DITSON SCHOOL

 

COUNCIL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

School Improvement Plan

 

April 2007

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

                                                                                                                        Page Number

 

1.      Letter to Parents                                                                                             1

 

2.      Elements of the Ditson School Improvement Plan                                          2

 

3.      Planning Process                                                                                              3

 

4.      Core Values                                                                                                     4

 

5.      Vision                                                                                                               5

 

6.      Mission                                                                                                             6

 

7.      Strategic Goals                                                                                                6

 

8.      Year One Progress Report  1994–1995                                                        23

 

9.      Year Two Progress Report  1995–1996                                                        24

 

10.    Year Three Progress Report  1996–1997                                                     25

 

11.    Year Four Progress Report  1997–1998                                                       25

 

12.    Year Five Progress Report  1998–1999                                                        26

 

13.    Year Six Progress Report  1999–2000                                                          27

 

14.    Strategic Goal Summaries  1994–2002                                                         27

 

15.    Year Seven Progress Report  2000–2001                                                     28

 

16.    Year Eight Progress Report  2001–2002                                                      29

 

17.    Year Nine Progress Report  2002–2003                                                       30

 

18.    Year Ten Progress Report  2003–2004                                                         30

 

18.    Year Eleven Progress Report  2004–2005                                                    31

 

19.    Year Twelve Progress Report 2005-2006                                                     31           

 

20.    Year Thirteen Progress Report 2006-2007                                                   32

 

19.    Conclusion                                                                                                     33

 

Dear Parents,

 

            The Education Reform Act of June 18, 1993, is a comprehensive act that is the culmination of several years of work by legislators, educators, business leaders, local officials, students, and parents.  This act will ensure that all children will be prepared to compete educationally on a worldwide basis.  High academic goals will be established for all students with principals and teachers being held accountable for performance.

 

            School Councils were created not only to allow teachers, but also parents and community members, to have a voice in the day-to-day operation of the school.  The focus of this council is to establish a school improvement plan.  The elements of the plan to be addressed are:  class size, professional development, enhancement of parental involvement, school safety and discipline, and extracurricular activities.

 

            It is our belief that the reform law, the School Council, and its improvement plan are positive steps in ensuring that our children will be prepared to compete in the academic world.

 

ELEMENTS OF THE DITSON SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN

 

 

As specified by the Educational Reform Act, the following elements are to be incorporated into each plan.

 

 

Class Size:  The class size at the present time does not present a major problem.  However, class size will continue to be monitored as the elementary population is on the increase.  Additional staffing will be requested when enrollment necessitates.

 

 

Professional Development:  Professional Development is an ongoing practice.

 

 

Enhancement of Parental Involvement:  Parental involvement has been and will continue to be a vital part of the Ditson School.  We presently have volunteers for many activities and programs at the Ditson School.  The parent groupÕs goal is to involve students in enhancing the school grounds and thereby fostering respect of property.

 

The Playground Committee was established in the spring of 1996.  The initial Phase One construction of the playground will be completed in the spring of 1997.

 

 

School Safety and Discipline:  This is the focal point of this plan.  We have put together a school handbook to address rules and regulations that we feel will make the school a safer place, have a positive atmosphere for learning, and reinforce our core value of respect.

 

 

Extracurricular Activities:  The DSA (School Parent Group) supplements the curriculum with an abundance of activities and programs throughout the year.  Many of these programs are vehicles where the core value of respect is represented.  The continuation of the Student Council lends itself in many ways to teaching of respect, i.e., Elderly Awareness Campaign.

 

Planning Process

 

 

 

The Ditson Elementary School Building Council was most fortunate to have attended a series of workshops sponsored by the Massachusetts Elementary School Principals Association (MESPA) and conducted by Future Management Systems.  The purpose of these workshops was to guide the members through the process of formulating school improvement plans.

 

The Planning Slice Method was introduced as a means of developing such a plan.

 

The Planning Slice Procedure is as follows:

 

1.         Identify a Core Value—A philosophical belief that forms a foundation for planning.

 

2.         Create a vision for the core value—A written statement that describes what the school will look like when it achieves its goals.

 

3.         Develop a Mission Statement—A consensus statement that captures the philosophy of the school.

 

 

 

 

 

CORE VALUES

 

 

 

1.         Respect enhances the opportunity to learn.

 

 

2.         A safe, healthy environment is vital to the educational process.

 

 

3.         Responsibility is a crucial element of a lifetime of learning.

 

 

4.         Home/school interaction, communication, and cooperation are key factors to educational success.

 

VISION

 

 

 

      The Ditson School Community will foster a climate of mutual acceptance and understanding.  It will be a place where students and staff alike can pursue mutual education goals in a safe and secure atmosphere.

 

      The physical plant will be clean, well ventilated, well lit, and in general, environmentally sound.  Parents, students, and staff will continue to work together not only to improve the buildingÕs safety features, but also to address general health and hygiene issues in the school.  Expectations of safety, appropriate behavior and discipline, clearly defined in a School Handbook, will be met as a result of a support system developed within the school community.

 

      By working together via appropriate programs, staff and students will be seen demonstrating cooperative and courteous behavior.  Respecting the rights and diversity of others will be a priority.  This can only be achieved by instilling a deep sense of responsibility within our students.  All parties should mutually accept their roles in this process.

 

      Parents, students, and staff will be conversant with conflict resolution techniques, become aware and accepting of cultural and physical differences, and be proud of physical school environment.  All involved will further demonstrate home/school unity through active participation in school activities and daily programming as feasible and necessary.

 

      The Ditson Community will recognize the many unique aspects of all people and will exhibit an appreciation for the acceptance of such diversity.  They also hope to set the course for a lifetime of learning by instilling in the students an appreciation and eagerness for knowledge that will transcend school boundaries and extend into other areas of their lives.

 

MISSION

 

 

      Our mission is to identify a course of action that will create a secure environment in which to work, learn, and play for students, staff, and parents of the Ditson Community.  Promoting a shared sense of responsibility among parents, teachers, and the students themselves is crucial to achieving this mission.

 

 

STRATEGIC GOALS  1994–1995

 

 

1.              Staff members and parents will become role models reflecting cooperative behavior.

 

Strategy:          Enlist support of staff members and parents within the Ditson Community.

 

Conduct workshops related to the core value of respect for the staff and parents.

 

Action Plan:    Investigate the possibility of allotting portions of each elementary planning day to identify and address issues regarding respect.

 

Consider the possibility of establishing bimonthly staff meetings.

 

Schedule conflict resolution training sessions for staff and parents.

 

Improve communication between the School Council and the Ditson School Community via an information column in the DSA newsletter.

 

 

2.              Students will display a positive and caring attitude toward themselves and others.

 

Strategy:          Organize activities emphasizing respect.

 

Encourage teachers to develop classroom activities to foster respect for self, for others, and for property.

 

Action Plan:    Conduct a School Spirit Week, organized by the Student Council.

 

Devise a program, implemented by the Student Council, to salute and honor the elderly.

 

*    Senior Concert:  Sponsored by students.

*    Three-month letter writing correspondence between seniors and students.

*    Tea party and gifts for all seniors.

 

Establish a good manners week.

 

Initiate a monthly program to honor a student in each class who typifies respectful behavior.

 

Research the possibility of fifth graders attending a week-long environmental experience that emphasizes teamwork and respect.

 

Commence a school wide Random Acts of Kindness program to be organized by the Student Council.

 

3.              Expectations reflecting cooperative and courteous behavior will be set by staff, students, and parents.

 

Strategy:          Develop a Ditson School Handbook.

 

Involve students in school beautification projects.

 

Initiate character building programs.

 

Action Plan:    Develop a comprehensive school handbook incorporating a code of discipline, health issues, academic expectation, and other pertinent information.

 

Research surrounding community elementary handbooks.

 

Survey teachers for handbook input.

 

Publish and distribute the handbook for the 1994–1995 school year.

 

Create grade level teams to maintain school grounds on a monthly rotation.

 

Develop a recognition system for each grade levelÕs contribution to the schoolÕs beautification system.

 

Investigate the possibility of the DSA initiating an ÒAdopt A PlotÓ program at the Ditson School to involve parents and the extended community.

 

Request the art teacher to design an art project for students to decorate refuse containers to beautify the school.

 

Continue the annual Green-Up Day at the Ditson School.

 

Encourage classes to participate in decorating, utilizing a monthly theme.

 

Sponsor an essay contest highlighting a positive character trait.

 

Formulate a list of guest speakers who are positive role models in our community.

 

4.              The Ditson School will develop a heightened awareness of the diversities within its community.

 

Strategy:          Increase awareness of cultural diversity.

 

Involve students in recognizing and respecting physical differences.

 

Encourage students to accept strengths and weaknesses in themselves as well as each other.

 

Encourage studentsÕ awareness of the needs of others through community service projects.

 

Action Plan:    Continue the practice of International Food Week in the school lunch program.

 

Form a committee of teachers to plan a cultural fair day.

 

Approach DSA for funds to purchase multicultural media for the Library.

 

Continue DSA Arts Program fostering diversity.

 

Urge teachers to continue to be positive role models when interacting with physically challenged children.

 

Continue to use Talents Unlimited strategies to develop each studentÕs individual capabilities.

 

Initiate a home project, All About Me, where parents will help children discover their own unique traits and abilities.

 

Establish a pen pals (letter writing) program between senior citizens and students.

 

Involve school community in collecting winter clothing for Operation Overcoat.

 

Enlist support through the Student Council for the collection of non-perishable food items for the Billerica Food Pantry.

 

 

STRATEGIC GOALS  1995–1996

 

 

5.              Students and staff will be protected from unauthorized visitors, as well as internal hazards.

 

Strategy:          Monitor access of visitors to the building.

 

Action Plan:    Post signs inside and outside the building to direct visitors to the PrincipalÕs Office.

 

Investigate the cost of installing a security system at the visitorsÕ and service entrances.

 

Create a check-in procedure requiring visitor badges.

 

Limit access to the building by locking all but the main entrance.

 

Install a two-way intercom system in each classroom.

 

Establish a subcommittee to define universal procedures to be followed in the case of an accident or emergency.

 

Encourage staff to reinforce hallway, classroom, and playground safety.

 

Establish a safety checklist designed by the principal and senior custodian.

 

Request DSA to post door monitors during after school functions.

 

6.              The health and well-being of the Ditson Community will be a top priority.

 

Strategy:          Identify environmental health issues and take appropriate action.

 

Address issues of hygiene within the school.

 

Reinforce good eating habits.

 

Provide decision-making skills to enable students to live a healthy lifestyle.

 

Action Plan:    Disinfect air shafts and check air quality in each classroom.

 

Test for and remove remaining asbestos as required.

 

Eliminate pigeon infestation.

 

Establish custodial checklist to include:

 

a)     Provide adequate soap and paper towels in lavatories.

b)    Keep dumpster closed.

c)     Refill paper cup dispensers daily.

 

Encourage good hygiene habits reinforced by the lessons in The Great Body Shop, as well as other curriculum materials.

 

Survey parents to identify guest speakers who are health professionals.

 

Encourage students to bring nutritious snacks.

 

Continue to provide nutritious and well-balanced meals in the Cafeteria.

 

Review with students the food pyramid as presented in The Great Body Shop.

 

Continue Drug Awareness Resistance Education (DARE) in the fifth grade.

 

Utilize The Great Body Shop to teach decision-making skills.

 

Continue to reinforce decision-making skills through the school Guidance CounselorÕs program.

 

7.              The Ditson School and surrounding grounds will be renovated, upgraded, and beautified.

 

Strategy:          Make necessary repairs and improvements to refurbish the building.

 

Enlist parents and staff to beautify and upgrade the facility.

 

Action Plan:   

*       Repaint halls and classrooms throughout the school, pending available funding.

 

*       Upgrade rails and banisters in the stairwells.

 

*       Install a new fire alarm system.

 

Install paper cup dispensers at each water fountain.

 

*       Repair walks including the interface at the door thresholds.

 

Recommend the relining of both parking lots.

 

Request the DSA to investigate moving the playground equipment.

 

Attempt to locate space to accommodate the technology plan recently adopted by the School Committee.

 

Initiate a letter writing campaign led by faculty and parents to request the Superintendent of Schools and School Committee to investigate the building of a new school or additional classroom space.

 

8.              Established rules and regulations for transportation safety will be reviewed and monitored.

 

Strategy:          Evaluate the existing bus transportation program.

 

Action Plan:    Confirm that the number of students riding the bus falls within the legal limit.

 

Consider the possibility of establishing a bus monitor program.

 

Encourage the bus company to be more aware of and to enforce the established rules and regulations.

 

Explore the feasibility of seat belts being required on the buses.