Building Updates

1. Building Updates Halverson

2. January

3. February

4. Effective and Efficient OperationsBuilding Goal:

5. Principal Comments One of the biggest transitions (instructionally) we are taking on in our building is adopting a Balanced Literacy approach to our language arts instruction. Adopting this approach to our instruction is important for our students’ success. This approach allows for individualized and differentiated instruction in all areas of literacy (Phonics, Phonemic Awareness, Fluency, Vocabulary, & Comprehension). Often times, a by-product from Balanced Literacy Instruction, is differentiation in all content areas-even though the focus is language arts, science & social studies benefit as well. Moving forward with this initiative will help our teachers provide the necessary instruction for Halverson students to keep pace and exceed state averages and expectations.

6. Building Updates Hawthorne

7. January

8. February

9. Safe, Healthy, Welcoming SchoolsBuilding Goal: The percentage of parents responding to “strongly agree” on the parent satisfaction survey will increase from 35% to 45% in their view of Hawthorne’s public image.

10. Increasing Opportunity & AchievementBuilding Goal: The percentage of students in grades 3-6 who are proficient on the MCA-II Reading Test will increase 4.86% from 65% to 69.86% for the 2011 school year will all student groups meeting or exceeding the state proficiency average on the MCA-II Reading test by the 2012 school year.

11. Effective and Efficient OperationsBuilding Goal:

12. Technology Building Goal: 100% of HW licensed staff will have a working Website aligned with the new district Website by April 5, 2011 with 50% or more of staff exploring new technologies to enhance teaching and/or communicaiton.

13. Principal Comments Hawthorne is in its second year of AYP working with an outside consultant: The main initiatives are: • Developing a building RtI model • Defining Core Reading Instruction • Staff Development with Guided Reading and the diagnostic use of Running Records . Teachers have hosted others to model Guided Reading instruction for teacher-to-teacher coaching. • Reading (and now some math) intervention work using AimsWeb as a tool to progress monitor so teachers can be adjusting to the ongoing needs of students. • Para’s have received training on intervention work and progress monitoring with the goal of getting all possible adults to serve students’ needs.

14. Building Updates Lakeview

15. January

16. February

17. Safe, Healthy, Welcoming SchoolsBuilding Goal: Increase Student to student positive relationships with an emphasis on playground behavior.

18. Increasing Opportunity & AchievementBuilding Goal: The percentage of students in grades 3-6 at Lakeview School who are proficient on MCA11 reading will increase from 77.2% to 79.2% on MCA11.

19. Effective and Efficient OperationsBuilding Goal: Increase use of technology in the school office to communicate to parents, students and staff.

20. Technology Building Goal: 100% of licensed staff by the end of May will use one or more new technology tools in their work with students and complete a student effectiveness assessment.

21. Principal Comments

22. Building Updates Sibley Elementary

23. January

24. February

25. Safe, Healthy, Welcoming SchoolsBuilding Goal:

26. Increasing Opportunity & AchievementBuilding Goal:

27. Increasing Opportunity & AchievementBuilding Goal:

28. Technology Building Goal:

29. Principal Comments Opportunity /Achievement - Every month since September teachers have had 2-3 hours of additional and uninterrupted grade level time for making instructional changes as necessary based upon grade level assessments using MAP, Aimsweb, and MCA data. ATPPS money and district AYP money funds this time. Teachers in January switched this time to be afterschool so that instructional time during the day was not left to subs. Reading Corps continues its work for those students just below grade level in reading by providing interventions to meet their needs. Most of those interventions , of which are scripted, are focused on increasing fluency as well as comprehension. With our volunteers (about 18), we have been able to provide additional time to students in grades 4-6 as well. January 10 staff meeting- Presented 90/90/90 research and what works for those schools. This information was powerful and the need for all content areas to increase the opportunities provided students in writing was made clear. Several classrooms. Prairie Fire Theater – Wizard of Oz was another great success. We hope to continue this next year with the changes in building configuration. Technology – Continue to develop the use of 2.0 technology and more and more teacher blogs for parent communication are being designed and used. Music students are also using Karaoke as a way to support reading as well. Safe, Healthy, Welcoming – Continue to build positive relationships with students and families as well as teacher and staff visibility. This is a building-wide expectation as a way to reduce referrals to the office for behavior but also a way to ensure academic achievement based upon the current research by John Haitte and how “building relationships” correlates to academic success. Effective, Efficient, Operations – Most of these initiatives are district level at this time – Aesop, Smart finance, Instant Alert, and new website development - all of which are supported/used within our building to make us more effective in our day to day operations.

30. Building Updates Southwest Middle School 7/8 Transition Project 6/7

31. January

32. February

33. Safe, Healthy, Welcoming SchoolsBuilding Goal: More students will have a better perception of school, safety, and respect of others.

34. Increasing Opportunity & AchievementBuilding Goal:The percentage of all students in grades 7 & 8 at SW Middle School who achieve proficiency on the 2011 Reading MCA-IISS testing data.

35. Effective and Efficient OperationsBuilding Goal: Administration will use new tech tools when communicating with staff, students and parents.

36. Technology Building Goal: 100% of licensed staff will choose one new technology tool and integrate it into their curriculum for use with students or parents.

37. Principal Comments SW is adjusting to a new principal, keeping all the programs going for the current kids and planning/thinking/creating new ideas for next year! Awesome planning and dedication from staff for their Tiger Pride Assemblies and the Tiger Trot.

38. Building Updates Albert Lea High School January- February 2011

39. January

40. February

41. Safe, Healthy, Welcoming SchoolsBuilding Goal:

42. Increasing Opportunity & AchievementBuilding Goal:

43. Effective and Efficient OperationsBuilding Goal:

44. Technology Building Goal:

45. Principal Comments The major focus of all activities at ALHS are directed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for an 8-12 high school for the 2011-12 school year. Committees are working hard on developing the specific details for the transition, curriculum, scheduling, classroom assignments, and participation in activities for incoming 8th and 9th graders next year. The plan for housing the 8th grade students is to segregate them in a “house” for all core areas of instruction on the first floor of the E wing at ALHS.

46. Building Updates Area Learning Center

47. January

48. February

49. Safe, Healthy, Welcoming SchoolsBuilding Goal:100% of the staff at the Albert Lea Area Learning Center will engage in the PBIS school wide support system working with the building motto of “Be Here, Be Respectful, Be Responsible”. Staff will engage in bi-weekly student advisory meetings to help decrease the number of office referrals during the 2010-11 school year.

50. Increasing Opportunity & AchievementBuilding Goal: The percentage of students in the 10th grade at the Albert Lea Area Learning Center who are proficient on the MCA-II Reading assessment will increase from 31.25% to 41% during the 2010-11 school year. Students will have at least 85% attendance during the school year.