Curriculum report: 'Well Wednesday' teacher collaboration and October anti-bullying campaign

Curriculum Director (reporting to the board) described the district’s continuing professional-learning program, "Well Wednesday," and announced a district-wide anti-bullying campaign for October called "Artesians Choose Kindness."

The report said Well Wednesday provides teachers time for professional learning communities (PLCs), confidentiality and test-security training, de-escalation strategies, ALICE safety training and anti-bullying activities designed to improve instruction and student outcomes. The PLCs are described as opportunities for teachers to review student work and data and identify practices to keep students on track.

For October, the district will run "Artesians Choose Kindness," an anti-bullying initiative across all schools. The district will use educational activities, projects, displays, announcements, special presentations, guest speakers, social media and curricular activities. The district plans a rollout newsletter next week to families and staff describing activities; students will have the opportunity to sign an anti-bullying contract and schools will follow up throughout the year.

Additional items in the curriculum report included brief notes about marching band competition (the marching Artesians placed fifth at a recent competition and will compete at Greenwood) and reminders about Grandparents’ Nights at elementary schools and other fall activities.

No board action was required; the report was informational.