Dear Walker Community

 Our district vision is for all students to graduate from high school and be prepared for a successful life.  For many students the decision to continue their education after high school is made before they finish middle school. To help students and parents think about education beyond high school and to start preparing for the decision that will come in the next few years, we have built a link on our website that will have college readiness information.  The information will be collected in the “Counseling” section of our web page.  We will search for information that is appropriate for middle school students and we will also collaborate with the high school counselors in searching for information.  Your child may be interested in a vocational school, a two-year college, or a four year university. Please use this resource as a map to help find the way that will lead to the successful life we want for all our students.  “Where there is a will, there is a way.”

 Pete Danner

Principal

I have had a wonderful opportunity the past few days to attend a conference focusing on dual language instructions. I learned strategies to share with teachers which apply not only when teaching dual language students, but which will be beneficial for all students. I also learned about the successes and challenges in other districts. It was an invaluable opportunity to reflect with colleagues on the strengths of the West Salem DL program and collaborate on the vision of our continue success.   Pete Danner, Principal
 

 Dual Language Instruction

 A Dual Language instructional program teaching academic fluency in Spanish and English has been part West Salem for nearly a decade.  Students start the program in kindergarten or 1^st grade and receive Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies  instruction in both languages.  DL was a part of Walker Middle School for 4 years until the program was relocated to Straub MS in 2011-12.  Harritt Elementary School is Dual Language (all grades) and Myers elementary School is in the second year of implementation (grades K-2).  Walker MS was scheduled to start DL classes again in 2016-17 for the students coming from Myers Elementary. 

Last spring, however, it became apparent that the numbers of students coming through Harritt were too large for one section of dual language instruction and not large enough for two sections at Straub MS.  Walker MS, however, accepts a number of students from Myers Elementary school who would qualify for DL.  Combining the DL students from Straub and those incoming from Harritt and Myers, Walker MS could create two full sections of DL classes.  In order to sustain the DL program into the future, the recommendation is to move the West Salem Dual Language classes to Walker MS beginning next year (2013-14). 

This is exciting news for us at Walker!  The DL program is extremely successful and students in the program perform at very high levels in all academic areas.  It was sad for us when the DL program left, and we are waiting with open arms to welcome these students and families back to our outstanding school.  It is with great anticipation that we are looking forward to bringing the DL program back home to Walker MS and continuing to support and nurture dual language fluency into the future.