• Category 1

    Selected in 2015

  • Grades: pre k - 5
    School Setting: urban
    Town Population: 620,000
    Student Enrollment: 700
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 17%
    White/Caucasian: 32%
    Hispanic: 25%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 17%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 9%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:28
    % Reduced Lunch: 48%
    % ELL Learners: 22%
    Founded: 1993
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Joanna Gerali-Schwartz
  • CONTACT:
    3550 S Kevin Way
    Las Vegas, NV 89147
    702-799-4440
    jgerali@interact.ccsd.net
Patricia A. Bendorf Elementary School
Las Vegas, NV
Bendorf Elementary is a multi-cultural school with many ethnicities and over thirty languages spoken. We have a high level of transience and all the issues that can come with economic hardship.
Describe specific programs in place to ensure that families are involved in the success of your school and students.
Bendorf teachers have worked hard in encouraging more family participation at school. Grade levels hold parent nights to enlighten families on how they can help their child with their school work at home. At family literacy and math/science nights we provide free books and manipulatives which help entice more parent participation.
Describe the most successful activity your school has initiated to strengthen ties to your community.
Bendorf's family math and science nights have always been well attended. It features a variety of math and science activities for the whole family, such as releasing ladybugs in the courtyard garden, designing roller coasters, practicing computer coding skills, and learning how to play math card games to name but a few. We also invited guest speakers from the Nevada mining association, Mr. Mental Math, and everyone enjoyed petting the rescue dog from the animal humane society.
Describe your philosophy of school change or improvement.
Although Bendorf Elementary has many excellent programs and expectations in place, I believe that we always need to further improve and remain open to new ideas to do that. Most importantly, the teaching staff needs to be united in implementing best practices everyday in their lessons and continue to learn about the latest best practices.
What are your school’s top two goals for the next year?
Bendorf Elementary continues to work on increasing reading proficiency and decreasing the gap between subgroups.
What is the single most important factor in the success of your school that others could replicate?
Bendorf's RTI one-on-ones are an important factor in our success, but weekly grade level PLCs (professional learning communities) are another important factor that ensures a high level of unwrapping the standards, creating high level assessments, and designing rigorous learning activities between the teachers on a weekly basis. Often these weekly meetings become mini-professional development sessions as teachers share teaching tips and successful instructional practices.
Describe the program or initiative that has had the greatest positive effect on student achievement, including closing achievement or opportunity gaps, if applicable.
The program that has provided the greatest positive effect on student achievement is what we call at Bendorf Elementary the RTI one-on-ones. Every eight weeks, teachers meet one on one with the principal and interventionist to review data on struggling students. At this time possible interventions and teacher assistance are discussed.
Explain how Title I funds are used to support your improvement efforts.
Title I funds have been essential in improving our student achievement as the majority of the funds are used for after-school tutoring. Without this money we would not be able to pay teachers for this additional time to work with the most struggling students.
Identify the critical professional development activities you use to improve teaching and student learning.
At Bendorf Elementary we have had numerous trainings on reading complex texts, differentiated reading groups, using thinking maps in writing, number talks, project based learning, and Kagan structures. However, the most important part of professional development is its implementation. Immediately after a professional development activity I observe my teachers implementing the strategy and continue to work with them on perfecting this new learning.
Describe how data is used to improve student achievement and inform decision making.
Bendorf Elementary is a data-driven school. We make all decisions based on data. We benchmark students three times a year using AIMSweb fluency and comprehension assessments as cut scores for the level of tier instruction in the classroom. We progress monitor students on tier 1 and tier 2 once a week to track their success. After the benchmarking, substitutes are provided for each grade level to give adequate time to analyze all their data including DRA levels, Qualitative Spelling Inventories, District benchmarking assessments (such as Discovery Education), AIMSweb R-CBM, MAZE, M-Comp, and writing performance samples. Classroom and grade level trends are noted and decisions about future instructional planning are made.
Describe your school culture and explain changes you’ve taken to improve it.
Bendorf Elementary is a multi-cultural school with many ethnicities and over thirty languages spoken. We have a high level of transience and all the issues that can come with economic hardship. Our school has ensured that all students know the procedures and high expectations. Parents are communicated with often and our Bendorf B's (Be Kind, Be Safe, Be a Hard Worker, Be a Goal Setter, Behave, Be Here) and Bendorf motto (We care, we cooperate, we continue to achieve) are chanted every morning during morning announcements. New students enrolled to the school are given an orientation by the counselor to ease their anxiety that first day as well as know firsthand what is expected of them. Students are treated with dignity and respect, and staff is vigilant with ensuring there is no bullying in the school. Students are expected to do their homework, use their Bendorf Bobcat folders and Success books daily, and do their best in class every day.
Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2015

  • Grades: pre k - 5
    School Setting: urban
    Town Population: 620,000
    Student Enrollment: 700
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 17%
    White/Caucasian: 32%
    Hispanic: 25%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 17%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 9%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:28
    % Reduced Lunch: 48%
    % ELL Learners: 22%
    Founded: 1993
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Joanna Gerali-Schwartz
  • CONTACT:
    3550 S Kevin Way
    Las Vegas, NV 89147
    702-799-4440
    jgerali@interact.ccsd.net