About Enemy Swim Day School
Mission Statement
The mission of Enemy Swim Day School, a Dakotah community investing in our children, families and education, is to provide opportunities to maximize academic potential while fostering cultural identity to promote lifelong learning.
Expectations
Be Safe: Awaniċihdaka
Be Responsible: Waohiki
Be Caring: Wauŋşida
Be Respectful: Waohoda
Strategic Plan : 2013 – 2018
Enemy Swim Day School staff, students, parents and community members came together to map out the future goals and aspirations of the Enemy Swim Day School community of learners.
Beliefs
We believe that:
Each learner is unique and can succeed.
A balanced, challenging education prepares students for life.
Dakota Culture and Language is key to understanding cultural identity.
A strong cultural identity builds confidence and resiliency.
Family/School partnership and collaboration create a strong school Tiospaye.
We are community centered and provide opportunities for involvement and service.
Shared values (respect, responsibility, safety, and caring) provide a positive learning environment.
Strategies
We will engage in an array of learning experiences supported by technology.
We will provide structures and experiences to fulfill individual potential.
We will increase the effectiveness of family and community collaboration.
We will embrace experiences to enhance cultural identity.
Objectives
All learners will meet or exceed educational goals.
All learners will achieve personal goals, track activities, and reflect on progress.
All learners will be proficient Dakota Language Speakers.
All learners will consistently demonstrate characteristics of Dakota Values and understand Dakota Culture, Traditions and Government.
Parameters
Programs, services or technologies will be offered consistently with our strategic plan.
We will provide staff training to accomplish the goals of the strategic plan.
All decisions will be in the best interest of learners.
We will provide a safe and secure environment.
We will view education as a process.
We commit to having positive attitudes, open mindedness and active participation.
Accreditation
South Dakota State Accreditation
North Central Accreditation
COA After School Accreditation
NAEYC FACE Program Accreditation
A Climate for Learning
Enemy Swim Day School serves the educational needs of the Glacial Lakes Region of NE South Dakota on the Lake Traverse Reservation. Academic programs for children in preschool through eighth grade include Dakota Language, Culture and History, South Dakota State Core Instruction, Pull-out and Inclusive Exceptional Education, Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapy and School Wide Title 1 programming. Teaching teams develop an education improvement plan for students testing below proficiency in math and reading.
- Flexible Scheduling for Middle Grades
- Small Classroom Size
- Fulltime Educational Support, Guidance and Student Services
- Highly Qualified Teachers
- Fulltime School Nurse
- High Expectations for Learning
- Student Center Experiences
- Expanded Learning Time: Summer and after school expanded learning time supports the academic school day by providing a wide variety of clubs designed to engage all interest and learning levels of the student body and to augment the regular school day curriculum. Clubs are oriented in categories:
- Education & Career Development
- Literacy & Writing
- Sports, Fitness & Recreation
- Character & Leadership
- Dakota Curriculum
- The Arts
- STEM
- Music Appreciation
- Health & Life Skills
Standards for Learning
Common Core Standards for Reading and Math
Enemy Swim Day School has adopted the South Dakota Common Core standards for reading and math. The common core state standards are a set of learning skills that students are expected to do by the time they graduate each grade. The standards set the benchmarks and guidelines for what each student should learn and set a progression of skills that students learn as they move through school.
More information about the SD Common Core standards at www.commoncore.sd.gov/
South Dakota State Content Standards for Science and Social Studies
The South Dakota State Content Standards are used to guide instruction in science and social studies learning at Enemy Swim Day School. More information about SD State Content Standards can be found at: http://doe.sd.gov/contentstandards/
Other Learning Opportunities Guided by SD State Content Standards include: Physical Education, Nutrition Education, Educational Technology, Fine Arts.
Dakota Culture, Language, and History
Dakota history and elements of Dakota culture are integrated into all content areas throughout the learning day in culturally responsive classrooms guided by the Oceti Sakowein Essential Understanding.
Along with integration across the curriculum, Dakota Language and Culture learning also takes place in self-contained classrooms with a male and female instructor.
Assessments
Student achievement is measured regularly using a variety of assessments. Teachers use the assessment information to plan Response to Intervention (RTI); instruction delivery and intervention for individual students, small groups and whole classes.
Smarter Balanced : State Summative Assessment – Annually
Enemy Swim Day School participates in the Smarter Balanced state assessments for English-language arts and math which are aligned to the SD Common Core Standards. More information about the Smarter Balanced assessment can be found at http://www.smarterbalanced.org/about/
Dakota Step Science : State Summative Assessment – Annually
Science for fifth and eighth grade is assessed using the South Dakota State Test of Education Progress (Dakota STEP).
NWEA MAPS : Formative Assessments – Tri – Annual
Formative assessments in math and reading are implemented tri-annually by classroom teachers. Data-driven results are used to place students in on-target, strategic and intensive intervention.
Tools for Learning : Educational Programs
Enemy Swim Day School uses a variety of educational improvement programs in delivery of services:
- Sonday System
- Read Live
- SuccessMaker : Math & Reading
- Accelerated Reader
- Language!
- Reading Street
- Connected Math Concepts
- Number Worlds
- SRA Language, Math & Reading
- AIM Vocabulary
- Math Connect/Math Triumphs
- Do the Math!
- DiStar Math
- Math Triumphs!
- STEP UP to writing
- 4 Block Literacy Method
- Guided Reading
- Linda-Mood Bell
- LIPS
Family And Child Education: FACE
The FACE program is a national education model for children, prenatal through age eight and their parents or primary care givers. FACE’s focus is on literacy, life-long learning, school readiness, and enhancing the Dakota language and culture. FACE is fully accredited through National Education of the Young Child Accreditation NEYCA
FACE Components
- Center Based Adult/Parent Education
- Early Childhood Education
- GED Readiness/Completion
- Home based Parent Education
- Basic Computers
- Employability Skills
Technology
Mobile Wireless Lab
Mobile iPad Lab
Mobile Chromebook Lab
Elementary and Middle School Computer Labs
Infinite Campus Student and Parent Portals
Extra Curricular Activities
ESDS Lakers Basketball
ESDS Lakers Cheerleading
Destination Imagination
Sons and Daughters of Tradition
Culture Club
Summit/Waubay/ESDS Football, Volleyball & Track Co-op
Kunsi’s Learning Garden
Oral Interpretation
Spelling Bee
Science Fair
Student Counsel