Executive Summary
PVPV Rawlings Elementary School
Saint Johns County School District
Mrs. Kathleen Furness, Principal
610 A1A North
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
Document Generated On March 1, 2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
1
Description of the School
2
School's Purpose
3
Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement
4
Additional Information
5
Executive Summary
PVPV Rawlings Elementary School
Introduction
Every school has its own story to tell. The context in which teaching and learning takes place influences the processes and procedures by
which the school makes decisions around curriculum, instruction, and assessment. The context also impacts the way a school stays faithful
to its vision. Many factors contribute to the overall narrative such as an identification of stakeholders, a description of stakeholder
engagement, the trends and issues affecting the school, and the kinds of programs and services that a school implements to support student
learning.
The purpose of the Executive Summary (ES) is to provide a school with an opportunity to describe in narrative form the strengths and
challenges it encounters. By doing so, the public and members of the school community will have a more complete picture of how the school
perceives itself and the process of self-reflection for continuous improvement. This summary is structured for the school to reflect on how it
provides teaching and learning on a day to day basis.
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Executive Summary
PVPV Rawlings Elementary School
Description of the School
Describe the school's size, community/communities, location, and changes it has experienced in the last three years. Include
demographic information about the students, staff, and community at large. What unique features and challenges are associated
with the community/communities the school serves?
There are currently 1265 students enrolled in PVPV Rawlings Elementary School, making us the largest elementary school in the county.
Our school has two campuses, (the PV building which has 31 Pre-K to 2nd grade classes and the Rawlings building which houses 32 3rd-5th
grade classes). Both campuses are located on 40 acres of land in the northeast pocket of St. Johns County. Our school zone borders Duval
County to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, State Road 210 to the west, and Mickler's Landing to the south. We are also the relief
school for the planned community of Nocatee, and we currently have 200 students enrolled from that area. In the past three years our
student population has increased greatly, creating a need for more qualified teachers. Between both campuses we have 68 classrooms
serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grades. Current programs offered include full time Exceptional Student Education (ESE), both
resource and inclusion for students with Specific Learning Disabilities, Gifted blended classrooms in grades second through fifth, Speech and
Language Services, and an Extended Day Enrichment Program. The teacher/student ratio in grades K-3 averages 1:18, while the
teacher/student ratio in fourth and fifth grades is 1:22.
Integrated learning utilizing technology is a priority. The multimedia in all classrooms is equitable and includes: mounted Smartboards, digital
projectors, document cameras, five classroom computers, classroom response systems (CPS) and digital cameras. There is video
equipment, iPods, and iPad technology available for checkout. The facility is wired for closed circuit TV and has a wireless network. In each
building there is a computer lab where weekly classes are held for training and implementation of software applications, research
opportunities , and project oriented learning. These labs also serve a vital role in computer based progress monitoring and testing.
We are incredibly fortunate to have a corporate run PTO that is very successful at fundraising which supports purchasing technology
equipment and resources for our classrooms. Through our community partnerships and the Ponte Vedra Public School Foundation we
receive a tremendous amount of support which enriches our children's education. One of the challenges we face is an ever growing and
changing school population. Our projected enrollment for this coming year might reach 1,400 students.
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Executive Summary
PVPV Rawlings Elementary School
School's Purpose
Provide the school's purpose statement and ancillary content such as mission, vision, values, and/or beliefs. Describe how the
school embodies its purpose through its program offerings and expectations for students.
Our school mission statement mirrors that of our district. "The St. Johns School District will inspire good character and a passion for lifelong
learning in all students, creating educated and caring contributors to the world." PVPV/Rawlings Elementary School provides a dynamic
learning environment which prepares students to compete in the 21st century. Essential to the core of learning, student literacy is modeled
and celebrated through various programs and our school motto is, READ, READ, READ! Students are exposed to high levels of engagement
in literacy instruction focusing on text complexity, vocabulary development and integrated writing. Our classrooms are equipped with state of
the art technology which is infused throughout the students' learning experiences. Our very talented and dedicated staff guide and support
our learners to accomplish the standards set forth by Florida's Department of Education. The recently adopted Common Core State
Standards provide the direction of the curriculum. The CCSS include rigorous content and application of knowledge through high-order skills
and align with college and work expectations.
As a community of learners, we respect individual differences and acknowledge each child's unique contributions. We carefully guide
instructional decisions and the development of every child through differentiated instruction. Parent and community volunteerism is a vital
part of our school's success. Our active PTO and business partners provide resources that enrich our facility and support our educational
endeavors. It is through the unique collaboration of all school stakeholders that we are able to provide an engaging and positive learning
environment for our students. The technology rich environment provided by our school empowers learners to process and communicate
information and ideas. Every student has the option to use personally owned laptops within the learning environment at school. Most of the
students' textbooks are available online. Parents and students are continually informed on how to access these. Additional electronic learning
opportunities exist on the school website.
We have a strong focus on developing a set of core values that children can utilize throughout their lives to guide their attitudes and behavior
in the CHARACTER COUNTS! Program. Our students also participate in a number of school-wide service learning projects throughout the
school year.
Our school also strives to create students who are lifelong learners and responsible citizens. Through the use of recycling projects and
gardening we instill an awareness of the importance of protecting our environment. We incorporate and celebrate the 3 Rs, Reduce, Reuse,
and Recycle. And our campus boasts its own citrus grove and maintains various gardens including butterfly gardens.
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Executive Summary
PVPV Rawlings Elementary School
Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement
Describe the school's notable achievements and areas of improvement in the last three years. Additionally, describe areas for
improvement that the school is striving to achieve in the next three years.
PVPV/Rawlings has been an "A" rated school since 2001, based upon the Florida Department of Education criteria for school grades.
95% of PVPV/ Rawlings' fourth graders met high standards in writing in 2012.
For the past three years, PVPV/Rawlings has been awarded the Golden School Award for our volunteer hours and training.
In 2010 and 2011, PVPV/Rawlings was awarded The Five Star Award for parent and community involvement.
Ms. Tiffany Cantwell, fourth grade teacher, was a finalist in the St. Johns County School District Teacher of the Year in 2012.
Ms. Cynthia Prince received the Senior Volunteer of the Year Award from St. Johns County Schools in 2012. Ms. Prince leads up our senior
volunteers in our Readers Aloud Program.
Mrs. Sarah McGinnis, PVPV/Rawlings Parent, was awarded the St. Johns County Parent Volunteer Award in 2012. Our school wide
recycling program is a model in our district.
During the past three years we have implemented content based models in the intermediate grades, and also incorporated Smartboard
technology and CPS clickers in all learning environments. PVPV/Rawlings has expanded the gardening program and designated an orange
grove, totaling 65 trees. In the next three years we are faced with the challenge of the successful implementation of the Common Core
standards in all grade levels and reducing the percentage of students in the lowest 25th percentile in both reading and math.
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Executive Summary
PVPV Rawlings Elementary School
Additional Information
Provide any additional information you would like to share with the public and community that were not prompted in the previous
sections.
The PVPV/Rawlings' administration and teaching staff are participating in professional development on the Common Core State Standards.
In our first year of shifting to the CCSS, our trainings have focused on writing, text complexity and formative assessments. We are requiring
monthly formative writing assessments and have organized our media centers so that teachers have increased access to text they can
incorporate with all grade levels and across all disciplines. Our teachers are utilizing more non-fictional text and are integrating writing into all
curricular areas. Our teachers have been trained to evaluate text complexity based on the quantitative and qualitative measures of text. We
have purchased Classroom Response Systems for quick formative assessment to pace instruction and support differentiation with
instruction.
As the staff implements the Empowering Excellence in Educators (EEE) expectations for instructional staff, our focus will be on continued
professional development in Marzano's teacher evaluation model. Our teachers identified their deliberate practice elements in Marzano's Art
and Science of Teaching Framework. Our staff development training includes Designing and Developing Learning Goals and Scales and
continued learning with Classroom Strategies and Behaviors and using iObservation.
Establishing a safe and orderly learning environment is a priority at PVPV/Rawlings. Our Emergency Operations Plan is a comprehensive
protocol for our response during various emergencies. Our administration has been trained in the Emergency Response Preparedness
through FEMA. We conduct safety meetings throughout the year to review procedures and share concerns. All classrooms have an
emergency response kit and teachers and students participate in drills as well as training. Our campus security includes 51 closed circuit
surveillance cameras. We are currently investigating a building access control system. Our campus is completely fenced with the ability to
create a closed campus.
As we shift to the Common Core State Standards and the demands of the new teacher evaluation model, our focus with professional
development is defined for us. It will also be critical for us to continue to improve safety and security on our campus.
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