School Goals

School Goals 2010/11

1. Riverside School School Education Plan 2010-2011 Statement of Responsibility The staff of Riverside School accepts responsibility for providing an appropriate education for our students within the laws, regulations, policies and guidelines of Alberta Education and Medicine Hat School District No. 76. Working with Alberta Education, the School District, and the school community, the staff accepts this responsibility by developing and implementing the School Education Plan. The School Education Plan will support, complement and supplement the District's Education Plan and Alberta Education Goals. Through this collaborative planning the staff gives a commitment to achieving the goals of Medicine Hat School District No. 76. The schools will have one goal aligned with the district goal, up to 2 school goals and goal(s) to address any areas of the accountability pillar that is identified as an issue or concern. Additionally, an analysis of the achievement test data will be added in September upon receipt of this data. As per provincial requirements, the School Educational Plan has been posted on the school web-site. School Council Chair ________________ School Principal ___________________ Date Date Foundation Statements Vision “Nurturing Diversity: It’s not how smart you are, but how you are smart” Mission Traditional Educational Values Within a Multiple Intelligence Framework Principles and Beliefs At Riverside School we believe that “Every Child Can Learn” and we strive to create an innovative, interactive environment providing students with a sense of belonging and security. PRINCIPLES, VALUES AND BELIEFS As a school, which is part of Medicine Hat SD76, we support the Principles, Values and Beliefs as outlined in the District’s Educational Plan dated June 2009-2010. In the classrooms at Riverside School, Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences serves as our framework. Students spend time daily, learning in many different ways. They learn by reading, writing, computing, solving problems cooperatively, moving and building, singing and creating rhythms and through diverse art forms. Our curriculum is both thematic and interdisciplinary. At Riverside School, teachers and parents become partners in learning as we strive to maximize learning for each and every child. We, the staff and parents of Riverside School also believe that: 1. Every child can experience success in learning 2. Every child is responsible for his/her own learning 3. Our school provides students with a sense of belonging and security 4. Parents and staff must work together as partners 5. Our community should be actively involved in the school As a school, which is part of Medicine Hat School District No. 76, we support the principles and beliefs as outlined in the District's Education Plan. Contextual Information I. School Profile: Principal: Mrs. Sherri Hendricks School Council Chair: Ms. Deb Widdis School Size: Our school size averaged 100 students with a staff of 6 TA’s,6 teachers, .7 secretary and ½ time custodian. Riverside School services students in the Preschool Development Program, Kindergarten as well as students in grades 1-6. The students, who attend Riverside, are from a clearly defined geographic area bounded by the railway tracks to the north, the river to the south, the Trans Canada Bridge to the west and Maple Avenue Bridge to the East. School Address: 201 2nd St N.W. ,Medicine Hat Alberta, Canada T1A 6J4 Profile of student population: The population of the Riverside neighbourhood is changing. Seniors are selling their homes and younger families are moving in; houses are being moved and new ones are being built in their place. We have some of the highest-priced housing in the city combined with some average-priced housing and some of the lowest rental accommodation. This makes for a very diverse population in terms of socio-economic make-up. We do not have any regular students bussed to the school, but do have a number of parents driving their students to our school from other areas of the city. Thus, students at Riverside School range from ages 3½ to 12 years of age. The atmosphere at Riverside School is one of “family”. All children know each other and all parents know our children. Children of all ages work and play together. We are like one big “family”. Enhancement Programs • Before and After School Program • Free Noon-Hour Supervision Program (K-6) • Intramurals in multi-age “family” groupings, emphasizing maximum participation • Inter-school athletic events • Monthly Hot Lunch Program • “Club Moo” Program • Spirit Days • Safety Patrol • Fun and Field Day • Author Visits • Musical Performances • Dramatic Productions • Guest Speakers • Alberta Mental Health Counseling • Junior and Senior Choral Choirs • Senior Bell Choirs • Kiwanis K- Kids • Outdoor Education • Annual Ski Trip • Speech Therapy Program • Crisis Management Plan/Routines • Gord Earl Safety Program • Babysitting Course/ Home Alone Course • Parent Council Sponsored Field Trips to enhance our instruction Programs that maybe unique to the school • Multi-graded teaching and school-wide MI Days • MI philosophy prevails throughout the school • Home Reading Program K, 1,2 & 3 • Emphasis on Critical Thinking Skills • AISI Program- Improving Instructional through Instructional Intelligence and Multi Intelligence teaching • Exemplary Fine Arts Program- specialist teachers in Music and Art and Phys. Ed • Swimming Lessons for grade 4 students • Thematic, Integrated Literature-based Program • Writing With Results Program-Joanne Moore • Math For Success-Darlene Cusick • Math: The Teachable Moment-Trevor Calkins • Daily Physical Education • Accelerated Reading and Math Program • FMNI – link to CHHS Parental/Community/Business Involvement/Partnerships • Riverside School Council/ Kindergarten Parent Advisory Council • Student-Led Conferences • Community Barbecues • Fun Swimming/Skate-a-Thons/ Fun skates on our own rink • Annual Christmas Family Night/Musicals • Volunteer / Staff Appreciation Activity • Friends of Riverside School Society-Casinos, Playground Committee • Student Health Initiative-speech therapy, OT, PT, counseling • REACH-assesses students in K and provides support for the teacher/teacher assistants working with our special needs students • Talent Show • Teacher Appreciation Week • Partnership with the Riverside Community and Facility Enhancement Association • Parental involvement –helping in the classrooms, library, office, with fieldtrips, hot lunches etc. • Crisis Management Plan • Jump Rope for Heart • Terry Fox Run • Foster Child Sponsorship • Kiwanis K Kids • Elks Club • The Bridge Church volunteers • Great Canadian Shoreline Clean Up- Sponsored by Zucchini Blossom Market/Cafe • FMNI coordinator visits to individual students and staff • Open House- invitations send to the surrounding neighbors/ news paper ads Instructional practices that may be unique to the school Riverside School believes that every child can learn and in order to ensure that this happens we have adopted a multi-intelligence instructional style. Students are exposed to Gardeners “Smarts” and practice them on a regular basis. Through the work with the Aisi project teachers and students are exploring and mastering many new practices of instruction and learning. Teachers at Riverside School have all taken part in the District PD Days featuring Instructional Intelligence as its focus. We have also used one of our PLC times each month to discuss, reflect and teach each other the strategies that we have been working on in our class time. Teachers have been out of the building quite a bit with this project so grade collaboration is also taking place on our PLC Wednesdays. Teachers have been using a portfolio for their Professional Growth Plans this year. We are making our plans a living document by bringing them to the PLC meetings for discussion and sharing. MI instruction is also a focus. There is more to MI than just MI days, students are working on cross- curricula instruction. Examples: Thematic, literature-based reading program • Phono-graphix /phonemic awareness-primary emphasis • Writing With Results-Joanne Moore • Emphasis on Problem Solving and Basic Facts in Mathematics • Multi-graded MI approach to teaching and learning • Emphasis on the Multiple Intelligence research and theory which influences all teaching and learning • Technology integrated into all curriculum • Telecollaborative Projects- PD for Accelerator Reader and Math • Digital story writing • Daily music and movement in the content areas help students retain information • Daily Physical Education • AISI Project – Continuation of the 2006-2009 Aisi project our focus remains on Character Education using Steven Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People as a foundation. • Cooperative learning a part of the daily routine • MI “Smart” Centers integrated into all themes • Hands-on collaborative science projects • Emphasis on the Inquiry Method of learning and Critical Thinking skills • Individual and collaborative Project-based Learning • Student Choices in learning • Student awareness of their “smarts” and recognition of their strengths in these areas • Continue to have students reflect on their own work II. School Issues, Trends, Future Directions There are a few issues or trends, which impact our school presently and/or will in the future. 1. The population in the Riverside area is changing, as seniors sell off their houses and young families move into our neighborhood to take advantage of the more affordable housing. Also, old houses are being bought and torn down to make way for very high-class river lots. This, along with the attraction of our program, is helping to steadily increase Riverside School population and for that we are grateful As we work and play in society today, we have to be prepared for many more dangers, which could impact our school community. 1.Riverside is not a school with bus students therefore we are what we like to call ourselves a “destination” school. The two elementary schools in Crescent Heights are full and portables are being brought in. This frustrates the Riverside School community as we are fighting for staff every year because of inconsistent enrollment. Parent Council, the Principal have met with the superintendents to voice this frustration as one solution could very well be bus students to Riverside custodian. 2. It is very evident that smaller schools and smaller classes have a stronger sense of community, which has become increasingly more important as we strive to build a foundation for our Safe and Caring Schools. A stronger sense of community means a common set of values for all and thus students, parents and staff feel more connected, safer and more motivated. Thus, higher academic achievement and a society focused on building “character” are the direct result. III. Planning Process – Stakeholder Involvement The process that Riverside School uses to plan for the future, discuss the present and reflect on the past is a very simple one because of the size of the school. We have a very friendly and open door policy at the school. Parents are welcome and are often found visiting with each other as well as the staff. Our teachers meet four times a month to work on PLC projects and we have a very active parent council. Issues, ideas and proposals are discussed during the PLC time- using research to guide our decision making process. Then the plan is taken to parent council. The parent council is a very active group of about 10% of our parents. The discussion there is to guide the decisions that the staff makes around the education of the children. Before a decision is made the principal will discuss the options with Central Office staff for more input. We must reach a consensus and then support the decision that is made. There is norm at the school that the decision reached will be followed out with the utmost professionalism no matter what the personal opinion is on the subject. We do what is best for the students and school community. The staff at Riverside School works on our Goals for the next year in May and June, taking time at PLC times to work together on this. 4. School Strategies, Targets, Measures SCHOOL PLAN 2010 to 2011 District Goal 1: Improving Learning through enhanced instruction Note: If appropriate please attach AISI plan in lieu of this page. Please include specific items related to this chart as appropriate. Specific Outcomes Strategies (could be lead indicators) Timelines Measures of Success (could be lag indicators) Responsibility . Teachers will improve their implementation of instructional strategies Teachers will participate in the Instructional Intelligence PD through the year. ( pressure should be decreased as staff are not expected to be out of the building so often) Every staff meeting their will be a component for Instructional Intelligence- Things we learned, examples, problems etc. – Every staff member will be given a date for their presentation. As well as present this strategy to the Parent Council. One Wed. a month will be dedicated to the KSA reading and what it takes to be an effective teacher. (Guided reading). We can get so that we are comfortable– tape the conversations and then listen to see the improvement of our discussions through the year. Through Literary Circles (professional reading) discuss Multi-Intelligence and Executive Brain Function – tie the readings into the focus of improved Instruction.. Grade level meeting – during the common prep. Periods so teachers can develop strategies that work, discuss students with difficulty and celebrate the successes. Year long Weds. PLC times Weds. PLC times Weds. PLC times Weekly grade preps • CAT tests results (improvement by 10%) • PAT results • 25% of students will be in the exceptional level of achievement • Formative and summative assessment through the year. • Students and parents commenting on how much their children love to learn and school • Teachers will gather artifacts and summaries of meeting in their portfolios. • Principal walk through- gathering number of different strategies used • • Staff and school Community Principal Teachers Principal School Goal 1: Improve Instruction Specific Outcomes Strategies (could be lead indicators) Timelines Measures of Success (could be lag indicators) Responsibility . Move our students from acceptable to exceptional on PATS- 25% Improve our CAT scores by 10% Instructional strategies will meet with the executive brain function 35% Analyze the PAT results- pick two areas of improvement as a learning team. (K,1,2) (3,4,5,6) Analyze the CAT results- pick two areas of improvement as a learning team. (K,1,2) (3,4,5,6) Academic literary circles around the KSA, Instructional Intelligence Strategies, Multi Intelligence e and Executive Brain Function., Walk through/ self reflective questions Exemplars of student work using these strategies placed above the water fountain September -grade groups meet to analyze their PAT results. Pick two areas to improve Report back the entire staff their finding and what strategies they are going to work on to improve the scores October- grade grouping meet to analyze their results Report back the entire staff their finding and what strategies they are going to work on to improve the scores Every Second Weds afternoon at 1:00 Monthly Year long Next year’s results will show an improvement in the two areas of focus Next year’s results will show an improvement in the two areas of focus Move from just knowing what they are to identifying and implementing them More variety of strategies implemented and then moved from mechanical to mastery Parents and students proud of the work that is being done Grade learning teams Grade learning teams Principal- guide the readings Teacher/ Principal Teachers School Goal 2 (optional): Improve Relationships Specific Outcomes Strategies (could be lead indicators) Timelines Measures of Success (could be lag indicators) Responsibility . Decrease issues brought to the office by 10%. Instructional strategies will meet with the executive brain function 35% * KSAs will be a topic of conversation for the first 20 min. of each monthly staff meeting * Self reflection *Give time during meeting to fill out piece 7 Habits First Mi day (first Weds of the school Year) every station must revolve around the 7 habits/ cooperation Teachers eating lunch with students “Family” groupings for intramurals and MI days Academic literary circles around the KSA, Instructional Intelligence Strategies, Multi Intelligence e and Executive Brain Function., Having staff work together during common preps to unpack curriculum, discuss students * Review 9 KSAs * Bring artifacts * Be prepared to discuss * Book talk – lit circle * 3-2-1 * Find similarities between effective practice rubric and SD #76 KSA and II Plan in June of 2010 for September of 2010 daily Every Second Weds afternoon at 1:00 Weekly Awareness Think sheets “Family feel through the school Move from just knowing what they are to identifying and implementing them More variety of strategies implemented and then moved from mechanical to mastery Discussions around learning and teaching*Teachers will be willing participants *Increased awareness of II *PLC *Strategies observed during walkthroughs *Student learning will be increased *PGPs reflect knowledge/growth Entire staff/ students Entire staff/ students Principal- guide the readings Teacher/ Principal Principal (timetable/ teachers Accountability Goal (only if an issue or concern is identified): Build capacity within the school We are leaders and must be given the opportunity to lead Specific Outcomes Strategies (could be lead indicators) Timelines Measures of Success (could be lag indicators) Responsibility . All staff will have responsibility through the year that they must look after. 7 out of 7 with responsibilities Last staff meeting of the year everyone signs up for some of the things that need to be done this year. It is the job of everyone to be supportive and help under the instruction of the leader. (do not second guess, guide if asked) These responsibilities will be in the teachers PGP At the yearend exit meeting ask how this has changed the climate of the school. All year May All staff will feel part of the community and a valued member Exit meeting ranking the year and how successful you have felt. All staff Principal