P177Q
The Robin Sue Ward School
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Strategic Planning Process: Inquiry
Gather and analyze data to monitor effects of actions and decisions on goal attainment and enable mid-course adjustments as needed to better enable success
Staff, Student & Parent Surveys
All decisions at P177Q are based on data results. We are committed to hearing the voices of all stakeholders. Subsequently, staff, students and parents receive surveys regularly. Data gathered from the 177Q Parent survey guides our future planning on the high interest area for parent workshops and the preferred time of these workshops. Recent parent survey data indicate parents prefer workshops in the late afternoon . Similarly, staff surveys are utilized to make decisions on curriculum and staff activities. Most recent staff survey data reveal that staff prefer to participate in daily morning Mindfulness Moments immediately after the morning Pledge of Allegiance Lastly, students’ most recent survey data indicate that most students recommend student cell phones be collected by the teacher until the end of the school day.
All members of the 177Q school community, beyond teachers, support the success of all students. Parent Coordinators; PTA; School Counselors;In School aides; secretaries; paraprofessionals and our community partners contribute to students’ success.
Surveys are intended to help us improve in all areas to improve students’ academic and social
development.
Parent/Family Engagement
Parents and community partners are continuously recruited to aid in students' growth and development. Parent Captains have increased by two parents, and now include six parent volunteers. The role of the parent captain has expanded to a collaborative partnership with our PTA. In addition to establishing connections and relationships with parents of students in similar class ratios, parent captains participate in fundraising activities. to increase resources for our school community.Parent Captains meet monthly.
177Q Social & Emotional Learning Team has partnered with the Equity team to promote SEL for parents and staff. A parent who uses Children books, hosts these monthly meetings to promote discussions and personal reflections.. The Parents’ Book Club creates a safe space for parents to share and connect with each other.
Additionally, all department heads lead and facilitate parents’ workshops to ensure parents remain well informed and current.
The 177Q Community strives to ensure all parents
feel welcome, supported and understood. The
Parents’ Engagement Committee consists of 2
teachers; PTA members, one administrator and the Parent Coordinator. Based on the results of the Fall 2021 Parents Survey, 2 initiatives launched for this school year includes: Parents’ Captains and the Parents’ Monthly Book Club. Additionally, based on the survey results, all parents’ meetings and activities will be held in the late afternoon or early evening.
Nuturing
Paraprofessional Leaders
Professional development and fostering communication among paras in small cohort with Para Leads are priority areas. The focus area for all professional development is in the area of Self-care and social /emotional learning. The Para Lunch & Learn series provide the platform to promote monthly professional development for our paraprofessionals, P177Q uses a weekly Sub-Para evaluation to provide timely feedback to all sub-paras.
Our full-time Paraprofessionals are assigned based on their area of interest and expertise. This information is gathered from the para-survey sent in late spring. For the 2021-2022 school year, we are pleased to share that one para whose expertise is in music/band, has successfully served as a para for the Music department.
The 177Q mission statement of “We Do Care'' promotes engagement of all stakeholders. The Lead Para-Educator Program fosters collaboration and collegial conversations among administrators, lead para-educators, and substitute paraprofessionals. Lead paras assume the role as mentors and are assigned to share their expertise and experiences with their colleagues. The process of hiring a paraprofessional includes an interview with Lead Para Committee members and a writing sample. The following questions were developed to guide the interview process.
Community Partners
We have expanded integrating a wide range of diverse cultural; social and intellectual resources. to connect them to desired outcomes for teaching and learning. The following community partners support the success of our students:
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Broadway Junior Theatre Group
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Chancellor Banks Visit
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Children’s Museum
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Clean Green Music Machine
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Library Grants
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Marquis Studio
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ReThink Ed
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Sustainability
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Special Olympics
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Student Ambassadors at 295
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Urban Assembly-SEL
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Worksite Partnerships (List from domain 2)
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Title III Lego Program
Partnerships with our co-located schools continue to expand and consists of the following:
Cultural & Holiday Celebrations
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December festivities included a Christmas Holiday Party with our elementary and middle school students alongside our D75 students.
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In January 177Q@295 and PS/IS students planned and hosted the first collaborative Black History Show.
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March Women’s Gallery Walk at 295 is also a joint activity to promote inclusiveness and opportunities to celebrate differences in students’ abilities.
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177 student visits a 12:1:1 community-based program at PS 295 to prepare the student in the move to an LRE 12:1:1 community school.
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The IS 295 Student Ambassadors work with 12:1:4, 6:1:1 and 12:1:1 populations supporting them in reading, art activities, special activities and packing up for the end of the day.
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177@295 is exploring joint grants to move to a truly equitable environment- handicapped accessible playground, handicapped accessible emergency exit in the cafeteria.
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The 177@495 site has built a partnership with Martin Van Buren High School and our students have been granted full access to the school's kitchenette to serve as a worksite in addition to other shared spaces in the building.
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Looking ahead, our partnership with PS/IS295 has developed to include shared professional development for staff.
In order to increase students’ academic and social skills all stakeholders are involved in creating real world opportunities for students to advance socially and academically. To meet this goal we have established positive relations with the following community partners:
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Educational partnerships with our Co-Located General Education Partners
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Music Partnerships with Beat Global
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The Shubert Foundation Theatre Program
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Dance In Motion.
Nuturing Teacher Leaders
Teacher Leaders have taken on a more active role in demonstrating best practices and sharing relevant research in the field. The launch of the Lab Classroom and Collaborative Cohort Models promote teacher led presentations and shared best strategies.
The recent 177Q library renovation and re-opening was funded by grants from The Achilles Fund and The Fund for Public Schools. The library is newly renovated with multi-purpose space that accommodates the varied needs of staff. This space is used for staff training; celebrations and for welcoming our community partners.
The role of our School Based Coach continues to expand as teacher support needs increase at the off-sites. The School Based Coach; dean and various members of key learning communities visit and support staff at the off sites.
All key participants of various Learning Cohorts assume the role of lead teacher and present at teacher team meetings or provide small group teacher support.
177Q administration promotes and supports the development of Teacher Leaders. Teachers have opportunities to interview for various leadership roles as they become available. However, as teachers become experts in their area of practice by attending professional development and utilizing new strategies, they are invited to lead Common Planning Cohort sessions, and provide school wide professional development. Teacher Leaders make new ideas and strategies visible in their classrooms, and host inter-visitations so that other teachers can implement the new strategies
Culture
Attitudes, knowledge, behaviors and beliefs that characterize the school environment and are shared by its stakeholders.
177Q Worksites
The 177Q Transition Coordinator leads the way in securing our students' worksites in the community and within the school. All students are engaged in career awareness and are afforded opportunities to be of service to the school or larger community.
The Spring term begins the application process for Summer Youth Employment Program and much needed financial incentives for our students and their families.
ince December 2021, 177Q’s worksites have expanded to include the following programs:
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Five Guys Burgers and Fries
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Qdoba
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Applebees
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(coming soon) Queens Public Library, Fresh Meadows
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Post Office Services
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Ruff Rags Dog Chew Toys
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Panther Greetings
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Project Spotlight Bracelet Designs
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Lunch Delivery Service (295)
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Coffee Cart (MVB)
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Snack Cart (MVB)
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Morning Announcements (MVB)
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Breakfast Delivery (MVB)
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Panther Pop Up Shop (MVB)
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Breakfast Delivery (MVB)
177Q administration promotes and supports the development of Teacher Leaders. Teachers have opportunities to interview for various leadership roles as they become available. However, as teachers become experts in their area of practice by attending professional development and utilizing new strategies, they are invited to lead Common Planning Cohort sessions, and provide school wide professional development. Teacher Leaders make new ideas and strategies visible in their classrooms, and host inter-visitations so that other teachers can implement the new strategies
School-wide Traditions & Rituals
The rich traditions and rituals at P177Q is what bring our school and community together to celebrate and collaborate on improving students’ growth and development. Our partnerships at our co-located sites have seen increased joint celebrations. New traditions and rituals have begun this school term. Winter and Spring rituals include:
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Black History Month Celebration
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Pep Rally
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Holi Day Celebration
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Lunar New Year
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Greek Independence Day Celebration
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Family Fun Day in memory of Ms.Posa
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Field Day
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Senior Events and Activities
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Social Emotional Learning Day
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Women’s History Month Celebration
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Weekly SEL activities- Virtual Clubs Links
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Weekly Leaders’ Center Exchange Program
Knowing and valuing our students is at the heart of our school’s mission and vision to Empower all students. Teachers' knowledge of students go far beyond students’ academic skills to include students’ Social and Emotional learning skills. We believe that all learning is social and emotional and strive to provide students with opportunities to engage in social-interaction in the beyond the classroom setting. Our yearly rituals and traditions includes: Fall Welcome Back Event; Fall Festival; Thanksgiving Luncheon; Diwali Celebration; Winter Wonderland Holiday Celebration; Asian New Year Celebration and our African American and Springtime Graduation Ceremony. All events are documented in the Monthly Staff Newsletter.
Extracurricular Activites
Administrators, teachers; related service providers, paraprofessionals and parents are committed to creating and promoting opportunities for social growth and development. Extra- curricular activities provide students with great opportunities to develop positive peer and adult relationships. All stakeholders of 177Q support and promote a school environment that addresses the physical, mental, social and emotional needs of all. Opportunities for students to participate in extracurricular activities occur year round. The following extra-curricular activities are offered at P177Q:
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Special Olympics Hockey Team
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Band
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Basketball Team
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Dance Team
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Debate Team
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Roving Reporters
In February 2022, the P177Q’s Special Olympics Hockey Team traveled to Syracuse, NY and won the Gold Medal at the 2022 Special Olympics Winter Games.
P177 was granted Broadway Jr for 3 years and this year’s performance will be Madagascar. Professional training is provided to the team of staff to put together this show in addition to a hands on representative on a weekly basis. The grant also includes funding for stage equipment. Students have been practicing on stage with peers rehearsing their lines, singing, and choreography.
Classes from all sites are participating in Marquis Studios, a residency art program that encourages student exploration of visual arts, music, dance, or architecture.
Title 111 Lego Program- This program provides additional opportunities for our ELL’s students and families to receive resources that promote an asset based approach focusing on students ability based strengths.
PBIS Virtual Clubs are hosted every Friday. Students from all sites eagerly participate in these programs.
In addition to core academic instruction, all students at 177Q have access to extra-curricular activities that promote positive communication and social interaction skills.
Recently, our Special Olympics floor hockey team won the bronze medal at the Peter Aquilone Winter Classic Floor Hockey Tournament, at the Jacob K. Javit's Center in Manhattan.
177Q will also be starting its CHAMPS after-school program in the winter of 2021.
Sustainability
A focus on continuance and meaning beyond the present moment, contextualizing today’s successes and improvements as the legacy of the future
Parent Engagement
In January 2022, the P177Q welcomed our new Parent Coordinator, With a high level of technological and personal skills, Ms. Hager is leading all efforts of engaging parents, community partners, students and staff to build positive relationships. Most importantly, parents are encouraged to take on significant roles in on-going improvement efforts. This term we have added the role of Parent Captain to expand parent engagement. Parent Captains are parents who volunteer to serve as a cohort leader for parents with children of similar age and classification. Parent captains also work closely with the PTA.
177Q implements a Multi-Tiered System of Support to enhance the academic and behavioral outcomes of all students. Parent engagement related to improving students' learning and behavior is promoted through parents’ education and training.
Grants & Outside Funding
Administrators, members of the PTA and Grant Committee members actively engage and regularly interact with our city council representatives. Over the last few months several meetings were held and stakeholders of 177Q clearly articulated the need for renovated and expanded space in order to better serve the needs of our growing student population.
One of the most impactful grants secured by 177Q was the funding allocated into the improvement of our school library. VITAL Grant funding was provided through the Achilles Fund and monied were also secured through the Fund for Public Schools. Through these grants, 177Q students and staff can now enjoy the benefits of a library program. In addition to service as an information hub for students and staff, the library also serves as a worksite program and a comfortable space for students to socialize with their peers.
To enhance resources for our students, 177Q Stakeholders engage in on-going communication with our community stakeholders. Over the past several years we have established and maintained positive relationships with our community partners. Councilman Peter Koo is one of our partners who has generously given to support our students’ advancements in the area of technology.
