Dawes Intermediate School Mission Statement

The mission of Dawes Intermediate is to provide a safe, rigorous, and brain-friendly learning environment that promotes healthy, respectful, resourceful, and responsible life-long learners who will collaborate with one another, lead by example, set goals to strive for excellence, and graduate as college-bound or career ready citizens

Dawes Intermediate School

• Established 2010
  
• Serves students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades
  
• 78 % of our faculty have a Master’s degree or higher and includes teachers with National Board Certification, Baldrige Examiners, PAEMST
  
• We received the Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School of Excellence Award 2016 ranking EXCELLENT in all nine categories as evaluated on-site by examiners

Scholastic Initiative

Trained on quadrants of learning from acquisition to adaptation of knowledge.

Extensive PD for the school year on ideal student engagement routines, instructional strategies, questions that promote rigor and relevance in learning, and tools to use that help get students to think and do the work!

School and Faculty Awards

• National Board for Professional Teaching
• Alabama Performance Excellence School 2 years in a row 
• Alabama's State Teacher of the Year 2016-2017
• National Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School of Excellence Award in 2016
  
• Technology Team Award Winning  Best in Show (elementary, middle, high, public, private, Mobile and Baldwin Co)
  
• Healthy Schools Cafeteria– Bronze
  
• Superintendent’s Award Reading, Math, Science
  
• PTA Golden Apple
  
• PTA 100 % Participation
  
• AR Model School and AR Master School
  
• Honor Council Award for Student Council every year

Featured Programs

Outdoor Learning Center- Amphitheater seating for 90, Smart Board on wheels, Hotspot for Wi-Fi, barn, bat houses, Globe weather station, Hydroponics station, and a greenhouse.

Community – Student Council, charities, track, gardens, Junior Achievement, Career sharing, grants, Realtor Caravan, charity race, brochure for American Diabetes and Senior Bowl Charity Run. Promote health and fitness with track and gardens, PTA, Partners in Ed

Academic- Focus on Rigor, Relevance, Engagement (Scholastic)- currently working on student engagement, data room, goal charts, mission, after school tutoring, writing as a focus

21st Century technology- SMART Boards, remotes, webcams, MiDevice, rolling labs, tech for gardens, outdoor learning center, award winning tech team, GLOBE, digital microscope, computerized telescope, GPS devices, security system, IPad, Kindle, Galaxy, Wireless Slates

Social- clubs, organizations, themed activities, programs led by students, students empowered through processes to make decisions, Dawes Business connection, transition programs before grade 3 and after grade 5

Leadership- Junior Achievement, Career focus, students lead programs, students close the day with plus delta, succession planning for teacher leaders, Academic Success Teams to empower teachers as leaders and decision makers, Leadership Team, Student Council, Clubs, recycling, composting, classroom goal boards, individual goal sheets, Honor Council

Clubs- Dashers (running club), Dancers, STEM club, Kids Kiwanis Club, Good News Club, Tech Team, Robotics, Math Team, Coastal Kids Quiz Club, Choir, Drama Club, Art Club, Production Club, Unplugged Gamers, Dawes Designers Club, GLOBE, LEGO Club, Student Council, National Junior Honor’s Society, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts of America and more!

Health and Fitness- track, student running club, community race, jump rope for heart, Presidential Fitness program, Healthy Schools Award with cafeteria, Health Challenge- faculty, Healthy lunches with USDA

Positive Reinforcement- Positive Behavior Plan, Rewards positive behavior, Seven Habits of Happy Kids, character, grades, attendance, improvement. Recognition for Teacher of the Year, promotes clubs (Honor Council, Tech team), promotes students (Reflections, Red Ribbon, Go Daddy writing contest, meets/exceeds goals, individual accomplishments) celebratory culture.

School Goals

Academic:

1. Create problem solving, engaged learners who use and apply higher level thinking skills

• Align curriculum, instruction, and assessment to rigorous standards
  
• Incorporate the use of technology, manipulatives, and journals
  
• Set higher expectations for students to learn higher content
  
• Create collaborative academic success teams

2. Increase performance on mandated assessments

• Create a focused mission to improve student achievement
  
• Create a vision of the elements of school curriculum and instructional practices that make achievement possible
  
• Involve parents with SAT/ARMT preparation, creation of SAE, communication to parents and community, preparation strategies
  
• Collaborative teams

3. Develop a culture of high expectations for all

• Engage in academic goal setting with each teacher and student
  
• Regular and structured data meetings for all faculty
  
• Set higher expectations for teachers to demonstrate rigor, relevance, and relationships with skills
  
• Provide necessary support for teachers to carry out sound instructional practices
  
• Implement data-based improvement with emphasis on special education students
  
• Collaboration
  

Social:
1. Maintain high expectations for all students and consistency with discipline.

• All faculty, staff through daily routines
  
• Vertical consistency with rules, procedures, and expectations
  
• Teach students expectations, proficiency levels, and how to set goals

2. Create a caring environment

• Every student has support of a caring adult (mentor)
  
• Enhance trust with faculty, students, parents, and community through open communication
  
• Consistency

3. Develop and exhibit good character traits that show we value and respect ourselves and others.

• Caring environment and culture in the school
  
• Lead by example
  
• Focus on the good behaviors observed
  

Parent/Community Involvement

1. Create an environment inviting to parents, partners, and the community

2. Improve public relations by increasing communication about our school to the public

3. Involve all stakeholders beyond participation and more towards involvement

4. Increase collaboration with all stakeholders for shared decision-making

• Planning activities, involving others to share talents with the school, guest speakers for lessons
  
• Utilize resources to bring the community closer
  
• Thank you notes, newspaper, updates sent out to PIE and local businesses, communication and involvement with collaboration
  
• Involve parents and community to participate in goal setting (surveys, notes, emails, PTA or PTO)