Panther+Pride+Proposal

Proposal: To create a community of concern, motivation, respect and accountability for academic effort. Student survey indicates that many students feel disengaged (Libby finishes this line) Research demonstrates that community building programs within schools are directly correlated to improvement in academic achievement. 1 Community will elevate levels of respect, motivation and make students feel part of, and trust, our school. If we create community, we will see: a) students seeking and providing academic support for eachother b) improvements in habits such as: motivation, organization, accountability, attendance, punctuality and extracurricular participation 1) School wide time for our faculty, staff, and students to meet in small groups known as “Panther Prides”. a) Mixed grade groups of students b) 1 faculty/staff advisor c) 1 full period every 2 weeks 2) Members will: a) Independently record academic highs and lows from the past two weeks on worksheet. b) Share and discuss personal reflections from worksheets c) Give and receive constructive feedback from fellow students and adviser d) Set an academic goal for the next two week period and encourage members to motivate one another between meetings 3) Advisors will a) Utilize lesson plans and training provided by the Panther Pride committee b) Meet individually with group members once per term c) Monitor progress reports and report cards of group members d) Serve as a contact person for parents/guardians of group members e) Continue to advise the same group from year to year (when possible) 1) Time a) A scheduled full class period every other week for the program b) A block of time during faculty orientation to train advisers 2) Resources a) Binders for every staff member containing lesson plans for the year including a timer b) Folders for each student containing student materials c) Access to students’ progress reports d) Milkcrates for holding all pride materials 3) Space to meet a) 16 classrooms, Campus Ministry, Library, and Cafeteria provide space for 22 prides b) Other spaces are available depending on staff participation [administrative offices and gym] 4) Commitment a) Staff commitment to full participation as indicated in “Advisers will” subheading b) Administrative commitment to maintaining consistent meeting times.
 * Why we Need Community?**
 * What will it look like?**
 * What will the program need?**

1 http://www.springerlink.com/content/j3032061341285k6/, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2004.tb08284.x/abstract