After last week’s presentations from the east side schools, representatives from Olympia’s west side schools shared their School Improvement Plan (SIP) outcomes last February 13 during a board work session.
The schools included in the west area are Garfield Elementary School, McLane Elementary School, L.P. Brown Elementary School, Capital High School, Thurgood Marshall Middle School, Jefferson Middle School, Hansen Elementary School, and Roosevelt Elementary School.
The session highlighted how the schools produced outcomes related to one of the six Student Outcomes listed in the 2019-2022 Olympia School District Improvement Plan.
L.P. Brown Dean of Students Callie Jones presided over the discussion.
Garfield Elementary School
Principal Brendon Chertok talked about Outcome 1, which talks about students being “compassionate and kind.”
Chertok said that their school meets every two weeks to plan a book study and brainstorm about the social-emotional issues of the learners, their connections with families, and how that connects with students.
“Our counselors, coming up in partnership with our therapists, plans to create a book study. This is the first-ever book study,” Chertok shared.
Garfield Elementary School plans to make its reading materials more accessible to families by providing audiobooks and Spanish versions.
McLane Elementary School
Third Grade Teacher Jalissa Jones represented Mclane Elementary School with Speech Therapist Denise Morrison to further talk about Outcome 1.
“Our master schedule carves out 20 minutes for a morning meeting at the beginning of each day, and each classroom follows the structure of a greeting and activity sharing and then a morning announcement within the classroom,” Jones said.
These meetings are attended by the school principal, who collates students’ sentiments from the sharing session about how they are being compassionate with one another.
L.P. Brown Elementary School
Principal Sean Shaughnessy talked about their school’s SIP in relation to Outcome 2, focused on students having "the academic and life skills to pursue their individual career, civic and educational goals.”
Shaughnessy talked about how their school began working towards identifying essential standards in subjects, firstly on English language arts.
“We're answering the question, what do we want our students to learn? We're going to take a very systematic approach to this. L.P. Brown is focused on identifying essential standards. Kids can't go to the next grade level without first having mastered this series of standards,” Shaughnessy said.
L.P. Brown aims to put together a document within the year that helps link the curricular resources to what is currently available in the district.
Capital High School
Principal Lillian Hunter shared their school’s efforts to produce results relevant to Outcome 3, targeted at students to ”advocate for the social, physical, and mental wellness of themselves and others and be hopeful about the future.”
Capital High School is working on establishing a functional MTSS [Multi-Tier Students Support System] which has been facilitated through its counseling center.
“Our primary goal was for early intervention for struggling students, our secondary goal was for teachers to utilize resources and team members to bring the isolation of teaching,” Hunter shared.
Thurgood Marshall Middle School
Principal Anthony Brock talked about Outcome 4, that students will ”have the skills, knowledge, and courage to identify and confront personal, systemic and societal bias.”
Brock showcased three ways Thurgood Marshall Middle School promotes this Outcome.
“We do that [Outcome 4] by centering our students in the margins, who will use research-based instructional practice design cultural, responsive, educational experiences for every student. Students will build an increased efficacy empowerment engagement in school,” Brock said.
Jefferson Middle School
Interim principal Jane Allaire talked about Jefferson Middle School’s after-school musical in relation to Outcome 1.
“I do want to say at Jefferson Middle School, we are there to ensure that each student succeeds academically, socially, and emotionally, within a safe and nurturing environment. We have a retreat this summer. That was one thing that was very strong from the staff. They very much lean into their kids,” Allaire shared.
Allaire highlighted the musical’s inclusivity, saying that currently 50 kids and two teachers are joining the musical, coming from all walks of life and background.
Hansen Elementary School
Principal William Harris shared their school’s SIP concerning Outcome 4, that students will ”have the skills, knowledge, and courage to identify and confront personal, systemic and societal bias.”
Harris talked about their school’s “One School, One Book” program, where they immerse students in literature that tackles different racial, class, and societal struggles.
“The first book that we did was the most beautiful thing, and this talks about the experience of non-refugees. Every classroom is talking about these books and the project that we're leaning in on is ‘what's something that you've overcome’ or ‘something you wish to overcome’,” Harris shared.
Roosevelt Elementary School
Principal Chisa Marshall related Roosevelt Elementary School’s outcomes to Outcome 6, that students will ”be critical thinkers who contribute to and collaborate with our local, global and natural world.”
“We want students to learn information that will infuse and celebrate the world that we live in, and this includes many different things depending on the grade level and abilities,” Marshall said. “That could be project-based learning, science lessons, field trips, inspiration projects, or student writing.”
Marshall shared how parents and children are excited about the upcoming educational trips they have scheduled for the year, with the first batch departing in March.
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Drutty
Exciting to find the various schools are collaborating and brainstorming. Hopefully new and innovative ideas will result.
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