UNDERSTANDING THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

Student: Jeffrey Bienasz School: W.A Johnson School Term: Spring 17

Your site visit experience offers you the opportunity to learn how schools operate as a large community promoting the growth of a
learner. School environment is determined by the schools culture, its history, its belief in how to do things and what is worth doing.
Become familiar with the school environment by completing the table below. Accomplish this by using the host schools website, the
Illinois Public K-12 School Rankings based on the Report Card and school personnel interviews.

Demographics
The following elements look at the demographic information of a school.
The demographic information of a school can provide an excellent look at the diversity of the school environment.
What is/are the Answer Resource for the Answer: Persons
name and title, document or website.
Current school enrollment 715 students Schools 2016 Report Card

Percentage of various races and ethnicities 27.8% White, 2.1% Black, 65% Hispanic, Schools 2016 Report Card
2.9% Asian, 2.1% Multiple Races
Number of males and females as per school Schools 2016 Report Card
report card
Percent of low income students 60% Illinoisreportcard.com

Percent of students with IEPs 14.8% Schools 2016 Report Card

Percentage of English Language Learners 45.6%

Composite percent of students who meet 24% Illinoisreportcard.com
and exceed state standards
# of FTE (full time equivalency) teachers 163 Illinoisreportcard.com
School Organization
The following elements identify various aspects of the organization of the school.
By understanding the school organization, teachers can better plan their lessons and their day.
School Mission Statement Maximize the unique potential of each Schools 2016 Report Card
child by honoring a natural curiosity and
igniting a desire to learn
Length of school day for students 6 and a half hours Several Office Staff (mostly the nice front
desk ladies)
Length of school day for contracted 8 hours Several Office Staff (mostly the nice front
staff desk ladies)
Number of minutes per class or time 50 minutes Several Office Staff (mostly the nice front
allotted for each subject desk ladies)
Number of minutes for specials Total of between 80-120 minutes depending on Several Office Staff (mostly the nice front
Art, P.E., Music, etc. day desk ladies)
Elective classes offered n/a

Extracurricular activities offered
Types of duties which teachers are
assigned
Types of communication between
the school, home, and community
Types of all-school or grade level
assemblies
School colors and mascot
Student and faculty dress code
The following elements identify various types of assistance available to students and faculty.
Spanish, Jogging Club, Music, Choir, Lego Club, Several Office Staff (mostly the nice front
Minecraft Club, Gardening desk ladies)
Committee positions, assisting students Several Office Staff (mostly the nice front
arrive/leave the school desk ladies)
Monthly newsletter Several Office Staff (mostly the nice front
desk ladies)
PTA assemblies Several Office Staff (mostly the nice front
desk ladies)
Yellow and Blue, Jaguars Several Office Staff (mostly the nice front
desk ladies)
Standard school appropriate
Several Office Staff (mostly the nice front
desk ladies)
Assistance
 Identifying and understanding the various types of assistance available to students and teachers provides a teacher with a greater
Student intervention plans such as
Response to Intervention (RTI)
Provisions for students so that they
can participate in extracurricular
activities (e.g. transportation)
Types of technology available for
teachers
Types of technology available for
students
Types of professional development
available to staff
The following elements provide a greater understanding of the policies that exist in a school environment.
Read and summarize the Schools
digital etiquette policy for students.
Staff credentials to sponsor
extracurricular activities
Philosophy of the school library or
learning center
Study hall policies for students and
teachers
Lunchroom policies for students and Standard rules
teachers
Hallway policies: during class time
and between classes
School discipline policy
Emergency procedure plans (fire,
tornado, evacuation, and lockdown)
sense of community.
Positive Behavior Intervention System (PBIS) Several Office Staff (mostly the nice front
desk ladies)
Bus routes Schools 2016 Report Card
Computers, phones, internet Several Office Staff (mostly the nice front
desk ladies)
Chromebooks, internet Several Office Staff (mostly the nice front
desk ladies)
External consultants, in-house training for Schools 2016 Report Card
paraprofessionals, co-teaching PD over the
summer, Peer Assistance/Review Program,
Induction & Mentor Program, professional
development council
Policies
None available
Relevant skills necessary Several Office Staff (mostly the nice front
desk ladies)
n/a
Standard rules Several Office Staff (mostly the nice front
desk ladies)
Several Office Staff (mostly the nice front
desk ladies)
Single file lines, dont be loud, no horse play, etc Several Office Staff (mostly the nice front
etc. desk ladies)
Also PBIS Several Office Staff (mostly the nice front
desk ladies)
Standard, present Several Office Staff (mostly the nice front
desk ladies)