School Improvement Plan (SIP)
Our Mission
We believe that children are our highest priority. We promote a cooperative partnership among students, parents, community and staff. Our Mission is to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning by nurturing, guiding and challenging all students to achieve their maximum potential. Our goal is to prepare them intellectually, emotionally, socially and physically to be responsible citizens in an ever-changing world.
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Existing Information about our School Community
Fort Rucker Primary School (FRPS) is located on the Fort Rucker Army Installation at Fort Rucker, Alabama. The installation is primarily a helicopter training facility. Students who are enrolled at FRPS are dependents of military personnel at Fort Rucker. This school system is funded by the Department of Defense and is subject to DoDEA directives.
The Primary School building is located on approximately twenty acres, which includes a large, fenced-in playground area. The school building consists of six self-contained, open areas, which are called pods. The four-year-old program comprises one of these pods with four teachers and four aides. Kindergarten has two pods, each with three teachers and three aides. First grade classes are housed in three pods. One pod has three teachers, while the remaining two pods have two teachers each. The school building also houses a large cafeteria, a principal’s office, an assistant principal’s office, a guidance suite, a speech and language resource room, two special education rooms, a nurse’s office, and an area used for gifted. The school also has two computer labs, two reading support rooms, a media center, a music room, and indoor gymnasium, a Spanish department, and various storage areas.
Fort Rucker Primary School was built in 1973. It is one of two school buildings located at Fort Rucker. The average student population at the Primary School consists of approximately 14 three-year-olds (early intervention/special needs), 128 four-year-olds, 131 kindergartners, and 128 first graders. All students reside on the Fort Rucker military installation. Bus transportation to school, provided by an independent contractor, is available to all students.
The Primary School adheres to a developmentally appropriate child-centered instructional program. The alignment of the curriculum with appropriate assessment for learning practices has led to a strong, well-balanced program. Instruction at the Primary School is standards driven. These standards consist of both content and performance standards. Parents and teachers are given the Standards Guide so that every stakeholder is aware of the goals and is able to provide support.
Fort Rucker Primary School is fortunate to have an assistant principal, a nurse, a computer technologist, a Spanish teacher, a music teacher, and a speech teacher, all on a full-time basis. The school also has another part-time speech teacher. Support personnel consist of two secretaries and one Special Education secretary and building maintenance personnel.
The teaching staff at FRPS is comprised of highly trained and qualified teachers. The retention rate of teachers at the Primary School is stable. The turnover rate is comprised mainly of teachers whose spouses have been reassigned to other military stations.
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Unique Local Insights at Fort Rucker Primary School
Staff Development
The school system provides professional development training throughout the school year for the teachers. On Wednesdays, the children are dismissed early so that our faculty can participate in on-site staff development/training. The year 2006-2007 began a study of Assessment for Learning that is continuing through the 2007-2008 Other staff development days are incorporated into the school calendar. Ongoing training and off-campus workshops are also options for the teaching staff. The faculty also has an in-house curriculum facilitator who provides on-going professional development.
School Safety-Crisis Management Plan
The main focus of Ft. Rucker Schools during any time of crisis is on safety of all students and staff. Prevention measures are in place in the schools to ensure the welfare of everyone and to keep the schools fully operational.
There are plans in place for the following: preventive measures, terrorism, weather emergencies, facility emergencies and medical emergencies. Staff reviews and school-wide drills are conducted periodically. All staff members are required to complete Antiterrorism Level I training at the beginning of each school year.
At the beginning of the school year, 2007-08, each teacher was given an evacuation emergency backpack which contains first aid supplies, class rolls, and a flashlight. These are to be used in the event of an evacuation.
In addition to crisis management, daily routines are designed to promote a safe environment.
- • Parents or guardians must show a military ID when checking out a child from school.
- • The playgrounds are fenced and only accessible to school staff and students during school hours.
- • Barriers and safety gates have been installed in front of the school.
- • To ensure employee identification, all staff must wear official DOD Civilian ID badges issued by DDESS Headquarters.
- • All school buses have an adult monitor so that the driver is not distracted by behavior issues or other student needs.
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Our 2 Big Goals for 2008-2009
Committed to Success for All Students School Improvement- A Continual Process
Literacy Goal
All students will demonstrate significant improvement in target areas of developmentally appropriate literacy skills.
Math Goal
All students will improve their abilities to problem solve and apply reasoning strategies.
Checks and balance
Ongoing student progress will be monitored and reported.