Ogdensburg Renaissance Initiative

We invite all Ogdensburg School community members to participate in focus groups.  The overall goal is to continuously improve our school climate. 

Please join us in making Ogdensburg School the best it can be.  Contact Tim Nicinski to volunteer.

 

Ogdensburg School
Focus Groups
School Climate and Culture

School climate refers to the current quality and character of school life.  It is based on people’s experience of school and reflects norms, values, interpersonal relationships, teaching and learning practices, and structure of the school.  It is best described as “the way we do things” here at Ogdensburg School.  This group is made up of parents, staff, administration, community and board members and acts as a steering committee for all the focus groups maintained in the district.  The group assists in developing the theme and ideas that provide input for the direction of community involvement in the school.  The committee meets two times per year.

Communications

School and family communication are an important component to successful education.  As the school, families, and technology change so too does the need to find the best avenues for dialogue among everyone involved in student success. This is best described as keeping everyone in the know without relying on word of mouth and disseminating fact from fiction.  This group is made up of parents, staff, administration, and board members with the purpose of increasing the connection between school and community through creative electronic and traditional means.  The committee meets once per year.

School Uniforms

This group is made up of students, parents, staff, administration, and board members interested in bringing school uniforms to our community.  This group will investigate the pros and cons of the matter, assist in helping set up discussion groups throughout the year, and present a final report to the BOE in the spring of 2012.  This group will meet for the 2011-2012 school year approximately six times.

Character Education

This group will research and discuss prevention and intervention ideas to improve school climate by promoting positive youth development, encouraging positive interaction, creating human connection, and experiencing a sense of belonging.  This group is made up of students, parents, staff, administration, and board members and will meet twice a year.

Code of Conduct/HIB

The code of conduct is created to establish standards and procedures for positive pupil development and behavioral expectations on school grounds, including on a school bus or at school-sponsored functions, and as appropriate, for conduct away from school grounds.  This group will meet to discuss the code and make recommendations for changes as needed.  This group is made up of students, parents, staff, administration, and board members and will meet once per year.

Physical Setting

The physical setting and appearance of the school is an integral part of the climate and culture of the district.  The group will meet to discuss and recommend ideas to equip the school for a first class educational experience, improve school pride and spirit, and provide sophisticated learning tools for the 21st Century that fit within the budgetary constraints of a public school setting. This group is made up of students, parents, staff, administration, and board members and will meet once per year.

Academic Improvement

Ogdensburg School has a long tradition of providing an outstanding education for the children of the community.  Building on this tradition, the school continues to search for quality innovative programs to enhance student learning.  The purpose of this group is to search for imaginative learning opportunities for students in grades Pre-k through 8th grade that challenge all learners at their developmental level.  This group is made up of students, parents, staff, administration, and board members and will meet two times a year.

Safety
A School Safety Team shall be formed to develop, foster, and maintain a positive school climate by focusing on the on-going, systemic process and practices in the school, and to address school climate issues such as harassment, intimidation, or bullying.  The School Safety Team shall meet at least two times per school year.  The School Safety Team shall consist of the principal or the principal’s designee who, if possible, shall be a senior administrator in the school and the following appointees of the principal: a teacher in the school; a school anti-bullying specialist; a parent of a pupil in the school; and other members to be determined by the principal.