The Plan/Do/Check/Act Model

Starting this Tuesday, August 21st, all the teachers will be coming in for three days of in-service. Part of the in-service will involve learning about the 6 traits of writing, (click here for more information) and all the teachers who teach writing will be attending this for one or two days. The rest of the in-service, will be about the implementation of the Plan/Do/Check/Act model.

During the course of last year, a team of teachers and administrators from all the buildings, at the direction of the board, have been attending training with Pat Davenport (to see a picture and read a little about her book, click here). Pat's model, which comes out of Brazosport, Texas, is explained simply by the Indiana Principal Leadership Academy. The two page article, with charts, pictures and graphs, can be found be clicking here. It does an excellent job of explaining how the system works, and what we will be doing for all three of those days. A summary of how the system works, found on page 4 of the article reads as follows:





"PLAN
• Together, people in a school must examine available test data.
• Together, people must review research and successful change projects already in place.
DO
• Together, people in a school must focus on the what and how of instruction.
(An Instructional Calendar aligns what is taught with the Academic Standards.)
CHECK
• Together, teachers must review student progress.
ACT
• Based on assessment results, teachers will provide tutorials for struggling students,
and may adjust their teaching calendar to help students who need additional instruction." (http://www.doe.state.in.us/ipla/pdf/SpEdition-2003-02.pdf)






We will be doing the "plan" part for those three days, pouring over the test scores and finding areas we need to focus on. The teachers will make calenders that determine how long things are taught, based on how well kids scored in a particular area of the test. In addition, there will a school-wide calender for broad areas of study, again, based on the test scores, that will be changed monthly. These "objectives" will be posted here on the blog, all around the school, in the daily announcements, at sporting events, in parent newsletters, and in front of students on a regular basis. This is just one of the ways our teachers are working to improve the academic, technological and cultural competencies necessary to compete in our global society.


And now for the calander:

• All the secrataries and administration are back in the building 5 days a week starting Monday, August 20th.


• Meet the Coaches will be this Monday, August 2oth at 7:00 PM in the high school auditorium.


• The counselor, Ms. Jennifer Angus, is back starting August 27th at 8:00 AM. Please call Mrs. Beebe at 445-0533 to shorten your wait time and set an appoinment for schedule issues and the like.


• There will be a parent night on Tuesday, August 28th at 6:00 PM as a welcome to incoming 7th grade and as an explanation of the new state requirements for everyone. Please join us!


• A welcome letter goes out to all the parents this coming week. (Click here for a copy.)


• Open House for the High School will be from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM on Sept. 4. A good time to chat with teachers, see friends, get schedules, check lockers, etc.


• Band Boosters are meeting on September 10th at the high school. If you would like more information, you can email Karah Hiscott, the band director, at knjhiscott@yahoo.com


• We are holding the second annual Ranger Roll-Out Fun Fair on Sept. 14th, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM before the first Varsity Football game, but more on that later.


• We are reinstating the Principal Advisory Committee, which will meet on the 3rd Monday of each month at 5:30 PM. If you are interested in being a part of that, please contact Mrs. Anderson at 445-0541 or email her at manders1@remc11.k12.mi.us.


• The new students coming from the ISD will be picked up and dropped off every day in the back of the high school near the Agricultural Garage and using the double doors to enter and leave. Thank you for keeping those doors clear so our students can get in and out easily.

And now for a new regular feature, the spotlight:

Mrs. Shelly Johnson is our new art teacher. We are thrilled to have her here as part of the school. She has some great ideas for our cafateria (using the panels in the cieling as canvas for the the painting class, among others) and our hallways and has even agreed to do the technical direction for the plays this year! Look forward to a bright new school and a vital and exciting art department. Welcome to Ross Beatty!