Embedded Files
Atwater students take responsibility for their learning - they reflect on their growth and set goals.
"I can be trusted to do what is right, expected or required."
"I can be trusted to do what is right, expected or required."
During our EL journey, Atwater staff developed the PERKS continuum in order to help students reflect on both character and academic behaviors. The PERKS Habits of Character and Scholarship provides specific expectations (learning targets) for each grade level. Students take the PERKS to heart and reflect on their growth in both Character and Mastery of Knowledge and Skills. One way students have shared their growth with evidence is through student-led conferences. The examples below demonstrate how students use evidence to support their claims of growth.
PERKS Continuum - Responsibility
PERKS Continuum - Responsibility
PERKS Reflections
PERKS Reflections
Atwater teachers provide multiple structures for students to stop and reflect on their personal character development as related to the PERKS and EL Design Principles. Reflections are done as brief essays in character journals, simple check lists, and daily classroom questioning.
School Perceptions Survey
School Perceptions Survey
The School Perceptions survey is taken each spring by all Shorewood students grades 4-12. It is our district's tool for gathering quantitative data related to character and wellness. The survey includes questions that connect directly to the Atwater PERKS, such as, "I put my best effort into my school work" and "If I commit to a task, I will do what it takes to get it done." The scoring is on a 4.0 scale, 1.0 being low and 4.0 being high. We are proud that Atwater has maintained a high score over the last several years of collecting schools perceptions data.
Communicating Student Achievement
Communicating Student Achievement
EL Core Practice 31 is "Communicating Student Achievement." Atwater staff have strategically implemented Portfolios/Goal Setting, Student-led Conferences, Passages (6th Grade student-led presentations on individual growth during their Atwater experience), and Celebrations of Learning. The culture at Atwater offers multiple forums where students share their growth with an audience and are empowered to take responsibility for their own learning.
Junior Kindergarten Celebration of Learning
5th Grade student-led conference
Orchestra concert with student conductors
3/4 Multi-Age student-led conference
The PERKS During Student Focus Groups
The PERKS During Student Focus Groups
We have asked students about the PERKS and how they are used throughout Atwater over the past several years during our mid-year review student focus groups. Some of the responses from different years and grade bands are included below.
2018-2019 : 5th and 6th grade students
2019-2020 : 3rd and 4th grade students
2020-2021 : 5th and 6th grade students
Page updated
Report abuse