The calendar for the Welches Schools will be a little different for the 2015-16
school year, with one change impacting the entire school and another just the
youngest students.

This year, every Wednesday will feature an early release at 2:30 p.m., while
the kindergarten classes shift from a half day to a full day.

Principal Kendra Payne noted the past couple years included an early release
on 20 Wednesdays throughout the year, which is utilized for staff
development, including team meetings and collaborative time. The
development time will give teachers the chance to improve their classroom
instruction by looking at student data and effectively responding to it.

“It really allows for customizing professional development based on your
actual kids and the teacher’s needs
at the time,” Payne said, noting this year’s increase will bring the total to 32
Wednesdays.

Payne added that the previous model for professional development included
one or two full days during the year when kids would not go to school at all.
But under that model, teachers found it more difficult to make an impact in
the classroom.

The school district started the new model a few years ago in a pilot program
and found it successful, Payne added.

“That was found to have much more lasting impact on helping grow and
develop teacher’s practices,” she said.

The increase from half day to full day for kindergarten will also have an
impact, as Payne noted instruction time will increase from approximately two
hours and 20 minutes per day to approximately six hours. With the added
time, students will get to build early literacy and math skills along with other
content including science, social studies, health and physical education.

“We really have been able to expand what we can offer to the kids by going
full day,” Payne said, adding the kindergartners will now get to have lunch at

school, get three sessions of recess and also ride the bus with the older
students. “It’s going to be a more full school experience for them.”

The entire school will also take part in the Right Brain Initiative, offering a
five-week artist in residence experience to every classroom, funded by the
Starseed Foundation, money from the school’s Jog-a-thon and by the Welches
Parent Teacher Community Organization (WPTCO).

Meanwhile, the middle school lost one staff member due to lower enrollment
this year, but Payne noted the remaining staff will still offer a full slate of
classes.

The school will also see an influx of technology, with 35 new Chromebooks for
grades K-2, another 20 from the district for the fourth grade and the WPTCO
purchasing iPads for all the teachers.

The WPTCO will also hold elections for board members at 6:30 p.m. Wed.
Sept. 2, at the school. While all positions are available, Payne believes the
parents in the community will step forward to continue the organization’s
strong support.

“What I know about Welches parents is they’re really vested in their kids
education,” she said. “I think we’re going to maintain the same level of
involvement we’ve had over the past few years.”