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Executive Summary

 

A.    School Overview

Overlook Elementary School is located in Temple Hills, Maryland, within close proximity to Washington, D.C. Our vision for Overlook is to provide a student-centered instructional program that challenges learners to perform at high levels of success in an environment that is safe, orderly and conducive to learning.  The Overlook Elementary School Improvement Plan outlines attainable goals for the staff and achievable objectives and strategies that allow all students to be successful.   As of June, 2008, the current status of our school is identified as a school not in improvement.   In 2008, all aggregate and disaggregate groups met the Adequate Yearly Progress. 

 

The comprehensive academic program follows a master schedule focusing on an instructional day comprised of reading blocks of 135 minutes for our kindergarten through second grade students and 105 minutes for grades three through five.  Additionally, the schedule allows for a 75-minute block of time for the teaching of mathematics for grades Kindergarten through second grade students, and a 90-minute block of time for grades three through five.  Also, science instruction is provided to kindergarten through second grade students for 45 minutes daily and third through fifth graders for 60 minutes daily.  Health is taught within the science block to kindergarten through second grade students for 15 minutes once a week, and 30 minutes once a week for our third through fifth grade students. 

 

Some of the key features found at Overlook are as follows:

  • Resilient, dedicated professional staff
  • Very low staff turnover rate
  • Highly Qualified staff
  • Extended Day Program
  • Supportive Administration
  • Data driven instruction
  • Toolkit SchoolExtended time for collaborative planning Technology center utilized to integrate technology into the curriculum Mobile laptop center, visualizers, Interwrite boards, Waterford Computer, Leapfrog and Academy of Reading Programs
  • Classroom libraries

 

Overlook is a racially non-diverse school serving approximately 335 Head Start through fifth grade students. Of the 335 students, 53.1% are males and 46.8% are females. The ethnic breakdown of this group of students is 95.8% African American, 0.0119402% Asian, 0.0059701 White, and 0.0208955 Hispanic.  Overlook does not have a limited English proficient (LEP) subgroup at this time.  Approximately 69% of our students receive free and/or reduced price meals. The special education students make up 8.0% of the total school population.  The majority (approximately 70%) of the students live in area apartment complexes.

 

The professional staff at Overlook is comprised of a principal, assistant principal, 16 classroom teachers and 8 non-classroom positions. All 16 classroom teachers are highly qualified. The staff includes many experienced teachers. 53.3% of the Overlook professional staff members hold Advanced Professional Certificates and 26.7% with Standard certificates.

 

Parents and community partnerships share our vision through continued support and commitment.  Southern Management Corporation is one of Overlook’s major community partnerships that provided student materials, staff and student incentives and transportation for specific student fieldtrips.  Other business partnerships from the community that support the school include Hillcrest Heights Public Library, The Church of the Living God and E. Williams Masonic Lodge. 

 

 

  • Major initiatives and School-wide Reform Strategies for Targeted Subgroups

Some of the major accomplishments from school year 2007-2008 include meeting the Adequate Yearly Progress for the second consecutive year.   Fifth grade data shows very significant gains were made in reading (26.7%) and mathematics (32.7%).  Data reveals that our third grade students showed gains in mathematics with an increase of 11.6%.  Our special education subgroup performance data reflects a significant increase in reading and mathematics; 14.3% and 33.9%, respectively.  We attribute the gains to the extended day program, weekly collaborative grade level team planning, high interest software used with male learners in mathematics, and utilizing data to analyze content standards and indicators thus driving instruction.  During 2007-2008 data utilization meetings the SRI/Teacher Judgment and the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) were used to determine AGL/OGL performance.  Fourth quarter results showed the percent of students reading AGL/OGL as follows: kindergarten 91%, grade 1- 91%, grade 2 -62%, grade 3- 63%, grade 4- 56%, and grade 5- 66%.  To address additional student needs for SY2008, teacher training will continue to include experience with data analysis and the instructional implications. 

 

Data from MSA and systemic benchmarks as well as formal/informal observations indicate one of our priority needs as being staff development.  An area of need continues to be training sessions on differentiated instructional delivery practices based on the VSC, curriculum framework progress guides and Standards for Excellence documents in the areas of reading and mathematics and reading strategy lessons from the Comprehension Toolkit.  Differentiated instruction will continue to be the main focus of Overlook’s professional development plan.  Differentiated instruction will ensure that students performing below, on and above grade levels receive quality instruction supportive of their needs.  Follow-up staff development sessions will continue to be conducted on the following: how to plan lessons according to the Standards for Excellence; how to effectively continue to implement the principles of IFL; how to utilize the curriculum framework progress guides; and how to effectively manage and instruct reading and mathematics in small groups.  To enhance student achievement in reading, training sessions will continue to be provided for teaching reading strategies such as summarizing and synthesizing and self-monitoring.  Teachers will also continue to address more than one mathematics domain at a time, develop lessons using the 5 E’s format incorporating IFL principles and use manipulatives effectively.  Teachers will continue to be trained on how to analyze formal and informal assessment data to prescribe instruction.  Other researched-based interventions that will continue to be infused into the reading program as supplemental materials are Wildcats leveled books, the Academy of Reading technology program for struggling fourth and fifth grade students, Reading Recovery, and Rigby books for struggling second and third grade students. The Comprehension Toolkit initiative will continue to be studied and used appropriately by classroom teachers to improve the overall performance of students in reading.  We will continue to integrate technology into lessons to increase student interest and provide a means for reinforcement of deficient skills.

 

Another priority need continues to be the utilization of assessment data to identify, address and monitor the needs of disaggregated groups of students to ensure that academic needs are being met.  All assessment data will continue to be analyzed focusing on the disaggregated subgroups (African American, Special Education and FARM) assessed on the MSA for both reading and mathematics.  The special education and regular classroom teachers will provide additional reading and mathematics support through pullouts and inclusion.  All specialists including PE, music, media and technology will continue to be assigned to support the classroom teacher.  Specialists are assigned to work with each teacher for at least an hour each day.  Data will be collected at grade level instructional planning meetings, monthly content committee meetings  and data utilization meetings to monitor subgroups.  Action plans will be developed to address areas of need for all students.  Diagnostic prescriptive instruction will be planned collaboratively during grade level planning and data utilization meetings.

 

  • Parental Involvement

Overlook Elementary School continues to work diligently to ensure that parental involvement goes beyond the awareness level seeking to empower parents at all levels in the decision-making process regarding student achievement.  The school year begins with an orientation to Title I requirements, Parent Compact and Overlook School policies and procedures during Back to School Night.  Parents have a voice in the development of school activities through their participation on the Parent/Community Involvement subcommittee.

 

Overlook Elementary School has taken several steps to ensure that parents are actively involved in planning and implementing school’s activities through participation in the development of the Overlook’s School Improvement Plan.  Our Parent Liaison will continue to schedule parent workshops that address all of the Title I requirements and provide support to better prepare parents for assisting their children in academics and social issues.

 

A parent representative serves on the SPMT that meets monthly.  To strengthen parents’ participation in their children’s achievement, the following delineates school-based activities that will be implemented or continued this school year:

  • Additional members will be added to the School Planning and Management Team.
  • Bonds between the school, the community, and home will be strengthen by placing emphasis on improved communication, specifically designed to increase parent participation in student achievement.
  • Family Math, Reading, Science or MSA Nights will be scheduled each quarter for students and parents to work in pairs on skills, concepts and strategies. 
  • Establish opportunities for parents to gain knowledge of technological aids, Internet websites and software by attending Technology Night focusing on the MSDE and PGCPS sites for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade parents and the Waterford Computer for K, 1 and 2 parents.  
  • Schedule student performances during monthly PTA meetings.
  • Continue monthly newsletters for parents.
  • Continue to use School Communicative System and other communicative devices for informing parents of special events and concerns.
  • Continue to utilize our Parent Liaison for parental support

 

  • Safe and Orderly Environment

 

Many behavior management initiatives implemented by the guidance counselor and classroom teachers will continue to provide our students with a safe and orderly environment.   Initiatives such as Second Step, Character Education, Peer Mediation and classroom discipline plans will be evident in all classrooms and throughout the building.  All staff members will be requested to monitor behavior during all activities.  Special assemblies will continue to recognize and reward students who exemplify appropriate behavior.  Students and parents will be acquainted with all rules, consequences and rewards.  Security mandates will be adhered to in order to assure safety of students and staff.  All visitors will be requested to visit the office before entering classrooms.  Students will be supervised at all times.  The safety of Overlook’s students and staff will be beneficial to our overall success. 

 

Our attendance data shows that we met the satisfactory standard for SY 2008 (94.7%) continuing a trend in data for four consecutive years. Positive incentives such as honor roll assemblies, special recognition of students with perfect attendance and our PANTS initiative can be attributed to the satisfactory attendance rate.  During the 2007-2008 school year, a total of 95 discipline referrals were written and 45 suspensions occurred. 

 

  • Strategies to Attract (and Retain) Highly Qualified Teachers

Overlook Elementary will support new/non-tenured teachers by providing intensive training in reading/language arts and mathematics instruction.  Weekly collaborative planning will also provide support, as well as modeling opportunities, celebrations, rewards and recognition by the administration, Job-alike mentor and colleagues.  Also, we were participants of the Module School Initiative, receiving staff development on strategies to identify, attract and maintain HQ employees.

 

  • Plans for Assisting Children in Transition  

To assist our PreK students with transitioning into Kindergarten, a parent orientation will continue to be held prior to the opening of school.  Information concerning academics and parental support will be distributed.  At the end of the school year, PreK students will continue to visit Kindergarten classrooms to get acquainted with the classroom environment.

Feeder cards will be completed and student information shared during PreK/Head Start and Kindergarten team meetings.

 

For transitioning purposes for our fifth grade students, representatives including the counselor and PPW from the middle school will present information that will orient our fifth grade students into the middle school environment.  Representatives will meet with our parents to share information and for a Q&A session.  Our professional counselor will continue to conduct hour long class presentations/discussions during the year concerning transitioning.  Promotion activities are family-oriented for our fifth graders.  A reception is followed for students and their family.

 

  • Measures to Include Teachers in Decisions Regarding the Analysis and Use of Academic Assessments      

 

Overlook continues to be a data driven school.  Teachers are directly involved in analyzing assessment data during grade level planning, data utilization, and content committee meetings in order to prescribe instruction.  Next steps are planned during these meetings and progress is monitored. 

 

  • Coordination and Integration of Federal, State, and local services and programs

Several federal, state and local services have been integrated into Overlook’s school program.  The school utilizes both school operating resources (SOR) funding and Title I funding to support math and reading activities throughout the year. Our Head Start program provides our early learners the opportunity to develop skills that are beneficial in their overall academic and social success.  We have established a partnership with Hillcrest Heights Public Library.  This partnership, which encourages students to apply for library cards, will promote the joy of reading and involve parents in their child’s academic achievement.  Voter registration drives were held at Overlook to provide the community with a convenient and accessible location to assist in the participation of their civic duties.  Southern Management Incorporation, one of our major business partners has contributed service to our students and staff.