Annual Report

2008-09

Volinia Outcomes School

54080 Gards Prairie Road

Decatur, MI  49045

(269)782-9716

Don Price, Principal

___________________________________________________________

I.  Overview of the School

 

Volinia Outcomes School is a program made up of dedicated people who work to help every child have a positive educational experience.  Volinia is a small alternative school that serves an at-risk population of 90-100 students.

 

Mission Statement:

Our mission is to provide positive and caring learning experiences in which students are expected to meet the challenging academic expectations set forth by the state.  Students will also receive the opportunity to achieve the outcomes necessary to direct their lives toward developing habits that will help them become cooperative, self-sufficient, responsible and intellectually curious citizens. (Revised May 2007)

 

·         Education YES! :  Due to the small size of the school and the small number of students who are eligible to take the MEAP test (7, 8 and 11th grades), it is not possible to accurately gauge school achievement performance based on standardized state test scores.  (Thirty students per test are needed to record a viable score). 

 

·         Volinia Maple:     a student-operated business is an ongoing project facilitated by Volinia principal, Don Price.  Initiated in 2001, the project allows hand-on learning in a real business setting where students gather, produce and sell maple syrup and other maple-related products.  Customer service, communication, accounting, teamwork, and public relations are just a few of the skills students learn. Grants and donations by several area businesses and individuals helped make the business possible.  

 

·         Awards and Accomplishments:  

-Met Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) based on MEAP scores and graduation rate.

 

-Nearly 900 people attended the annual Volinia Maple Festival in March 2009.

 

-Volinia was awarded a Children’s Trust Fund grant that funded an on-site child care facility for teen parents who are enrolled in the high school completion program.  We are now in the 3rd and final year of this grant.

 

·         Counseling:  All students participated in weekly counselor-facilitated groups comprised of 6-10 students.  Topics covered in this program include nutrition, anger management, substance abuse, self-esteem, healthy choices and tolerance as well as career and post-high school education guidance.

 

 

II. School Improvement

 

Continuous improvement is an important process for the Volinia program.  Our school improvement team met the third Monday of each month throughout the school year.   The team included a support staff member & parent, a school counselor, five teachers, one administrator, a student and a school board member.   Input was also gained through several student and parent surveys, questionnaires and interviews.  As part of our school improvement process, the team worked toward reaching several goals and used specific data to drive reform and improvement.  The data used included standardized test scores, MEAP data, needs assessment information gathered in previous school years, disciplinary referral and attendance data.  The School Improvement Team worked on writing & math improvement goals throughout the school year and created or revised goals mid way through the school year in an effort to address all content areas.  Those goals are listed below. 

1.       All students will be proficient in social studies.

2.       All Volinia Outcomes students will be proficient writers.

3.       All students will be proficient in science.

4.       All students will be proficient in math.

 

Several strategies and projects were implemented or expanded in an effort to reach school improvement goals.  These efforts included:    

  • Continued work to increase parent and community involvement in the Volinia program by setting and meeting goals for weekly parent/guardian contacts.
  • Further review and study of the Michigan Curriculum Benchmarks and Standards, Content Standards, Grade Level Expectations (GLCEs) to ensure alignment.   Teachers indicated the HSCE or GLCE in daily lesson plans and submitted the plans to the principal.
  • A school-wide citizenship & participation & writing rubrics continue to be incorporated into all core curricular areas. 
  • MEAP preparation strategies were implemented for appropriate grade levels.
  • Continued extended math time in the 2008-09 student schedule.
  • Administered a pre and post-test in math & reading for all students. Implemented a pre & post testing program for all middle level students.   Initiated STAR Math & Reading testing every 2 months and analyzed results and improvements.
  • Reviewed Course success rates and created improvement plans by course as needed.
  • Continuation of a Planning & Intervention Room/program for attendance policy violators as well as for students needing behavioral assistance (those with 2 or more referrals).
  • Continued after school Math/Homework Academy.
  • Continued  a school wide Writing plan that was used by all teachers and in all courses.  Whole school met every Wednesday during 4th hour to work on writing.  (Writing Workshop Wednesday)
  • Continued a Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) program.

 

The school improvement plan resulted in several intended outcomes including earning AYP status for 7th & 8th grades, increased student attendance rates, a decrease in disciplinary referrals and out of school suspensions, and significant gains in math achievement and test scores.

 

 

III.             Student Assessment

 

MEAP

2006

2007

2008

7th Reading

100%

 40%

25%

7th Writing

80%

 40%

0%

7th Math

20%

 40%

75%

7th Total ELA

100%

 40%  

25%

 

 

 

 

8th Reading

86%

100%

50%

8th Writing

71%

50%

50%

8th Total ELA

86%

100%

50%

8th Math

  71%

75%

50%

8th Science

100%

100%

67%

 

 

 

 

9th social studies

80%

66%

45%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MEAP

MME

MME

 

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

11th Reading

31%

53%

26%

11th Writing

0%

21%

16%

11th Total ELA

15%

37%

16%

11th Math

15%

   37%

32%

11th Science

15%

37%

21%

11th Social Studies

62%

63%

74%

 

Scores include all students, even those who were not at Volinia for a Full Academic Year.  Test scores are not considered statistically sound due to the small number of testers and do not have to be included in the annual report. 

 

 

 

 

IV.    Adequate Yearly Progress

 

AYP status was met for grades 7-11.  Volinia was given a composite grade for the first time which was a C.

 

 

V. Parent & Community Involvement

 

The Marcellus Board of Education believes that the education of our children is the joint responsibility of the school, the parents and the community.  To ensure that the best interests of our children will be served, a strong program of school, parent and community communication must be maintained.   (School Policy Handbook #1313, adopted March 11, 1996)

 

Parental involvement opportunities included open house, parent teacher conferences, Thanksgiving and Christmas socials, as well as softball and basketball events and in the student-operated business, Volinia Maple.  Parents volunteered to assist with the ninth annual Maple Syrup Festival which was held in mid- March.  Other volunteer opportunities included chaperoning, and fund raising events and tutoring.

Communication with parents occurs in a variety of ways, including:

Telephone                                             email                                                      voice mail

School wide  Planners                         Monthly Volinia News                        Website

Conferences                                         Open House                                          News articles

Report Cards                                        Progress Reports                                  Online access to grades/attendance

Volunteer Recognition Program

 

 

Parent teacher conferences

 

Parent attendance

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

Fall Conferences

33%

34%

29%

Winter conferences

28%

34%

16%

Spring conferences

30%

N/A

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following agencies were involved with the Volinia program throughout the school year:                  

 

Cass County Interagency Council  

Michigan State Extension                               Southwestern Michigan College-

Cass County Youth Committee                       Cass County Health Department

Woodlands                                           Educational Talent Search

Family Independence Agency                        Cass & Van Buren, St Joe County Family Courts

Cass County Council on Aging                         Wrap-Around / Interagency Committees    

Great Start                                                           Edward Lowe Foundation

Lions Club                                                            Volunteer Center of SW Michigan
Children’s Trust Fund

 

 

 

 

 

VI.  Core Curriculum

 

All teachers and the school principal periodically review curriculum, instruction and assessment.  Professional Development time, in-service days and staff meeting time was utilized for curriculum review and development.  Grade level content and high school course content expectations were reviewed and have been  incorporated into the curriculum.  The Michigan Merit Curriculum has been implemented for all 2007-08 freshman.  An on-line requirement (Career Forward) was included into the Volinia student. In addition, an exploratory, conversational French short course was added.

 

Marcellus School District Policy ensures that all students have the same opportunities to learn the core curriculum.  There are no variances from the Michigan Curriculum Frameworks/ MMC

In addition to the core curriculum, special course offerings and programs include:

 

Weekly counseling groups                                 Volinia Maple     

Applied Student Employee Program               Volinia Softball

Anger Management counseling                                                  

                                                               

VII. Teacher Qualifications

 

100% of teachers at Volinia Outcomes School hold teaching certificates and 20% have Masters Degrees.  All teachers in core areas are considered highly qualified under NCLB.

Every parent has the right to know the particular teacher qualifications of his/her teacher(s).  For information about teacher qualifications, contact Superintendent Ron Herron.

 

VII. Graduate Status

 

24 students graduated with a high school diploma. 

 

VIII. Discipline

 

Respectful, reasonable and responsible (the three R’s) behaviors are expected from all students at Volinia.  The Volinia handbook spells out the specific rules and consequences for violation of school rules.  Volinia offers students several helpful programs and methods to help deal with any potential problems or conflicts the student may encounter.  Peer mediation, individual and group counseling sessions are examples of helpful programs.  Students are taught peaceful conflict resolution techniques to help promote positive decision-making.  Action plans, behavior plans or contracts are sometimes developed to assist individuals with making positive choices.  While many students follow rules, there are specific instances that require out-of-school suspension and even expulsion and/or police involvement.  During the 2008-09 school year, there was 1 expulsion.  There were 22 out of school suspensions.

 

 

IV. Student Recognition

 

Student accomplishments including social, behavioral, athletic as well as academic, are celebrated on a weekly basis.  Award ceremonies are held every Friday during the last 10 minutes of the school day.  Students have the opportunity to earn such awards as:

 

Student of the Week                  Honor Roll                                                     Citizenship

Student of the Month                Attendance

Appreciation                              Participation                                                  Athletic/sportsmanship

Birthday                                                     Positive Parenting                                           Peer Leadership

 

Student service included participation in the Cass County Adopt-a-Road program and service at the Cass County Council on Aging.  Students also helped host the annual Maple Syrup Festival and the annual Thanksgiving Appreciation dinner for area school, community and agency leaders and supporters, as well as preparation for senior breakfasts, and prom planning.  Co-ed softball is also available for eligible students.