Partnership among all stakeholders in the ECS community requires checking in often to evaluate how we are meeting expectations, as well as ensuring parents and staff are aware of how we meet the needs of the “whole” child – spiritually, academically, physically, socially, and emotionally. We are currently collecting feedback from parents, students, and staff through AdvancED surveys to let us know “how we are doing”, so we can continue to build community and live the mission of ECS.
Our school accreditations provide opportunities for ECS to evaluate our programs and services, as well as how we communicate them to our families and staff. Recently during our AdvancED/ACSI onsite visit, we reviewed services the school provides “that support the counseling, assessment, referral, educational, and career planning needs of all students.” It became clear that not all parents and staff were aware of all the programs and services ECS offers. As a result, we have updated our Student Handbook and Faculty Handbook to inform all stakeholders of the process used to coordinate programs to meet the needs of all students.
Academic
• Provide parents with a list of available tutors
• Offer after school help classes and test prep
• Implement 504 Plans, ILPs (Individual Learning Plans for English Language Learners), and ISPs (Individual Service Plans, known as Individual Education Plans in public school) and meet for annual conferences (or as requested by parents)
• Utilize Response to Intervention process for students to provide support and/or begin identifying behavior or learning needs and to provide resource instruction
• Meet as an Education Intervention Team with parents and teachers to plan interventions
• Collaborate with Local Education Agencies for referral, testing, evaluation, and identification of student needs (including learning disabilities, speech, other health impairments, and other needs as eligible)
• Collaborate with Local Education Agencies for professional development and intervention development
• Offer parent education opportunities
• Administer classroom diagnostic screenings, formative assessments, and achievement testing in order to determine how to best meet student needs in collaboration with parents and teachers (K-8 NWEA MAP testing)
• Work cooperatively with outside agencies for referral and support, with parent permission
• Implement differentiated instruction in all grade levels
Physical
• Provide physical education classes and athletic programs for 1st through 8th grade
• Provide health classes in PK-8th grade
• Provide recess daily for all grades
• Implement a school-wide wellness plan
• Employ full-time health coordinator
• Provide emergency response materials in each classroom
• Conduct school safety drills
• Follow individual health plans for students as needed
• Provide a lunch program at each campus
• Collaborate with school liaison officer at each campus
• Conduct health screenings
Social
• Provide referrals as needed to Department of Children’s Services, or outside agencies with parent permission, counselors, and physicians
• Offer information regarding Free and Reduced Lunch Program, Textbook Reimbursement, SGOs, School Vouchers, and Tuition Assistance
• Complete forms and assessments from outside agencies with parent permission
• Collaborate with counselors and other professionals on behalf of students with parent permission
• Collaborate with local agencies such as fire department and police department to conduct presentations as part of the curriculum
Emotional
• Collaborate with resource staff, parents, and teachers to create behavior support plans
• Counsel students as needed
• Provide referrals for outside counseling
• Collaborate with counselors and other professionals on behalf of students with parent permission
• Provide additional data and feedback for parents from classroom observations and use of diagnostic tools
• Demonstrate a culture of encouragement and support from staff
Spiritual
• Provide Biblical curriculum which includes chapels, small groups, Bible studies, prayer, Bible class instruction, and Biblical integration in all classes
• Promoting programs offered by church partners and the community
• Maintain a Biblical focus through extracurricular programs
• Equip teachers through staff devotions, prayer, and professional development; pray with students and families
• Offer mission opportunities, local and world-wide
Reflecting on the programs and services ECS provides, and communicating with our families and staff, enriches our partnership! We are investing in the future, one student at a time.