Executive Summary. Cave Spring Elementary School

Transcription

1 Floyd County School System Mrs. Trina Self, Principal 13 Rome Street Cave Spring, GA Document Generated On January 4, 2016

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1 Description of the School 2 School's Purpose 4 Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement 5 Additional Information 7

3 Introduction Every school has its own story to tell. The context in which teaching and learning takes place influences the processes and procedures by which the school makes decisions around curriculum, instruction, and assessment. The context also impacts the way a school stays faithful to its vision. Many factors contribute to the overall narrative such as an identification of stakeholders, a description of stakeholder engagement, the trends and issues affecting the school, and the kinds of programs and services that a school implements to support student learning. The purpose of the Executive Summary (ES) is to provide a school with an opportunity to describe in narrative form the strengths and challenges it encounters. By doing so, the public and members of the school community will have a more complete picture of how the school perceives itself and the process of self-reflection for continuous improvement. This summary is structured for the school to reflect on how it provides teaching and learning on a day to day basis. Page 1

4 Description of the School Describe the school's size, community/communities, location, and changes it has experienced in the last three years. Include demographic information about the students, staff, and community at large. What unique features and challenges are associated with the community/communities the school serves? Cave Spring Elementary is located at 13 Rome Rd. in Cave Spring, GA. It is part of a community nestled in the northwest Georgia mountains in a small rural low to middle income area near the Alabama border. The community is unique in many ways. The Georgia School for the Deaf (GSD) which is located in Cave Spring has impacted our economy as a job base as well as adding a large deaf population. Cave Spring is a town of historical significance, and many homes are listed on the National Historic Register. We host a number of wellknown craft, gift, and antique shops. Most of our parents and community members drive to surrounding areas for employment. Cave Spring Elementary (CSE) evolved from Cave Spring Consolidated High School built in At that time it served students from grades one through eight. After 1940, CSE became part of the Floyd County Schools System, housing grades one through twelve and expanding in size in 1950 and again in In 1970 the Floyd County Board of Education announced intentions to close the school. The community outrage was clearly stated, and the school remained open until another attempt was made in While community effort was strong against closing, it was voted that grades six through twelve would attend Coosa Middle and Coosa High Schools; thus, Cave Spring Elementary was established. An addition was constructed during the school year. The state-funded PreK program was added in Currently, 250 students are enrolled, and the school continues to have broad-based community support. We have 90.4% White, 4.4% Multiracial, 1.6% African American/Black, 2.8% Hispanic, and 0.80% Asian populations. We have seen a steady decline in enrollment since Due to this decline we have been forced to reduce faculty and staff. In 2013 we also experienced a reduction in force (RIF) due to state and federal funding cuts. Cave Spring Elementary lost three teachers and one paraprofessional. Since 2012 we have had 15 positions eliminated. In 2013 Floyd County Schools reduced the school year by 13 days. In our students returned to a full 180- day school calendar. We have a high commitment to children and families in the community. The school acts as a recreational facility for the community members which encourages strong parent involvement. During the school year, we will be implementing Academic Parent Teacher Teams (APTT). This program is designed to strengthen family engagement by developing a parent-teacher collaboration to drive student learning and achievement. We are also continuing our efforts to earn our STEM certification. School traditions such as the Pinto Bean Luncheon, Thanksgiving Feast, Grandparent's Day, Mom's Breakfast, Dad's Breakfast, Christmas and Spring Musicals, Field Day, Math Night, Reading Night, Family Fitness Night, and STEM Night are all mixed with a rich and inviting learning environment to provide a multitude of opportunities to showcase students' accomplishments. The certified teaching staff consists of 19 female and 5 male teachers. One hundred percent of our classroom teachers meet the federal standard for highly qualified status. Eleven of our teachers are gifted endorsed, four are reading endorsed, two are math endorsed, one is coaching endorsed, and one is ESOL endorsed. Additional services are provided by itinerant teachers in the areas of music, physical education, hearing impaired, gifted, and speech. Most teachers hold advanced degrees including 3 that have completed a doctoral program. Page 2

5 Administrators- 1 full time Principal and 1 part time (40%) Assistant Principal Instructional Lead Teacher- 1 full time Media Specialist- 1 part time Guidance Counselor- 1 part time Art Teacher- 1 full time Special Education Teachers- 1 full time and 1 part time School Nurse- 1 part time Paraprofessional- 4 full time Teachers PreK-5-14 full time We have been a Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) Operational School since We build our program with the goal of creating Problem Solvers. It is driven by the school PBIS expectations of Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Ready. The PBIS team meets monthly to discuss student behavior and SWIS discipline data. Our counselor reinforces character education and the PBIS expectations through guidance classes and is featured each morning on the news program on Bee TV. Recent Changes: In 2013 we began the process to become STEM certified. The school year was the first year for Cave Spring to administer the Georgia Milestones. The Floyd County Board of Education Charter System status was renewed in During the school year an interim Superintendent will be appointed, and a new Floyd County Schools Superintendent will be hired. Page 3

6 School's Purpose Provide the school's purpose statement and ancillary content such as mission, vision, values, and/or beliefs. Describe how the school embodies its purpose through its program offerings and expectations for students. Cave Spring Elementary's purpose is to provide a safe and comfortable child-centered atmosphere in which students achieve their maximum educational, creative, emotional, and physical potential through developmentally appropriate instructional delivery which is compatible with the needs and values of the community. School Motto: Children: Priority One Mission: Cave Spring Elementary embraces Floyd County School's goal/purpose of "Destination Graduation for every child." Vision: Graduates of Cave Spring Elementary will be prepared for college or career opportunities of the future. Cave Spring Elementary Beliefs: We believe In building positive relationships with students, parents, and the community. In providing a safe environment and an academic foundation to support learning for all students. In making school relevant and meaningful to ensure student involvement. In providing a variety of options and pathways to graduation. At Cave Spring Elementary we believe students learn in different ways. Therefore, our teachers strive to use a variety of instructional approaches to ensure student success. Teachers and students focus on the high academic expectations. Data driven differentiation and enrichment are an integral part of our students' day. The reading, math, and writing programs we have implemented provide the foundational tools needed to increase student achievement. Application and critical thinking skills are taught through technology on a daily basis. Additional programs are used to encourage a positive self-concept which fosters the academic and emotional needs of our students. We also want our students to have appreciation of Fine Arts and physical fitness. We are proud of the support, love, and guidance we receive from teachers, staff, parents, and the community. This serves as an important motivational tool. Communication with all stakeholders is a priority. Continuous professional development for teachers and staff is a crucial part of the school improvement process. All of this is accomplished while keeping a sound, balanced budget. Page 4

7 Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement Describe the school's notable achievements and areas of improvement in the last three years. Additionally, describe areas for improvement that the school is striving to achieve in the next three years. Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement Cave Spring Elementary has a long history of high academic achievement, unwavering parental and community support, and student involvement in all campus activities. We are fortunate to have staff members who are motivated and highly equipped with the dedication, expertise, and innovation to further our goal of increasing student achievement. Cave Spring has consistently produced student achievement scores (as measured on the CRCT) that exceed the system and state averages. These achievement levels are evidence of the expertise and dedication of our staff, the continued support of parents and business partners, and the motivation, skills, and talents of our students. Our recent achievements in the area of curriculum, instruction, and assessment include the integration of the Georgia Standards of Excellence, the implementation of a new math curriculum (A Story of Units), and the integration of career pathways education across all grade levels. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) has been a primary focus as we continue our efforts to earn our STEM certification. Our fully functional STEM Lab was opened at the beginning of the school year. The STEM committee meets regularly to research materials and resources. This is the first year for us to use DIBELS Math as a benchmark assessment. Cave Spring Elementary has been a Title I Distinguished School for 13 years. The Georgia Department of Education announced in 2011 that we were awarded the Platinum Award for greatest gains - students meeting and exceeding standards on the CRCT. We were recognized again in 2013 by the Georgia Department of Education for earning the Title I High Progress Award. Once again, Cave Spring Elementary was recognized in 2015 for being a Title I High Progress Reward School for being in the top 10% of Title I schools. The Georgia Agriculture Commissioner, Gary Black, named CSE a Georgia Grown School in Students enjoyed learning about the importance of healthy foods and those foods that are grown in Georgia. We have also maintained our Positive Behavior Incentive Support (PBIS) Operational Status since Since 2011 CSE has been committed to increasing opportunities for students to engage with educational technology. Every classroom has a SMART/Promethean board and document cameras to allow students the opportunity to engage in motivating collaborative lessons. Besides having a fully functional computer lab, the teachers utilize the two Chromebook carts and Nexus tablet cart in their lessons. We have initiated a One-to-One Initiative with the goal to have a Chromebook in the hands of every student. We have also implemented Academic Parent Teacher Teams (APTT) this year. This program's goal is to meaningfully engage parents in teaching and learning. They will support student learning in the home and community. Cave Spring's 2014 CCRPI Score Our CCRPI score increased from 81.9 in 2012 to 85.6 in The 2014 score dropped to 84.8 due to changes in formulas. Our overall score was third highest in our system. CSE earned a Climate Rating score of 4 stars. Cave Spring's CRCT Highlights: 53% of Cave Spring 3rd-5th grade students exceeded expectations in Reading with 100% of our 4th grade students meeting or exceeding. 96% of Cave Spring 3rd-5th grade students met or exceeded expectations in ELA. 90% of Cave Spring 3rd-5th grade students met or exceeded expectations in Math. 88% of Cave Spring 3rd-5th grade students met or exceeded expectations in Science. 90% of Cave Spring 3rd-5th grade students met or exceeded in Social Studies. Cave Spring's CRCT Highlights: *95% of Cave Spring 3rd-5th grade students met or exceeded expectations in Reading. *92% of Cave Spring 3rd-5th grade students met or exceeded expectations in ELA. Page 5

8 *86% of Cave Spring 3rd-5th students met or exceeded expectations in Math. *94% of Cave Spring 3rd-5th grade students met or exceeded expectations in Science. This was the highest percentage in our system (11 schools) and 14% above the state average. Areas of Improvement in the Last Three Years: Over the past three years we have seen our third graders Reading exceed percentage increase from 34% in 2012 to 59% in 2014, ELA increased from 23% in 2012 to 47% in 2014, Science increased from 40% in 2012 to 55% in 2014, and Social Studies increased from 17% in 2012 to 51% in Fourth graders Reading exceed percentages increased from 33% in 2013 to 60% in 2014, Math percentage increased from 36% in 2012 to 48% in 2014, and Social Studies increased from 15% in 2013 to 48% in Fifth graders exceed percentage increased from 35% in 2012 to 45% in 2014, and Science percentage increased from 44% in 2012 to 59% in Areas of Improvement identified through self assessment are: Area of Focus 1: Integration and Purchasing of Technology: The rationale for this Area of Focus is to ensure all CSE students graduate prepared for college or a career. Upon graduation, our students will be required to utilize technology on a daily basis. Our teachers need professional development in integrating technology resources into the classroom and instructional experiences. We also need to provide our students the technology needed to make this possible. This Area of Focus is based on the findings of both staff and parent surveys. Our goal is to purchase a Chromebook for every student. Area of Focus 2: STEM Certification: The rationale for this Area of Focus is to instill a strong foundation in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math. Focusing on these areas will prepare our students to be successful throughout their academic career and for college or a career upon graduation. This year we have purchased the Engineering is Elementary curriculum for our teachers to utilize as a resource in the classroom, Tynker coding program, and a keyboarding program for students for use in the computer lab. Page 6

9 Additional Information Provide any additional information you would like to share with the public and community that were not prompted in the previous sections. Cave Spring Elementary strives to prepare our students for college or a career. We are dedicated to our mission: Destination Graduation for every child. We are focusing on teaching our children the basic process of coding and web application. We have recently purchased the Tynker Programming Made Simple and Type 4 Learning, a keyboarding program. Job-embedded teaching and learning is a priority. Academic Parent Teacher Teams (APTT) was implemented during the school year. We have encouraged our parents to become actively involved in their child's education. We have presented assessment data during classroom meetings and trained our parents to target weaknesses at home. Parents also set SMART goals for their children. During the course of the school year, the classroom parents and teacher meet as a team three times with one individual parent-teacher conference to increase student achievement. We are looking forward to disaggregating our end-of-the-year 2016 data from DIBELS reading and math assessments and the GA Milestones. The faculty and staff of promote the value and importance of obtaining an education and achieving high school graduation. All classrooms have the expected graduation year posted above their classroom doors, and Destination Graduation for every child signage is displayed throughout the school campus. Page 7