L.H. Coffin and Elbridge Gerry School Improvement Plan, 2009-2010
Introduction
The Coffin and Gerry Schools’ Site-Based Management Team is composed of parents, teachers and the principal of the Coffin and Gerry Schools. Its purpose is to propose and develop long-term goals for the general improvement of the schools. The members of the Coffin and Gerry SBMT are:
Sean Satterfield, Principal
Kate Bostley, Parent Representative
Amy Tully, Parent Representative
Heidi Janock, Teacher Representative
Joan Kavanagh, Teacher Representative
Diane Babbitt, Teacher Representative
This Improvement Plan is a result of the 2009 Parent Survey, and input by the Coffin and Gerry community over the course of the year. As in previous years, you will note that the School Improvement Plan is a balance of academic and facility issues.
This plan for the improvement of the Coffin and Gerry Schools continues to include a focus upon long-term and short-term goals. Much of the impetus for specific goals outlined below was a result of the parent survey and perceived needs of the schools from the principal and staff members. Our hope is to identify and develop goals that will result in a better educational environment for our staff and students.
The 2009-2010 School Improvement Plan incorporates much of the academic and collaborative piece of the school-wide Instructional Focus, whereas the other items contain items needed but peripheral to education itself. This plan is mainly a continuation of the 2008-2009 plan, reflecting the need to continue the work done in these areas and to continue to refine the effort.
The 2009-2010 Coffin/Gerry School Improvement Plan:
1) Increase Student AchievementStandardized Test Scores
2) Parent-School Communication
3) Coffin and Gerry Focus
4) Technology
5) Coffin/Gerry Pride
6) Arrival/Dismissal Procedures.
7) Professional Learning Communities
8) Ongoing Maintenance/Safety Issues
Coffin and Gerry Schools School Improvement Plan
2009-2010
Goal |
Rationale |
Measure of Success |
Responsibility |
1. Increase Standardized Test Scores Increase Student Achievement |
Increase Student Achievement |
~Completed DocumentMCAS Scores ~Faculty FamiliarityFewer referrals |
~Principals ~Curriculum Directors ~Teachers |
2. Parent School Communication |
Present to parents a clearer picture of day to day issues at Coffin and Gerry |
~SBMT Survey ~Updated websites |
~Principal ~Teachers |
3. Coffin and Gerry Goals |
Academic goals for Coffin and Gerry meshing with the Superintendent’s District Focus |
~Completed Document |
~Principal ~Teachers ~Curriculum Directors |
4. Technology—Student Access |
Improve and increase use of technology tools in the classroom |
~Smartboard Installation ~Expanded Use of Document Cameras/Projectors |
~Principal ~Teachers ~Staff |
5. Coffin/Gerry Pride Development |
Continue work in developing school pride, interschool cooperation, and sense of community, tied to the Responsive Classroom model. |
~Completion of activity binder, ~Increased sense of community ~Decrease in Social Issues |
~Principal ~Teachers ~School Counselor ~Students
|
6. Arrival and Dismissal Procedures |
Safety Issue |
~Smoother arrival/dismissal times ~SBMT Survey |
~Principal ~PTO ~Staff ~Parents |
7. Professional Learning Communities |
Teachers working as a team, sharing ideas and improving instruction. |
~Better lesson presentation ~Better Class assessment ~Increased student achievement |
~Principals ~Teachers |
8. Ongoing Maintenance Issues |
Oversight into maintenance issues from a safety, school resources impact |
~Safety ~Quality of student/staff use ~Survey |
~Maintenance Staff ~Principal ~Custodians ~Teachers |
Itemized Narratives on Coffin-Gerry School Improvement Plan
Increase of Standardized Test Scores: Though the focus in K-3 should necessarily be on language arts and mathematics, it is important to have some yardstick for measurement of achievement. MCAS scores, DRA scores, and other assessments will enable us to see needed improvement and growth over time.
Coffin/Gerry Goals: Document that provides an overview of major academic goals for the upcoming school year; tied to the District Instructional Focus. The SY2009 Goals are included; SY10 Goals are currently in draft form.
Parent School Communication: Increased use of a email system (AlertNow) and updated webpage has enabled the school community to better communicate with the parents. Though improved over the course of the past year, expanding of communication in the form of newsletters, emails, and teacher websites would enable better communication to the home.
Technology: See attached Technology Plan. Gerry teachers have requested more hardware available in their rooms, especially presentation hardware that would enable them to access the web and use web tools in whole class presentation. Plan is also to include more Smartboards at the Coffin School.
Coffin/Gerry Pride Development: Teachers plan on continuing the Pride initiative to increase student pride in the school, focusing upon a greater emphasis on respect and responsibility. Thiis initiative started in 2005, and continued this year, with a focus upon tying the initiative to the Responsive Classroom model.
Arrival/Dismissal Procedure: This continues to be an object of concern between the SBMT and the Coffin/Gerry community at largeIncreased staff presence outside of both buildings, and clear statements of procedures at the beginning of the year, should result in improved procedures.
Professional Learning Communities: The past four years, Coffin and Gerry classroom teachers have had shared planning periods—time where they could collaborate as a grade level to improve instruction, As in previous years, teachers use this time to develop concrete and attainable progress in student achievement.
Maintenance Issues: Coffin and Gerry Schools are both older buildings. The SBMT feels that the ongoing general maintenance issues need to be part of the School Improvement Plan, to safeguard the staff and students who occupy the buildings on a daily basis. Due to the age of the buildings, especially Gerry, such issues have become more prominent and more frequent.
Results of the Coffin/Gerry Parent Survey
The Coffin/Gerry Parent Survey was completed in April 2009. An online tool, Survey Monkey, was used to collect data. This enabled us to present more questions and therefore received better, and more accurate data. Overall response was 153 families, for a response rate of 60%, 10% higher than the results in April, 2008. The responses below are a sample of the responses. The full report is available online at the Coffin-Gerry Principal website.
Percentages Based Upon Strongly Agree/Agree Responses
Question |
April 2007 |
April 2008 |
April 2009 |
High standards for Academic Achievement |
93% |
88.9% |
89.5% |
Safe Climate |
89 |
89 |
93.4 |
Positive Climate |
89 |
90.6 |
94.2 |
Students Are Challenged to do their best |
87 |
83.4 |
89.5 |
Adequate Supplies |
62 |
63.8 |
72.4 |
Student Creative Encouraged |
82 |
79.4 |
82.2 |
Appropriate Homework |
82 |
82.3 |
74.7 |
Parent Concerns Dealt with Appropriately |
77 |
75.4 |
82.9 |
Parents given opportunity to Become Involved |
- |
89.6 |
92.1 |
School Facilities Adequate for needs |
42 |
47.6 |
58.3 |
Report Card |
89% |
64% |
70.2 |
Academics |
April 2007 |
April 2008 |
April 2009 |
Reading |
87% |
83.2% |
90.8% |
Writing |
87 |
87.2 |
90.2 |
Mathematics |
94 |
81.6 |
88.8 |
Science |
91 |
83.2 |
84.8 |
Social Studies |
93 |
80.8 |
82.9 |
Library/Media |
89 |
68.8 |
72.1 |
Music |
89 |
89.6 |
88.8 |
Visual Arts |
89 |
75.9 |
73.7 |
Physical Education |
93 |
82.3 |
85.3 |
Technology |
63.7 |
67.8 |
39.8% |
Coffin and Gerry Schools Technology Plan
With PTO funding and support, the Coffin and Gerry Schools have embarked on a plan to reinvest in and better incorporate technology into our classrooms. Starting with giving the teachers the tools that they need, training in technology, and making collaboration available, the plan is to introduce and integrate new technology into the classrooms where it will be used to augment instruction.
Phase I: Bringing Technology Back into the Classroom
School Year 2005, completed
PTO Purchase of up to Date Computers for teachers
Digital Camera Purchase
Network Printer sharing
Email as a Communication Tool
Phase II: Collaboration and Communication
School Year 2006, completed
Technology Training Study Group: Integration of Technology in the Classroom
First Class: Collaboration and Communication—email, calendar, threaded discussions
Presentation Materials: LCD Projectors and Laptops
Phase III: Student Instruction Using the Tools of Technology
School Year 2007, completed
Up to date Student Computer Lab at Coffin Smart Board for Classroom Presentation
Technology Training Study Group II
Digital Video Camera and software
Dedicated video/desktop publishing workstation
Phase IV: Refining of Instruction Using the Tools of Technology
School Year 2008, completed
LCD Projectors—mobile carts at each grade level
Implementation of Study Group Projects in the Classroom
Phase V: Using the Tools of Technology in Direct Instruction
School Year 2009, completed
Smartboards Installed in Grade 3 Classrooms (4 Systems)
Document Cameras for Grade 3 Smartboard systems
Teacher Training for Smartboard Use
Phase VI: Refining of Instruction Using the Tools of Technology
School Year 2010, proposed
Smartboard Installation in Grade 2-3 Language Based Classroom, Grade 2 Classrooms (5 Systems)
Document Cameras/Projectors Grade K-1
Live First Class Teacher WebPages
This is an evolving plan. With continued PTO support, all of the above is possible. We have dedicated teachers who have expressed a willingness to train in technology and use the tools that they have been given.
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