Superintendent's Blog

Quantum Learning - Accelerating Learning & Maximizing Student Retention

2012-01-26T13:23:00.000-08:00


John Le Tellier providing instruction.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY: On Friday, January 13, the Mission teachers and staff had the opportunity to welcome John Le Tellier from Quantum Learning. I have worked with John a number of times with different faculties. His high energy workshop provides the best professional development I have ever experienced. Every time he presents, I learn something new.

Quantum Learning helps better equip our teachers with new effective teaching techniques, skills and rational to improve instruction in every classroom. It utilizes best practice and brain-based strategies that can easily be implemented into the classroom.

Quantum Learning suggests "That when we apply the WHY to artfully ORCHESTRATE LEARNING and LIFE skills, and effective TEACHING STRATEGIES, there is a SHIFT in teachers that creates a SHIFT in student learning.

Shift and change probably best describe education in this day and age as formal education systems attempt to prepare students for jobs that won't even exist for another five years. To make this type of shift or any change, Quantum Learning suggest we do the following:

"Use your brain to change your mind, to change your brain to change your life."

Those that attended the workshop understand this quote and how the plasticity of the brain effects the mindful choices we make that effect our lives. The idea is that we can change ourselves: how we think, choose and act. In addition, we can help others make the needed shifts and changes in their lives to be more successful.

This session only marked the first of five levels presented by in the Quantum Learning system. Level One is the basic educational methodology that increases teacher effectiveness and improves student performance. We explored how to orchestrate appropriate student risk-taking, encouraged high levels of effort and accountability, and modeled a strong classroom culture that builds student character and facilitates behavior management. All of this in order to accelerate learning and help students maximize retention.

The teachers are acting as NEURONS! Getting reading to fire and make connections with other NEURONS!

Teachers learning how to juggle using a chunking "teacher move."

NEURONS connecting to reinforce long term data relationships.

Learning can be fun with the right partner/samurai!

Samurai partner!

NO SCHOOL FRIDAY - Winter Weather Conditions

2012-01-19T18:29:00.000-08:00

NO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY: Due to unchanged road conditions for much of rural St. Ignatius as well as continued winter storm forecast, the St. Ignatius transportation, maintenance and administrative team met and have cancelled school for FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2012. Many county roads are yet to be cleared. Unnecessary travel only puts students, parents and staff at risk.

I hope everyone is able to dig out and stay safe. Weather permitting, school will resume on Monday, January 23, 2012.

Extra-curricular Activities & Weather Conditions

2012-01-19T08:07:00.000-08:00

Extra-curricular activities (games) scheduled for tonight (January 19, 2012) are pending! The status of county and state road access and conditions, wind and weather forecast will be considered before a final decision is made. Like school, the district does not like to cancel events, but wants to ensure the safety of our children. Because a decision involves other institutions, the district will be in contact with the other schools involved and a joint decision will be made no later than 1:00 PM today. Confirmation or cancellation will be posted and announced at that time on the district website (http://stignatiusschools.org/) and Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/stignatiusschools). Coaches and sponsors will also be in contact with their players and participants.

Thank you for your support and understanding as we continue to monitor the ever changing winter conditions and forecasts. Activity Director, Alan Pule will be able to address any additional questions that you may have. You may contact him at apule@stignatiusschools.org.

Stay warm, safe and have a great day!

NO SCHOOL

2012-01-19T04:46:00.000-08:00

Due to weather and road conditions, school has been cancelled today (Thursday, January 19, 2012).

Quantum Learning Comes To Mission

2012-01-09T11:31:00.000-08:00

There will be NO SCHOOL on Friday, January, 13^th as our district will host a professional development opportunity for our teachers called Quantum Learning. Quantum Learning for Teachers is a professional development program for educators that provides a proven research-based approach to curriculum design and delivery. Each level is a one-day, six-hour workshop, which sets the stage for the next level and emphasizes fundamental competencies. Our teachers will be presented level 1 of 5. The presenter will be John LeTellier.

John Le Tellier is an international trainer and educational consultant helping teachers and school administrators understand the process of learning and the recipe for improved performance in the classroom and school organization. He has helped thousands of educators understand the fascinating connections between learning and the brain, giving them insights into specific strategies that can be used to enhance and accelerate the encoding of long-term memory. John has trained educators in over 250 schools in the United States and at numerous international locations with Quantum Learning Education. He is a frequent presenter at national and state educational conferences speaking on educational methodology and leadership.

John was the founder and former director of Colorado NeuroLearning Center in Denver, Colorado, where he worked with students who had sustained brain injuries. Through this work he made discoveries that enhanced his extensive knowledge in motivational psychology and neuroscience. John is also a former principal, teacher, and has spent hundreds of hours in private practice as a counselor working with students and their parents to enhance academic performance. John is the author of Quantum Learning and Instructional Leadership in Practice recently published by Corwin Press.

Quantum Learning is research based in its applications to learning.

An extensive amount of research has been conducted over the years by a number of sources that validates the success of the Quantum Learning methodology. You can link to a number of document downloads that encompass Quantum Learning research findings, the impact of achievement in multiple settings, teacher workshop evaluations, as well as research documentation from a number of schools.

Also available are results from an evaluation survey that has been completed by over 10,000 teachers trained in Quantum Learning methods who have evaluated the program.

Educators receive theory and strategies for:

• building a strong foundation of common understanding of classroom norms and procedures
• creating a positive atmosphere of rapport and respect
• constructing a supportive environment that reinforces learning
• facilitating effective classroom management based on motivation
• designing engaging lessons that make content more meaningful and support standards-based curriculum
• identifying and reaching all types of learners
• improving presentation skills

WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT QUANTUM LEARNING:

The Quantum Learning model demonstrated a consistent pattern of positive impact on student achievement in 18 schools in four states. This impact included statistically and educationally significant gains in reading, mathematics, writing and more comprehensive measures of core academic achievement. Students who have participated in schools implementing QL, have also shown a pattern of greater gains in achievement than comparison sample students not participating in the QL model.
External Evaluator for Program Improvement Schools
William Benn and Associates, 2003

With Quantum Learning, 17% of LD ISAT intensive math students met or exceeded the standards, compared to 0% in traditional classrooms.
Masters Study
Aurora University, IL

The students identified as performing below grade level, without Quantum Learning, would have been placed in remedial Math. After attending a 22-day Quantum Learning Program, 67% passed Algebra, while only 62% of regular students passed.
Masters Study
Thornton Township School District, IL

After Quantum Learning, two out of three students increased their grades.
Masters Study
Brock University, Canada

97% of students felt that they learned better in classes taught with Quantum Learning methods.
Paper presented at Eastern Educational Research Assoc. Conference
Tampa, FL

After attending Quantum Learning Programs, there was an average 85.8 point gain on SAT scores. 98% of students with a 1.9 and lower GPA, improved their GPAs by an average of one letter grade. Overall students across the A-F range, increased their GPA by half a point.
Doctoral Study
Northern Arizona University, AZ

After Quantum Learning training, learning-challenged 8th graders earned their best GPAs average ever (only one D and no Fs).
Case Studies
Northwood Middle School, IL

After Quantum Learning, 98% of at-risk children have been successful in achieving average or above-average success in literacy acquisition skills and are no longer in need of special education.
Action Research
Waterloo Region School District, Canada

After attending Quantum Learning, 63% of low-performing students earned a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
Case Studies, 1993
Grossmont Union School District, CA

Students develop both emotional and physical trust. Students begin to understand themselves, becoming aware of personal attributes, feelings and thoughts.
Doctoral Study
California School of Professional Psychology, Fresno

After Quantum Learning, students' test-taking skills increased 35%. Teachers' perceptions of student self-confidence were six times higher than before the program. Students reported an average of a 33% increase in their own self-confidence.
Teacher and Student Surveys
Encinitas Union School District, CA

Season's Greetings

2011-12-22T09:03:00.000-08:00

Come And Get It! Breakfast Is Served!

2011-12-02T12:56:00.000-08:00

This coming Monday, December 5, 2011 the district is serving a free breakfast for all our students' parents/guardians starting at 7:30 AM until 9:00 AM (we will stop serving at 8:30 AM to prepare for student lunches).

We hope this will offer our community an opportunity to find out more about Mission Schools.

This is our Third Mission Possible Parent Breakfast. Last month we had a fantastic turn out. It is a great way to mobilize our community! We hope we will be able to address any questions you may have and provide information on how parents and community members can get involved.

This month we will provide information concerning several initiatives and learning opportunities for you and your children.

Helping Students Develop A Love For Reading!

2011-11-29T15:02:00.000-08:00

Once the students meet their goal by the deadline, a group of school officials, Mr. Krantz, Mr. Durglo and Mr. Phillips (pictured on right) will be sent to the Reading Teepee immediately after the varsity basketball game versus Charlo on January 20, 2011. If the numbers of books are doubled, a second group will be selected, Mrs. Stobie, Mrs. Plant and Mrs. Weaselhead (pictured left) to spend the evening in one of the teepees. If, by some miracle, the students triple the goal, Superintendent Lewandowski (center) will join the others for a winter’s night in the Teepee.

RATIONALE

Reading is fundamental in all aspects of our children’s education. Learning how to comprehend, read fluently and apply what has been read is critical to educational success. In order to become a great reader takes practice. With this in mind, the school has developed a few independent reading goals to help accommodate our children’s love for reading. The more we can get children to read, the better readers they will become that is why we have the Reading Teepees.

As you have probably seen, there are two teepees between the elementary school and the library. The Native American Studies classes put up the teepees and provided instruction related to culture and heritage to elementary through high school students. It is their intention to develop an encampment for students to observe. In addition to student exposure of the teepees in their NAS courses, the elementary will put the teepees to further use and expose school officials to a winter night’s stay in the teepee.

For some reason, students love reversing the roles between educator and student. It is surprising how hard they will work to be able to tell their teacher or administrator what they need to do instead of the other way around. At any rate, it is all done in fun, and that is what makes the difference. I know I am not looking forward to spending cold winter’s night out in the elements in a teepee. You can bet, if I do, it will be for good reason, and I can’t think of a better reason than independent student reading. If our students reach their reading goal – it will be an evening that won’t soon be forgotten.

RULES

Two (2) books by January 6, 2012 (following Christmas Break) with a minimum number of pages (see page minimums below). The books need to be read at an independent level (in class or at home).

10 pages for kindergartners
20 pages for first graders
30 pages for second graders
40 pages for third graders
50 pages for fourth graders
60 pages for fifth graders

Classroom teachers will collect the proper student verification and turn it into the office. Verifications will be totaled and updated for students to see on a bulletin board. (The verifications will also be given to the identified educator to read while spending the evening in the teepee). Students must verify their reading by providing the following:

Kindergartners: draw a picture of what they read or a paper with three new words they learned.
First Grade: write a sentence about what they read
Second Grade: write two sentences about what they read
Third Grade: write a paragraph (at least three sentences) about what they read
Fourth Grade: write two paragraphs (at least three sentences each) about what they read
Fifth Grade: write three paragraphs (at least three sentences each) about they read (Introduction, body and conclusion paragraphs).

NOTE: The following heading must accompany each verification:

Student Name
Student Grade
Title of Book.

Weekly updates will be provided to the school on the bulletin board hanging across from the elementary computer lab in the multi-purpose facility.

PARENTAL ASSISTANCE

Parents are encouraged to help their children read at the independent level and work with their child to complete their verification material.

Parent Assistance Tips:

Provide a quite environment for reading: (Just setting a specific time aside for reading will help your child focus and begin reading as a habit).
Reduce surrounding distractions: (Turn off the television, radio or electronic equipment that might distract your child).
Read aloud to your child; (Read a sentence/paragraph or two to get your child started. Encourage them to read aloud back to you. This help reading fluency).
Model reading: (While your child reads, pick up the newspaper, a magazine or book and join them. Your example is most powerful).
Ask your child to explain what they have read: (Don't be afraid to ask you child about the story they are reading. This helps their comprehension and gives them positive feedback in showing that you care).
Make reading fun: (What ever you do, have fun! This starts with a book that is written at your child's independent reading level. The books they are reading independently should not be difficult. Independent reading is practice. If your child struggles with the reading material, talk to his/her teacher about your child's reading selection. A difficult reading selection often times discourages young readers).

The READING CHALLENGE has been made; if the students reach their goals the selected school officials must spend the winter’s night in the teepee the evening of January 20, 2012 following the varsity game (Brrrrrr…). This initiative is all about fun and developing a love for reading!

Ladies and gentlemen, start your reading!!!

Anti-Drug Message Is Loud and Clear

2011-11-21T09:24:00.000-08:00

Educating students about the dangers of drug, tobacco and alcohol use are part of the Red Ribbon Week campaign. Students at all levels are encourage to take part in developing anti-drug messages. You can see these messages in the hallways in the middle and high school. The elementary developed banners that were hung around the playground.

School counselor Susan Weaselhead developed the elementary banner concepts and had them painted by individual elementary classes. While each student in the elementary contributed to the painting of a letter or figure, Weaselhead talked to them about the dangers of drugs (see photo below). Providing students with information for making healthy life choices is most effective if it is done at younger ages. Red Ribbon Week provides our school the opportunity to celebrate healthy choices with students.

Special thanks goes out to our counseling staff: Susan Weaselhead and Leah Dahlin for their contributions in celebrating Red Ribbon Week. The message to our students was loud and clear. Well done!

Susan Weaselhead talks to a student about healthy choices.

K-12 Top Dawg Assembly - Come Join Our Celebration

2011-11-10T13:49:00.000-08:00

Please join us for the K-12 Top Dawg Assembly on Friday, November 11 at 9:00 AM in the high school gymnasium. Please review the program below for more information on the content of the assembly:

Top Dawg Program

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag (Presentation of Colors by Boy Scouts)

Veterans’ Day Video Presentation (Freedom Isn’t Free)

Mont CAS Top Dawgs (Spring 2011)

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE: Students that scored advanced in MATH, READING and SCIENCE.

ACADEMIC LEADERS: Students that scored proficient in MATH, READING and SCIENCE.

MAP Top Dawgs: (Fall 2010 – Spring 2011)

NATIONAL PERCENTILE LEADERS: Students who scored in the 75% and up in MATH, READING, and/or LANGUAGE ARTS. (Students scores only need to be in any one of the identified contents to be recognized. If they score 75% in all three they will receive multiple recognitions).

ACADEMIC GROWTH CHAMPIONS: Exceptional student growth. Students that indicated 125% growth in MATH, READING and/or LANGUAGE ARTS.

ACADEMIC GROWTH LEADERS: Top ten percent of identified students in Elementary, Middle School, High School that indicated the most growth in MATH, READING and/or LANGUAGE ARTS. Students must be identified in the area for recognition.

SuccessMaker Top Dawgs (Elementary)

Individual READING Growth

Class READING Growth

Individual READING Time and Effort

Class READING Time and Effort

Individual READING Skill Masters

Individual MATH Growth

Class MATH Growth

Individual MATH Time and Effort

Class MATH Time and Effort

Individual MATH Skill Masters

Academic Top Dawgs (Middle School & High School)
Honor Roll

Middle School

3.0 – 3.49

3.5 – 4.0

Golden Eagle Awards

High School

3.0 – 3.49

3.5 – 4.0

All-around Top Dawg Selection

Attendance Top Dawgs

Consecutive Days Attendance
10 Days

20 Days

30 Days

Perfect Attendance (1^st Quarter)

Teaching & Learning Top Dawgs

Outstanding Teacher Learners

Attendance Leaders

Reading Teepee

2011-11-09T10:47:00.000-08:00

As you have probably noticed, there are two teepees between the elementary and the library. The teepees belong to the school district and are maintained by Mrs. Susan Weaselhead. We will be utilizing the teepees to initiate a reading incentive for our students as well as teach cultural and heritage attributes. It is the Native American Study team’s intention to develop an encampment for display through December. We will also be utilizing the teepees for reading opportunities (both individual and guided). Classes may choose to spend time reading in the teepees as an environmental incentive. In addition, the elementary classes will be setting goals for reading. If goals are met, the students will select an administrator or teacher to spend a winter’s night in the encampment. If the students exceed their goals, they can select addition administrators or teachers to spend the evening in the encampment. For some reason, students finding it empowering when they can tell their teachers and administrators what to do; after all, it is usually the other way around. In this case, all it takes is WORK and a school full of motivated readers! I know our students are motivated, so I will be looking to barrow the warmest sleeping bag available along with a flashlight and a good book.

The "chief" pole.

Finishing touches.

Room with a view.

Great neighborhood! (Inside looking out).

Breakfast Is Served AGAIN!

2011-11-01T14:27:00.000-07:00

This coming Monday, November 7, 2011 the district is serving a free breakfast for all our students' parents/guardians starting at 7:30 AM until 9:00 AM (we will stop serving at 8:30 AM to prepare for student lunches).

We hope this will offer our community an opportunity to find out more about Mission Schools.

This is our Second Mission Possible Parent Breakfast. Last month we had a fantastic turn out. It is a great way to mobilize our community! We hope we will be able to address any questions you may have and provide information on how parents and community members can get involved.

We will have representatives from the Indian Education Committee (IEC), Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and the Booster Club. They will provided information on how to get involved with their organization as well as provide information on current issues and happenings.

See you Monday Morning over a hot cup of coffee

To Be The Top Dawg: Attendance Required!

2011-11-01T12:34:00.000-07:00

As mentioned in other posts: attendance is a critical component for student success. For teaching and learning to be effective, students must attend school on a consistent basis. Coming to school is so important that St. Ignatius will be implementing several school policies and initiatives to improve student attendance. If our school is to improve student learning and meet state and national benchmarks it is imperative that we understand that every student counts. Therefore our community must do what is necessary to make sure that every student, every day comes to school all day long.

The District recently implemented an automatic phone notification for absent students as well as the “Good Morning” reminder for students that have reached critical levels of absence. In addition, we will be introducing the “Top Dawg Attendance” initiative.

The “Top Dawg Attendance” initiative will recognize students that have demonstrated consistent attendance goals. In order for students to be the “Top Dawg” in school and in life, they must show up. This initiative focuses on one the foundations of success: active participation. Students must be “consistently” present to be a “Top Dawg” in our school or any other. The initiative is set up to reward success at bench-marked levels so every student can be working toward a new attendance goal.

The initiative and its rewards are based on consistent days of attendance. For all students that have attended school for ten (10) days in a row, students will receive a “Top Dawg” silicone bracelet that says: “MISSION BULLDOGS – HCA BABY!” At twenty (20) days in a row, each student will receive a “Top Dawg” dog tag on a ball-linked chain with a blue camouflaged rubber silencer. At thirty (30) days in a row each student receives an additional “Top Dawg” dog tag with a red camouflaged rubber silencer.

After thirty days, achieving the following attendance benchmarks make student eligible for drawing the following: forty-five (45) days in a row, students are eligible for one of thirty (30) pizzas of choice at “Cornerstone;” at sixty (60) days in a row students are eligible for one of fifteen (15) twenty-five dollar gift certificates; at ninety (90) days in a row student are eligible for one of nine (9) bicycles; at one-hundred twenty (120) days in a row students are eligible for one of two (2) Kindle/Nook; at the end of the year, all students with perfect attendance (no absences of any kind) will receive a certificate and medal of achievement and are eligible for a fifty dollar gift certificate (one gift certificate for each elementary, middle and high school). Awards and drawings will take place at the end of each quarter at the K-12 Top Dawg Assemblies to be held in the gymnasium.

This initiative and others are intended to help students succeed. We hope that you will support these initiatives and help get every student, every day to school all day long.

Thank you for your effort and contributions,

See you at the Mission Possible Parent Breakfast on November 7, 2011 in the Multi-Purpose Room starting at 7:30 AM and ending at 9:00 AM.

MISSION POSSIBLE INITIATIVES

2011-11-01T12:24:00.000-07:00

Our academic goals here at Mission are to improve all student scores in MATH and READING. In order to do this, the District will be supporting a number of initiatives throughout the year. Our initiatives will focus on improving attendance; academic rigor; and safety, support and belonging. All of these things effect student learning in MATH and READING.

You will see and hear slogans like: Learning Takes Work!; HCA Baby!; Top Dawg!; You Must Be Present To Win!; and a variety of other sayings and initiatives that promote our mission for students to succeed here at St. Ignatius. The District and its schools will be working with community support groups like the Indian Education Committee (IEC), Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and the Booster Club to provide the best opportunities for our children to succeed. We invite you to join us and any of the above organizations to make our great school even better. Mission possible is all about bringing our school and community together in order to best serve our youth: Together we can be the difference! Please join us at our Mission Possible Parent Breakfast on November 7, 2011 from 7:30 AM until 9:00 AM to find out more about Mission Possible and your child’s education.

Attendance Makes The Difference!

2011-10-18T08:59:00.000-07:00

One of our largest barriers to student success in Mission is attendance. In order to provide students the educational development needed to grow and succeed, they need to come to school every day. In order to overcome the attendance barrier, the district will be implementing a number of initiatives to improve student attendance.

We know how difficult it can be for parents and grandparents to get children to school. The school wants to do everything possible to help. Starting Monday, October 31, 2011 students that have seven (7) or more unexcused absences will receive a complementary phone call at 7:00 AM from our automated phone system. The call will include a morning attendance greeting and the time school starts. If a child has ten (10) or more unexcused absences you will receive two (2) complementary phone calls: one at 7:00 AM and another at 7:30 AM. If anyone would like a complementary morning greeting, regardless to your child’s attendance, please contact the school office and we will be glad to set that up for you.

On days when students are absent, parents will receive an automated phone call at 8:45 AM indicating their child’s absence. We will be doing this to provide timely parent notification that their child has not arrived at school. This call not only addresses attendance issues, but helps provide parental assurance that their child has arrived safely at school. We will continue to provide follow up calls by the secretarial staff for additional assurances.

The automated phone calling system is just one way to help overcome the attendance barrier. Please let us know if you have any ideas or suggestions to help improve student attendance. If you receive a morning attendance greeting and would like it removed, please don’t hesitate to call your building principal to discuss alternative methods to improve your child’s attendance.

Together we can make our great school even better by providing every student the opportunity needed to succeed.

Reflection: Homecoming Day 5 - Grand Assembly & Parade

2011-10-12T15:03:00.000-07:00