Vision

__**Vision**__

"A shared vision is not an idea...it is rather, a force in people's hearts...at its simplest level, a shared vision is the answer to the question 'What do we want to create?" -Peter Senge

media type="youtube" key="O35n_tvOK74" height="315" width="420" Video courtesy of: New Brunswick Department of Education

The Northwestern Lehigh School District is a place where learning is highly valued not only for students, but also for employees and community members. Students here are filled with “Tiger Pride” and are highly motivated learners spurred by rigorous curriculum that is aligned to the PA Academic Standards and Assessment Anchors taught by highly qualified, caring, and well-trained teachers. Our educational programs have evolved to prepare all students to live, work, and learn in a world driven by informational technologies. Our graduates communicate their appreciation for the rich content knowledge, development of their thinking and personal skills to successfully navigate the world around them.
 * Current vision statement:**

The key to our success has been continual learning about the best instructional practices and technologies, to examine the essential learning questions facing our students, and to couple our learning with our commitment and passion for each student’s success as a learner and as a person.

Our school day allows for flexible learning opportunities for all our students. Technology has allowed us to expand the walls of Northwestern Lehigh to encompass the world. Teachers are communicating regularly around professional development topics, communicating with parents about the progress of their child, and reflecting on curriculum and essential questions all via the Internet and our web-based curriculum database. All this happens from home or school!

Our students have multiple opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities that enhance their social, mental, and physical being. These activities are led by qualified and caring adults who bring integrity and positive attitudes to the programs which help instill a strong sense of “Tiger Pride” and commitment to the Northwestern Lehigh family community.

District employees are highly engaged in carrying out the mission, vision, and shared values of the District. A sense of pride, mutual respect, accomplishment, and a strong work ethic are tangible amongst employee groups who are all focused on moving the District forward. Visitors to the District comment on the positive customer service, friendly environment, positive attitudes, and clear communication coming from the District. Our buildings are safe, clean, and well- maintained. Students, employees, and visitors feel welcome in our facilities because they are conducive to learning and our shared values.

Residents of the Northwestern Lehigh School District are frequently engaged in District activities. Local, regional, and global businesses work collaboratively with the District providing learning andsocial opportunities that are of mutual benefit to the students and community. Parents are proud to send their children to the District and are often in our school buildings.

2012 is a year that proves there has been a shared commitment by all stakeholders promoting our mission to engage students, employees, and the community in a partnership to achieve excellence through learning!

__**January 25, 2012**__

A Vision statement describes the District’s vision for the future if your organization is successful in its mission. Meant to inspire, the Vision statement provides a vivid portrayal of a bright future; however, its aspirations should be realistic and clear. When creating your Vision statement, it is helpful to begin your responses to the question “What do we want for our future?” with the preposition “for” as in “for all students to…” Lastly, consider how you will create a 21st Century Learning Environment for students and staff.
 * Directions:**

What inspires us? What do we want for our future? We want all students to....
 * Brainstorm - Share ideas:**

Describe the vision for the future if your organization is successful in its mission.
 * Begin drafting a Vision Statement based on the top 5-7 concepts above:**

Group 1: Develop a culture of reflection on what works and what doesn’t and allow learners to adapt and implement change when needed Access information and apply it to new challenges to find creative solutions Bring real-life experiences into the learning environment Build curiosity Involve community, parents, staff, and students in supporting one another in learning Work collaboratively to reap the benefits of our collective talents

Group 2: Opportunities for all students, as productive contributors Through the use of technologies Critical thinking skills Critical thinking, and collaborative and the ability to use state-of-the-art technologies. Real-life problem solving Northwestern Lehigh School District will provide critical thinking opportunities for all students, provide collaborative team building opportunities, expose students to twenty-first century technologies, thinking and learning, in order for students to evolve as productive members of society. Adapatable and/or flexible Expose our students to the technologies of the future. We want to give them the exposure so they can develop critical thinking skills. We want them to be able to leave with team building skills and social skills, too! We evaluate children by how they work in groups. Collaborative team building. In order to evaluate trends, policies, and solutions to existing and future problems. To understand their own style of learning so that they can recognize how they learn. Understanding how they think. Adapt with different settings Assist students in their own personal evolution as authentic learners Assist students as they evolve as learners.

Group 3: Use current tools and technology for realistic/real life purposes. Accept and embrace yet unknown/undefined skills and technology. Foster continuous improvement through feedback of cognitive stages of learning Exploit available resources to the full effect. Provide learning opportunities for all students.

Group 4: Engaging students to develop the skills to become lifelong learners and navigate an ever changing world. Students will be actively involved in their learning process discovering various learning styles to enhance their educational experiences. Together faculty, teacher and students work to provide comprehensive authentic experiences incorporating creativity, critical thinking, evaluation, communication skills and problem solving. Collaboration perspective enrichment embody well rounded affecting the learning process and being effected by the ever changing learning process positive environment Our educational programs will evolve preparing all students to live, work and learn in a world driven by informational technologies Our small school setting provides opportunities for the students to demonstrate and integrate a sense of pride, mutual respect, accomplishment and a strong work ethic. Using these skills to contribute to the community becoming responsible citizens.

Group 5: The NWL School District is a community of learners comprised of students, faculty, and staff in partnership with the community. Our students have the critical thinking skills necessary to adapt to ever-changing technologies within an ever-changing global society. They are self-reflective and identify their own learning styles to become more responsible for their own education within a flexible learning environment. Our students develop personal and educational goals, which lead them to be more successful in a competitive society. Our students know how to work collaboratively through classroom experiences and have multiple opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities that enhance their social, mental and physical beings.

Group 6: Northwestern Lehigh School District will strive to create an environment where students will have the opportunity to participate in highly engaging, authentic learning experiences. Real life problem solving will allow all students to adapt in a world driven by ever changing informational technologies. We will strive toward continual learning about the best instructional practices and technologies, to examine the essential learning questions facing our students, and to give students the tools to become reflective learners. We believe in providing opportunities for differentiated instruction based upon students’ needs which will foster creative thinking, collaboration, and motivation.

Group 7: Students should: enter the world prepared to succeed in an ever changing global society be actively engaged in their own learning - They should direct it, own it and take responsibility for it. have flexible learning opportunities for continual personal development be resourceful, independent, self-sufficient individuals be reflective, creative problem solvers who can work together continually build their soft skill sets – conflict resolution, negotiation, compromise, active listening, teamwork, being “present” on time develop relationships that move individuals to strive to do their best actively exploit, even exhaust available resources to access content that leads to increased knowledge Endeavor to take calculated risks to reach their full potential Seek out feedback from teachers and each other to guide learning efforts Faculty and staff should engage in relevant, meaningful professional development to be on the cutting edge of best instructional practices


 * __February 29, 2012__**

Did you know that Wordle.net will create WORD ART? I created a Wordle of all of the words that the Vision statement group used. The words that appear larger are used more often. Maybe this will help in a direction for our Vision statement?




 * Vision – DRAFT**


 * Does this answer the essential questions? **
 * - what inspires us? - what do we want to create? - what do we want for our future? - we want all students to be able to... **


 * The Northwestern Lehigh School District will strive to create a differentiated environment where all students will have the opportunity to participate in highly engaging, authentic learning experiences. All learning environments will embody a place where student are actively involved in their learning process discovering to enhance the educational experience.**


 * Our students will have the critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and problem solving abilities necessary to adapt and navigate in an ever-changing global society driven by twenty-first century technologies. Our students will accept and embrace yet undefined skills and technologies to access information and apply it to new challenges to find creative solutions. Students will develop soft skills such as conflict resolution, negotiation, compromise, and teamwork. Students will endeavor to take calculated risks to reach their full potential.**


 * Our students will become well-rounded students, with personal and educational goals, who have multiple opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities that enhance their social, mental and physical beings.**


 * Faculty and staff will engage in relevant, meaningful professional development to be on the cutting edge of best instructional practices and technologies. We will examine essential learning questions facing our students to give students the tools to become reflective learners.**


 * Together faculty, staff, students, parents and community will work together to provide opportunities for students to demonstrate a sense of pride, mutual respect, and a strong work ethic. We will tap into community, parents, staff, and students to support one another in learning and reap the benefits of our collective talents.**

__**At February 29, 2012**__

**The Northwestern Lehigh School District will strive to create an environment where all students will have the opportunity to participate in highly engaging, authentic learning experiences that meet the needs of all of our students. Our students will learn the critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and problem solving skills necessary to adapt and navigate in a global society driven by twenty-first century technologies. Students will be encouraged to take calculated risks to reach their full potential. Our students will be challenged to become well-rounded students, with personal and educational goals, who have multiple opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities that enhance their social, mental and physical beings. Faculty and staff will engage in relevant, meaningful professional development to be current in best instructional practices and technologies. We will examine essential learning questions facing our students to give students the tools to become reflective learners. Together faculty, staff, students, parents and community will utilize our collective talents to provide opportunities for students to demonstrate a sense of pride, mutual respect, and a strong work ethic.**