The Watervliet City School District Board of Education adopted a set of district goals to support the district’s mission of educating, inspiring and challenging every student, every day. These goals will continue to serve as a foundation and guide for policy-making decisions made by the five-member school board.
The district goals also assist administrators in focusing priorities for leadership and instruction within the district.
Strategic Goal 1
Students will have the opportunity to challenge themselves socially and intellectually based on their individual needs.
Programs/Actions
- CDOS (Career Development and Occupational Studies Commencement Credential)
- Jr. High Mentoring program
- Operation Graduation
- Pivot Program
- RTI
- ExTRA – Extended Day Grant
- Independent Living Class
Evidence/Target
- Increase the overall percentage of students achieving honor/high honor roll, per quarter, using previous year’s data as a baseline
- Increase number of CDOS credentials. Decrease number of SACC (Skills and Achievement Commencement Credentials).
- Continue to show improvement in proficiency rates (grades 3-8 math and ELA assessments)
- Decrease number of students failing two or more courses at WJSHS
- Increase 2015-16 graduation rate of 78% to 80% or higher for the next three school years
- Increase/maintain percent of WHS students scoring 75 or better in ELA Common Core RE each year over the next three years
- bullet graphicIncrease/maintain percent of students scoring an 80 or higher in Algebra I Common Core each year over the next three years
- Establish a STEM-Robotics Club at WES/WJSHS
- RPI Stem Class @ WJSHS
Strategic Goal 2
Students will be afforded the opportunity to participate in a rigorous Common Core aligned curriculum.
Programs/Actions
- Continue professional development (PD) in understanding of Common Core documents including Social Studies and Science
- PD in instructional strategies (core aligned best practices)
- Understand and implement ISTE standards into instruction
- Use of Google Apps for Education in Instruction
- RTI
- Collect/analyze data at grade level and department meetings to inform instructional decisions RTI
Evidence/Target
- 10% of teachers will utilize Google classroom with fidelity
- 15-16: 100% awareness of Google Apps for Education and its application to the classroom (met)
- 16-17: 100% implementation of Google Apps for Education
- Review of data, including NYS assessments, DIBELS, SRI, benchmarks, attendance, at risk students, graduation rates)
- Reflections – Instructional Coaches
- Student work
- Teacher observation
- Walk-throughs
Strategic Goal 3
Students, parent, teachers and community members will have the opportunity to support outcomes for student success.
Programs/Actions
- Food for Fuel/Backpack Program
- Raise awareness of communication tools (One Call Now, Parent Portal, district website, WVLT, Twitter, Facebook, newsletters)
- Use of eSchool Guru Dashboard by Staff
- NYS Mentoring program for 4th grade students
- Increase parent outreach events
Evidence/Target
- Increase the use of communication tools by 10% (One Call Now, Parent Portal, Facebook, Twitter)
- 100% of WCSD teachers will input student data into eSchool (met)
- 100% of 6-12 teachers will use eSchool gradebook to convey weekly updates
- Parent nights: Math night, Pivot parent night, Multicultural night, Title 1 informational night, College financial aid night etc.
Strategic Goal 4
Students, parents, teachers and community members will continue to foster a safe, supportive, and positive school climate.
Programs/Actions
- Character Ed / No Place for Hate
- PBIS, Peaceful School Bus and scheduling of regular boosters
- PD on DASA, diversity and online safety
- SAVE Committee (safety drills, table top discussions)
- Wellness Program
- ExTRA- Extended day grant parent information nights
- Dean of Students
- Heritage Awareness Months at WES
- Increase student and staff WES/WJSHS interactions
Evidence/Target
- Utilize DASA reporting with fidelity and decrease in VADIR reportable incidents
- Healthy options will be made available in school and at extracurricular activities
- Increase frequency of boosters, safety drills and professional development on safety related topics
- Encourage student participation in PBIS ~ Character Ed ~ No Place for Hate programs
- Introduce new Wellness Program to school community (met)
- Introduce morning exercise program at WES
- Classroom and community heritage activities
**Italics denotes items introduced for 2015-2016 school year.
Program Descriptions
Career Development and Occupational Studies Commencement Credential (CDOS)
The New York State CDOS Commencement Credential is recognized by the Board of Regents as a certificate that the student has the knowledge and skills necessary for entry level employment. It can be awarded, upon graduation from high school, to a student who has entry-level work readiness skills. It can be earned by general education students or students with disabilities with a regular high school diploma or for special education students as their only high school exiting credential for those who did not earn a local or Regents diploma.
Jr. High Mentoring Program
The Jr. High Mentoring is a program where seniors, who have been identified through good character and high academic standing, are connected with seventh and eighth graders to lend support and guidance.
Operation Graduation
Operation Graduation is a system to help identify seniors that are at risk of not graduating either through attendance, behaviorally, or low academic achievement and work to support them in and out of the classroom.
Pivot Program
The Pivot Program provides the skills necessary for students to successfully complete high school and prepares Watervliet graduates for the challenges of pursuing a college education or entering the workforce. This program extends the school day for all 9th grade students three days a week. In addition to improving academic skills, students participating in Pivot attend career talks, complete a career shadow experience and visit several college campuses throughout the year.
Response to Intervention (RtI)
Response to Intervention (RtI) is a tiered approach to identify and support students with learning and behavioral needs. It involves high quality instruction and routine screening of all students to support growth and development.
Watervliet ExTRA
The ExTRA program is a five-year, $1.7 million dollar grant-funded initiative intended to help increase academic achievement for students in grades K-8. Beginning this school year, the program will include a morning academic reading and math program for grades K-2, as well as a grades 3-8 after-school academic and special enrichment activities/clubs. Next summer the district will offer a summer academic program for students entering grades K-8. The goal of the academics and fun activities is to increase student achievement. ExTRA is funded by an Extended School Day/School Violence Prevention grant through the New York State Education Department.
Independent Living Course
This course was created this year in order to provide classified Special Education students skills needed to work towards earning the NYS Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) Commencement Credential. Both general education and special education students are eligible to take this course. To exit school earning this credential, students must demonstrate achievement of commencement level knowledge and skills relating to the CDOS learning standards in the areas of career development, integrated learning and universal foundation skills.
Professional Development for Common Core Social Studies and Science
The district will continue to provide professional development and support the implementation of the Common Core K-12 Social Studies and Science Frameworks. The frameworks are intended to serve as a guide for districts to develop social studies and science curriculum that prepare students for college, careers and civic life.
Professional Development in instructional strategies (core aligned best practices)
The district is dedicated to providing professional learning opportunities for all staff, this includes professional development regarding instructional strategies for teachers, teaching assistants and school leaders. As outlined in the district’s professional development plan, professional development goals include instructional strategies for teaching with common core aligned best practices.
Understand and implement ISTE standards into instruction
The ISTE standards are national educational technology standards that are developed by the International Society for Technology in Education. By understanding and implementing the ISTE standards into instruction teachers and administrators help students develop technology skills and knowledge needed to adapt to a constantly changing technological landscape and prepare students for the technology world.
Use of Google Apps for Education in Instruction
Google Apps for Education (GAFE) are free online productivity tools for classroom collaboration. Students and teachers can create, share and edit files in real-time from school or home.
Food for Fuel Program
The Watervliet Civic Center and the Watervliet Elementary School are working together to provide selected students with food to take home each weekend. Each Friday, 60 students will be provided a bag of non-perishable, easy-to-prepare foods to take home.
Use of eSchool Guru Dashboard by Staff
The eSchool Guru Dashboard is a new product that enables teachers and staff to be a data “guru”. Classroom and student data is presented in interactive, graphical styles to allow the data to be used frequently and effectively.
Character Education
Character Education is a program to help teach children how to develop positive character traits and/or virtues. It is infused into the school day and students are celebrated each month at both buildings.
No Place for Hate
No Place for Hate is an initiative that provides schools with a framework to combat bias. At Watervliet, three NPFH community events are held each year (Mix It Up Breakfast, Bubble Soccer and Dodgeball) to help build safe communities where students can thrive.
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a proactive approach to establishing the behavioral supports and social culture and needed for all students in a school to achieve social, emotional and academic success. Attention is focused on creating and sustaining school-wide, classroom, and individual systems of support that improve behavior.
Peaceful School Bus
A group of teacher leaders sponsors each bus and hold monthly “bus boosters.” During this time, the group reviews bus expectations, and may address any bus related issues. A “Bus of the Month” is awarded each month, accompanied by a small celebration!
DASA, diversity and online safety
With routine professional development, the district ensures that all staff are knowledgeable of New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act (DASA). The district provides a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying.
SAVE Committee (safety drills, table top discussions)
The SAVE Committee attends to student and staff safety throughout the school district. To ensure safe procedures are in place within the schools, the committee conducts safety drill and holds table top discussions with representatives from throughout the district and the community.
Wellness Program
The district Wellness Policy ensures that students in UPK through grade 12 receive nutritional education that provides the knowledge they need to adopt healthy lifestyles. It also implements the nutritional and dietary guidelines of the “National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast program”.
Heritage Awareness Month
The elementary school will celebrate and share our students’ diverse and unique backgrounds through a variety of activities each month. These activities will include classroom lessons, traditional meals, and visual representations of each culture.
Morning Exercise
During morning announcements each day, physical education teachers at the elementary school will team up with students to lead a short exercise routine that will allow students to prepare their mind and body for the school day.
College Financial Aid Night
College Financial Aid Night is an awareness for students and parents. We offer assistance with filling out paperwork and providing a step by step approach as our students get ready to apply for college.