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The New School

Vision Statement

Concordia School is a place where academic excellence, personal integrity, diverse perspectives and meaningful relationships thrive in a safe, respectful, nurturing, and intellectually stimulating environment. As a progressive student centered institution of learning, the school's physical structure is focused around a central hub. This open air circular hub includes a state of the art library, technology and a media/art center. There is also a theatre in the round. The goal of this structure is to establish freedom of responsible movement for all students to work independently and in collaboration.

Vision Foundations

I. High Quality Curriculum and Instruction
High quality curriculum and instruction involves meeting four goals of instruction and the four styles of learning. It is interdisciplinary, but literacy is at the core. This includes a library, technology, and a media/arts center. Concordia's curriculum is constructivistic and problem-based in a supportive nurturing environment. The purpose of learning is inquiry/researched based which is supported by children˙fs literature and the arts. A major objective is freedom of responsible movement of all students to work independently and in collaboration. This is all research based including the National Reading Panel report in 2000 and the Robert Marzano report.

II. Community
The school is one of the most valuable social institutions in our local society. Inside and out, there are numerous types of 'communities' that affect the school and in turn affect society, from teacher and student communities to teacher and parent communities to school and the general society communities. These different types of communities must collaborate and cooperate for our school and for our society to be effective and successful.

III. Diversity
Our school respects the uniqueness of the individual, values the knowledge of different ethnic, gender and religious groups, and encourages expressions of divergent points of view. All students will have an equal opportunity to achieve to her or his potential. Our students will be prepared to completely participate in an increasingly intercultural and diverse society.

IV. Character Education
Our school fosters the development of strong character traits in our children. Through various grade level projects, our students will develop respect for themselves and others, honesty, responsibility, courtesy, and social consciousness.

V. Life Long Learning
Our school encourages a love of learning and collaboration among students, teachers, parents, administrators, and the community through trusting relationships within a secure school community. We are open-minded, life-long learners whose focus and exuberance will add value to our school and our community.

Vision Plan

Measuring Change

To be sure that Concordia is achieving its goals, the faculty and various communities will create several committees. These committees will be created with members from the parent, student, and faculty communities. These committees will establish achievable, yet challenging goals, associated with Concordia's vision. The committees will collect various data through surveys and informal observations with an emphasis on using technology and limiting excessively time-consuming paperwork.

Time Line of Change

2006

Create the position of Resource Coordinator. This part-time/volunteer position, which will be filled by a current school teacher, will identify resources needed by or provided for our students and to identify opportunities for the community to be involved in our school and vise-a-versa.
The teacher and parent community will communicate through various medias once a month.
Classrooms will become more student-centered. Teachers will participate in workshops to learn about multiculturalism and how to effectively incorporate multiculturalism and student experiences into the classroom to make learning more active, interactive and engaging.
Respecting differences will be incorporated into character education for all students.
We must change students' attitudes toward reading and writing by integrating reading and writing in the classroom with ample opportunities to write about what the students are interested in, as well as, topics in different subjects across the curriculum.
Support teachers lacking in effectively proven training skills.
Plan to incorporate ongoing informal assessments, student portfolios, and a plan for benchmark achievement and evaluation.
Engage the school staff as a learning and moral community who share responsibility for character education. Engage families and community members as partners in the character-building effort.
Professional development which will enhance student, staff, and community values that guide character education.
Administration will engage in moral leadership that will support the character education initiative.
In grades K-1, promote core ethical values as a basis of good character through various classroom projects. Social studies curriculum will focus on the SELF.

2007

The student and teacher communities will be trained in conflict resolution and in the fulfillment of social emotional needs.
Provides students opportunities for moral action.
Teachers will use multicultural materials and use current social issues as part of the social studies curriculum.
Weekly meetings to discuss curriculum, student motivation, effective methods, responsibilities, and goals.
The administration encourages and supports professional development of all faculty through opportunities such as: seminars, workshops, graduate programs, computer classes and adult courses.

2008

The establishment of mentoring and volunteering opportunities for the parent and general communities.
Special education teachers will work closely with mainstream teachers to help with understanding of IDEA, IEP's, as well as how to incorporate modifications and accommodations listed for students with special needs
Include a meaningful and challenging academic curriculum that respects all learners, develops their character, and helps them to succeed.
Create a supportive network to help new teachers and faculty is willing to share in craft knowledge.

2009

The establishment of mandatory participation of the parent community in the school.
Two classrooms in grade 2 will follow an inclusion model. There will be a special education teacher co-teaching with the mainstream teacher.
Continue staff development for grades 5-1.
Introduce literacy/technology/media/art center for grade K.
Staff development for teachers in grade K on inquiry based learning and classroom management, i.e. responsible movement & collaborative research teams.
Concordia will strive to foster student self motivation and students in Grades 3-5 will engage in action projects that will effect the school or social community.
School provides a curriculum written for parents that is parent friendly and a clear mission statement.

2010

The establishment of mandatory volunteer service for students to 'give back' to the community.
Two classrooms in grade 2 will continue to follow an inclusion model stated above and 1 third grade classroom (two classes in grade 3 may be needed). This will be examined based on student need. Some students placed in an inclusive class may be able to be successful in the resource program.
Students, parents, and the community will continue to be partners in character development, while engaging in the academic curriculum.
Evaluation of the character education program will take place. The staff's functioning as character educators, and the community involvement that takes place will be indicators of success.