current projects
In the quest for excellence in education by the Carol Morgan School Administration and Board of Directors I was given the task to further develop a well stablished and very reputable educational program. On my first ninety days as Principal I gathered as much information as possible about the current situation at school.
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Findings
· Outstanding, hardworking and very professional faculty and staff · Well managed and abundant resources & materials · Updated curriculum and effective review cycles · High quality of instructional delivery |
The need
· Continuation of high standards in academic excellence · Innovation (21st century classrooms, Technology & Communication) · A whole child (more balanced) approach to education · Shared Decision Making Process |
Schedule
Enjoying Break-Time
When talking to students one of the first things that called my attention was the distribution of the schedule. Students started their day at 7:30 and had no break until 12.30 (lunch time) They explained they were tired and hungry, that they needed to go to the bathroom or just take a break . We created a student committee to be able to express their opinion and in collaboration with faculty, parents and administration be able to provide ideas, develop plans and make decisions that affect the daily lives of students at school. They had to understand that transformation is not immediate but rather a process with many steps and many stakeholders involved and they surprised us all with their enthusiasm and commitment to improve our school. During my second year the new schedule is a success following three basic premises
1. Focused on Learning- Maximizing contact time
2. Providing a well distributed schedule with times to have a healthy snack, use toilets, stretch, talk to friends, renew a book at the library or simple relax for a couple of minutes
3. Align it with the HS schedule in order to share resources and teachers
1. Focused on Learning- Maximizing contact time
2. Providing a well distributed schedule with times to have a healthy snack, use toilets, stretch, talk to friends, renew a book at the library or simple relax for a couple of minutes
3. Align it with the HS schedule in order to share resources and teachers
Electives
Elective courses were another great area of concern for our students and faculty. As education evolves the demand for innovative and creative courses is high. Through different forums, surveys and meetings we analyzed a number of alternatives and the challenges at the moment of implementing new classes. We proposed budgets and curriculums to the departments in charge of reviewing them and we have expanded in all areas of elective courses especially in the area of technology. Courses such as Digital Design, App building or Robotics are now transforming the way our very own students help us find technological solutions to everyday challenges at school. ( See a complete list of 2015-2016 Electives)
21st century classrooms
Much is talked about innovation and the technological transformation in our schools but when we walk down the hallways we can still see a lot of chairs in a row facing the board with very traditional classroom setting. It has been my pleasure to join a dedicated faculty and staff that embraces new ideas and is willing to work tirelessly to better the educational experience of our students. With perseverance and collaboration we are transforming our school one classroom at a time. We installed rechargeable stations for devices, upgraded our WIFI signals, re-distributed furniture, change air conditioners to high efficiency units, re-painted walls, renovated science and technology labs, expanded the learning center classrooms and many more small building projects that might go unnoticed but have had a great impact on the flow and organization of our classes.
Whole child approach
How do you develop the whole
child? The demands of the 21st century require a
new approach to education to fully prepare students for college, career, and
citizenship. Research, practice, and common sense confirm that a whole child
approach to education will develop and prepare students for the challenges and
opportunities of today and tomorrow by addressing students' comprehensive needs
through the shared responsibility of students, families, schools, and
communities.*
To enrich the educational experience of our students a number of opportunities were developed using the same approach as stated before, creating committees, analyzing data, proposing a plan of action and later implementing wonderful projects and events.
To enrich the educational experience of our students a number of opportunities were developed using the same approach as stated before, creating committees, analyzing data, proposing a plan of action and later implementing wonderful projects and events.
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