Immaculate Conception (Dayton)
Save to My SchoolsKaryn Hecker
Workshop Way©
What is Workshop Way©?
Workshop Way is a system of human growth for education developed by Sister Grace H. Pilon, Sister of the Blessed Sacrament. Workshop Way©:
• Provides a holistic and systematic approach which enables students to learn how to learn, learn how to think, and learn how to manage their lives;
• Recognizes the uniqueness and value of each student’s way to learn, to grow and to develop;
• Promotes living and working within the community;
• Involves all students in their own process of growing and learning;
• Uses best practices based on current research;
• Enables 100% of the students to access grade level content;
• Provides the means to differentiate instruction to meet student needs.
By recognizing the uniqueness of each student and teaching the student how to think and learn, Workshop Way©:
• Enhances the Catholic identity of the school by valuing the faith formation of every individual;
• Creates the environment where the unique faith emphasis of the school (e.g., Discipleship = Think, Talk and Act like Jesus) can be nurtured;
• Strengthens the academic program through increasing student desire for knowledge using grade level academics in a system that respects them as individuals, frees them from fear and allows them to be themselves;
The four major goals of Workshop Way© are:
• To satisfy basic human intellectual needs;
• To sharpen sense powers (see, hear, speak and order);
• To grow human skills (initiative, independence, responsibility, courage, creativity, risk-taking, honesty, self-confidence, go and stop power (ability to know what is done and why);
• To develop basic abilities of consciousness (learning capacity, concentration, listening, making choices, handling consequences, precise thinking, critical thinking).
The teacher in a Workshop Way© classroom creates an environment where students have:
• Freedom from fear (Respect governs all interactions and learning situations);
• Freedom of movement with a purpose (Students can move about the room to get assignments and materials);
• Freedom of position and location for work (Students can choose where to where to do assignments);
• Freedom of conversation while working (School talk is always okay);
• Freedom of choice frequently throughout the day. (Students use the Workshop Way schedule of tasks.)
Workshop Way© uses special techniques and strategies to empower students:
• The Homework Vocabulary Project: designed to provide 100% of the students the skill to handle grade level vocabulary through an orderly and sequential pattern of lessons;
• The Six Group: small groups of 2-6 students working with teacher to re-teach material or to offer enrichment opportunities;
• The Five Step Lesson Plan: a systematic approach to ensure 100% of students have equal opportunity to learn content and can be used in all content areas and across all grades;
• Instant Personality-Phonics: comprehensive phonics program based on literacy standards (grades K-3);
• Workshop Way Task Schedule™: schedule of up to 30 activities posted daily to engage and challenge students in grade level academics.
These strategies and techniques are designed for attention to both grade level content and to help children discover their power to learn, to think and to manage the work and their time.
How Do We Plan to Implement Workshop Way©?
• We have begun with conversations with our teachers, made contact with a Workshop Way© school in California, featured on the Workshop Way© web site All the teachers must agree to comply with the new instruction techniques
• Consultation with the School Superintendent, Dr. Jim Rigg;
• Teacher training by Sr. Angela Lydon, SBS and her team from June 20 to 24;
• Sr. Angela Lydon, SBS plans to be present with us in the school during the initial implementation days;
• Consultation with Education Commission, PTO, Parish Pastoral Council;
• On-going coaching, training and evaluation of implementation;
• Assessment of effectiveness through standardized testing in the fall and spring and Workshop Way qualitative instruments;
• Scheduled information sessions and involvement for parents on Workshop Way©.
Are there going to be any changes to course content, standardized testing or in the other initiatives in which I.C. teachers are already involved?
• The Graded Course of Study of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati is and will be the source for the curriculum;
• Students will take the IOWA tests (grades 2-8) and the Ohio Achievement Assessments (grades 3-8);
• Classes will use the same textbooks and resources;
• Teachers will instruct the whole class when appropriate;
• Teachers will be involved in the St. Remy Program;
• Teachers will be involved in curriculum mapping
Karyn Hecker
Who we are as Immaculate Conception School
Immaculate Conception School has served as the educational ministry of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Dayton, Ohio since 1940. The school has educated thousands of children through a strong academic program grounded in the Gospel values as lived in the Catholic faith. The school and the parish grew to be one, if not the, largest Catholic school and parish in the 1950's. Two other parishes and schools call Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception their mother church. However, like the neighborhood which surrounds the school in the Belmont section of southeast Dayton, Ohio, the school has seen the migration of Catholic families to the neighboring suburbs. Younger families have moved into some of the homes but the current economic climate kept Catholic education out of their reach. That is, until the advent of the state funded EdChoice school voucher program. In the last three years, the school has witnessed a modest growth in enrollment as more families, both living in the Belmont neighborhood and those from other Dayton neighborhoods, are able to choose Immaculate Conception School for their children thanks to the vouchers. The school has grown in diversity, as well. African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and African children have joined the student body and, in addition, the number of children who attend a church other than our parish church has increased.
Sixty-six percent of the students also qualify for free or reduced lunch which is another significant change for the school. An increasing number of our students are being raised in households headed by single mothers, grandparents or other family members usually lacking financial resources but eager for better opportunities for their children. These parents and grandparents want their children to grow and learn in a faith-based school regardless of their own religious background. In order for the school to remain viable, the Immaculate Conception parish and school have become less parochial and more global. In addition, the school has continued to adapt to the needs of the students and families choosing Immaculate Conception School for their children. Our school's mission statement clearly states that Immaculate Conception School, as an educational ministry of the parish and in partnership with parents, is an inviting and diverse community of life-long learners dedicated to becoming disciples of Christ by living the Gospel values through the Catholic faith. The school has taken advantage of nearly every opportunity offered through the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and the University of Dayton for professional development as well as opportunities to learn ways to reach out to families outside of our parish. The school has been involved with the Urban Child Development Resource Center and the Curriculum Mapping project offered by the University of Dayton. The principal and a committee participated in cohort training on enrollment building and is currently in the third year of conversations with neighboring parishes and schools on charting the future of the schools of these parishes. Another important opportunity offered to the educators of Immaculate Conception School has been the Battelle for Kids Value-Added Data to help them analyze the effectiveness of instruction at the classroom level. Immaculate Conception Parish and School were founded by Father John Rauscher of the Society of Mary who established the deep love for Mary, Christ's first disciple, which exists parish-wide today. The Marianist commitment to ministry through education of youth and solidarity with the poor has an even greater meaning at Immaculate Conception School in 2011 than it had in 1940.
On September 3, 1940, with four classrooms, Immaculate Conception School began its journey of educating the children of the Belmont area. Since the beginning, the school has stressed and continues to stress love of God foremost, devotion to Mary, and excellence in academics.
As years progressed, the school continued to grow. There was a period that the school could not accommodate all the children at one time; so a system of two sessions was set up. In 1942, the double sessions began.
The student population continued to grow, as did the school building. A second floor was added, and finally a new addition on the south end of the school was built.
In all these expansions, the school never lost sight of excellence in education. Students have gone to high school well prepared.
Today, the school keeps the high academic standards that were begun in 1940. Our students continue to earn awards in science fairs, essay contests, and spelling bees. Our students leave with love of God, devotion to the Blessed Mother, and the knowledge to carry on with their lives.
We are very proud of our school and our students. We hope that they will always remember to think like Jesus, talk like Jesus, and act like Jesus. This is our goal for every student that leaves Immaculate Conception School.
Written by: Mrs. Dieterle/Mrs. D
Immaculate Conception School, as an educational ministry of the parish and in partnership with parents, is an inviting and diverse community of life-long learners dedicated to becoming disciples of Christ by living the Gospel values through the Catholic faith.
At Immaculate Conception Catholic School we believe:
• That in partnership with parents, we are committed to unlocking the full potential of each individual
student, to develop confident and independent learners;
• That we are committed to creating challenging learning environment that encourages high expectations
for success through instruction that allows for individual differences and learning styles;
• That we respect the dignity of the individual person and are sensitive to the needs of our diverse
community, welcoming all, we journey together with Christ, celebrating God’s love in our lives;
• That we promote a safe, caring, supportive environment, addressing the needs of the whole child, in
cooperation with families
• That we are committed to caring leadership, competent teaching, as faithful disciples in the
tradition of the Charisms of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.
- Array
- Add to favorites