In 2016, more than 2,250 students, parents, teachers and community members took part in the #TheirFuture initiative, a series of surveys, discussions and meetings organized to define and design a modern educational program to meet the needs of today’s students.
#TheirFuture was a collaborative initiative that involved the entire Warwick Valley community that sought to ensure that all our students receive a strong foundation to learn, lead and find success. It was an exercise that examined the knowledge, skills and character strengths a Warwick Valley graduate will need to achieve purpose and success community and family life. It also defined how learning should take place in our classrooms.
The North Star
The input we received from our students, parents, teachers and community members were used to create our North Star, a 1,015 word vision statement that specifies the cognitive, personal and interpersonal competencies we want our students to have when they graduate.
The North Star helped us reveal and affirm the culture of learning, growth and enjoyment that we seek to develop in our district. It connects overtly to our district’s mission, vision, unique school environment and academic program. It places an emphasis on relationships, experiential learning, student choice, group collaboration and the development of enduring academic, interpersonal and critical thinking skills.
By working together to think about the attributes and habits that should be developed by a Warwick Valley education, our community created an important touchstone that will be used for years to come. Read the district’s North Star here.
Portrait of a Graduate
Warwick Valley teachers and administrators have designed a “Portrait of a Graduate”, an illustration that articulates the community’s aspirations for all students. Inspired and informed by feedback from #TheirFuture, the Portrait of a Graduate is the district’s visual representation of its priority goals for teaching and learning.
Ongoing Assessments
Data is used to help our educators improve and achieve to meet our students’ specific needs. Each school is supported in the district’s efforts through ongoing professional development. Key benchmarks related to academics, social and emotional wellness and career and life skills are also used to monitor progress.