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An Integrated School Improvement Plan for
ST. THOMAS/ST. JOHN
March 2004 ñ March 2006

School
The
1.
Introduction and Background
1.1 School Community
The
School
Strengths:
…
Committed
staffİ
Our staff
extends the teaching/learning environment beyond the scope of the school
day.İ They report early, work through
lunch hours, and work after school to help those students who need
assistance.İ To support learning in
reading and math, our teachers are active in after school clubs such as Math
Counts and Family Reading Nights.İİ
Twenty-five percent of our faculty are also leaders in the National
Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
…
Staff Qualification and Stability
Our staff
is highly qualified:İ 93% have a B.A
degree or higher and only one teacher works outside his/her field.İİ Sixty-seven
percent of our teachers have been working at the school for over five years.İ
Reading
Supportİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİİ
The
Remedial Reading teacher provides development reading for a group for 7
students in the primary Transitional class.İ
She also provides remedial instruction for students in grades one, two,
and the primary Transitional class.İ
Additionally, we participate in 2 programs that extend reading beyond
the classroom:İ
…
Technology
In
our computer lab and/or in the classrooms, students use
computers in the content areas in math (Leap Frog Math), as a problem-solving
tool (spreadsheets, puzzles, Inspiration) and in reading comprehension (Top Hat
Tales and AstroWord). İOur Technology Committee trains other teachers
to use technology in support of reading and math.İ This provides teachers with additional
strategies to individualize instruction and meet the needs of students with
alternative learning styles.
Science
and Math Lab
Our Science
and Math Lab is equipped with a variety of math manipulatives for hands-on
learning as well as equipment and materials to perform science
experiments.İ In addition, the
television, VCR, and DVD player are used to show educational programs.İİ The equipment in the Lab supports
alternative learning styles by providing visual and kinesthetic learning tools.
…
After
School Program
In order to provide assistance
to students who have shown a weakness in core academic subjects, particularly
reading and math, we have conducted an After School Program at Muller for the
last 6 years.
Challenges:
…
Very low scores on standardized testİİİ
Based on
Spring 2003 scores on the WRAT standardized test, over 66% of our students
scored below the 50th percentile in reading and in math.
Low Parental Involvement
Many
parents have more than one job; many of our students come from one-parent
families; the education of some of our parents is minimal, and some of our
parents are grounded in a culture that believes that the school is in charge of
their childís education. These factors result in reduced parental involvement
as confirmed by an average PTA attendance rate of 25%.İ Research indicates that parental involvement
significantly increases student achievement (1987). İ
Technology İAs per our technology plan, we should have 3
computers in each classroom.İ We only have
1.1 which is not enough to significantly support reading and math.
1.2 School Improvement Team
As in the past years, faculty and staff members volunteered
to be on the 2003-2004 School Improvement Team.İ
Additional persons were recruited to represent various groups in the
school and community.İ (See below.)İ The Team Leader was elected by the group
members.İ Each year, faculty and staff
sign up for various committees and decide how many years he/she will
serve.İİ
Table 1: School Improvement Team
|
Team Member |
Position |
Roleİİİ
(COMMITTEES) |
Length of Service |
|
Mrs. O. Shillingford |
Principal |
Assessment Committee,
(chair) |
1990- |
|
Mrs. C. Sarauw |
Assistant Principal |
Assessment Committee |
2003- |
|
Mrs. A. Carty |
Librarian |
Team
Leader, |
1989-92, 1995- |
|
Mrs. C. Tyson |
Computer Teacher |
Technology Committee,
(chair) |
1989- |
|
Mrs. E. Stephen |
K- teacher |
Assessment, Reading
Committee |
2000- |
|
Mrs. L. Lettsome |
5th grade
teacher |
Technology, Math Committee |
1998- |
|
Mrs. J. Norford |
Transitional teacher |
Math (chair) and Parental
Committees |
2003- |
|
Ms. A. Callwood |
GAT teacher |
Technology, Reading |