 | MESPA Home > Honors > Minnesota Schools of Excellence > 2008-2009 Validations > Pinewood Elementary | | | Pinewood Elementary School | |  | | Bill Book, principal, Pinewood Elementary School |
2008-2009 MESPA Minnesota School of Excellence
Mounds View Public Schools, ISD #621
"Each person on our staff plays a key role in providing a challenging,
respectful, and caring atmosphere for student learning. Dedicated
staff, supportive parents and community members, and great students are
ingredients for success."
Bill Book is the principal of Pinewood Elementary School, a K-5 institution and one of six elementary schools in the Mounds View Public Schools. Its attendance area includes families from Mounds View, Shoreview, Blaine and New Brighton.
Pinewood Elementary’s vision is to “hold high expectations” while “believing that all learners will achieve academic success and demonstrate respect and responsibility.” The staff work on the principle that “lifelong growth will be fostered through shared teamwork among students, families, staff and community.” Pinewood Elementary is a school with high expectations for student learning and there is a continuous emphasis on improvement and lifelong learning, while students are challenged to do their best within a respectful, safe and caring atmosphere. Staff use teaching approaches that facilitate high levels of student growth. The motto that “Everyone Believes and Achieves” at Pinewood conveys a shared belief that everyone can be successful when there is a commitment to hard work, perseverance and individual improvement.
As principal, Book believes: “Each person on our staff plays a key role in providing a challenging, respectful, and caring atmosphere for student learning. Dedicated staff, supportive parents and community members, and great students are ingredients for success. We work and learn together to help students do their best at Pinewood!
Teachers at Pinewood Elementary meet frequently to discuss student progress and ways to improve student performance. Schedules and resources for high performance, grade level, and support staff services are coordinated to customize reading and math instruction and reduce instructional group size for students. A comprehensive online database of student achievement data is available to ensure that students are working to their fullest potential. Access to this continuous data helps teachers tailor their instruction to match student needs, and adjust instruction, as needed. Book summarizes Pinewood’s approach: “At Pinewood, the school-wide effort to improve student achievement is outstanding! Staff collaborate to assess the ongoing progress of all students and identify key instructional approaches that will lead to higher levels of achievement. Building processes are led by a Building Instructional Leadership Team (BILT) and a Building Operations Leadership Team (BOLT).”
Because the faculty consider it very important to continuously learn about new teaching approaches that will increase student achievement, learning opportunities take place via whole school training, small groups that study specific topics together, and collegial study outside of the school day. At the site level, the BILT reviews student performance continuously and plans staff development opportunities that will support school-wide goals in reading or math. Specific areas of instructional focus are identified and a staff development plan is created to facilitate training throughout the year.
The BOLT focuses on non-instructional issues, such as: selection of Parent-Teacher Conference schedules, building or space problems. BOLT members work in collaboration with the principal to resolve operational issues. Norms of collaboration guide team efforts during decision-making and discussion. There is an ongoing loop of communication between BOLT representatives and the entire Pinewood faculty. Working in cooperation with parent representatives, BOLT also studies and learns about budget allocation realities each year and provides input to the principal via the development of budget options.
Pinewood Elementary Minnesota School of Excellence Celebration:
June 2, 2009
10:30 a.m.
Pinewood Elementary has planned a week of events to celebrate its recognition as a 2008-2009 Minnesota School of Excellence. The week of June 1st will be filled with fun for anyone connected to Pinewood — including a community-wide fun run on Wednesday.
"Each person on our staff plays a key role in providing a challenging, respectful, and caring atmosphere for student learning," said Bill Book, principal, Pinewood Elementary. "Dedicated staff, supportive parents and community members, and great students are ingredients for success. We look forward to recognizing the talents of our children and celebrating our team effort to make Pinewood an outstanding place for student learning!"
Monday, June 1
3:00 pm: A panoramic photograph will be taken of all students and staff.
4:30-7:00 pm: A community picnic will be held at Pinewood School. Highlights of this event will include: musical presentations by each grade level; special performance by The Shoreview Northern Lights Variety Band (6:15-6:45 pm — and the Pinewood School Band will also perform a piece with this group); volunteer recognition; a hospitality area to meet with former Pinewood employees; Girl Scout tree planting ceremony; plus entertainment and games.
Student–created invitations have been sent to former employees, community dignitaries and every household in the Pinewood Elementary attendance area! Minnesota School of Excellence t-shirts will be given free of charge to each Pinewood student. The shirts are provided by the Pinewood PTA, which also is supporting many other activities throughout the week.
Tuesday, June 2, 10:30-11:30 am:
A formal award ceremony will be held in the Pinewood gymnasium. P. Fred Storti, executive director of the Minnesota Elementary School Principals’ Association, will present a Minnesota School of Excellence plaque for the school building. Special moments in the program include: remarks by Superintendent Dan Hoverman; musical and emcee performances by Pinewood students; a Pinewood staff skit; and reflections from the past.
Wednesday, June 3, 5:00-5:30 pm:
The Fourth Annual Pinewood Fun Run will be held. All families are invited to take part in a 1.2 mile trek through the neighborhood, promoting the importance of developing healthy bodies and minds.
Thursday, June 4, 11:10 am-1:30 pm:
An outdoor Minnesota School of Excellence picnic lunch will be served, featuring hotdogs with all the fixings. A real ice cream truck will be providing music and an all-school treat for every student.
Friday, June 5, 9:45-11:00 am and 2:00-3:30 pm:
The Annual Pinewood Talent Show will be held, featuring the many talents of Pinewood students.
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Pinewood_Excellence.pdf
media release
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| | "Each person on our staff plays a key role in providing a challenging,
respectful, and caring atmosphere for student learning," said Bill
Book, principal, Pinewood Elementary. "Dedicated staff, supportive
parents and community members, and great students are ingredients for
success. We look forward to recognizing the talents of our children and
celebrating our team effort to make Pinewood an outstanding place for
student learning!"
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| Pinewood Celebration photos | To celebrate its Minnesota School of Excellence validation, the Pinewood community held a
week-long celebration in June including
a community picnic with student and
community band entertainment, an award
ceremony, a fun run and a talent show. Visit Flickr to view their online photo album.
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