Announcements

• Picture packets will be sent home with students approximately one week prior to picture day.
• To order pictures you can complete the picture packet and send it along with cash or check with your student prior to or the day of pictures. You also have the option to order online at https://www.hrimaging.com/.
• All students will have their photos taken, even if the pictures are not purchased as these photos will be used for our school yearbook.
• Retakes will take place on December 3rd.
• All remote student families received an email regarding picture sessions on October 17th at Ankeny High School and on October 24th at Centennial High School.  These pictures are by appointment only.  Please reference the email regarding how to sign up.

The Ankeny Board of Education is pleased to announce Dr. Al Azinger was unanimously appointed as the Interim Superintendent of Schools for the Ankeny Community School District. Dr. Azinger has significant experience as a secondary and university administrator. He will step in as Interim Superintendent on September 16, 2020 when current Interim Superintendent, Dr. Jen Lindaman will assume her permanent role as Chief Officer of Academic Services for Ankeny Community School District.

“I am thrilled that Dr. Azinger has agreed to serve as the Ankeny Interim Superintendent, his expertise in growing leaders, and his dedication to public education make him the perfect leader for our school district,” stated Dr. Lindaman. “The Ankeny Community Schools values of community, challenge, leadership, excellence and inspiration were exemplified in Dr. Azinger’s responses to our interview teams giving us the utmost confidence in his ability to support our mission: Ankeny Community Schools is unified in its commitment, passion, and vision so every learner is prepared to achieve a lifetime of personal success.”

“The Ankeny School Board is pleased to welcome Dr. Al Azinger for the 2020-2021 school year. We appreciate the experience and depth of knowledge he brings to that role and we look forward to working with him. We are also grateful to Dr. Jen Lindaman for her leadership as she stepped in to temporarily fill that role,” said Lori Lovstad, President, Ankeny Board of Education.

Prior to joining the Ankeny Administrative Team, he served as Dean of the College of Education for Illinois State University. Throughout his years as an educator, he has served as Superintendent of Schools in Lawrence, Kansas and Associate Superintendent in Iowa City, IA.

Dr. Azinger received his Bachelor of Arts from Northeast Missouri State. He also holds a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from Western Illinois University; and a Doctorate of Education from University of Iowa.

“It’s an exciting opportunity,” stated Dr. Azinger. “I’m looking forward to working to maintain the high quality of education represented in Ankeny Schools during this transition.”

Dr. Azinger has strong ties to Ankeny and the school district. His daughter’s family calls Ankeny home and his three grandchildren are currently attending Ankeny schools.

August 25 Updated Arrival and Dismissal Map

Outside bus lane and car lane supervision: Adults will provide supervision for health and safety, but students will need to open and close vehicle doors.

Car lane-we will continue our dismissal process from last year.  If you still have your assigned number with a hang tag, then please hang from your rearview mirror before entering the parking lot.  If you are a new family and/or misplaced the hang tag, then clearly write or type your last name, first name of your child on an 8 x 11 piece of paper and place it in a visible part of the front windshield.  A staff member will enter the number and/or student name(s) in our dismissal program and then associated students will be released from classrooms to the main exit. For health and safety, adults will provide supervision, but students will need to open and close vehicle doors.

Bus lane morning arrival kids can enter through any of the exits/entrances along the bus lane.   For health and safety, adults will provide supervision, but students will need to open and close vehicle doors.

Dismissal day care and specialized transportation may exit any of the exits/entrances along the bus lane.  For health and safety, adults will provide supervision, but students will need to open and close vehicle doors.

2nd grade will be dismissed from specials and 2nd grade bikers/walkers will be allowed to leave through the exits closest to their specials class.

Families should identify where siblings can meet up outside of Westwood elementary. 

Examples may include the flagpole, Westwood sign, picnic tables near Westwood sign, front bushes outside the main entrance, playground blacktop, or even outside the exit door of the younger sibling.

Hybrid Schedule and Calendar for August/September

The first day of school is Thursday, August 27. Here is the hybrid calendar to begin the school year. The onsite group schedule is as follows:

Group 1 – Monday, Thursday, and alternating Wednesdays

Group 2 – Tuesday, Friday, and alternating Wednesdays

Students will report directly to class when they arrive on their assigned day. Doors open at 7:40 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and 9:55 on Wednesday.

When students are not at school, their teacher will provide required asynchronous learning activities for students to complete independently.

Thursday, August 27th and Friday, August 28th asynchronous/off site activities: 

Groups 1 and 2 will have their first day of school on Thursday, August 27th.  Group 1 will be onsite and group 2 will be offsite.

Note: For offsite learning August 27th-28th, teachers will be emailing parents independent activities that students can do with a focus on building relationships and making connections.

What does onsite (synchronous) and offsite (asynchronous) learning look like and sound like?

In a hybrid model, synchronous learning refers to on site instruction – when the students are in front of us. Teacher and the students are engaged in learning at the same time.

Look like/Sounds like:

Guided Instruction

Direct Instruction

Responding to Formative Assessment

Prompting, Cueing, Questioning

High leverage skills

In a hybrid model, asynchronous learning occurs away from the teacher or when students are offsite. This could include online interactive activities, skill based practice, extension work from on-site learning, or independent practice. Asynchronous activities may differ depending on developmental level.

Looks like/Sounds like: 

Building fluency of skill

Self-Assessment and Analysis

Analysis of text

Independent Practice

Prep for future learning

Flipped instruction

The approximate amount of time your student will be expected to engage in asynchronous learning is below:

Kdg-2nd grade:

20-25 Reading

15-20 Writing

20-25 Math

15-20 Science/SS or integrated

3rd-5th grade:

25-30 Reading

25-30 Writing

25-30 Math

15-20 Science/SS or integrate

Schedule for students participating in online remote learning

A daily routine for students in the required online remote learning environment is critical. For this reason, daily schedules for synchronous and asynchronous learning have been developed.  More details and information will be provided by your child’s assigned teacher.

Example of Elementary Daily Schedule

Kindergarten Registration PPT 2020 2021

Hybrid Learning Model

Be sure to follow us @AnkenyWestwood to keep up on all of the happenings at Westwood Elementary School!