Collaboration and Teamwork
As an instructional team (administrators and teachers), we disaggregated the data from NWEA MAP assessments per grade level, per subject, per student. We asked teachers to select the area(s) of concern they wished to work with in small group sessions for Intervention Hour and Saturday School and collectively, we discussed strategies for improvement.
After the administration of the MAP Winter 2018 assessments, we invited each family to attend the Student Goal Setting Conference. The purpose of this conference was to establish a team approach to collaborate and discuss a plan to increase academic performance. In the conference, we discussed the top two (2) areas of concern in both Reading and Mathematics for each boy. Our discussion focused on the results as shared on the Student Profile sheet. Parents and students signed the Student Goal Setting Contract. In the contract, parents agreed to: 1. Assure that the individualized weekly homework package was completed, signed and returned; 2. Students (grades 3rd-5th) attended 3-hr Saturday School; April and May); 3. Mandatory attendance in Intervention Hour; Monday – Thursday afternoons.
At the conference, parents were given a list of concepts from the Student Profile Sheet to use as a practice resource at home. Students were placed in Intervention Hour sessions according to need. The two (2) lowest areas of concern in Reading and Mathematics were identified and addressed in small groups that followed an A/B schedule; Monday- Thursday. These sessions were held April - May.
At the conclusion of the MAP Spring 2018 assessment, we identified the lowest two (2) areas of concern in Reading for each student. With this data and an in-house designed K-6th writing program, we implemented our Summer Institute; a half-day program running for four weeks on a four-day week. Our writing program covers Stages 1-9 in 4 styles of writing narrative; expository; persuasive; descriptive. Parents will attend the closing exercise on 11 July to view Writing Portfolios and hear the "Lessons Learned" presentation.
Our plans are to repeat these initiatives during the 2018-2019 school year with data from each MAP assessment (Fall; Winter; Spring).
Creativity and Innovation
In an effort to capitalize on the content of what is learned daily, we plan and host events to celebrate and show-off learned content with audiences of peers, parents, family, friends, and stakeholders.
Celebration Fridays In a rotation, after the 6th week of school, Fridays afternoons are Celebration Fridays. Each grade level is given the opportunity to present highlights of lessons learned and acknowledge recognition awards.
Trunk-A-Treat – Families, Faculty, and Staff decorate their vehicles and came out in costumes with treats to celebrate the conclusion of our first MAP assessments for 2017.
Fall Festival - A celebration in recognition of the conclusion of the 1st
Semester, including food, music, games and child-friendly activities. Students are tasked with assisting their Instructional Facilitator with an activity for students, faculty/staff, families, and community members to enjoy. A themed project is completed and displayed at the event. This is also the kick-off to our fall Scholastic Book Fair to further support our focus on literacy.
Spring Festival – In celebration of the start of the Spring 2018 Spring Map we have food, music, games and child-friendly activities. Students are tasked with assisting their Instructional Facilitator with an activity for students, faculty/staff, families, and community members to enjoy. A themed project is completed and displayed at the event. This is also the kick-off to our spring Scholastic Book Fair to further support our focus on literacy.
PEP RALLY – to pump up enthusiasm for the upcoming Spring assessments and to introduce strategies for Taming the Test Monster, each grade level created their own motivational chant and class dance.
Each month we conduct a school-wide presentation to share project base learning and interdisciplinary learning
Young Author’s Night (November) – Each student writes a book. Their books are displayed with a signature sheet for family and friends to sign -showing their support by reading the book. Books are judged by visiting judges on legibility; theme; grammar; first time entered; unique title; cover art; and timely submission. Each Instructional Facilitator selects only 1 entry per category for a prize. The categories are: Poetry (24 pages limit); Fiction (1700-word limit); Personal Memoir (1000-word limit).
Holiday Around the World (December) – In celebration of the Winter Break, grade levels research how their foreign language country celebrates the winter holidays. Because the grade levels focus on the country of the foreign language they are learning, they also share some of the information learned, in that language.
History Day (January/February) – We followed the guidelines of the Nation History Day Association. Our theme 2017-2018 was “Conflict and Compromise” in American history. Student selected topics to research and display for judging. Themes ran from “Jim Crow Laws” to Ruby Bridges to Evolution of Man. Judges were board members and business partners.
Science Walk (March) – Students selected science investigations to conduct individually or in small groups. Outcomes were displayed on tri-boards using the scientific method. Some of the projects encouraged interactions and some displayed the process with the results.
Family Mathematics Night (April) – Each grade level created a math activity that could be demonstrated and shared with family; an estimation jar/container; and a “What Do You Notice” bulletin board with abstract math info on it for our quest to determine what message they interpreted.
Multicultural Night (May) – An opportunity for our students to share the 5 world languages (Spanish, French; German; Mandarin; Russian) that are taught at Prestige. In addition to the languages taught at our school, we also showcased talent, artifacts, food, and native presentations from other countries and cultures.
J. Harrison Coleman, Principal
Sadie Brown, Board Chair