SWOT+Issues+-+Cirriculum

The compilation of the important SWOT issues:  1. Parents need to be made aware of SFA’s curriculum for each grade level. This will manage students and parents’ expectations. It will also allow parents to compare SFA’s curriculum with other schools to understand SFA’s strengths and areas that may require improvements. Parents can then be more active partners in the students’ learning journey at SFA.  2. ITBS test results should be published and clearly explained to the parents; again, to promote understanding of the school’s curriculum instruction and articulation.  3. SFA’s faculty should articulate to the students and parents the need for “big” class projects and homework. There is a need to communicate how these “labor intensive” projects enhance the students’ learning and how they support the curriculum. Often times, students and parents do not see the value of “big” projects which result in negative feelings about the school.  4. Keep academic curriculum & student achievements competitive with area schools.  5. Faith formation continues to be highlighted throughout curriculum and advertised as such.  6. Spanish offered as elective before/after school, rather than time allotted from core subjects.  7. Academic contact minutes for all core subjects should be equalized and increased before expanding non-core academic programs or adding any new programs.  8. Reduce the number of non-academic programs such as various assemblies which directly impact and reduce the number of contact minutes for all academic programs.  9. Advertise where SFA’s curriculum excels using ITBS scores and overall placement of 8th grade students into high schools. This may also help with retention of students whose families may want to leave SFA because of a perception of a weakness in a particular curriculum area.  10. Hire a Technology teacher that can focus on teaching five days per week.  11. Improve the technology integration within the classroom and curriculum.  12. Develop a road map that details specifics in becoming a BLUE RIBBON school.  13. Integrate technology across the curriculum at all grade levels. Pre-K-8. This applies to curriculum delivery and engaging student learning lessons. Student created projects in school, not at home.  14. Train teachers in new methodologies and differentiated instruction, increase project-based learning. Change teachers role from 100% Direct teaching to the Facilitator of learning. Implement SLE’s by empowering students to be life-long learners.  15. Revise and establish new schedule of classes with Diocese Guidelines, update to California state standard textbooks and software, and implement National Educational Technology Standards (NETS_S (Student), NETS_T(Teachers, and NETS_A (Administrators). Set the goals for the Blue Ribbon School and a timeline plan to achieve the academic high level goals.  16. The expansion of the core curriculum <span style="mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Book Antiqua'; msobidifontfamily: 'Book Antiqua'; msolist: Ignore;"> 17. Increased integration of technology into the classroom <span style="mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: 'Book Antiqua'; msobidifontfamily: 'Book Antiqua'; msolist: Ignore;"> 18. Formal inclusion program