We have about seven weeks of the the school year left. I can't believe it,! Many, many things to do with priority being building our plan for next year. But, first we must reflect on this past school year and we do have a plan for that. A district facilitator will be at our school to assist us with a dialog that hopefully will lead us to next steps. What are the questions that need to be answered as we plan for the future:
What do our students and parents think about our school and how we serve them? We have results from surveys and forums?
Are we meeting goals for student achievement? Test scores will tell part of that story...due in late May.
How can we more effectively recruit students to get our numbers closer to 200? I do think that this is a priority of the higher ups.
What will our professional development plan look like next year? I must say we are seeing the benefits of the past two years professional development.
Will we add a grade level next year?
Many other questions to answer.
Input from all stakeholders is essential as we devlop our future plan. Staff, students, parents and district folks have some thoughts I'm sure. Share here if you dare!
posted by Steve Cantees | 8:28 PM
10 Comments:
First, I think the title for this post should be, "Seven Weeks Left and It Feels Like We're Just Getting Started."
I know you've read some of my thoughts on this and I've got a post in the works in reply to your comment.
All of what we're doing in preparation for next year is essential to building on our success. What about our vision? Where do we want Phoenix to be in 5 years? Ten? When does Phoenix step up as a model school? When do we start studying and publishing based on the work our educational community members are doing?
I can here you answer in my head, "One thing at a time, Zac."
I get that, I know that. I also know that the best systems, businesses or not, have a vision for where they want to go. In fact, without a non-traditional vision, Phoenix would not be here today. The question of where we want to be tomorrow is a trickier one.
If Phoenix is to escape from the trap into which many schools fall of having their vision be, "Let's get through this year, and then we'll talk," when are we building our vision?
Should I stop thinking?
More later.
I have a suggestion, not a solution. I suggest that Phoenix should have an earlier start time. I am aware that I am not the first person to bring this up, but I feel there are many benefits to an earlier start than to our late one. My biggest argument is that a majority of our students are unable to participate in sports at their districted schools. Some might say that sports are weak argument to bring up in an academic discussion but “our students” would benefit from the skills that are learned through interscholastic athletics (I.E. teamwork, time management, self-discipline, decision-making, problem solving, socio-emotional skills, and not to mention all of the inherent health benefits). Let’s face it, sports save more at-risk students every day than all other programs combined!
It would be really cool if some of us stepped it up a little and started publishing in educational journals. We could really increase the cache of the school.
Tenth grade sounds like a great idea (11th-12th to follow?). If we can prove how we help our students, Phoenix will expand. An "A" or an "A" on our FCAT results would be concrete proof to those that question our value to the district. I'm not touting the merits of FCAT -- just being realistic.
We need to be aggressive in our recruiting efforts. I don't think anyone else is going to do it for us. Now is the time that our "recruiters" are in Phoenix's feeder schools, lobbying for the students that would benefit the most by what we have to offer.
It is essential to design a Matrix that is very specific on what students we accept.
I have a question about our plan for next year and what is a reasonable expactation of support from our district? I trust that the idea that became Phoenix is still perceived as having merit; especially since we know what a difference we make in our students' lives. I'm reminded of the story of the child rescuing the starfish after the tide has left them dry and is scoffed at because he can't make a difference to all of them; his reply "I made a difference to that one" is so powerful; I hope that is recognized.
Your a really good writer
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