Auxiliary Services Vital To Student Success
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Valley Insight-
However, in truly effective schools, teachers cannot do it alone or in isolation. Within an effective school there exists a network of auxiliary services outside the classroom that are necessary to facilitate overall instructional efforts, student growth and student achievement. These services are often overlooked and or taken for granted. Auxiliary services that impact students include, but are not limited to transportation, food service, health, security, technology and facility maintenance.
Transportation service is the start and end of each school day for many students in Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation. The bus driver is often the first school person a child encounters. A driver’s friendly smile and “good morning” greeting can help set the tone for a student’s school day. Similarly, each evening a sincere ”see you tomorrow” from the driver can leave a student feeling wanted back and expected back the next morning. Safe delivery to and from school is a driver’s top priority. All licensed drivers are required to attend state sponsored safety training meetings annually. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has stated school buses are the safest mode of transportation for getting students to and from school.
TVSC participates in the national school lunch program, the school breakfast program and the summer food service program, all of which are under federal and state guidelines. To receive governmental support it is necessary to comply with detailed USDA and state regulations addressing nutritional standards, meal preparation, daily production records, daily serving records, food storage, meal costs and safety measures. Throughout the school year our cafeteria managers utilize the services of a registered dietitian, attend various trainings and workshops, and ensure that cafeteria staff members have the knowledge to be compliant with applicable state and federal regulations. It is through daily efforts of more than 35 cafeteria staff members that well-balanced, nutritional meals are provided to meet the needs of students.
Nursing services are provided by either a certified RN or LPN in each school building. Nurses provide immediate care for student injury or illness, administer medications on a daily basis, consult parents, perform health screenings, review required student health records and share health information in classrooms.
It is necessary that students and staff be secure, safe and comfortable in the school environment to help maximize student achievement and learning. TVSC security measures include limited entrance locations during the school day, cameras located inside and outside facilities, lock down drills and a full-time school resource officer from the Koscuisko County Sheriff’s Department. Building maintenance and upkeep are also essential supports in facilitating a desirable learning environment.
Daily maintenance and custodial efforts often go unnoticed until there are problems such as improper heating/cooling, a roof leak, an unclean classroom or restroom, a door that will not close or lock properly, or the cafeteria not being ready for students. Creating and maintaining a safe, healthy, and inviting environment for TVSC students is a collective effort of many individuals.
Technology has become a fundamental tool used to support instruction. Each day computers are utilized throughout our schools in classrooms, labs and offices to enhance learning opportunities and better serve students. Currently, plans are being made to issue every high school student a tablet device beginning next school year. Our technology personnel are responsible to recommend technology upgrades, maintain network and messaging systems, maintain hardware and software, support lab and classroom instruction, and help provide professional development for staff members.
The services cited above are not all inclusive of the auxiliary services available in TVSC; however, these services impact all students in one way or another and illustrate the vital role auxiliary services play in supporting educational efforts. It is the dedication and ongoing contributions of many individuals, both inside and outside of the classroom, that provide students the opportunity to experience daily success in TVSC.[[In-content Ad]]
However, in truly effective schools, teachers cannot do it alone or in isolation. Within an effective school there exists a network of auxiliary services outside the classroom that are necessary to facilitate overall instructional efforts, student growth and student achievement. These services are often overlooked and or taken for granted. Auxiliary services that impact students include, but are not limited to transportation, food service, health, security, technology and facility maintenance.
Transportation service is the start and end of each school day for many students in Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation. The bus driver is often the first school person a child encounters. A driver’s friendly smile and “good morning” greeting can help set the tone for a student’s school day. Similarly, each evening a sincere ”see you tomorrow” from the driver can leave a student feeling wanted back and expected back the next morning. Safe delivery to and from school is a driver’s top priority. All licensed drivers are required to attend state sponsored safety training meetings annually. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has stated school buses are the safest mode of transportation for getting students to and from school.
TVSC participates in the national school lunch program, the school breakfast program and the summer food service program, all of which are under federal and state guidelines. To receive governmental support it is necessary to comply with detailed USDA and state regulations addressing nutritional standards, meal preparation, daily production records, daily serving records, food storage, meal costs and safety measures. Throughout the school year our cafeteria managers utilize the services of a registered dietitian, attend various trainings and workshops, and ensure that cafeteria staff members have the knowledge to be compliant with applicable state and federal regulations. It is through daily efforts of more than 35 cafeteria staff members that well-balanced, nutritional meals are provided to meet the needs of students.
Nursing services are provided by either a certified RN or LPN in each school building. Nurses provide immediate care for student injury or illness, administer medications on a daily basis, consult parents, perform health screenings, review required student health records and share health information in classrooms.
It is necessary that students and staff be secure, safe and comfortable in the school environment to help maximize student achievement and learning. TVSC security measures include limited entrance locations during the school day, cameras located inside and outside facilities, lock down drills and a full-time school resource officer from the Koscuisko County Sheriff’s Department. Building maintenance and upkeep are also essential supports in facilitating a desirable learning environment.
Daily maintenance and custodial efforts often go unnoticed until there are problems such as improper heating/cooling, a roof leak, an unclean classroom or restroom, a door that will not close or lock properly, or the cafeteria not being ready for students. Creating and maintaining a safe, healthy, and inviting environment for TVSC students is a collective effort of many individuals.
Technology has become a fundamental tool used to support instruction. Each day computers are utilized throughout our schools in classrooms, labs and offices to enhance learning opportunities and better serve students. Currently, plans are being made to issue every high school student a tablet device beginning next school year. Our technology personnel are responsible to recommend technology upgrades, maintain network and messaging systems, maintain hardware and software, support lab and classroom instruction, and help provide professional development for staff members.
The services cited above are not all inclusive of the auxiliary services available in TVSC; however, these services impact all students in one way or another and illustrate the vital role auxiliary services play in supporting educational efforts. It is the dedication and ongoing contributions of many individuals, both inside and outside of the classroom, that provide students the opportunity to experience daily success in TVSC.[[In-content Ad]]
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