Grades K-8 Program

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM OVERVIEW

PROGRAM VISION:  We will be a dynamic, safe environment that ensures learning for all students and addresses physical, social, emotional, technical and academic needs.  Together with community and family support, we will produce capable and productive citizens of the District of Columbia.

INSTRUCTIONAL BENCHMARKS:  Each teacher receives the DC Standards to reference for teaching. The DC-CAS is directly from the DC curriculum.  We will ensure that teachers will teach from the grade level standards at a comfortable and appropriate pace for their class.  Student's mastery will be charted through weekly lesson plans, informal and formal assessments, classroom portfolios, quarterly until plans and grade books.

OBJECTIVES: For the 2007/08 school year we will make improvements. We will strive to have both students and teachers walk into our school with smiles on their faces daily. We will do this by motivation and acknowledgement of hard work and dedication to our program.  The following activities are in place for our student and teacher participation:
MATH CHALLENGE:  We will connect students through the universal language of mathematics by solving real world examples of math in their own environments.  From this, students will be able to understand the importance of math in their everyday lives.
OUTDOOR EXPERIENTIAL ADVENTURE PROGRAM: We will involve students and teachers to leave our four walls to learn outdoor survival skills, the history of Rock Creek Park, science concepts, 'Leave No Trace' skills and focus on the wilderness and natural watershed of the Washington, DC area.  The students (and some teachers too) experience activities they have never done before (ie: canoeing, hiking, rock climbing). At the end of the 9-week course, the students have truly learned self-confidence and pride in their accomplishments. 
SPELLING BEE:  We will have monthly competitions with the opportunity for students to display their talent as spellers.  This is also a chance for other students to see the benefits of becoming a good speller.  All the students enjoy competing with their classmates and friends.
R.O.C. Green Project :(Restoring Our Community) is a community service project designed to address enhancements to our environment. This project provides tudents with the knowledge necessary to help create an eco-friendly environment.
READING PROGRAM:  The students will learn to read for information and how to perform a task. We are working toward creating a community of independent readers, creative writers and critical thinkers.  This will be accomplished through:
1.  Word Study
2.  Comprehension strategies of making connections, asking questions and making inferences
3.  Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing Program (for non-readers)
4.  Writing- the writing process, text features, text structures
5.  The Dictionary Project-each student receives a dictionary
6.  Novel Project-Each class will read a novel and complete a project.

ELEMENTARY PROGRAM OVERVIEW

VISION: We will function as one unit operating in the best interest of all students. Staff communication will be a priority and discipline will be logical, suitable and swift. Ongoing communication between the program and parents will be regular and consistent. Program leadership will strive to provide a model that both encourages and challenges staff and students to do their best.  Consistent and contructive feedback will be provided and emergent leaders empowered.

Success in the elementary program is indicated by conjoined efforts to cultivate a structured and caring environment for students and staff. Consequently, incidences of poor behavior or poor choices are reduced as staff members work diligently in the best interest of our students. Further, parently participation and support are essential to maintaining a balanced approach to providing quality services. All activities and events are highly structured to help cultivate a program focused on excellence with regard to academics, behavior and appropriate choices.  This year, students are focused on preparation and participation in the Special Olympics and invested in opportunities to speak publicly in events such as the Poetry Cafe and honoring Black History Month.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ELEMENTARY PROGRAM:

Strong Staff Communication with Students, Parents and Other Employees at our School:  This will be acccomplished through monthly newsletters highlighting all activities, program successes, innovative approaches to education and classroom events relative to instruction.
Motivate Students Through the Level System and Recognize Model Behavior As Well as Model Learning:  Each day the program starts with a brief daily morning meeting by using "pull-ups."  This, coupled with the association to monthly character education words has helped students to realize their innate potential to succeed.  Students continue to be motivated as well as reflective, often "pulling up" others who attempt to assist them through difficult moments. Students submit monthly essays, acrostic poems and pictures that reflect each month's character education word.
Connect With Students and Staff on a Daily Basis:  The Program Director visits each classroom daily as a form of check-in for staff as well as students. This assists with identifying potential struggles as well as communicating with staff and students. This becomes part of a normal day so that the Program Director's presence isn't viewed as "getting into trouble."
Establish Early Contact With Each Parent/Guardian:  A high priority for the first quarter is to met with parents/guardians and return all phone calls within 24 hours. To date, there have been 12 parent meetings which occurred as a result of student misbehavior. During those meetings, the therapist, all teachers as well as the behavior specialist are involved. Concerns and behavioral expectations are discussed in detail and a behavioral agreement is developed to help remind the student of key areas to be worked on during each day. This is reinforced in therapy sessions. It is noted that, to date, (March 1, 2008); no additional meetings have been required with the same parent.
Strive to Incorporate a Community of Purposeful Communicators:  The clinical therapists within this program will facilitate workshops on therapeutic communication with our teaching staff. This is especially critical for our young students, many of whom are not only exposed to violence and neglect, but also act out violently.
Monitor All Student Individual Behavior Goals (IBG's): Each teacher will identify and submit student IBG's during the first quarter. Program Director monitors for usefulness and student progress during the remainder of the year.