School Site Council Survey and District Homework Policy Survey

Last year the Sycamore Canyon School Site Council sent home several questionnaires to identify areas where you would like to see enrichment and improvement to our academic program using the School Improvement Program (SIP) budget.  Now one year later, we have moved into our new home, grown by 300 students, added new staff and are now adjusting our needs by addressing the President’s mandate “No Child Left Behind” with the School Improvement Plan and Budget.  Also, due to the current California state budget, School Improvement Program (SIP) funds will be decreased by 25-50%.   Please take a moment to answer a few questions and return this form to your child’s teacher in the next few days. 

PLEASE COMPLETE ONE FORM FOR EACH CHILD.

ALL RESPONSES DUE BY FRIDAY MAY 9, 2003

Thank you for your time and commitment to Sycamore Canyon School.

Student Name (Optional)

Grade Level (Required)

SPECIALISTS
Sycamore Canyon School currently provides specialists in the areas of physical education,  computer education and music to enhance and enrich the general education program provided in the classroom and allow teachers to focus on the core curriculum (our art program, ART TREK is funded and staffed by PTA volunteers at this time).

1. At present, how satisfied are you with our current physical education specialist program? 2. In what areas would you like to see the physical education specialist program improved?
 * Middle School PE will be provided by a credentialed PE teacher. Not only will this enhance the 6-8th program, but can provide added support and staff development for K-5)


3. At present, how satisfied are you with our computer education specialist program that is held in the computer lab?

4. How could we improve the computer education specialist program in the lab?
* Middle school will have a computer lab that will be used for various electives as well as be available for class & student use for such activities as research & writing.
 

5. How satisfied are you with our current music education specialist program?

6. In what ways would you like to see our music specialist program improved? 
* The middle school elective program or enrichment opportunities will, in the future, include music. Currently both the K-5 & 6-  8 will offer BAND.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

7.  Sycamore Canyon strives to offer a variety of fun and educational after school programs, recognizing the importance of the whole child to make extra-curricular activities easy to access. Please comment on your experience with those programs. 

 (NOTE:  Next year CVUSD will manage the after school programs via the Adult Education Dept. Changes are unknown but to be prepared, your input is needed.) 

My child HAS participated in one or more after school program.
Yes 
No    


Have you been satisfied with the variety of after school programs offered at Sycamore Canyon?


Please SELECT which after school programs your child has participated in or is currently enrolled in.

Basketball  
Hip Hop    
Drama       
Chessnuts  
Smart Art  
Golf          
Chorus      
Spanish     
Other        


Please SELECT which programs you would like to see offered next year.

Basketball 
Hip Hop   
Drama      
Chessnuts 
Smart Art 
Golf         
Chorus     
Spanish    
Other       

 

If SCS had an after school homework club staffed by credentialed teachers, specialists, and volunteers, would you be willing to pay for your child to attend?
Yes 
No  
 

What program/activities would you like to see offered at lunchtime
for the Middle School Students sponsored by the ASB?

What programs would you like to see offered to grades 1 - 5 at lunchtime
sponsored by the Student Council and volunteers?

What after school programs would you like to see offered to only
Middle School age students or 4 – 7th

INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS

8.  This year an instructional assistant provided support to our two combination classes (classes that combine more than one grade level).  Please answer the following questions about such a classroom environment.
* If your child has been in a combination class this year,
(given the lack of control whether or not a school has a combination class) has the use of an instructional assistant eased your concerns about time equity spent between the two grade levels?

* For all respondents: Does the use of an instructional assistant make you more comfortable with the possibility of having your child in a combination class in the future?

BAND AND STRINGS ELEMENTARY PROGRAM

9.  Currently our Band and Strings program is offered to students during the lunchtime hour because of the instructor’s time schedule.

Would you prefer to have a Band/Strings program that would be offered BEFORE school at approx. 7:25 am? 

Explain...
 

 Would your child be more inclined to participate in this music program if it was held at a time other than lunchtime?
Yes 
No  

Comments regarding the Band/Strings program?
 

STAFF DEVELOPMENT
 Elementary teachers are generalists, meaning they are responsible for
teaching all areas of the curriculum.  Ongoing staff development allows teachers to learn new curriculum and instructional strategies.  Would you like to see some SIP funding dedicated to Staff Development? 

Yes 
No  

Why?


What areas of the curriculum do you believe are priorities for staff development?

 Curriculum
 English Language Arts 
Everyday Math           
Social Studies             
Science                       
Visual/Performing Arts 


Instructional Strategies
 Differentiated Instruction 
Guided Reading              
Writing                           
Assessments                   
Other                             


Given the President’s “No Child Left Behind,” mandate for the spending of School Improvement Program funds, how do you believe the needs of the at-risk students or children not meeting grade level standards in English Language Arts (reading and writing) and Mathematics should be addressed using the SIP budget? 
 (Ex. Hiring reading specialist.  Hire instructional asst. for upper, for primary or both levels.)

Please comment

District Homework Policy Survey

The District Advisory Council has asked for input in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the new homework policy and how it is being implemented.  Please answer the following questions. 

Guidelines for Quantity and Type of Homework:

The policy gives time guidelines* per grade levels and defines the type** of appropriate homework at those grade levels as:

 Grade                                 Minutes/school day              Type(s)

 

Kdg.                                     0-10                                      Study skills/habits

 

1-2                                        10-20                                   Study skills/habits

                                                                                          Practice/review

 

3-5                                        30-50                                   Study skills/habits

                                                                                          Practice/review

                                                                                          Preparation

                                                                                          Skill Integration

 

6-8                                        60-90                                   Practice/Review

                                                                                          Preparation

                                                                                          Skill Integration

                                                                                          Extension

        

*Does not include activities such as recreational reading (even if assigned), practice of musical instruments and extra-curricular activities.

**It would be helpful if you had the policy in front of you to make sure there is a clear understanding of the definitions in this category.  For instance, book reports are considered “skill integration.” The Homework Policy was sent out to all parents at the beginning of the school year and is also included in the red Sycamore Canyon Handbook.


Questions
1. Do you feel your school is generally falling within the time guidelines for the average student?

2. Do you feel your school is generally assigning the appropriate type of homework at the various grade levels?
 


Teacher Responsibilities   There are specific responsibilities for the teachers spelled out in the policy. Because the type of feedback received from homework and how it is communicated to the student greatly affects its value, we would like to know if these objectives of the policy are being met.

 
1. Is the homework designed so that it can be done independently by the student?
 

2. Are the students receiving timely and appropriate feedback from their teachers on completed homework?
 


Student/Parent Responsibilities
  The students are asked to record the homework, clear up any questions with the teacher before leaving school and to complete the work on time. The parents have been asked to provide
feedback to teachers regarding the quantity and difficulty of the homework.    

1.  Are the parents providing feedback to the teachers?
 

 2. What mechanism has been implemented to encourage this feedback?

3.  Are the students completing their homework at a better rate than before?

Elementary School Counseling Program

Directions to complete...

Please select a number 1 to 5 (1 = not helpful  and  5 = very helpful)
which corresponds best to your opinion of the counseling program. Add any comments that you might have about the program.

1.-My experience with the Elementary Counseling Program has been.

1   (Not helpful)
2           -
3           -
4           -
5   (Very helpful)

Comments:

2.- The counseling program has positively influenced my child's school experience. (Through classroom presentations, assemblies, and/or individual/group counseling).

1   (Not helpful)
2           -
3           -
4           -
5   (Very helpful)

Comments:

3.- Would you support a fundraising effort in order to continue the current Elementary Counseling Program.

YES
NO 

Comments:

end

Thank  you for your time and commitment to the
 Sycamore Canyon School Community.

 

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Copyright © 2003  All rights reserved.
Revised: 07/07/03.