The McCleary School District has been taking many positive steps as of late towards the implementation of its 2014-2019 strategic plan, according to district Superintendent Dan Casler. The five-year plan is focused on goals for student achievement, school climate and family and community engagement.

Among recent developments, principal Rick Brownell has worked with staff to adopt a Love and Logic centered approach for the district. Love and Logic is a parenting and educational philosophy first developed by a school principal and a child psychologist in the late 1970s.

“This concept has changed our student and staff outlook and approach towards citizenship and discipline, and it has increased our capacity to engage with students in more positive and effective ways,” Casler said.

Information on the Love and Logic educational approach can be found online at www.loveandlogic.com.

District staff also are working to improve how they use their collaboration time during early release and staff meetings through the implementation of what’s called Professional Learning Communities.

“Teachers identify common learning goals, assessments,and instruction. They meet to examine their student work together, and they work toward strategies to address next steps for students who need more support, and also extensions for those who have mastered content,” Casler explained of the collaborative PLC approach.

Technological innovation also has been a large part of the district’s recent focus, thanks especially to technology coordinator Antha Holt. Students across many grades now are learning cutting-edge computer science standards, Casler said. Teachers are participating in training to learn programming concepts, he added, and as a result students have new opportunities to engage with tools such as Ozobots robots (www.Ozobot.com), LittleBits STEAM (www.littlebits.cc), and LittleBitsCoding. The Grays Harbor Community Foundation is responsible for helping to make the materials available to students.

Casler said the district appreciates what he says is the strong parent and community involvement seen this year and encourages the public to keep up to date on district events at mcleary.wednet.edu and by following the district on Facebook.

The McCleary School District serves about 350 students in grades preschool through eight.

(photo provided by McCleary School District) McCleary Middle School students Trenton Hayes and Logan Skeem assemble a LittleBits STEAM coding kit during their elective class.