News : What\'s new at Vinton-Shellsburg High School

Principal Perspective –

Vinton-Shellsburg High School

Kirk J. Johnson, Principal

The faculty, staff, and administration of Vinton-Shellsburg High School would like to say WELCOME TO THE 2010-11 SCHOOL YEAR!

While the start of the school year for students isn’t quite here yet, the faculty and staff at V-S High School have begun formal preparation for the school year.

New teachers arrived on Wednesday, August 11 for a day of New Teacher Orientation.

New to V-S High School for 2010 are:

Louise Fleming, Agriculture/FFA

Jessica Butikofer, Family & Consumer Sciences

James Mochal, Alternative High School Program

Kathryn Wesley, Alternative High School Program

Eric Mohlis, Vocal Music

Aaron Zuspann, Special Education

Sherry Schafer, Special Education Associate

In addition to the aforementioned faculty and staff, I would also like to welcome the following people who are not new to V-S CSD, but are to the high school:

Megan Heitman, who will teach High School Health

Larry Gardeman, who will teach Second Chance Reading

We will also start 2010-11 with two student teachers in the building. Both of these practicing teachers are from Mount Mercy College.

Allison Brown, who will be teaching in the English/Language Arts Department

Julie Pheiffer, who will be teaching in the English/Language Arts Department

While this time of the year means students will be hitting the books at V-S High School soon, this time of the year also means teachers at Vinton-Shellsburg High School have worked together to develop and implement a Staff Development Action Plan.

Our Staff Development Action Plan has the ultimate goal of increasing student achievement at Vinton-Shellsburg High School.

Our actions for the 2010-11 school year are:

Utilize Curriculum Mapper© to map our enacted curriculum

Utilize the resources within collaborative teams to analyze, compare, and design lessons consistent with the Iowa Core.

Develop a common understanding and systematic enhancement of skill sets surrounding the (6) Outcomes of the Iowa Core.

In addition to the aforementioned action steps, teachers at Vinton-Shellsburg High School have been learning too!

During staff development teachers had the opportunity to explore technology tools of the 21st century.

Teachers began the process of learning about Twitter, Diigo, and Google Applications for Education. Teachers learned about how these tools will expand their own learning opportunities, which in turn, will open learning opportunities for Vinton-Shellsburg High School students.

A common theme that will be heard throughout the halls at Vinton-Shellsburg High School – Embrace Your Responsibilities and Live Up to Your Potential – provides a great deal of guidance to the students, staff, and stakeholders of Vinton-Shellsburg High School.

One of the most productive and profitable opportunities we have as citizens of this great country is education. With education, doors open, perspectives are clearer, and opportunities can be realized. We must embrace our opportunities in education, our responsibilities as citizens of this great nation, and seize the potential each day blesses us with.

I look forward to working with you during the 2010-11 school year at Vinton-Shellsburg High School!

Kirk Johnson, Principal Vinton-ShellsburgHigh School

kjohnson@vinton-shellsburg.k12.ia.us or 319-436-4728 (option #3) Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/kirkjjohnson