Beyond the Status Quo

Three words that I hear too often are "as compared to". I hear these words from parents at games, parent conferences, from teachers during scheduling time, from board members when we talk about test scores or student expenditures and I even say these three words to myself whenever there is doubt.


At STRIDE, I want to move beyond the status quo. I want to keep the focus on our own goals, targets and improvment areas. The STRIDE community has always expected more and I am always asked the question of how we compare to local schools. My answer is, I don't know about other schools and I can tell you that research proven techniques we have implemented work for our students.

Beyond the Status Quo

1. High Expectations for ALL students.
STRIDE is dedicated to using a rigourous, rich and proven curriculum. We make NO excuses at STRIDE. We will not blame the students, parents, the state or other life circumstances. We understand that if teachers motivate, educate and empower, in that order, ALL students can and will achieve.


2. Individualized Learning

Students are assessed to develop an individual learning plan for each child. Gone are the days where there are 32-4th graders in a class receiving 4th grade math. If some students are higher learners, they traditionally receive extra worksheets. At STRIDE, we ensure small classrooms and place students in classes where the students are at the same level for math anf reading. This helps the teacher meet the needs of students and guarantees the individual needs of the child are being met.

3. The Gift of Time

STRIDE Academy students attend school for 180 days and makes the most of our precious time. The year round school is proven to reduce the amount of review time after summer break. The average traditional student spends four weeks reviewing upon returning to school. STRIDE students spend two days reviewing. Over the past four years, our students have completed 1.2 years of curriculum in one academic year. That is more than one grade level by the time a child reaches 6th grade. Our teachers and students don't stop just because they are at the end of the text. They move on to next year's textbook

4. Collaboration

The traditional school often functions as a collection of independent contractors united by a common parking lot. --Robert Eaker

In the book Results Now, Mike Schmoker writes about the catastrophic consequences isolation has for teachers and teaching. Our greatest strength at STRIDE Academy is Collaboration. Our teachers work hard to inspire students and go above and beyond to meet with ALL of your child's teachers to increase student performance. Teachers meet at least twice per month to review student data and collaborate on strategies to help meet your child's needs. Teachers also work with data to focus instruction for your child and communicate with parents in setting yearly goals for students.

5. Results Orientated

Ask any educator if their school is "good". The answer will always be yes. But why?? What is a "good" school and how is that determined. At STRIDE, we know the answer. We set goals for ourselves and if we meet the goals, we know we have done a good job. Some of the goals from last year include:

1. 90% of ALL students increase more than one grade level in reading and math. MET

2. Increase the percentage of students that are proficient on the state tests by 5%. MET

3. Meet AYP (Annual Yearly Progress) as determined by the state and federal government. MET

4. Students attend ashool on average 95%. MET

5. Reduce discipline incidents by 20%. MET

6. Close the achievment gap between students of color and caucasion students by 10%. NOT MET

These are STRIDE's goals from 2008-2009 that we have developed based upon our needs. These standards go above and beyond what any governmental agency has determined. While we are not perfect, we can identify are strengths and determine opportunities for growth.



Jason Ulbrich, Education Director

Parents are the Key

Research has proven time after time that parental involvement is a main ingredient for student success in school. Gone are the days where we send are children to school and just wait for the report card to come home . Parents today need to get involved in their children's education, are kids need to know that education is vital to their future and that we support them. At STRIDE we have been blessed with excellent parent involvement. If you want to be involved, if you want to actively participate in the relationship between your child and the school, there are some things you can do to make this relationship positive and productive.


Methods for Parents to Get to Know Their Child's School Better (ADPRIMA, 2009)

Go to the school; look around, talk to people.

Call or write to your child's teachers.

Talk to other parents about their experiences.

Be sure to read the minutes of the school board and PATHS , which are on the STRIDE website .

Take time to read the school newsletter.

It may not always be convenient, but try to attend school functions such as open houses and PATHS meetings.

Most importantly, let your child see you in school.


How Parents can Help with their Children's Homework
There are things you can do that will help your child do assigned homework and that result in learning, which, after all, is the reason for being in school.
Communicate with your child about school. This includes talking to him about his friends, activities, teachers, and assignments.

Show enthusiasm about school and homework. Set realistic goals for your child, and then focus on one at a time. STRIDE Academy sends home Target Scores for ALL 2nd-6th graders at the beginning of the year. Talk to your child about these targets.

Help your child get organized. Break down assignments into smaller, more manageable parts. Set out needed items (clothes, homework, permission slips, etc.) the night before to avoid last-minute rushing around in the morning.

Provide a quiet study corner in your home complete with paper, markers, a ruler, pencils and a dictionary.

Never do your child's homework!

Check with your child's teacher about correcting homework.

Expect, and praise genuine progress and effort. Don't praise or otherwise reward your child for doing what you and she know is expected. This practice leads you down a slippery slope, often with really bad consequences for you and your child.

Be specific when you do praise something. Focus on your child's strengths in school.

Build associations between what is taught and what your child already knows and understands.

Incorporate concrete materials and examples whenever possible, especially with younger children.

Try to help your child learn about the subject in more than one way, using as many senses as possible.

Separate your child's school weaknesses from your child. If your child fails a test, that is all the child fails. He or she is not a failure.


Questions to Ask at a School Conference
Is my child performing at grade level in basic skills? Above/Below? Math/Reading?
What are the objectives my child is supposed to attain?

How do these objectives lead to the overall goal for the course/grade?
What achievement, intelligence, or aptitude tests have been given to my child in the past year? What do the scores mean? (Be very specific and be sure you understand completely what the reported scores mean).
What are my child's strengths and weaknesses in major subject areas?
What subjects do my child enjoy most?
Can we together go over some examples of my child's class work?
Does my child need special help in any academic subject?
Who are my child's friends and how does he or she interact with other children?
Has my child regularly completed assigned homework?
Has my child attended class regularly?
Have you observed any changes in learning progress during the year? Has learning improved or declined during the year?



STRIDE is dependent on parental support. WE need your help in and out of school. Please volunteer at school by calling your teacher or contact Lynn at 230.5340.