• Category 1

    Selected in 2015

  • Grades: pre k - 12
    School Setting: urban
    Town Population: 250
    Student Enrollment: 117
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0.1%
    White/Caucasian: 90.7%
    Hispanic: 0.1%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 5%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:10
    % Reduced Lunch: 45%
    % ELL Learners: 0%
    Founded: 1910
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Tiffani Anderson
  • CONTACT:
    311 Young Street
    Medicine Lake, MT 59247
    406-789-2211
    tanderson@nemont.net
Medicine Lake Elementary School
Medicine Lake, MT
Montana Behavioral Initiative has had a very positive effect on our school climate which allows for student achievement. When students feel safe and accepted in their environment, it allows then for greater achievement and a learning environment that enhances all abilities for learning.
Describe specific programs in place to ensure that families are involved in the success of your school and students.
Recently a PTC, Parent Teacher Committee, was formed and their main focus is bringing the families and the school together by having monthly activities such as movie nights, Halloween carnivals, turkey bingo, Santa's workshop, raffles, and they are a huge supporter of our Reading month incentives. The PTC also has a meet and greet prior to the first day of school.
Describe the most successful activity your school has initiated to strengthen ties to your community.
We have always felt fortunate to live in a small rural community where there is an abundance of support. Activities through out the years involve the community from Veterans Day programs, school concerts, athletics, Spelling & Geography Bees, and numerous ways that we connect with our community.
Describe your philosophy of school change or improvement.
Our school culture is very important to our administration and faculty. We are very proud of our school and are always looking for ways to publicize this through the media. Professionalism is a priority in our school with not only our staff, but our students as well. School spirit is always a top priority and we have a lot of buy-in from our stakeholders.
What are your school’s top two goals for the next year?
Continued improvement with our reading and math comprehension/scores and provide an environment at our school that is conducive to learning and academic achievement.
What is the single most important factor in the success of your school that others could replicate?
Medicine Lake School believes that a Positive School Climate is what sets our school apart from others. We understand that students will reach high academic standards only if they are being challenged.
Education begins with a sincere, deliberate commitment to the belief that all students can meet high academic standards, and that as educators we have the ability and the responsibility to help every child reach their maximum potential.
The staff at Medicine Lake knows that students must have a sense of belonging to be successful. The staff embodies an ethic of caring: not just a program or strategy, but a way of relating to students, their families, and one another that conveys compassion, understanding, respect and interest. We want all students to have the same opportunities for growth.
Describe the program or initiative that has had the greatest positive effect on student achievement, including closing achievement or opportunity gaps, if applicable.
MBI or the Montana Behavioral Initiative has had a very positive effect on our school climate which allows for student achievement. When students feel safe and accepted in their environment, it allows then for greater achievement and a learning environment that enhances all abilities for learning. Also, in 2014-2015 the school district added STAR Math (Renaissance Place). Utilizing the STAR Reading and Math to assist with finding the areas that students are most struggling in and then we can emphasize more focus to these particular areas.
Explain how Title I funds are used to support your improvement efforts.
Title I funds are primarily utilized to hire a Title I coordinator in our school district. Funds are also used to purchase supplemental materials to enhance the learning throughout our Title I program as our school district is a school-wide Title I school.
Identify the critical professional development activities you use to improve teaching and student learning.
• Creating a level of trust between staff, this provides the ability to maximize each professional development opportunity.
• Developing the capacity in staff to differentiate instruction in all subjects.
• Establishing Professional Learning Communities that function according to common expectations with predictable outcomes. These outcomes include peer observations and collaboration.
• Rewriting curriculum to better meet the needs of our students.
• Conducting weekly observations with immediate feedback.
• Understanding and analyzing data to drive daily instructional decisions.
Describe how data is used to improve student achievement and inform decision making.
We utilize a lot of data in our decision making at our school. As part of our Response to Intervention program, our students are regularly assessed on their reading abilities with DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) and our school district utilizes the STAR assessment from Renaissance Place for additional reading and math. These assessments drive our student leveled groups and movement between them and allows us not only to assist with reinforcement with the struggling students but we utilize this program with the gifted and talented students as well. We can challenge those that are ready for a little more than their peers.
Describe your school culture and explain changes you’ve taken to improve it.
Five years ago the Medicine Lake school district implemented MBI (Montana Behavior Initiative) into our daily routines/curriculum. This program emphasizes school-wide behavior and connecting with parents and community as well. We have weekly, monthly, and semester SOAR assemblies. Students are awarded SOAR cards for acting in a Safe, Organized, Accountable, Respectful and Responsible manner.
Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2015

  • Grades: pre k - 12
    School Setting: urban
    Town Population: 250
    Student Enrollment: 117
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0.1%
    White/Caucasian: 90.7%
    Hispanic: 0.1%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 5%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:10
    % Reduced Lunch: 45%
    % ELL Learners: 0%
    Founded: 1910
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Tiffani Anderson
  • CONTACT:
    311 Young Street
    Medicine Lake, MT 59247
    406-789-2211
    tanderson@nemont.net