School Plan 2014-2015

Brent Elementary School: “A Culture of Continuous

Improvement”

Agenda

• Strategic planning process overview

• New Initiatives

• So what stays the same?

• Staff Update

• Why Constantly Improve?

Strategic Planning Process Overview

1.Strengthening our foundations: maintaining and deepening our investments in staff, staff training and our core offerings in RC, Reggio, R & W Workshop and Investigations

2. Maximizing the potential of every student: developing systematic and consistent delivery mechanisms for intervention, enrichment and individualized instruction

Strategic Planning Process Overview

3. Strengthening/Examining our “Specials” program: This is an area of relative strength and distinction for Brent, but I want to be sure we keep building and strengthening them.

4. Strengthening the field experience model and our extracurriculars: Both the field experiences and the extracurricular offerings serve to improve the overall Brent student experience. Both are intricately connected to our curriculum.

Potential Roles and Responsibilities • Scopes process with SC

• Provides input • Approves strategy

Parents Teachers Community

Working Groups

Working Groups

Working Groups

Working Groups

Chairman(Principal Young)

LSAT / PTA / Staff Steering Committee (SC)

• Scopes and drives process

• Forms and manages working groups, overall communications and stakeholder engagement

• Supports Peter and working groups on key inputs to the process (eg., articulating vision, developing common factbase)

• Finalizes proposed plan based on own work and recommendations of working groups

• Conducts analysis and delivers recommendations to the SC

• Participates in working groups

• Provides input: survey, presentation of interim recommendations

Steering Committee (SC)

• Paul Sherman-parent (PTA)• Nazanin Ash-parent (LSAT)• Ben Feldman-parent (PTA/LSAT)• Amy Harding-Wright-staff

member/parent (SCAC)• Sarah Werstuik-staff member (PTA Board

Teacher Rep)• Mike Mangiaracina-staff member (SCAC)• Whitney Paxson-staff member (SCAC)

How to Participate?

A. Working GroupsContact Ben Feldman, at benjamin.n.feldman@gmail.com-As you consider volunteering, please know that there will be a significant workload for the first part of the school year.

B. Attend public fora that will be scheduled in the fall.

C. Attend PTA and LSAT meetings

New Initiatives

Reggio small-group support– Ms. Gibson and Mr. Krohn will work with

ECE students (one class/day) to support student explorations

Type to Learn– Integrated into extended library time for

our 3rd-5th grade students

Fieldtrip fee: $50 (family contribution), $10 (PTA contribution)

New Initiatives

Responsive Classroom– Consultant and/or workshops designed to strengthen staff

expertise with RC

Mr. Mangiaracina’s and Ms. Cruz’s WorkDedicated RTI (Response to Intervention) blocks of time with eye towards more consistent delivery of student intervention.

– Ms. Cruz: K-5, Reading and Writing– Mr. M: 2-5, Math– Responds to need for improved consistency of student support

services was very present in staff survey results.

New and Stronger Extracurricular Offerings– Working with PTA Board as well as LSAT sub-committee to

determine specific offerings– In direct and an immediate response to parent survey results

So what stays the same in 2014-2015?

Communication

• TuesNews– Important information about school-wide activities– Highlights and updates from teachers

• Weekly Communication Email from Classroom Teacher– Curriculum updates, upcoming events, & class announcements

• Communication Folder (*school-wide folder for SY ‘14-’15)– Bring notes, newsletters, homework, and finished work back and forth

from school and home• Grade Level Websites

– www.brentelementary.org/site/grade___ /– Includes contact info, calendar, homework, policies, etc.

• Class Syllabi– Long-term curriculum plan and class expectations

K-5: Learning Exhibitions

• Publishing Night• Math Night• Brent Spring Showcase*• Fall & Spring Concerts• School Play

*New for SY 2014-2015

Curricular/Academic Programs

• PS3-5: Responsive Classroom• K-5: Readers/Writers Workshop• K-5: Word Study• K-5: Investigations Math• K-5: Science (classroom teacher)• 1-5: Science (w/ Mr M.)• K-5: Social Studies

Specials

• Art • Music• Physical Education• World Language: Chinese • Science (Grades 1-5)• Library Story time (Pre-K & K)• Library Check-out only (Grades 1-2)• Library Check-out/Typing (Grades 3-5, new for

SY ’14-’15)

Science & Social Studies

• Units taught by Classroom Teachers– Include reading, writing, field experiences, and

project work– Integrated work with art and music

• Science Lab (Mr. Mangiaracina)– 45-minutes weekly (Grades 1-2)– 90-minutes weekly (Grades 3-5)– NEW Science (Next Generation Science)

standards that Mr. M is implementing beginning in 2014-2015 school year.

Homework Expectations

• Kindergarten: No Homework– Reading 10+ minutes nightly (with parents or

independently)• Grades 1-2 Weekly Packets– Reading 20-30 minutes (independently) – Reading Responses, Current and Review Math Work– “Must Know Word” Practice

• Grades 3-5 Nightly Assignments– Reading 30+ minutes nightly (independently) – Reading Responses, Current and Math Work– Word Work, Grammar, and Vocabulary Practice

Special Education Support

• 3 full-time Special Education Teachers• 1 part-time Social Worker• 1 part-time School Psychologist• Inclusion Program• RTI• SST Process• Individualized Education Program

Pre-K

• 4 Mixed-age (3- and 4-year-olds) classrooms• 17 students per class (10 PK4, 7 PS3)• 1 teacher and 1 aide• Lunch in Classrooms• Morning and Afternoon Recess• 1-1.5 hour Rest Time• Specials: Chinese, Art, Music, Library, P.E.• Reggio Inspired Instruction: – Small Group Time with Art & Music Specialists (new for

SY ‘14-’15)

Kindergarten

• 3 Classrooms (new for SY ’14-’15)• 16-20 students per class• 1 teacher and 1 aide• 30-minute Lunch in Classrooms (new for SY ‘14-’15)• Morning and Afternoon Recess (60 total minutes)• Specials: Chinese, Art, Music, Library, P.E.• Daily Instruction:– 120 minutes of Literacy– 90 minutes of Math– 45 minutes Science / Social Studies

First Grade

• 3 Classrooms• 16-20 students per class• 1 teacher• 30-minute Lunch with 2nd grade in Cafeteria • Morning and Afternoon Recess (60 total minutes)• Specials: Chinese, Art, Music, P.E., Science• Daily Instruction:– 120 minutes of Literacy– 90 minutes of Math– 45 Science / Social Studies

Second Grade

• 3 Classrooms• 16-20 students per class• 1 teacher• 30-minute Lunch with 1st Grade in Cafeteria• 30-minute Recess after Lunch• Specials: Chinese, Art, Music, P.E., Science• Daily Instruction:– 120 minutes of Literacy– 90 minutes of Math– 45 Science / Social Studies

Third Grade

• 3 Classrooms (new for SY ‘14-’15)• 18-22 students per class• Differentiated Instruction (Leveled Math)• 30-minute Lunch with 4th and 5th Grades• 30-minute Recess after Lunch (new for SY 14-’15)• Specials: Chinese, Art, Music, P.E., Science

– 45 minute Library check-out/typing time New for SY ‘14-’15• Daily Instruction

– 120 minutes of Literacy– 90 minutes of Math– 45 Science / Social Studies

Fourth Grade

• 2 Classrooms• 22-25 students per class• Differentiated Instruction (Leveled Math)• 30-minute Lunch with 3rd and 5th Grades• 30-minute Recess after Lunch• Specials: Chinese, Art, Music, P.E., Science

– 45 minute Library check-out/typing time. New for SY ‘14-’15• Daily Instruction

– 120 minutes of Literacy– 90 minutes of Math– 45 Science / Social Studies

Fifth Grade

• 1 Classroom• 11 students• 30-minute Lunch with 3rd and 4th Grade• 30-minute Recess after Lunch• Specials: Chinese, Art, Music, P.E., Science– 45 minute Library check-out/typing time. New for SY

‘14-’15• Daily Instruction– 120 minutes of Literacy– 90 minutes of Math– 45 Science / Social Studies

Brent Staffing 2014-2105

Early Childhood TeamMs. Harding-Wright and Ms. LopezMs. Montgomery and _____ (tbd)Ms. Miller and Ms. CurtisMs. Sadowsky and Ms. Marindin

Brent Staffing 2014-2105

Kindergarten TeamMs. Copeland and Ms. HairstonMs. Homayoun and Ms. BellMs. Santora and Ms. Lander/Ms. Leftridge

First Grade TeamMs. Sarah Isaacson (*new)Ms. Sarah WerstuikMs. Sara Yokum (*new)

Brent Staffing 2014-2105

Second Grade TeamMs. PattersonMs. PierceMs. Cati Sprague/Ms. Farkas

Third Grade TeamMs. HillMs. KraemerMs. Kelly Maschari (*new)

Brent Staffing 2014-2105

Fourth Grade TeamMs. MaslinMs. Perschke

Fifth Grade TeamMs. Byrns

Brent Staffing 2014-2105

Special Education Team_____/Ms. AlaviMs. PaxsonMs. SantosMs. Annette Doxie-Social Worker (*new)Ms. Sara Tick-School Psychologist

Brent Staffing 2014-2105

Specials TeamMs. Bettina-LibraryMs. Gibson-ArtMr. Krohn-MusicMr. Mitchell-Physical EducationMr. Mangiaracina-Science/Math SupportMs. Wang/Ms. Zhang-Chinese

Brent Staffing 2014-2105

Custodial TeamMs. Daniels-Custodial ForewomanMr. Anderson-CustodianMs. Young-Custodian

Cafeteria TeamMs. Mahone-Cafeteria ManagerMs. Boyd-Cafeteria Worker

Security TeamMs. HowellMs. Jennifer Blount-Crossing Guard

Brent Staffing 2014-2105

Support StaffMs. Ewbank-Instructional CoachMs. Cruz-Reading SpecialistMs. Scott-BURST TeacherMs. Casula-Front Office ManagerMs. Diggs-Business ManagerMr. Young-Principal