Family and School Partnerships Ranchero Middle School

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Family and School PartnershipsRanchero Middle
School

• Cal STAT Leadership Site Award

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What is ExCEL?

• It is NOT a program of set strategies
• It IS a framework of strategies that build upon
  the philosophy that all children can learn.

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ExCEL

• It is a hybrid of research-based best practices
  that have been proven to be effective with all
  students including those with academic deficits.
• Focuses on 5 focus areas
• 1. Early intervention and prevention strategies
  in reading
• 2. Behavior intervention and remediation
  emphasis
• 3. Parent involvement in a family/system focus
• 4. Speech and language mastery
• 5. Emphasis on survival skills

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Scaffolded Classrooms

• A heterogeneous mix of students
• Scaffold, as it is referred to in ExCEL, is a
  way of organizing students for instruction.
• Scaffolds may be tools
• Scaffolding is supporting the student as they
  learn skills. It is a method of differentiated
  instruction

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Scaffolded Class Levels

• Level E- Above Proficiency/GATE
• Level D- At Proficiency
• Levels A, B, C- Below Proficiency

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ExCEL Level A

• Designed for students who read below the 3rd
  grade level
• Classes are made up of SDC, RSP, and general
  education students who will benefit from this
  level of instruction.
• Available for all academic areas
• Majority of this level are taught by experienced
  Special Education teachers

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ExCEL Level B

• Designed for students with reading levels around
  4th grade
• Classes made up of SDC, RSP, and general
  education students. Students in this level may
  also be placed in ExCEL Social Studies and/or
  Science

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ExCEL Level C

• Designed for students who are close to grade
  level in reading and writing skills
• May include RSP and general education students
• Depends on ability level and an IEP decision
• Most of these students are successful in general
  education Social Studies and/or Science, but may
  be placed in an ExCEL Social Studies and/or
  Science

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Level D Level E

• Level D
• General Education level
• Students are proficient in academic areas

• Level E
• GATE/ honor students
• Students who are above proficiency in academic
  areas

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Overall ExCEL

• All Students Can Learn!!!
• The purpose of the Ranchero Middle School ExCEL
  model is to provide every student with
  instruction at his/her developmental level while
  ensuring the teaching of grade level standards.
• Mastery of grade level standards is the goal for
  all students through differentiated instruction
• Fluidity based on on-going assessments and
  teacher input

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Communications

• Homework Hotline
• Web grading system
• Parent/teacher/student conferences
• Regular progress reports
• Binder reminders
• Phone calls home
• District Parent Notebook

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More Communications

• Notes home
• Parent in-services
• STAR Chats
• Celebration of Education
• Parent Newsletters
• Invitations to events

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Volunteering

• Family Resource Specialist coordination of
  volunteers
• Parent/Community member volunteers for dances,
  sports, fundraisers, school events, etc.

• Student and staff participation in service clubs
• Spirit of Giving Week collecting and
  distributing canned foods for holiday dinners

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Collaborating with the Community

• Career Day
• Principal-for-the-Day
• Job shadowing
• Membership with Kiwanis Rotary
• Invitations to performances, conferences,
  workshops
• Parent Night

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Collaborating with the Community

• CJSF- California Junior Scholastic Federation
• Kiwanis Club
• Builders Club
• ASB- Associated student Body
• Incentive program
• Building community relationships- Parks
  Recreation

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Student Roles

• Collaborating with community
• Representation in School Site Council
• Attending and having a voice in the Individual
  Education Plan process

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More student Roles

• Responsibility for academic learning through
  autonomy
• Attending parent/teacher/student conferences
• Communicating through the binder reminder

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Meeting Students/Parents Needs

• Assistance of a bilingual aide
• Newsletters created in Spanish
• District Interpreter
• Bilingual staff and teacher support
• District and site English Language Learner
  meetings
• Teachers trained in Ruby Paynes Framework for
  Understanding Poverty
• Teachers trained with Specifically Designed
  Academic Instruction in English strategies

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Meeting Needs

• Flexible scheduling conducive to families
• Creating progress reports and notes home for
  multiple households
• Making home visits if requested

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Collaborative Decision-Making

• Teachers, administrators, families/parents, and
  student involvement of decisions
• School Site Council
• Individual Education Plans
• Program meetings held on a monthly basis
• Use of parent surveys to determine the needs,
  programs, and clubs for students

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Our Family Resource Specialist

• Creates monthly newsletter
• Creates mailings
• Coordinates parent volunteers for athletics,
  performances, and other school events
• Attends the Parent Coordinating Council for the
  district as a site representative President

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Family Resource Specialist

• Organizes parent chaperones volunteers to work
  in the classroom
• Assists with Parent Night
• School Site Council
• Our Family Liaison

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2005-2006 School Year Examples

• Parent involvement in Sept. 30th Rewards Field
  Day
• Fundraisers selling of yearbooks
• Red Ribbon Week volunteer for Bring Your Own
  Banana
• Back- to School Night
• Athletics

• AVID Skate Night
• December Parent Night
• School Site Council
• Parent Coordinating Council
• Conferences
• Builders Club Band participation in Hesperia
  Days Parade

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2005-2006 School Year

• Monthly Parent Meetings with the Principal
• Parent notification of student awards
• Mr. Ingram help with reading
• Community member band volunteers
• Scheduled Parent Nights for subject areas

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2005- 2006 School Year

• Ski Club at Johns Incredible Pizza Night
• Community use of facilities for athletics
• Web grades and Site webpage
• Thanksgiving Basket donation
• District Parent Notebook
• Dance chaperones
• Hurricane Katrina contributions (change bottles
  and Mardi Gras bead fundraisers)

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Working together to...
pursue greatness in education!