Target
Area:
Curriculum Development and Assessment
Goal #1
Students
will improve critical thinking skills across all areas of the
curriculum through the use of varied teaching methods, many
types of assessment opportunities, and improved tracking of
students’ learning needs.
Rationale:
To
be successful in today’s world, students need to be able to
employ logical and creative problem solving skills
independently and cooperatively. These skills will enable
students of all abilities to meet the challenges of many types
of assessment, as well as make morally sound and ethically
responsible choices, with greater confidence and competence
Schoolwide Learning Expectations Addressed:
·
A disciple of Christ who makes
moral and ethical choices
·
A
life-long learner who approaches learning with confidence and
enthusiasm
·
An
effective communicator who speaks and writes clearly,
confidently, and skillfully
·
A
critical and creative thinker who uses logical thinking and
reasoning skills
·
A
critical and creative thinker who employs flexible and
creative problem solving skills
·
A
critical and creative thinker who takes academic risks in the
learning process and in decision making
·
An
active global citizen who embraces the lifelong journey of
interacting socially, politically, and economically in efforts
to meet local and global challenge
|
Strategies/ Interventions
|
Timeline
|
People Responsible
|
Resources
|
Assessment/ Reporting
|
|
Students
will have regular opportunities to identify and
reflect on the ways their learning activities
incorporate the Student Learning Expectations
|
on-going
|
Students
Administration
Faculty
|
Faculty
in-service
Staff
development and sharing
Grade
level meetings
Lesson
plans
Formal
conference and observation process
Teacher
discernment
|
Celebrations
of learning
Teacher/principal/student
feedback
Newsletter
Communication to wider community
Rubrics
|
|
All
students will have regular opportunities for
addressing problems and situations requiring critical
and creative thinking.
|
2004-2005
training
2005-2006
feedback and implementation
|
Students
grades K – 8
Teaching
staff
parents
|
secure
funding
classroom
teachers and specialists,
staff
development
in-service,
existing
curriculum, dedicated time allotment
|
record
of staff development,
teacher
feedback,
implementation
|
|
Teachers
will provide learning opportunities to ensure the
success of special needs students.
|
2004
– 2007
|
Students
Teachers
Parents
|
staff
development
modified
program
learning
specialist teacher
technology,
local school district
|
faculty
dialogue
case
conferencing
testing
results
report
card
|
|
Teachers
will provide opportunities to challenge the needs of
students at all ability levels.
|
on-going
|
Teachers
Parents
Students
|
library
media center
technology
Accelerated
Reader
curriculum
supplements
Multiple
Intelligence theory
|
student
work samples
student
reflections
test
results
parent
feedback
surveys
|
|
Teachers
will provide alternative forms of assessment across
the curriculum.
|
2004
training
2005
implementation
on-going
|
Teachers
|
existing
curriculum
multiple
intelligences
manipulatives/supplies
supplemental
technology
|
dialogue
and feedback to administration
faculty
sharing
student
work samples
|
|
Teachers
will evaluate the effectiveness of special needs
interventions by tracking the growth of at-risk
students.
|
2005
and
on-going
|
Learning
specialist
Classroom
teachers
Administration
|
ITBS
tracking tool
case
conferencing
mastery
testing
modified
plans
tracking
form
student
concern form
|
level
meetings
parent
conferencing
student
work samples
writing
portfolios
test
results
report
cards/progress reports
|
|
Faculty
will investigate the feasibility of providing K-8
extensions in the area of math.
|
Fall
2004
|
Math
teachers
Students
Parents
Administration
|
math
curriculum
math
manipulatives
technology/Internet
WA
State Mathematics Council
math
journals
|
student
feedback
faculty
feedback
standardized
testing
teacher-made
tests
student
participation
|
|
Faculty
will investigate availability of community-based
support services for dealing with emotional, personal,
and academic challenges of students and families.
|
2004
– 2007
|
Faculty
staff
administration
|
Catholic
Community Services
pastor
parish
staff
local
school districts
school
and community-based tutoring
secure
funding
|
surveys
parent
satisfaction
teacher
feedback
administrative
feedback
|
Target Area:
Resource Management Tools
Goal #2
Students
will be supported in their pursuit of the Schoolwide Learning
Expectations by the implementation of new and improved
resource management tools.
Rationale:
In
order to maximize student learning, student safety and
security, technological advancements, and quality education on
a limited budget, there is a need for creative use of existing
resources and procurement of additional sources of funding.
Schoolwide Learning Expectations Addressed:
·
A disciple of Christ who lives
out Gospel values through service to the family, church,
community, and world
·
A
disciple of Christ who practices respect and stewardship for
all God’s creation
·
A
life-long learner who sets goals and concrete steps to reach
them
·
A
life-long learner who incorporates technology as a tool to
acquire, apply, synthesize, and share knowledge
·
An
effective communicator who interacts cooperatively and
respectfully with people of all ages
·
A
critical and creative thinker who employs flexible and
creative problem solving skills
·
A
critical and creative thinker who works both independently and
cooperatively
·
An
active global citizen who practices stewardship as a way of
life, sharing time, talent, and treasure
·
An
active global citizen who applies Christian leadership skills
|
Strategies/
Interventions
|
Timeline
|
People Responsible
|
Resources
|
Assessment/ Reporting
|
|
Students
will practice safe use of school playground equipment
and structures
|
2005
- 2006
|
Students
Playground
supervisors
Teachers
|
safety
policies/procedures
safety
inspection
rules
demonstrated/taught
archdiocesan
guidelines
|
accident
reports
feedback
from playground staff
disciplinary
action
student
feedback
|
|
The
school will implement structural changes and
procedures needed to better secure the building.
|
2004
- 2007
|
Administration
Pastor
Parish
leadership
School
leadership
|
secure
funding
safety
experts
architectural
expertise
administration
|
office
feedback
|
|
Staff
will continue to update training and procedures to
respond to emergencies.
|
On-going
|
teachers/Kids’
Club staff
administration
office
staff
students
|
Des Moines
Fire Dept.
Arch.
guidelines
school
safety plan
Red
Cross training
|
staff
feedback
parent
feedback
surveys
student
feedback
|
|
Administration
and parent boards will continue investigating
additional sources of funding.
|
On-going
|
Administration
Parent
boards
Teachers
|
alumni
volunteers/parishioners
grant
writing
bequests
annual
appeal
endowment
|
budget
process
grants
awarded
project
funded
stable
tuition
competitive
salaries and benefits
|
|
The
school community will optimize the use of technology.
|
2004
- 2007
|
Technology
team
Administration
Teachers
Office
staff
school
commission
|
volunteers
alumni
webmaster
fundraising
staff
development
|
surveys
office
automation
teacher
technology use
classroom
integration
student
work samples
|
|
Establish
a team of 7th and 8th grade
technology mentors.
|
2004
- 2005
|
Technology
team
Teachers
Students
|
staff
and student expertise
time
teacher
support
|
student
application
training
program
teacher
feedback
|
Target Area:
Instructional Space
Goal #3
To
improve student achievement and enhance student learning, the
school leadership will explore options for increasing
dedicated space in order to provide a more balanced
curriculum, and to investigate a Pre-K program/center.
Rationale:
Staff,
students, and parents have expressed a desire for enhanced
curricular and co-curricular offerings as well as a Pre-K
program. At the current time, this is not possible because all
space has been used to the maximum, and some classes are
taught in less-than-optimal spaces.
Schoolwide Learning Expectations Addressed:
·
A disciple of Christ who
practices respect and stewardship for all God’s creation
·
A
life-long learner who seeks a balanced life, including the
academic, spiritual, physical, and artistic dimensions
·
An
effective communicator who listens with compassion and
responds with empathy to the views of others
·
A
critical and creative thinker who takes academic risks in the
learning process and in decision making
·
An
active global citizen who affirms the rights and dignity of
every person
|
Strategies/ Interventions
|
Timeline
|
People Responsible
|
Resources
|
Assessment/ Reporting
|
|
Investigate
short-term options for space.
|
2004
-2007
|
administration
pastor
parish
leadership
school
commission
|
land
availability
ad
hoc committee
feasibility
study
secure
funding
|
ad
hoc committee report
results
of feasibility studies including costs
|
|
Investigate
feasibility of
Pre-K
program
|
2004
-2007
|
committee
of
staff
members, principal, parents, parishioner,
Kids’
Club staff member
reporting
to pastor
|
schools
with Pre-K programs
neighborhood
study of preschools
parish
family support
|
Committee
reports of findings
Integration
with parish goals
|
|
Investigate
long-range
Options
for space
|
on-going
|
administration
pastor
parish
leadership
school
commission
|
land
availability
ad
hoc committee
feasibility
study
secure
funding
|
ad
hoc committee report
results
of feasibility studies including costs
|
Target Area:
Integration of Parish Themes/Pastoral Council
Priorities
Goal #4
In
order to enhance student growth, help fulfill the mission of
the parish school, and serve as good stewards of parish and
school resources, the school community will work in
collaboration with parish leadership on the themes and
priorities, established in May 2004. (See below.)
Parish Life-The life of our parish centers on the celebration of the Eucharistic
liturgy. Along with this central focus we must promote the
life of prayer, devotion, and fellowship in our parish.
We wish to have a youth minister, see a revival of
devotional traditions, and the establishment of more small
faith communities.
Community
integration-Our parish has an impressive diversity.
We speak several languages, span all ages and have a
wide cultural background.
In order to live out our parish mission, we need to
facilitate communication and collaboration between these
various communities: parish and school, English and Spanish
speaking groups, our young adults, and all other groups within
the parish.
Evangelization-In order to live out the call in the Apostles creed,
we offer our faith and our spirituality to all people who
reside within our parish boundaries.
We strive to fulfill the spiritual yearnings within all
members of the parish, both clergy and laity. A good start is
catechesis of ourselves in order that we may be knowledgeable
and effective evangelists. Our hope in the candidate for youth
minister is a gift for passing on our faith to the youth of
St. Philomena in order to bolster the efforts of parents to
catechize their children. We rely on the Holy Spirit to
provide guidance, inspiration, and courage in our efforts.
Parish structures-a. Human structures (councils, committees, staff,
volunteers) team building b.
physical structures (buildings, maintenance schedules, layout
of interiors, improvements) c.
Scheduling of meeting spaces is a current concern
Parish development (Stewardship)-a. debt reduction b. budget for youth minister c.
increase volunteer base
Rationale:
St.
Philomena is a parish school, integrally tied to the mission
of the parish, and as the parish flourishes, so shall the
school and its students.
Schoolwide Learning Expectations Addressed:
·
A disciple of Christ who lives
out Gospel values through service to the family, church,
community, and world
·
A
life-long learner who sets goals and concrete steps to reach
them
·
An
effective community who interacts cooperatively and
respectfully with people of all ages
·
A
critical and creative thinker who displays an awareness of and
respect for differences
·
An
active global citizen who practices stewardship as a way of
life, sharing time, talent, and treasure
·
An
active global citizen who demonstrates an awareness of social
justice issues
·
An
active global citizen who embraces the lifelong journey of
interacting socially, politically, and economically in efforts
to meet local and global challenge
|
Strategies/ Interventions
|
Timeline
|
People Responsible
|
Resources
|
Assessment/ Reporting
|
|
Commitment
to support parish themes established May 2004
|
on-going
|
Administration
pastor
school
staff
students
governing
bodies
parents
|
stewardship:
time
talent
treasure
|
promote
prayer life,
establish
small faith communities,
integrate
Hispanic community,
catechesis
of youth and adults,
long-range
plans for financial development and facilities
|
*All goals shall be reassessed in three years.
