Meet The Principal

Dear Whittier Families,

Welcome to a wonderful and exciting year of learning! I hope that all of our families had a fantastic fun-filled summer. This new year promises to be one filled with successes and challenges resulting in student growth and learning. It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to another year of learning as a part of our educational family.

On August 27, Whittier Education Campus opened its doors to over 350 students who are ready, willing and able to learn. Collectively, we must be prepared to meet their zeal for knowledge with enthusiasm and passion.

As a K8 education campus, daily activities will focus on rigorous instruction that is inclusive of active learning strategies, differentiated instruction, excellence in technology instruction, hands-on experiences, and authentic assessments. We will focus on many academic goals this year; specifically we will maximize our energies on developing as a STEM school. Advancements in this field have radically changed the way we communicate, travel, work, spend and save money, entertain and organize our lives. In order to adapt to the fast-changing technology in our world and be leaders in using, creating, and developing the next line of advancements—in any field or career—our students need exposure to and adequate training in the STEM field. Our STEM school will design lessons and a school culture to promote STEM issues and skills. In a STEM classroom, at any level and in any subject, students actively learn through discovery. Students and teachers are engaged and motivated, and they work together as fellow-adventurers to explore while they learn.

At the elementary level, students are not required to have any advanced background, skill, or specific interest in STEM fields in order to flourish at a STEM school. The integrated curriculum simply provides basic exposure to STEM fields as a theme around which to engage all core subjects. Topics of science and math, basic exposure to elements of design and introduction to technology as a tool of learning are woven into the entire curriculum.

At a secondary level, active, project-focused classrooms are still ideal for integrating STEM fields, but more specific scientific content is also introduced. By sixth grade every student should have access to and should spend a significant amount of time in a science lab. A combination of hands-on lessons, rich exposure to technology and an interdisciplinary approach to the curriculum will help prepare DCPS students for further education and a broad range of careers.

Our extended learning activities will expand upon and enrich the educational process of all of our students. Together, they will help our students become better prepared for success on the DCCAS.

With our highly qualified teachers and dedicated staff, Whittier Education Campus will continue to provide an instructional program that will be the foundation that supports the social, academic, and emotional development of all students. The teachers and staff are dedicated and maintain high expectations for all children. They are to be commended or challenging your children to become critical thinkers and providing them with the skill and guidance to excel in school.

The 2012-2013 school year is already one filled with promise. I look forward to helping provide Whittier students with a quality education and a successful school year that enhances their academic and social growth and development. Together, we will celebrate success while expecting greatness as we strive to become a model school of excellence that prepares children to succeed in a changing world.

Yours in Education,
Tenia Pritchard