On behalf of the entire Grant School staff, I welcome you to the 2015-16 school year and our kickoff newsletter. I thank you for choosing Grant for your child. I know what your children mean to you because I have a couple of my own and it is my purpose each and every day to live up to the trust that you have put in us to prepare your students for the future.
To get things started this year, I want all of us to know what the district goals are for the 2015-16 school year. These goals are a direct result of the work last spring of students, parents, and staff and they are shaping everything that we are doing in the district over the next three years. Here they are:
Goal 1: Student Achievement
We will ensure that 95% of students will be either at or above grade level or making adequate progress towards being at grade level in reading, writing, math, and keyboarding all students will demonstrate at least one year of academic growth annually in each of these subjects by the end of the 2017 school year.
How we are going to do it:
- Regular assessments and SST meetings to monitor progress
- Before/After school intervention programs
- Create grade-level benchmarks for reading, math, and writing
- Reports sent home to parents to show progress
- Aide support in primary grades
- Maintain small class sizes
- Implement iReady in ELA and Math to provide diagnostic assessments and differentiated instruction
- Collaborate with staff to develop and implement a district-wide writing rubric
Goal 2: Safety
We will create and maintain learning environments where students, staff, and parents feel welcome and safe.
How we are going to do it:
- Provide character development curriculum and assemblies
- Increase maintenance and operations staff time
- Subsidize lunch and breakfast costs for “reduced” meal students (reduced=free)
- Provide at-risk counseling for identified students
- Improve the safety of the school campus by:
- Installing additional cameras
- Repair/replace exterior wall of MUR
- Paint exterior of gymnasium building
- Repair water damage on gym floor and refinish surface
Goal 3: Staff Development
We will empower all classroom personnel to develop expertise in state standards, adopted curriculum, and technology in order to deliver instruction/support and teach students skills that they will need for college and career readiness.
How we are going to do it:
- Work with our District Technology Committee to draft an Educational Technology Plan
- Continue to provide a part-time Ed Tech Advisor to support students and staff
- Continue to provide Common Core training to classroom staff
- Send staff members to Google and CUE trainings
- Participate in the K-2 STEM grant
- Send grade level representatives to the English/Language Arts curriculum review workshops in the spring
- Purchase 2 additional Chromebooks carts
- Provide First Aid/CPR training to staff
- Increase certificated PE teacher time to provide elementary staff the opportunity to collaborate
Goal 4: Community Engagement
We will work with all stakeholders to develop and promote opportunities for all students and their families to engage in meaningful experiences at Grant School; we will provide rigorous and relevant academic and social opportunities for all students.
How we are going to do it:
- Hold regular Principal’s Advisory Council and Parent Chats
- Continue the Intramural sports program
- Enhance existing elective program for 7th and 8th grade students
- Provide a STEM elective option each trimester
- Continue to provide a full-time music teacher
- Maintain regular articulation with Shasta High School and provide students with opportunities to visit the SHS campus
- Provide additional relevant field trip opportunities
- Provide additional guest speakers and relevant student assemblies
- Develop a STEM pathway that aligns with SHS
- Continue Girls Inc. and Girls on the Run programs
- Use social media tools to connect with community and celebrate achievements
- Develop/implement program to recognize student achievement in front of peers
These goals are lofty and ambitious but I know that they can be achieved. I look forward to working with you this school year to continue to make progress and improve the things that we do each and every day for our students. I thank you for everything that you do to support us. Here’s to a great 2015-16 school year and GO COUGARS!
