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care bear stare
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Posted: Thu May 15th, 2008 05:36 am |
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Yes, there are two playgrounds. The secondary playground is took the primary playgrounds equipment. So now because teachers are unwilling to walk to that playground the primary students will have to share a playground with the kindergardeners next year. However, right now the primary students do not have equipment because it was moved to the field for the secondary playground.
Now the secondary playground is out of commission because of ground cover, new wood chips.
Over the summer the district is taking out the portables and expanding the kinder playground, which will now be for all primary students.
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fluster
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 05:47 am |
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| My 7th grade daughter came home from a dance tonight upset, she told me that the 8th grade were allowed to attend the dance even through they did not spell the word Character. I was told that the principal over ruled the student council and told them that the 8th grade was allowed to attend, even through the 8th grade team did not even try to do a thing to help the 8th graders earn the dance like the 7th grade team did.
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ex-KWfamily
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Posted: Thu Apr 24th, 2008 05:22 am |
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| Does anyone know what is going on at the new playground at Kingswood
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ex-KWfamily
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Posted: Sat Apr 5th, 2008 08:10 pm |
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| From what I am was told that area that the new play structure belongs to the district if fact the whole field from the school the the small fence that the Kingswood Parke HOA put up belongs to the school. They have told me that they are planning to put a fence around the whole area, when they do it is the question
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jasonw
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Posted: Sat Apr 5th, 2008 05:28 am |
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| Any idea why the students at Kingswood are playing on a new play structure in an unfenced area. Is that school property or park property? It seems to create an open campus. What if there were a loose dog or one of the many coyotes roaming the park, the students have no protecton. Any idea why the play structure was moved without a fence up first? Are there plans to install a fence? When were they going to inform the parents about this new playground and the change?
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ex-KWfamily
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Posted: Sun Mar 16th, 2008 10:32 pm |
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| Drove by Kingswood today and notice how much work they have done to get the play structure up, I guess the school administrators do not care if the students have anything to do except run around, or what not
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Sqeakster
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Posted: Fri Mar 14th, 2008 07:30 pm |
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My kids attended Kingswood for all of their schooling until this year. My last one is in a different school. The reason for the move was not the teachers as much as other reasons. For the most part, I truely believe there are a lot of excellent and caring teachers/staff at this school. They are going through tough times and there are some issues that need to be addressed.
I feel the biggest issue Kingswood faces is it is not the pet school of Dr. Pletnick so it will never get the attention it deserves. One of our school board members moved her child out of Kingswood. Has she visited Kingswood to see what the board can do to help? No, she went to Canyon Ridge so she could boast about how great that school is. Don't get me wrong, I am very please with Canyon Ridge, but shouldn't our board members be concerned about Kingswood or other schools that really need help? Why focus her attention on a school that has no issues? Because she only cares about the pet project and her childs school? If parents would go to the board meetings and see what is going on it will amaze you.
Kingswood ran out of money for supplies for the teachers at Kingswood. How do I know, my wifes teaches there. Instead of fixing the issue, they just blamed the office manager for not spending correctly???? The the district published a letter saying they have plenty of money. At Kingswood, if they run out of supplies, like paper, teachers were told to ask parents to bring it in. Again, a district leadership serious problem.
I have asked why did the district spent the money to hire office manager's when there really was no need, they had the staff who is paid well to manage the school. That money could have been used to help the teachers, help the students. I received no answer.
Why are school board member going on district tax payers money to a conference that is NOT for board members? They are married to each other and both work in the education field. Maybe to better their careers at other district? The district did not have the money to waste for their trip, it should have been used to help education our kids, not for them to go to New Orleans. I asked the board and did not get an answer that was even close to satisfactory. What was most amazing, after the board meeting, Mr. Otterman told me and my wife to our face, he does NOT care what the people think, he doing what he wants.
The fear factor within the district is high. NOBODY is going to speak up, especially as a group and confront Dr. Pletnick or this current school board. It is very sad to see.
Someone mentioned its getting better and things are turning around. I truely hope they are, the kids deserve it. We can all help by getting out and voting to fix our district which will help schools like Kingswood this November. That does not take much effort.
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ex-KWfamily
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Posted: Fri Mar 14th, 2008 01:42 am |
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| Yes for some stupid reason, someone decided to move the play structure that was behind the school to the field, why I do not know but I think the timing of this action is stupid since now no one will be able to use the play structure until they are done putting it back together and the student that did use it will be bored to death until they get a replacement. When they playground structure is being use it will be destroyed by the neighborhood kids what have vandalize their own park as well by the older students at Kingswood.
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poparent
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Posted: Thu Mar 13th, 2008 08:44 pm |
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| Does anyone know what is going on at Kingswood I drove by there and there is construction. I thought it was over, but I guess I am wrong, it looks like they are putting up a play structure. I have also drove behind the school and I see the play structure that was there, is not there anymore, why is that? Last edited on Thu Mar 13th, 2008 08:45 pm by poparent
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Be happy
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Posted: Sun Feb 24th, 2008 05:51 pm |
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dysartteacher #1 and KWteacher you need to change your font so that everyone does not know you are using different names.
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poparent
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Posted: Fri Feb 22nd, 2008 04:43 am |
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| That the point the district messed things up and it going to take a school that was doing great a while to get back where it was, but parents should not base the performance of a school by Dibels but by how the whole picture is doing and it does not look bright
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diablorio
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Posted: Fri Feb 22nd, 2008 04:16 am |
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What does it matter if Mr. Tighe wanted to move or not? He was damned if he did and damned if he didn't. Mr. Tighe knows better than to divulge confidential info to untrusting parties. Bottom line- he has nothing to do with Kingswood. He's top notch and people want to work for him. He opened his school and went about his business. Now, what happened to Kingswood?
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poparent
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Posted: Thu Feb 21st, 2008 04:25 am |
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| Dysartteacher #1 why are you protecting a district who would allow a bus to take a school board member kid to canyon but not a teacher child who lives in the district. Also yes Mr Tighe told me this and I feel that the public should know this since any principal that they like and have might be moved for no reason. But then I guess it was ok for the board to slip past two vacation paid by taxpayers for two board members.
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dysartteacher#1
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Posted: Thu Feb 21st, 2008 03:40 am |
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poparent wrote: KW Teacher all I got to say is that Mr Tighe told more than one person that it was not his choice to leave...
Popparent,
The comment about whether or not Mr. Tighe was forced to leave, was to point out that YOU said he told you in confidence. It was questioning whether or not you should be sharing this information on an internet forum for all to see.
If he didn't state it in confidence, so be it. If he did, well it's not for me to judge, but I don't think you would wish for everyone to see that you were breaking the trust in confidence some may have in you.
Last edited on Tue Feb 26th, 2008 03:21 am by dysartteacher#1
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jasonw
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Posted: Wed Feb 20th, 2008 04:47 am |
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| I am a parent of a kindergartener and an uncle of a 6th grader at Kingswood. It is obvious that the school needs help, but this is a transition year. They have had numerous different leaders in there in the past 2 years, and now they are adjusting. While I notice a sense of negativity at some levels, and hear some quables about teachers having no administrative support, I must say that I could not be more PLEASED with the education my KINDERGARTEN daughter is recieving. All 5 ladies that teach Kindergarten should be commended. They are always smiling and compassionate and truley care about their students, and from what rumors I have heard, their DIBELS results show their effort and hard work. I hear they are at the top of the dysart schools, I only wish that the rest of the Kingswood community,( parents, teachers, and neighborhood members,) would jump on board the Kindergarten bandwagon and start supporting their children in a positive and beneficial way. Change takes teamwork and we, as parents, need to get off our behinds and start making changes in a positive way!
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poparent
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Posted: Wed Feb 20th, 2008 04:26 am |
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KW Teacher all I got to say is that Mr Tighe told more than one person that it was not his choice to leave, in fact he has advice for someone else to fly under the radar since the district did not like that person too. Also Mr Tighe would have call a meeting so all teachers and staff would be there not an last minute called meeting but Pletnick said for him to do it because she wanted to babysit him so he would not tell the truth.
If you believe that Kingswood is doing so great now why are there still problem there and some parent concern about kingswood
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KWteacher
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Posted: Tue Feb 19th, 2008 05:20 am |
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poparent wroteSurprise_teacher I have known Mr. Tighe for the five years he was there at Kingswood...He has confide in me that it was not his choice to move but the district.
Again, from the way you worded this, it was suppose to be kept in confidence. I personally don't beleive it, but even so, I don't think he intended it being on this blog.
If it was why was Dr. Pletnick was at that meeting when he informed his staff of the so call decision.
She was there to inform us of our new Principal that they were interviewing, or had interviewed...I'm not exactly sure. However, I was at that meeting and it had nothing to do with Dr. Pletnick stating that Mr. Tighe had no choice.
For helping out to get Kingswood better I am burned out for the past two years trying so.
Things that might help:
1. Get parents on the school board that are concern with all students well being, not just their own.
I agree 100%
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KWteacher
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Posted: Tue Feb 19th, 2008 05:08 am |
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I understand that you all are unhappy with the progress at KW. Change does not come over night. The positive changes that have been made so far this year, are wonderful. But you all don't see that.
You cannot compare Kingswood 3 years ago, to Kingswood now to see growth. Everyone, at least a presume, everyone had their opinions about how poor Kingswood performed last year.
When this year started, we had parents who chose to skeptically sit along the sidelines to see how the cards would fall. We also had parents who were excited about helping and being a part of building Kingswood back up. We are moving back up, but it takes longer to recover than it does to fall apart. We have made progress from last year.
We actually had a planned winter program. Our band performed beautifully at their concert. We've adopted Character Counts, and the students appreciate it. The overall morale of the school is rising.
As far as tests, such as Dibles, it's to my understanding that this is the first year that 5th and 6th grade students have been required to complete these tests. This is new to them. And yes, this reading assessment is designed to monitor reading fluency, not comprehension. Comprehension assessments, such as DRA, could not be completed and monitored weekly.
I work hard for my students. Not only that, I spend many nights calling parents, in order to keep them informed of what is going on with their children, and help them become a part of their child's learning. My parents seem to appreciate this.
I take great offense to people coming on here and making judgements about our staff and students, when we are recovering from what, in my opinion, was a "tough" year.
Poparent,
I worked for Mr. Tighe also, and I hold him in high regards. If, in fact, he confined in you about his lack of a choice in the matter of leaving KW, why are you bellowing the information on this blog?
Last edited on Tue Feb 19th, 2008 05:10 am by KWteacher
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poparent
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Posted: Tue Feb 19th, 2008 03:19 am |
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| concerned parent, the moral there is low in turn teachers and staff tend to be negative, that can be change, where and how is the question. I do know that there is a lot of teachers as well as teachers assistant believe that they are not being supported by the administration there. It also does not help when the eight grade is running amok and now they are trying to control them. All schools as well as business have problems, but when they are compound by lack of leadership as well a bullies it hurt them more
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concerned parent
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Posted: Tue Feb 19th, 2008 12:35 am |
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poparent-
but if it is true that there is a problem with the school not being a friendly positive place to be, how can that be handled? Ive heard some staff are not to kind.Last edited on Tue Feb 19th, 2008 12:56 am by concerned parent
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poparent
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Posted: Tue Feb 19th, 2008 12:00 am |
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Concerned parent Kingswood Kindergarten teachers are the greatest, the district did chase the best away but she was going to retire this year anyway, in fact all the teachers are great except the 8th grade, where my last child is, thank god.
Surprise_teacher I have known Mr. Tighe for the five years he was there at Kingswood, I work with him on school projects as well was about to transfer my kid to Western Peaks if it wasn't my concern messing my kids head up with the move. He has confide in me that it was not his choice to move but the district. If it was why was Dr. Pletnick was at that meeting when he informed his staff of the so call decision. So do not believe what the district tell you because at on of the parent meetings last year Dr Plectnick told the parent the reason they moved Fran Sperling was because Kingswood was failing, which is BS since it was at performing plus.
For helping out to get Kingswood better I am burned out for the past two years trying so.
Things that might help:
1. Get parents on the school board that are concern with all students well being, not just their own.
2. When hiring a new principal let the community make that decision, not the idiots at district level since they have failed with the last one and the current one the jury is still out.
3. Make sure that the money is going for the right items, teacher materials, salary, books and upkeep of the schools.
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Surprise_teacher
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Posted: Mon Feb 18th, 2008 08:54 pm |
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poparent,
From all indications, and I trust my information on this, Paul Tighe wanted to move on. He had been at Kingswood for quite a while and wanted a new challenge. I do realize there has been some turbulence with their administration, and that certainly warrants concern. You mention the turnover amongst the staff. The changes you mention over two years are not very different from any other Dysart school during that time period. I agree with you, and research shows, that having stability within the staff is important to school and student success. I'm just trying to say that Kingswood has no more turnover than most district schools, for better or worse, and actually seems a model of stability compared to some others.
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Kingswood Parents
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Posted: Mon Feb 18th, 2008 03:08 pm |
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poparent-
Do you have kids at Kingswood right now? I'm not trying to get into your personal life, I'm just trying to find parents that are willing to come together to try to make KW a better place. Would you be willing to make a list or write a statement about your concerns?
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concerned parent
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Posted: Mon Feb 18th, 2008 03:00 pm |
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poparent-
You seem to know alot about this school. I would find your information valuable, and would be thankful if you would share some of your concerns. I am supposed to register my kindergartener this year. I'm not normally an alarmist but what I have heard really scares me. Not just scores but also how teachers and staff treat the kiddos and the parents and each other.
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poparent
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Posted: Mon Feb 18th, 2008 03:55 am |
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| I think Kingswood has gone back wards for the past two years, and that is when the district decide to move a principal and the year before a assistant principal. during those two years they went through two principals, they are on their third, lost three strong 8th grade teachers, 2 sixth grade teacher, one 7th grade, an whole 2nd grade, two forth, three kindergartens and a third grade teacher. Also putting a great value on DIBELS is not a great one since what I get their instructional coach have told them that speed is important not understanding the content. Yes there are problems at Kingswood, and I can name a lot of them but it will take all of the page.
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Kingswood Parents
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Posted: Mon Feb 18th, 2008 01:25 am |
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| I don't have children in 8th grade so I wasn't aware of this. I think there are a lot of things at Kingswood that need to be improved, I was just using the DIBELS scores as one example of things that aren't as good as they should be at that school.
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poparent
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Posted: Sun Feb 17th, 2008 06:43 pm |
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| DIBELS is another standardized test that the district give, it does not mean a thing since the upper grades have also administered the AZAC and will be doing the AIMS testing too. If I am right DIBELS checks the fluency of the student reading. If we blame the teachers at Kingswood or any other school we should be blaming the parents too since they also have failed their child upbringing by not making sure that their child is reading more than playing video games. So I am not PO on these scores since not all students are great test takers. My problem is the lack of structure that the 8th grade has on their students. I have heard and seen thing that make me cringe and the 8th grade teachers do not do a thing, other teachers have to police those kids while 8th grade teacher talk to each other.
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Kingswood Parents
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Posted: Sun Feb 17th, 2008 05:07 am |
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| I'm wondering if other parents have concerns about Kingswood. For example, I heard the upper grades had poor DIBELS scores. Is anyone else worried that Kingswood isn't what it used to be?
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