El Portal Middle School’s Vision Statement is: Through our collective commitments, all students will acquire the academic skills, knowledge, and behaviors needed for future success. We must look at El Portal’s collective commitments to accomplish our vision.
Collaboration, Celebrations, Guaranteed curriculum, Formative assessments, Relationships, Positive learning culture, Responsibility, and Accountability are what we have put our hands together and pledged what is essential for student success.
Our staff and students have taken on this commitment in various ways.
It dawned on me that maybe those outside the teaching profession may not understand some of the word meanings used in EPMS’s Vision Statement.
Collaboration: The teaching staff, and administration, attended over the summer a Professional Learning Community (PLC) conference in Sacramento, learning about collaboration and the importance of a student-guaranteed curriculum. Teachers met on minimum days in collaborative teams to review student data. El Portal Concert Band and Choir is an excellent representation of a collaborative culture.
Celebration: EPMS students shared their talents with teachers and classmates during a recent school-wide talent show. Assistant Principal Jefferson flipped pancakes for the staff to celebrate a well-done job and gratitude for their hard work and efforts.
Guaranteed Curriculum: Teachers meet within their academic departments to discuss four main topics.
1. What do we want all students to know and be able to do?
2. How will we know if they learn it?
3. How will we respond when some students do not learn?
4. How will we extend the learning for students who are already proficient?
Formative assessment: Formative assessments are when teachers are in their classrooms. Examples include teacher observations of student learning, student-teacher conferencing, questions for understanding, thumbs up/thumbs down, exit and entrance tickets, students using whiteboards, etc.
Relationships: EPMS believes strong relationships with teachers and school staff will improve students’ level of motivation and promote learning. Students with access to stronger relationships are more academically engaged, have stronger social skills, and experience positive behavior.
Positive Learning Culture: A positive classroom culture is characterized by a non-threatening atmosphere where students feel that they can speak, offer ideas and take risks without fear of reprisal or mockery.
Responsibility: EPMS staff and students are responsible for the group’s actions. Taking responsibility for each other’s successes and failures.
Accountability: EPMS staff take responsibility for raising student achievement for all students and prompt and support improvement where necessary.
Principally Speaking is a monthly article, contributed by principals from Escalon Unified School District sites, throughout the school year. It is designed to update the community on school events and activities.
