Nov.

Our SIG Instructional Staff is focused on ensuring that we are building relationships with every single student, understanding the instructional need that is attached to every single student and monitoring our progress along the way. We are currently utilizing the following activities to ensure progress toward academic goals:

After-school tutoring
Family Enrichment Activities
Performing Arts
Educational Field trips
Sports and leadership opportunities

Virtual Schoolhouse is full of a very caring and devoted staff and as the assistant principal, I do believe that every single teacher truly cares about our school and our community," she said. The following activities demonstrated this belief:

The Development of our Student Council
Student Academic Contest (writing, reading, and math)
Student Lead Fundraisers (Fall dance, candy sales, and raffles)

The VSH assistant principal has attended the Executive Principals Leadership Conference. With the Assistant Principal Professional Development in place (Executive Leadership Academy) the school will be able to address the SIG goals of; improved test scores, closing the achievement gaps across various subgroups in the school, and implementing various instructional strategies and programs.

Oct.

Every month the SIG team meets to submit data. This was the feedback from Danielle Butler our transformation specialist, "You did an awesome job!!!!!

Sep.

The Sig team has been busy working on climate, improving student achievement and planning for parent involvement. Josh Sowers will be our parentliaison, Kristen Shane will be heading the communications aspect which is also part of Assurance A commitment for RttT. She will be editor of parent newsletter and will be notifying parents and stakeholders of important events on the VSH website. Susan Beer will be in charge of STEM activities and science fair. Mr. Anderson will be

in charge of planning parent events.

The new template that needs to be done weekly and forward to me for review and using ideas from "Teach like a Champion" addresses the suggestions the SIG evaluators made to improve instruction. Try to use suggestions in weekly ABC”s of Differentiation.

ABC's of Differentiation.......

The rationale for this column is to improve understanding and usage of Differentiation. The format will be using the alphabet to understand the buzzwords of differentiating instruction. Please feel free to submit differentiating techniques starting with B for the next weekly letter.

A is for "Assessment"

May

May 11th,

SIG will be offering summer courses this summer such as Credit Recovery: Looking to catch up or get ahead earn credit for high-school classes or get OGT prep.

Math: Applying life concepts and hands on projects to get a greater understanding of Mathematics concepts.
Music Math: Music appreciation using the ear to hear concepts of music, counting techniques of time & meter, and composition of rhythm patterns
Environmental Science and Ecology: Climate Change Analysts, Emergency Management Specialists, Environmental Compliance Inspectors, Environmental Scientists, Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and Systems Operators.

These courses will be offered to the Middle / High school for the summer.

April.

April 23rd,

Next week we will be taking the Ohio Achievement Assessments in grades 3 – 8. Starting Tuesday April 24, 2012. We will be testing in the areas of Reading, Math, and Science (5th and 8th grades only for Science). We will begin testing each day at 9:00 a.m. The tests are two and one half hours in length.

The students will be taking these tests during their morning class time. Please encourage students to receive a good night of rest each night, and that they eat a good breakfast or is at school before 8:15 a.m. to get breakfast at school. Students should be at school and in their classrooms no later than 8:45 a.m. for these assessments.

SIG Summer School…

This year SIG will host a math, reading, and science summer program for grades 6 thru 8th. An OAA-based enrichment program engages and challenges youth, while letting them work at their own pace. Having a program that the children like is already half of the battle of getting students to participate in summer school. Plus, combining what they see as fun with what they need makes the idea of summer study a bit easier for them to swallow. We look forward to having you engage in a way that they haven’t before.

Mar.

Mar 27th,

School Improvement Grant, School Climate update

The Virtual School House will host a Geography Fair this quarter times TBD.
Art Education After-School will also start this quarter Please see Mr. Ray for details.
The OGT Pep Rally went well and attendance for OGT was up this year by 15% and the Attendance Incentive given by Middle School Staff is working. Our Attendance rate is up 5% this year. Monthly Party for Attendance and Behavior will take place the last Friday of the Month. We want to thank the entire teaching staff for their efforts in updating the Classroom Work the halls look nice.

Mar 15th,

One of the components of the SIG grant was the creation of a Parent Liaison. Michelle Snowden is our Parent Liaison. One of the ways of communicating with parents is a monthly news letter, paper copies are sent with the students as well as being posted on our VSH website

Mar 5th,

Ohio Graduation Test Preparation has begun and we have incorporated various strategies to assist in increasing test scores. The main tool is Study Island. Study Island is an Ohio Standards Mastery Program is specifically designed to help students master the content specified in the Ohio Academic Content Standards.

Study Island focuses on the Academic Content Standards which will enable students to improve their performance in all skill areas tested on the OGT.

On March 8th we will kick off OGT week with a Pep Rally at 1:30p in the lunch room.

Feb.

Feb 27th,

School Improvement Grant has supported student and educational activities that enriched the current school circular. Examples are educational activities that enrich the current school curriculum. Examples are educational field trips, student incentives, and student events (play, art projects, etc.)

This semester Mr. Ray, Dean of Students will coordinate a school-wide art project which will be multiple art activities based on current educational standards.

The student art activities will help increase reading skills applying the Historical, Cultural, and Social context of projects to classroom lessons in an attempt to increase creative expression and communication skills therefore increasing creative student vocabulary.

Feb 13th,

This month we have focused on preparing for OGT/OAA. Coaching is an important focus in lesson preparation Vivian Garfunkel reviews all lesson plans to make sure that they are exemplary and are addressing both Ohio state standards, and the crosswalks. The BLT coaches are also making sure that formative assessment techniques are being used.

Teachers are encouraged to use actual OAA/OGT questions for post assessments. OGT is 25 days away and our school climate is changing as we gear up for testing. Student council and the cheerleaders are setting up a pep rally. We are organizing an OGT test taking workshop for students who have scored 380 or better in an attempt to get them the extra help they need to pass.

On February 2, VSH hosted a Parent, Pizza, and Academic Content meeting with parents. We spoke to parents about the new report card and the new academic content standards. We also showed the parents the website which has the academic hotline. Parents where apprised of how important they are in their students pursuit of excellence and learned about the “parental edge”.

Jan.

Jan 27th,

The Intervention staff is currently making home visits, working with students who have barriers at home, and assisting classroom teachers with behavior and emotional issues and concerns.

We are developing new ideas to support the overall behavior of the students: parties for attendance and behavior, positive phone calls home and an awards dinner in honor of those who have exemplary behavior and academics.

With OGT and OAA testing around the corner we are gearing up for testing. Teachers have assessment test ongoing, we have and OGT count down and we are currently planning an OGT and OAA pep rally.

2011

Dec '11

Dec 16th,

School Climate at the forefront at the Virtual Schoolhouse because when people work together, a group process emerges that is bigger that any one person's actions. A comprehensive assessment of school climate includes major spheres of school life such as safety, relationships, teaching and learning, and the environment as well as larger organizational patterns (e.g. from fragmented to shared; healthy or unhealthy). How we feel about being in school and these larger group trends shape learning and student development. Peer-reviewed educational research has consistently demonstrated that a positive school climate is associated with academic achievement, effective risk prevention efforts and positive youth development.

Dec 9th,

Teacher Leadership Team taking center stage in the Virtual Schoolhouse improvement process. As part of the School Improvement Grant we are charged with building a Teacher Leadership Team (TLT) This team is responsible for building a syatem of improvement throughout the school.

Another critical role played by teacher leaders is that of mentoring new staff members. Either in subject-matter or small learning community teams, teacher meetings, or as individuals. The TLT will help all staff especially new staff members learn the ropes, become familiar with grade-level standards, understand how to use data, and gain skills in classroom management and instructional strategies.

December 2,

Where do Children Spend Their Time?

School age children spend 70% of their waking hours (including weekends and holidays) outside of school.

When should Parents Should Get Involved?

The earlier in a child’s educational process parent involvement begins, the more powerful the effects.

The most effective forms of parent involvement are those, which engage parents in working directly with their children on learning activities at home.

What’s the Impact?

86% of the general public believes that support from parents is the most important way to improve the schools.

Lack of parental involvement is the biggest problem facing public schools. Schools must find ways to engage parents.

What does Decades of research show when parents are involved?

Higher grades, test scores, and graduation rates
Better school attendance
Increased motivation, better self-esteem
Lower rates of suspension
Decreased use of drugs and alcohol
Fewer instances of violent behavior

Nov '11

November 11

School Improvement and the challenge of providing proper support in the home is an ever increasing barrier that the Virtual Schoolhouse addresses in a number of intervention efforts. We currently have an Intervention Team that meets on a weekly basis to discuss issues and parent concerns; the team is comprised of a licensed social worker, two guidance counselors and a Family Liaison.

Studies show that certain parent-initiated interactions with children at home are associated with increased student achievement. These interactions include high parent expectations for their child to succeed in school, emphasis on attending school daily, encouraging their child to attend and prepare for postsecondary education, and learning activities that encourage learning and structure at home.

Oct '11

October 28

Appropriate integration of technology in the curriculum depends on knowing the direction of goals and development for our district. Integration will be haphazard at best unless the two are connected. Students who use technology applications will certainly learn technology skills, but it is not certain they will learn anything about the subject in which the application occurs unless there is a correlation between the application of the technology and plans for curricular improvement.

The Building Leadership Team (BLT) is in the process of redefining the curriculum based on the availability of technology resources as well as building up the amount of students receiving individualized instruction. The BLT will also revamp the assessment testing procedures in an attempt to create a broader data collection system so that we can narrow down the areas that need the most attention. Our goal is school improvement but in the process we hope to improve the lives of our youth..