The Nesbit School community consists of families for whom education is a priority. The school is the hub of the community for many of these parents. Families enthusiastically support the Parent Teacher Association, School Site Council and countless volunteer activities and projects. Pride in Nesbit’s distinguished school recognition was reflected from all members of the school community.

Mission and Goals
Nesbit School's mission is to create educational opportunities with high standards in a nurturing, respectful environment and to develop the full potential of each student in our diverse community.

School procedures and rules are described in the school handbook that is distributed to parents each September and in Nesbit’s Expectations of Behavior. Students participate in various activities designed to create motivation and offer recognition such as:

• Book-It
• Red Ribbon Week
• Speech and Spelling contests
• Field trips
• Outdoor Education
• D.A.R.E.
• Winter and Spring concerts
• Annual 5th grade musical
• Presidential Academic Fitness awards

Project Self Esteem is a program presented by teams of parent volunteers in grades K through 4, which helps teach students how to make appropriate choices and to treat themselves and others with respect. Third graders participated in STOP (Students Teaching Other Peers) learning about resiliency and asset building from Ralston Middle School students.

Students use Conflict Resolution strategies to resolve disagreements.

Nesbit School has 24 classrooms: 15 classrooms are used for regular instruction and 2 house County programs for Orthopedically Handicapped children. The other classroom(s) and 3 smaller rooms are used for Science, Instrumental and Choral Music and small group instruction in Reading, the English Language Learners Program, Speech and Language, a Special Day Class, and the Resource Specialist Program.

Every instructional space in our school, including the library, has Internet access and at least one computer with CD ROM. Most classrooms have multiple computers. We have 98 computers for student use, 91 of them with CD ROM.

Every teacher in the District has a computer for both instruction and classroom management. Every staff member has received technology training. Every staff member is assigned a telephone number and voice mailbox.

Formal evaluations are done at least once each year for new probationary staff and every other year for permanent staff.

Formal evaluations include an initial conference with the administrator, observations of the staff member, and a final evaluation conference. Progress towards meeting District standard is monitored by both the employee and the principal.

School Site Leadership

Nesbit teachers have been recognized by the San Mateo County Kent awards for special achievement. Paul Ternullo, June Irhazy, Sally Burgess, and John DaBaldo have been recognized for their integrated activities in the arts. Gina O’Neal was cited for her exceptional work with inclusion students. Marilyn Schwarz, a community volunteer, was honored for her 3rd grade music program in 2002. Teachers also serve on district wide curriculum committees, as mentor teachers responsible for staff training, and as master teachers for college students.

Instructional Staff Qualifications

All teachers are credentialed by the State of California. All Nesbit teachers have completed graduate work.

All substitutes used by Nesbit School have passed a qualifying examination administered by the State of California. When a teacher is absent from class, a qualified substitute teacher teaches the class. If a substitute is not available, the class is taught by a credentialed district administrator or a teacher without a regular class assignment. Last year, teachers averaged about 1 day of absence per month. This included illness, in-service training, and other leaves.

Student/Teacher Ratio

Classrooms have a maximum class size of 20 students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade. During 2002-2003, K - 3rd grades were staffed at a ratio of 19.1 to 1. With rare exceptions, classes do not exceed 28 students in grades 4 and 5.

Through SIP and Title I funds, instructional assistants were provided for all classrooms. Further assistance is provided by parent volunteers in the classroom. They help with small group and individual instruction in various content areas. Three tutors from the College of Notre Dame also work with small groups of students through the America Reads program.

Staff development activities are determined through a process which begins with the staff identifying needs that are related to the goals identified in the School Improvement Plan. District-wide needs identified through the “Futures” planning process are also incorporated into the plans for staff development. The calendar and topics for staff development conducted on non-student days are identified in the School Improvement Plan each year. Nesbit School’s teachers participate in one day of staff development before the students return to school. Two additional staff development days were conducted during the school year. Students are dismissed early on Wednesdays to provide teachers with opportunities for collaborative planning, grade level articulation, and other training.

During staff development times, teachers received training in:

1. English Language Arts
2. Mathematics
3. Grade Level Teaming
4. Curriculum Planning for the Year
5. Special Education
6. Curriculum and Instructional Practices
7. Standards and Assessment

Individual staff members also participated in off-site workshops and training of their choice in order to keep abreast of educational research and increase knowledge and skill in curricular areas.

 The District has adopted the following textbooks in accordance with State standards.:

• EverydayMath (K-5)
• Harcourt Brace “Signatures” for English/Language Arts
• Rebecca Sitton Sourcebook for spelling
• Harcourt Brace “Social Studies 2000” (grades K-2) for History/Social Science
• McGraw Hill “Adventures in Time and Place” (grades 3-5) for History/Social Science
• Silver Burdett Music Series
• Full Option Science System (FOSS)
• Skills for School Success (grades 4 and 5)

The State and District provide regular classroom materials to support our program goals. Enrichment and supplemental materials are purchased through SIP funds and with the help of the Parent Teacher Association. Additionally, the PTA gives money directly to teachers to use for classroom enrichment.

Every classroom at Nesbit School is equipped with a television, VCR, and 1 to 6 Internet connected student computers and printers. There are three scanners, five digital cameras, a multimedia presentation projector, and one video camera available on campus for student and teacher use. Each teacher has a computer workstation as well. Eleven classrooms are equipped with an FM amplification system. There is a wide variety of software, encyclopedia and reference CD ROMs at the school site, including KidPix®, HyperStudio®, Student Writing Center ®, ClarisWorks®, Microsoft Works®, and Microsoft Office®.

The entire school library collection of over 8,000 books is electronically catalogued. In addition, the library contains a mini-lab consisting of 5 computers, a scanner, and two printers.