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Show B2 Vernal Express Wednesday, January 1.2003 Emrelm From the Principals Office: c o m my Todd ft lh ray gift) gyiided parties jpatiSoira fowoOds Oeairiniimg Told School is the first public elementary school in Utah. to pass ihc Utah State School Accreditation process The school received the notification of approval Oct. 23 from Dr Ralph P. Vander Heide of die slate accreditation committee. He reported that we not only met the requirements, but also passed with commendations. Teac hing for I nderstanding The concept of guided participation is a fundamental and universal process of socialization that occurs for all people who male the journey from infancy to adulthood. Students learn by engagement in culturally valued activities that have purpose and meaning in their lives. The challenge for educators is to develop learning communities in which guided participation is the crucial underlying process In such environments, curriculum and instruction are anchored in meaning Using this as a foundation the school adopted The California Early Literacy Learning and Extended Literacy Learning (CellExH) reading format CclLLxll is the balanced literacy model the school use throughout the school. It is a reading and writing program supported by scientific research, which combines skill development with literature and languagc-nc- h activities. The elements provide a structure to integrate all CORE concepts, not only in math and reading, but also in science and social studies. Embedded in the program is the professional development of teachers, thematic teaching and multilevel instruction to address the educational needs of each child. Professional Development To achieve the goal of having the school as a learning community organization, the school community receives intensive, continual professional development. Since the school plan is based on research, it is committed to ongoing professional development for the staff. Teachers receive training from a reading consultant every six weeks, and bold effective Guided Reading and Book. Club meetings every The month. two Literacy Coordinators assigned so grades K-- 2 and grades 5 are available every day for immediate feedback, support and mentoring. The Fine Arts specialists leach a new concept to the staff eadh month. The School BEST team also provides training and assistance as needed. In addition, the school is fortunate to have the support of outside agencies in meeting the needs of individual children School Community Council To be most successful it is necessary to have a structure m place to effectively organize and utilize community resources The School Community Council was deliberately formed to rrwlude representation from all the different areas which come together to make us a united school communrty This council meets to review arid respond to the direction of the school while adding support and feedback on projects completed They serve as an essential link to the needs of the students in becoming lifelong learners and contributing members Of society Character Education Providing opportunities for students to grow, partnering with parents to prepare them for the responsibilities they will face as citizens in an mcreanng!y global world and instilling a love fee hfelcmg learning are identified as desired results for student learning m the school The character education program is tntentxmany integrated throughout our school day and year Students have opportunities to participate to character building activities to the classroom and at school, with follow --through at home and m the community To increase positive student performance by recognizing individual achievements to an educational community the school has to place a Student of the Day program. Teachers use this program according to the needs of then individual students as they demonstrate growth and success in becoming contributing members of our soci-er3-- 1 y. Ci Kids One tnrversaii educational challenge developing character. conscience, crviirv and individual and social responsibility in all our children. I Teachers use a school-wid- e proactive approach in teaching, learning and practicing social responsibility. The Cool Kids is a social skills program designed for all children One component catches students being good and rewards their positive behaviors. The school uses use a 2(X) Club chart to help remforoe appropriate citizenship. You have to put in place a rew ard system to help people be successful, to motivate and energize them to do the best job they can do. Soaring Eagles All students enrolled at our school become Eagles". At the beginning of cash school year they are awarded a certificate To pros de a consistent formal for using public posting, as recommended by behavior specialists, these certificates are prominently displayed in the classroom for the year. At the end of each trimester every child who has completed the requirements for excellence in Citizenship, Attendance, and Math, Healthy Reading Lifestyles are recognized in a special classroom ceremony at a scheduled time so parents may attend. The principal. Golden Feather (school mascot) and the teacher make the presentation of achievements to each student. Those students who excel in all five areas become Soaring Eagles and are treated to a special activ lty. Art and Music The value of arts education is now firmly grounded in theory and research Arts teachers daily ask their students to engage in learning activities which require use of higher-order thinking skills like analysis. synthesis and evaluation. Arts education is an activity of the mmd. Recognizing the essential skills taught through the Arts and nurturing die creative impulse jn our school, the school's amsoc tradition will continue and provide our children with the skills and sensitivity that are simply not found elsewhere. Mrs. Beverly Sorenson has supported our school for the last three years, through a unique Artworks for Kids gran. Our art and music specialists collaboraie with the teachers is curriculum planning, addressing the current CORE concepts and incorporating different learning styles Technology The school has established an active system whereby technology supports a! elements of the school structure, classroom instruction and CORE cumcuhim Our computer lab is equipped with 25 student stations complete with speakers and headphones. The school is networked throughout the building and have ready access to the Internet. Due to the foresight of our media specialist the lab is set up with a presentation system feufl consists of a smart board, projector and laptop In addition. Todd has a multimedia projector available on a check oca system to assist teachers to quickly moerporate various learning styles durmg mstrucDcrii time to them classroom Each regular education classroom has a television permanently installed to more easily access visual and enrichment mstruCDanal materials Knowledge Box Todd is currently one of ton schools to Utah to be equipped with the Knowledge Box computer program The school was aw arded state funds and support to purchase this program for our students. The Knowledge Box js a technology tod for the delivery of core instruction, winch actually does improve leaching and learning fc is believed it wiD provide an addmoniJ method of integrating our QHJExLL Literacy modd with the state core curriculum. It dovetails dtrectUy with the cumaJum mapping currently to progress at our sdbod and increases die ability Of teachers an fully aligning daily instrucDon wife our state standards Using fee technology built into the program increases our teachers' ability to assign more mdoidualtzed instruction ra readme and math feus addressing another one of our school fee .Adding gnats. Knowledge Box to our educaaona! methodology and technology network wiH provide an soiree of muhmeSt lesson content The content comes fuTb edited and is organized by standird. ini 5 Community $i Calendar 2002 dog Boeasea are about to expire. Bring proof of estreat rabies vaccination to tire Uintah Animal Shelter to a purchase 2003 ikeme or visit your ALL dogs must be veterinarian. bcemed. tr3l Decern Youth Dance at Ashley Stake Center, 850 W. 100 N from 9 p.ra. to 1 2:30 .m. For ages 14 through 18. Best Drew event. Heritage Museum Westers hosts quills by Sharon Schamber. These are hand award winning, international and die show is a must aee event. TV quilts will remain in the museum through the month of ianuary. Jzzsssryl There wifi be ao Reading Radio Ire. 1 Our character education program is intenbonaJly integrated throughout our school day and year. In this activity students are learning about their own personal space.' Jsssxyl TOPS meets in the Conference Room of Ae Venal City Building, kaa. to 12:30 call Gwen pm fttersm Vernal Rotory 11 For information, at 789435k Chb meets at noon in 711 Ranch Restaurant. Artist Mike ' inwbethr nrectqKakec. Now firough Jaw 4, drop off ia the parting lot ui the comer of 100 N. and 100 J W. fur racy y USOMATA dasses start for andean, Cfezenship, Attendance, Math. Reading and Healthy lifestyles is recognized in a special classroom Soaring Eagfes Ceremony at a scheduled feme so parents may attend. The principal, the school mascot - Golden Feather and the teacher make the presentation of achievements to each student naarn-ia- g 1235 N. 3000 W. JassarytO USOMATA repmmtiou subject topic, theme and grade. Reading programs Six years ago fee school purchased our first Waterford Early Reading Program computer setup and have continued to add to fee lab. Todd cumendy has 21 aan.ms in out Waterford Lab servicing over ISO children wife sessions from 17 to 30 minutes each day. This program tutors each student m reading skills, mdadmg a strong emphasis ob phonemic awareness and dovetails wife fee CeUExS reading strategies. Todd was selected as a National Waterford Best Practice DeroanstranoB Sue, one of only 12 recipients in fee nano for 2002-200(la addition. Todd will soon receive funding for fee Waterford Mafe and Sc dice computer pro- begins for evntomiftoul pmTo7pmAl 1235 N. 3000 W. y Jzzsyu Sbet Sympowum at Utah Suae tho nnitj. tk Gotten Age Ccurer Caregiver 3. mspm (Mtaeaat Oh. My Cafl &e care ceaaer at Back. 789-2- 1 far snore tafamutwa. gram) Students have daJy access to fee .Accelerated Reader Program. This is a oampunmzed reading program ct where students reading materials which are mucked according to osa guided reading levels After fee students have read fee book fery lake a lest to check feeir comprehension Paints are aw arded based Bpan fee test scores. Student may use these pomts to buy prizes an-r- y Teachers use fens resource of ways, determined ty fee needs of fee students and concepts being addressed. Someames fee class reads a bock together, some-limindividually and sometimes ra a buddy read format. Students and teachers find fens to be a very moa-- v Htmg learning tool Reading one to one is an individus alized tutoring program feat fee essentud elements of a balanced reading program and is flexible to accomrnodatr student needs across multiple grade levels and ability ranges. This program enhances oar school's systematic. Jty2J nm self-sele- Dmosrwas meet m. 10 la the Camay Ememaaa oGkec And Soar of (fir Ctwty BmUmg. aewuag nut pee w3 he 6e tome of ' Cat;? fr tS3mm e at im-- es te&scetessefFzZZt fctxtA at tag rc -- Cr nocr-portne- il r. Tie&e students mafe Tier own ahse-ce- s and iardes cn fnercSass-rpdisplayed cn Tie cdpfeeslne. Exoeli erg arenda'ce is egjred to become a Soemg Eage m l2rrJ r.x cz2 C:: Vorjd Ixpress e rt tee-shr- ls See Ogle cn page E5 TtMSIL v h |