Oak Tree Elementary School State of the School Report

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Oak Tree Elementary SchoolState of the School
Report
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Elements of this Report

• District Overview
• Oak Tree Mission Statement
• Oak Tree Demographics/Enrollment
• Demographic Challenges
• Oak Tree Programs
• School Goals
• Student Assessment Data
• School Focus 2009-10

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District Overview

• Recognized as one of the most desirable places to
  live in Middlesex County.
• Monroes excellent schools attract families to
  our community
• Our community is still growing. For the 2009-10
  school year an additional 176 students are
  projected by the New Jersey Department of
  Education.

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District Overview Continued

• Our new high school is presently being built with
  an opening date of September 2011.
• 5 Elementary Schools
• Applegarth Middle School

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Oak Tree Elementary SchoolMission Statement

• The mission of Oak Tree Elementary School is to
  foster a safe environment where students diverse
  needs are valued. We recognize that students
  learn differently and we share the responsibility
  of addressing these needs with our stakeholders.
  We strive to help our students grow into
  responsible members of our democratic society by
  instilling a love of learning, developing
  character, and encouraging responsibility.

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Oak Tree Elementary Student Demographics/Enrollmen
t

• Current enrollment 667 students

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Demographic Challenges

• Our community's diversity provides a rich
  learning environment for students and staff. It
  also presents challenges for educators and
  parents as we strive to find ways to overcome
  language barriers and cultural differences. We
  must work together to provide programs and
  supports to meet the needs of our diverse student
  population.

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School Programs

• Character Education
• Character Olympics Monthly activities to foster
  the development of good character including the
  Souper Bowl, Wishing Well, Food Drive Relays,
  and World Series of Books.
• Students have donated nearly 4000 so far to
  various charities
• 1156 cans/boxes of food have been donated to
  local families in addition to the McFOODS Food
  Drive
• Recently donated books to children at homeless
  shelters
• Daily words of wisdom during morning
  announcements
• In-class guidance lessons on bullying and
  character development
• Cultural Arts programs sponsored by the PTA

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Student Support Programs

• Special education programs range from integrated
  pre-school and in-class-resource support to
  pull-out resource center / small group
  instruction. 
• Related services include speech-language
  services, occupational and physical therapies,
  and individual and small-group counseling.
• Guidance department provides specialized ad-hoc
  student support groups such as new student and
  friendship groups the counselor also provides
  daily homework support. 
• Our district psychologist facilitates social
  skills and emotional management groups.

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Student Support and Enrichment Programs

• Talented and Gifted Grades 2-6 afterschool
  enrichment in math, language arts, science, and
  art.
• Basic Skills Grades 2-6 afterschool
  reinforcement of instruction in reading and math.
• Basic Skills and Reading Specialist Grades K and
  1, in school supplemental instruction and support
  in reading and math.

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Technology Programs

• Technology 21st Century Classrooms
• Every classroom equipped with a laser color
  printer, projector, one instructional computer,
  DVD/VCR player, speakers
• mobile labs and wireless access throughout the
  school
• classroom responders- student hand held devises
  that provide immediate feedback on in class
  assessments
• Technology Resource Teacher
• Learnia online formative assessment tool used
  in Grades 3-6 that provides data to teachers
  allowing them to adjust their instruction based
  on the needs of the students in the classroom

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Other School Programs

• Library Media Center
• The first automated elementary media center in
  the district.
• Nearly 12,000 titles with over 13,000 books
  signed out by students since September.
• Media specialist provides instruction to students
  and staff on grade level specific topics.

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Other School Programs

• Math K-5 enVision Math a new math series by
  Scott Foresman. Daily problem based learning
  followed by visual learning strategies that allow
  students to make meaningful connections.
• Grade 6 Connected Math by Pearson. Students
  develop mathematical thinking and reasoning while
  practicing and maintaining skills.
• Accelerated Math Grades 5 and 6, preparing
  students for Algebra 1 in grade 7 and ultimately
  Advanced Placement Calculus BC in grade 12.
• Monroe/Rutgers Mathematics Portfolio Study -
  engages our teachers and students in rich,
  open-ended, problem solving experiences based on
  the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards

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Other School Programs

• Language Arts Balanced literacy program with
  the integration of Readers/Writers Workshop
  (Columbia University writing project) and Scott
  Foresman Textbook Series.
• Teachers use a mini-lesson format to teach
  skills. Students are then provided an
  uninterrupted bank of time to craft, conference
  and revise their writing. Students publish pieces
  across all genres throughout the school year.

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Other School Programs

• Science Inquiry based learning using the
  scientific process, consumable materials, and
  critical thinking skills.
• Environmental Education Learning about
  recycling is a part of our curriculum.
• LEEDS Silver certified school, Solar Panels,
  Grey Water System (rainwater).

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2008-09 School Goal Narrative Writing

• By June 2009, 82 of all students in grades K-3
  will demonstrate one point or greater increase on
  the five point NJ Registered Holistic Scoring
  
  Rubric in the area of Narrative Writing.

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2008-09 School Goal - Mathematics

• By June 2009, 73 of all students in grades 4 to
  6 who are involved in the Rutgers Mathematics
  Portfolio Project will demonstrate a one point
  increase using the 4 point NJ Mathematics Scoring
  Rubric on mathematic post-test of open ended
  items based on New Jersey Core Curriculum Content
  Standards for Mathematics.

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Student Assessment Data

• We have reviewed historical test data from our
  students previous schools.
• We are gathering data on our students using
  LEARNIA and continuing through standardized
  testing this spring.
• CogAT- Grade 2 Cognitive Aptitude test
• NJPASS Grades 1 and 2 district assessment
• NJASK Grades 3-6 state standardized test

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School Focus 2009-10

• Continued, rigorous and challenging instruction
  and assessment aligned with the NJCCCS.
• School safety
• Character education
• Maintaining an emphasis on cultural diversity
• Academic goals

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Oak Tree Elementary School

• Questions