Springfield Renaissance Site Seminar Brochure 2015

“Renaissance cares. Teachers, administrators, and
parents work together for the improvement of the
character of our children, not only their grades and test
scores. We believe in the people our children can
become if we pursue the character traits of a
Renaissance student: perseverance, friendship,
responsibility, respect, self-discipline, cultural
sensitivity, and courage.”
-Angelina Ramirez, parent
Registration
How to Register
For schools affiliated with Expeditionary Learning
 $400 payable to Expeditionary Learning
 Register online at www.elschools.org
For schools outside of Expeditionary Learning
 $400 payable to The Springfield
Renaissance School
 Register by email:
SLABICHL@sps.springfield.ma.us
Accommodations
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Rooms reserved at The Sheraton Springfield
Held under Expeditionary Learning/The
Springfield Renaissance School until April 24
$119/night
Call 413.781.1010 to make reservations
Transportation between the Sheraton and the
school will be provided
Our Mission
To provide a rigorous academic
program for college-bound
students in a small, personalized
setting that impels and supports
students to use their minds well, to
care for themselves and others, and
to rise to the challenges and
duties of citizenship.
Our Demographics
(2014-2015)
Hispanic
African American
Caucasian
Multi-Racial
Qualify for Free or Reduced
Lunch (2013-2014)
43.7%
26.1%
23.7%
4.9%
63.9%
Site
Seminar:
Students, Structures, Success
April 30-May 1, 2015
Percent Proficient/Advanced
Renaissance
Light breakfast and full lunch provided
Thursday and Friday
Contact Stephen Mahoney or Lindsay Slabich
413.750.2929
SLABICHL@sps.springfield.ma.us
AN EXPEDITIONARY LEARNING
MENTOR SCHOOL
2014 MCAS* Results
Food
For More Information
THE SPRINGFIELD
RENAISSANCE SCHOOL
Grade 10
Springfield
Reading/Language Arts
97%
71%
Aggregate
grades 6, 7, 8, 10
Grade 10
Aggregate
grades 6, 7, 8, 10
70%
MA
89%
47%
77%
Mathematics
69%
43%
78%
35%
60%
25%
*MCAS is a state test required for graduation from high school
E X P E D I T I O N A R Y
L E A R N I N G
The Springfield Renaissance School
1170 Carew Street
Springfield, MA 01104
Phone: 413.750.2929
Fax: 413.750.2978
Website: springfieldrenaissanceschool.com
Facebook: Springfield Renaissance School
Overview
The Springfield Renaissance School, an Expeditionary
Learning Mentor School, was founded in 2006.
Renaissance is an urban, gr. 6-12 college bound
school that has consistently and significantly
outperformed schools with similar demographics on a
range of indicators, including attendance, discipline,
test scores, and graduation and dropout rates. 100%
of the school's first five graduating classes (2010—
2014) were accepted to a college or university.
Our site seminar is focused on school-wide structures,
consistencies, and instructional strategies that foster
student ownership of their learning and lead to high
academic achievement. Throughout the site seminar,
participants will explore how Renaissance uses crew,
the workshop model, instructional protocols, habits of
work, and “sweating the small stuff” to consistently
narrow the achievement gap.
Site Seminar Guiding Questions
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How do schools empower students to own their
learning?
How do schools build a culture of success that
gets results?
Site Seminar Learning Targets
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I can describe how specific structures and
strategies support student ownership of their
learning.
I can describe effective systems and structures
that create and sustain a purposeful classroom
and school culture.
I can analyze how a student centered approach
and a culture of consistency lead to high student
performance.
Site Seminar Schedule
Key Benefits of Attending
Day 1, Thursday, April 30
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7:30-8:15
8:15-9:00
9:00-10:30
10:30-11:30
11:30-12:30
12:30-2:20
2:30-3:15
5:00-7:00
Registration and Breakfast
Welcome and Participant Crews
Tours, Classroom and Crew Observations
“Culture First,” Part 1, Dr. Mahoney, Principal
Lunch
Observations
Participant Crews
Reception
Day 2, Friday, May 1
7:30-8:00
8:00-8:35
8:45-10:45
10:45-11:45
11:45-1:45
2:00-3:00
3:00-3:30
Breakfast
Participant Crews
Workshops*
Lunch
Observations and Workshop on
Passage Portfolios, Student Led
Conferences, Senior Talks
“Culture First,” Part 2, Dr. Mahoney, Principal
Closing Circle
*Workshops Choices:
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Consistent School-Wide Instruction: Using the
Workshop Model
Student Centered Learning Protocols Across the
Content Areas
6th Grade: Building Culture Through Consistency
We Are College-Bound
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Practical applications for middle and
high schools
Professional networking
Unfettered access to students,
teachers, counselors, administrators
and families
Hands-on introduction to Expeditionary
Learning
Opportunity to focus on instruction
and/or school-wide structures
Honest dialogue about the school’s
strengths, areas of challenge, and
on-going self-assessment
Documents Library
“Renaissance has provided my children
with an environment to become thinkers,
problem solvers, innovators, creators, and
at the same time good citizens
demonstrating empathy towards all
people of different economic and ethnic
backgrounds… They will graduate from
Renaissance with the 21st century skills
and strong core foundations required to
be competitive and well-rounded in our
current world.”
-Wanda Crawford, parent