As Park River Area School prepares for our upcoming accreditation review, we want to keep all of our stakeholders—students, families, staff, and community members—informed about the steps we are taking to ensure our school continues to thrive. Our focus during this process is guided by our Theory of Action statements, which reflect both our strengths and areas for improvement. Here’s an overview of what we are focusing on as we move forward.
Our Strengths: What We’re Doing Well
Strong Family Engagement & Communication: One of our proudest achievements is the way we’ve strengthened our relationship with families. By improving our communication through social media, regular conferences, and other outreach efforts, we’ve created a strong partnership that supports student progress. Families are more connected to the school, and this collaboration is key to enhancing student engagement and success.
A Positive, Student-Centered Learning Culture: At the heart of our school’s success is our commitment to creating a culture that supports both student and staff growth. Our guiding principles prioritize student well-being, and we actively engage stakeholders in shaping the school’s mission and vision. This has fostered a vibrant community culture, where students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning, and staff are continually growing through professional development.
Student Growth: We place a strong emphasis on personalized learning by actively involving students in discussions about their academic and emotional growth. This approach helps us better understand student needs, leading to more tailored and effective instruction. This focus ensures our school remains student-centered and responsive to individual growth.
Areas We Are Working to Improve
Using Student Data to Improve Learning: One key area we are focusing on is providing teachers with more tools and training to interpret student assessment data. By helping our staff better understand and use this data, we can identify student strengths and areas that need improvement, adjusting teaching strategies to boost student performance.
Maintaining Academic Progress Throughout the Year: We have noticed that some students experience a dip in academic growth during the winter months. As we move forward, we are working on engagement strategies to keep students motivated and engaged throughout the school year. These efforts will help ensure steady progress and minimize any mid-year learning gaps.
Closing Achievement Gaps: While we’ve made great strides, we recognize that certain groups of students—such as those on free/reduced lunch and some demographic groups—still face challenges in achieving at the same level as their peers. We are committed to developing more targeted interventions to close these gaps and provide every student with the opportunity to succeed.
Looking Ahead: Our Commitment to Excellence
As we move through the accreditation review process, we will focus on these areas of strength and improvement to demonstrate our commitment to growth and excellence. Our goals include:
Strengthening how we use data to improve teaching and learning.
Continuing to enhance family involvement in school decision-making.
Ensuring that every student receives personalized support to meet their needs.
We thank our entire school community for your continued support and involvement in making Park River Area School a great place to learn and grow. Together, we are building a stronger future for all our students.
Stay Connected: We will keep you informed about the accreditation process and any important updates as we move forward. Let’s continue working together to ensure success for every student!
Sincerely,
Jana Gudmundson, School Improvement Team Chairperson