Los Amigos School Based Coordinated Program

Program:

The School Based Coordinator Program (SBCP) supplements, supports, and extends the regular education program at Los Amigos School. The school plan serves as a road map for the entire educational team to use as a guide to reach our school mission.

The Chapter 1, HOSTS Program, provides services to students needing assistance in Language Arts.

The GATE program Provides a differentiated curriculum for students.

The Mathematics Block Program offers a hands-on, application level approach to students in an ungraded setting, based on the California State Mathematics Frameworks. All teachers have been trained in, and are implementing, the thematic approach and have continuously evolved the process each year. Each grade level works collegially to develop year long themes focusing on the State Social Studies Frameworks and thematically integrating the curriculum including benchmark products with large culminating activities.

This year assessment, with student involvement in rubric generation, will be used for performance and authentic assessment. Testing and assessment is built into our plan. Resources are allocated for implementation of the plan, staff development, conferences, maintenance and repairs.

Resources:

Manipulative supplies for a completely hands-on, application level approach to mathematics in all classrooms are provided. Replenishment of consumable supplies for hands-on science activities are available to all teachers. Materials, supplies, and other resources for developing the thematically integrated curriculum based on year-long grade-level themes, developed through the State Social Studies/History Frameworks are provided for each teacher. Time for curriculum development and grade-level articulation are important resources.

The collegial approach is evident schoolwide. Student work is based on grade-level themes, and benchmark and culminating products grace the school hallways and the Dragon's Den.

Computers are networked for teacher classroom management and communication purposes and are used as a tool integrated within the curriculum for some math blocks and for information processing in the thematically curriculum in some classrooms as a beginning of the implementation of Phase 1 of our technology plan. TV's, VCR's, and a video camera are available for information processing including performance based assessment and access to primary sources.


A full time certificated teacher serves as the coordinator of the school plan and all of it's components.


* The SBPC teacher leads the facilitation and implementation of writing the Chapter I plan, completes reports and identifies students for service.
* The SBPC teacher is in charge of curriculum, instruction, and assessment for HOSTS.
* Coordination of student placement quarterly in the appropriate math block is facilitated by the SBPC teacher. The coordinator also serves as a support resource for teachers developing their math program. The SBPC teacher teaches a math block to a class of students each quarter.
* The SBPC teacher facilitates the GATE program, training, plan, and writes reports. The GATE parent support group is led by the SBPC teacher.
* The SBPC teacher oversees all categorical programs including the recently acquired Primary Intervention Program.
* The SBPC teacher is responsible for facilitating the writing and implementation of the School Improvement Plan with the entire staff and School Site Council.
* The SBPC teacher is responsible for the ordering/organization and distribution of all supplies and resources.
* The SBPC teacher is in charge of assessment and evaluation of the plan including serving on the leadership team for any PQR or CCR.
* The SBPC teacher facilitates and coordinates administration of CTBS and CLAS.
* The SBPC teacher coordinates the School Site Council.
* The SBPC attends monthly Program Facilitator meetings with District personnel for updates on program requirements, monitor implementations, facilitate communication among the sites, provide resources and information from the outside community and exchange information on student and program progress.

A library/media clerk operates the school library and provides media clerk services for 6 hours each day with funding shared equally by the district and the school site. All students access the resources in the school library. During the 1996-97 school year a focus will be made to further develop our research resources to facilitate student research efforts and product based approach to the curriculum. Marketing our library will be a major focus during the 1996-97 school year. Our school Library Committee will continue to oversee the function of the library services and will expand to include parent membership this year. The committee will be responsible for creating a Marketing and Facilities Use Plan for the library.

A volunteer coordinator/instructional aide is provided three hours daily for HOSTS services as well as for recruiting volunteers and business partnerships to benefit the entire program. The coordinator is funded through a combination of Chapter 1 and School Base sources.

Membership in the It's Elementary Alliance serves as a resource for the entire staff to provide appropriate school reform. The Principal and two staff members attend the It's Elementary Alliance summer Congress for assistance in providing a cutting edge program. Registration for the Congress is paid by the Alliance.

Parent/Community Involvement

A Principal's Coffee is conducted for parent/parenting education each month on various topics.

Our PTA provides the foundation for our Parent Partnership Program which focuses on involving parents as full partners in their child's education including volunteering at school, assisting with homework and daily home reading, providing career, hobby, and vocation expertise, and participating in the decision making process where appropriate. Our School Site Council serves as a formal decision making body at the school. Teachers communicate with their parents at least once each month through a class newsletter. A school wide newsletter is published with the PTA news once each month by the Teaching- Vice-Principal. The volunteer coordinator recruits volunteers for the HOSTS mentor program and other school programs and contacts businesses and other sources in the community for volunteers and other donations of goods and services. Home communication is done in the primary language of the parents. Special effort is made to recruit non-English parents into the school. A Walk to School Breakfast will be conducted to bring those parents who walk their child to school from the adjacent neighborhood onto the school campus to get involved. Our student handbook, a Dragons' Hot Line, school marquee and flyers help to keep the community informed about special activities at school. Teachers regularly communicate with parents by phone and in writing for positive reasons as well as other purposes. An Absence Verification Hot Line is available for parents to verify their child's absence at their convenience after school hours.

Staff Development

Site staff development days are determined by the entire staff based on the school plan and through evaluation of student work and assessment of individual teacher need. All staff members are provided the opportunity to attend one conference or workshop for individual professional growth consistent with the goals in the school plan. The district provides three staff development days determined through input from all sites. Five staff development days are provided for implementing the school plan. District mentors are available for teacher assistance.