STATEN ISLAND TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Vincent A. Maniscalco, Principal
March 2010
Dear Parents,
The Department of Education will soon be issuing this year's Learning Environment Survey. In this third year of the survey, parents, teachers and students will again be asked to evaluate how well their school supports student learning. The results of this document will be used in-house by the School Leadership Team to identify changes that will further improve the school environment. We also need to understand that the results of this very highly profiled public document will be available to the numerous community-based organizations, colleges, and universities that our gifted students will be applying to in the near future. These essential organizations want to learn more about the positive environment in which your student developed and why his/her school was ranked #34 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
What Tech needs now is for all of us to fairly and accurately articulate in large numbers from each of our constituency groups a correct picture of how Tech truly fairs in the areas of Safety and Respect, Academic Expectations, Engagement, and Communication. The NYC Learning Environment Survey defines each of these areas in the following manner:
Safety and Respect measures the degree to which a school provides a physically and emotionally secure environment for learning. Students who feel safe are more able to engage in academic work and less likely to behave in ways that interfere with academic performance.
Academic Expectations measures the degree to which a school encourages students to do their best and develop rigorous and meaningful academic goals. Expectations are communicated in direct and subtle ways and are powerful motivators of student behavior and performance. Schools with high expectations provide a learning environment in which students believe they are capable of academic success.
Engagement measures the degree to which a school involves students, parents and educators in a partnership to promote student learning. Schools with a broad range of curricular offerings, activities, and opportunities for parents, teachers and students to influence the direction of the school are better able to meet the learning needs of children.
Communication measures the degree to which a school effectively communicates its educational goals and requirements, listens to community members, and provides appropriate feedback on each student's learning outcomes. Access to this information can be used to establish a greater degree of agency and responsibility for student learning by all community members.
How did Tech rate relative to Peer and City Horizon schools? I ask that you judge for yourself based on the results that appeared in the NYC 2009-09 School Progress Report for SITHS (see table below). In the opinion of a number of Tech supporters, our school would have done much better if more people expressed a fair and accurate picture of what School Environment was really like.
SURVEY SCORES FOR SITHS |
|
SITHS Relative to Peer Horizon Schools |
SITHS Relative to City Horizon Schools |
Safety & Respect |
72.2% |
100% |
Academic Expectations |
69.6% |
96.2% |
Engagement |
79.3% |
96.6% |
Communication |
64.3% |
76.9% |
Attendance |
67.2% |
95.2% |
ADVANCED PLACEMENT UPDATE – The Advanced Placement process is underway. The schoolwide guidelines as to how many classes a "qualified" student may accept will be communicated as the process unfolds. The Departmental Teacher Recommendation Rubric is shown below. To share your thoughts regarding the following departmental rubric, please contact the respective department assistant principal at (718) 667-5725.
Teacher Recommendation Rubric — 3, 5, 7, or 10
*The rubric score designation assigned to a particular student may not be fully descriptive of the student. However, the candidate was placed in a category because he/she best fits most or all of the category descriptors.
|
3
The student lacks organization and/or academic ability to succeed in the AP course. The content and writing skills required for this high level course may not yet be fully developed. The student does inconsistent work. |
5
The student has the potential to succeed in the AP course but lacks organization and study skills,
or
the student is extremely organized and hard working but may have difficulty with the content. |
7
The student is generally organized, diligent and demonstrates understanding and enthusiasm for the subject matter. He or she occasionally contributes with pertinent information and questions to the class discussions. The student most likely has the academic capability to succeed in the AP course.
|
10
The student is organized, diligent and demonstrates mastery and enthusiasm for the subject matter. He or she contributes often with pertinent information and questions to the class discussions. The student has the academic capability to succeed in the AP course.
|
BUDGET CUTS
CELL PHONE POLICY In accordance with the Citywide Standards of Discipline and Intervention Measures (The Student Discipline Code), students are prohibited from bringing cell phones to school. Cell phones which are discovered will be confiscated and the student's parent must call (718) 667-5725, Ext. 123, Monday – Friday, to set up an appointment with Ms. M. Spirocostas and arrange for a next school day pick-up of confiscated material(s) which will only be released to the student's parent / guardian. Repeated offenders may be suspended.
Sincerely,
VINCENT A. MANISCALCO
