FIVE STAR SCHOOL AWARD Training and Technical Assistance Meeting ★★★★★ FEBRUARY 16, 2012

A school is eligible to apply for the Five Star School Award if the school is: at least a “C” school; the SAC has 80% attendance at 8 meetings per year; your school is a Golden School; the Five Star Coordinator forms a Committee; and There is adequate and appropriate documentation for every item.

Purpose of the Award Designates and recognizes schools that have total community involvement. Requirements are reasonable but tough. High expectations for designation. Must meet 100% of the criteria. This award has been in place for 15 years.

What is the Incentive? Spotlights the value and commitment the school places on community involvement. Book/Portfolio becomes a meaningful record and artifact for the school. School receives a certificate of designation from the state. Presentation to the Superintendent and School Board.

Who will oversee the process? Communications / Volunteer Services provides training and technical assistance. The “review team” at the school and district includes the individual preparing the application, SAC chair, school principal, district volunteer coordinator and the Superintendent. Form a “Five Star Committee” at your school to support constructing the portfolio.

Deadline for Portfolio and Application Submission Due in to District Communications Office of Volunteer Services on or before May 1, 2012 (For review and submission to FDOE by the end of June)

Application Form Available from volunteer page of website: Must be fully completed. Please type all necessary information. Must have all signatures (except District Volunteer Coordinator and Superintendent). Check off each criterion as completed. (100% must be achieved, documented and checked.) Turn in application with portfolio to Communications Office of Volunteer Services by the deadline.

Portfolio Portfolio must be divided into 5 sections – one for each category on the application. Community/Business Partnerships Family Involvement Volunteers Student Community Service School Advisory Council (SAC) Must complete all criteria standards in each category. Check each and support each. Place documentation in sequence according to the section and the criteria.

Portfolio Provide ONE solid example for each criterion. If you find you must give additional, you may include a second. (More is not necessarily better.) Make sure that all required signatures are on the application prior to submission. Be sure documentation provided is clearly indicative of how the school has accomplished the criterion. Highlight the applicable section on a document and place in the appropriate section(s).

Portfolio IMPORTANT: Please do not include any confidential student information in the portfolio. Black out or otherwise hide anything of this nature.

Reviewing the Criteria You have already indicated your desire to participate by completing our Fall survey. Gather a Five Star Committee and designate a coordinator with whom the others collaborate. Review criteria and make a list of planned activities that will meet each of them. Alert school personnel of what you need from them, or of your desire to present/provide certain information.

I. Community/Business Partnerships a – Each community/business/agency signs an annual, jointly developed plan of partnership activities. b – Business maintains an on-going, active relationship with school. c – Business is involved in development and implementation of the School Improvement Plan

I.Community/Business Partnerships d – Business partnership supports teaching and learning through the donation of human resources and goods/services or financial resources. e – School designates a business partnership coordinator. f – School provides opportunities for partners to receive orientation and training.

I.Community/Business Partnerships g – Business Partnership Coordinator and school staff receive training during the year on effective use of services by business partners. h – School provides recognition of business partners.

FIVE STAR SCHOOL AWARD ★★★★★ STAR 1 COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS BUSINESS AND SCHOOL GIVE AND RECEIVE SOMETHING AND AGREE TO IT IN ADVANCE.

FIVE STAR SCHOOL AWARD ★★★★★ DOCUMENTATION MOU WITH EACH BUSINESS PARTNER INVOLVED IN SIP: MINUTES, SIGN IN SHEETS, SAC COMMITTEE RECORD OF DONATIONS BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP COORDINATOR THIS PERSON ATTENDS TRAINING AND TRAINS FACULTY (AGENDA, HANDOUTS, SIGN-IN SHEETS) RECOGNITION OF BUSINESS PARTNERS: THANK YOU LETTERS, S, CARDS, MARQUEE, NEWSLETTER, SIGNS, BANNERS, POSTERS, LUNCHEONS, BREAKFASTS, MEDIA COVERAGE, WEBSITE

II. Family Involvement a – Active parent organization. b – Education opportunities offered to families. c – Focus/discussion/support groups offered to families. d – Joint parent and student training. e – Family outreach activities offered through collaborative or facilitated activities.

II. Family Involvement f – A minimum of 60% of families are involved in a positive way in the school more than once during the year. g – Evidence of a variety of communication techniques with families by teachers and school staff. h – Ensure that welcome signage is near the entrance and any other interaction with parents creates a climate in which parents feel valued and welcome. i – Provide parents with current information regarding school policies, practices, and both school and student performances.

FIVE STAR SCHOOL AWARD ★★★★★ STAR 2 FAMILY AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT INVOLVE FAMILIES OF STUDENTS IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS

FIVE STAR SCHOOL AWARD ★★★★★ DOCUMENTATION ACTIVE PARENT GROUP (PTO, PTA, BOOSTERS) EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED TO FAMILIES FOCUS, DISCUSSION, SUPPORT GROUPS OFFERED JOINT PARENT AND STUDENT TRAINING FAMILY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES ALL OF THE ABOVE DOCUMENTED BY NOTICES, AGENDAS, HANDOUTS, SIGN-IN SHEETS, MEDIA COVERAGE, PICTURES, EVALUATIONS

FIVE STAR SCHOOL AWARD ★★★★★ DOCUMENTATION 60% OF FAMILIES INVOLVED IN THE SCHOOL MORE THAN ONCE DURING YEAR (SURVEY WORKS WELL) EVIDENCE OF A VARIETY OF COMMUNICATION ( S, CONNECT ED, NEWSLETTER, WEBSITE, FLYERS, TELEPHONE LOGS, CONFERENCE SHEETS) WELCOME SIGN NEAR FRONT ENTRANCE; PARENTS FEEL WELCOME (PICTURES, SIGNS, SCHOOL CLIMATE SURVEY RESULTS) PROVIDE PARENTS WITH CURRENT INFORMATION, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, SCHOOL GRADES, ETC. (LETTER EXPLAINING HOW THIS IS DONE, SAMPLES)

III. Volunteers Must meet criteria of Golden School Award Please provide copy of Golden School Award application form and copy of Golden School Award certificate.

III. Volunteers a – A minimum of 80% of the school staff have participated in school-based volunteer training during the school year. b – School volunteer coordinator has been designated to provide leadership for the school volunteer program through recruitment, placement, training and supervision of participants. c – Total number of hours in volunteer service equals twice the number of student enrolled in the school. d – School provides recognition of volunteers.

FIVE STAR SCHOOL AWARD ★★★★★ STAR 3 – VOLUNTEERS MEETS GOLDEN SCHOOL AWARD REQUIREMENTS DOCUMENTATION: Golden school letter / AWARD Certificate Letter designating volunteer coordinator Recognition announcements, agendas, sign-in sheets, pictures, media coverage, thank you notes, s, ETC.

IV. Student Community Service a – School provides opportunities to students for service learning that focus on an identified community need. b – A minimum of 50% of students are involved in community activities.

FIVE STAR SCHOOL AWARD ★★★★★ STAR 4 – STUDENT COMMUNITY SERVICE Service learning projects require that students learn about a community need and then develop and implement a project to address the need. Students should be involved in the planning, implementation, and reflection after the project. A minimum of 50% of students involved.

FIVE STAR SCHOOL AWARD ★★★★★ DOCUMENTATION: Announcements Pictures Media coverage Newsletter, website Student survey listing all opportunities for the year.

V. School Advisory Councils a – Minimum of eight (8) meetings per year. Average 80% attendance of members. Be sure to include required SAC attendance chart and backup documentation (agendas, minutes). b – Annual presentation of School Improvement Plan to school community after public notice to all stakeholders.

V. Student Advisory Councils c – Evidence of ongoing training and/or development of the School Advisory Council. d – School Improvement Plan reflects one new idea that involves the community in its implementation.

V. School Advisory Councils e – School Advisory Council participated in the development and/or interpretation of the needs assessment data. f – Provide training for staff and SAC members on collaborative partnering and shared decision-making.

FIVE STAR SCHOOL AWARD ★★★★★ STAR 5 SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL AND SCHOOL DECISION MAKING 80% ATTENDANCE AT 8 MEETINGS PER YEAR Caution: Watch attendance carefully since this is a deal-breaker for Five Star. Suggest dropping from voting status if person misses two times. Please use EXCEL SAC attendance chart.

FIVE STAR SCHOOL AWARD ★★★★★ DOCUMENTATION: OFFICIAL ROSTER ATTENDANCE CHART AGENDAS and MINUTES SIGN-IN SHEETS ANNUAL DEVELOPMENT AND PRESENTATION OF SIP (FLYERS, NEWSLETTER, WEBSITE, MARQUEE, PICTURES) SIP HAS ONE NEW IDEA. INCLUDE SIP AND HIGHLIGHT NEW IDEA. SAC INVOLVED IN NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND ONGOING TRAINING (TEST RESULTS, OTHER DATA, AGENDAS, HANDOUTS)

FIVE STAR SCHOOL AWARD ★★★★★ PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER THREE RING BINDER WITH TABS ORGANIZING THE FIVE STARS AND EACH STAR’S SUB-CRITERIA. MAKE IT EASY FOR THE READER TO FOLLOW THE CRITERIA AND FIND THE DOCUMENTATION. FOR EXAMPLE: STAR 2-FAMILY/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT 2-A. ACTIVE PARENT ORGANIZATION 2-B. FAMILY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES 2-C. FOCUS/DISCUSSION GROUPS 2-D. JOINT PARENT/STUDENT TRAINING 2-E. FAMILY OUTREACH 2-F. 60% FAMILIES INVOLVED 2-G. VARIETY OF COMMUNICATION 2-H. WELCOMING CLIMATE FOR PARENTS 2-1. PARENTS GIVEN SCHOOL INFORMATION

FIVE STAR SCHOOL AWARD ★★★★★ ACTIVITY PRETEND YOU ARE AN AUDITOR. AUDIT A NOTEBOOK AT YOUR TABLE. USE THE APPLICATION CHECKLIST AND CHECK OFF REQUIRED CRITERIA AS YOU FIND EVIDENCE AND DOCUMENTATION.

FIVE STAR SCHOOL AWARD ★★★★★ DISCUSSION 1. HOW EASY WAS IT FOR YOU TO REVIEW THE NOTEBOOK? 2. WHAT WOULD HAVE MADE IT EASIER? 3. DID YOU FIND ALL THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION? 4. DID THE SCHOOL EARN THE FIVE STAR AWARD? 5. WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD YOU GIVE THIS SCHOOL FOR NEXT YEAR?

FIVE STAR SCHOOL AWARD ★★★★★ SHARING BEST PRACTICES WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGES? WHAT DO YOU FIND EASY? WHAT SUGGESTIONS DO YOU HAVE TO IMPROVE THE FIVE STAR PROCESS? AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL? AT YOUR SCHOOL? HOW WILL YOU DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR?

Questions and Assistance Karen Rowan Communications Office The District School Board of Pasco County Telephone: x42207 Fax: x