International School: State of the School Speech

1. International School: State of the School Speech PTSA Presentation by Dr. Peter Bang-Knudsen January 27, 2009

2. Overview • Review our mission as a school • How are we doing in achieving our goals? • What are our areas for improvement? • How will the economic situation affect our school? • What is the status on languages at our school? • Questions & Answers

3. What is our mission? • The International School strives to offer the best comprehensive secondary education in the United States. The International School continually measures its practice against the best, in order to set the standard for all.

4. Measuring our success: • Using multiple data points to measure our success (and areas for continued improvement.)

5. 100% of 2009 grads attended 4 year college

6. Every 2009 senior graduated having passed at least one AP exam!!!

7. How do we measure our success? • U.S. News & World Report: • #1 School in the District • #1 School in the State • #10 School in the United States

8. 2005-2009 SAT Scores Increasing

9. Class of 2010: 2 National Merit Finalists 6 Commended

10. INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL – high school students only3 YEARS of WASL SCORES – Percent of students meeting standardUpdated with 2009 scores

11. Highest average High School GPA & Lowest failure rate in the district in 2009 • 3.37 Average GPA • 2% of all grades given were F grades

12. Physically fit! • Middle school sports: undefeated in ultimate and badminton • #1 physically fit school in the Governor’s Health Challenge • Some top finishes in state level competition • Michael Williams • Erin Maclean

13. Artistic endeavors • Great all-school musical • All state honors • Graphic art work

14. Senior Project/Research Papers

15. Extracurricular Bite of International MUN Roots and Shoots Art Honor Society French Honor Society German Honor Society Robotics Math Team Science Bowl

16. Our school is valued • Largest attendance at 5th grade information night • We’re anticipating over 450 applications for 81 6th grade spots • Office staff receive phone calls and e-mails from parents & students across the globe who want to attend our school.

17. Where do we need to improve? • Good to great • We still have some students who are struggling in some areas. • 20 student did not meet standard in math last year. • While 2% failing grades are very low, we still expect these students to learn. • How do we support every student to be prepared for college success and global citizenship?

18. Staff • Professional Learning Communities • Teachers collaborating together to review data, and develop instructional strategies that further support student learning (students that are struggling, as well as students who are looking for more challenge.)

19. Targeted Instructional Area • A school wide effort to have all International students demonstrate measurable growth in their ability to be self-regulated learners. Staff will teach students how to plan and set goals, how to apply strategies to monitor their learning, and how to evaluate their progress. Achievement will be measured with formative and summative assessments.

20. Plan & Set Goals Task constraints Beliefs about learning Knowing one’s strengths & weaknesses Evaluate & Adapt Apply Strategies & Monitor Motivation Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) (Butler, 1997; Pintrich, 2000; Winne & Hadwin, 1998)

21. Exam Wrappers • How they work • Upon returning a graded exam, students complete an exam reflection sheet in class • Report study strategies, analyze errors, identify new approaches as needed • Before the next exam, sheets are returned to students for review and consideration, and students make a study plan.

22. Students and electronic media • NYT 1/20/10: “Those ages 8 to 18 spend more than seven and a half hours a day with such devices (Smart phones, computers, TV, etc.), compared with less than six and a half hours five years ago, when the study was last conducted. “

23. Internet Harassment & Bullying • Are you aware of what your student (especially your middle school student) is writing/posting on line, or via text messaging? • Young students lack the judgment (pre frontal cortex) to make good decisions in this arena. They need our help, guidance, and limits.

24. What is the economic outlook for the state, district and school? • $2.6 Billion dollar state short fall. • We don’t know the full reduction to the district, or building level yet, but we anticipate that there will be further budget cuts. • Class size, programs, student choices.

25. What can you do to help? • Vote in the February 9th levy election. These two levies fund over 20% of our district’s total budget. • Participate in our upcoming school Auction on March 6th. • Continue to support Bellevue Schools Foundation. • Continue to volunteer.

26. Finding Opportunity in crisis • " When sorrows come - they come not single spies- but in battalions "Famous Hamlet quote by William Shakespeare (Act IV - Scene V) "We are in an economic downturn but an • innovation upturn.” • ‐Bill Gates • October 23, 2008 • “We will emerge an even stronger industry leader than we are today.” • ‐Steven Ballmer, chief Microsoft executive • January 22, 2009

27. What is the status of languages at our school? • Last year we had insufficient enrollment to offer German 1A • The school paid for a German summer camp so that incoming 6th graders could take German 1B • We will seek enrollment for German 1A for the 2010-2011 school year. Like all programs, if there is sufficient enrollment, we will offer German 1A. If there is not, we will not offer German 1A. • The PDC is developing a community-wide forum on future of world languages: 1 language vs. 2 languages.

28. Questions and Answers

29. High School Retreat Cycle of Regions Africa Latin America Asia The Middle East

30. High School Retreat 2009 Content Sessions African Art African Film African Dance The Spread and Treatment of AIDS in Africa African Recreational Games Hamomi Children’s Center: An African School