Programs
There are many programs that our schools offer to enhance the systemic work of developing social and emotional well-being. There are some school specific efforts that offer developmentally appropriate programs and create systems to align practices with research. Please refer to the crosswalk for the 40 Developmental Assets for additional programs. The following list includes only some of the additional resources we have included in various levels to promote a climate of support, inclusion, and student wellness:
Districtwide:
- Assertive approach to deemphasizing the role of testing, and all of the pressures that accompany standardized testing
- Revised homework policy K-12
- Strong collaboration with Madison Youth and Family Services
- Our entire instructional program has undergone revision, starting with core subjects, to emphasize student choice, active/project based learning, meeting the individual needs of students (e.g. every single student K-8 has an individual reading and writing goal that is specific to them)
- Added a clinical programs – K-12 (ESS, PAL)
- K-12 coordinator for Health and Physical Education (prior designation only for PE programming)
- Student Study Teams for student specific needs
- Redo and Retake Policies
- School Resource Officers
Elementary:
- Moved to a full-day kindergarten model with the focus on adding developmental play activities, not additional curriculum
- 10 minute “quiet time” K-3
- Students K-3 have PE twice a week, and grades 4 and 5 have PE every other day
- Doubled our elementary recess times K-5 by adding a second mandatory recess for all kids
- Developmental Guidance programming
- Student: Adult Ratios
- Brown School: Start with Hello Program
- K-5 classroom morning meeting time
- Changed the Brown School model in grades 4 and 5:
- Two teacher teams so that kids only have two core teachers
- The related arts periods for 4th and 5th grade in 2019-2020 will include:
- Physical Education/Health every other day all year long
- Spanish every other day all year long
- STEAM, Art, and Coding (includes digital citizenship)
- Instrumentals, Theater, and Music
- Music ensembles
Middle School:
- PRIDE PERIOD at Polson
- Middle school related arts choices…student choice driving courses
- Students in grades 6-8 have PE every other day, with the option of an additional elective block
- Student Socials
- Flexible Seating
- Unified Events
- Intramurals
- Effective School Solutions (ESS) for specific student and family support
High School:
- Staff includes two full time clinical social workers, and a consulting psychiatrist, who provide family counseling after school hours, as well as home visits, to serve the needs of our most fragile high school students, freeing up our current guidance/social worker/school psychologist staff to address other student needs
- Study halls for all students grades 9-12 as an option to manage their workload in school
- Study halls staffed with Math and ELA teachers for additional help if needed.
- Maintained the trimester model at the high school for the purposes of ubiquitous choice for students in course offerings to match their individual interests
- Added a component to our high school program of studies where students and parents can calculate the time required for courses related to homework, thus enabling students to make informed decisions on course loads
- Made changes to our class rank/GPA policies to deemphasize competition between students and make the reporting of rank a choice for students, with the intent of lessening the role of class rank
- Breathe week for finals