UNDERSTANDING THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

Student: Alma Vargas School: Gary Elementary School Term: Fall

Your site visit experience offers you the opportunity to learn how schools operate as a large community promoting the growth of a
learner. School environment is determined by the schools culture, its history, its belief in how to do things and what is worth doing.
Become familiar with the school environment by completing the table below. Accomplish this by using the host schools website, the
Illinois Public K-12 School Rankings based on the Report Card and school personnel interviews.

Demographics
The following elements look at the demographic information of a school.
The demographic information of a school can provide an excellent look at the diversity of the school environment.
What is/are the Answer Resource for the Answer: Persons
name and title, document or website.
Current school enrollment 565 illinoisreportcard.com

Percentage of various races and ethnicities White 13.6% illinoisreportcard.com

Black .7%
Hispanic 85%
Asian 0%
American Indian 0%
Two or more races .7%

Number of males and females as per school 53% Males Greatschools.org

report card 47% Females

Percent of low income students 38.9% illinoisreportcard.com

Percent of students with IEPs 13% illinoisreportcard.com

Percentage of English Language Learners 65.7% illinoisreportcard.com

Composite percent of students who meet 29% Meet Standards illinoisreportcard.com
and exceed state standards 5% Exceeds Standards

# of FTE (full time equivalency) teachers 277 illinoisreportcard.com

School Organization
The following elements identify various aspects of the organization of the school.
By understanding the school organization, teachers can better plan their lessons and their day.
School Mission Statement Gary Elementary School
Create an educational culture where each student 2017-2018 Student-Parent Handbook
thrives academically, physically, socially, and
emotionally.
Length of school day for students 8:40am To 3:25pm Gary Elementary School
2017-2018 Student-Parent Handbook
Length of school day for contracted 8:30am To 3:30pm Ms Mejia, Teacher
staff
Number of minutes per class or time Times differed depending on the grade level, School secretary
allotted for each subject Normally they run from 45 to 90min Mrs Gonzales
Number of minutes for specials 45 Min. School secretary
Art, P.E., Music, etc. Mrs Gonzales
Elective classes offered No except for the extracurricular activities. School secretary
Mrs Gonzales
Extracurricular activities offered Running club, Orchestra, band, chorus, School secretary
newspaper club, balet folcrorico. Mrs Gonzales
Types of duties which teachers are Car students drop off and pick up, Running club, School secretary
assigned newspaper club, balet folcrorico, and some of the Mrs Gonzales
Fundraisers, Commented [av1]:
Types of communication between Messenger, phone, email, website, class dojo, School secretary
the school, home, and community peachjar, board brief, twitter, artsonia. Mrs Gonzales
Types of all-school or grade level Kagan trainings, grade level meetings, etc. School secretary
assemblies Mrs Gonzales
School colors and mascot White and Blue, mascot Cougar School

Student and faculty dress code Appropriate dress and grooming for all students. Gary Elementary School
Students are not allowed to wear any clothes that 2017-2018 Student-Parent Handbook
have vulgar messages, promotes violence,
advertise, alcohol, Tabaco or drug use.
Clothing must be appropriate for the students
body size, neither to large or too small.
Assistance
The following elements identify various types of assistance available to students and faculty.
Identifying and understanding the various types of assistance available to students and teachers provides a teacher with a greater
sense of community.
Student intervention plans such as
Response to Intervention (RTI)
Provisions for students so that they Gym, Classrooms, materials, no transportation School secretary
can participate in extracurricular offer, Mrs Gonzales
activities (e.g. transportation)
Types of technology available for Laptops, smartboards, classroom computers. School secretary
teachers Mrs Gonzales
Types of technology available for Chrombooks, class room computers. School secretary
students Mrs Gonzales
Types of professional development Different types of trainings through out the year, School secretary
available to staff usually one training every two months. Mrs Gonzales
Policies
The following elements provide a greater understanding of the policies that exist in a school environment.
Read and summarize the Schools
digital etiquette policy for students.
Staff credentials to sponsor
extracurricular activities
Philosophy of the school library or
learning center
Study hall policies for students and
teachers
Lunchroom policies for students and
teachers
Hallway policies: during class time
and between classes
School discipline policy

Emergency procedure plans (fire,

tornado, evacuation, and lockdown)