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Show NINE NEW CENTENNIAL SCHOOLS . . . New Plans for Enhanced Learning Nine new Centennial Schools have been named from the Davis District. All are planning programs focusing on governor Leavitts goal of innovative education and parent involvement. Since the programs inception three year ago, 35 Davis schools have received this designation along with funding of $5,000 plus $20 per student up to $30,000 in some schools. Highlights of the new programs: Connecting disciplines, Fairfield Junior High will involve the school community in designing six semester-units that involve learners in technology, calong reer exploration, collaboration, research, communication and personal assessment. The staff will perform a curriculum audit, plugging competency holes and aligning grade levels to ensure skill acquisition that is responsive to the demands of tomorrows work force. Centennial funds provide teachers with summer and mid-yeplanning time to design student portfolios and begin curriculum integration. Holt Elementary wants students to recognize and appreciate their cultural heritage and take advantage of opportunities to explore their diversity. Developed by Holts staff, cultural curriculum will be implemented to celebrate the lives of Utahns and reflect the pride and contributions of Americans. Artistic expression and appreciation will be encouraged through visual and performing arts experiences and fine arts exhibits. Teachers will receive training in TRIBES cooperative learning methods, which help students with management and social skills. King Elementary seeks greater cohesivcncss between home and school through parentchild math and reading workshops, family events, parent partnerships for each classroom, and the schools own community-comprise- d Foundation. Teachers will receive training in different learning styles and assessment methods, and help develop a Student Education Plan for each curricuchild. The school will implement social use skills and a lum, program, teams of regular and special education teachers. Other elements include technology training, a computer in every classroom and networking. Layton High Schools Centennial plan provides inscrvice opportunities for staff in technology and writing and creates a professional library to support innovation and creativity. Student and faculty recognitions include motivational awards, publishing photos in newspapers, an alumni Hall of Fame, and free yearbooks for perfect attendance. Increasing its technical abilities, the school will install a dedicated phone line for student access to school computers from home modems. Professionals from various industries will provide students insight into use of technology, and departments are increasing the use of technology in each subject area. ar self-estee- m real-wor- ld Oak Hills Elementary has planned a Science and Technology Center equipped with science laboratory equipment and computers with CD ROM. Internet-modea and capabilities. Computers will be in every classroom and teachers will be trained in spreadsheets and database management, presentation development, team learning and hands-o- n science. An annual Science Start Conference will replace individually competitive fairs to encourage group efforts and to accommodate different learning styles. Students will maintain science journals and their scientific findings will be published as a regular feature in the Davis County Clipper. Reading Elementary has restructured educational methods by implementing portfolio assessment, techdecision maknology, and staff training in ing and language development. Networking and new computer programs encourage the development of critical thinking skills, writing proficiency and real world connections through the Internet. Additional technology lab staff and efficient scheduling increases individual student computer time to 3 hours per week from the 45 minutes previously available. A technology club. voting authors club, student newspaper and published collections of student writing will offer additional learning opportunities. South Clearfield Elementary refocuses efforts towards reading and writing bv expanding language arts instruction 30 percent. Other subjects (excluding math) will be taught as Unified Studies using thematic units. Classroom sets of these books will be purchased and newspapers used as additional resources. Alternative forms of assessment such as portfolios will be used along with traditional grading. Increased parent involvement is encouraged with three Student Educational Plan (SEP) conferences each year and family activity nights focusing on literary themes. West Bountiful Elementarys Kids First" creates a learning community where students feel a sense of belonging, utilize technology, recognize individual 451-129- 6. rh'T'f t U goal-settin- ia el Below: (top) Dixie H. Hill, Cheryl Phipps, Kathy Lee Dalton (bottom) Supt. Richard E. Kendell, President Dan R. Eastman, Vice President Barbara A. Smith .3S S. ; 5 ! ; , ' site-bas- g strengths and develop responsibility through and Student Education Plans(SEP). Centennial funding provides teachers with trimester SEP conferencing opportunities, and training in portfolio assessment, Internet, multi-medtechnologies, and TRIBES cooperative learning methods. West Point Elementary will soon have an outdoor classroom to integrate science, language arts, social studies and math curriculum in a natural ecosystem. Classes will lake frequent field trips to the area, available to the public during evenings and weekends. curriculum Family activities supporting grade-levwill be encouraged and an amphitheater will host monthly speakers addressing environmental topics. The project was designed to increase SAT total battery from 39 percent to 45 percent over two years. ju. Ntot Tech Prep Teaches Relevancy, Natural Post-H.Continuation , : multi-medi- Board Believes Citizen Participation a Key to Successful Programs Pictured Public meetings of the Board of Education are the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 5:30 p.m. Most meetings are held at the District Office auditorium in Farmington although some meetings are held at schools. For information call i. , PREParation for TECHnologies or Tech Prep" seeks to bridge the gap between the academic core and vocational education a span that means the difference between "knowing" and doing for stu dents m the real world. Successfully used in models throughout the country for 1 5 years. Tech Prep reforms curriculum and its delivery to facilitate automatic transition into work or study. Directed by Jack Dellastatious and Steve Cotrell, the Tech Prep program ha Davis school is in its development stage, five schools receiving $3,000 - $5,000 in federal technology grants to generate pilot programs for implementation this fail are Sunset Junior, Bountiful, Davis, Layton, Northridge and Viewmont high schools. Schools are free to tailin' their program to meet the needs of their students. Ideas being implemented: student internships community advisory boards certifying technological proficiency business teachers cooperatively instructing math, English, and science classes in computer applications agreements with colleges to allow entering freshmen to fill prerequisites or bypass classes with Tech Prep training. ' Knowlton s Multi-Ag- e Classes Report Positive Changes in Learning, Growth A spring 95 survey revealed unanimous support from parents and students for continuing three multiage classrooms (MAC) at Knowlton Elementary. Not one wished a return to traditional schooling, and waiting lists began for additional students wanting to participate. With boundary and staff changes, two of the original MAC classes are continuing this year. In addition, two more have been organized in the primary grades. MAC classes combine a heterogeneous mix of 4th &hiah,.cra3g.gidcjiis and now island and 2n dffid graders. Curriculum is successfully managed. Even m Single grade classes, students have a wide range of abilities. MAC classes simply add students of different ages to a learning continuum. Portfolio assesss. ment places students in competition with only them-seive- Benefits include continued relationships as students remain in one class for multiple years. Teachers report students are more accepting of one anothers uniqueness and lack the intense social competitiveness that often exists. Younger students learn from older students who reinforce their own learning by teaching." Teachers Jolyn Baldwin, Laura McMasters (now at Windridge) and Susan Phillips initiated Knowltons MAC pilot a year ago and are sought for their expertise throughout Utah. Viewmont, District, US West Create High-Tec- h Shakespeare Project A unique partnership enabled Viewmont seniors to experience Shakespeare last year through computerlessons developed by the Davis Dis- -' ized multi-medi- a trict, Viewmont teachers and US West. Through the text of Hamlet, streams of information are accessed with the click of a mouse button, including video clips of a variety of theatrical and Hollywood intcr- -' lessons in art, foods, pretations and economics, costume design, physics, algebra, etc. A year and a half in development, the Shakespeare Project went on-liduring December, 1994, With an entire lab networked for access, Vicwmonts AP English classes spent two weeks on the program without coming close to the limits of its information. The program allows for different learning styles and speeds, letting curiosity take students where ii will. Viewmont English teacher Nona Horsley was instrumental in developing the content of the program and collaborating with other teachers, programmers and field experts. The project was highlighted recently at the , Districts Opening Teacher Institute and the Governors Conference. With the pilot now com- plete, the presentation will leave Viewmont to face the scrutiny of US Wests marketing staff, eager to es- tablish the company in the commercial multi-medi- a ' .arena. cross-curricul- ar November 7 November 21 December 5 January 2 January 16 February 6 February 20 March 5 March 19 April 2 April 16 May 7 May 21 June 4 t June 18 District Office Crestview Elcm. District Office District Office District Office Holt Elem. District Office District Office District Office District Office Centerville Jr. District Office District Office District Office District Office ne t j 1 f 5 |