Executive Summary

Description of the School

The South Ripley School Corporation lies nestled at the edge of the hills of southeastern Indiana, taking in most of the southern third of Ripley County and covering 190 square miles. The area is beautiful and rural, but economically and culturally disadvantaged. Approximately 63 percent of our students receive textbook and meal assistance. Our schools are a center of children's activities and a source of pride for the community. Approximately twenty-one percent of the adults in the area have more than a high school education. South Ripley Elementary School has approximately 560 students housed in a twenty-nine year-old preK-6 building across the road from the Junior High School and Senior High School. Our school facilities are in good condition. Our building is heavily used and enjoyed by both school and community groups. Our school population reflects the community and has few minority groups represented. Our grades preK - 6 staff has an average age of 44 years. SRES has 39 teaching staff and 17 paraprofessionals. We have three sections of fourth and fifth grades. We have four sections of kindergarten, first, second, third, and sixth grades. We have one section of Preschool. Our average attendance rate for the past three years is 95.8 %. We have one half time Special Education Coordinator. We have full time P.E., Music, Art, STEM, and Media Center teachers as well as 1.5 Speech Therapists, part time Band, 4.5 Special Education teachers and an E-Coach. South Ripley also employs a School Resource Officer.

Our principals and staff are enthusiastic and put the needs of our students first. We have an active PBIS committee and have concentrated on meeting the affective needs of both our staff and students. Our own school-wide goals are Safety-Respect-Education-Self Discipline. These goals have resulted in a school wide climate of respect for others and attention to good behavior. We enjoy the support of our PTO. Since few of our students have the opportunity to travel, the PTO has, for many years, provided the funds for class field trips. Last year our PTO raised more than $15,000 for SRES. Local resource individuals are often brought in by staff to share their areas of interest and expertise with students. We have a strong parent and community volunteer program. These enthusiastic people are present daily, helping wherever needed; particularly in the media center, in physical education, and in individual student tutoring. Our school works hard at public relations and community service, including participation in Relay for Life (American Cancer Society), Food Pantry food drives, 6th grade ambassadors, and Jump Rope for Heart (American Heart Association). We try to spotlight students' successes in different areas by submitting news to the local newspaper and sending home a biweekly newsletter with students.

Academically, we work hard to meet the individual needs of every student. Our Title I program works not only with students who need academic help, but also with their parents. Speech and special education resource classes serve specific student needs. Additional help is received from ROD (Ripley-Ohio-Dearborn), our area special education cooperative. In order to help our students master the Indiana Standards, the following programs are in use: Reading Renaissance, including Accelerated Math and Reading, Orton-Gillingham, Fountas and Pinnell, Lindamood Bell program including LiPS, Study Island, and IXL. Differentiated curriculum for high ability students is offered to approximately the top 10% of students in grade levels K-6. Professional development is encouraged. Our contract with Five-Star Technology allows our teachers to engage in free professional development. We have utilized built in 2 hour delay days and eLearning flex days for professional development. Our E-Coach and teachers lead sessions on a variety of topics that help our teachers integrate technology. Our school system enjoys superior technological resources and training.

School’s Purpose

South Ripley Elementary's mission statement reads, "South Ripley Educates Students Today to Become Responsible Citizens of Tomorrow." We put special emphasis on character building qualities that match the name of our school: Safety, Respect, Education, and Self-Discipline. South Ripley Elementary fosters student growth and sets high expectations for its students. We provide students with access to the latest technology, teaching them not only how to use the device to expand their learning opportunities, but also how to be responsible digital citizens. We analyze data in order to provide the support and strategies each student needs to be successful and show growth. Teachers are regularly evaluated to ensure students are receiving equitable learning opportunities and that our curriculum is rigorous. Family and community are important to SRES. Title I Family Fun Night, Grandparents’ Days, and Parent Lunch Days are just a few examples of the numerous times our doors are open to the public to show the emphasis we put on relationships and transparency. Even in the midst of a pandemic, we are utilizing all of our resources to make school as “normal” as possible.

STEM Focus

South Ripley Elementary School began implementing a STEM-dedicated learning model in August 2015 to prepare our students for careers of tomorrow. Through professional development, collaborative planning, and curriculum maps, teachers have been able to design project-based learning and performance-based assessments aligned to grade level standards. Integration across subject area curriculum creates a challenging environment with authentic application.

Learning experiences occur in classrooms and STEM special. In the classroom, teachers and students work in critical-thinking teams, collaborating and problem-solving to create innovative solutions to real-world problems using PLTW kits. In STEM special, students test hypotheses, solve problems, and share solutions through an inquiry-based learning approach.

STEM educators at SRES have implemented a collaborative planning model, sharing practices and core strategies that support an inquiry-based approach to teaching and learning. Teachers have been trained in PLTW, PBL, Makey-Makey, Cubetto, Dash and Dot, Cubeletts, Cue, Ozobot, and Sphero. A large majority of our teachers have completed Google Certification in Level 1 or Level 2. Teachers participate in collaborative meetings to discuss research-based methods to engage students in STEM activities using grade-level curriculum maps. In addition, teachers meet with the STEM special teacher for assistance in implementing our STEM learning experiences. Educators consistently share STEM exemplars at monthly staff meetings.

STEM committee meetings provide another avenue for planning and sharing STEM-based projects and goals. Members meet to plan and facilitate STEM-related projects within the school day, as well as extra-curricular evening activities. Connecting to student interest and incorporating examples of the world around them are paramount to the success of STEM.

In conclusion, STEM learning experiences are evident throughout the building as students and teachers engage in critical-thinking teams, collaboration, and problem-solving situations with real-world application. The scientific process is supported through an inquiry-based learning setting.

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