Defining Isely Traditional Magnet Elementary School

 

Small size: class size and school

§          Better able to meet student needs

§          Students are known and cared for by more than their classroom teacher

 

Supportive staff/Highly qualified staff

§          Accessible

§          Exemplary staff

§          Close working relationship: Consider themselves partners with parents

§          Share students – everyone takes ownership

§          Supportive administration

§          High degree of collaboration

§          Closeness/accessibility of principal – personalized attention

§          Show genuine interest in the total life of each child

 

Instruction

§          High academic expectations for all; Closing achievement gap; No preferential treatment;

§          Research proven best practices for student achievement, all the way from discipline to curriculum

§          High challenge involved in getting an A

§          Set the bar high-keep things challenging

§          Interventions for above and below students

§          Encouragement of life-long learning

§          Individual attention

§          Instruction extends to application of skills taught.

 

Curriculum

§          Open court background

§          Strong emphasis on phonics

§          More challenging curriculum

§          Building a strong foundation

§          Traditional back to basics; Ensuring basics – time spent to ensure critical skills

§          Stronger integration of science, social studies, health into curriculum

§          Homework valued and expected

§          Gifted .5

§          Community service; projects between classrooms; Opportunities for extra-curricular activities (Broadcast)

§          Academically ascending school

 

Family Atmosphere

§          Strong home/school partnership – parents and teachers on the same team

§          Caring staff and volunteers

§          Cooperative, supportive, collegial, cohesive, Flexible

§          Team efforts: “Win-win”, “We’ve got each others’ backs.”

§          Trusting relationships

§          Value diversity; we are a representative of greater Wichita community

 

Environment

§          Structured,

§          Strong classroom management; Strong/high expectations for discipline

§          Uniforms

§          Respect for self and others

§          Responsibility

§          Clearly defined expectations

§          Promote Values – traditional: Mutual respect, nurture individual value and contribution to society, staff who value character, ethics, morals; and personal relationship with child

§          Resources – size of rooms, facilities

§          Energetic students

§          Accountability – students, staff, parents

§          Safety-minded

§          Positive adult examples

§          Encouraging environment for kids

§          Private school environment in public school system

§          Positive recognition

§          Fun and exciting – kids love to come to school

§          Great latchkey program – more than just babysitting

§          Parents welcome in classrooms

 

Supportive parents

§          All parents have made a choice

§          Highly involved parents

§          Trust from parents

§          Community ties

§          Rapport with parents

§          Work to foster trusting relationships between school and home

§          Parent contract: Commitment and ownership