Events « Capitol West Academy

Diane’s Dictionaries

Diane’s Dictionaries, a program of the Elmbrook Rotary Club that promotes literacy for Milwaukee school children, provided regular and picture dictionaries to children at Capitol West Academy in October of 2009 and 2010. October 2011 will mark the third year that CWA receives the dictionaries. Elmbrook Rotarian Barry James and his daughters April and Holly created Diane’s Dictionaries in memory of Barry’s wife, Diane, who died unexpectedly in 2009. The program provides dictionaries to help students increase their vocabulary and their interest in reading and assist with homework assignments.

Summer School

CWA provided summer enrichment in 2011 through a partnership with Cardinal Stritch University. Students were identified by their teachers based on their academic performance. The summer session ran four weeks from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. daily. The morning session included intense literacy instruction with an emphasis on science. CWA teachers provided additional instruction in math. Enrichment classes were provided in the afternoon on subjects that included cooking, gardening, science, Spanish, drama, music and sports.

Brain Fair

Capitol West Academy tests parents’ knowledge of brain function as it relates to learning – and helps parents learn a lot about themselves as well as their kids – at the All Kinds of Minds fair and open house . The brain fair, as it is affectionately called at the school, is put on by the kids, in grades K4-8th. Watch for it again this winter!

8th grade graduation

Spring 2011 marked the second graduation of eighth graders from Capitol West Academy. The charter school opened in the 2004-05 school year serving 30 children in grades K5 through third and graduated 19 eighth graders this year. The ceremony, complete with a student procession in caps and gowns, was held at CWA.

K5 graduation

At a kindergarten graduation ceremony in spring 2011, children dressed in their finest donned white cardboard mortarboards, and all received diplomas. As with the eighth-graders, each child’s dream profession was announced as the diplomas were received. The event culminated with cake and punch for everyone.

Vocabulary parade

More than 100 CWA students in grades K4 through fourth paraded outside the school May of 2011 creatively dressed as vocabulary words. The second-annual parade was the idea of teachers Kelsey Graham and Kendra Thiel, who thought it would be a fun way to help kids learn. In advance of the parade, they worked on vocabulary, introducing new words and getting the kids to view photos and sketch ideas to help them with visualization and comprehension. The students chose their own words for the parade and a corresponding costume. Volunteers from The Hunter Business Group and the JC Penney Co. helped kids make their costumes.

Other activities/events:

Adopt a classroom – For the past several years, CWA board members have participated in “adopt a classroom,” in which they support teachers and their students by getting involved in at least one activity with their adopted classroom each semester. The program helps board members experience the impact of their efforts and celebrate in a classroom’s success.
Art show – Students submit their original artwork, which is on display for several weeks each year. This gives parents, students and guests the opportunity to enjoy original art pieces.
Book fair – CWA sponsors a Scholastic Book fair each October and March, at the same time as parent/teacher conferences. Children and parents purchase books for their homes. Proceeds benefit the school library. The spring book fair also encourages summer reading by offering buy-one-get-one-free.
Speak for Success — This innovative program complements standard English/Language Arts curriculum. It eliminates 25 common speaking errors and helps students quickly master basic grammar components and structure. Speak for Success is implemented in grades 5^th through 8^th. Post test results showed dramatic improvement in the acquisition of basic grammar rules in both speaking and writing.
Music appreciation classes are offered at the middle-school level.

	Diane’s Dictionaries Diane’s Dictionaries, a program of the Elmbrook Rotary Club that promotes literacy for Milwaukee school children, provided regular and picture dictionaries to children at Capitol West Academy in October of 2009 and 2010. October 2011 will mark the third year that CWA receives the dictionaries. Elmbrook Rotarian Barry James and his daughters April and Holly created Diane’s Dictionaries in memory of Barry’s wife, Diane, who died unexpectedly in 2009. The program provides dictionaries to help students increase their vocabulary and their interest in reading and assist with homework assignments.
	Summer School CWA provided summer enrichment in 2011 through a partnership with Cardinal Stritch University. Students were identified by their teachers based on their academic performance. The summer session ran four weeks from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. daily. The morning session included intense literacy instruction with an emphasis on science. CWA teachers provided additional instruction in math. Enrichment classes were provided in the afternoon on subjects that included cooking, gardening, science, Spanish, drama, music and sports.
	Brain Fair Capitol West Academy tests parents’ knowledge of brain function as it relates to learning – and helps parents learn a lot about themselves as well as their kids – at the All Kinds of Minds fair and open house . The brain fair, as it is affectionately called at the school, is put on by the kids, in grades K4-8th. Watch for it again this winter!

	8th grade graduation Spring 2011 marked the second graduation of eighth graders from Capitol West Academy. The charter school opened in the 2004-05 school year serving 30 children in grades K5 through third and graduated 19 eighth graders this year. The ceremony, complete with a student procession in caps and gowns, was held at CWA.
	K5 graduation At a kindergarten graduation ceremony in spring 2011, children dressed in their finest donned white cardboard mortarboards, and all received diplomas. As with the eighth-graders, each child’s dream profession was announced as the diplomas were received. The event culminated with cake and punch for everyone.
	Vocabulary parade More than 100 CWA students in grades K4 through fourth paraded outside the school May of 2011 creatively dressed as vocabulary words. The second-annual parade was the idea of teachers Kelsey Graham and Kendra Thiel, who thought it would be a fun way to help kids learn. In advance of the parade, they worked on vocabulary, introducing new words and getting the kids to view photos and sketch ideas to help them with visualization and comprehension. The students chose their own words for the parade and a corresponding costume. Volunteers from The Hunter Business Group and the JC Penney Co. helped kids make their costumes.