After each school leadership team reflected on its school culture, community, and the key contributing factors to student growth, they used this information to select the Strategic Plan Indicators that would have the greatest positive impact for their students.  Each school was directed to select two to six indicators on which to focus during the 2018-19 school year.  Certainly, we all know that if we focus narrowly and deeply, we are more likely to realize positive results.  The indicators that this school’s leadership team selected are noted below.

Throughout the next 3 years, schools will focus on their chosen Strategic Plan Indicators as the drivers to increase student engagement and achievement within their schools.  They will choose strategies to help them grow or increase within each indicator and will monitor and evaluate the student and school changes that take place along the journey.  Below you will see what this school imagines their students and school to look like in 2021 after having focused and worked on their chosen indicators for three years.

We believe in the power of positive relationships and communication skills.  Through implementing Restorative Practices within daily instruction, students will build their capacity to communicate their needs, wants, and opinions with the power of words.  Community building circles and teaching students how to repair the harm of a relationship are examples of some restorative practices we use to build a sense of community in our school. Students will be able to take these communication skills with them far beyond the walls of Southgate Elementary.  These communication skills will continue to benefit students during their PYP journey.  Fifth grade students have the opportunity to demonstrate their growth and learning through a culminating activity.  This action-based activity provides students an opportunity to research a problem in society and plan for a way to take action, we call this exhibition. These exhibition projects leave a legacy on Southgate Elementary, while building the foundations for future generations of students. 

Southgate Elementary builds a welcoming and nurturing environment that promotes students’ ability to showcase their learning while finding opportunities to take action both in and outside of school.  Our workshops and family activity nights promote collaboration between families and staff members.  Families view Southgate Elementary as the cornerstone of the community; and students are eager to return, year after year.