Blue Ridge Elementary

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Blue Ridge Elementary Home of the Eagles -
Soaring to New Heights
Walla Walla Public Schools
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Blue Ridge Elementary Leaving No Child Behind
Walla Walla Public Schools

• School Demographics
• K-5 308 students
• 77 English Language Learners
• 87 Free/Reduced Lunch
• 34 Mobility
• Special Education 12
• Certificated Staff 24
• Classified Staff 10
• Administration 1

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Blue Ridge Elementary Leaving No Child Behind
Walla Walla Public Schools
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Blue Ridge Elementary Leaving No Child Behind
Walla Walla Public Schools
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Blue Ridge Elementary Leaving No Child Behind
Walla Walla Public Schools
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Blue Ridge Elementary Leaving No Child Behind
Walla Walla Public Schools
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Blue Ridge Elementary Leaving No Child Behind
Walla Walla Public Schools
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Blue Ridge Elementary Leaving No Child Behind
Walla Walla Public Schools
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Blue Ridge Elementary Leaving No Child Behind
Walla Walla Public Schools
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Blue Ridge Elementary Leaving No Child Behind
Walla Walla Public Schools
Clear Shared Focus

• Grade Level Curriculum Nights
• SIP continuously reviewed
• Staff meetings focused on professional
  development
• Staff can share and articulate the growth of K-5
  students
• Staffing model reflects researched practices
• Parent survey results are reflected in
  activities and goals
• SIP goals directly aligned with grade content
  expectations
• School Improvement Plan (SIP) developed by
  teaching teams and shared for accuracy and
  clarity

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Blue Ridge Elementary Leaving No Child Behind
Walla Walla Public Schools
Higher Standards Expectations

• All children can learn and parents support
  children learning
• Same expectations for all
• Instruction is focused on goals
• Effective teaching practices
• SIP reflects collaboration and focus across
  grade levels
• Accelerated Reader Students set goals
• Accelerated Math Individualized
• Focus on outcomes
• Behavior expectations taught, modeled, rewarded
• Inappropriate behavior viewed as teaching
  opportunity
• Student weaknesses are facts/challenges, not
  excuses
• Student assessment results drive instruction
• Extended day for K-5
• Summer school for all interested and required
  for some

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Blue Ridge Elementary Leaving No Child Behind
Walla Walla Public Schools
Effective School Leadership

• Staff leadership
• Shared decision making
• Provide collegial discussion and learning
  opportunities
• Teachers involved in assessment and group problem
  solving
• Teacher involved with parents and community
  members
• Parents support school leadership
• Groups work together to plan and implement SIP
• Blended funding allows for flexible grouping and
  matches qualified staff with student needs
• All teachers responsible for all students

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Blue Ridge Elementary Leaving No Child Behind
Walla Walla Public Schools
Collaboration Communication

• Schedule provides for grade level, support
  staff, and cross grade level collaboration on a
  weekly basis
• Staff handbook helps communicate year long
  details
• Teachers support each other
• Parents volunteer and provide support
• SIP guides planning time and decisions
• Parents are contacted frequently via phone,
  email, letters with positive comments as
  well as concerns

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Blue Ridge Elementary Leaving No Child Behind
Walla Walla Public Schools
Aligned Curriculum, Assessment, Instruction

• Instruction includes basics with high
  expectations
• Frequent review of assessment results in
  modified instruction
• Students understand expectations
• Students set goals
• Parents presented with expectations during
  curriculum nights
• Research based program and teaching strategies
  used
• Support staff lead and monitor student program
  with classroom teacher
• Smaller class sizes enrich learning
  opportunities
• Instruction, grouping, and curriculum
  individually designed when needed
• Curriculum aligned with state expectations
• Transitional bilingual program in grades K-3
• Specials (PE, Music, Library) address program
  requirements along with supporting K-5
  instruction.

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Blue Ridge Elementary Leaving No Child Behind
Walla Walla Public Schools
Frequent Monitoring

• Formal and informal assessments utilized
• Parents involved and asked to support at home
• Learning groups targeted
• Alternative curriculum sought (if needed)
• Common planning time with support staff allows
  time for lesson analysis and strategy/curriculum
  modification
• Extended staff meetings
• Match teacher strengths and qualifications with
  student needs

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Blue Ridge Elementary Leaving No Child Behind
Walla Walla Public Schools
Focused Professional Development

• District sponsored Masters degree,
  certification, and national board
  certification
• Staff meetings focus on teacher development
• Extended (night and weekend) building based staff
  development focused on SIP
• Paraprofessionals included in all professional
  development
• Parents learn teaching strategies in parent
  academies

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Blue Ridge Elementary Leaving No Child Behind
Walla Walla Public Schools
Supportive Learning Environment

• Greet students in the morning
• Expectations taught, monitored, praised, and
  rewarded
• Welcoming office
• Clean facility
• Decorated with student work
• Represents our families and students
• Students feel safe (Self report concerns)
• Principal visits classroom
• We all support all kids
• Alternatives at recess (intramurals, office jobs,
  cafeteria jobs, inside activities, social skills,
  cross-age tutoring, volunteers, mile club
• Staff gets to know kids and family
• Parents feel welcome and support learning

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Blue Ridge Elementary Leaving No Child Behind
Walla Walla Public Schools
Community Parent Involvement

• Weekly collaboration (grade level teams)
• Community agencies and businesses support school
  goals (YWCA self-esteem groups, YMCA
  scholarships, WWCC, WWC, Whitman College (America
  Reads), Blue Mountain Action Council (Americorp
  Tutors), Baker Boyer Bank (Washington Mutual Bank
  (On-site savings banking)
• Community Volunteers
• Helpline (food, survival needs)
• Parent Academics
• Fun Nights (Bingo, Make and Take)
• Garrison Middle School Night School for Parents
• Super 1 Foods, McDonalds, Dairy Queen, Big
  Cheese Pizza rewards
• City of Walla Walla Parks and Recreation
  Department
• Support staff meets weekly to monitor student
  progress
• Kindergarten Home Visitor (KHV)
• Family Advocate
• Intervention Specialist

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Blue Ridge Elementary Leaving No Child Behind
Walla Walla Public Schools