MAGNET DESCRIPTION
I. Program Overview
Vintage Math / Science / Technology Magnet is located in North Hills in the North San Fernando Valley. The school serves 680 magnet students in grades ones through five and is a full self-contained magnet school. In addition to magnet classrooms there is one kindergarten class and one special education classroom, which are housed on the campus. Though they are not part of the magnet program, they are included as part of the larger school community for school wide events and mainstreaming activities. Each year Vintage Magnet, accepts 120 new first grade students and 40 fourth grade students. There are six primary classrooms at each grade level first through third and five classrooms in grades four and five.
Vintage Magnet offers a rigorous standards based instructional program that emphasizes Math, Science and Technology. The program is designed to target students who have expressed an interest in Math, Science and Technology by integrating these subject areas throughout the curriculum. This creates a high interest program for students that helps support their academic success in all areas.
The school supports this integration through various resources on the campus. Students visit a science lab and a computer lab weekly. These labs are staffed with assistants who are work with teachers to prepare hands-on and project based lessons. There is a instructional garden on campus which is used in the Spring to teach life sciences. Every classroom and the school library are connected through a high-speed fiber optic data network and have at multimedia capable computers for students to access. Professional development for teachers focuses on best practices in Mathematics, Science and Technology instruction.
II. Educational Philosophy
Vintage Magnet is dedicated to the principle that cultural, ethnic, socio-economic and geographical diversity within our student body fosters greater breadth and depth in the educational experience of all students. Students are united by a common interest in Math, Science and Technology, while at the same time contribute unique perspectives related to the diverse backgrounds from which they come. In this way, Vintage provides a model for students, which will serve them well in the increasingly diverse but connected world.
The school works very hard to promote a culture of tolerance and student collaboration. To this end, high standards of student behavior are maintained to insure that every student who comes to Vintage is guaranteed a safe and organized environment, which supports student learning. The school maintains a uniform policy and has clearly established rules and procedures for students to follow on campus. These policies create a community that is focused on the common goal of academic achievement and diminishes the negative influences of many outside social forces, which seek to accentuate the differences between social, cultural and ethnic groups.
Appreciation for diversity and multiculturalism is further promoted through various school wide events during the year such as, assemblies, international festival, and…
Through increased awareness of the positive contribution that diversity can bring to a community and the daily experience of working towards common goals within such a diverse community, Vintage students will be better prepared to productively meet the challenges of the 21 century.
III. Differentiated Objectives
Vintage Math / Science / Technology Magnet provides a rigorous standards based instructional program for all students. Students who attend Vintage will receive the state curriculum in all subject areas with additional emphasis and enrichment provided in the areas of Math, Science, and Technology. In each of these areas, teachers strive to implement the most current research based practices. Teachers take advantage of opportunities to make connections to Math, Science and Technology in other curricular areas.
In Mathematics, teachers use hands-on activities and investigations to present content in a way that develops critical thinking skills. These activities provide examples of ways math concepts can be applied in the real world. The school’s math lead teacher works with teachers on an ongoing basis to help them develop lessons that reflect best practices in Math instruction.
Science instruction is also designed to give students hands-on experiences with science concepts. Teachers plan lessons that develop students’ understanding of scientific inquiry and provide opportunities for students to use essential scientific process skills. These hands-on experiences are presented weekly in the school science lab. At different times of the year student also work in the school garden.
Technology is integrated throughout the curriculum. Computers are used as a tool to create student work to demonstrate learning. Students visit a computer lab to learn the necessary technology skills to be able to use classroom computers. Examples of technology-based projects include publishing student writing, researching topic on the Internet, and designing PowerPoint presentations.
IV. Expectations of Student Performance
Every student who attends Vintage Magnet is expected to attain Proficiency in state standards as evidence by their performance on the California Standards Test. In addition to this goal, students are expected to exceed benchmark on periodic assessments in reading, math and science.
The staff of Vintage Magnet recognizes that teachers, parents, students, and support staff all must play a role for this goal to be realized. The expectation of the school is that every member of the school community acts as a full participant. Students must take responsibility for their own progress and learning to the greatest extent possible for their developmental level.
V. Multi-cultural Activities
The ratio of minority and non-minority students of 60% to 40% is maintained in each classroom to the greatest extent possible while at the same time maintaining compliance requirements for English Learners and Gifted students.
The school wide discipline program actively promotes Character Counts and the Six Pillars of Character. These lessons in character encourage student behavior that supports tolerance and respect for diversity.
The multi-cultural composition of the school staff provides an authentic model of collaboration and teamwork of a diverse group. Teachers make a deliberate effort to model respect for diversity in the classroom when they interact with students.
Ongoing assemblies and school wide activities highlight the contributions of various cultural groups and publicly celebrate their accomplishments.
VI. Special Curriculum
All teachers seek ways to integrate Math, Science, and Technology throughout the curriculum on a daily basis. During the year, special school wide events such as Family Math Day or NASA Nights are held in which parent and the community are invited to visit school to participate in math activities with students. Each year students participate in a Science Fair in which student research and experimentation are displayed for the community.
VII. Special Enrichment Activities
Students who attend Vintage have the opportunity to go on fieldtrips to science resources in the community such as the zoo, the Natural History Museum, and the California Science Center. Students visit the school science lab and computer lab each week. Each year the school organizes activities on Earth Day to focus attention on the environment and beautify the school.
VIII. Parent and Community Involvement
Vintage has a very active and involve parent support group. The group meets monthly to discuss fundraisers and ways to support the school through volunteerism. In the past years, the contributions of parents have been responsible for upgrading the computer lab and computers in the school. They also provide valuable feedback about the instructional program at the school as well as the discipline policy and school procedures.
In addition to this group, Vintage has an active School Site Council which also meets monthly to discuss school issues.
Though out the year, the school also sponsors various parent workshops and meetings relative to different programs being implemented at the school. This includes orientation meetings, meetings for parents of gifted students, and meetings for parents of English Learners.
I. Program Overview
Vintage Math / Science / Technology Magnet is located in North Hills in the North San Fernando Valley. The school serves 680 magnet students in grades ones through five and is a full self-contained magnet school. In addition to magnet classrooms there is one kindergarten class and one special education classroom, which are housed on the campus. Though they are not part of the magnet program, they are included as part of the larger school community for school wide events and mainstreaming activities. Each year Vintage Magnet, accepts 120 new first grade students and 40 fourth grade students. There are six primary classrooms at each grade level first through third and five classrooms in grades four and five.
Vintage Magnet offers a rigorous standards based instructional program that emphasizes Math, Science and Technology. The program is designed to target students who have expressed an interest in Math, Science and Technology by integrating these subject areas throughout the curriculum. This creates a high interest program for students that helps support their academic success in all areas.
The school supports this integration through various resources on the campus. Students visit a science lab and a computer lab weekly. These labs are staffed with assistants who are work with teachers to prepare hands-on and project based lessons. There is a instructional garden on campus which is used in the Spring to teach life sciences. Every classroom and the school library are connected through a high-speed fiber optic data network and have at multimedia capable computers for students to access. Professional development for teachers focuses on best practices in Mathematics, Science and Technology instruction.
II. Educational Philosophy
Vintage Magnet is dedicated to the principle that cultural, ethnic, socio-economic and geographical diversity within our student body fosters greater breadth and depth in the educational experience of all students. Students are united by a common interest in Math, Science and Technology, while at the same time contribute unique perspectives related to the diverse backgrounds from which they come. In this way, Vintage provides a model for students, which will serve them well in the increasingly diverse but connected world.
The school works very hard to promote a culture of tolerance and student collaboration. To this end, high standards of student behavior are maintained to insure that every student who comes to Vintage is guaranteed a safe and organized environment, which supports student learning. The school maintains a uniform policy and has clearly established rules and procedures for students to follow on campus. These policies create a community that is focused on the common goal of academic achievement and diminishes the negative influences of many outside social forces, which seek to accentuate the differences between social, cultural and ethnic groups.
Appreciation for diversity and multiculturalism is further promoted through various school wide events during the year such as, assemblies, international festival, and…
Through increased awareness of the positive contribution that diversity can bring to a community and the daily experience of working towards common goals within such a diverse community, Vintage students will be better prepared to productively meet the challenges of the 21 century.
III. Differentiated Objectives
Vintage Math / Science / Technology Magnet provides a rigorous standards based instructional program for all students. Students who attend Vintage will receive the state curriculum in all subject areas with additional emphasis and enrichment provided in the areas of Math, Science, and Technology. In each of these areas, teachers strive to implement the most current research based practices. Teachers take advantage of opportunities to make connections to Math, Science and Technology in other curricular areas.
In Mathematics, teachers use hands-on activities and investigations to present content in a way that develops critical thinking skills. These activities provide examples of ways math concepts can be applied in the real world. The school’s math lead teacher works with teachers on an ongoing basis to help them develop lessons that reflect best practices in Math instruction.
Science instruction is also designed to give students hands-on experiences with science concepts. Teachers plan lessons that develop students’ understanding of scientific inquiry and provide opportunities for students to use essential scientific process skills. These hands-on experiences are presented weekly in the school science lab. At different times of the year student also work in the school garden.
Technology is integrated throughout the curriculum. Computers are used as a tool to create student work to demonstrate learning. Students visit a computer lab to learn the necessary technology skills to be able to use classroom computers. Examples of technology-based projects include publishing student writing, researching topic on the Internet, and designing PowerPoint presentations.
IV. Expectations of Student Performance
Every student who attends Vintage Magnet is expected to attain Proficiency in state standards as evidence by their performance on the California Standards Test. In addition to this goal, students are expected to exceed benchmark on periodic assessments in reading, math and science.
The staff of Vintage Magnet recognizes that teachers, parents, students, and support staff all must play a role for this goal to be realized. The expectation of the school is that every member of the school community acts as a full participant. Students must take responsibility for their own progress and learning to the greatest extent possible for their developmental level.
V. Multi-cultural Activities
The ratio of minority and non-minority students of 60% to 40% is maintained in each classroom to the greatest extent possible while at the same time maintaining compliance requirements for English Learners and Gifted students.
The school wide discipline program actively promotes Character Counts and the Six Pillars of Character. These lessons in character encourage student behavior that supports tolerance and respect for diversity.
The multi-cultural composition of the school staff provides an authentic model of collaboration and teamwork of a diverse group. Teachers make a deliberate effort to model respect for diversity in the classroom when they interact with students.
Ongoing assemblies and school wide activities highlight the contributions of various cultural groups and publicly celebrate their accomplishments.
VI. Special Curriculum
All teachers seek ways to integrate Math, Science, and Technology throughout the curriculum on a daily basis. During the year, special school wide events such as Family Math Day or NASA Nights are held in which parent and the community are invited to visit school to participate in math activities with students. Each year students participate in a Science Fair in which student research and experimentation are displayed for the community.
VII. Special Enrichment Activities
Students who attend Vintage have the opportunity to go on fieldtrips to science resources in the community such as the zoo, the Natural History Museum, and the California Science Center. Students visit the school science lab and computer lab each week. Each year the school organizes activities on Earth Day to focus attention on the environment and beautify the school.
VIII. Parent and Community Involvement
Vintage has a very active and involve parent support group. The group meets monthly to discuss fundraisers and ways to support the school through volunteerism. In the past years, the contributions of parents have been responsible for upgrading the computer lab and computers in the school. They also provide valuable feedback about the instructional program at the school as well as the discipline policy and school procedures.
In addition to this group, Vintage has an active School Site Council which also meets monthly to discuss school issues.
Though out the year, the school also sponsors various parent workshops and meetings relative to different programs being implemented at the school. This includes orientation meetings, meetings for parents of gifted students, and meetings for parents of English Learners.