
• Practical:  offer  more  technical  classes   parents/families  
• Better  communication  K-­‐12  -­‐  messages   • Advertise  need  for  community,  volunteer  
conveyed  through  the  years  (opportunities  to   involvement  in  schools  
discuss  during  the  day)  
• Provide  a  wide  range  of  opportunities  (flexible  
• Giving  choices  to  teach  accountability   times,  flexible  skills)  initiated  by  the  school  to  
• Collaboration  between  schools  to  teach   the  parents/community  
accountability   • Continue  to  educate  adults  about  need  for  
• Have  departments  work  together  and  share   education  
teaching  students  (have  calculus  and  physics  
• Increase  positive  attitude  about  education  
work  together;  history  and  English  work  
within  the  community  
together)  in  high  school  
• Positive  support  with  appropriate  
• Involve  everyone  in  school  activity   consequences  for  incomplete  homework  (i.e.  
• School  day  should  start  later  -­‐  students   1  hour  per  week  required  stay  after  school  if  
function  better  later  -­‐  switch  high  school  and   student  has  incomplete  homework)  
elementary  start  times  
• More  support  for  students  (i.e.  Those  who  are  
• A  guided  reading  type  program  for  math  in  
in  athletics)  who  don’t  get  home  until  8  pm  
elementary  or  even  middle  school  
after  practice/games  &  have  practice  in  the  
• Foreign  languages  earlier  such  as  elementary  
morning  &  still  have  to  do  homework  
school  
• Change  practice  in  required  courses  for  
• Stop  watching  video  and  wasting  time  that  
graduation  -­‐  why  do  the  students  have  to  
way  
learn  subjects  that  they  won’t  use  later  in  life  
• Have  teacher  accountability  standards  
(for  their  career)  -­‐  narrowing  down  courses  
• Reading  -­‐  professionals/parents  stay  up  to  
and  helping  kids  start  their  focus  in  high  
date  on  educational  and  career  opportunities   school  rather  than  waiting  until  college  
for  students  
th
• Get  kids  involved  in  creating  their  own   • Students  need  guidance  starting  in  6  grade  
opportunities   to  help  them  learn  their  person  
• Continue  to  help  students  plan  for  future   strengths/gifts/desires  for  career  choices  
opportunities  (selecting  high  school  classes)  

6
• Offer  summer  courses  for  middle  school  and   • Balancing  act  with  standardized  test  and  
high  school  for  students  to  explore  various   programs  to  help  students  
careers   • Switch  starting  time  with  elem  and  secondary  
• Some  colleges  and  work  places  are  reporting   -­‐  financial  issues  and  supervision  
today’s  students  are  arriving  “shocked”  when   • Increase  in  using  technology  in  ways  that  we  
late  work  isn’t  accepted,  etc.  We’re  spoon-­‐ can  share  learning  with  families  at  home  -­‐  
feeding  the  kids  too  much   continue  to  build  skills  in  using  technology  
• Responsibility:  teachers,  parents,  coaches,   effectively  -­‐  1  to  1  computer  available  for  all  
administrators  need  to  be  on  same  page  with   students  
accountability  and  holding  students   • Test  less  and  teaching  time  more  so  we  can  
accountable  for  their  actions   be  deep  thinkers  instead  of  superficial  
• Communicating  better  to  parents  (sending   learners  
forms  home  in  Spanish)   • More  consistent  curriculum  being  taught  
• Encourage  more  parent  involvement  -­‐help   across  grades  and  subject    
train  and  educate  parents  on  what  they  can   • Prepare  students  for  college  by  using  s  
do  to  help  their  students  at  home  -­‐  this  causes   syllabus  and  showing  them  and  having  them  
consistency  between  home  and  school   put  into  practice  some  of  the  skills  they  will  
need  to  apply  in  college  and  to  be  able  to  
• Encourage  students  to  follow  through  with  
navigate  an  electronic  syllabus  and  blogs,  
schoolwork  using  more  media  and  technology  
blackboard,  discussion  boards,  chat  rooms  
• Better  support  for  children  who  choose   and  proper  etiquette  
extracurricular  activities  to  encourage  quality   • Balanced  schedule  might  be  an  option  
educational  standards  as  well  as  their  talents   • Computer  skills  need  to  be  taught  and  
• Educators  need  more  time  to  collaborate  and   available  to  all  students  to  develop  a  skill  set  
work  together  for  more  uniformity  within  the   they  will  need  to  be  successful  in  the  future  
school  -­‐  elem  to    middle  to  high  -­‐  school-­‐wide   workplace  
uniformity  
• Testing  takes  away  teaching  time  
• Better  communication  between  the  school   • Science  and  social  studies  take  back  seat  to  
system  and  parents  on  what  their  intentions   reading  and  math  
are  with  certain  school  plans  
• Balanced  calendar  
• From  school  to  school  we  should  have  
consistency/more  accountability  within  our   • Technology  with  teaching  teachers  how  to  be  
system   more  efficient  
• Professional  development  (meaningful)  to  
• More  teacher  accountability  to  follow  
help  with  technology  and  other  needs  (critical  
through  with  schoolwide  educational  goals  
thinking)  
• Guidance  -­‐  middle  ground  students  -­‐  channel  
• Communication  that  will  enhance  and  be  
vocational  students  sooner  -­‐  options  to  move  
efficient  for  both  parents  and  teachers  (email  
from  group  to  group,  more  involvement  in  
-­‐  without  item  by  item  entering)  
clubs  and  activities  
• In  depth  instruction  &  discussion  to  help  
• Guidance  -­‐  job  shadow/internship  early  
students  make  connections  -­‐  being  able  to  
• Guidance  -­‐  assign  mentor  to  every  student  -­‐   explain  and  support  answers  
mentor  to  students  since    parents  aren’t  the   • Cross-­‐curricular  projects  that  tie  in  many  skills  
th
best  -­‐  4  grade  (late  elem),  starts  when   • Help  students  be  creative  thinkers  
reading  opens  up  a  whole  new  world   • Hold  students  to  higher  standard  in  
• Teach  thought  process  instead  of  exposure  -­‐   accountability  -­‐  don’t  enable  learned  
tech  is  helping  critical  thinking,  interface  with   helplessness  in  all  environments  
other  educational  experiences,  differentiation  
• Help  kids  not  be  afraid  of  criticism  
of  learning  -­‐  universal  design  -­‐  multiple  
applications   • Teach  kids  to  use  resources/tools  
• Music  programs  in  elem  early  -­‐  unique  music   • More  counselors  –  ones  for  just  emotions  and  
programs  -­‐  specialization   ones  for  academics  
• Better  communication  on  info  in  school  
• Finishing  work  “homework”  programs  that  let  
kids  know  failure  is  not  an  option  -­‐  rolls  over   • Peer  tutors  to  help  with  homework  
in  to  workforce   • To  get  info  out  –  flyers,  newsletters,  email  
• Parent  involvement  to  hold  kids  accountable   sent  to  parents  
• Call  outs  for  sports,  college  info  

7
• More  time  for  subjects  in  class   • Outreach  to  families  
• Laptops  are  nice  but  would  like  to  take  home     • *Kids  more  apart  of  Board.  We  decide  what  is  
• More  study  hall  time  or  time  after  each   best  for  us  kids  because  we  are  going  through  
subject  to  work   it  
• Clubs  for  different  skills   • Why  are  more  girls  in  college  than  girls  
• Have  students  teaching  students   • More  interactive  teaching  for  guys  –  change  
teaching  to  the  male  ability  
• Team  projects  
• Teach:  brainstorming,  creative  problem   • College  kids  bring  their  opinions  to  HS  
solving   • Develop  strong  WCHS  intramural  team  –  still  
• Bring  in  speaking  experts   get  competitions,  still  get  team  feeling  
• Help  with  the  “middle”  class  kid,  education  
• Teach  personal  finance  
wise  
• Emphasis  on  math,  computers,  technology  
• More  organizations  to  get  kids  involved  
• More  team  building  activities  
• Free  –  bus  rides  for  kids  to  go  to  after  school  
• More  extra  curricular   functions  so  they  can  go  
• More  emphasis  on  communication  and  future  
• Add  life  &  career  skills  classes  
careers  
• Classes  more  based  toward  leading  to  college  
• Nutrition  education  integrated  into  other  
life  
subjects  
• Computer  skills  at  an  earlier  age  
• More  hands  on  activity  
• More  languages  and  starting  earlier  
• Harder  classes  –  not  easy  classes  
• Reading  and  writing  skills  earlier  
• Not  allowing  kids  to  quit/drop  out  of  school  
• Teach  in  more  varieties  of  learning  skills  
• Having  more  internet  sources  available  
• Mandatory  citizenship  topics  in  life  and  career  
• More  specialized  classes/more  specific  classes  
classes  
• More  opportunities  to  succeed   • More  types  of  reading  and  comprehension  
• For  elementary  equalize  subjects/also  for  high  
• Science  earlier  on  
schools  
• Languages  earlier  on  
• Better  punishment  
• Determined  teachers/don’t  hand  out  grades   • 5  period  class  
make  them  earn  it   • More  freedom  in  writing  topics  
• No  drop  outs   • More  lit.  
• Better  future  planning   • More  “Step  1-­‐esque”  classes  
• Remembering  what  you  read  in  high  school   • More  club  opportunities  but  evaluate  some  
• The  days  we  don’t  have  gym  we  should  have   we  have  
recess   • More  BPA  focus    (Business  Professional  of  
America)  
• More  clubs  
• More  genuine  success  opportunities  in  Elem  &  
• Give  students  ideas  what  they  want  to  be   MS  
when  their  older  
• Do  more  with  the  “disruptors  in  class”  
• Experiments  in  elementary     • STEM  in  Elem  (science,  tech,  engineering,  
• Give  students  more  activities  in  classes   math)  
• Flexibility  in  class  schedule   • Students  –  teaching  has  to  move  to  
• Online  opportunities  for  core  classes  to  allow   facilitating  
for  more  course  flexibility  during  academic   • Teaching  practices  –  move  from  paper/pencil  
year   to  technology  
• Validation  by  testing  out  of  courses     • Special  needs  students  need  less  paper/pencil  
• Block  scheduling  to  allow  more  depth  of   more  opportunities  to  create  projects  and  
learning   present  
• Importance  of  moving  out  of  stereotypes   • Survey  students  ½  way  through  the  course  
• Bring  back  Discovery  Learning  –  exploration   about  how  the  teacher  did  and  class  
of  career  and  jobs   instruction  (give  feedback  to  teacher  and  
• Global  science  and  global  awareness   admin)  Teacher  could  improve  
• Ratio  of  counselors  to  students   • Increase  the  number  of  students  allowed  to  
• Retake  tests  junior  year  to  see  career  choices   take  higher  math  
• Changing  to  trimesters  with  5  periods   • 5  block  at  high  school  –  more  time  in  class  
• More  AP  and  more  dual  credit  classes  

8
• Expand  time  of  specials  in  elementary  school     • We  have  requirements  and  mandates  that  
• Offer  more  electives  for  core  classes   are  imposed  that  become  the  priorities  
• Offer  bus  service  for  after  school  activities     instead  of  what  was  stated  in  #1  
• Reduce  teacher  lecture  time   • There  needs  to  be  continuing  education  for  all  
• Increase  science  labs  in  elementary  schools   teachers  that  is  embedded  into  their  work  day  
• As  a  district  we  have  to  value  excellence  
• Increase  peer  tutoring  at  high  school  
enough  to  do  what  needs  to  be  done  so  that  
• More  academic  counselors  and  personal   all  students  learn  at  high  levels  (e.g.  universal  
counselors  at  high  school   design)  
• Better  informed  counselors  about  colleges,   • We  need  to  give  students  opportunities  for  
requirements,  create  spreadsheet,  don’t  hold   hands  on  learning.    Hard  to  find  employers  
back  when  we  could  become  anything   with  specific  skills  in  industries  
• Teachers  need  to  be  more  aware  of  clearly   • We  should  help  students  have  more  
stating  the  purpose  of  why  the  students  are   opportunities  to  apply  their  learning.  These  
learning.       opportunities  help  to  motivate  students  to  
• Information   achieve  &  be  motivated  
• Having  passionate  motivated  teachers  in  the   • Length  of  school  day  and  year  
areas  they  work   • More  problem  solving  –  rather  than  yes/no  
• Limit  some  of  the  bureaucracy  (i.e.  school   answers  
board,  federal,  state,  local)  So  many  
• Approach  education  from  a  team  concept  –  
unnecessary  rules  that  it  stifles  growth  &  
students  on  teams/teachers  on  teams  /  
creativity   students  and  teachers  on  teams  together  
• Put  less  stress  on  the  students  of  designing  a  
• Oversight  of  each  student  to  assure  success  
“perfect  plan”  but  rather  have  a  solid  
from  year  to  year  
direction  of  what  they  are  good  at  and  plan  to  
• Project  based  learning  to  make  authentic  
pursue  it  
• Counselors  need  to  learn  who  their  students   experiences  that  require  a  cross  curricular  
experience  
are  and  helping  better  at  helping  them  
balance  their  loads  (not  picking  the  classes  for   • Changes  in  approaches  to  or  amount  of  or  
the  students  –  if  they  have  their  required   venture  of  standardized  testing  
credits,  let  them  choose  some  credits  they  just   • Technology  immersion  for  learning  and  
enjoy!)   sharing  learning  
• Living  in  an  ever  changing  world,  need  to   • More  vertical  articulation  between  Elem  –  
teach  students  adaptability  and  “switching  it   MS-­‐HS  (a  group  of  students  stays  together  
up”   from  elem.  to  graduation  from  high  school)  
• Build  continuing  development  of  the  students   • Add  more  opportunities  for  life  application  
problem  solving  skills  into  the  school  day   • Educating  the  whole  child  
• Build  a  bridge  between  the  character  
• Increase  the  math  and  science  skills  –  more  
development  of  the  student  and  teachers  
cross-­‐curricular  classes  
having  to  teach  them  to  score  well  on  a  
standardized  test   • Mandate  an  involvement  in  something  extra  
• Less  testing  and  more  connecting  information   • Less  traditional  approach  to  promoting  
applicable  to  life   students  from  grade  to  grade  
• Help  students  when  they  are  not  ready  to  go  
• Find  a  balance  between  Authentic  learning  
on  to  next  level  by  different  type  of  
and  Standardized  learning  
remediation  
• Speech  or  public  speaking  class  requirement  
• Continue  to  offer  many  options  to  “catch”  
• Balance  with  technology  and  tactile  sources   students  (in  the  way  of  course  variety).  
• iPads  etc.  with  every  text  they  need,  readily  
• Pick  one  &  stick  with  it  –  new  programs  all  the  
available  
time.    Let’s  pick  one  &  do  it  well  
• Communication  skills  are  a  must  (written)  
• Balanced  schedule  vs.  full  year  
• Social  skills    
• Could  help  with  retention  
• Project-­‐based  things  where  groups  have  to  
• Would  we  need  to  increase  teacher  pay  
work  together  
• No  summer  jobs  
• Having  all  school  personnel  being  involved  
• Continue  to  offer  more  and  more  college  
and  loving  kids,  making  them  feel  special  
credit  courses  
• Teach  common  sense  

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• Additional  trade/vocation  opportunities  other   • Opportunities  to  succeed  
than  college  bound   • Raptor  Jesus    
• More  college  credit  courses   • Our  God  is  an  awesome  God  we  raise…  
• Networking/small  groups  for  support  system   • Better  punishment    
• Enrichment  opportunities  after   • More  after    -­‐  school  programs    
school/summer  (similar  to  Eisenhower  
• More  rigor  
adventures)  
• Every  teacher  needs  to  be  top-­‐  notch  (big  
• Keep  community/neighborhood  schools   variance)  
• Incorporate  fun/  hands  on  activities   • Do  360◦  evaluations  
• Communication  skills  –  listening,  face  time   • Ask  students  and  parents    
• Balanced  calendar  with  advanced  classes   • Ensure  that  students  are  pushed  to  excel.    
available/enrichment    
• Hire  outstanding  teachers/  motivations.  
• Larger  opinions  for  learning  multiple  
• Continue  to  upgrade  technology  at  all  levels.    
languages  in  grade  school  and  middle  school  
LATIN  rots.     • Be  responsive  to  ALL  students    
• Learn  from  best  and  brightest  _  share  what  
• Text  books  on  computer  vs.  paper  text  books,  
works  with  staff.    
high  school  math  students  –  some  allowed  
getting  notes  supplied  by  teachers,  but  not  all   • Students  evaluations    
have  this  opportunity  either  all  students   • Evaluate  teachers/  remove  ineffective  
should  be  supplied  with  class  notes  or  none.     teachers    
• Online  classes  for  high  school  students.     • Offer  more  courses  –  specialize  career  
oriented,  skilled  workforce,  internships.    
• Are  the  “Average”  kids/students  getting  the  
some  attention  as  he  upper  and  lower?     • Not  enough  room  in  schedule  to  explore  
career  path  ways  /  classes.    
• These  classes  help  kids  become  functional  
• Technical  school  offerings  workforce  
adults  to  survive  day  to  day?    
readiness    
• Put  fresh  fruit  back  into  the  M.S.  for  
breakfast.     • Grads  need  to  know  how  to  write  right.    
• Health  of  our  children  and  huge  take  way   • Focus    
choc  and  strawberry  -­‐  As  much  sugar  as  a   • Critical  thinking,  not  just  memorization    
bottle  of  pop,  school  getting  better  at  fresh,   • Learning  how  topics  relate    
fruit  and  vegetables.     • Open  campus  and  High  School,  middle  school  
• Sciences  and  social  studies.   students  learn  how  to  handle  an  open  
• Real  problems  turned  into  success!  Goodwill  –   campus.    
faint  building  strong  community  to  thrive!   • State  rep.    interfere  new  ideas  ,  philosophy  in  
• What  happens  when  we  don’t  experience   learning.    
success?  How  do  we  handle  failures   • College  campuses  like  schedule  2,4,6,  one  day  
successfully?     and    1,3,5  another  day.  
• Healthy  whole  some  thinking,  eating  and   • Athletic  learning    
living!     • Career  path    
• Nutrition  and  education  integrated  into   • All  day  kindergarten    
others  subject  areas..    
• Life  skills  
• Community  trust.  
• Teaching  team  respect    
• Working  together-­‐  Arbitration  skills.    
• Encouragement    
• Not  liability  101  training.    
• Communication    
• Real  life    
• Relationship    
• Real  world    
• Problem  solving    
• Mentor  -­‐  High  –  middle  buddy    
• Push  and  encourage    
• Better  future  plan  
• Clubs  and  organizations  –  they  are  important    
• No  easy  fly  by  classes    
• SET  ,  need  in  a  different  way  more  
• Better  punishment     accountability  and  relationships    
• No  drop  –  outs     • Everyone  will  fail    
• Having  more  technology  available     • Technology    
• Not  allowing  people  to  give  –  up  and  fail.     • Communication  –  how  to  share  ideas    
• Offering  more  specialized  classes    

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• Problems  solving/  critical  thinking     • o  All  pop  machines  must  go  o  All  financial  ties  
• Project  –  based  instruction     to  pop  companies,  pop  purchases,  advertising  
deals  must  go  and  be  removed  from  further  
• Use  data  research    
consideration  of  principal  alone  o  All  sugar  
• Public  speaking  class  /  activities     water  must  go.  o  Provide  healthy  beverages  
• Starting    -­‐  Kindergarten,  Less  testing     including  milk,  100%  juice  beverages,  water,  
• Making  students  aware  of  extra  –  curricular   tea,  etc.  Note:  sweetened  tea  and  lemonade  
th
and  the  benefits  of  this  as  8  graders.     are  as  bad  as  pop  and  do  not  qualify  o  
• Promotions  students     Completely  overhaul  the  menu  and  base  it  on  
• Help  tutor  the  slower  students  get  them  up  to   sound  dietary  principals  rather  than  "it's  
speed     better  than  McDonalds"  arguments.  Half  
measures  don't  change  habits.  
• Schools  of    choice  
• Teachers  not  being  discouraged  by  students  
• Music  implementation  early  on  benefits   that  don't  care  about  classes  -­‐  not  sure  how  
special  needs,  gifted,  challenged.     to  change  that,  but  those  teachers  need  
• Mentor  –  Scheduling,  Teach  students  to  own   encouragement  to  care  about  teaching  for  
education     the  kids  that  are  there  to  learn!  Also,  need  to  
• Study  skills  –  life  long  learner  life  skills   stop  focusing  on  putting  all  our  kids  in  the  
• Complementation     middle  learning  bracket  in  the  elem.  schools.  
• Qualities  -­‐  Self  sufficient  (skills);  Productive   Seems  the  lower  level  kids  get  lots  of  funding  
member  of  society.     &  individual  work  &  there  is  the  gifted  &  
• Writing  –  real  world     talented.  BUT,  what  about  those  in  the  upper  
1/3  of  their  class  that  are  not  in  GT  &  have  to  
• Practical  schools  
learn  with  the  other  2/3  of  kids  that  don't  
• Accountability  -­‐  For  teachers  also,  Kids  –   care.  Seems,  at  this  time,  those  kids  are  being  
English  and  Spanish  (ESL)   held  back.  I  know  I  basically  use  the  school  as  
• Get  rid  of  or  limit     curriculum  to  home  school  my  children!?  That  
• Cannot  terminate  rad  –  teachers     should  not  be  happening  -­‐  again  -­‐  not  sure  
• Establishing  adult  culture  of  stewardships  in   what  the  solution  should  be,  but  it's  time  
education     someone  started  caring  more  about  that  lost  
• By  teach  a  topic  you  must  develop  higher   top  1/3  who  are  probably  our  brightest  &  
leave  of  mastery.     college  bound  students.  I  know  they  are  
• Interest  inventories     successful  anyway  -­‐  HOWEVER,  they  could  be  
th brighter  stars  if  they  were  taught  at  THEIR  
• Mentor  -­‐  4  grade     LEVEL!  This  is  definitely  a  HUGE  problem  in  
• Job  shadowing  –  explore  options     the  elementary  level.  (Not  seeing  it  as  much  
• Tech  assisting  tool  to  shape  –  explore  options     in  the  middle  school  -­‐  however,  because  of  
• Guidance  -­‐  More  one  on  one  time  to  help   being  "held  back"  in  elem.  -­‐  maybe  that's  why  
th
student  branch  toward  their  strengths.  5/6   my  child  seems  more  challenged  in  middle  
grade  implement.  Mentor  thru  graduation.   school  -­‐  he  probably  should've  been  more  
Summer  electives  for  design,  cooking  drama,   prepared!?)  The  differences  in  the  elem.  
etc.  Trying  something  new.       schools  is  an  issue  too.  I  know  they  are  doing  
• We  need  a  common  goal  in  all  schools  to  help   similar  curriculum,  but  it  is  definitely  not  
measure  education  and  a  consistency  for  all   taught  the  same,  or  exposure  to  the  children  
schools  to  help  with  discipline.  I  am  tired  of   is  not  the  same!  
kids  running  all  over  teachers  and  their   • I  think  things  are  on  the  right  track,  but  
parents.  There  needs  to  be  a  program  in  place   minimal  changes  could  be  made.  I  think  
that  all  teachers,  students,  and  parents  must   helping  to  ensure  that  all  kids  get  the  same  
sign.  Students  who  want  to  learn  should  not   opportunities  is  a  great  place  to  start  
have  to  tolerate  behaviors  that  are  not  
• Teachers  and  staff  being  committed  to  work  
acceptable  and  everyone  needs  to  be  
toward  excellence.  
accountable.  
• Help  the  students  to  think  through  problems  
for  themselves  and  set  the  bar  high.  

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• Additional  support  of  caring  adults  in   • Students  need  high  expectations.  Teachers  
mentoring  relationships.  Additional  course   need  to  develop  curriculum  that  is  
offerings  that  offer  students  opportunities  to   manageable  for  students  while  still  
learn  trades.  Additional  AP  courses  and  dual   challenging  them.  Teachers  must  have  re-­‐
credit  courses.  Increased  parental   training  in  reading  and  writing  pedagogy  that  
involvement  and  communication.   is  research-­‐based.  Content-­‐specific  teachers  
• Focus  on  more  than  athletics.  How  about   must  also  be  trained  or  re-­‐trained  in  current  
shifting  funding  /  support  to  be  more   student-­‐centered  educational  practices  that  
'equitably  distributed'  among  ALL  of  the   are  research  based.    
student  activities.  To  be  honest,  sports  ain't   • unsure.  I  think  my  3rd  grader  is  getting  a  
all  there  is  in  the  big  ol'  world.     great  education.  
• Teachers  need  to  be  evaluated  for  the    
purpose  of  encouraging  creative  learning  
environments  and  receiving  support  that  they  
can  engage  students  in  the  learning  process,  
especially  in  middle/high  school  where  the  
classes  that  are  not  "advanced"  are  
populated  with  kids  who  have  checked  out  
along  with  their  frustrated  teachers.  Restrict  
the  use  of  videos  for  instructional  purposes  to  
a  bare  minimum.  This  generation  of  learners  
has  grown  up  on  videos/tv  and  is  yearning  for  
a  different  form  of  instruction.  It  is  their  
default  mode  but  they  welcome  creativity  and  
are  tired  of  being  "babysat"  in  front  of  
screens.    
• I  think  introducing  more  life  skills  classes  has  
been  helpful.  Continuing  to  adapt  these  
classes  to  the  changing  needs  that  students  
will  have  to  face  after  they  graduate.  Also  
continuing  to  get  students  to  think  about  
their  future  now,  and  trying  classes  to  learn  
about  what  jobs  and  skills  needed  for  them  
are  out  there.  
• We  have  way  too  much  standardized  
testing!!!  Testing  is  important,  but  so  is  
learning  and  with  so  much  time  taken  out  of  
the  year  for  testing,  learning  is  forgotten.  
Teachers  are  only  teaching  for  the  next  test  
and  it  seems  education  is  no  longer  fun  or  
exciting.    
• The  schools  need  to  work  together  
more/better.  Best  practices  need  to  be  shared  
and  used  among  different  buildings.  An  A  in  
Math  at  one  elementary  should  mean  the  
same  thing  at  one  school  as  at  another.  
• To  crack  down  more  on  getting  homework  
done.  And  lighten  up  on  the  (kicking  out)  
policy.  If  students  got  kicked  out  for  arguing  
when  I  was  in  school,  there  would  of  only  
been  6  students  left  in  the  school.  And  we  all  
turned  out  to  be  good  citizens.  

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