Miami-Dade County Public Schools Ms. Marta Garcia, Principal 4200 SW 112th Ct Miami, FL 33165-4642 Document Generated On May 1, 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1 Description of the School 2 School's Purpose 3 Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement 4 Additional Information 5
Introduction Every school has its own story to tell. The context in which teaching and learning takes place influences the processes and procedures by which the school makes decisions around curriculum, instruction, and assessment. The context also impacts the way a school stays faithful to its vision. Many factors contribute to the overall narrative such as an identification of stakeholders, a description of stakeholder engagement, the trends and issues affecting the school, and the kinds of programs and services that a school implements to support student learning. <br><br> The purpose of the Executive Summary (ES) is to provide a school with an opportunity to describe in narrative form the strengths and challenges it encounters. By doing so, the public and members of the school community will have a more complete picture of how the school perceives itself and the process of self-reflection for continuous improvement. This summary is structured for the school to reflect on how it provides teaching and learning on a day to day basis. Page 1
Description of the School Describe the school's size, community/communities, location, and changes it has experienced in the last three years. Include demographic information about the students, staff, and community at large. What unique features and challenges are associated with the community/communities the school serves? is located at 4200 S.W 112 Court Miami, Florida 33165 on 9 acres, and was established in 1957. Our prekindergarten Student with Disabilities (SWD) program is housed in a kindergarten classroom. The school is located in a primarily Hispanic community with low to middle income families. The school embarked on a beautification process which includes mosaic murals, painted murals, two vegetable gardens, two butterfly gardens, and upgrading of the landscaping throughout the school. Currently, we are building a greenhouse/ lab that will enhance our Science STEM. The school is located in a primarily Hispanic community with low to middle income families. It has a student population of 531 students, 88.6 percent of which are on free or reduced lunch. The student population is composed of 3.3 percent White non-hispanic, 0.6 percent Black non-hispanic, 94 percent Hispanic, 2.1 percent Asian/American Indian/Multiracial. Currently, 43.8 percent of the students are enrolled in English Language Learner (ELL) classes. Additionally, 12 percent of students are in an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Program and 9.6 percent of students are in the Gifted Program. During the 2012-2013 school year, there were 29 students in third grade, 29 students in fourth grade, and 28 students in fifth grade who scored at Levels 1 and 2 in reading. Sixty-two percent of ELL students (English Language Learners) met high standards in reading on the 2013 FCAT. Additionally, 71 students in third grade, 71 students in fourth grade, and 71 students in fifth grade scored at level 3 or above on the 2013 FCAT Reading Assessment. In Mathematics, 2 students in third grade, 28 students in fourth grade, and 30 students in fifth grade scored at Levels 1 and 2. Furthermore, 98 students in third grade, 73 students in fourth grade, and 70 students in fifth grade scored at level 3 or above on the 2013 FCAT Mathematics Assessment. At Royal Palm, every effort is used to meet class size requirements and to maintain appropriate teacher-to-student ratios. There is an average of 21 students in the kindergarten and first grade classes; 19 in second grade; 17 in third grade; 26 in fourth grade; and 20 in fifth grade. Our Pre-K SWD Program consists of students with varying exceptionalities. The percentage of SWD students per grade level is as follows: Kindergarten 7.3%, 3.6% in first grade, 8.8% in second grade, 14.6% in third grade, 17.1% in fourth grade, and 6.5% in fifth grade. Royal Palm has 39 full-time teachers of which 2 are male and 37 are female. The academic staff consists of 25 general education teachers, 3 SWD teachers, 1 ELL teacher, 3 Spanish Language teachers, 1 Art teacher, 1 Music teacher, 1 Physical Education teacher, 1 Speech Pathologist, 1 teacher of the Gifted, 1 Media Specialist, 1 Guidance Counselor and 2 administrators. Seventeen percent of the teachers are White, 15% are Black, and 68% are Hispanic. 41.3 percent of the teachers at Royal Palm hold advanced degrees with 40% holding a Master's Degree and 10% holding Ph.D./Specialist degrees. Two teachers are certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Although currently has no teacher vacancies, Royal Palm is committed to the selection and development of highly qualified teachers. Our recruitment efforts include on-going outreach to local state colleges and universities as well as out of state schools. The school provides placement of student teaching interns as a participatory effort in the student teaching programs with local colleges and universities. We attend teacher fairs, and positively screen potential applicants. Our efforts to retain new teachers include providing support, mentorship, and collaborative learning opportunities to promote professional development. Page 2
School's Purpose Provide the school's purpose statement and ancillary content such as mission, vision, values, and/or beliefs. Describe how the school embodies its purpose through its program offerings and expectations for students. The mission of School teachers and staff is to provide students with the necessary skills to succeed in all academic areas. This will be done by utilizing current technology to support instruction across the curriculum in a comprehensive effort to enhance students' critical thinking skills, which are essential in a rapidly changing society. The vision of School teachers, staff, and community is to equip our students with the skills to function successfully in a technology driven information age. Our goal is to provide the foundation that will enable them to succeed in school, to advance in their chosen careers, and to become informed citizens capable of making the critical decisions necessary in a democratic society. At Royal Palm, we believe that our mission and vision can be accomplished by: Fostering character by creating a positive moral culture in the school and foster caring beyond the classroom. Fostering respect by demonstrating respect for ourselves and others. We encourage and assist children to speak up against exclusion, to respond to someone in need, to acknowledge the efforts of a classmate, to be open to ideas and approaches not rooted in his own culture or experience and to value all members of the community as learners and teachers, followers and leaders. Fostering enthusiasm by being committed to maintaining a positive attitude which enhances self-esteem for students, staff, and families. We utilize a pro -active approach which empowers the school community to achieve mutual goals. Fostering achievement by empowering each student to reach their full potential and to succeed. Through teamwork, we are committed to a shared goal, listen and respond to others in an objective and productive way, take on different roles in the group in order to accomplish shared ends and are open and honest with one's ideas, concerns, and values. Fostering excellence by setting high expectations and strive for excellence in individual and organizational accomplishments. Page 3
Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement Describe the school's notable achievements and areas of improvement in the last three years. Additionally, describe areas for improvement that the school is striving to achieve in the next three years. Over the last three years, Royal Palm has made many notable achievements. A sample of these achievements include receiving the Exceeding Expectations Award for the 2012-2013 school year; achieving a School Grade of "A" as rated by the Florida Department of Education for the last 12 years; being the highest scoring school in Writing in the region, district and State of Florida for the 2011-2012 school year; winner of the Cervantes Award by the Bilingual Department; and the Bronze and Silver Awards from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. In addition to the numerous achievements Royal Palm has accomplished, the school has also secured funding of several grants. These grants include a $25,000 Target Grant, grants to supply E-Readers to selected students, the Fairchild Tropical Gardens Grant and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation Grant. Most recently, the National Title I Association, through a joint project with the U.S. Department of Education, recognized Royal Palm Elementary School as a distinguished Title 1 school. This honor is given to those schools who have shown exceptional results in sustaining student achievement for two or more consecutive years and/or made significant progress towards closing the achievement gap. Royal Palm was one of eight Florida schools to have been named Florida Title I Distinguished Schools. Page 4
Additional Information Provide any additional information you would like to share with the public and community that were not prompted in the previous sections. has an extensive and long history of educational achievements. To ensure continued success in education, Royal Palm has implemented an intervention plan that addresses students' needs. This plan includes the utilization of new materials that are aligned with the new McGraw-Hill Reading Wonders reading program and Common Core State Standards. In addition, Royal Palm has a stellar reputation within the local community for not only our educational achievements but our commitment to providing each student the tools to be successful in all areas of life. To this end, Royal Palm offers several community classes after school hours such as ballet, judo and soccer. Two classes in particular are sponsored by Common Threads, which has been teaching children living in underserved communities how to cook wholesome, healthy meals in professional led, curriculum-based after-school programs for over 10 years. Students learn about grains, protein, fruits, and vegetables as they chop, slice, and bake their way to a healthy affordable meal. Students gain serious culinary skills, a taste for healthy food from different countries, and the confidence to make healthy choices about what they eat. Royal Palm, in partnership with Common Threads, offers two after school cooking classes. The first class is called Small Bites, which teaches students how to make healthy snacks. The purpose of this program is to educate students on nutrition and cooking through a series interactive lessons. The lessons, which support Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in Math and English, are also incorporated into the regular school day and give teachers a fresh way to support the CCSS while providing students with the tools they need to live longer, healthier lives. The second class is called Cooking Skills and World Cuisine, which teaching students how to make healthy meals. Selected students learn from a trained chef instructor and a team of volunteers to expand their world, skills, and experiences. Each lesson consists of a movement component, a nutritional lesson, and a cultural lesson specific to a different country. The students then cook 3 to 5 healthy, affordable recipes and share a meal together with the teachers and volunteers. Classes are offered in 10-week sessions throughout the school-year. also is involved in the Education Fund's Plant-a-thousand-gardens. The program uses edible gardens as outdoor learning laboratories to instill in children the desire to eat vegetables, the knowledge to reduce intake of unhealthy foods and the love of learning in all subjects. Based around the hands-on planting and harvesting of edible vegetable and herb gardens, students become enthusiastic participants in an interdisciplinary experience that combines the teaching of nutrition with learning in science, math, social studies, art, reading, language arts and writing. School is much more than just a school. We are a community of stakeholders who operate in the spirit of excellence in order to achieve success for everyone. Page 5