Junction District Curriculum and Instruction
Continuous School Improvement

As part of Junction School's ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality curriculum and instruction to its students, a team of teachers attended a training program in Continous School Improvement conducted by the Shasta County Office of Education this June. Team members included teachers Erin Lee, Jim Marshall, Roger McCoy, Marla Willis, and Principal, Jim Boesiger.

Continuous School Improvement focuses upon developing a systematic program for monitoring student achievement to determine school needs, then selecting research-based staff development for teachers to make sure that they have the training necessary to implement those specific instructional strategies.

The Junction team developed goals in three areas for this school year:

    1. Staff will focus on improving student achievement in mathematics at all grade levels.
    2. All staff members will participate in research-based staff development activities to support implementation of effective techniques in direct instruction in all subject areas.
    3. Staff will implement the nationally recognized Character Counts program which is based upon training students in Six Pillars of character including: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship.

 
Gifted and Talented (GATE)
Program

The GATE Program is designed to provide a differentiated curriculum reflecting the individual interests and talents of students identified as gifted and/or talented.

Margaret Warner will return to Junction as the GATE Program Coordinator. She will work to implement a program based upon the Thirteen Principles of Differentiation for the Gifted and Talented. These principles are:

DIFFERENTIATION OF CONTENT

    1. Curriculum content is related to broad-based themes or issues.
    2. Multiple curricular disciplines are integrated within the area of study.
    3. Students are given the opportunity to study self-selected topics in depth.
    4. Comprehensive, mutually reinforcing experiences are presented within the area of study.

DIFFERENTIATION OF PROCESS

5. Complex, productive, abstract, higher level thinking skills are developed.
6. Research skills are developed.
7. Students participate in open-ended tasks.
8. Basic skills and higher level thinking skills are integrated.
9. Students develop self-directed study skills.

DIFFERENTIATION OF PRODUCT

10. Students are encouraged to develop products that challenge existing ideas and produce new ideas.
11. Students are encouraged to develop products that use new techniques, materials, and forms.
12. Students develop self-understanding and appreciation of similarities and differences.
13. Students use specific criteria to evaluate themselves and others.
Music Program

High quality music education has long been an important part of the program at Junction School District. At a time when districts all over California are being forced to reduce or even eliminate music programs, music is flourshing at Junction.

We are happy to announce that the Music Program will receive over $6,000 in grant funds raised by Don Burton of K-Shasta (KSHA 104.3 FM) Radio, a Junction music alum. The grant money will be used to purchase instruments with the assistance of Al Mires of Music Max here in Palo Cedro.

"This is a god-send in helping Junction School during this tough California economy," said Junction Music Teacher Chris Uchibori. "We couldn't ever have afforded to purchase instruments without something like this."

Junction thanks both Don Burton and Al Mires for all that their generosity will do to assure that Junction students continue to have access to quality instrumental music training.