• Download the DRAFT of the 2016-2017 School Improvement Plan (PDF)

    School Improvement Plan 2016-2017 - DRAFT

    Introduction

    Since 1968, Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School (RVTHS) has been a leader in preparing students for both career and college readiness.   Serving the students of Fall River, Somerset, Swansea, and Westport, Diman provides both secondary and post-secondary opportunities. As an educational philosophy, Diman faculty and staff believe that world-class education comingles experiential learning with rigorous academia. As such, Diman educators aim to graduate socially conscious, critically engaged participants of a global community. Diman alumni are then expected to utilize their educational experiences to advance change in a fluid and technologically savvy world.   

    At Diman RVTHS, students are held to the highest educational standards. The results of these expectations have historically led to varied and measured successes, as well as a state-determined level one status. Furthermore, 2016 Diman RVTHS achievements include a 97% graduation rate, an 80% cooperative education placement rate, and a 59% post-secondary acceptance rate.  

    Diman also offers many extracurricular activities and encourages all students to participate in community service activities during their high school careers. The Diman RVTHS belief is that learning does not conclude with the end of the school day. Rather, a Diman education affords students the opportunities for lifelong learning and the skills to improve their communities at large.

    Vision

    Diman RVTHS graduates will be occupationally skilled workers whose academic, vocational/technical, and workplace competencies will make them responsive to socioeconomic, technological, and environmental challenges in a complex and changing society.

    Mission

    The mission of Diman RVTHS is to develop the unique potential of each learner by enabling students to acquire knowledge, skills, and dispositions that are needed to achieve personal, academic, vocational/technical, and civic goals.

    Objectives

    1. To ensure that every student is given opportunity to develop his/her potential without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, disability, or homelessness.
    2. To provide state-of-the-art, integrated academic and vocational/technical programs which optimize the potential of each student and prepare them to meet the state's performance standards.
    3. To provide opportunities for students to acquire contemporary workplace skills such as communicating, organizing and analyzing information, solving problems, using technology, initiating and completing assignments, acting ethically and professionally, interacting with others, understanding the structure and dynamics of organizations, and taking responsibility for career and life choices.
    4. To provide all grade 9 students with an opportunity to explore their interests in a wide array of trade/career options.
    5. To provide counseling and assistance to students concerning social issues, employment and educational opportunities, and vocational orientation.
    6. To provide programs and activities which contribute to health and well-being, a safe environment, a sense of belonging, and respect for self and others.
    7. To use student assessment results to review and improve curricula, courses, programs, and instructional practices.
    8. To encourage students to pursue professional improvement leading to certification/licensure in their trade areas and post-secondary education.
    9. To provide continuing adult education with a focus on developing technical skills.
    • To continuously seek, with the guidance of active Advisory Boards, new areas of training required for community and industrial development.
    • To provide personnel with the resources and the support needed to grow and develop professionally toward a goal of raising student achievement.
    • To promote cultural understanding within a diverse population.
    • To develop partnerships with business, industry, government, and the community.

     

    Goal One: Address State Student Growth Percentile (SGP)

    District Goal Alignment: MA Curriculum Frameworks and Assessment

    Objective: Students will improve their performances on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Systems (MCAS) exams. As a result, increases in these areas will help close the gap between Massachusetts’s SGP (English Language Arts 51.0; mathematics 50.0) and Diman’s SGP (English 45.0; mathematics 41.0).  

    Rationale: This goal aims to address growth in the advanced category of the English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science and Technology/Engineering exams. Results from the Spring 2015 MCAS exam show that while Diman consistently outperforms the state in the proficient achievement level, there is room for growth within the advanced category. Additionally, there is an opportunity for growth from needs improvement to the proficient categories. Support for all growth is offered below.

    Action Strategies Intended Outcomes Timeline Person/People Responsible Resources
    Rewrite Diman curricula in the areas of mathematics and science Instructors will create articulated curricula aligned with state frameworks and the developing MCAS 2.0 exams July-August

    2016

    Principal/

    Academic Coordinator/

    Department Heads/

    Teachers

    Newly aligned textbooks

    Computers

    Curriculum support

    Create a bank of common core MCAS questions for grades 9 and 10 English Language Arts, mathematics, and science courses Instructors will be able to reference a bank of MCAS style questions in order to incorporate said questions into academic instruction September- December

    2016-2017

    Principal/

    Academic Coordinator/

    Department Heads/

    Teachers

    Common planning time

    Written assessments

    Newly aligned textbooks

    Computers

    Provide Ramp-Up instruction for students earning a warning or needs improvement score on the Grades 6-8 MCAS exams Ramp-Up instructors will focus upon improving targeted student academic skills July- December

    2016

    Principal/

    Academic Coordinator/

    Department Heads/

    Teachers

    Computers

    After school support

    Establish a committee to investigate the addition of advanced courses Committee will determine the need for more rigorous course offerings in order to increase advanced MCAS scores October 2016-

    April 2017

    Principal/

    Academic Coordinator/

    Vocational Coordinator/

    Director of Guidance

    Computers

    Curriculum support

    Establish a committee to investigate increasing time on learning in math for half-day Special Education students Committee will determine the need for increased time on learning for half-day Special Education students and create a strategic action plan, if appropriate September 2016

    -April 2017

    Principal/

    Director of Special Education /

    Data Analyst

    Academic Coordinator/

    Department Heads/

    Teachers

    Computers

    Curriculum support

     

    Goal Two: Incorporate New Teaching and Learning Strategies in the Classroom

    District Goal Alignment: Educator Growth and Development; Educator Evaluation

    Objective: Teachers will incorporate new teaching and learning strategies in the classroom as a means reaching all learners.

    Rationale: The intention of this goal is to help educators further broaden their professional teaching practices.   While Diman teachers offer extraordinary academic and vocational backgrounds (100% of Diman core classes are taught by highly qualified educators), in order to stay current, Diman teachers strive to stay abreast of new and developing educational trends and practices. The action steps below aim to help Diman educators continue to provide a superior educational atmosphere for all students.       

    Action Strategies Intended Outcomes Timeline Person/People Responsible Resources
    Develop a shared collection of rigorous unit plans that relate subject matter to real world application Educators will be able to draw from an internally created collection of unit plans that demonstrates real world application November 2016-

    April 2017

    Prinsipal

    Academic Coordinator/

    Vocational Coordinator/

    Department Heads/

    Teachers

    Computers

    Common planning time

    Newly aligned textbooks

    Incorporate a variety of instructional strategies (cooperative learning, Socratic seminars, hands-on learning, etc.) into educational units Educators will research, investigate, and incorporate new instructional strategies into their teaching practices September 2016-

    June 2017

    Principal/

    Academic Coordinator/

    Vocational Coordinator

    Department Heads

    /Teachers

    Professional development opportunities

    Common planning time

    School meeting time

    Integrate the use of technology as an instructional tool in all classrooms Educators will increase their knowledge base in regard to the use of technology as an instructional tool, and as a result, educators will further implement the use of technology as an educational tool in the classroom September 2016-

    June 2017

    Principal/

    Academic Coordinator/

    Vocational Coordinator

    Department Heads

    /Teachers

    Professional development opportunities

    Chrome carts

    Laptop carts

    SmartBoards

     

    Goal Three: Increase Parent Engagement

    District Goal Alignment: Educator Evaluation; Social-Emotional Learning

    Objective: In an effort to further engage parents in the educational process, the webmaster, data coordinator, parent liaison, and administrative team will promote and establish new venues and pathways for parent involvement.

    Rationale: The purpose of this goal is to further encourage parent involvement in the Diman educational process. Though many committees and councils, such as the Diman Parent Advisory Council, have traditionally offered tremendous support for Diman’s educational system, in an effort to further engage and communicate with Diman parents, the following strategies will be put into place.  

    Action Strategies Intended Outcomes Timeline Person/People Responsible Resources
    Survey parents in regard to informative and holistic educational topics of interest The data coordinator, parent liaison, and instructional team will develop a list of educational topics ranked by parent interest   October- December 2016 Principal/

    Director of Guidance/

    Data Coordinator

    Electronic survey platform(s)

    Paper surveys, as needed

    Data analysis platform(s)

    Host trimester parent and/or community forums The administrative team and parent liaison will host trimester parent and/or community forums in an effort to increase parent knowledge and participation in the educational process (e.g., career and college readiness, academic pathways, social and emotional education) October 2016- May 2017 Administrative Team/

    Parent Liaison

    Forum location

    Survey results

    Guest speakers

    Implement a variety of social media forums The webmaster, in conjunction with the administrative team, will utilize a variety of social media platforms in order to increase parent awareness about events, activities, and on goings September 2016-

    June 2017

    Administrative Team/

    Webmaster

    Computers/

    Social Media Sites