All eighth-grade students took a statewide writing assessment on Wednesday, January 20. The students gathered in the cafeteria for the 100-minute assessment. According to the Georgia Department of Education website, the “Georgia Grade Eight Writing Assessment” is a test of expository and persuasive writing. At the time of the assessment, students were given either an expository or persuasive topic to write about. Student writing will be assessed analytically in four domains: ideas, organization, style, and conventions.

The county health department came to W-WMS on January 21 to administer a scoliosis screening for all sixth- and eighth-grade students in accordance with state requirements. Scoliosis is a condition in which the person’s spine is curved from side to side. Students will be notified if the screening shows a need for a further check-up.

The math teachers at W-WMS attended a workshop in Thomson on January 22 to learn ways to differentiate instruction. Differentiated instruction involves providing a variety of approaches to learning because students have different learning styles and abilities. The workshop was led by Paul Riccomini, a professor at Clemson University whose specialty is providing differentiated instruction in the math classroom.

On January 19, high school football coach Lee Hutto met with eighthgrade boys interested in playing football next season. Coach Hutto informed the students that they must participate in weight training after school Monday through Thursday to be eligible for the team.

Eighth-grade girls interested in playing soccer were encouraged to tryout on January 20 and 27 at 4:30 p.m. near the Pope Center. According to Coach Larousse Charlot, a math teacher at W-WCHS, this team is to be a transition team from recreation to high school. While the team will not be on the recreation league or with the school this spring, Coach Charlot hopes it will become the high school girls soccer team for 2010-11. Meanwhile, they are looking to play in different leagues to prepare the team for the competitiveness of Georgia high school soccer.

Ashley Barnett, director of the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce, spoke to Lise Kalla’s eighth-grade career explorations classes on January 22. She spoke to the students about careers in Wilkes County and showed them the Chamber of Commerce’s website. She also discussed what qualities employers look for in their workers and the importance of working or volunteering in the community during high school.