Principals present plans and goals for improvements

WEST MILFORD — Principals in the district began reporting on their schools' action plans for the 2013-2014 school year. This week, presentations for the school board began with Stephanie Primavera, principal of Apshawa School, and Siobbhan Tauchert, principal of Westbrook School.

Apshawa School action plan and goals

Primavera discussed plans to support the school’s climate and culture with events such as a Reading Kick Off assembly, Battle of the Books, Family Nights, Read Across America celebration, and Kindergarten Round up and Orientation. Primavera said Apshawa is preparing to become a “school of character” and has a dedicated PTA.

Primavera plans to increase student engagement through the use of programs such as Reading A-Z, Raz Kids, IXL for math practice, as well as having math stations/centers and increasing the use of technology such as Apple TVs, projectors, document cameras, smartboard, mimios and iPads.

According to Primavera, the safety of the community at Apshawa School for students and faculty alike will be addressed through consistency, effectiveness, following district protocols, surveys and feedback from the community, and the use of headlamps for power outages.

For mathematics, Primavera said the goal is to “maximize targeted math instruction” through collaboration with the district’s mathematics supervisor Debra Gretina, and “align instruction and assessment to the Common Core.” According to Primavera, teachers will “delve deeper into differentiation with math centers/stations” and “analyze IXL data to drive instruction.”

The goal for English/language arts is to “support student reading development while increasing achievement” through the utilization of readers and writers workshop, use of various cognitive strategies to build knowledge from text, and analyzing data from Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment to drive instruction.

Instructional supports for students will include independent reading: guided reading, reading conferences and benchmark assessments, class summary sheets, and the use of a reader’s notebook. Primavera said students voted for a reading goal award: if the goal is met by a certain date, students will be able to duct-tape Primavera to the wall of the school caféteria for lunch periods that day.

“At Apshawa School, we are meeting and exceeding the standards while fostering a love of learning,” Primavera said.

Action plan and goals for Westbrook School

Tauchert began her presentation with a goal for safety: “Create a safer school community for the students and staff at Westbrook School.” She discussed procedures for arrival and dismissal from school, a “peaceful playground” program, implementing the use of parking stickers for approved vehicles on the school grounds, window coverings and safety magnets for classroom doors, and using surveys to receive information from students, staff and family members regarding school safety.

Tauchert’s next goal was building community through having school-wide academic goals, academic and character awards, regular “Principal’s Luncheon” events with students, and “Coffee Hour with the Principal” events for parents. Tauchert said Westbrook School is also preparing to become a “School of Character” through the “Westbrook Cares” student-driven community outreach program.

For Language Arts, the goal is the same as for Apshawa School, to support reading development and increase student achievement. Tauchert said this will be accomplished through setting reading goals, utilizing data, creating professional projects based on data and student growth, creating strategy lessons for specific weaknesses, comparison of proficient and advanced proficient NJ ASK papers for text features, hosting “Family Literacy Nights” and collaboration with the district’s language arts supervisor to enhance instruction. Westbrook students chose a reading goal award as well; if their goal is met, they will choose a new haircolor for Tauchert to sport for the day.

According to Tauchert, the goal for mathematics is to “maximize targeted instruction and intervention to increase math scores.” This will be done through utilizing IXL data, analyzing NJASK data for trends, professional projects based on data and student growth, differentiate/centers, targeting student growth in needed areas to increase achievement, and collaboration with the district’s math supervisor to enhance instruction.

Action Plan and Goals presentations from two other schools will be held at the next board of education meeting on Dec. 17.