WALKER'S FIRST ALL-SCHOOL BOOK CLUB!

     We are at the beginning of a very exciting journey that will incorporate a valuable reading experience, parent/child/peer discussions, and an all school common theme. 

     At any age, being in a book club teaches kids valuable skills such as reading for understanding, relating reading to personal experience, and how to participate in a discussion. Parents, who take the time to read, listen and respond to their child as a reader, will send a powerful message that their child’s thoughts and experiences are important. Parents will also get an extra-special glimpse of how and what their child is really thinking while they read.

     Every family and staff member will receive a copy of the chapter book, Julian, Dream Doctor to read and share together. This should be a read aloud either by a parent, family member or student. We will celebrate this book at school through daily questioning and contests, an artist in residence, and classroom run projects.  Around March 1st you will receive a copy of the book with the instructions attached.  Happy reading and enjoy this story together with your family.

"Julian, dream doctor." Ten of Ann Cameron's children’s books follow the adventures of children in middle-class African-American families. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2012. <http://www.anncameronbooks.com/julian-stories/julian-dream-doctor.html>.

 

READ IT TO BEAT IT WORLD RECORD!

On Tuesday, December 20th, Walker's 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders went to the U.S. Cellular Arena and helped to break a WORLD RECORD!  The Walker students, along with many other students from the greater Milwaukee area (for a total of 4,586 students), read for more than 30 minutes along with Ryan Grant, Craig Counsell, Mayor Tom Barrett and others.  They broke the previous world record (for most students reading with an adult) of 4,222 students established in Nigeria on September 8, 2011. Click on the link below to view the news coverage from Fox 6.

http://www.fox6now.com/news/witi-20111220-read-a-thon-record,0,4978425.story

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Team Respect just completed their first service learning project this past month. The students from the K-2 Team were very concerned about the recent earthquakes in Turkey. After much collaboration, they decided to host a bake sale to raise money to help the earthquake victims. Due to a generous Walker community and the hard work of Team Respect, they were able to raise $284 from their bake sale. Please click on the play button below to view a glimpse of this wonderful service learning project.

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By Chris Mann

Physical Education Teacher

 

West Allis – It took nearly 4 years of fundraising, but Walker School finally has their rock wall. In all, the students, parents, teachers and school community raised $9218 through sweat, tears, and a couple of jump-a-thons.  

 

Measuring 8 feet high by 48 feet wide, the new horizontal traverse wall at Walker School is truly remarkable. Made from 4 x 8 panels of heavy wood, each panel consists of multiple cement hand holds that create difficult climbing challenges for all who try it.

 

The beauty of this structure is that we can all relate to it. As children, we all were climbers... first by one-stepping furniture, then progressing to stairways, and eventually graduating to the backyard oak trees. The climbing wall invites students to revisit their childhood and "climb" the new challenges presented in the "new curriculum" of the 21st Century.

 

The objective of this project is to provide students with the opportunity to reap tremendous benefits associated with rock climbing. Climbing is a legitimate educational activity that encourages the physical, mental, social, and emotional growth of each participant.  Students will climb horizontally across a rock wall that has features similar to actual rock climbing.

 

Physically fit children do perform better academically!  Students who meet minimum fitness levels in three or more physical fitness areas show the great gains in academic achievement at all grade levels.  The goal of this program will be to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to participate in health enhancing physical activity throughout their lives.  A healthy population of students leads to a health-oriented community.