|
The Network
A Community of Learners
Network Program Profile 2004-2005
In 1998, the administration
of Attleboro Public Schools recognized the need to develop an
alternative high school program for at-risk students. The program
was named the Network and is currently housed with Bristol Community
College at 135 County Street in Attleboro. Students attending the program
are members of Attleboro High School and have the opportunity to
participate in activities at both the Network and the main high school
campus.
The Network Program is a true “learning community”. The program
strives to keep abreast of educational research and “best practice”
in education reform, through evaluation make data-based decisions that
improve teaching and learning, create community partnerships, and engage
in on-going dialogue with all stakeholders. The Network is a educational
program designed for students that
-
have a desire to
earn a high school diploma
-
have been
unsuccessful in previous educational settings,
-
have experienced
significant barriers to learning, and
-
have been referred
to the program by a team of educational specialists.
The enrollment at the Network, at any one time, is 36 students and all of
the students currently have an Individualized Educational Plan. On the
average, the program services between 36-45 students during the school
year.
Administration
| Superintendent |
Joel Lovering |
| Special Education Director |
Sylvia Day |
| Principal |
Jackie Proulx |
Network
Staff
|
Program Coordinator |
Dr. Kathy Vespia |
|
Adjustment Counselor |
Martin Tighe |
|
Teachers |
Robin Frank
Rick McNair
Tim Richmond |
|
Instructional Learning Assistants |
Sue Lamoureux
Val Lowell
Ted
Scott |
Speech and Language, Reading instruction, and Tutoring are provided by
support staff as indicated by students’ I.E.P.’s.
Advisory Board
|
Community |
Ronald Struminski
Barbara
O’Keefe |
|
School Committee |
Richard Correia,
Jr. |
|
District Attorney’s Office |
Thomas Carroll |
|
Business |
William Morton |
|
Education |
Jill Holloway
Stephen Newman
Gladys Rotenberg |
|
Parents |
Valerie Lowell
Nancy Dorrance
Kendra Kulba |
|
Student |
Jenna Tedesco |
The Network was
designed around five key components:
-
Meaningful, authentic instruction
- The goal is for classes to offer
meaningful, student involved learning experiences that develop essential
skills. Student interests and learning styles are taken into account in
an effort to create stimulating and engaging academic program. All work
in school is aimed at helping students prepare for real life experiences
upon graduation and meeting State standards. Small class size gives the
teacher the opportunity to employ more individualized and interactive
instructional strategies and use more effectively both, on-going, daily
classroom assessment (formative) and summative assessment (progress
reports, report cards) to guide instruction.
-
Close relationships with school staff
- Students participate in an advisory model in which they remain with
the same teacher and group of students throughout their years at the
Network. The teaching team (teacher and aides) strives to develop close
working relationships with their students and encourage team building
activities. Additional staff, such as the coordinator, counselor, and
support staff is readily available to meet with students to address
their needs. School size is small, (no more than 36 students at any one
time) allowing for close, personal relationships. Both academic and
social activities support close relationships.
-
Parent involvement -
Parents or guardians are considered partners in the
educational process. They are encouraged to communicate with staff on a
regular basis and are always welcome at the school. They are active
participants in the problem solving process. The goal is to create a
trusting and supportive relationship between student, school staff, and
parent/guardian.
-
Community involvement -
Students are considered members of a community that
extends beyond the school walls. Involvement with colleges and
universities, the Department of Youth Services, Department of Social
Services, and other social service or community based organizations is
considered an important component to the program. Whenever appropriate
these agencies are involved in an effort to provide additional support
for students.
-
Focus School to Work
- Efforts are made to identify vocational interests and aptitudes for
each student. Career awareness and transitional planning (school to life
after school) are addressed on a regular basis. Students are encouraged
to participate in vocational experiences, such as, internships and work
experiences that are considered part of the total educational program.
Program Evaluation:
Program staff recognizes the importance of on-going
formative (ongoing, daily classroom) and summative assessments (progress
reports, report cards to guide teaching and learning. The program uses a
student-centered model of program evaluated at examines 6 levels as
outlined below:
Level 1
|
Level 2
|
Level 3
|
Level 4
|
Level 5
|
Level 6
|
| Goals |
Reaction |
Learning |
Organizational Support |
Behavior |
Extended Student
Outcomes |
Students in the Network receive individualized
support in developing the skills they need to address the state frameworks
and meet the challenges of MCAS.
Support includes individual tutoring, use of Plato
learning technology tools and group workshops. If students have not passed
the MCAS tests, but have met all graduation requirements, they have the
right to receive support for helping them to pass the MCAS tests until
their 22nd birthday. The staff has found the key to success in passing
MCAS has been student investment preparing for the MCAS tests.
The
Network Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
The
mission of the Network PTO is threefold:
- To support and speak on behalf of our children in
the school, community, and before governmental agencies and
organizations that make decisions effecting students,
- To assist parents in developing the skills they
need to raise their children in an environment that fosters educational
growth,
- To reach out to parents in a way that empowers
parents to become involved in their
son/daughter’s educational
success.
Research has proven that
children do better in school when parents talk often with teachers and
become involved in their community.
|
PTO Officers: |
|
|
President |
Kendra Kulba |
|
Secretary/Treasurer |
Nancy Dorrance |
Contact Information
Mailing address:
The
Network Program
Attleboro High School
Rathbun Willard Drive
Attleboro, MA 02703
|
DROP
OUT INFO & LINKS |
