School Improvement

School Wide Action Plan (INFORMATIONAL “UPDATED” DRAFT)

(SEE ORIGINAL AT THE END OF THIS DOCUMENT)

July 7, 2006 Update/Chris Town, Director

The Accreditation process requires a school to reflect on how well it operates. Among other things, a school needs to identify its strengths and weaknesses in the areas of Mission and Governance, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Students, Curriculum and Instruction, Physical Resources, Financial Resources and School Community. The self-evaluation takes about a year and invites parents, faculty, students, supporting staff and administration to be part of the process. NHKS was granted a full six year accreditation in March of 2001. Our accrediting agencies are the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools (HAIS). WASC and HAIS sent an experienced team of four educators who explored the school facilities, its policies, the “evidence” – samples of what we say we are doing, our written report that included all the areas listed above, visited with students in the classrooms and spoke to all of the Staff. Then, the team documented what it saw through its investigation. It endorsed what NHKS observed about itself in many areas. Because the school had just hired the new Director for the following school year and was in a state of transition with both instructional staff and administrative staff, WASC asked for a third year follow-up report when they granted the six year accreditation. That visit will take place this school year.

The school immediately looked at the areas of improvement and set seven goals to reach in the six years. The following are the improvement items and where NHKS is in the process of successfully accomplishing them:

School Improvement Plan Item 1: Selection of candidates for Board of Governors to achieve stability, continuity and job-specific talents and broader community inclusion is needed to support the mission of the school.

v Achieved: Three Community Advisors appointed in September 2002.

School Improvement Plan Item 2: The board of Governors will write a policy that grants the Director authority for student class placement, including retention.

v Achieved: This was approved by the Board of Governors in September 2002 and added to the Director’s job description.

School Improvement Plan Item 3: Research and develop a school wide plan to identify and support students with special needs.

v Achieved:

v Began SY 2002-03 with Staff Development session held monthly.

v Invited experts on ADHD and behavior methods met with the instructional staff.

§ These included a psychologist who works with military families and children, behavior plan proponents, sent teachers to workshops concerning special needs, and

§ acquired quality, taped programs of nationally recognized experts in behavior and special needs.

§ Although the budget did not support a Consultant as recommended in the Team’s Action Step. Instead, a committee comprised of administration, faculty and staff was formed in fall SY 2003-04. The committee began work writing a school wide behavior plan with specific steps for discipline problems and a guide for teachers to identify refer and support students with special needs.

§ The new Director was hired in 7/05. His expertise in developing and implementing Schoolwide Behavior Systems was noted in his application. Since then, the school has implemented a Schoolwide Behavior System addressing core values, location-specific behavior expectations, progressive responses to infractions, and positive reinforcement and group recognition for exemplary behaviors.

§ Outside of the realm of discipline, the school developed a global approach to meeting the special needs of students in general. This plan is portrayed in a map format attached.

School Improvement Plan Item 4: Build the school’s financial endowment to sustain daily operations for an extended period of time.

v In progress

School Improvement Plan Item 5: Concurrent Art and Music instruction will be included for the full school year when additional funding is obtained.

v Achieved: NHKS adopted the Creative Arts program beginning in SY 2002-03. The salary and supplies are currently funded through the annual budget with our Development person looking into grants per recommendations.

School Improvement Plan Item 6: Administration, teachers and staff will develop a schoolwide written comprehensive plan for professional development.

v Achieved

v The school currently encourages individual career development through its generous course policy and by the Director during Staff meetings.

o NHKS will pay up to $1000 for two college courses for returning teachers.

o The school pays for the first workshop or conference staff members attend and half of the second.

o Accommodations are made so teachers may observe each other and substitutes are hired when teachers observe at other schools. A

o SC Providers and Teacher Assistants are required to take PACE courses working toward their Child Development Certificate if they do not have an Associates degree or higher.

o Information on Staff Development opportunities is posted or given to staff members when it is specifically asked of them to attend.

o The information described above is published in the Staff handbook.

o In addition to the above inservices are conducted via early-release days. These trainings/collaborations are embedded into the meetings by drawing on our own staff’s resources and expertise during collaborative sessions. We have identified a literacy coach as one of our teachers with such expertise. In-house trainings in portfolios, guided reading, and approaches to math instruction have occurred.

School Improvement Plan Item 7: The school community will review and update its 5-year facility maintenance/equipment replacement plan for the next five-year cycle.

v Achieved… with yearly BOG review scheduled.

In addition, there have been other areas we have improved upon.

*Language Arts:

Ø Open Court reading program added at the First grade level (fall 2003). Since then, this material has been used in varying amounts. The materials are used as backup and resource materials.

Ø Orton-Gillingham approach to phonics and reading adopted with all instructional staff trained as of 3/2006. The school is committed to train all instructional staff as they are added to our staff. Instructional aides have also been trained.

Ø A school library complete with computer circulation tools has been initiated and completed by our PTO Library Team. Time has been scheduled for all PS-2^nd grade classes to visit and use the library as well as be read to by volunteer parents.

Ø A leveled library was purchased in spring 2006, which will support guided reading in all grades. Sets of leveled books are made circulated from a central location in our Literacy Coach’s first grade room.

*Math:

Ø Although Saxon Math was adopted for Kindergarten through Second grades (fall 2003), there was general dissatisfaction with this program, research was conducted and a nationally validated scientifically based program “Everyday Math” was adopted and implemented in grades PK-2 as of 1/2006.

Ø Teachers were inserviced during the summer and during staff development time during a staff meeting in school year 2005-06.

*Science:

Ø Simply Science adopted for Kindergarten through Second grades (fall 2004)

Ø An In-service was held with the author of program/framework in September of 2004.

Ø The lessons provide cohesion at the grade level and build upon each level. The Simply Science framework allows for supplementation with Hawaii specific units and others as agreed upon within each grade level.

Facilities: The Computer/Art/Resource classroom was upgraded by the efforts and generosity of the PTO.

Ø Built-in counter tops replaced large tables that held computers and provide a workspace for the teachers. The arrangement made better use of the space and allows for addition storage.

Ø The school has continued its systematic computer upgrade plan for the Computer Lab and classrooms. Dial-in access was eliminated and replaced with wireless internet access for the Administration building and all buildings and computers.

Safety:

Ø Staggered dismissal times were initiated in fall 2004. The challenge of dismissing 110 three and four year old children with almost no available parking is addressed by having more personnel to assist in dismissal procedures and staggering pick-up times over designated 15 minute intervals.

Ø First aid kits have been placed in each classroom with another one for the After School Care students.

Ø There has been an addition of a classroom backpack with essential items in case of an evacuation emergency.

Ø Lunch Monitors have been reassigned to be outside the First and Second grade bathrooms during specific times (fall 2003). Prior to this children had been allowed to use the restrooms brush teeth without adult supervision during their lunchtime.

Ø Prekindergarten teachers set up a classroom duty schedule during their students’ recess time. Students entering the classroom to use the restroom have the security of a teacher in the adjoining classroom and it provides better accountability.

The BOG Chairman, Director and Business Manager share responsibility to coordinate the mid-term efforts.

School Wide Action Plan

August 2004

ü Achieved: Three Community Advisors appointed in September 2002.

School Improvement Plan Item: The board of Governors will write a policy that grants the Director authority for student class placement, including retention.

ü Achieved: This was approved by the Board of Governors in September 2002 and added to the Director’s job description.

School Improvement Plan Item: Research and develop a school wide plan to identify and support students with special needs.

v In progress: Began SY 2002-03 with Staff Development session held monthly. Invited experts on ADHD and behavior methods met with the instructional staff. These included a psychologist who works with military families and children, behavior plan proponents, sent teachers to workshops concerning special needs, and acquired quality, taped programs of nationally recognized experts in behavior and special needs. The current budget does not support a Consultant as recommended in the Team’s Action Step. Instead, a committee comprised of administration, faculty and staff will form in fall SY 2003-04. The committee will write a school wide behavior plan with specific steps for discipline problems and a guide for teachers to identify refer and support students with special needs.

School Improvement Plan Item: Build the school’s financial endowment to sustain daily operations for an extended period of time.

v In progress

School Improvement Plan Item: Concurrent Art and Music instruction will be included for the full school year when additional funding is obtained.

ü Achieved: NHKS adopted the Creative Arts program beginning in SY 2002-03.

*note – The team’s Action Step recommended that the program be paid by grants. The salary and supplies are currently funded through the annual budget.

School Improvement Plan Item: Administration, teachers and staff will develop a schoolwide written comprehensive plan for professional development.

v No action begun on this item. However, the school currently encourages individual career development through its generous course policy and by the Director during Staff meetings. NHKS will pay up to $1000 for 2 college courses for returning teachers. The school pays for the first workshop or conference staff members attend and half of the second. Accommodations are made so teachers may observe each other and substitutes are hired when teachers observe at other schools. ASC Providers and Teacher Assistants are required to take PACE courses working toward their Child Development Certificate if they do not have an Associates degree or higher. Information on Staff Development opportunities is posted or given to staff members when it is specifically asked of them to attend. I believe we are well on our way to a viable program but have not formalized it with a written comprehensive plan. The information described above is published in the Staff handbook.

School Improvement Plan Item: The school community will review and update its 5 year facility maintenance/equipment replacement plan for the next 5 -6 year cycle.

v Not addressed at this time.

In addition, there have been other areas we have improved upon.

*Language Arts: Open Court reading program added at the First grade level (fall 2003)

Orton-Gillingham approach to phonics and reading adopted

Teacher training continues (fall 2004)

*Math: Saxon Math adopted for Kindergarten through Second grades (fall 2003)

*Science: Simply Science adopted for Kindergarten through Second grades (fall 2004)

An In-service is arranged with the author of program in September (no charge)

These programs provide cohesion at the grade level and build upon each level.

Facilities: The Computer/Art/Resource classroom was upgraded by the efforts and generosity of the PTO. Built-in counter tops replaced large tables that held computers and provide a workspace for the teachers. The arrangement made better use of the space and allows for addition storage.

The school has also returned to its original, systematic computer upgrade plan for the Computer Lab and classrooms. Dial-in access was eliminated and replaced with wireless internet access for the Administration building and the buildings surrounding the courtyard at this time. Plans are for an additional relay to be added so internet access will be available in the modular building. Access is necessary to keep up the integrity of the machines through internet upgrades.

Safety: Staggered dismissal times will be initiated in fall 2004. The challenge of dismissing 110 three and four year old children with almost no available parking is addressed by having more personnel to assist in dismissal procedures and staggering pick-up times over designated 15 minute intervals.

First aid kits have been placed in each classroom with another one for the After School Care students. Planned is the addition of a classroom backpack with essential items in case of an evacuation emergency.

Lunch Monitors have been reassigned to be outside the First and Second grade bathrooms during specific time periods (fall 2003). Prior to this children had been allowed to use the restrooms /brush teeth without adult supervision during their lunch time.

Prekindergarten teachers set up a classroom duty schedule during their students’ recess time. Students entering the classroom to use the restroom have the security of a teacher in the adjoining classroom and it provides better accountability.

NHKS needs to submit a report to the governing agency (WASC) and a one day visit is planned mid-year. The BOG Chairman, Director and Business Manager share responsibility to coordinate the mid-term effort.

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