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Middle School Review Steering Committee Family Information Night. January 10, 2006 – 7:00pm Penndale Middle School Auditorium. Ms. Debra Harper. Principal Penndale Middle School. Dr. Curtis Dietrich. Assistant Superintendent North Penn School District.
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Middle School Review Steering CommitteeFamily Information Night January 10, 2006 – 7:00pm Penndale Middle School Auditorium
Ms. Debra Harper Principal Penndale Middle School
Dr. Curtis Dietrich Assistant Superintendent North Penn School District
What tonight is… and …what it is not.
Short-term and Long-term Goals have been developed regarding teaming, grouping, curriculum, and professional development.
Grouping within Regular Education: • Sixth grade has 1 heterogeneous group (except in math where there are 2) • Presently, 7th and 8th grade have 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, Gifted and Basic Ed (5 levels) • No other middle school we visited had that many levels. • Best educational practice does not support that many levels in middle school.
Once designated and entered into a level, students typically stay at that level even though students grow and develop at different rates.
Sub-committee recommendation for 2008-2009 school year: • Modified: Basic and Below Basic Students who need proficiency help and remedial work • Standard: Students presently in 4.0 and 5.0 • Honors: Students presently in Levels 6 and gifted.
Change would occur in grades 7 and 8 English, Science, Social Studies, and Pre-Algebra • No changes planned for business, world language, health, family/consumer science, music, p.e., tech ed, Algebra I, Geometry, or 9th grade courses.
For the 2007-08 school year, we will begin to transition to combining students we presently designate as 4.0 and 5.0 by reducing the number of 4.0-designated students by half. We will still have 4.0, but only half the number. • We will provide support for teachers to teach this broader spectrum of students. The teachers will have the opportunity to learn from sixth-grade teachers and other staff developers.
Between now and 2008-09, we will refine the sub-committee’s recommendation. • Middle school gifted will continue. We will study the concept of Pre-AP for our gifted and talented students.
Studying the concept of Pre-AP • Attend College Board conference - Feb ’07 • Bring College Board representative to North Penn. • Meet with parents and teachers
Mr. Allyn Roche Principal Pennbrook Middle School
Middle School Mission Statement To serve the unique needs of early adolescents by challenging each one to become an active lifelong learner and a responsible citizen in an environment which supports student individuality.
Middle Level Belief Statements We Believe all students can learn and achieve when: • They are presented with a rigorous and challenging curriculum that is developmentally appropriate and engages then actively in lessons and activities that are relevant and applicable.
Middle Level Belief Statements We Believe all students can learn and achieve when: • Their social, emotional, physical and ethical development is considered and the needs of the whole child are addressed.
Middle Level Belief Statements We Believe all students can learn and achieve when: • They are proud to be a part of a safe, healthy, positive learning environment where academics are valued and their efforts and accomplishments are acknowledged.
Middle Level Belief Statements We Believe all students can learn and achieve when: • Behavioral expectations and consequences are uniformly observed and supported by the entire school community.
Middle Level Belief Statements We Believe all students can learn and achieve when: • Each one is an active and valued member of a fully functioning, small learning communities.
Middle Level Belief Statements We Believe all students can learn and achieve when: • The diversity of the entire school community is embraced, respected, valued and celebrated.
Middle Level Belief Statements We Believe all students can learn and achieve when: • The home and community, in partnership with the school share the responsibility for each student’s success.
Dr. Barbara Galloway Principal Pennfield Middle School
Teaming Action Team Short Term Goals 2006-07 • Establish Common Expectations for Teams • Establish Plan for Team Communication with Parents • Establish Team Responsibility for Student Discipline Long Term Goals 2007-08 • Develop Team Notebooks • On-going Inservice for Team Training • Team Training for New Teachers
Curriculum and Instruction Team Short Term Goals 2006-07 • Institute Curriculum Mapping • Create Time for Curriculum Coordination • Develop a Consistent Leveling Strategy using Multiple Criteria • Develop Common Exit Criteria for Each Course at Each Level Long Term Goals 2007-08 • Establish Time for Departments to Coordinate Curriculum
Program Delivery and Assessment Team Short Term Goals 2006-07 • Implement a New Model for Scheduling Encore Subjects • Pilot Student-Led Conferences Long Term Goals 2007-08 • Full-time Academic Intervention Specialist • Reduce the Number of Levels for Middle School Students • Electronic Portfolios • Implement 9th Grade Assessment • Create Integrative Technology Coach positions
Professional Development Team Short Term Goals 2006-07 • Offer Middle Level Workshops on Special Education, Bullying, Adolescent Issues, Drug Abuse, Self-Esteem, and Differentiated Instruction for Staff and Parents Long Term Goals 2007-08 • Establish Anti-Bullying Program • Provide Consistent Teachers Collaboration Time • Incorporate and Implement Training to support all recommendations for the other Sub-Committees
Action Team Reports Teaming Curriculum and Instruction Program Delivery and Assessment Professional Development
Teaming Action Team Mrs. Nancy Guidotti Teacher Penndale Middle School
ARE WE DOING AWAY WITH TEAMING? NO! NPSD believes that teaming is a beneficial transition from elementary school to middle school for all students.
SOME ADVANTAGES OF TEAMING Some advantages of teams include: • The ability to address social, emotional, physical, and ethical development of individual students. • To create effective communication skills and team-building between teachers and students.
NPSD AND TEAMING • To enhance the learning of our students, North Penn School District has made teaming a priority at the middle school level. • To enhance the benefits of teaming, NPSD has offered the following: • Professional Development on Teaming • Educational Conferences • In-Service Programs/Activities – Dr. George White
OBJECTIVES OF 10/06 TEAMING WORKSHOP* • As presented by George White, (Educational & Management Consultant), Lehigh Valley Middle School Consortium: • Determine the Function of Teaming; • Establish Common Expectations; • Delineate Team Responsibilities/Policies for Student Discipline (Level 1) • Assign Roles for all Team Members *EACH MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAM RECEIVED THE “HIGH-PERFORMING TEAMS – A PLANNING NOTEBOOK FOR TEAMS” DURING THIS WORKSHOP
FUTURE TEAMING DEVELOPMENT PLANS • How to facilitate communication between special area teachers and teams; • Develop a specific team plan and methods for regular communication with parents/guardians. Such methods may include: website, e-mail, telephone, parent/guardian conferences, team newsletters; • Determine the amount of support and interaction from administrators, counselors, special education, and support personnel. • Develop an interdisciplinary project between at least two core subjects.
Curriculum and Instruction Mr. Michael George-Reichley Teacher Pennfield Middle School
Curriculum and InstructionAction Team Currently Investigating: • Pre-AP classes • Vertical Alignment • Additional 8th Grade Majors
Program Delivery and Assessment Mrs. Lauri Schofield Counselor Pennbrook Middle School
How are we going to deliver our program? • What supports do we need to deliver it well? • How are we going to assess success? • What interventions do students need if they are not achieving? Program Delivery and Assessment Reduction of Academic Levels Rescheduling of Special Area Classes Intervention Specialist Technology Coach Student-Led Conferences Advisory Period
Professional Development Mrs. Stormy Vogel District Learning Coordinator
Middle School Visits • Newtown Middle School • Council Rock School District • Indian Crest Middle School • Souderton School District • Keith Valley Middle School • Hatboro Horsham School District • Penn Central Middle School • Pennridge School District • Perkiomen Valley Middle School West • Perkiomen Valley School District • Palisades Middle School • Palisades School District • Lenape Middle School • Central Bucks School District
Question & Answer • Thank You for Attending Tonight’s Presentation