2014-2015 School Calendar Survey

The St. Ignatius School District #28 Calendar Committee would like to invite all of its stakeholders/constituents to to provide feedback on four different calendars for the 2014-2015 school year. 

NOTE: We are utilizing several collectors to categorize responses: Social Media (Facebook); Website (stignatiusschools.org); and Email. The most reliable is Email, followed by Website (one response per IP address) and then the Social Media (open forum response). If you would like to participate in other forums, to maximize your voice, please email the district at info@stignatiusschools.org. 

THIS SURVEY WILL CLOSE AT MIDNIGHT APRIL 10, 2014.

To take the Survey click on the collector below.

WEBSITE Collector 2014-2015 CALENDAR SURVEY 

BUILDING FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING

 by Superintendent Robert "Bob" Lewandowski 

At the January 31, 2014 *PIR Day, Ken Williams from Solution Tree brought in a moral imperative and echoed the district's need to adopt, implement, and practice the Five Essential Elements of Learning (FEEL). FEEL, as we call it,  is the framework he presented for assuring student success. His presentation stems from professional development that the administrative team received in Seattle, WA last August 2013. It also aligns with Learning by Doing (a handbook for professional learning communities at work) by DuFour, DuFour, Eaker and Many that was purchased and distributed to each faculty member at the first faculty inservice in August. Ken provided an essential follow up to the professional development and direction set by the district at the beginning of the school year.

Ken William (MISSION POSSIBLE)

THE FIVE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS of LEARNING
1. Focus on Learning
2. Collaborative Culture
3. Clearly Define What Every Student Needs To Learn
4. Constantly Measure Our Effectiveness
5. Systematically Respond When Students Don't/Do Learn

These FIVE essential elements of learning will become a staple in our educational delivery here at Mission. It is the administrative team's goal to make these five elements a common understanding with all stakeholders (teachers, parents, students, staff and community). We will learn them, we will develop them and we will practice them.

At the PIR, our staff focused on our current reality (where we are now) and began to identify their desired reality (where we want to be) in relationship to the FIVE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF LEARNING.

For example, our staff examined five different types of schools:

• "A" School - Where learning is based upon student ability.
• "B" School - Where learning takes place only if the student takes advantage of the opportunities to learn within the school.
• "C" School - Where all students can learn something, and we will create a warm pleasant environment to learn.
• "D" School - Where all students can learn and we will do whatever it takes to help students learn and achieve the agreed upon curriculum/standards.

After examining these 4 types of schools, each staff member was asked to anonymously identify schools in the following scenarios:

1. Most of the instructional staff said they attended schools like "A" and "B."

2. The staff identified our current reality (the school we have now) as a school that is most like "B", "C", and "D" (There was an equal distribution of votes between these three schools).

3. The staff said the they most wanted to work in a "D" type of school (where we want to be).

4. Most importantly, our staff said that they would most want their own children to attend a "D" type of school (where we should be).

This staff development opportunity confirmed district direction and provided additional stability in our foundations of learning.   

NOTES: *A pupil instruction-related day (PIR) is a day of teacher activities devoted to improving the quality of instruction. Districts may receive funding for up to a total of 7 PIR days or a maximum of 42 hours. A minimum of 3 days of professional development (6 hours of contact time per day in no less than 2-hour increments for a total of 18 hours)must be scheduled for all professional staff. PIR time must NOT include any time also counted as pupil instruction time. Professional development is defined in the Mo ntana School Accreditation Standards (ARM 10.55.714 and ARM10.65.101).

Quality School Grant Underway

 by Superintendent Robert "Bob" Lewandowski 

 On April 26, 2013 Governor Bullock signed house bill HB 15 into law. HB 15 appropriated the funds for the Quality School Grant Program for the 2015 biennium for public infrastructure projects.

Our district was awarded a portion of this competitive grant for $534,590.00. We were able to win this grant by first being awarded the Planning Grant for $25,000.00 through the Montana Department of Commerce in 2012. Planning Grant allowes our district to obtain the needed facility assessments and scores to competitively apply for the Quality Schools Grant.

This has been a long process, but is much needed by our district. I am extremely happy that we were able to win and secure this grant for our students and community. A half-a-million dollars is a lot of money. The Quality Schools Grant will allow our district to address the envelop needs of the middle and high schools. The much needed funding will fix roof problems, window and many of the exterior needs of our school.

The pictured rendering shows the planned construction that will begin early this spring and is set to be completed before the 2014-2015 school year.

Board Agendas Now Available on Line

 by Superintendent Robert "Bob" Lewandowski 

 Even though the School District has been paperless for the past three years, it is leveraging the power of the Internet to radically improve the governance process while saving time, taxpayer dollars and the environment. This new eGovernance initiative is a remarkably powerful, easy-to-use solution that enables the District to maximize the effectiveness of board meetings with increased transparency, providing a basis for better and more open communication with the public, while dramatically increasing productivity and saving thousands of dollars annually.

The paperless meeting solution is a 100% Web-based service. By making meeting agendas and supporting documents available on the Internet, St. Ignatius Schools will be able distribute documents associated with board meetings more quickly and efficiently, at a dramatically reduced cost to the organization.

Electronic distribution will not only save time and resources, but it will also provide unprecedented public access via the St. Ignatius School’s Web site to agenda items and other governing body-related information. This process will allow interested parties to review information prior to board meetings. All documents associated with the meeting are automatically archived and can be accessed by meeting date or by using the system’s comprehensive search feature.

The new eGovernance features can be accessed via the District’s Web site at http://web.stignatiusschools.org/ under the “School Board” tab, or for direct access to the District’s Board Agendas go to: http://www.boarddocs.com/mt/sisd28/Board.nsf/vpublic?open.

We hope you find this new tool useful and informative.

MAKING THE DIFFERENCE

 by Superintendent Robert "Bob" Lewandowski 

 It was a privilege to honor District Clerk, Neil Easter at the Homecoming Assembly last Friday afternoon. He is definitely a "rock." The entire school district, K-12, gave Neil a standing ovation for his loyal dedication and unwavering commitment to Saint Ignatius Public Schools!

We thanked Mr. Easter for his outstanding contributions toward our school over the past 29 years and for making it stand above the rest.  

Once again, thank you NEIL EASTER, for MAKING THE DIFFERENCE!

LEVERAGING THE POWER OF THE INTERNET

 by Superintendent Robert "Bob" Lewandowski 

 The School District is leveraging the power of the Internet to radically improve the governance process while saving time, taxpayer dollars and the environment. This new eGovernance initiative is a remarkably powerful, easy-to-use solution that enables the District to maximize the effectiveness of board meetings with increased transparency, providing a basis for better and more open communication with the public, while dramatically increasing productivity and saving thousands of dollars annually.

The paperless meeting solution is a 100% Web-based service. By making meeting agendas and supporting documents available on the Internet, St. Ignatius Schools will be able distribute documents associated with board meetings more quickly and efficiently, at a dramatically reduced cost to the organization.

Electronic distribution will not only save time and resources, but it will also provide unprecedented public access via the St. Ignatius School’s Web site to agenda items and other governing body-related information. This process will allow interested parties to review information prior to board meetings. All documents associated with the meeting are automatically archived and can be accessed by meeting date or by using the system’s comprehensive search feature.

The new eGovernance features can be accessed via the District’s Web site at http://web.stignatiusschools.org/ under the “School Board” tab, or for direct access to the District’s Board Agendas go to: http://www.boarddocs.com/mt/sisd28/Board.nsf/vpublic?open.

We hope you find this new tool useful and informative.

Community Library Hours

In order to secure our facilities for our student and staff safety, the School Board took formal action at the January 15 meeting last night and temporarily changed the Community Library hours. The District Library will be open to the community Monday through Thursday from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM. The School Board will gather more information for consideration and readdress this issue at the next meeting on February 19, 2013 at 7:00 PM. Public entry will be directed into the Library through the west entry.

Once again, these changes will come at some inconvenience, but are necessary. We want to do everything possible to prevent and prepare for possible emergencies in our community. Restricting unmonitored access to students and staff is the first step.

Thank you for your understanding and patience in these matters,

Bob

 NEW

COMMUNITY LIBRARY HOURS

MONDAY - THURSDAY

4:00 PM -7:00 PM

PLEASE USE WEST ENTRY INTO LIBRARY

MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL HIRED

by Superintendent Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

Due to the number of struggling, at-risk students and the data received through the 2012 Prevention Needs Assessment survey along with the 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey the School Board approved hiring a Middle School Principal in the regular 2012 December Board Meeting. The rational is to provide students and teachers with the administrative proximity to follow up with issues of attendance, achievement, behavior and social/emotional attributes that are affecting student outcomes at both middle and high schools.

In a Special Session on December 28, 2012 the Board selected Dan Durglo as the Middle School Principal. The position officially began on Wednesday, January 2, 2013. Mr. Durglo will begin to assimilate duties on Monday, January 13 beginning with the Community Breakfast; however, Mr. Durglo will be acting as both teacher and administrator in order to take the time needed to make an appropriate transition for students and staff alike. It is District's goal to have the transition completed by the end of the quarter/semester on January 18, 2013. This may be a lofty goal, but we will do everything possible to make Mr. Durglo assessable to the middles school students and staff as soon as possible.

Mr. Durglo and Mrs. Stobie will be communicating with elementary parents as well as working with the elementary staff in addressing the 3rd grade needs. Mrs. Stobie has assigned Mr. Tim Krantz (current fourth grade teacher) to Mr. Durglo's 3rd grade classroom. Up until this time, the fourth grade has utilized two teachers to deliver the fourth grade curriculum; however, this year's fourth grade is the smallest class in the district with only 23 students. Ms. Pam Rodeghiero will continue to teach the forth grade with the support of a para-educator while Mr. Krantz transitions to the 3rd grade.

The administration will be communicating with everyone as often as possible until this transition is complete. The District believes this is best for our students in supporting their needs to be successful. We want to appropriately support both the 3rd grade students and the middle school students, as well as the parents and staff in this transition.

Please welcome Mr. Durglo as the Middle School Principal.  I am sure he will be contacting parents to extend his services and support for education here at St. Ignatius.

Quantum Learning - Accelerating Learning & Maximizing Student Retention

John Le Tellier providing instruction.

by Superintendent Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

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!

Quantum Learning Comes To Mission

by Superintendent Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

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

To Be The Top Dawg: Attendance Required!

by Superintendent Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

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

by Superintendent Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

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.

Board Workshop: Direction Setting/Strategic Plan

by Superintendent Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

On Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at 7:00 PM in the District Board Room, the School Board invites the public to review and discuss the proposed Strategic Plan Draft for implementation. This plan represents our mega issues and proposed goals for the district over the next five years based on identified needs and ideology.  This is a DIRECTION SETTING instrument. Your input is very valuable. The Board has been working with the Montana School Boards Association (MTSBA) in developing this draft since the beginning of the year. At this time the Strategic Plan Draft represents board work that has been written and translated by the MTSBA from board workshops.

Please review the Strategic Plan Draft and join us on June 7, 2011 at 7:00 PM in the District Board Room.

Board Organization for 2011-2012

Elected members sworn in by County Superintendent.

The St. Ignatius School District #28 had its Board Organizational Meeting on May 10, 2011. New members were sworn in. Re-elected incumbents are Peter Matt, Gene Posivio. New to the board is Marilyn Murchie who replaced John Biggs. Re-elected and new members join Maxine Whitson and Mike Esslinger on the five member board. 

Officer appointments: Maxine Whitson was elected Board Chairman; Gene Posivio Vice Chairman; and Neil Easter was appointed as the District Clerk.

The following Board Committee were assigned:

Financial - All Board Members

Negotiations - Posivio and Whitson

Building - Matt and Esslinger 

Insurance - Posivio and Murchie

Board Federation - Matt and Whitson

Reduction In Force - Esslinger and Murchie

Professional Development - Esslinger and Matt

District Office Operations - Matt and Murchie

Transportation - Esslinger and Murchie

Extra-Curricular - Matt and Esslinger

Retirement Incentive - Posivio and Whitson

Interview - Whitson and Matt