Hillcrest Elementary School Improvement Plan

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

HILLCREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

30 Griswold Street, Turners Falls MA 01376   

Sarah Burstein, Principal

                       

School Improvement Plan

2021 - 2022

 

Goal 1.  Engagement: We will welcome and engage families as active partners to support the academic and social-emotional development of all students. 

Initiative A: Preschool and Kindergarten Families will be invited to individualized Orientation Sessions with their child’s classroom teacher. 

Initiative B: Teaching staff will create Open House slide shows to introduce families to classroom expectations, curriculum programs and strategies to support learning at home. 

Initiative C: We will create a Story Walk featuring a book that supports social-emotional learning. This Story Walk will be set up on campus at Hillcrest Elementary School. 

     

     Measurable Outcomes: 

  1. 80% of all Kindergarten and Preschool Families will attend Orientation Meetings 

  2. 100% of teachers will contribute to the Open House slide shows.

  3. 50% of Hillcrest families will participate in the story walk. Participation will be measured by collection of feedback postcard/raffle tickets. 

 

Goal 2.  Growth & Achievement: Educators will regularly monitor the impact of instruction on student learning and will make adjustments to maximize student growth and achievement.

Initiative A:  Literacy data meetings will be held three times a year to review student literacy data, develop tier one and tier two instructional groupings, and plan instructional approaches. 

Initiative B: Kindergarten and First Grade educators will meet in grade level teams to review implementation of Wit & Wisdom curriculum and monitor student progress on Wit & Wisdom assessments.

Initiative C: Preschool Educators will meet in grade level teams to plan units of study and to monitor student progress.

 

Measurable Outcomes

  1. Notes from data meetings will provide evidence of appropriate instructional groupings.  Progress monitoring data will provide evidence of student progress.

  2. Team Time agendas and notes will include evidence of professional collaboration around Wit & Wisdom instruction and assessments.

  3. Team Time agendas and notes will include evidence of professional collaboration around monthly thematic units and review of student progress. 

 

Goal 3.  GRADE APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTION: Educators will deliver grade-appropriate instruction with high expectations for all students and provide scaffolding to ensure access to learning 

 

Initiative A: Kindergarten and First Grade educators will implement Wit & Wisdom and Geodes as outlined in the GMRSD Literacy Plan. 

Initiative B: Preschool educators will collaborate with the principal and Director of Teaching & Learning to develop a working draft of a Literacy Plan for Preschool.  

Initiative C: Preschool educators will collaborate with the Occupational Therapist and Physical Therapist to implement the Ready Bodies, Learning Minds program on a daily basis. 

 

Measurable outcomes:

 

  1. The district will provide training from Great Minds in the implementation of Wit & WIsdom and Geodes.

  2. During ELA observations, use of the Wit and Wisdom curriculum and instructional methodologies will be observable in 100% of lessons.

  3. Preschool Team Time agendas and meeting minutes will include action steps focused on the development of the Literacy Plan for Preschool. 

  4. Monthly Preschool Consultation meetings will include notes to track implementation of Ready Bodies, Learning Minds program. 

 

Goal 4. INCLUSION & EQUITY: Educators commit to creating an inclusive and equitable school environment that provides relevant and accessible educational opportunities, embodies social justice practices, and affirms all students’ cultures and identities.

 

Initiative A: GMRSD will provide three professional development workshops: Brave Elementary Educators Talk about Race  for elementary staff during Early Release days on October 20, December 8 and March 9. 

Initiative B: Additional titles will be added to the Hillcrest Diverse Books Collection for use in all classrooms. . 

Initiative C: Develop and administer a school climate survey for school staff and families.

 

Measurable Outcomes:

  1. Participation in the three workshops and identification of actionable next steps based on post-workshop surveys.

  2. Staff Meetings will include dedicated time for teachers to explore new titles (December, January & February)

  3. Surveys will be completed by April and will be used to identify actionable next steps for the 2022-2023 school year.