R.A.V.E. Recognition of accountability, Verification and Excellence 2013-2014
Sponsored by Alabama School Counselor Association (ASCA)/Supported by Alabama State Department of Education
Farley Elementary School (FES)
2900 Green Cove Road Huntsville, Alabama 35803
256-428-7160 www.farleyelementary.org
Clifford Porter, Principal Julia Ansley, Counselor Enrollment, 326 Grades: PK-5
School Year, Traditional
Monte Sano Elementary School (MSE)
1107 Monte Sano Blvd. Huntsville, Alabama 35801
256-428-7300 www.montesanoelementary.org
Melissa Veasy-Lindsey, Principal Julia Ansley, Counselor Enrollment, 176 Grades, PK-5 School Year, Traditional
Principals’ Comments By: Clifford Porter & Melissa Lindsey
The school counseling program is vital to the success of our overall school’s mission. We highly support the implementation of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Standards in the school counseling program to encourage high quality career, personal/social, and academic success of all students. The school counseling student support team (SCSST) is a vital component of FES and MSE in promoting academic success and school safety.
School Counseling Student Support Team (SCSST):
The success of FES and MSE is built upon the support, involvement and dedication of administration, students, teachers, parents and stakeholders. Both counseling programs are led by a half time counselor who holds a Master’s Degree in School Counseling, is a member of both the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) and the Alabama Counseling Association (ALCA) and is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). FES and MSE’s SCSSTs collaborate with other local Huntsville City school counselors, school administrators, parents, classroom teachers, collaborative teachers, gifted teachers, reading coach, tech support staff, counselor advisory committee, community partners, school nurse, custodians, and support staff including physical education, art, music, and library. The school counselor designs, coordinates, implements, and evaluates an equitable program to serve all students.
School Climate and Safety:
At both FES and MSE, school climate and safety is driven by the Anti-Defamation League’s No Place for Hate initiative. The goal of No Place for Hate is to “create a welcoming community committed to stopping all forms of bullying and bias.” This initiative is accomplished through a series of school-wide activities. In addition, the No Place for Hate promise is hung in the hallway as a reminder to students. The entire school staff greets students in the lobby and hallways each morning. The counselor leads small groups to address smart choices, social skills, friendship, anger, and changing families. Large group counseling addresses bullying, friendship, respect, choices, responsibility, and safety. The SCSST is integral in implementing Positive Behavior Supports (PBS) to create high expectations, a culture of respect, and a sense of belonging for all students. Red Ribbon Week promotes school safety by teaching students to stay drug free. The Child Advocacy Center provides child abuse prevention and safety information to 3rd and 5th graders through their program: SCAN (Stop Child Abuse and Neglect).
FES and MSE 5th Grade Student Surveys: (2013-2014)
A safety and school climate survey was given to FES and MSE 5th grade students because we believe that it is essential that students feel safe and welcomed so that they can reach their academic potential.
The survey shows that the overwhelming majority of 5th graders feel that the school climate promotes respect for one another as indicated by the results.
Q #1: Climate: I feel that teachers care about me. (Y 93%, N 7%)
Q #2: Climate: I am encouraged to help and respect other students. (Y 93%, N 7%)
Q #3: Climate: I am happy at FES/MSE most of the time. (Y 78%, N 22%)
A survey question on safety at FES and MSE reveals that 88% of 5th grade students believe that teachers try to stop kids who are bullies and promote a safe learning environment.
Q #1: Safety: Do teachers try to stop kids who are bullies to promote a safe environment?
Student Results:
Student results data is an effective, tangible way to evaluate student growth based upon ASCA National Standards. Collecting, analyzing, and sharing data with the SCSST promotes program growth and student learning at FES and MSE.
Emotion Zones/Test Anxiety Lesson: FES 4-5th Grade, Spring 2014 (Academic A:A1.5, A:B1.3, A:A2.2) Students learn how to apply the study skills necessary for academic success at each level through the academic domain. They also identify attitudes and behaviors that lead to successful learning. Students learned about the four emotion zones (high+, low+, high-, low-) in a classroom lesson on taming test anxiety. Before the lesson, only 18% of students could correctly identify what an emotion zone was and 0% could identify which emotion zone they should be in on test day. After the lesson, 82% of students could describe emotion zones and 100% could identify the best emotion zone to be in on test day. Results indicate significant student learning.
“Growing Up for Girls”: MSE 5th Grade Girls Program, Spring 2014 (Personal/Social PS:A1.1, PS:A1.4) “Growing Up for Girls” is a program for 5th grade girls to help them better understand their changing bodies. A pre-test was given to the girls to assess their knowledge. Before the “Growing Up for Girls” program, 64% of girls had a basic knowledge of their growing bodies. After the video, lesson and discussion, knowledge increased to 80%, showing a 16% growth in student learning.
“Stop, Think, Do” Method Lesson: FES K-2nd Grade, Fall 2013 (Personal/Social PS:B1.1, PS:B1.3) Helping students apply critical thinking skills when making decisions is one of the main goals of the personal/social domain. Teaching students a problem solving method is one way to encourage these skills. Students in grades K-2 learned problem solving with the “Stop, Think, Do” method. Pretest data shows that only 25% of students would try to solve problems that they are capable of solving on their own. After instructing students in the “Stop, Think, Do” method and identifying small vs. big problems, 75% of students indicated they would solve problems they are capable of solving on their own. Results revealed a 50% increase in student learning.
Major Achievements:
· FES/MSE counselor is a National Certified Counselor (NCC)
· Established inaugural FES chapter of the National Elementary Honor Society
· Collaborated with MSE staff, parents and community stakeholders to organize a MSE career day with 10 presenters.
· Presenter at Alabama School Counselor Association (ALCA) annual state conference (Fall 2014)
· Implemented No Place for Hate at FES and MSE (2013-2014)
· FES collected ~ $500 for Pennies for Patient: an organization that helps support kids with blood cancer
· MSE in the process of becoming a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
Academic, Career, and Personal/Social Measurements:
Data is collected throughout the year and used to measure behavior, attendance, and overall student growth. Data sources can be helpful when determining student placement, program implementation, and development.
Academic: A variety of assessments are given to assess abilities and identify interventions. ACT Aspire – overall academic assessment, Dynamic Indicators of Basic Essential Literacy Skills (DIBELS) – assess early learning literacy, STAR Enterprise Test – progress monitor in reading and math, SchoolNet – benchmark and formative assessment test in reading and math, Special Education Assessments – determine which students need further intervention; Career: Color Personality Test – 4-5th grades use their personality to explore careers; Personal/Social: Health screenings – school nurse conducts health screenings to help identify any health barriers to student success, Parent/Teacher/Student needs assessments – to determine student needs and give direction to the school counseling program.
Community Partnerships/Resources:
FES and MSE support and collaborate with the community. The community assists by providing financial support, volunteering, serving as role models, and providing input in the educational process of the students we serve. The community’s partnership is essential to the overall academic, career, and personal/social success of FES and MSE.
Academic:
Grissom High School peer tutors
Boys and Girls Club
Retired teacher tutors
Appleton Learning Center
Sylvan Learning Center
Reading Night community volunteers
Career:
Career Day parental involvement -vet, city planner, military
Austin Physical Therapy
WAAY31 News
News Channel 19
Huntsville Fire Department
Personal/Social:
The Manna House meal packs
Child Advocacy Center – SCAN program
United Way – financial support
Farley Community Church
The Salvation Army - Christmas for needy families
Parent/Guardian Involvement:
Parental involvement is highly encouraged at both FES and MSE. Families become a part of their student’s success by engaging in their academic, career and personal/social development. Below are a list of the many opprotunities availabe to parents:
· Financial support for Pennies for Patients fundraiser for kids with blood cancer
· FES National Elementary Honor Society parent volunteers for service projects
· Parent participation on the Counselor Advisory Committee at FES and MSE
· Completion of parent needs assessments, academic student tutoring, mentors
· FES Parent “Lunch and Learn” professional development sessions (4 times yearly)
· FES and MSE Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
· MSE Reading Night for Read Across America Week
· Guest speakers at MSE Career Day
· FES Newcomers Orientation for new parents and students
· MSE WATCH D.O.G.S.
Contact school counselor Julia Ansley at , 256-428-7160 (FES) or 256-428-7300 (MSE)
Focus for Improvement:
The FES and MSE school counseling programs continually seek to improve school counseling services. For 2014-15 we will build a strong program by: 1) building strong community partnerships and parental involvement to facilitate school counseling program improvement, 2) continue to increase data-driven practices to monitor and target areas of need, and 3) engage students by the use of technology through project based learning.
Keeping You Informed (translators and/or materials used in primary family languages as needed):
The FES and MSE counseling programs strive to keep parents, faculty, board of education, and the community informed. Personal Contact: parent conferences, parent Lunch & Learn presentations, Open House, Parent Teacher Association (PTA), faculty meetings; Print: FES newsletter, counseling newsletter, The Huntsville Times, fliers, bulletin boards, brochures; Electronic: MSE newsletter, email, phone calls, school counseling website, educational videos and dvds.