Teaching and Learning

Teaching & Learning Components

Teachers use proven, research-based, instructional practices that actively engage students in the learning process and encourage all students to take ownership of their learning.
Teachers consistently provide opportunities for all students to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world situations.
Teachers give all students frequent feedback using a variety of methods to improve their performance.

Curriculum Alignment

Curriculum is aligned and articulated with Nebraska or locally approved standards at all grade levels. All standards and teaching programs can be found at the Conestoga Curriculum website.

Schlichtemeier

Curriculum Maps

The school district aligns and implements a curriculum based on clear and measurable expectations for all student learning in all content areas, that provides multiple opportunities for all students to acquire requisite knowledge, skills, and attitudes. During the 2021-2022 school year, core teachers developed common curriculum guides. Above is a sample from the High School English Language Arts courses.

Curriculum Cycle

The school district has a formalized process to align instructional practices with the curriculum and demonstrates results through systemic and sustainable implementation across the school district.

SJCSD-2017-Focused-Teacher-Evalaution-Model-Classroom-Teacher-Map-Crosswalks-Protocols.pdf

Marzano Frameworks

Conestoga utilizes the Marzano Focused Teacher Model for our instructional model. Additionally, teachers, administration, and superintendent are evaluated using iObservations, which is aligned to the Focused Model.

MTSS Conestoga Public Schools

Conestoga utilizes componenets of MTSS throughout the district. Plans, resources and strategies for both academic and mental health can be found at the linked website.

Informal Walkthroughs

Building principals and members of the administration team complete informal walk-throughs throughout each week. These walk-throughs align with building goals anchored in the Marzano Frameworks elements. The data from these walk-throughs help guide building goals and next steps.

Professional Development

Overview of ConestogaProfessional Development. Agendas are created for each professional development day with links to all resources for present participants and absent participants. For confidentiality purposes, all links have been removed. Conestoga utilizes 11 days of PD for in house supports. Staff participates in two flex days that they can utilize for their own personal growth. Those days are often used in the summer but are also slotted in the calendar year.

PD Outline

Instructional Rounds

Twice a year, Conestoga teachers benefit from the experience of Instructional Rounds. These rounds allow teachers the opportunity to learn from their peers by visiting various classrooms in an effort to learn from each other and develop common district practices.

Conestoga Preschool

Conestoga offers half day preschool for three and four year olds in the Conestoga District.

Additionally, Amy Macrander supports students birth to five years old in the Conestoga District.

Checkout their site here

Kindergarten Round Up

During the pandemic, Kindergarten revamped their Round Up approach and went virtual! Kindergarten utilizes this website to communicate an overview of Kindergarten the spring prior to enrollment and greets families and students in the fall!

Conestoga High School 2021-2022.pdf

District Goals

Personalized Learning

Career Plans

College and Career Ready

The Process

In an effort to support the district goals, Conestoga begins the DISCOVER process in junior high through a Leadership course, Career Exploration course, and a JH Career Day. The school counselor begins to FOCUS the students in 10th grade where she meets 1:1 to outline courses for each student based on their interest areas.

Opportunties

Students at Conestoga ENGAGE and FOCUS with their chosen interest area by having the opportunity to complete Pathways, complete SENCAP courses, and complete dual credit courses.

OnLine College Classes

Juniors and seniors have the opportunity to schedule a class period to work on an online college class. Students are responsible for signing up for the class and then showing proof of enrollment. Students, along with a parent/guardian, will also need to sign an agreement about how the class period will be spent.

Students can enroll in a class at any institution of their choice. However, most of our students enroll in a class though the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) or Southeast Community Colleges SENCAP program.

UNL's program for college credit, available to high school students is the Nebraska Now. You can start the enrollment process by clicking on the following link:

UNL Nebraska Now

Southeast Community College, in partnership with 44 school districts in Educational Service Units 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, are proud to offer high school students the opportunity to enroll in Southeast Nebraska Career Academy Partnership (SENCAP) which offers several academies: Agriculture, Business, Construction, Criminal Justice, Education, Health Sciences, Information Technology, and manufacturing in Energy and Welding. Juniors and seniors in high school will not only have the opportunity to take college-level coursework in a career field of their interest, but also have multiple opportunities to explore their career in a hands-on approach through, job shadowing, field trips, professional speakers, and annual events highlighting resume building, mock interviews, and other worthy career-related activities. Students can enroll in these programs through the counseling office.

Southeast Community College SENCAP

Dual Credit

Educational Leadership, Spanish IV, English IV, Advanced Biology, and Advanced Speech can be taken for high school and college credit through Wesleyan. Student are in class with Conestoga teachers. If they choose to do so, they will receive both high school and college credits. Information for signing up for these classes is provided to students during their 1:1 with Mrs. Kreifels! Coming in 2022-2023: American History.

Business and Welding classes may also be taught on-site through the SENCAP program. Students can enroll in these programs through the counseling office.

Did you know.....

That students at Conestoga can graduate with 14 hours of dual credit! In 2023 they can graduate with 20 credit hours!! This is provided by our fabulous teachers right here at Conestoga! This is in addition to SENCAP and other online courses students may take!

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