PRINCIPAL ENTRY PLAN: UNPACKING JAC S INVISIBLE BACKPACK

Transcription

1 PRINCIPAL ENTRY PLAN: UNPACKING JAC S INVISIBLE BACKPACK AUGUST, 2009 MARCH, 2010 JULIE VINCENTSEN PRINCIPAL, JOHN A. CRISAFULLI SCHOOL

2 INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT Invisible backpack? Let me explain. Who I am as a person and as an educator has been greatly influenced by seventeen summers spent at Camp Arcadia as a camper and counselor. As I reflect on what I would like my opening months to look like at Crisafulli, I am reminded of a story I heard there at staff orientation years ago. One of the directors described an opening day scene girls arriving, the choosing of bunks, and the ceremonious unpacking to make the cabin the summer home. The excitement is palpable as a summer of possibilities awaits! She went on to describe the counselor s role in this scene as beginning to unpack the invisible baggage of each girl. She described this as one of our most important jobs all summer. Until this bag was unpacked, this invisible bag, we would not truly know our campers and therefore would not be able to function as effectively as a community. The concept of the invisible baggage is a simple one it is what each of us carries with us each day that no one can see; it is what makes us who we are as individuals. Though there are commonalities, the contents of our invisible baggage are different because they are what make us unique. Much of my summer months was spent unpacking JAC s visible backpack that which I could learn by reading and asking a lot of questions. I already appreciate Ms. Kennelly s patience as she and I began this process early in July through many hours of conversation. I learned a lot this summer, but it is the invisible backpack that I want to learn more about as well What are JAC s accomplishments? What makes JAC tick? Who are the teachers, staff members, students and parents who make up this community of learners? What is in their invisible backpacks? What are our collective hopes, dreams, and aspirations for JAC s future? I would contend that until I learn these things, and others, we will not function as effectively as a community. I am excited to begin to unpack JAC s backpack; this entry plan is meant to be my guide in that process. GOALS SUMMARY Goal #1: Cultivate positive, constructive relationships with members of the Crisafulli School community to minimize the potential disruption caused by a change in administrative leadership Goal #2: Build a foundation for continuous improvement by identifying JAC s strengths and targeted areas for growth as identified by the Crisafulli School community Goal #3: Create a shared vision for JAC s future that sustains our strengths and addresses our identified areas for needed growth

3 Goal 1: Cultivate positive, constructive relationships with members of the Crisafulli School community to minimize the potential disruption caused by a change in administrative leadership Objective 1: Develop positive, constructive relationships with Crisafulli staff members Send introductory letter and welcome back letter to all staff Meet with each staff member beginning in summer and through the fall Plan opening day staff meeting with a focus on introductions and community building (Celebrations, Why We Teach slideshow, Toast) Utilize the September faculty meeting to set faculty meeting norms Conduct regular walk-throughs of classrooms Community breakfast on October 1 to celebrate a successful first month Objective 2: Further relationships with Central Office personnel i Introductory letter July Welcome Back letter - August August end of October August 28 th September 2 nd Ongoing October 1 st Meet with Superintendent Meet with Assistant Superintendent Meet with Director of Student Services Meet with Director of School Finance Objective 3: Develop positive, constructive relationships with Crisafulli parent community August end of September Send and post to website introductory newsletter to families Wednesday, August 19 Host an all school picnic following the Open House to celebrate the opening of school and Thursday, August 27 provide an opportunity for me to meet Crisafulli families Meet with IT Director to redesign website to further strengthen the home-school connection By mid-september Establish and communicate a home-school communication protocol September newsletter

4 Meet with SAC members and PTO co-presidents Plan general session of Back to School Night with a focus on introductions and community building Meet with 7 parents per grade (randomly selected) Objective 4: Develop positive, constructive relationships with the student body August-end of September September 9 th September-end of October Introductory walk-through on first day Tuesday, September 1 st Be a strong presence at drop off and dismissal, in classrooms, during transitions, in the On-going cafeteria, at recess etc. Meet with 7 students per grade (randomly selected) September-end of October Establish Student Council By October 1 Plan the first month of community meetings with a focus on community building September Additional Information At each meeting, each person will be asked the same three questions: What are the strengths of Crisafulli? What about Crisafulli makes you the most proud? What are Crisafulli s areas for needed growth? In what areas would you like to see Crisafulli grow? What do you need from me as Principal?

5 Goal #2: Build a foundation for continuous improvement by identifying JAC s strengths and targeted areas for growth as identified by the Crisafulli School community Objective 1: Identify JAC s strengths and targeted areas for growth in the area of curriculum and instruction Meet with each staff member August end of October Meet with Curriculum Coordinators August-end of September Conduct regular learning walk-throughs targeting specific questions regarding curriculum and Stage 1: September-end of instruction October Conduct learning walk-throughs with Curriculum Coordinators Stage 2: Ongoing Conduct learning walk-throughs with Assistant Principal Objective 2: Identify JAC s strengths and targeted areas for growth in the area of culture and community Meet with each staff member August end of October Maintain a culture journal August-end of October Conduct a welcoming walk-through with SAC November SAC meeting Identify core values of Crisafulli Conduct a wellness check utilizing the 12 Norms of Healthy Cultures (Saphier and King) Faculty meetings September - November Establish historical context Objective 3: Identify JAC s strengths and targeted areas for growth in the area of home-school connection Develop a parent survey Conduct parent survey Analyze results of parent survey October SAC meeting By November SAC meeting November SAC meeting

6 Goal #3: Create a shared vision for JAC s future that sustains our strengths and addresses our identified areas for needed growth Objective 1: Gather data Pull together data from goals #1 and #2 Draft a written report summarizing the data Create a Power Point presentation summarizing the written report Objective 2: Communicate findings to the faculty Meet with Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent to share findings Present findings to the faculty Objective 3: Use compiled data to create a plan moving forward together as a faculty Develop a shared vision based on the findings presented Create a committee to create an action plan moving forward Present and discuss the action plan with the faculty Share the action plan with the SAC Objective 4: Share the action plan with the community November-December December January faculty meeting January faculty meeting January-February February faculty meeting February SAC meeting Meet with Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent to share action plan January Utilize the website to share action plan with the community By March 1 i s are a goal but are subject to change.