Launching a Vision… Thinking About the Possibilities Forestdale Pre-K – 2 Primary School Oak Ridge Grade 3-6 Intermediate School.

Launching a Vision…Thinking About the Possibilities

Forestdale Pre-K – 2 Primary School

Oak Ridge Grade 3-6Intermediate School

How can we create two innovative schools to move the Sandwich Public Schools forward

and provide opportunities for all PreK-6 students?

ConsiderationsTeaching and Learning ~ Facilities ~ After School

Enrichments ~ Enhancements during the school day ~ Family Involvement ~ Community Outreach ~ Fiscal

Efficiencies and Responsibility to the Town of Sandwich

For Families –Expanded and Comprehensive Early Learning Opportunities

• Sandwich Partnership for Families

• Pre-school Plus

For Students –All Day Kindergarten for all learnersAt no cost!

At the Forestdale Pre-K -2 Primary School….

FoFor Students -

Pre-K and Kindergarten• Science Lab

• Outdoor Science and Exploring Space

• Media Center in the Library for little ones….

For Students –Comprehensive and well-integrated supports

Early Learning Expertise• Speech and Language • Reading Recovery• Reading Specialists• Math Interventionists

For Teachers and Staff –Common Assessments to Inform Instruction

Teacher Leaders and Professional Learning Communities provide structure for looking at data and share thinking to support all students…

Why is Early Intervention so important? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mmHC_A9PvM&list=UUavUI87Lc0qdmtKk8DcoY_g5min

In Massachusetts, 44% of 3rd grade students scored in the Need Improvement or Warning category. (2013)

Our own 3rd grade Benchmark Assessments indicate that 19% were below grade level expectations. (2013)

StStatistics about 3rd grade Reading Proficiency

Early intervention

Low income students enter school 18 months behind their peers.

Early math skills contribute to math readiness through high school.

Ability to do simple arithmetic on the number line in Grade 1 predicts math performance in Grade 5.

Same opportunities for all students in Sandwich for:• After-school clubs• Field Trips

2nd Graders will be school leaders…We are always working to

increase independence, engagement & stamina

Being the leaders in the school will provide opportunities to increase all of these and position students for the 3-6 school and for MCAS in grade 3

Ways to encourage leadership:• a curriculum for 2nd graders

that is based on the research around the 7 Habits of Effective People http://mrshritsclass.weebly.com/7-habits-of-leadership.html

• 2nd graders can do the Morning Announcements…

http://robinsonelementary.podbean.com/

• 2nd graders can be buddies with kindergarteners, 1st graders can partner with Pre-K….

Inspiring a vision of the Oak Ridge Intermediate School for grades 3-6…..

Destination Imagination (DI) is a program to inspire and equip students to become the next generation of innovators and leaders. Team and standards-based Challenges include Technical, Scientific, Fine Arts, Visual Arts Improvisational, Structural and Service Learning. DI helps participants to build social and problem solving skills

Each Challenge is open-ended and enables student teams to experience and become skilled at the creative process from imagination to innovation. Teams have the opportunity to present their solutions to peers, educators, and families for feedback and review. Students have fun and gain confidence in their ability to solve any number and type of challenge. In working to create and solve problems, teams learn 21st century skills (creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, communication, citizenship and courage) to build on their unique strengths.

At the Oak Ridge Grade 3-6 Intermediate School… A greenhouse could provide

opportunities to apply science learning and to grow healthy food for the school community

Science Labs will be designed for 3rd – 6th graders.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL10g2YT_ln2hlLudk7cJ3lLh8s22D8SWa&v=DFBqX0ivpSo&app=desktop

How Gardening Enables Interdisciplinary Learning

All students in grades 4-6 will be able to participate in Instrumental Music both during the school day and as part of an After-School Band ….

And we hope to add strings!

The Oak Ridge Intermediate Library

Supporting students in their growing literacy, research and technology skills…

Authors visits will reach all students

Service Learning ~ Project Based Learning

Opportunities for activities with the Sandwich Council on Aging, just down the hill from Oak Ridge

Expectations about providing service to the community will guide students to choose projects they feel passionately about, and will fuel exciting projects…

All Sandwich students at a grade level will have the same opportunities for Field Trips, Special events & presentations…

Skyping with an Antarctic Scientist

Shared experiences to support the curriculum…

Enhanced Opportunities for all students…

After-School Clubs

Lego Robotics Newspaper Club

Something for everyone!

Sports, Music and Performing Arts

Intramural Sports

Theater Opportunities Sing out!

Something for everyone!

Financial Considerations…

Materials• Combining curriculum materials from

all three schools in one school, as a grade level specific way, will increase accessibility for all students

• Expensive software licenses are grade level specific and will be purchased for the specific grades and each school.

• When the district wants to introduce innovative and forward-moving new materials, the purchases need to be duplicated.

Class size• Having all the grade levels together

allows for flexibility when looking at the total number of students per grade level and the number of classrooms needed.

• Special programs are grade level specific and would not have to be duplicated in different schools.

Next Steps… •The School Committee votes on the reconfiguration of the Sandwich Public Schools.•Creation of a Collaborative Design Team to reach out to other districts with questions about the challenges of their configuration and their responses to the challenges. •The Collaborative Design Team can include teachers, parents, school committee members, led by the District Administrative Team.•Visits to other districts will help inform the team, with a focus on preparing to open two new schools. •A more detailed plan will be created, following the School Committee’s decision about the reconfiguration.

Research and ResourcesPhase 2 Design Team IdeasFeedback from other districts with a K-2; grade 3-5 or 6 configuration and similar sizeDistricts contacted/researched w some comments:

East Longmeadow - be sure to have enough Sp/L & Rdg Specialists at K-2Uxbridge - Build Early Learning Community, gr 2 studentsstep up to plate as leadersMansfield - 2nd graders doing morning announcements – podcasts; input from Sandwich teacher who taught gr 5 in Mansfield for 7 yearsBedford - doc on website re: gr 2-3 transitionAshland - Gr 3-5 school organized in multi-age “neighborhoods” as well as with traditional gr 3-5 individual classroomsEnfield, CT - multiple docs on website re reorganization, incl timeline

Topics researched - RTI Model? Enrichment Activities? Transition to 3rd? How is the school organized/structured? How long has the district had this model? What prompted this configuration?