Planning for Success 2017-2019

Memorial School

Mission
The Burlington Public Schools is to help all students acquire organized knowledge, master creative and intellectual skills, and understand ideas in a way that fosters positive self-image and leads to lifelong learning, self-sufficiency, and responsible citizenship.
Vision
The vision of Burlington’s Elementary Schools is “Belong Together, Work Together, Succeed Together”. Members of each school will collaborate to promote a safe, nurturing environment where all children are accepted. Individual student strengths will be maximized and individual needs will be met by developing and using strategies that encourage student growth. By promoting independence, curiosity, and learning, students’ academic and social potential will be fostered.
Core Values
The Burlington Public School District is committed to Developing all students’ potential for excellence. Providing a program of study that has the same academic objectives for all students. An educational environment should reflect sensitivity to students’ differing styles and intellectual development. Creating a learning environment that values human differences, fosters a sense of belonging, & promotes cultural proficiency among all students and staff.
Strategic Objectives and Initiatives
Strategic Objective 1 – Engaged Learning Provide an engaging, rigorous, and relevant program to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of each student. Strategic Initiatives -  (1) Inclusion (Targeted Instruction, Teacher Capacity, Learning Spaces) &  (2) Social Emotional Learning (Teacher Capacity)	Strategic Objective 2 - Relationships Strengthen relationships between and amongst students, staff, families, and the community to ensure high quality, engaged learning for every student. Strategic Initiatives– Cultural Competence & Teacher Capacity	Strategic Objective 3 - Communication Ensure two-way, respectful communication across the district, with families, and the Burlington community. Strategic Initiatives – Collaboration, Communication, & Partnership Schools	Strategic Objective 4 - Facilities & Operations Provide human and financial resources to support high quality, engaged learning. Strategic Initiatives – Student Safety
Inclusion Implement BPS definition and vision for inclusion and Response to Intervention (RtI). Continue implementation of BPS District Accommodation Plan (DCAP) and Response to Intervention strategies. Implement flexible, co-teaching models for all students. Hold annual meetings for staff and parents about SPED regulations. Social Emotional Learning Continue implementation of the Responsive Classroom strategies. Implement the CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) core competencies. Fully implement PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports). Utilize Devereux Student Strengths Assessment to inform classroom teaching. Provide ongoing staff development to support academic learning, social-emotional curricula, and differentiation. Measuring Impact Students experience academic, social and emotional success through an engaging, rigorous and relevant program and targeted instruction. Teachers, support staff, and principals participate in professional development focused on learning and district initiatives. Faculty shares best practices at staff meetings.	Cultural Competence Examine curriculum for cultural bias and cross-curricular connections. Acquire curriculum materials to augment curriculum and address cultural sensitivity and tolerance. Provide opportunities for students to share personal experiences. Build an understanding and empathy for diversity through art, literature, music, and games. Seek diversity for staff and parent participation on PTO Boards and School Improvement Councils. Review and revise student handbooks to address cultural sensitivity. Teacher Capacity Provide ongoing staff development focused on developing an understanding of cultural competency and its relationship to curriculum and program development.  Measuring Impact Teachers, principals, curriculum councils review and revise curriculum and learning materials to ensure attention to  cultural diversity and acquire materials as needed. Teachers, support staff, and principals participate in professional development focused on cultural competency and its application to student learning. Principals post calendar of religious holidays and traditions annually for teachers and families.	Collaboration, Communication, and Partnerships Provide collaboration time to consult with colleagues to align and adjust curriculum within grade levels and across grade levels. Develop regular communications about school news to staff and parents. Implement peer coaching and offer training as part of the district initiative. Establish and sustain effective two-way communication among staff, parents, principals and central office.  Measuring Impact School climate is conducive to collaboration and teamwork. Faculty members share best practices at staff meetings. Teachers/Principals deliver regular blogs, newsletters, and parent meetings on school initiatives and happenings. Support staff holds regular transition meetings with preschool and middle school staff. Staff partner with parents and community members to provide learning opportunities for students School staff participate in district discussions on concept and design of partnership schools.	Student Safety Implement updated safety protocol developed by the Burlington Chief of Police and Superintendent. Provide training on the new protocol for staff, students, and families. Ensure school buildings and classrooms have room numbers posted and “GO” bags in each school office.  Measuring  Impact Staff is knowledgeable about the new safety protocol as the result of trainings. Parents are knowledgeable about the new safety protocol through communications and meetings. Each school is prepared to implement the new safety protocol.
BPS District Outcomes
Raise expectations for all students – BPS PK-12 students are engaged in rigorous and relevant programs designed to meet their academic, social, and emotional needs as evidenced by a well-sequenced PK-12 curriculum, instruction and assessment system that prepares them with the creative, intellectual, interpersonal, and reflective skills needed for self-sufficiency and responsible citizenship. Targeted Support - BPS PK-12 student learning  is supported through personalized learning strategies that address their distinct learning needs, interests, and aspirations regardless of ability, disability, age, gender, gender identity, or cultural and linguistic background as evidenced by ongoing data collection and analysis conducted by teachers and principals and used  to adjust instruction and plan lessons. Collaborate across the Community – Partnerships with parents, volunteers, businesses, and community agencies are strengthened and expanded based upon identified mutual needs and opportunities as evidenced by their involvement and support of BPS student learning and achievement, school-based initiatives, and the District Plan Strategic Objectives and Initiatives. Facilities and Operations – Human and financial resources to support the BPS vision, mission, core values, District Plan Strategic Objectives and Initiatives for student learning, and 10 Year Capital Budget Plan are created by BPS as the result of collaborative and cooperative budget planning with the Town of Burlington as evidenced by community and town meeting support of the annual school operating and capital budgets.
BPS Strategic Objectives and Strategic Initiatives
Strategic Objective 1 - Engaged Learning - Provide an engaging, rigorous, and relevant program to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of each student. Strategic Initiatives 1|Inclusion - Develop and implement a consistent PK-12 inclusion model. 2|Social Emotional Learning - Develop a PK-12 systematic approach to building student and teacher capacity for social and emotional learning. 3|Targeted Instruction - Provide targeted instruction to address the needs of individuals and/or small groups of students to reach year-end goals. 4|Teacher Capacity – (A) Develop and implement ongoing professional development opportunities to support engaged academic and social emotional learning. (B) Collaborate with students, faculty, and parents to develop a clear plan for the implementation of evolving instructional technologies. 5|Learning Spaces - Create a learning environment that includes a variety of engaging qualities that increase a sense of belonging, competence, and student choice. Strategic Objective 2 – Relationships - Strengthen relationships between and amongst students, staff, families, and the community to ensure high quality, engaged learning for every student. Strategic Initiatives 1|Cultural Competence -  Develop the capacity of the school community to work effectively and sensitively across cultural contexts. 2|Teacher Leadership - Encourage and enhance teacher leadership. Strategic Objective 3 – Communication - Ensure two-way, respectful communication across the district, with families, and the Burlington community. Strategic Initiatives 1|Expand Collaboration - Increase formal and informal collaboration amongst staff. 2|Cultivate Partnership Schools - Conduct a self-assessment and plan to identify areas of focus for student success through partnerships with stakeholders. 3|District Communications  - Clarify and share communication protocols. 4|Planning for Success  Process - Align the PfS process with current BPS initiatives/plans and implement and monitor Burlington PfS beginning in Fall 2016. Strategic Objective 4 - Facilities & Operations - Provide human and financial resources to support high quality, engaged learning. Strategic Objectives 1| Student Safety - Ensure the physical, emotional, and academic safety of staff and students. 2| Maintain 10-year Capital Budget Plan - Continue to provide/update the 10-year outline of district and individual school needs. 3| Expansion of elementary after-school programs - Continue to enhance/expand afterschool programs to support successful youth, healthy families & strong communities.