SOUTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
School Improvement Plan 2015-2016
2015­2016 School Improvement Plan South Elementary School South Elementary School Leadership Team
Gena Johnson, Kindergarten Teacher
Tiffany Webb, Kindergarten Teacher
Cheryl Rogers, First Grade Teacher
Jill Zsuppan, First Grade Teacher-​
Recorder
Cheryl McCrorey, Second Grade Teacher
Erin Micklow, Second Grade Teacher
Scott Roper, Third Grade Teacher
Tracy Pratt-Dixon, Third Grade-​
Chairperson
Susan Overcash, Media Specialist
Lauren Pollock, Instructional Technology Facilitator
Karen Rhyne, Teacher Assistant
Kathy McFarland, Teacher Assistant
Leslie Bankirer, Parent
Justin Johnson, Parent
Givoana Rodruqiuez, Parent
Donna McConnell, Support Staff
Ayana Robinson, Assistant Principal
Mark Cottone, Principal
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ore 2015­2016 School Improvement Plan South Elementary School South School Description
South Elementary School is located at 839 South Magnolia Street, in Mooresville, North Carolina. South is a Title-1 school serving students
in grades Pre-K-3. The average class size is 21. Every kindergarten classroom at South has a full-time teacher assistant and grades 1-3 have a
part-time teacher assistant. South utilizes Title-1 staff in a “push-in” model, to ensure small group instruction provided to students is targeted to
students specific needs.
The educational program at South is designed to provide students with a variety of experiences and venues for learning. This year is South’s
first year with the 1:1 technology implementation. Students in kindergarten and first grade are provided with a classroom iPad, while second and
third grade students are provided with classroom laptops. As in past summers, South teachers attended a summer professional development with a
focus on using the classroom technology to enhance students’ education while continuing to increase student achievement.
South students grades K-3 are provided with curriculum enhancements (specials); 45 minutes a day via physical education, art, guidance,
media center instruction,music, or foreign language (Rosetta Stone). Every grade level participates in at least one type of live musical performance.
Pre-K students attend art, music, or media center on a bi-weekly basis. Classroom teachers provide students with real world experiences via
in-house and off-campus field trips.
South has received several honors. South is ranked as a North Carolina “B” school with an overall proficiency level of 81%. South was
recognized as a High-Performance School for the 2014-2015 school year. South is recognized as a PBIS Model School.
Staff Qualifications
Total Teachers
40
Highly Qualified Teachers
40 (100%)
Number of Teachers with Advanced Degrees
26 (63%)
Number of Teachers with National Board
Certification
11 (27%)
Total Number of Teacher Assistants
17
Total Number of Highly Qualified Teacher
Assistants
17 (100%)
Number of Teacher Assistants with Postgraduate
Degrees
11 (65%)
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ore 2015­2016 School Improvement Plan South Elementary School Student Enrollment
Pre-Kindergarten
18
Kindergarten
109
First Grade
133
Second Grade
136
Third Grade
139
Student Demographics
Total Population**
535
Male
280 (52%)
Female
255 (48%)
White
270 (50%)
Black
103 (19%)
Hispanic
103 (19%)
Asian
30 (5%)
Multi-Racial
28 (5%)
EC
35 (6%)
LEP
56 (10%)
LSES
288 (54%)
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ore 2015­2016 School Improvement Plan South Elementary School Mission Statement
The mission at South Elementary School is for every stakeholder to work as a TEAM to ensure learning opportunities for every
child, every day, that maximize student achievement.
Vision
Together Everyone Achieves More
Motto
Every Child. Every Day.
Philosophy and Beliefs
❖ All decisions should be student centered and data driven.
❖ All students can learn.
❖ We are a community of learners.
❖ All students should be provided with expanded curricular activities.
❖ Significant community and business partnerships are important for success.
❖ Technology enriched and relevant curriculum with proper curriculum delivery are the foundations for addressing 21st
century learners.
❖ The success of our school is dependent upon us embracing all students and providing our students with care and
support.
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ore 2015­2016 School Improvement Plan South Elementary School Data for South Elementary School
At the end of the 2014-2015 school year, the South School Leadership Team met to analyze South’s End of Year data. This data included summative
assessment results from state mandated 3rd Grade North Carolina End-of-Grade assessment for math and reading, district assessments, and state mandated
mClass assessments for grades K-3. The committee also analyzed survey data completed by 252 South Parents.
Academic Results
Kindergarten
2013-2014
2014-2015
Reading
86%
76%
Math
86%
91%
1st Grade
Reading
72%
63%
Math
81%
74%
2nd Grade
Reading
85%
85%
Math
85%
85%
3rd Grade
Reading
78%
73%
Math
88%
85%
83% ​
(84% with growth)
79%e ​
(81% with growth)
Composite
Exceeded Growth
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ore 2015­2016 School Improvement Plan South Elementary School EVAAS Data T​
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ore 2015­2016 School Improvement Plan South Elementary School Parent Survey Results 2014-2015
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ore 2015­2016 School Improvement Plan South Elementary School Areas of Strength
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Math core instruction met the needs of 91% of students in kindergarten.
Reading and math core instruction met the needs of 85% of students in second grade.
Math core instruction met the needs of 85% of students in third grade.
Exceeded state expected growth as measured by EVAAS.
Overall parents are pleased with their student’s academic progress.
One hundred percent of parents surveyed strongly agreed or agreed that South provides a safe environment.
Areas for Improvement
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144 bus discipline referrals
Reading core instruction supporting 76% of students in kindergarten.
Reading core instruction supporting 63% and math core instruction supporting 74% of students in first grade.
Reading core instruction supporting 78% of students in third grade.
Twenty eight percent of parents surveyed volunteered at South in some capacity during the 2014-2015 school year.
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ore 2015­2016 School Improvement Plan South Elementary School Goal 1
State Board of Education Strategic Goal:
North Carolina public schools will produce globally competitive students.
MGSD Strategic Goal:
Ensure all MGSD students are globally competitive by accomplishing the following:
❖ 100% of district schools meet federal Annual Measurable Objectives (AMO) benchmarks.
❖ 100% of district schools meet expected growth on state (End of Grade/EOG and End of Course/EOC and Vocational Competency
Achievement Tracking System/VoCATS) assessments
School Improvement Goal:
At least 90% of all students will demonstrate grade level proficiency in reading and exceed expected growth.
Strategies
Resources
Time
Person Responsible
Evaluation
Scheduled common
literacy time with push-in
support from Title-1 staff
and specialists.
Specialist Personnel
Daily (9:10am-11:40am)
School-wide
Master schedule
Implementation of
Letterland in 2nd grade.
Continued use of
letterland K-1.
Letterland Kits
Daily
Classroom teachers grade
K-2
Observation
Lesson Plans
Set and monitor stamina
goals for all students.
Raz-Kids
AR
Daily Five
On-going
Instructional Staff
Data Notebooks
Book logs
Independent Reading
Rubrics
Set and monitor
comprehension goals for
all students.
Comprehension checks
Quarterly
Classroom Teachers
Data Notebooks
Written Responses
Set and monitor
vocabulary goals for all
students.
Flocabulary
Variety of literacy
resources
On-going
Instructional- staff
Data Notebooks
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ore 2015­2016 School Improvement Plan South Elementary School Goal 2
State Board of Education Strategic Goal
North Carolina public schools will produce globally and competitive students. MGSD Strategic Goal:
Ensure all MGSD students are globally competitive by accomplishing the following:
❖ 100% of district schools meet federal Annual Measurable Objectives (AMO) benchmarks.
❖ 100% of district schools meet expected growth on state (End of Grade/EOG and End of Course/EOC and Vocational Competency Achievement Tracking
System/VoCATS) assessments
School Improvement Goal:
At least 95% of all students will demonstrate grade level proficiency in math.
Strategies
Resources
Time
Person Responsible
Evaluation
Collection of multiple
baseline data points
NC Assessments
MGSD EOG
Pre-test
IXL Math, iStation math
Before September 22
Instructional Staff
Data Notebooks
Data Reports
Teachers will provide
targeted instruction for
students in need of
interventions.
Digital programs (TenMarks,
IXL, Etc)
Pirate Math
Daily
Instructional Staff
Lesson Plans
Web-based reports
MTSS forms
Intervention blocks
Continued use of common
core task cards.
Pacing guide & NC
unpacked standards
On-going
Instructional Staff
Lesson Plans
Math fact fluency goals set
and monitored.
IXL Math
Pirate Math
Moby Math
Origo Math
Quarterly
Classroom Teachers
Data Notebooks
Written Responses
Appropriate manipulatives
and problem solving
strategies will be used during
CORE instruction.
Manipulatives
South Math Committee
On-going
Instructional Staff
Data Reports
CFAs
South Math Committee will
provide PD to vertically align
math planning.
Livebinders
Pacing Guides
On-going
Math Committee
Lesson Plans
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ore 2015­2016 School Improvement Plan South Elementary School Goal 3
State Board of Education Strategic Goal
North Carolina public schools will produce globally and competitive students. MGSD Strategic Goal:
Ensure all MGSD students are globally competitive by accomplishing the following:
❖ 100% of district schools meet federal Annual Measurable Objectives (AMO) benchmarks.
❖ 100% of district schools meet expected growth on state (End of Grade/EOG and End of Course/EOC and Vocational Competency
Achievement Tracking System/VoCATS) assessments
School Improvement Goal:
At least 90% of all students will demonstrate grade level proficiency in writing.
Strategies
Resources
Time
Person Responsible
Evaluation
Collect baseline writing
proficiency for all students.
Step Up to writing
District Written Prompt
By October 1
Classroom Teachers
Student Samples
Teachers will provide
targeted writing
interventions.
Lucy Calkins Resources
Step Up to Writing
Flocabulary
6 + 1 Writing Traits Mini
Lessons
Kid Blog
Google Docs
Weekly
Instructional Staff
Lesson Plans
Student Samples
MTSS forms
Teachers will progress
monitor all students
Night of the Zookeeper
Step Up to Writing
Lucy Calkins resources
Weekly
Instructional Staff
Student Samples
Lesson Plans
Observations
Writing workshops with
elements of different
resources used to address
CORE writing instruction.
Lucy Calkins Resources
Step Up to Writing
Night of Zookeeper
Lessons
Kids Blog
6 + 1 Writing Traits Mini
Daily
Instructional Staff
Student Samples
Data Notebooks
Student conference logs
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ore 2015­2016 School Improvement Plan South Elementary School Goal 4
State Board of Education Strategic Goal
North Carolina public schools will produce globally competitive students. MGSD Strategic Goal:
Ensure 100% of administrators, teachers, and staff possess the skills to lead, teach, assess, and support students for success in this 21st century.
School Improvement Goal:
Utilize the MTSS problem-solving process to support collaboration between teachers, students, parents and administration.
Strategies
Resources
Time
Person Responsible
100% of instructional staff
will use the
problem-solving model to
develop hypotheses for
student learning plans.
2015-2016 MTSS manual
Data Walls
Educators handbook
On-Going
Administration
Instructional Staff
Log of Kid Talks
Data Walls
MTSS folders
Educators Handbook
Implement the utilization of
Educators Handbook, and
provide staff with a
documented list of
office-vs-classroom
managed behaviors.
Educators Handbook
Analyzing Discipline Data
quarterly
On-going
Administration
Discipline Forms
Educators Handbook
reports
Coach staff in the problem
solving model for
behavior.
MTSS handbook
On-Going
MTSS Team
Administration
MTSS minutes
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ore Evaluation
2015­2016 School Improvement Plan South Elementary School Goal 5
State Board of Education Strategic Goal
Leadership will guide innovation in NC public schools. MGSD Strategic Goal:
Ensure all MGSD students are globally competitive by accomplishing the following:
❖ 100% of district schools meet federal Annual Measurable Objectives (AMO) benchmarks.
❖ 100% of district schools meet expected growth on state (End of Grade/EOG and End of Course/EOC and Vocational Competency
Achievement Tracking System/VoCATS) assessments
School Improvement Goal:
The achievement gap for students in AMO subgroups will be 10% or less.
Strategies
Resources
Time
Person Responsible
Evaluation
Provide language
instruction for students.
Rosetta Stone
ESL instruction
Flocabulary
Daily
Classroom Teacher
ESL staff
Usage log
Data Notebooks
Provide instructional
videos for parents to
demonstrate ways in
which they can assists
their children.
Classroom blogs
Social Media
School Website
Classroom “how to”
videos
On-going
Administration
Classroom teachers
Title-1 Staff
Publications
Parent Survey
Provide incentives for
academic achievement.
Brag Tags
On-Going
Administration
Goal folders
Provide a weekend supply
of food for students
identified with a need.
First Baptist Backpacks
Food for Days
On-Going
Guidance Counselor
Report
Reduce academic summer
loss of skills via
educational summer
opportunities.
M2H
Summer Reading
Challenge
JumpStart
Summer
Instructional Staff
Attendance Roster
Data Notebooks
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ore 2015­2016 School Improvement Plan South Elementary School Goal 6
State Board of Education Strategic Goal
North Carolina public school students will be healthy and responsible. MGSD Strategic Goal:
Ensure 100% of school sites are safe and caring environments that promote and support developing healthy, responsible students.
School Improvement Goal:
Reduce bus discipline referrals by 10%.
Strategies
Resources
Time
Person Responsible
Evaluation
Train Bus Drivers/Riders
on PBIS universals.
PBIS flip charts/ videos
At start of school
Administration
Guidance Counselor
Star Sheets
Monthly Bus Driver
Meetings
Educators Handbook
PBIS World
Positive Bus Referrals
Bus Driver facilitated PD
Monthly
Administration
Guidance Counselor
Observations
Educators Handbook
Implement Bus Rider of
the Month Field Trip,
positive bus referrals, and
continued use of star
rewards.
Positive Bus Referrals
Brag Tags
Bus Tattoos
Bus Rider of the Month
Rewards
On-Going
Administration
Guidance Counselor
Observations
Educators Handbook
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ore 2015­2016 School Improvement Plan South Elementary School Request for Waivers to State Policies
In an effort to maximize the use of existing resources to meet the district and school goals, the following waivers to state policies
are requested:
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State textbook funds will be used to purchase instructional materials when appropriate to best meet the instructional goals of
our school and district.
State instructional funds will be used to purchase textbooks when appropriate to best meet the instructional goals of our
school and district.
Classroom size may exceed the state recommendations.
Teachers may choose not to have duty-free lunch when determined to be appropriate to best meet the needs of the students.
Teacher assistants may be used temporarily to provide assistance to grade levels without TA support when appropriate and
necessary.
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