School Improvement Plan
2014-2015
Walkerton Elementary School
805 Washington Street
Walkerton, IN 46574
Tim Davis
Principal
email:
Rebecca Cummings
Assistant Principal
email:
Telephone: (574) 586-3186
Fax: (574) 586-3280
Home Page: www.jgsc.k12.in.us/schools/walkerton-elementary-school/
Walkerton Elementary School
805 Washington Street
Walkerton, Indiana 46574
574-586-3186
Corporation Number: 7150
School Number: 7457
Grades K-6
Enrollment: 455
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Richard Reese, Superintendent
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William Groves, President, Board of School Trustees
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Kathy Snyder, President, Education Association
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Timothy L. Davis, Principal
Table of Contents
Page #
School Improvement Team Members……………………………………………..……2
Walkerton Elementary School Staff………………………………………………...…..3
Missions and Belief Statements……………………………………………..….……….4
School Demographics……………………………………………………..…………….4
Cultural Competency……………………………………………………………………5
Curriculum………………………………………………………………………..……..5
Technology Initiatives……………………………………………………………….….5
School Safety………………………………………………………………………..…..6
Parental Participation………………………………………………………………..…..6
Test Descriptions……………………………………………………………………...…6
Rationale for Goals………………………………………………………………..….….7
Goal #1…………………………………………………………………………..………7
Goal #2…………………………………………………………………………..………8
Benchmarks...... 9
Graduating Class Analysis...... 10
Areas in need of Immediate Improvement ……………………………………..…….....11
Walkerton Elementary School Improvement Team
Principal
Timothy L. Davis
Assistant Principal
Rebecca Cummings
Co-Chair
Pamala Hayes
Cathy VanDuyne
Staff Members
Kelsey Buysse
Dana Ferman
Bethany Laizure
Parent/Community Members
Jeff Day
Angie Foresman
2
Walkerton Elementary School Staff
Certified Staff
Principal
Tim Davis
Asst. Principal
Rebecca Cummings
Counselor
Melanie Heiser
Kindergarten
Ann Riggs
Diane Smith
Emily Walker
First Grade
Carole Alspaugh
Sara Nusbaum
Tracy Perry
Second Grade
Carol Beach
Dennis Briciu
Cindy Knaack
Third Grade
Pam Hayes
Bethany Laizure
Ryan Reese
Fourth Grade
Kelsey Buysse
Fifth Grade
Kyle Amor
Kristy Wilsey
Sixth Grade
Travis Hannah
Kara Kaser
Art
Karen Maudlin
Band
Dan Fortlander
Music
Cathy VanDuyne
Physical Education
Scott Hostetler
Resource
Christin Hannah
Dawn Ickes
Lisa Rizek
Kathy Snyder
High Ability
Jeniece Bogard
Speech Pathologist
Marsha Frey
Barb Rans
Title One
Dana Kniss-Ferman
Support Staff
Secretary
Sharon Harasewicz
Secretary/
Treasurer
Jodi Park
Nurse
Donna Napier
Media Center
LuAnn Malstaff
Instructional
Aides
Tracy Blount
Karen
Dreibelbeis
Karen Feitz
Joy Hensley
Temple Kipper
Bev Lung
Monica Morris
Lexia Pearish
Paula Pearson
Heather Sherman
Amanda Smith
Barb Strahm
Annette Tysver
Head Start
Linda McLaughlin
Amy Amor
Minds in Motion
Vicky Tucker
Technology
Facilitator
Ann Ring
JESSE Preschool
Kari Kraszyk
Cindy Hepler
Cafeteria Staff
Celeste Dooms
Jennifer Geyer
Deborah Keeley
Megan Meyer
Melody Pletcher
Christine Singleton
Glenda Smith
Custodial Staff
Becky Bolze
Lisa Lindsley
Jeanna White
Before and After
School Care
Charman Dreessen
Amber Mattke Miranda Vinson
Brianne Schmidt Janine Zoellner
Mission Statement
“Walkerton Elementary exists to provide our students with academic, technological, and social confidence to help others and themselves reach their life goals.”
Belief Statements
- All students are expected to learn.
- All students are inspired to excel.
- All students are expected to demonstrate mastery of basic skills.
- All students are expected to be respectful.
- All students are expected to become lifelong learners.
Demographics
Walkerton Elementary School is located in Walkerton, Indiana. It is one of four schools within
the John Glenn School Corporation. Our school houses kindergarten through sixth grade. Our
sister school, North Liberty Elementary, is located in North Liberty. Urey Middle School houses
grades seven and eight. John Glenn High School houses grades nine through twelve. The middle
school and high school are both located in Walkerton. A unique feature of the John Glenn School
Corporation is that boundary lines include townships from three counties: LaPorte, Marshall, and
St. Joseph. The counties are located in the northern third and western half of the state.
The Walkerton Elementary staff of 31 certified and 33 support staff serves our 453 students. The staff maintains three full-day kindergarten sections, three sections of first, second, third, and fourth grades, two sections of fifth and sixth grades, as well as a Head Start classroom and a JESSE Preschool classroom. Staff includes a part-time high ability coordinator, Title One coordinator, teachers of music, band, art, physical education, resource, and a speech pathologist. An instructional assistant has been trained to service students in the media center. This assistant is under the supervision of the high school media specialist. A total of 18 part- and full-time aides assist the students in the classrooms, resource rooms, computer labs, and the Minds in Motion program. Other staff members include the principal, an assistant principal shared with North Liberty Elementary School, a half-time nurse, two secretaries, three custodians, and two full-time and four part-time cafeteria personnel. A part-time Counselor was added to the staff 2014-2015 school year. This position will be shared with the other Elementary School within the district.
Current enrollment is 453 students. Student population usually fluctuates from 450 to 480. At the present time ** students are considered out of district transfers. Daily attendance is in the mid to upper 90% range. The 2013-2014 average daily attendance was 97.13%
Walkerton is a small community located in St. Joseph County. It is an incorporated town of 1.5 square miles. Major cities, such as Chicago, Indianapolis, and South Bend are within easy driving distances. Manufacturing, agriculture, service industries, and some recreational facilities are the main employment opportunities for its residents.
Walkerton Elementary School was constructed in 1959 with major room additions/renovations in 1976, 1988, and 2000 and lighting upgrades during summer of 2014.
Cultural Competency
Walkerton Elementary school meets the diverse needs of the student population by utilizing various programs. To address the needs of exceptional learners, the classroom teachers and special education teachers meet to determine the most effective programs and practices to achieve individual student success. The Student-Teacher Assistance Team (STAT) meets throughout the school year on an as-needed basis.
Differentiated instruction occurs in language arts and mathematics. Teachers use diagnostic and pre/post-test for both subject areas. Students are grouped in flexible groups and may be moved according to needs. Students who are determined to have needs in the areas of special education or high abilities are placed in programs to meet these needs.
A bilingual aide assists students with their ENL needs and for parental assistance and translations. Teachers have received some training regarding ENL students.
The Title I Coordinator is responsible for identifying students who are in need of remediation. Small group instruction is implemented throughout the day by instructional aides. After school tutoring and study groups are available for remediating students who need time beyond the school day. Summer school instruction is also an option for students who need help beyond the school year.
Curriculum
Walkerton Elementary has adopted the common core state standards as the school curriculum. Our curriculum includes a ninety minute uninterrupted reading block for Kindergarten through third grade classes.
Technology Initiatives
Walkerton Elementary houses two computer labs that are utilized daily by students in kindergarten through sixth grade for extension of the curriculum, enrichment, and remediation. Online testing is also conducted in the labs. The school has four classroom sets of thirty laptops that students in grades three through six use. All classrooms and the media center have access to the Internet for research and online resources. In addition, each classroom at every grade level has whiteboard technology. Kindergarten, first, and second grade have a set of 30 ipads per grade level for classroom use with an additional 30 ipads and a Promethean Active Table housed in the computer lab. There are six ipads being used in the music room and 12 in the Resource room. A document camera is also used in the school to enhance instruction.
Safety
Walkerton Elementary School creates a safe and secure environment for all staff and students. Fire drills are held each month as required by the state of Indiana. Storm drills are held twice each semester along with the required storm drill in March. Teachers inform the students about proper procedures and responses. A map of the school and an exit plan is posted in each classroom. The Crisis Plan outlines procedures for fire/storm drills and other safety issues. This plan is found in the media center and the administrator’s office. Doors remain locked throughout each school day. To gain access to the building, visitors must communicate via a two way intercom system. Once admitted, visitors report to the office and sign in. Cameras added to the playground, hallways, and front entrance enhance security.
Parental Participation
Walkerton Elementary benefits from parental involvement through an active Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Programs include but are not limited to a Book Fair, VIP (Very Important Person) Day, Title I Parent Night, Field Day, and Family Fun Nights. Parents of students who do not pass the IREAD3 or ISTEP tests have an opportunity to meet with the principal to discuss possible interventions. Parents are given access to online reporting of student scores, email, attendance, and disciplinary actions through Harmony.
Test Descriptions
Kindergarten
Students entering kindergarten and whose birthdates are after March 1st are evaluated using the Gesell Developmental Screening. Progress monitoring is used for all current kindergarten students using mClass and recorded observations. Students are given the Scholastic School Readiness Test at the conclusion of their kindergarten year.
Kindergarten through Sixth Grade
The mClass assessment test is given to Kindergarten through Second grade students. Third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students take the ISTEP test. Grades 3-6 take the ACUITY test. The IREAD-3 assessment is administered to all students in grade three. First through fifth grades also do the textbook comprehensive reading and math tests at the mid-year and end-of-the-year points.
Additional Testing
Students experiencing difficulty are referred for further evaluation and testing through the Title I program. To determine if the student is eligible for services, the Title I Coordinator and teachers administer tests for each grade level along with grade-appropriate checklists. Students are referred to the STAT team for further testing to determine target areas for remediation. Instruments used are the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Woodcock Reading Test, and Key Math Test. Tests used to determine high ability are the Kingore Observation, ACUITY, and the OLSAT (Otis Lennon School Ability Test).
Rationale for Goals
Current data from standardized tests indicates that reading comprehension and vocabulary goals are needed to improve student performance. ISTEP+ (Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress), NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Association), and MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) test scores are used to determine current goals.
Goal 1
SCHOOL AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE WILL BE AT OR ABOVE 98%
Implementation Year
201-2015
Strategies
· Clearly stated expectations
· Parent contracts for problem students
· Frequent home visits
· Daily calls to absentees
· Incentive and recognition programs
Assessments
· Quarterly percentage reports to administrator addressing needs/home visits
· Regular analysis of attendance data and absences
Responsible Individuals
· Administrators
· Teachers
Benchmarks Actual
· 2012-2013 …97.5% attendance…………97.98%
· 2013-2014 ...98% attendance…………97.13%
· 2014-2015 ….. 98%
Goal 2
STUDENTS WILL IMPROVE IN READING COMPREHENSION AND VOCABULARY
Implementation Year
2014-2015
Strategies
· Utilize supplemental vocabulary and comprehension materials/activities
· Utilize Accelerated Reader
· Write responses to literature
· Focus groups
· Cross-curriculum instruction on comprehension and vocabulary
· Flexible grouping
· Utilize the computer programs, “Study Island” and “Spelling City”
· Cross level reinforcement activities
· Utilize Lucy Calkins writing prompts to teach the relationship between reading comprehension and vocabulary development.
Assessments
· Scholastic Readiness (Kindergarten), IREAD-3, ACUITY (grades 3-6), ISTEP+ (grades 3-6), mClass (K-2)
· Scoring literary responses using the Simple Six rubric
· Reading selection tests
· Scoring writing prompts using the Simple Six rubric.
· Accelerated Reader
Staff Development
· Conferences that enhance teaching methods on comprehension and vocabulary
· Cooperative sharing of effective vocabulary and comprehension strategies
· In-service on vocabulary and reading comprehension instruction
· Grade level meetings to collaborate
Responsible Individuals
· Principals
· Teachers
· Title I Coordinator
· Aides
Benchmarks
Beginning benchmarks are based upon the spring 2013 ISTEP. The “percent mastery” for vocabulary and reading comprehension (non-fiction/info text and literary text) will improve. The expectation will be for subsequent improvement each year of the plan. Below is a grade level analysis. The following page includes a graduating class analysis.
Reading Comprehension Vocabulary
Non Fiction/Info Text Literary Text
2013 2014 2013 2014 2013 2014
3rd grade 79% 89% 81% 89% 79% 90%
4th grade 77% 71% 72% 67% 84% 73%
5th grade 79% 83% 77% 83% 79% 83%
6th grade 73% 69% 68% 65% 73% 67%
Graduating Class Analysis
Using ISTEP Data
Class of 2020
Reading
Comprehension
Non-Fiction/ Literary Vocabulary
Info Text Text
Test
3rd gr 2011 84% 83% 83%
4th gr 2012 82% 80% 80%
5th gr 2013 79% 77% 79%
6th gr 2014 69% 65% 67%
Class of 2021
Reading
Comprehension
Non-Fiction/ Literary Vocabulary
Info Text Text
Test
3rd gr 2012 83% 83% 85%
4th gr 2013 77% 72% 84%
5th gr 2014 83% 83% 83%
Class of 2022
Reading
Comprehension
Non-Fiction/ Literary Vocabulary
Info Text Text
Test
3rd gr 2013 79% 81% 79%
4th gr 2014 71% 67% 73%
Class of 2023
Reading
Comprehension
Non-Fiction/ Literary Vocabulary
Info Text Text
Test
3rd gr 2014 89% 89% 90%
Specific Areas Where Improvement is Needed Immediately
Areas determined by the committee were:
· Vocabulary in all content areas
· Comprehension of literary text
· Applying reading comprehension strategies to all content areas
· Consistent and continued use of writing prompts and scoring rubric
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