Supporting Student Success Plans Through Advisories/Enlisting Staff for CREC

1. Supporting Student Success Plans Through Advisories/Enlisting Stafffor CREC Presented by Neil Rinaldi Principal Ellington High School nrinaldi@ellingtonschools.net

2. Why am I Here? To present a practical high school application model of a Capstone Project via advisories To highlight critical components of developing an advisory program

3. First Things First - Credits • Mrs. Judi Moeller – Guidance • Mrs. Ann Johnson – Science • Mr. Bill Prenetta – English • Mrs. Jan Arnone – Math • Ms. Beth Simmons – Social Studies • RHAM High School • Scott Leslie • Dan Uriano (student target plan) • Jen Sansoucy (student target plan)

4. EHS Advisory Program • Overarching Goals • Establish a forum for academic, college and career coaching, and advising that cuts across subject areas. (Core Components of CSDE Effective SSP) • Provide an ideal setting to promote Social, Emotional and Physical Development (personalization) (Core Components of CSDE Effective SSP). • Provide multiple opportunities between healthy student development and academic success. (NEASC) • Help ensure that all young people have at least one adult who knows them well. (NEASC) • Assist students in achieving our school-wide expectations for student learning by developing a student portfolio

5. EHS Advisory Program • Two Elements • Advisory • Student Portfolio/Capstone Project • Six “Must Do’s”

6. Enlisting Staff Support Must Do #1 • Include Teacher Union Representatives in the planning process • Include Students

7. Enlisting Staff Support Must Do #2 • Develop a core committee • 1 or 2 members for each grade level • Mrs. Judi Moeller – Guidance • Mrs. Ann Johnson – Science • Mr. Bill Prenetta – English • Mrs. Jan Arnone – Math • Ms. Beth Simmons – Social Studies • Provide continued summer funding to develop the program

8. Enlisting Staff Support Must Do #3 • All activities have to be “canned” • Activities planned in advance of the school year • Use of “shared” folders • Offer “copying” services

9. Enlisting Staff Support Must Do #4 • Link Capstone Project (Portfolio)to the advisory • Makes sense, Advisors are overseeing the students through 4 years of high school • One teacher can effectively keep track of capstone/portfolio documents (assuming 10-12 student per advisory) • Junior Example • Senior Example

10. Enlisting Staff Support Must Do #5 • Explicitly outline Advisors’ roll as facilitators not evaluators in the capstone/portfolio process • They are facilitators in helping students keep their paperwork organized • Use checklists annually to keep students on track • Checklist Example

11. Enlisting Staff Support Must Do #6 • Provide Professional Development before implementation • Continue support annually • Encourage voluntary short after school meetings

12. Capstone Project The Capstone Experience is a culminating activity that provides a way for students to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they acquired during their secondary school years of education. It engages students in a project/experience that focuseson an interest, career path or academic pursuit that synthesizes classroom study and real world perspective.

13. Capstone Project continued High school students are asked to demonstrate their ability toapply key knowledge and skills by planning, completing andpresenting a culminating project linked to one or more area of personal interestand the individual's Student Success Plan.

14. Capstone Project continued The capstone experience may include an in-depth project, reflective portfolio, community service and/or internship. As part of the experience, the student will demonstrate research, communication and technology skills including additional relevant 21st century skills.

15. Activities by Grade Level • Freshman • Sophomore • Junior • Portfolio Guide • Senior • Portfolio Guide Portfolio Interview

16. Student Achievement Target Plans (SATP) • New initiative for this year • Could and should be part of a student success plan • Helpful when dealing with Struggling Students • SATP Template • Student #1 • Student #2 • Student #3

17. Essential Advisory Program Questions Can the goals of the program be identified by our staff? Do the advisors have goals for their groups? Can advisors easily and confidently implement the activities they will use to reach our goals? Are parents and students in support of an advisory program? Can we schedule time for our advisory?

18. Endnotes ¹Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development. Turning Points: Preparing American Youth for the 21st Century (Washington, DC: Carnegie Corporation of New York, 1989), 40. ²Anthony W. Jackson and Gayle A. Davis. Turning Points 2000 (New York: Teachers College, Columbia University, 2000), 143. ³National Association of Secondary School Principals. Breaking Ranks: Changing an American Institution (Reston, VA: National Association of Secondary School Principals, 1996), vi. 4 Ibid., 31. 5 Ibid., 31.