CULTURAL COMPASS: CULTURAL COMPASS: BARNEGAT TWP BARNEGAT TWP

SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL DISTRICT (8 points of a (8 points of a

compass)compass)

Clear focus and high Clear focus and high expectationsexpectations

► We have a clear focus on academic learning combined with engaging We have a clear focus on academic learning combined with engaging and creative instruction and a culture of high expectations for all and creative instruction and a culture of high expectations for all students embedded in the conviction that all students can achieve students embedded in the conviction that all students can achieve these expectations with effective support. Learning activities are these expectations with effective support. Learning activities are authentic and applicable to life outside of school and to future authentic and applicable to life outside of school and to future learning. Learning standards, which encourage students to become learning. Learning standards, which encourage students to become productive citizens, are known by staff, parents/caregivers, and most productive citizens, are known by staff, parents/caregivers, and most importantly, students. Every stakeholder and the students are importantly, students. Every stakeholder and the students are responsible and accountable for establishing and sustaining a quality responsible and accountable for establishing and sustaining a quality learning experience which requires: an effective teacher in every learning experience which requires: an effective teacher in every classroom, administration that are educational leaders not just classroom, administration that are educational leaders not just managers, a challenging curriculum, adequate resources, continuous managers, a challenging curriculum, adequate resources, continuous improvement, and a safe, secure, non-threatening environment.improvement, and a safe, secure, non-threatening environment.

► Following the NJCCCSFollowing the NJCCCS► Teacher ObservationsTeacher Observations► Differentiated InstructionDifferentiated Instruction

Utilizing different teaching strategies in the classroomUtilizing different teaching strategies in the classroom► Technological Resources and TrainingTechnological Resources and Training► Professional Development for Administration and StaffProfessional Development for Administration and Staff► Guidance/Bully PreventionGuidance/Bully Prevention► Mentor/Mentee ProgramMentor/Mentee Program

Personalized Learning Personalized Learning EnvironmentEnvironment► KIDS FIRST-there is no exception. Our decisions are student KIDS FIRST-there is no exception. Our decisions are student

centered, data driven, and research based. We are constantly centered, data driven, and research based. We are constantly asking ourselves (a) What are we doing? (b) Is it working? (c) asking ourselves (a) What are we doing? (b) Is it working? (c) How do we know? Every student enjoys strong relationships How do we know? Every student enjoys strong relationships with their peers, school, and community. Students can expect with their peers, school, and community. Students can expect support both academically and social emotionally. Students support both academically and social emotionally. Students are treated with respect, dignity, and warmth so they want to are treated with respect, dignity, and warmth so they want to learn. We take students as they come to us and provide for learn. We take students as they come to us and provide for differences in abilities, needs and learning styles. differences in abilities, needs and learning styles.

►Place students in the least restrictive environmentPlace students in the least restrictive environment►Centers and Differentiated InstructionCenters and Differentiated Instruction►NJCCCS/Standardized TestingNJCCCS/Standardized Testing►Create a healthy, comfortable learning environmentCreate a healthy, comfortable learning environment

Professional growthProfessional growth► As professional educators we believe in creating lifelong learners in As professional educators we believe in creating lifelong learners in

our classrooms, therefore we must model this belief within ourselves. our classrooms, therefore we must model this belief within ourselves. We know as professionals, we have a responsibility to grow and We know as professionals, we have a responsibility to grow and expand our content knowledge, instructional practices, and expand our content knowledge, instructional practices, and classroom strategies. We are effective ambassadors for our schools classroom strategies. We are effective ambassadors for our schools and our success is assessed on the basis of results rather than and our success is assessed on the basis of results rather than intentions. We actively make the shift from beliefs to behaviors by intentions. We actively make the shift from beliefs to behaviors by emphasizing collegiality over congeniality and focusing on learning emphasizing collegiality over congeniality and focusing on learning through professional communities rather than just teaching. through professional communities rather than just teaching.

► Professional DevelopmentProfessional Development► PD360PD360► Use of webcasts through SmartboardsUse of webcasts through Smartboards► School Wide Meetings/Individual and Grade Level MeetingsSchool Wide Meetings/Individual and Grade Level Meetings► ObservationsObservations► Classroom VisitationsClassroom Visitations► TARTAR► CARCAR

PartnershipsPartnerships► We actively forge strong bonds with students' families or We actively forge strong bonds with students' families or

caregivers and community knowing that parents/caretakers and caregivers and community knowing that parents/caretakers and community are their children's first teachers and most central community are their children's first teachers and most central to their lives; therefore, they must be participants in the to their lives; therefore, they must be participants in the education process. We cultivate partnerships by acting as education process. We cultivate partnerships by acting as extraordinary effective ambassadors for our schools. We make extraordinary effective ambassadors for our schools. We make sure parents/caregivers and communities have voice and input sure parents/caregivers and communities have voice and input to shape all components of the school district. Most importantly to shape all components of the school district. Most importantly we are transparent, knowing that shared knowledge deepens we are transparent, knowing that shared knowledge deepens the benefits of communication.the benefits of communication.

► PTA InvolvementPTA Involvement► Back to School NightBack to School Night► Progress ReportsProgress Reports► Awards NightAwards Night► Barnegat CARESBarnegat CARES► Parent Information NightsParent Information Nights► Open Door Policies School-wideOpen Door Policies School-wide

Student voice and Student voice and participationparticipation

► Students are participants in the education process. Students are participants in the education process. They are given significant opportunities to They are given significant opportunities to collaborate with school staff/community, exercise collaborate with school staff/community, exercise leadership, and make school wide choices and leadership, and make school wide choices and decisions. Students have clear areas of input and decisions. Students have clear areas of input and participation and are actively involved in decisions participation and are actively involved in decisions regarding their learning, classrooms, school, campus, regarding their learning, classrooms, school, campus, and community.and community.

► Student CouncilStudent Council► Safety PatrolSafety Patrol► Pizza with the PrincipalPizza with the Principal► Students participate in morning/event announcementsStudents participate in morning/event announcements► Leaders in TrainingLeaders in Training► Collections/Fundraisers for outside organizations and school Collections/Fundraisers for outside organizations and school

wide eventswide events

Technology IntegrationTechnology Integration► All students are provided the tools to access and analyze All students are provided the tools to access and analyze

information, communicate ideas, and express themselves information, communicate ideas, and express themselves creatively. Teachers have equipment and professional creatively. Teachers have equipment and professional development to enable them to implement technology enhanced development to enable them to implement technology enhanced instruction. Students learn to navigate diverse information instruction. Students learn to navigate diverse information sources, including print, visual, kinesthetic, and audio materials, sources, including print, visual, kinesthetic, and audio materials, through the integration of information literacy skills.through the integration of information literacy skills.

► Mini Lap tops/Classroom ComputersMini Lap tops/Classroom Computers► Skype/WebcamSkype/Webcam► Accelerated ReaderAccelerated Reader► Study IslandStudy Island► DRA2TangoDRA2Tango► GenesisGenesis► Engrade (Online Grading)Engrade (Online Grading)► Ipods/Leap FrogIpods/Leap Frog► Smartboards/ElmosSmartboards/Elmos► Electronic Field TripsElectronic Field Trips

DynamicDynamic► As an effective organization, we are nimble-we embrace As an effective organization, we are nimble-we embrace

change and often reject the familiar. We are never static; change and often reject the familiar. We are never static; realizing that in the 21st century education is changing realizing that in the 21st century education is changing everyday. We honor the simple reality of another person's everyday. We honor the simple reality of another person's experience because it is an instant connection to the larger experience because it is an instant connection to the larger world outside of our selves. We ignore critics yet utilize their world outside of our selves. We ignore critics yet utilize their criticism. We stay relevant by remembering to continually ask, criticism. We stay relevant by remembering to continually ask, listen, and act. And instead of focusing on things that are easy listen, and act. And instead of focusing on things that are easy to measure, we focus instead, on those things that are to measure, we focus instead, on those things that are important to measure. We focus on the journey and all of its important to measure. We focus on the journey and all of its ups and downs.ups and downs.

► Differentiated InstructionDifferentiated Instruction► Meet the Needs of EVERY studentMeet the Needs of EVERY student► Professional Growth and DevelopmentProfessional Growth and Development► School-Wide CommitteeSchool-Wide Committee► Principal Liaison CommitteePrincipal Liaison Committee► Continuous Self EvaluationContinuous Self Evaluation► Monitor/Adjust to the School NeedsMonitor/Adjust to the School Needs► Always preparing for the FUTURE to grow as a wholeAlways preparing for the FUTURE to grow as a whole

The Why?The Why?► We realize that the single most efficient strategy for We realize that the single most efficient strategy for

improving our operations is in answering the "why" improving our operations is in answering the "why" questions! We embrace people who ask these questions! We embrace people who ask these questions-we treat them as stakeholders and questions-we treat them as stakeholders and collaborators.collaborators.

► We create prognostications that allow us to prepare and grow We create prognostications that allow us to prepare and grow as educators.as educators.

► It is vital to be trained in all areas of technology and It is vital to be trained in all areas of technology and curriculum to further the learning of each individual student.curriculum to further the learning of each individual student.

► The world of education is constantly growing and changing. The world of education is constantly growing and changing. We need to be up to date with the standards and strands.We need to be up to date with the standards and strands.

► Implement the School Wide Plan to help grow as a school and Implement the School Wide Plan to help grow as a school and be on the same page, as a district.be on the same page, as a district.