Second Place, Middle Division, Elementary Schools
Debbie Bogdan, Principal
101 Henslee Dr.
Dickson, TN 37055
Dickson County Schools
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Recipe For Success:
At The Discovery School, we have worked hard to establish a positive and consistent learning culture. In my role as principal, it is my desire to nourish that culture. My role is made easier by our dedicated and enthusiastic teachers and staff, parents who are passionate about education and students who are excited to learn.
I try to greet all students as they arrive each day. This simple greeting time sets the tone and hopefully, paves the way for a smoother day. It also allows me to ascertain any concerns that might need to be shared with a child’s teacher. After the tardy bell, students gather in the auditorium for a 10-15 minute morning assembly. Items on the agenda might include; singing happy birthday, announcing AR points, sharing WOWW (Writers of Wonderful Works) writings, and recognizing students in a positive and upbeat way.
Our total enrollment is 238 and we have 1 bus assigned to our 50 bus riders. With 79% of our students being transported by vehicle, we have an opportunity to speak to parents daily. We have an effective county wide elementary check- in/check -out policy and we make a phone call to every student who is absent. These procedures help us to maintain an attendance rate greater than 95%.
Dickson County works hard to create a collaborative environment for the teachers. Through these collaborations, we have developed pacing guides for each subject, a yearly assessment schedule for all formative assessments, state tests, and culminating activities. We also use the Odyssey program in all of our computer labs. We have set aside two county-wide days for Professional Learning Communities. In our building, we have weekly opportunities for teachers to collaborate horizontally and vertically.
Every Monday, a P.L.A.N.(Program for Learning and Nuturing) is sent home that details student work and grades from the prior week. Objectives and S.P.I.’s for each grading period are detailed. Any needed behavior information is also included. Parents expect the P.L.A.N.s every Monday and know to sign them and return them to school on Tuesday,
We maintain 3 school wide discipline rules in addition to the rules created collaboratively in each classroom. Office referrals are completed on carbonless forms and a copy goes home with the student on the day of the infraction. Discipline is handled swiftly and appropriately so as to not interfere with the classroom instruction.
Instructional time is considered sacred and guarded from interruptions. We do our best to teach from bell to bell.
Our teachers like to think of themselves as “Data Divas and Dudes”! We dig through TCAP and TVAAS data as well as data derived from ThinkLink and Odyssey assessments. Information gleaned drives our instruction and remediation. Our teachers teach to the standards with “rigor and vigor”. Data is also used to place students and assign teachers with the hope that only optimal learning will take place.
The Discovery School believes in the 3 R’s- Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships. We desire for our school to be an exciting and safe place for students to spend their day!