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This section of
our site has been included to offer information regarding our
special programs and other educational items of interest.
The District
Coordinating Council meets four times a year to discuss and take
action on items involving curriculum and instruction.
Click Here for the District Coordinating Council Minutes.
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School Improvement
The Parchment School staff
believes the following characteristics are found in effective
schools:
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All students
will be self-directed competent learners. |
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All students
will demonstrate responsible citizenship. |
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All students
will be collaborative, quality workers. |
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All students
will be future oriented thinkers. |
Each building
has assessed its own strengths and weaknesses in relation to the
above characteristics. Each building also has a school
improvement team in place and has prepared a school improvement
plan tailored to improve student learning.
The District Coordinating Council
serves as the system-wide school improvement agent. The Council
reviews and provides feedback to building school improvement
efforts and coordinates district-wide efforts. The Council also
reviews and makes recommendations to the Board of Education
regarding curriculum/instruction matters. Staff, Board of
Education members and community representatives comprise the
membership of the Council. The Council has added the
responsibility of reviewing and providing feedback to building
school improvement teams. This body will also coordinate
activities regarding the school improvement process
District-wide.
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Core Curriculum
The Parchment core curriculum was
developed through a process of defining essential exit outcomes
for all students and designing back through the grades from those
outcomes. The State of Michigan Core Curriculum was utilized
extensively to determine essential outcomes at each grade
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Parent and Community
The
Parchment
School District
feels that communication is a key to better understanding for the
establishment of community commitment towards our schools. The
Parent Advisory Council conducted its eighth year of operation and
provided excellent feedback to the administration.
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Staff Development
Staff
Development efforts during the 2004-2005 school year focused on
meeting the priorities set by the district and building school
improvement plans. Staff and administrators attended numerous
workshops on teaching: informational reading; problem solving;
writing; and interactive science. In addition staff were involved
throughout the year in workshops on meeting the needs of
individual students.
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Special Education
The Parchment School District
professional staff includes a school psychologist, school social
worker, speech pathologist and a teacher consultant, all of whom
are available to assess student needs and determine eligibility
for special education programs and services. In addition, these
staff members are available for consultation with teachers and
parents as needed.
Students in grades K-12, once
certified, can receive services in the following disabilities:
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Learning Disabled |
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Emotionally Impaired |
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Physically Impaired |
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Cognitively Impaired |
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Otherwise Health Impaired |
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Visually Impaired |
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Hearing Impaired |
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Special Programs
Parchment, through agreements with
other county districts and the intermediate school district,
offers a variety of special programs for our students:
Gifted and Talented
The
Parchment Board of Education recognizes the need for special
programming for students who are academically gifted and talented.
The Board is dedicated to providing opportunities both within and
with out the District to encourage those students toward maximum
growth and a greater understanding of their capabilities.
Program Summary:
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A pullout program is provided for grades 3, 4 and 5 which
focuses on
math, literature, problem solving and research skills. |
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Enrichment programming for
students in grades 3, 4 and 5. |
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A language arts program for
grades 6, 7 and 8. |
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9th Grade Honors English
class. |
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10th Grade Honors English class. |
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High School Advanced Placement classes in English, Calculus
and Biology. |
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Kalamazoo Math/Science Center. |
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Kalamazoo
College
Academically Talented Youth Program. |
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Highlights of Other Programs
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Student Assistance Program
for at-risk students providing mentoring, contact with
guidance counselors, referral to outside agencies,
available K-12. |
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Extra and co-curricular
opportunities are available in academics, dramatics, and
athletics to meet the needs of students with diverse
interests. |
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Parchment PREP (Preschool
Readiness Enrichment Program), a preschool program for four
year olds in need of additional preparation for
kindergarten. |
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Title I provides support and
direct instruction in reading to students in grades K-5. |
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Education for Employment (EFE)
provides vocational training experiences for juniors and
seniors in sites around the county. EFE courses include a
wide range of careers including Arts and Communication,
Business and Marketing, Engineering, Health and Natural
Sciences, and Human Services, Law Enforcement, Automotive,
Building Trades, Health Occupations plus many more. |
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Education for the Arts (EFA)
provides visual and performing arts courses for any high
school student in a variety of programs throughout the
county including: dance, pottery and others. |
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NovaNet - Online basic
courses offered at Barclay Hills Education Center and
Parchment High School. |
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Michigan Virtual High School
- Online AP classes offered at Parchment High School. |
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Michigan
Educational Assessment Program
All students in grades 3-8 take
the MEAP tests in English Language Arts and math. Additionally,
the MEAP science test is given in grades 5 and 8. Students in
grades 6 and 9 take the Social Studies MEAP test. Students in
grade 11 take the High School Proficiency Test (HSPT) in science,
math, reading and writing and social studies. The tests, developed
by the Michigan Department of Education, are criterion referenced
and designed to assess essential skills. |
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Parchment School
District
