The Oregon Department of Education released the 2015-16 state assessment
results in September, with the Oregon Trail School District (OTSD) above
state averages in English Language Arts (ELA) in all grade levels, and above
state averages in math and science at the 3-5 and 6-8 grade levels. The
Welches Schools lag behind the district and the state in both ELA and math for
grades 3-5 and 6-8, but are above the district and state in science.

Welches Schools Principal Kendra Payne noted in an email that the scores are
a “snapshot” of student abilities during a particular testing window.

“A wide variety of factors contribute to and influence the results,” Payne
added. “Welches is working on renovating our intervention system to better
support students in the specific areas that they need to experience growth.

Our staff works hard at providing differentiated instruction, but will be using
new assessment tools to better match instruction to specific needs.”

Payne also noted that the strong results in the science category are “due in
part to the unique connections we are able to make with our natural mountain
environment.”

She added that the school will use a variety of resources to address gaps,
including digital tools such as iReady, ALEKS and BigBrainz, which provide
assessments, online lessons and practice sites, more rigorous structure
around staff development and training opportunities in collaboration with
other school districts.

In a press release, the district also noted that other methods are used to
measure student achievement and growth, including written, verbal or web-
based assessments and teacher observation.

“Our staff is wholly committed to the growth and academic achievement of
every student,” Payne wrote. “We strive, on a daily basis, to implement best
practices and reflect on their effectiveness. Our school goal this year is to
improve achievement for every student in literacy and math while making
meaningful connections to science, social studies and the arts.”

“Learning the skills necessary to successfully complete post-secondary
certificates and degrees is an endeavor that begins in kindergarten,” OTSD
Superintendent Aaron Bayer said in the press release. “We need to undertake
this journey together so our children arrive at the future they deserve.”

Parent Teacher Corner
The Welches Parent Teacher Community Organization (WPTCO) is looking for
vendors for a holiday bazaar/Santa’s Workshop in December.

Upcoming events:
Middle School movie: “X-Men: Apocalypse” on Friday, Oct. 7

Elementary School movie: “Finding Dory” on Thursday, Oct. 13

(All movies shown in elementary multi-purpose room, $1 entry fee with food
for sale)

Harvest Festival on Friday, Oct. 28 (afternoon for elementary students, 6-8:30
p.m. for middle school students, small entry fee)

Bookfair opening and Family Fun Night from 5:30-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4,

followed by the Bookfair from Nov. 7-10.

Next WPTCO meetings are 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, 9 a.m. Thursday,
Nov. 17 and 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, in Room 20. Meetings will alternate
between morning and evening to accommodate more parents’ schedules.

For more information, email welchesptco@gmail.com.