UNDERSTANDING THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

Student: Natalie Mucha

School: Tioga Elementary School

Term: Fall 2016

Your site visit experience offers you the opportunity to learn how schools operate as a large community promoting the growth of a
learner. School environment is determined by the schools culture, its history, its belief in how to do things and what is worth doing.
Become familiar with the school environment by completing the table below. Accomplish this by using the host schools website, the
Illinois Public K-12 School Rankings based on the Report Card and school personnel interviews.
Demographics
The following elements look at the demographic information of a school.
The demographic information of a school can provide an excellent look at the diversity of the school environment.
What is/are the
Answer
Resource for the Answer: Persons name
and title, document or website.
Current school enrollment
Approximately 800 students attend Tioga www.bsd2.org
Elementary School
Percentage of various races and ethnicities
African American: 5%
Illinoisreportcard.com
Asian 3%
Hispanic 68%
White 20%
Multi-racial: 4%
Number of males and females as per school
52% male
http://publicreport card
48% female
schools.startclass.com/l/27394/TiogaElementary-School
Percent of low income students
70%
www.illinoisreportcard.com
Percent of students with IEPs

17.2%

www.bsd2.org

Percentage of English Language Learners

Composite percent of students who meet
and exceed state standards
# of FTE (full time equivalency) teachers

46%
22% Meet & 2% Exceed

www.illinoisreportcard.com
www.illinoisreportcard.com

Kindergarten- 5th grade teachers : 35

Early Childhood staff : 11
Special Area Staff: 23
Bilingual/ESL Support : 7
Reading Specialists: 4

www.bsd2.org

School Organization
The following elements identify various aspects of the organization of the school.
By understanding the school organization, teachers can better plan their lessons and their day.
School Mission Statement
Maximize the unique potential of each child by
www.bsd2.org school calendar
honoring a natural curiosity and igniting a desire
to learn.
Length of school day for students
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 8:35-3:20
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Thursday 8:35-2:25
Length of school day for contracted
Teachers shall work a professional day which
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staff
shall encompass, at a minimum, the student
attendance hours. Teachers shall also be
responsible for other professional duties. These
may include, by way of example, curriculum and
other committee work, faculty and team meetings
attendance, student staffing participation, parent
meetings and conference participation, and
school programs attendance, as required of the
professional staff of the District.
Number of minutes per class or time
allotted for each subject

75 minutes Math
26 minutes Science
45 minutes- Reading
30 minutes social studies/ science
40 minutes- Writing

www.bsd2.org

Number of minutes for specials

Art, P.E., Music, etc.
Elective classes offered

15-20 minutes- Word Work

Dance: 15 minutes
PE: 30 minutes
Music: 30 minutes
Art: 45 minutes
Choral, Instrumental Music

www.bsd2.org

www.bsd2.org

Extracurricular activities offered

Art Club, Before School Tutoring, Beginning

Instrumental Band, Chorus, Family Nights,
Handchimes, Mentoring Program, Music Club,
Newspaper, Parent Associations, Reading Clubs,
Service Learning Club, Spanish Quest,
Technology Club, Tutoring Program, Yearbook
Club

www.illinoisreportcard.com

Types of duties which teachers are

assigned
Types of communication between
the school, home, and community

Bus, lunch, and recess duty

Student handbook

Parents and teachers working as partners can help

children succeed in school. One way we can all
help is to keep the bond between school and
home healthy and our communication open and
respectful. This is important to the success of all
students. Parents can assist us by keeping their
childs teacher informed about issues that may
impact their childs success in school.
Concerts-Band

www.bsd2.org

Blue, yellow, and red are the school colors

When the school name is googled an icon

pops up with their logo and school colors
on it.

Types of all-school or grade level

assemblies
School colors and mascot
Student and faculty dress code

Students and faculty are expected to present a

modest appearance that is appropriate for school
that does not disrupt nor distract from the
educational process or interfere with the
maintenance of a positive teaching/learning
climate.Teachers and staff should feel free to
participate in spirit day dress (i.e. Pajama day).
Students are expected to present an appearance in
accordance with reasonable standards of health,
safety, order, discipline and modesty. The
following are not allowed: tops that are seethrough, low-cut, low armholes. Short shorts or
short skirts or pants below the waist. Exposed
undergarments. Hats, bandanas, hoods, hairnets,
sweatbands, head bands (males only), or other
head coverings.

Student handbook

www.bsd2.org

Assistance
The following elements identify various types of assistance available to students and faculty.
Identifying and understanding the various types of assistance available to students and teachers provides a teacher with a greater sense
of community.
Student intervention plans such as
The district adopted a three- tier approach to
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Response to Intervention (RTI)
instruction. Students needing additional support
academically and/or behaviorally will be
monitored frequently to ensure students meet
grade level expectations. Positive Behavior
Interventions and Supports is a framework from
which good behavior is systematically described
and taught through expectations and rewarded
when observed. Students accumulate points in
some form that qualify them for special events,

Provisions for students so that they

can participate in extracurricular
activities (e.g. transportation)
Types of technology available for
teachers
Types of technology available for
students
Types of professional development
available to staff

privileges, or small prizes. The expectations are

taught to all children, and all staff members from
bus drivers and lunchroom helpers to teachers
follow the same set of expectations. There are
behavior expectations for common areas such as
hallways, bathroom and cafeterias as well as
classrooms or other smaller environments.
Could not find provisions for students in the
handbook
Laptops, SMART board

www.bsd2.org

Multimedia software applications such as study

island, computer labs, iPads, Chromebooks, &
laptops
Teachers receive professional development
throughout each school year to develop their
knowledge and skills in relation to Google Apps
for Education.
School dismisses early each Thursday to provide
time for staff in-service.
Training on various district software
applications/programs will be provided in various
ways
Destination Success Reading & Math
Earobics Reach
SMART Board Training

www.bsd2.org
www.bsd2.org

SharePoint
Read Naturally & One Minute Reader
Student Management System online grade
book
Policies
The following elements provide a greater understanding of the policies that exist in a school environment.
Read and summarize the Schools
Students will not have access to email, so they
www.bsd2.org
digital etiquette policy for students.
will not be able to send private messages. The
same discipline procedures will be enforced as in
any other situation of bullying or improper use of
technology.
Staff credentials to sponsor
extracurricular activities
Philosophy of the school library or
learning center
Study hall policies for students and
teachers
Lunchroom policies for students and
teachers

Hallway policies: during class time

and between classes

A volunteer or resource person can be used as

supervisors, chaperones, or sponsors for nonacademic school activities.
Students have access to a varied and engaging
book, magazine, and video collection as well as
updated technology to reinforce media and
information literacy for all students.
Could not find any information on a study hall in
the student handbook or school website
Teachers will need to monitor both the lunch line
and main cafeteria. Supervisors should rotate
throughout their designated section of the
cafeteria for the durations of the lunch period
striving to monitor all behavior and make
positive connections with students.
There are behavior expectations for the hallways,
cafeteria, classroom, and during recess. All the
expectations focus on being safe, respectful and
responsible.

www.bsd2.org
www.bsd2.org

Student Handbook

www.bsd2.org

School discipline policy

Theres a bill that clarifies when certain

disciplinary actions may or may not be taken and
would make out-of-school suspension and
expulsion a last resort to be used only if a student
poses a threat to safety within the school or
would seriously disrupt school operations.

www.bsd2.org

Emergency procedure plans (fire,

tornado, evacuation, and lockdown)

Fire and disaster drills are carefully planned at

each school. Students frequently practice the drill
so they be- come familiar with the routine. The
schools cooperate with the fire and civil defense
groups in planning for disaster drills. If there is
severe weather at or near dis- missal time, the
children will be kept until the danger has passed
and parents will be notified through the
emergency phone message system, the email
alert and social media.

www.bsd2.org