What is the purpose of this council?
- To build consistent and effective communication among parents, employees and administrators
- To make good schools better by creating a School Improvement Plan
Who is on the committee?
- Spencer Sainsbury- principal
- Heather Balli- facilitator
- Ginger Whitney- vice chair
- Shea Wimmer
- Hannah Watabe
- Jenny Fowler- chair
- Melissa Franklin
- Brandy Duvall
- Kari Kieffer
Anyone is welcome to attend these meetings!
When are they held?
The second Monday of the month from 3:30-4:30 in Westside’s library.
How much money do we receive through Trust Lands?
For the 2015-2016 school year Westside will receive $$48,488.
What was Westside’s School Improvement Plan last year?
1. Westside Elementary will continue to meet individual student needs by meeting in collaboration teams and providing timely and systematic responses to student needs this will result in students’ demonstrated proficiency in core areas including reading, writing, mathematics, and science.
2. Technology and fine arts will be used to enhance instruction for students as well as provide students with opportunities to build 21st century skills.
What Westside did last year to reach these goals?
Goal one- During PLCs teachers identified students that needed to be enriched or retaught. Through reteach and enrich time, Early Steps, AmeriCore, Mathletes, mentors/coaches, district instructional coaches, and reading/math/ESL technicians a variety of students' needs were met.
Teachers met weekly throughout the school year and during the summer to design curriculum maps aligned to the state core. To improve the quality of instruction of each unit teachers met weekly with their professional learning community teams to create common assessments, design spiral reviews, enhance lesson design for optimal learning, and discuss best practice. Grade levels met weekly for reteach and enrich.
Monthly mentor meetings were held for all provisional teachers. During these meetings best teaching practices were discussed and modeled. These provisional teachers received additional professional development through the coaching cycle, which provided ongoing observations/modeling and opportunities to set new goals and report on progress.
Goal two - Teachers worked in conjunction our fine art's specialist to improve art integrated instruction in the classroom. Each team embedded these integrated lessons into their curriculum maps. Needed supplies for these lessons were purchased. Grade level programs had a fine arts or technology focus and were performed by each grade level. Our 4H clubs were focused around the arts, so as to help our students develop and improve their skills. Outdated technology was replaced or repaired. Several new iPads were purchased and PTA raised enough money to purchase a Chromebook lab for the school.What was the result of these goals?
Goal one - The Fountas and Pinnell Benchmarks, showed Westside students improving 2% proficiency in reading from the previous year. In the 2013-2014 school year students were 73% proficient, and last year were 75% proficient. This last school year (2014-2015) students at Westside improved their proficiency by 4% in language arts. Last year Westside students went down one percent on the DIBELS assessment. During the 2013-2014 school year students were 75.3% proficient, and this last year students were 74.3% proficient. To improve the quality of instruction at Westside teachers weekly met with their professional learning community teams to create common assessments, enhance lesson design for optimal learning, and discuss best practice. Each team created curriculum maps that followed the state core. Grade levels met weekly for reteach and enrich.Goal two - Teachers received professional development from the district's fine art's specialist, created integrated art lessons, which were embedded into their curriculum maps. As teachers were observed, coaches/mentors/principal looked for evidence of the integration of the arts. Each grade level participated in grade level programs that integrated the fine arts/and or a technology component.
How did Westside spend their Trust Land Funds last year?
The majority of the Trust Land Funds were spent on tutors and a part-time certified teacher to provide literacy help. These funds were also spent on professional development, summer tutoring serves, and new textbooks.