UNDERSTANDING THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

Student: Grace Barone School: Congress Park Term: Fall 2107

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 445 Illinois Report Card

Percentage of various races and ethnicities White: 42.5% Black: 10.1% Hispanic: Illinois Report Card
41.8% Asian: 2%

Number of males and females as per school N/A Illinois Report Card
report card

Percent of low income students 45.4% Illinois Report Card

Percent of students with IEPs 16% Illinois Report Card

Percentage of English Language Learners 10.6 Illinois Report Card

Composite percent of students who meet 66% (ISAT) Illinois Report Card
and exceed state standards

# of FTE (full time equivalency) teachers 231 (district) Illinois Report Card

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 In order to fulfill their dreams and potential, we District Webpage
actively engage the children of La Grange
School District 102 to develop creativity,
innovative problem-solving, passion for learning
and empathy

Length of school day for students 8:15-3:15 Michaleen Nutley, First Grade Teacher

Length of school day for contracted 8:00-3:30 Michaleen Nutley, First Grade Teacher
staff

Number of minutes per class or time 1 hour - 30 minutes for core subjects like Michaleen Nutley, First Grade Teacher
allotted for each subject Language arts, math, science, etc.
Number of minutes for specials 1 hour all together, 30 minutes each Michaleen Nutley, First Grade Teacher
Art, P.E., Music, etc.

Elective classes offered Gym, art, music, library Michaleen Nutley, First Grade Teacher
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.
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
teachers
Hallway policies: during class time
and between classes
band/orchestra, student council, basketball, Michaleen Nutley, First Grade Teacher
cheerleading, choir
Morning duty: 2 time a month, lunch Michaleen Nutley, First Grade Teacher
supervision.
News letters, with Spanish version. website Michaleen Nutley, First Grade Teacher
updated each week
Christmas assembly, orchestra/band concert, Michaleen Nutley, First Grade Teacher
D.A.R.E assembly (all grade levels)
Blue and white, dolphin Michaleen Nutley, First Grade Teacher
Student: No hats, no profanity or inappropriate Michaleen Nutley, First Grade Teacher
images . Teachers: Professional attire, casual
Fridays.
Assistance
sense of community.
RTI Michaleen Nutley, First Grade Teacher
tenure, experience in subject matter Michaleen Nutley, First Grade Teacher
Laptops, projectors, Ipads Michaleen Nutley, First Grade Teacher
Laptops, Ipads Michaleen Nutley, First Grade Teacher
To help practitioners integrate skills into the District Webpage
teaching of core academic subjects, the
Partnership has developed a unified, collective
vision for learning known as the Framework for
21st Century Learning.
Policies
N/A Michaleen Nutley, First Grade Teacher
District Webpage
No study hall Michaleen Nutley, First Grade Teacher
Inside voices, Dolphin 3s: Safe, Responsible, Michaleen Nutley, First Grade Teacher
Smart.
Silent, Dolphin 3s: Safe, Responsible, Smart Michaleen Nutley, First Grade Teacher
School discipline policy
Emergency procedure plans (fire,
tornado, evacuation, and lockdown)
Minors: Warnings for bad behaviors, call home. Michaleen Nutley, First Grade Teacher
Detentions: Inappropriate behavior
Fire: Exit from closest exit, Red card Green card. Michaleen Nutley, First Grade Teacher
Tornado: Sit in the hallway, protect head and
neck.
Evacuation: Same as Fire plan.
Lockdown: Sit in designated area lock doors