A New Vision for The Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice.

1. +
The Bronx School For
Law, Government and Justice

2. +
New Vision
A New Vision For Bronx
School for Law, Government
and Justice
Malcolm
Robertson
Selena
Flores
Daniel
Mayo
Robyn
La Guardia
The Team

3. +
Our New Vision
 We envision a school where
students, parents, teachers
and administrators take
ownership and have a
common shared goal of
excellence both within our
school and school
community. We will graduate
civic-minded individuals who
have the skills and
knowledge to succeed in an
ever-changing world.
Vision Statement Our Community

4. + Our New Vision
With the creation of a revised school vision,
we have created a plan for communicating
the vision to the entire school community.
Students Staff
CommunityParents

5. +
Our New Mission
We strive to create an environment that builds
character, affirms human values and empowers
our students to become responsible, contributing
citizens within the community. We set high
standards and achieve success when students
remain actively engaged in the learning process.
Through our rigorous law, government and justice
curriculum, we engage students in critical thinking
that enables our students to become problem
solvers in their school, home and community.

6. +
Our New Goals
 Students will pass all content courses.
 Students will pass all state exams.
 Students will be academically, socially and emotionally prepared for
college.
 Students will be responsible and follow all school-wide regulations.
 Students will complete at least 25 community service hours by
graduation.
 Students will attend school every day.
 The school will develop partnerships with the surrounding community.
 The school will implement a school-wide mock trial program that gives all
students the opportunity to participate.

7. +
The Data
 While reviewing the data collected, we noticed that students were
deficient in many content areas.
 Middle school students did not score well on English Language Arts
and Mathematics exams. The passing rates for ELA were 39% in 2011,
54% in 2012 and 18% in 2013. The passing rates for math were 54% in
2011, 63% in 2012 and 28% in 2013. We acknowledge that a state
change in the exams (aligning them to the Common Core) created
different conditions for 2013, but the passing rate is still considerably low.
 A huge percentage of high school students scored in the low range or
failed the English Regents Examination.
 The passing rates for the two Regents exams most closely related to law
and government were not particularly high: 68% (Global History and
Geography), 47% (U.S. History and Government).
 The school has a high attendance rate of 95%.
 The school is made up of 66% Hispanic/30% black/1% White students.
7% of students have limited proficiency in English.

8. +
The Changes
 The original vision of this school emphasized college readiness as a major
goal. A look at the New York State Regents Exam results along with the New
York State Assessments suggests that not all students may be prepared for
that path. College should always be the first option for high school graduates,
but it is not the only good option. Some students may be better suited for trade
school while others are better suited for advancement in the working field. The
language of the revised statement reflects a more open path for each
student, which still very much includes college.
 Law, government and justice may be the specialty of this school, but not every
student may pursue further study in these areas. A look at the 47% passing
rate on the U.S. History and Government Regents exam suggests this. The
revision helps to define the purpose of the specialized curriculum for this
particular student body.
 This school has a very high attendance rate (95%). We have heard more
than one say that “kids do their talking with their feet.” So something is getting
the fannys in the seats. Now it’s up to us to get them to learn. We know that as
educators the hard part is trying to move a student who is not there. These
kids are there 95% of the time, so attendance is not the problem. We revised
the vision to encourage all parties to buy in to an Idea that this is our school,
our community, our responsibility. That sense of ownership could be the
missing link that could move all parties to achieving greatness.

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Teachers and Staff
To promote the revised vision statement we would do the following activities
with teachers and staff:
 Professional development opportunities such as lunch and learn.
 Overnight retreats to help promote team building and collaboration among
staff.
 Create more hands on activities such as scavenger hunts where teachers
would break off into teams.
 Have seasoned staff be included in hiring committee interviews so as a
group they can decide if the candidate is the best fit for the school.
 Ensure that new employees understand and are agreeable to the school’s
vision

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Parents/Guardians
To promote the revised vision statement we would do the
following activities with parents and guardians:
 We would host a curriculum night/open house.
 Hold parent workshops with the support of our parent
coordinator both during the day time and evening.
 Create an online school portal where parents and guardians
can view and follow events and new information.
 Invite parents to a school assembly where they would be able
to see their children read a poem, story or sing a song.

11. +
Students
To promote the revised vision statement we would do the following
activities with our students:
 Have a back to school open house during the summer where
students would come in and meet their new teachers and
reconnect with friends.
 Have a poetry contest where students could create poems based
around the school vision.
 Students could create songs about the school.
 In art, students could draw or paint pictures exhibiting the school
community.
 Host a whole middle school and whole high school assembly
introducing the new vision. Students can also sing their songs or
read their poems to the entire school, staff, and parents.
 Based on the interests the students have shown toward law, offer
more law classes for students.

12. +
Implementing School Vision & Mission
 One of the first things the data indicated to us was that this school has a great attendance
rate of 95%. With this in our favor our goal was to motivate the students, staff, and
community and get them to “buy into” our Vision of the school. By “buy into” we mean that
everyone see’s their part in the whole. The school wide mock trial for example will not just
be a departmental project; but a school wide global mission for all.
 One of the ways we will spread “collegiality” within the School community is to engage in
sample mock trials. First, we can ask teachers to suggest where their specialties and
passions can be integrated into helping to better either the defense or prosecution of the
mock trial. These skills such as making arguments based on data, public speaking,
comparing and contrasting different situations, and making Hypothesis to name a few can
all be utilized to help students at the mock trials. The hope is that in time not only will staff
and students feel connected and part of the whole, but students will learn the valuable skill
of navigating an idea by using multiple points of entry. All too often we find that students
feel they must have multiple brains. One for math, another for Social Studies etc. These
exercises will help students to grow and become more college ready as well as prepare
them for real world experiences that are not compartmentalized.
 We will engage in a “Part of the Whole” mentality, which will create an environment where
students, and staff continue to grow and become an asset to the surrounding community.
As students engage in critical analysis, thinking, and problem solving, they will begin to
think critically about the world and community in which they live. Students will see
themselves as part of the community and as the student’s positive interactions increase
within the surrounding community many will view the school as an asset and positive
pipeline.
 By instituting a school wide mock trial program, the school will be able to create
“Leadership from Within”. By this we mean that we will be able to identify students and
teacher who exhibit leadership qualities that they might not have even thought they had.
They will also help to scaffold others and allow the best of the best to shine through and
represent the school in the actual citywide mock trial events.

13. Calendar of Events Implementing School Vision & Mission
August  New Staff Hiring and Orientation
 Orientation of New Staff – discuss the Vision & Mission statements of the school
 Provide and review School Handbook
September  Faculty Meet & Greet
 New Staff & Current Staff meet to discuss and become familiar with new Vision & Mission of the school
October  Pep Rally for students and faculty
 New Vision & Mission Contest for students
 Students will create a poem, perform a skit, develop a school song or poster dedicated to the vision and
mission statement
November  Thanksgiving Celebration
 Posting of School made poster with new vision and mission statements
 Reminders of the school wide contest
December  Holiday Pep Rally
 Showcase of artwork, songs, posters, and skits made for the school wide contest
 Contest winner announced
January  Staff meeting exemplifying the work generated and collected around the new vision statement.
 Curriculum Night for Middle School & High School Parents
February  Vision and Mission themed school day
 Professional speakers invited for an assembly around the schools vision and mission
March  PTA meeting discussing progress and next steps for the ongoing implementation of the vision and mission of
the school
 Suggestions for engaging more parents and the community
April  Faculty Retreat
 Group work based on the next steps for keeping the vision alive and working
May  PTA/School lead Community Fair
 Reminders about the school vision
 Invited community organizations, health information, guest speakers, games, food and more!
June  Commencement Ceremonies
 Stepping Up Ceremonies
 Posting of school vision banner
 Performance of school song / recital of vision/mission poem