Jefferson SDMC Sets School Based Team Goals

Jefferson Primary School’s Shared Decision Making Committee set four school based team goals for 2023/24. The goals focus on parent engagement, community outreach, social and emotional learning and cultural responsiveness.

Jefferson is led by Principal Valerie Capitulo-Saide and a team of professional faculty members and staff who are supported by enthusiastic parents.

Goal No. 1

Parent Engagement

“At Jefferson Primary School, we are committed to creating a welcoming environment for families, where we invite them to participate as partners in the education of their children,” states the adopted goals.

Action Plan

Parents/guardians will be surveyed to determine topics of interest to them for upcoming workshops. Some possible topics include internet safety, study skills and social and emotional learning.

Parents/guardians will be invited into classrooms during American Education Week (November 13-17)

Engagement nights for parents will include Math/STEM Night, Holiday Read Aloud and Reading Night.

Assessment

“Following each family engagement workshop, parent polling, via a school created survey, will show a minimum of 75 percent of families reporting a positive relationship between themselves and our school staff,” according to the adopted goals.

Goal No. 2

Community Outreach

Jefferson’s Shared Decision Making Committee “aims to actively engaged with our local community through a variety of initiatives and partnerships” by June 2024. “We strive to enhance our students’ leadership skills and foster a sense of responsibility and empathy by organizing at least two community service projects, collaborating with local organizations, and hosting community events that promote positive connections between our school and the community,” according to the goals statement. “Through these efforts, we seek to make a lasting, positive impact to both our students and the wider community.”

Action Plan

For a third grade leadership team; send out applications for the team; collect and review applications; send out acceptance letters; create a schedule of leadership team meetings; collaborate with local and community based organizations; facilitate a Thanksgiving food drive; facilitate a holiday donation drive.

Assessment

A list of implemented community service projects will be created.

Goal No. 3

Social Emotional Learning

“Jefferson Primary School is committed to fostering the social and emotional development of our students,” according to the adopted goals. “Over the course of the school year, our goal is to create a safe and inclusive environment where students can develop their emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and interpersonal skills. We aim to implement SEL activities that promote empathy, resilience, and conflict resolution.”

Action Plan

The Jefferson PTA plans to purchase kindness posters that will be displayed on all classroom doors. Teachers and staff will be provided stickers to award individual classes when they are observed displaying kind behaviors. “We will implement a Golden Spatula Award system in the cafeteria where lunch monitors will distribute a monthly award to a class that exhibited kind, safe, responsible, and respectful behaviors,” states the adopted goals. “Students will lead for announcements during assembly programs.”

Assessment

By the end of the year, the Jefferson Shared Decision Making Committee hopes to see an improvement in students’ social skills, self-regulation, and overall emotional well-being as measured through regular assessments and feedback from students, parents and teachers.

Goal No. 4

Cultural Responsiveness

“At Jefferson Primary School, we are dedicated to creating a culturally responsive learning environment that values and respects the diverse backgrounds of our students and their families,” according to adopted school based team goals. “Our goal is to ensure that every student feels seen, heard and valued in our school community. By the end of the year, we aim to foster an inclusive atmosphere that celebrates diversity, where students can engage in meaningful cross-cultural experiences and gain a deeper understanding of their own culture and those of others.

Action Plan

The PTA and school will update bulletin board and television displays. “We will create a visibly multilingual and multicultural environment through our student artwork displays, welcome signs and information,” states the adopted goals. “Spanish translation will be provided on a majority of signs. The school’s Action Team will create and implement the team’s goal. The school hallways and classrooms will showcase student work, pictures of the students and translated labels.”

Assessment

The Jefferson Shared Decision Making Committee will regularly assess its progress and seek feedback from students, families and staff to make continuous improvements.