Culture

Domain Summary: Culture

Wes-Del Elementary is a tight-knit community of teachers and learners. Each day, our small school works diligently to offer big opportunities to students by educating the whole child. Our school exhibits a true family feeling as we take care of each other, work together, and are always learning and growing.

1.1 Decision-Making

The STEM Leadership Team routinely meets monthly to discuss and plan STEM opportunities for learning and integrating. Our staff is surveyed to continue to grow in STEM ideas and tools to create more experiences for our students. STEM Day feedback drives planning for best learning opportunities for students and incorporates community partners interest.

1.1 Decision Making

1.2 Learning Modalities

Wes-Del Community Schools utilizes many applications that serve students in collaboration both in person or virtually. Within our Continuous Learning Plan, we included a section specifically addressing STEM in any modality.

1.2.Learning Modalities

1.3 Common Work Time

Teachers have common planning time each day during specials time. Grade levels are expected to meet at least once per week, if not more. Additionally, teachers have 45 minutes built into the end of the school day in which to plan collaboratively.

WD 1.3 Common Work Time

1.4 Sustainability Plan

Our sustainability plan can be found linked to the right. In the plan, you will find funding sources for Technology, Teacher Training, and Curriculum throughout the five years of being STEM Certified.

Sustainability Plan

1.5 Measurement of Students' Attitudes/Interests

Results from our surveys revealed a positive impact of STEM initiatives, with an overwhelming interest in STEM education. We will continue to offer more STEM opportunities, highlight careers in STEM, and increase STEM related clubs to feed our students interests and support their future STEM pathways.

1.5 Measurement of Students’ Attitudes/Interests

1.6 STEM Program Engagement

Surveys are given to parents to gather their interest, which is used to direct the STEM program revisions, and to gauge what is working well or needs improved to be more effective. We are very fortunate to have great support of STEM programs from our parents. The positive feedback from home is encouraging.

1.6 STEM Program Engagement

1.7 STEM Instructional Feedback

Our principal meets with teachers to discuss the walkthrough noting areas of praise, questioning possible new strategies and ideas for their classroom activities and procedures. In mid and end of year conferences, Mr. Reagan also speaks to the area of the RISE Rubric where this walkthrough fits and completes a picture of the teacher’s professional expertise.

WD 1.7 STEM Instructional Feedback

1.8 Ongoing Support

Coaching cohorts with Technology Integrations Specialist occur monthly as a district support. We want our teachers to keep an open mindset and continue to grow in their professions, for themselves and their students. Making sure they are receiving support is vital.

WD 1.8 Ongoing Support

1.9 Access and opportunity to STEM courses and programs

100% of the students participate in the STEM programming at our school as it's integrated into every general education classroom across our building, embedded into our STEM class, and our computer science programming in our media special. When students are participating in the integrated STEM instruction and STEM/Computer Science Specials, they are not removed from the classroom for any forms of remediation.

WD 1.9 Access & Opportunity STEM

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