Starting from Scratch

Building culture, systems and traditions for the new school in Penhold

What we need to accomplish today…

0Get to know one another a bit better0Have a look at the big rocks and many of the

challenges that face us this year0Work on goals for this year and begin a plan to

complete them0Establish the foundations of what the new school is all

about

Introductions

0At your table:0 Introduce yourself and

0Share one thing that you are excited about with coming to the new school

0Share one thing you are curious about in regards to the new school

Getting a Look at What Lies Ahead

0Having a clear vision of what we are embarking on is critical to our success.

0Optifog lenses Video - The Dog – YouTube

The Big RocksFoundational Beliefs

0 What you told us you wanted the school to be based on:0 Relationships, a strong sense of community / family0 High academic standards, rigorous programming0 Collaboration, shared responsibility & decision making0 Respect, trust, support and accountability0 Success for all students0 Character building0 Consistent, high expectations0 Communication0 Involved students0 Safe and caring0 Innovation0 Pride in the school and community, partner with parents

The Big RocksFoundational Beliefs

0What the QLE and research says:0 Connected and engaged students0 Success for all students0 Focus on academics and results by

improving instruction0 Collaborative, reflective practitioners0 Focus on student inquiry0 Challenging, encouraging and believing in students0 Data driven

The First Challenge

0Using the chart paper, identify your top five priorities for our shared foundational beliefs.

0Be prepared to speak to these as we share with the other groups.

The Big RocksSystems and Structures

0 To open a school in September 2014 we need:0 - furnishings, supplies and equipment that suit specific programming0 - learning resources0 - a timetable and plan for course offerings that fit what our students need our class

sizes and flexibility time0 - inclusion programming, student supports and counseling0 - technology0 - student assessment and evaluation practices0 - staff and student expectations and handbooks0 - programming that gets the most from the joint facility0 - programming for the learning commons and collaboration room0 - active and supportive school council0 - student leadership0 - communication and meeting structures0 - identifying students in need of support

The Flexibility Project

0This project will be a major building block for us to create opportunities for our students to become full partners in their learning.

0The project allows for fewer minutes of actual classroom instruction to facilitate greater student contact with teachers outside of the classroom to access one on one or small group instruction.

The Second Challenge

0Knowing that the Flexibility Project will influence many of our systems, review the literature at your table on Flexibility.

0Using the chart paper, identify the top five priorities and identify those systems and structures that will be impacted by the Flexibility Project.

0Be prepared to speak to these as we share with the other groups.

The Big RocksTraditions, Celebrations and Branding0 To create school traditions that are meaningful and sustainable:

0 - a working partnership with the larger facility0 - a full extra-curricular program0 - student recognition and celebrations0 - staff traditions and celebrations0 - traditions to welcome students into the school culture0 - graduation0 - field trips and foreign trips0 - fund raising projects0 - school name, logo, mascot, motto0 - creating a sense of community and working with other community schools on

common traditions0 - school wear, team wear, school signage0 - school spirit and special event days

The Third Challenge

0Using the chart paper, identify five current practices in your school that you feel really speak to school spirit, collegiality or identity that you would like to see carried over to the new school.

0Be prepared to speak to these as we share with the other groups.

What are the mosaic pieces?

0Knowing that the big picture is made up of smaller items with finer detail, what do you want us as a group to not lose sight of as we move forward together? List your ideas on chart paper.

To Do List

0Take a few minutes to review what we have covered today. What are you passionate about? Where do you want to have some influence and ownership?

0Use the sticky notes to attach your name to endeavors of special importance to you.

Next steps

0Any data collected today will be shared out to you.0 Jim and Mark will put together a plan for the year

using the data and will put that out to you for your input.

0As a group, we will be visiting Olds High School to learn more about the Flexibility Project.

Common Understandings

0When a parent or student asks you what this new school is all about, what will you say? As a table group what are your common understandings about the new school?

0Create an elevator speech about the new school.