View our School Improvement Plan here>>SIP  

We have many new initiatives that are included for our school plan for 2009-2011 that are proving to be very motivating for students and we hope will provide students with the best possible education and school experience.  We have three main goals;  to have a safe and positive school environment, improve reading and math achievement  and increase communication to our families.

School Wide Behavior Program for a Safe and Positive School Environment

·         We will have a safe and orderly school for the well-being and safety of all students.

·         Students will know and follow established rules and procedures related to every part of the building at various times of the day.  This includes entrance and exit procedures, classroom behavior, lunchroom procedures, hallway and bathroom procedures, and treatment and respect for equipment and property within and around the school.

·         Students will receive instruction and ongoing reinforcement and guidance for bullying, conflict management, and issues relating to adolescent development. 

·         Students will attend a “Boot Camp” twice a year in September and January for expectations in every area of the school.

·         “Cool Tools” that focus on strategies and skills for behavior priorities in the school will be taught each Wednesday in homeroom.

·         During each week there will be an incentive program for observable appropriate behavior and meeting the expectations.

·         Students will receive “WOW” tickets as appropriate behavior is observed and students can enter a weekly raffle during lunch using their tickets.

·         All students with three or less referrals to the office and no out-of-school suspensions will attend a monthly celebration for excellent behavior.

·         When students need help with discipline choices, proactive means will be used that include parent contact, behavior plans, and supportive contact and instruction from staff.

Pw  PBIS Matrix:
ENGISH
SPANISH

Reading/Writing

·         Direct instruction for all students in the 18 Illinois Assessment Framework Reading strategies each month with emphasis in every class across the content areas.  These skills include important reading strategies such as:  Fact and Opinion, Words in Context, Sequencing, Cause and Effect, Drawing Conclusions, Inference, Story and Literacy Structure, Making Predictions, Summarization, Compare/Contrast, Main Idea, Literary Terms and Devices, and Author’s Purpose.

·         Students will take a common assessment on the Reading Framework strategy presented each month and receive reteaching, small group instruction, or enrichment based on the results.

·         All students will be given instruction in balanced reading using supplementary reading materials at their level across the content areas for 30 minutes each week this year and 50 minutes next year.

·         All students will keep a reading log with reading responses and read silently during homeroom three days a week.

·         Students will receive daily instruction in Academic Vocabulary using Marzano’s Six Steps of Vocabulary Development across the content – including active games.

·         Students will receive instruction in writing per the new program “Step Up to Writing”.  Beginning in 2010-2011 students will participate in completing quarterly writing probes to chart their progress.

Math

·         Students will receive differentiated instruction based on MAP scores, common assessments, and other assessment information.  This will include reteaching, small group instruction, and tutoring. 

·         Opportunities for classes addressing students instructional levels based on MAP scores will be provided.  Examples of this are Algebra I and II.

·         All students will receive instruction in note-taking strategies.

·         Students will have access to manipulatives as needed.

·         Students will receive instruction in Academic Vocabulary for mathematics.

·         Students will receive instruction in extended response for math as presented on ISAT tests.

Increased and Effective Communication to Families

·         Personal communication with families in English and Spanish regarding discipline issues and academic concerns.

·         Written communication in English and Spanish for important events at the school.

·         A parent advisory board to discuss issues that arise and are of concern to parents.

·         There will be several parent events each year to address vocabulary, reading, and ISAT.

·         A parent questionnaire to solicit parent opinions on how to improve the school.

·         Quarterly newspaper highlighting school happenings and student work.

·         Award ceremonies for student achievement and citizenship.

We want to encourage parents to call and have access to an administrator to address concerns and questions.  Feel free at any time to call Mrs. Giless, Principal at (815) 687-6834.