Emily Ude March 25, 2013 EDUC 201-01 Environmental Analysis 1.

) A description of the school North Babylon High School is located in North Babylon, New York on Long Island. The school population is approximately 1,556 students. Class sizes range from approximately eighteen to twenty-five students per classroom. The classrooms are spacious and give a clean and welcoming appearance throughout the building. Though the outside of the building lacks a warm presence, both students and faculty are currently making efforts to create a nicer appearance. The high school accommodates to the majority of the student body. It has two gymnasiums, two cafeterias, a large auditorium, as well as a smaller auditorium used as the theater, a choral room, band room, and orchestra room, a library, multiple computer rooms, as well as many other student-centered areas.

2.) The schools mission statement The mission of the North Babylon High School Community is to graduate students who will be motivated, respectful, lifelong learners, well prepared to succeed and contribute to their society. A competent, enthusiastic staff, in cooperation with parents and community members, will provide challenging, comprehensive, relevant curriculum in a safe, nurturing environment.

3.) Demographic data - The North Babylon community is rising in diversity 59% White, 24% Black, 13% Hispanic, 3% Asian, and 1% Other. The North Babylon

High School is a public school and does not have any religious affiliation but, all students are welcome and are not discriminated against for the practice of individual religious beliefs. The high school ratio by gender, females to males, is split evenly at fifty percent. The district ranges economically from upper to lower middle class, but twenty-four percent are said to be economically disadvantaged. There are a combined twenty-two percent of students in the high school that are eligible for either free or reduced lunch.

4.) Evidence of parent/family participation The North Babylon High School welcomes and encourages parent involvement. It is the framework through which families, administration, and educators work together to improve teaching and learning. Communication between home and school appeared to be ongoing and beneficial. Teachers had organized phone logs and utilized e-mail in order to easily contact legal guardians. For lower grade levels, parents are required to sign student agendas weekly to assure that they are aware of each weeks coursework. Parents also have access to Eboard in which they can access the teachers information and become familiar with the classroom assignments.

There was also evidence of parent and family participation in outside activities. A majority of support for athletic, musical, and extra curricular activities comes from the parents. During the week that I observed, I attended a sporting event and the Hurricane Sandy Relief Concert. At the junior varsity sporting event, the fan base consisted mostly of parents and families. On Thursday evening I attended the

evening benefit concert for Hurricane Sandy victims. The parents and teachers worked with the students to prepare, organize, and participate in the night of music.

5.) Evidence or lack of multi-cultural curriculum While the North Babylon community appears to be rather diverse, this is not demonstrated by the choice of literature and textbooks. During my observation hours, students read Animal in the House and Rescues. The literature books read were written by Sheila Keenan ad Sandra Markle. Both of these authors were white women from the south. A majority of the textbooks that the school purchased were from the Holt Textbook Company. The Holt textbooks were collaborated by Rinehart and Winston.

6.) Any critical issues facing the school After excessive student bomb threats, the administration has taken away the students privileges of using the restroom during passing periods. Students are also required to show identification and sign in and out when they enter and leave the restroom. The North Babylon School District has also dealt with other weapon and safety threats. For this reason and the safety of the students and faculty, all doors of the building remain locked. Throughout the entire school day, students, faculty, and visitors are required to show identification before entering the building.

7.) Document strengths and weaknesses of the school In the North Babylon High School there is a very dedicated, enthusiastic, and effective staff and administration. Most teachers go out of their way to provide a comprehensive curriculum and additional help for each individual student. Efforts by the staff are taken to maximize the students learning abilities and create individuals that will eventually contribute to society. It is very clear that all actions taken by the district are to provide a nurturing and safe environment for the students. Faculty and administration make their best efforts to attend after school activities such as sporting events, musical performances, and academic activities. Together the staff, families, and community support and improve the school for the students each day.

The North Babylon High School could become a better learning environment if they put more effort toward the Advanced Placement program. There are very few advanced programs for students and that limits the students ability to further their education. I feel that less money should be put toward specific athletics and more money should be put toward the academics. During observation hours I also witnessed educators that were limiting students who are given additional help, such as students with IEPs. Rather than helping those students arrive at answers that they could not succeed at during class time, the teachers were simply giving the students the answers. The teachers feel pressed for time while attempting to help many students at once and find it easiest to guarantee the students success by giving them the answer. I found this very disappointing because none of the

students are benefitting from this help and are ultimately being limited from an education.