Murphy's+requirements

It is highly encouraged that you select a partner or team to work with. Again, the insight collaboration offers will enhance your experience and the completed project. Take the initiative and explore the uniqueness of your school, its district and community
 * School Profile Grade Format and Specifics to be**
 * 1) **School Profile Discussion Board –**utilize this forum to share your progress, offer suggestions and/or knowledge you have of schools class colleagues are exploring, communicate with your team members
 * 2) **School and Community Visit(s) –** note in your completed Profile the dates, times and personnel or school family members you met with, e-mailed or had phone conversations with
 * 3) **PowerPoint and Accompanying Paper** – as a team, you will incorporate your school and community visit findings based on the specifics listed below, include your literature and internet research and augment both the PowerPoint and paper with details from your interviews and photographs. Make each person’s role clear.
 * 4) **PowerPoint Presentation –** each team will present their findings
 * 5) **School Profile Final Project Discussion Board –** post both your PowerPoint and your paper
 * 6) **School Profile Reflection Discussion Board** - post your reflective answers to the questions posted in the forum
 * 7) **School Profile Team Evaluation Form –** to be completed by each team member; a grade will not be given until each team member has e-mailed the completed form to me.

In your paper utilize related research, websites and your observations and analysis to profile your school. I highly recommend you collect school and district materials and take photos to include in your final project. (NOTE: If you want your project hard copies (ie. School newsletters, etc.) returned, please include a self addressed, stamped envelope.) Monica:
 * Initial investigation ** **of your school being profiled is to include the 10 points below.**
 * Details of your findings are to be included in your profile paper and PowerPoint:**
 * 1) **School visits** – Indicate the date(s) you visited and with who; do include a notation if phone conversations and e-mails furthered your exploration – with who and how
 * 1) **Surrounding community exploration** – Do take pictures to share. Completing this prior to your school tour will enable you to ask in a more knowledgeable manner about their partnerships.

Molly
 * 1) **School district website** – Much can be learned by exploring their website. What do you learn about the community? How different are the various school websites? What resources are available on-line?
 * 2) **School website** – Is it user friendly for parents? What are the key points you find most useful and unique? Does it match well with its community needs?

Monica
 * 1) **School report card** – Is it included on the website? How did you find it? Share an overview of the report.
 * 2) **School Board** minutes, see a board meeting in person or on local access television, members (long tenured, parents?) – Are the minutes posted at the school, the library? Who are the members? Do they represent the community?
 * 3) **Demographics of school** (students and faculty) and its community

**District data** – physical size, number of schools (public, charter, community, private, faith-based), demographics, etc. School population information – school/grade numbers, gender or ethnic makeup, numbers of free and reduced lunch, bus riders, special needs students, ESL, etc.

Molly
 * 1) **District/school calendar, newsletter** – Is it on the website? Is it readily available at the school? Share your reflective thoughts of the topics, regularity, audience it serves?
 * Do classroom newsletters exist? Share some details.


 * 1) **Local newspaper** - Bees or Buffalo News – include examples – Does the school attempt to share details with the community (Of course, all articles are not printed)? What topics have you found – sports, academic accomplishments, unusual class/teacher accomplishments (ie. Science project, outside speaker)?
 * School mission, goals, code of character, pledges, contracts or compact(student, parent and teacher/required if it is a Title I school ie. Given under Course Information, School Profile – Articles and Useful Forms – School Parent Compact).

Monica
 * 1) **Joyce Epstein’s 6 types of involvement -** do they follow them (parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision making, collaborating with community); note some of the ways they can be incorporated per our readings


 * __Note:__** **UBLearns Course Information - #3 School Profile Resources (document called – Helpful for school profile) does provide some additional readings to assist you in your investigation as do our weekly reading assignments.**

Utilize your initial findings to enhance your more in-depth investigation that involves your school visit, conversations with school related staff, parents and community members. Do ask permission prior to taking photographs. (Recommendation – the following topics to be investigated are to be main points in your PowerPoint presentation. Investigation steps 1-10 will help you find some answers.) · ·   · **Parental Involvement** – Joyce Epstein’s six types: o parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision making, collaborating with community (Helpful for you to refer to electronic reserve readings for examples prior to your visit) · **Existing Partnerships** - groups, internal and external involved with your school? – agencies, businesses, committees. · **School Climate** – is it a close knit community or do barriers exist between teachers, parents and children o Volunteer positions, committees - school support of positions, committees - results · **Memberships** - school/district is member of what organizations (ie. National Network of Partnership) · **Staff** - consider certification, gender, race, cultural diversity, languages, teachers, other staff (nurse, parent liaison, etc) · **Community Connection** – How is the school an “anchor”? - Facilities, events, services, programs, speakers, workshops offered to students, family, community members o Parent education classes (ie. GED, nutrition) o Community education classes o Social events o Extracurricular activities? (ie. school clubs – art, chess, computer, etc.); also outside agencies Girl/Boy Scouts o Before and after school program (YWCA, school run) o Family support center o Connection with nearby community centers, youth bureau, etc.; Transportation provided? o Service to the community (ie. food/toy drive, actual visit and sing at nursing home, student volunteering) o Curriculum extension use landmarks, businesses, parks, experts for field trips ie. planetarium, kangaroo lady, etc. · **Describe the surrounding community** – housing, businesses, agencies, colleges, etc./level of support - ie. banks, hospitals, stores, recreational opportunities, service agencies, cultural resources, historical sites, industrial complexes, health agencies, libraries, places of worship, eating establishments, green space/parks/natural resources, transportation · **Communication Utilized** – teacher/student, teacher/parent, teacher/community, administration/teacher, etc. o Frequency o Languages o Avenues – written, internet, verbal; internal/external, formal/informal o Dissemination - ie. Announcements, local newspaper articles, student directory, newsletter, yearbook, class news · **Funding Sources**, programs, volunteer hours, grants, business donations (ie. cash, food, reimburse for partnering ie. Target, box tops, register tapes, Joanne Fabrics, Buffalo Bills programs, Applebee’s reading program)

· What partnerships and practices exist that support student achievement? Course Information, School Profile – Articles and Useful Forms – Immediate Family and Child Chart – shows 2 models to consider)  · How does the school interface with its families and community?   · How does the school incorporate Joyce Epstein’s 6 levels of involvement? (Course Information, School Profile – Articles and Useful Forms – the Key to Successful School-Family-Community Partnerships)    · **Complete the following assessments and include with your paper:**  o Text, Beyond the Bake Sale   § How closely is your school’s parent involvement program linked to student learning page 108 and § How well does your district support family and community engagement? page 247 o A New Wave of Evidence, Family and Community Engagement Self-Assessment tool (Course Information, School Profile – Articles and Useful Forms). o “ How Far Has Our School Moved?” (Course Information, School Profile – Articles and Useful Forms)
 * __Further exploration to be included__** **__in your school profile paper__:**

· use of assessments (provided on UBLearns and in textbook)

 * Do include scanned and/or hard copies of school publications, website pages, newspaper clippings, parent contracts, event notices, etc**


 * Complete the School Profile Evaluation Form** (Course Information – Evaluations)