Guidance

Jaime Williams, School Counselor

Hello Winfield Families!

My name is Jamie Williams; I am the school counselor at Winfield Elementary. I am so excited to get the school year started and get to know all the new students and returning families! I will be working with students throughout the year within their classrooms, small groups, and individually (when needed). My goal is that each student feels supported not only when they are having rough days, but every day so they can be successful within their classrooms and beyond!

I have earned my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Master’s degree in Education specializing in School Counseling. I have had the pleasure of working with children and families in several different capacities over the past 7 years.

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns you may have. I can be reached at (219) 663-2287 ext. 19008 or by email at jwilliams@cps.k12.in.us.

I look forward to being another resource and partner for our families!

Contact Information:

Winfield Elementary- 663-2287 ext. 19008

jwilliams@cps.k12.in.us

Mandy Adams, PBIS Paraprofessional

Hello Winfield families!

My name is Mandy Adams, and I am the Winfield Elementary PBIS paraprofessional for your children. In my role, I encourage students to engage in positive behaviors, and I do so in various ways. In teaching the Second Step curriculum weekly to every classroom, students receive instruction on social-emotional concepts and skills. Also, our PAWS program (Play Fairly, Act Kindly, Work Hard, and Show Respect), which is our school-wide behavioral philosophy, motivates our students to follow the Winfield Elementary behavioral expectations. All students have the opportunity, weekly, to earn tickets for demonstrating behaviors aligning with the PAWS philosophy; if their ticket is drawn from their classroom bucket, that student gets to choose a reward, either tangible or intangible. Finally, I also provide the opportunity to join a small peer group and/or receive additional instructional support for students who consistently struggle with our school's behavioral expectations. Please know I want your child to have a happy, calm day every day, so if ever he/she is struggling with managing feelings, peer relationships, or navigating school in general, please send them my way.

Just a little bit about me: My family and I spend our weekends dining at new restaurants, playing at the park, and simply relaxing. I obtained both my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in English from Valparaiso University, where I was previously employed as a professor of Freshmen Writing and Composition. My love for writing is why I initially became a teacher, but I found the connections with students to be even more rewarding. This is why I am so excited to continue making strong connections with your children, and also, teaching them to continue making good choices. Here's to a fun-filled year!

Please reach out to me for anything you may need: madams01@cps.k12.in.us.

-Mrs. Mandy Adams

Contact Information:

Winfield Elementary- 663-2287 ext. 19104

mladams01@cps.k12.in.us

Meeting the Needs of ALL Learners

Winfield Elementary has resources to ensure we meet the needs of a diverse range of learners. These programs are designed to be delivered in addition to the rigorous curriculum to which all students are exposed. These resources include:

• Exceptional Education- Qualification for these services is based upon evaluation by the Department of Exceptional Education and meeting the criteria of one of the 13 eligibility areas outlined in Article 7, which is Indiana's Special Education Law. A child may be eligible for services if he or she has one or more of the following disabilities: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cognitive Disability, Developmental Delay, Deaf-Blind, Emotional Disability, Hearing Impairment, Language or Speech Impairment, Learning Disability, Multiple Disabilities, Other Health Impairment, Orthopedic Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury, Visual Impairment. Please contact your child's principal for more information.
• English Learners (Limited English Proficiency)- All families complete a Home Language Survey upon enrollment in an Indiana school. Students who have a home language other than English are screened for placement in a English Language Support Program. Our goal is for the student to increase proficiency in the English language in order to demonstrate progress and strong performance of the Indiana Academic Standards. Each eligible student will be supported with an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) which is reviewed and updated annually. Techniques and strategies such as vocabulary development, use of visual aids, hands-on activities, and primary language support help students succeed. WIDA assessments are given yearly to provide updated information relative to the student's proficiency level which assists with planning of instruction.
• MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support)- Students who are performing below the current benchmark may be offered additional services to supplement their learning. These remedial services are provided in small group or one-to-one settings by trained interventionists or paraprofessionals, and are aimed at closing academic skill gaps.
• Highly-Able Students- Students who are performing significantly above grade level may participate in challenging curriculum which extends beyond their current classroom setting. A High Ability teacher visits Winfield weekly to provide pull-out services to identified students. In addition, the High Ability teacher collaborates with general classroom teachers to initiate additional critical thinking activities to meet the needs of students.

PAWS

Practice Safety · Act Kindly · Work Hard · Show Respect

At Winfield Elementary we strive to play safety, act kindly, work hard, and show respect.  Along with individual classroom behavioral plans, a social- emotional curriculum (Second Step), our student advocate program (Wildcat Wednesday), and our character traits recognition program (Student of the Week), our PAWS program encourages students to engage in positive behaviors and maintain a safe school environment.

Students who consistently struggle with these behavioral expectations may have the opportunity to join a small peer group and/or receive additional instructional support from our school's PBIS Coach, Mrs. Adams.  These students work hard every day to try to meet their personal goals and display positive behavior.  When a student successfully meets his or her goal for the day, he or she earns a puff for his or her individual bucket.  Once the bucket is completely filled, the student will receive a predetermined incentive.  The incentive may include a positive note or phone call home, lunch with Mrs. Adams, additional recess time, or a small prize.  Students are not being rewarded for negative behavior; rather, they are given incentives when they make good choices that had been difficult for them.   

"Building relationships with students is by far the most important thing a teacher can do. Without a solid foundation and relationships built on trust and respect, no quality learning will happen." 

by Timothy Hilton

All students will participate in regular formative and summative assessments. These assessments enable teachers to understand the strengths and areas of opportunities presented by each student. Results of these assessments are shared with families.

NWEA Map Suite: This assessment is completed at the beginning, middle, and end of year. Students will participate in the testing areas of Reading, Language Arts, and Mathematics. Student results include national percentile performance, RIT (growth) progress, and denote areas of high/average/low achievement within each sub-test.

Parents reserve the right request an Educational Evaluation through our Department of Exceptional Education at any time. An educational evaluation may be conducted when a child exhibits evidence that they would qualify for Exceptional Education services under one of the 13 areas of eligibility in Indiana. Please contact the school principal to make this request.

Please check back throughout the school year to view shared resources.