Relevance and Appropriateness of Core Competencies
Three core competencies at Napavine School District are our K-12 reading program, athletic distinction and attendance expectation. Napavine prides itself on preparing students academically. One of the most important skills for a student is the ability to read well. We begin in kindergarten with Accelerated Reader (AR) and continue using the program through twelfth grade. Research from Renaissance Learning shows that “students who use AR are nearly twice as likely to be career and college ready.” One of the unique aspects about Napavine is that we continue to use AR in high school. Other schools in our area typically discontinue AR after the sixth grade. Students who read regularly and who …show more content…
With a population of 222 in grades 9-12, we had 161 athletes participate in nine sports throughout the year. Some students do participate in two or three sports throughout the year, but many do not. This participation helps our students achieve better academically and gives them more opportunities for college scholarships and workforce employment. Athletics also teaches students leadership, teamwork, determination and integrity--all important characteristics of a good employee. The third core competency at Napavine is our strict attendance policy. Students are expected to be at school on time or be penalized through detention. Parents are notified. Students are counseled as to the importance of arriving on time and being in class. Staff discusses our tardy and attendance policy at many staff meetings. In addition, students who are absent ten or more days in a semester must petition to earn credit in all classes in which they were absent. They are required to explain their absences and then go before a panel of staff, administrators and parents to explain why they should be given credit for classes in which they were absent. Showing up for school (and/or work) is an important lesson for students to …show more content…
This test gives students and teachers a starting point and helps teachers set individual reading levels. Students then can select books based on their reading levels. This also enables the teacher to approve or not approve leveled books for students. If a student is at a fourth grade reading level and chooses a book at a twelfth grade level, the teacher can help the student find a more suitable book. This also works in reverse. Some high school students choose very low level books in order to get AR points. Because reading is such an integral part of our system, English teachers share reading levels with other core teachers so core teachers are aware of struggling readers in classes such as math, science and history. In regards to our second competency, athletics, Napavine holds pep assemblies regularly to celebrate athletic success. These assemblies take place at the end of the work day, usually on a Friday. We attempted to hold assemblies during our morning, but found both students and staff were not as engaged during the morning. Students who participate in athletics are given the opportunity to showcase their skills in a variety of activities. Coaches are also invited to speak about standout athletes and athletes who have been recognized by the local newspaper or Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association. Finally, our principal is a key player when it comes to our
Three core competencies at Napavine School District are our K-12 reading program, athletic distinction and attendance expectation. Napavine prides itself on preparing students academically. One of the most important skills for a student is the ability to read well. We begin in kindergarten with Accelerated Reader (AR) and continue using the program through twelfth grade. Research from Renaissance Learning shows that “students who use AR are nearly twice as likely to be career and college ready.” One of the unique aspects about Napavine is that we continue to use AR in high school. Other schools in our area typically discontinue AR after the sixth grade. Students who read regularly and who …show more content…
With a population of 222 in grades 9-12, we had 161 athletes participate in nine sports throughout the year. Some students do participate in two or three sports throughout the year, but many do not. This participation helps our students achieve better academically and gives them more opportunities for college scholarships and workforce employment. Athletics also teaches students leadership, teamwork, determination and integrity--all important characteristics of a good employee. The third core competency at Napavine is our strict attendance policy. Students are expected to be at school on time or be penalized through detention. Parents are notified. Students are counseled as to the importance of arriving on time and being in class. Staff discusses our tardy and attendance policy at many staff meetings. In addition, students who are absent ten or more days in a semester must petition to earn credit in all classes in which they were absent. They are required to explain their absences and then go before a panel of staff, administrators and parents to explain why they should be given credit for classes in which they were absent. Showing up for school (and/or work) is an important lesson for students to …show more content…
This test gives students and teachers a starting point and helps teachers set individual reading levels. Students then can select books based on their reading levels. This also enables the teacher to approve or not approve leveled books for students. If a student is at a fourth grade reading level and chooses a book at a twelfth grade level, the teacher can help the student find a more suitable book. This also works in reverse. Some high school students choose very low level books in order to get AR points. Because reading is such an integral part of our system, English teachers share reading levels with other core teachers so core teachers are aware of struggling readers in classes such as math, science and history. In regards to our second competency, athletics, Napavine holds pep assemblies regularly to celebrate athletic success. These assemblies take place at the end of the work day, usually on a Friday. We attempted to hold assemblies during our morning, but found both students and staff were not as engaged during the morning. Students who participate in athletics are given the opportunity to showcase their skills in a variety of activities. Coaches are also invited to speak about standout athletes and athletes who have been recognized by the local newspaper or Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association. Finally, our principal is a key player when it comes to our