News From Principal Burg

Based on enrollment Hanawalt was granted a full time in-class math and literacy collaborator to work primarily in grades two and five. Tara Niesen’s preservice teaching experience occurred in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Please help in welcoming her to the community.

Mr. Garner has been given the opportunity to work at another campus in Des Moines. We appreciate everything that he's done during his tenure at Hanawalt and wish him the best.

Various programs are beginning at Hanawalt including the Literacy Army, Spanish and French, Girl and Boy Scouts, Junior Great Books, Sally Foster Fundraiser, Book Fair, and much more. Thank you to all the parents, teachers, and community volunteers who have worked to offer these opportunities to our students.

Wednesday adjusted dismissal days have been extremely rigorous and productive for Hanawalt teachers. To ensure a focused and comprehensive professional development plan, Hanawalt has constructed a year-long agenda that specifically targets key concepts and strategies to improve the academic experience and performance of all students. To date teachers have:

• Analyzed student data in the areas of mathematics and literacy as collaborative teams to identify SMART goals that will anchor professional learning for adults and adjusted instructional practices for students.
• Examined the relationship between the Iowa Core Curriculum and the national Model Core Curriculum.
• Worked in collaborative teams to form the foundation of a multi-year focus on technology integration. Led by the technology committee (Mr. Garvey, Mr. Gillaspey Mrs. Hesse, and Mrs. Heemestra), staff began to highlight core objectives that students should acquire by specific grades.
• Collaborated with district technology leaders to institutionalize practices that allow teachers to instruct more efficiently using SharePoint, a content management system used to facilitate collaboration, provide content management features, implement business/educational processes, and supply access to essential information.
• Provided with access to a national spokesman (Jason Pittman) on contemporary methods to integrate technology into the classroom. His expertise has provided an innovative perspective on how information technology can heighten the educational experience of students while equipping them with employable skills as adults.

A big thank you to the parents, teachers, and students who were involved in organizing the Hanawalt Block Party. These events, united with the values and customs of Hanawalt, combine to define our culture which is a demonstration to the public that we value community, relationships, and unity. A sincere thank you for your on-going dedication and support of Hanawalt's mission to remain a holistically preeminent elementary campus.

– Andrew Burg, Principal