Mission Statement

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction..................................................................................................................... 1

Steering Committee Members....................................................................................... 2

Mission Statement.......................................................................................................... 3

Vision............................................................................................................................... 3

Guiding Principles........................................................................................................... 3

Focus Areas

Communication and Community........................................................................ 4

Curriculum and Instruction................................................................................. 4

Evaluation and Assessment............................................................................... 4

Staff Development.............................................................................................. 4

Pupil Support Services........................................................................................ 5

Finance and Facilities......................................................................................... 5

Action Plan...................................................................................................................... 6 - 28

Glossary.......................................................................................................................... 29 - 30

Strategic Planning Participants...................................................................................... 31

Appendices – Located in Each School Main Office

School Improvement Plan

Professional Development Plan

Individual Teacher Professional Development Plan

Operating Budget Manual

Administrative Council Annual Calendar

AYP/MCAS Report

Harwich Public School Fact Sheet

District Accommodation Plan

Community E-Guide

Student Study Process

Academic Success Plans

Evaluation Document

Introduction

In January 2004, the School Committee and Administration of the Harwich Public Schools engaged the community in a two-day strategic planning session. Over one hundred people participated in this event. The Steering Committee and the Harwich Administrative Team then met to review all of the information gathered from this weekend and create a summary that became the basis for our five-year District Strategic Plan (District Improvement Plan). This plan will guide the future of education in the Harwich Public Schools through the year 2010.

The administrative team, consisting of the Superintendent, Directors of Curriculum and Pupil Services, Business Manager, Principals and Assistant Principals, met throughout the months of November and December to create the framework necessary for a successful planning weekend. The team conducted a self-analysis utilizing the expiring Strategic Plan, curriculum guides, knowledge of existing staff, students and the community to formulate this framework. We identified strengths and areas of need utilizing this information and statistical data from state and other national assessments. This background work clarified the focus areas that needed to be addressed at our planning weekend.

Any plan for improvement or a plan to guide the educational growth of a school district will only be effective if those in positions of leadership have ownership in its creation. The School Committee, Administration and staff are committed to this endeavor. We have been given a gift from the Harwich Community. The gift of overwhelming community participation and support in the planning process must be honored by seeing that the recommendations are fulfilled to the best of our ability. The Administrative Team of the Harwich Public School District is eager to meet this challenge. Annually, we will revisit our five-year plan to re-affirm the initiatives for the upcoming year, modify where appropriate, and assess our progress for the year being completed. In so doing, we will ensure the success for all students in the Harwich Public Schools.

In closing, I would like to personally thank the Administrators, staff, students, School Committee members, parents and community members who participated in this two-day event. Your service has guaranteed that this will be a “living” document.

Rosemary Joseph

Superintendent of Schools

STEERING COMMITTEE

Mary Ann Albertine	Elementary School Librarian
Jamie Blair	Student
Tom Blute	Parent
Mary Ellen Caesar	Elementary School Principal
Mary Childress	Middle School Principal
Gary Costin	Business Manager
Dana DeCosta	Finance Committee
Janie Girolamo	High School Asst. Principal
Pam Groswald	Community
James Hartley	Director of Special Education
Peter Hughes	Board of Selectmen
Rosemary Joseph	Superintendent
Robert Krol	High School Principal
Jan Norton	Director of Curriculum
Barbara Prindle-Eaton	School Committee
Vicky Provost	High School Council
John Ryan	High School Teacher
Jacquie Scarborough	High School Council
Robin Wilkins	School Committee

Mission Statement

The mission of the Harwich Public Schools, in partnership with the community, is to foster an education environment where students come first. We will instill in all students the lifelong desire to achieve to their fullest personal potential while gaining the literacy and computational skills required to function as contributing citizens in the 21^st century. To accomplish this, the Harwich Public Schools will create a caring and supportive environment that nurtures the development of character, enthusiasm for learning and an appreciation for life.

Vision

The Harwich Public Schools will be considered one of the most highly respected school districts in Massachusetts. Academic student success is the primary mission. In concert with this, Harwich Public Schools will provide opportunities in athletics, the arts and other student co-curricular activities that will shape well-rounded, competitive and articulate student leaders capable of functioning in an ever-changing world.

Our mission and vision will be accomplished by employing a highly qualified staff who participate in professional development activities that helps them grow in knowledge of content and provides them with the skills and the techniques to deliver a rigorous educational program.

Each child will come to school prepared to learn. Parents, community partners and other stakeholders will value education as the primary activity of students.

Guiding Principles

· The safety, well being and academic achievement of all students is at the core of all decisions.

· The values of respect, individual and collective responsibility, honesty, integrity, tolerance and acceptance of self and others are essential to an ever-changing school community.

· All students will be provided with the opportunity to achieve to their fullest potential.

· Expectations and standards will be at levels which foster optimal teaching and learning.

· Professional and support staff which are highly skilled and highly motivated are the primary force that will ensure high levels of student success.

· Student achievement and success require positive, active involvement and support of family and community.

FOCUS AREAS¹

Communication and Community

The Harwich Public School recognizes that the community has vast resources and experience that can assist the school in the accomplishment of its mission. We also realize the inclusion of our community partners in as many aspects of school life as possible is essential to our success. To this end, the schools will seek to expand on levels and areas of communication with all sectors of the community.

Curriculum and Instruction

The Harwich Pubic Schools will use in each of its schools and programs curricula that are aligned with the state standards in the core academic subjects of English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Technology, History and Social Studies, Foreign Languages, the Arts, and Health and Physical Education. The curricula will be current, academically sound, challenging, and clearly understood by all who administer and teach in the district.

The district will have an effective evaluation tool and utilize measurable data to ensure that all instructional practices are sound from grade to grade and classroom to classroom. The evaluation tool will also be tied to district goals, to school goals, and individual teacher goals. The evaluation tool will connect teacher performance to student assessment goals thereby ensuring high expectations for student achievement.

Evaluation and Assessment

District and building administrators must consistently monitor the administration of the statewide assessments and other measurement tools, including teacher assessments of student performance relative to local and state standards. The data derived from state, school and individual student assessment is used to improve curricula, instructional practices, professional development activities, supplementary and remedial services and the purchasing of materials to support student achievement and success.

The district will utilize a variety of student assessment tools and a teacher evaluation process that supports the goal of improved student achievement.

Staff Development

The district Professional Development Plan was developed through an analysis of data for all administrators, teachers and other professional staff, paraprofessionals, teacher assistants and professional support teams. The district will ensure that all schools have identified their professional development needs, thereby connecting individual teacher plans to the needs of the schools and the district. The district will update its plan annually and commit the resources necessary to provide offerings that support professional needs in all areas.

Pupil Support Services

The district provides support services in all academic areas along with guidance, special education, Title I and ELL for students that are not meeting state and local performance expectations. The district engages in a comprehensive analysis of the results from student performance assessments and student needs in order to determine the content and scope of academic and other support services that are offered.

Finance and Facilities

The district has a budget preparation and development process that ensures full consideration and effective use of available resources essential for district and school operations that focus on student achievement and success.

The district maintains adequate accounting and financial reporting procedures that provide for appropriate accountability for the funding level. District and school level administrators are informed of the financial standing of its individual schools to ensure effective managerial control over the use of funds and financial accountability.

The condition, management and maintenance of facilities will encourage public support for education and will be conducive to promoting high levels of learning.

¹Adapted from Commonwealth of Massachusetts, School District Tier II Examination Standards 2004

Action Plan:
Communication and Community Target Objective or Strategy: Create a formal school volunteer program
Activity	Who	When	Evaluation/Assessment Data Collected
o Develop a handbook o Provide training o Revamp Community E-Guide o Match volunteers to school needs	School Linked Services/Asst. Principals Professional Development Committee School Linked Services Asst. Principals/School Linked Services	2005, Fall 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, Annual 2005, Fall 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, Annual	Publish Annually Teacher/Volunteer Survey Update Annually and Issue Teacher/Volunteer Survey and Celebration

Action Plan:
Communication and Community Target Objective or Strategy: Engage faculty, students, parents and community in activities within and after the school day.
Activity	Who	When	Evaluation/Assessment Data Collected
o Leadership Activities o Faculty Fall Events o Pep Rallies/Spirit Day Activities o Spirit of Giving o Intramural Activities, School Plays, Concerts, Project Nights o Renaissance Events/Student Recognition o Spring MCAS Nights o Curriculum Nights o Award Nights	Principals, Asst. Principals, Peer Leader and PTA Principal, Asst. Principal, Peer Leader and PTA Principals/Asst. Principals Principals/Peer Leader Principals Principals Principals/Curriculum Director/Pupil Personnel Director Principals/Curriculum Director/Pupil Personnel Director Principals	Annually Annually Annually Annually Intermittently throughout the year Quarterly Annually Intermittently throughout the year Intermittently throughout the year	Greater Community support and participation in school related events

Action Plan:
Communication and Community Target Objective or Strategy: Create a Harwich Service Learning Program (HSL)
Activity	Who	When	Evaluation/Assessment Data Collected
o Establish a HSL advisory board comprised of students, teachers, parent members, administrators and business partners o Develop a HSL program that brings together students, teachers and community members in providing a service that meets a need in the community o Tie the community service to the learning process o Celebrate the accomplishments annually – HSL Fair o Publish accomplishments	School Committee/Superintendent HSL Advisory Committee HSL Coordinators and Staff HSL Coordinator/HSL Advisory HSL Advisory	2005, Fall 2006, Spring Pilot 2006 Fall Implementation Annually Annually Annually	Appointment of Board Publish HSL Booklet Publish HSL Projects identifying community and learning connections Publish HSL Project Winners Pres releases; Educational Channel Story