School Assessment

School Assessment
Diana Olivarria
Arizona State University
Dr. Hesse
PPE 310

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Results of the Assessment

What are at least two strengths and two weaknesses of your school?
My school does very well on the education performance spectrum, according to
schooldigger.com (2015), they are ranked at 55 out of 929 schools. They are full staffed and do
not have a high rate of students with free or reduced lunch. In terms or physical activity and
nutrition, the strength of my schools nutrition and activity plans are that during school, students
are exposed to a decent amount of physical activity in times besides lunch. They also do an
excellent job in exposing students to a nutritional life during recess. They do so by providing
healthy lunches along with healthy snacks such as baked snacks and salad bars. Along with
multiple nutrition information and motivation posters which are posted along the cafeteria walls.
Lastly, students are provided with a comforting amount of recess time in which balls, jump ropes
and other activity related objects are provided.

Describe each strength and weakness based on your observation/experience as well as your
results from the School Assessment Tool.
As previously mentioned according to the results on schooldigger.com (2015), the school
in which I service does not have many issues involving economy or area. The only weakness that
I have observed is that although there are students of different ethnicities attending the school.
Almost all of the students attending are from the white ethnicity, this can potentially be a
weakness because this means that there is not enough exposure to other cultures. Therefore there
is not enough understanding of other traditions and values. On the active and nutritional side, the
school does a moderately good job of promoting physical activity during times besides lunch.
They provide nutritional snacks to go along with the everyday lunch as well as baked snacks. As

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well as promoting a nutritious lifestyle by posting information posters along the cafeteria walls.
However, they do not provide enough physical activity in the classroom or curriculum. Although
the school has a PE class and some teachers do incorporate brain breaks, it is not enough to
make a difference. Physical activity based on my personal observation only seems to happen
once in a while and rarely in classes other than science.
According to the School Assessment Tool, the school has room for improvement and
should put more importance into an effective physical education program. Another area in which
the school needs to improve in is after school activities. Based on what I have seen, the only after
school programs that are offered are reading enhancement programs such as battle of the
books. This is a good thing, however the only physical programs seem to be school sports such
as basketball and cheer. However only 7th and 8th graders may participate. Otherwise the only
other programs that have physical activity in them are Viper Den which provides an extra recess
sort of activity and karate classes which are offered only to the lower grades. The issue with this
sort of programming is that only a certain audience may join, the school did recently take part in
a running fundraiser in which students of all ages got pledges for running 36 laps around a track.
Since then there has been no other school involving program.

What are at least two ways to improve the policies in place at your school? Explain detailed
information for each way and what you expect from each way.
In order to improve my schools program there are a few things I can do as a teacher. One
of them being researching programs which as a result of physical activity the school can get
some sort of reward. In terms of helping students experience other cultures, I could create an
event in which various forms of active games from other countries are exposed and students are

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given the opportunity to participate. Another way for me to help improve the program is to
cooperate with a number of teachers who also believe in a more active environment and creating
an after school program in which everyone can join. What I can anticipate from both of these
strategies is having constant meetings with staff and the principal in order to find and approve
programs which I would suggest. If I do get a certain long term activity then students would be
able to use their competition drive to get active. Meanwhile, by creating an afterschool program
many students would have an opportunity to have a longer amount of physical activity besides
recess and PE. Also, students from all grades could join and be influenced by a healthier lifestyle
which includes physical activity.

What are at least two ways that you can you use this information to engage administration,
teachers, parents, students and the community in promoting more healthful
behaviors? Include a specific description for how to use the results from the School
Assessment Tool as well as your ideas for improvement.
By providing the results of the School Assessment Tool (2016) to my schools principal, I
can show her how although the school is doing well for the most part. There are areas in which
we need to improve in order to provide a physically active environment for students in an effort
for them to enhance a healthier lifestyle. Along with the principals participation, I could provide
a home letter or informational pamphlet which shows parents the current situation in the school
and motivate them to also participate in events and create opportunities for their children and
others to have an active lifestyle.

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How can the information obtained be used to support your potential topic for the Signature
Assignment?
The results from the School Assessment (2016) can be used to support my potential topic
by mentioning how the after school activity grade is the lowest of them all. I would then use this
fact to highlight the need for parent involvement and the improvements that could come from
having parents become a part of planning opportunities for students to have physical activity
opportunities after school. The fact could also become a motivator for parents to request and help
fund more after school programs which promote a healthier lifestyle.

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References

Gopher. (2016). Retrieved February 07, 2016, from

http://www.gophersport.com/resources/active-healthy-schools/
Sierra Verde Elementary. (2015). Retrieved February 07, 2016, from
http://www.schooldigger.com/go/AZ/schools/0775002127/school.aspx

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Assess Your School

Assessment Results

Overall Grade: F
During School: 80%
Keep going! You're already well on your way to an Active & Healthy Schools environment.
Get teachers and staff involved, perhaps introduce some additional activities, and you'll be looking
great!

Curriculum: 40%
Room for improvement. Studies show the importance of an effective PE curriculum to overall
student health and academic performance. A stronger emphasis on PE can go a long way toward
creating an Active & Healthy environment.

Recess / Lunch: 100%

Terrific! With a solid nutritional program and sufficient physical activity, students acquire the
habits of the Active & Healthy Program and can provide a positive example to others.

After School: 20%

Let's get to work. Take a look at a few simple changes your school can make to help create
an Active & Healthy environment, both at school and at home.