NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ALLEN AVENUE SCHOOL

2007 - 2008

          School Council Members             
Lisa Cooper, Parent Member
Deborah Dailey, Teacher Member
Tammy Monahan, Parent Member/ Co-chair
Glen Pacheco, (Target), Community Member
Tara Puccio, Parent Member
Diane Santos, Principal/ Co-chair
Mary Ellen Smith, Teacher Member

OUR MISSION

“Preparing all students to become lifelong learners and responsible citizens.”

GUIDING BELIEFS

We believe:

Ø     Each student can attain the standards of a challenging curriculum when individual needs are addressed.

Ø     Mutual respect establishes a learning environment conducive to the development of the whole child.

Ø     Schools assist in the academic, physical, social, emotional and moral development of the individual.

Ø     Comprehensive communication and literacy skills are essential.

Ø     Quality education is the responsibility of all townspeople, fostered by partnerships among parents, teachers, businesses, and all community members.

Ø     Safe schools are essential for all.

ALLEN AVENUE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2007 -2008

IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

Objective 1.1            To continue a team of Allen Avenue School Professional Staff to analyze student achievement at faculty meetings and grade level meetings

1.1.1        Prioritize and address factors that have an impact on student achievement

developed by the District Improvement Team (see Appendix).  A continuing priority is student attendance.

Objective 1.2  To analyze the MCAS results by content strand, standard, and question type for all Allen Avenue School students at each grade level

1.2.1        Utilize faculty meetings and study groups to analyze MCAS results.

Objective 2.1   To develop strategies to close school wide achievement gaps

2.1.1        Develop and implement an Action Plan to address school wide achievement gaps.

2.1.2        Implement the Fundations Phonics Program in Grades K-2.

2.1.3        Integrate the use of Fountas and Pinnell materials with the Fundations Phonics

Program to improve systematic phonics and spelling in Kindergarten, Grade 1 and

Grade 2.

2.1.4    Promote the increased incorporation of standards-based, hands-on learning experiences into the instructional program.

2.1.5        Ongoing initiatives include the following:

Literacy:

o       Writing portfolios for all students three times a year

o       Developmental Reading Assessments (DRA) as directed by the District

o       Making Meaning read-aloud program

o       Shared, independent and guided reading in all classrooms K-4

o       Literature Circles/Book Talks in Grades 3-4

o       Six+1 Traits of Writing Program

o       RAISE (Restate, Answer, Include: Support with Evidence, Extend) to support children’s answering open response questions

     Mathematics:  Everyday Mathematics in all classrooms K-4

           General:  Administration of the Learning Styles Inventory at Grades 3 and 4

2.1.6   Implement a Response to Intervention (RTI) program at Allen Avenue School based on the district RTI implementation plan.

Objective 3.1    To employ instructional staff who meet state and federal definition of highly qualified

Objective 3.2    To provide a mentoring experience for all first year teachers

Objective 3.3    To offer professional development activities, which will support the district’s and school’s improvement objectives

3.3.1    Monitor teachers’ recertification plans within each teacher’s five-year cycle.

3.3.2   Offer site-based Study Groups to Allen Avenue School staff for Professional Development Points (PDPs).

3.3.3    Train teachers in the use of the computer program Test Wiz to create assessment reports.

Objective 4.1   To participate in aligning the District’s curriculum guides as needed based upon Massachusetts Department of Education mandates

4.1.1        Implement approved curricula in all classrooms.

Objective 4.2   To utilize common assessments/benchmark tests for all classrooms

           4.2.1     Analyze student performance on common assessments. 

Objective 5.1  To inform staff, parents, and community about student achievement relative to State testing and Federal mandates and legislation

5.1.1        Distribute test results to parents.

5.1.2    Share test results with the School Council and the AAPT.

5.1.3    Distribute School Report Card to parents and post on school Web site.

Objective 5.2  To inform staff, parents, and community about student achievement relative to local benchmarks

5.2.1        Utilize report cards and parent conferences to inform parents about student achievement.

Objective 5.3  To strengthen and support relationships among the school, parents, and community

5.3.1   Strengthen and support relationships among the school, parents, and community by maintaining the Volunteer Handbook and continuing to coordinate all volunteer

            activities throughout the school community.

5.3.2        Ongoing Initiatives include the following:

o       Parental involvement in the development of the School Improvement Plan

o       Volunteer opportunities for family members at Allen Avenue School

o       Family fun activities through the AAPT

o       Business partnerships, particularly with Target

o       Open Circle Program

5.3.3        Communicate with families and the community via the weekly Allen Avenue

News, the North Attleborough Public Schools Web site, various teacher Web sites, Connect-ED and True North.

5.3.4    Support the efforts of the Allen Avenue School parent/staff/student community support system CARES—Children Acting Responsibly in Elementary School.

Objective 6.1            To provide and promote policies, programs, and activities, which ensure

school climate conducive to learning for all students

6.1.1      Utilize data from reports regarding disciplinary referrals, suspensions, truancy and daily attendance percentages to plan corrective action.

6.1.2      Continue the Social Competency - Open Circle program in all classrooms Grades 1 – 4.

6.1.3      Continue yearly review and revision of the Allen Avenue Student Handbook.

Objective 6.2   To provide and promote policies, programs, and activities, which ensure safe and drug-free schools for all students

6.2.1        Support the curriculum presented by the health teacher.

6.2.2        Utilize data regarding accidental injuries collected by the school nurse to

           determine if there are conditions that need to be corrected.

     6.2.3     Continue the disinfecting of student desks twice per week by the custodian.

6.2.4     Continue to conduct a variety of emergency drills following established

procedures as  outlined in the district Emergency Procedures Guide.

Objective 6.3   To provide equitable educational facilities

6.3.1         Support district grant-writing efforts to fund the .5 Class Size Reduction Teacher.

6.3.2        Support the efforts to add six modular classrooms to Allen Avenue School.

6.3.3        Continue to advocate for improvements in the Allen Avenue School facility through the regular and Capital Improvement budgets.

Objective 6.4            To improve the function and appearance of the school building

6.4.1        Continue to encourage all members of the school community to take responsibility

for keeping the school clean. i.e. students picking up papers and materials throughout the  school day; keeping desks neat and clean.

6.4.2        Continue to implement report recommendations of the Air Quality Test

 performed in October 2004 in the School and use the Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Kit.

Objective 7.1  To implement recommendations from the 2004 Coordinated Program Review and the Tier II Audit Report

Objective 8.1   To apply for grants on an annual basis, as applications for funds are made available from such sources as Target Store Grants, private foundations and corporations

8.1.1    Create a comprehensive list of improvements that will need outside funding sources.

            8.1.2   Create and update a list of grants for which to apply.

8.1.3        Designate a member of the Allen Avenue School community to insure proper stewardship.

APPENDIX

DEFINITION OF ACHIEVEMENT

Student progress as measured by MCAS results and mastery of State standards.

FACTORS THAT HAVE IMPACT ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

• Parental involvement
• Student’s attendance
• Student’s work ethic and work habits
• Pre-school experiences and interventions
• Socio-economic status
• Teacher quality
• School climate
• Equitable educational environments
• Availability of resources (e.g. library)
• Availability of technology
• Availability of academic support
• Enrichment opportunities
• Extracurricular activities
• Wide range of professional development opportunities for staff