WELCOME

1. WELCOME High-Performing Middle Level Schools

2. Presenters Karen Hamilton and Dave Puckett Kentucky Middle School Association Matt Mercer Belfry Middle School Shawn Pickett Mt. Washington Middle School

3. Criteria for Effective Middle Level Schools • This We Believe National Middle School Association ( www.nmsa.org ) • Schools to Watch National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform ( www.schoolstowatch.org )

4. Breaking Ranks National Association of Secondary School Principals ( www.nassp.org ) • Kentucky Standards and Indicators for School Improvement Kentucky Department of Education ( www.education.ky.gov )

5. Kentucky Schools to Watch • 14 schools currently designated • Program on hold for 2011-2012 school year • More information: www.middleeschoolhouse.eku.edu

6. Belfry Middle School Designated 2008, Redesignated 2011 ● Pike County Public Schools ● Principal: Matt Mercer ● E-mail: mathew.mercer@pike.kyschools.us ● Phone: 606-353-9673 ● School Web site: www.bmspirates.com ● School Address: P O Box 850 Belfry, KY 41514

7. SCHOOL CHARACTERISTICS AND REPLICABLE PRACTICES Academic Excellence • High expectations are set for all students and students strive to meet them. • Over the past four years there has been outstanding, continued academic improvement on assessments. • Teachers stay on a voluntary basis without pay after school for two hours on a rotational basis to tutor students. • Gender-based reading classes and science labs enable students to stay focused on content in the classrooms. • The principal meets with parents/guardians of students making low grades and in danger of failing to recruit their support in providing assistance to struggling students. • Bellringers are used by most teachers to optimize instructional time. • The staff is totally focused on student learning. • Common content planning provides time for teachers to utilize curriculum maps, develop common lessons and assessments, and analyze student work. • Three classes (Algebra I and II, Spanish I) are offered for high school credit.

8. SCHOOL CHARACTERISTICS AND REPLICABLE PRACTICES Developmental Responsiveness • Students are recognized on a regular basis for both non-academic (e.g., good behavior, attendance, birthdays) as well as academic performance. • Students are comfortable talking with the principal as their suggestions have been used to change and/or improve the school. • Every student receives a student agenda book which is regularly checked by teachers and used for communication with families. The principal randomly enters classrooms and checks agenda, handing our Pirate Bucks to students who have kept their agendas up-to-date. • The staff works to develop alliances with families for the purpose of supporting students and to enhance the well being for all students. • There is a wide variety of extra/co-curricular activities offered to students and new clubs are formed in response to student requests. • A safe, personalized learning environment to support each and every child has been developed and is maintained. • The school vision statement was developed by students. • The staff, parents, community, and students have tremendous pride in the school. • Pirate Bucks are given for various performances and may be used to purchase snacks during break time.

9. SCHOOL CHARACTERISTICS AND REPLICABLE PRACTICES Social Equity • The guidance counselor regularly meets for lunch with target groups of students (e.g., divorce, anger management, eating disorders, social issues) in the Pirate’s Cove. • Hotlists are developed to target at-risk students and students needing additional assistance. Names are added to and removed from the list as individual student needs change. • Students are accepting of each other and enjoy helping each other. • Students are polite, courteous, and respectful. • Families are invited into the school for holiday lunches with students. • Communication with parents and families is done regularly and in a variety of ways including Twittering. • To the fullest extent possible, students with disabilities participate in regular education classes with high academic and behavioral expectations. • All adults in the building recognize and honor all students. • New students are welcomed into the school and embraced by the Belfry family.

10. SCHOOL CHARACTERISTICS AND REPLICABLE PRACTICES Organizational Support • Although the principal is clearly the leader of the school, he shares leadership with the assistant principal, teacher leaders, and other stakeholders, as needed. • The principal and assistance principal circulate regularly throughout the building visiting classrooms and talking with students. • Staff, students, and the community possess and cultivate a collective will to persevere as evidenced by the determination of the school community to reopen the school after the flooding of the school in 2009. The school has come back from that event stronger. • Students and teachers use Twitter daily. The majority of students and families are trained on Twitter use and follow staff Twitter accounts.  • Teachers are supported and respected by administration. The principal empowers his teachers to be leaders • All of the school community buys into and lives the school’s mission: BMS – Kentucky’s Best. • The school solicits community partnerships to provide resources and services necessary to foster a healthy physical and emotional environment for all students. • The local health department provides a full-time nurse in the school.

11. Mt. Washington Middle SchoolDesignated 2010 ● Bullitt County Public Schools, Kentucky ● Principal: Denise Allen ● E-mail: denise.allen@bullitt.kyschools.us ● Phone: 502-538-4227 ● School Web site: www.bullitt.kyschools.us/mwms ● School Address: 269 Water Street Mt. Washington, KY 40047

12. SCHOOL CHARACTERISTICS AND REPLICABLE PRACTICES Academic Excellence • High expectations are the norm • Students are grouped and regrouped, as needed, based on skills and academic needs within various content areas • Multiple opportunities have been created for students to receive assistance when experiencing academic difficulties (e.g., pink slips, General’s Academy, Friday School, ESS) • Learning targets and agenda assignments are posted in most classrooms daily • The “failure is not an option” philosophy has been adopted and students are held accountable for completing all assignments • PLCs meet departmentally at least twice a month for improving/implementing instructional strategies • Formative and summative assessments are used to assess and monitor the progress of students • Common assessments have been developed and they are analyzed for instructional impact • Student progress is monitored during grade level common planning time

13. SCHOOL CHARACTERISTICS AND REPLICABLE PRACTICES Developmental Responsiveness • Students have the opportunity to be involved in school decision-making through the Student Council and Principal’s Roundtable • Student achievements in a variety of areas are recognized (e.g., CATS Academy Awards, Honor Roll lists displayed in the hallways, certificates for Distinguished and Proficient students, student of the month, attendance rewards, morning broadcast, banners, General Awards) • Teachers attend school and community events in which students are involved • Generals’ Bash is time for new students and families to become acquainted with the school while also providing a time for current students and families to meet their new teachers and receive supply lists • Students may participate in a variety of activities which develop leadership and citizenship (e.g., Girls Club, Beta Club, Student Technology Leadership Program, Student Council, Real Men Read, The Green Team) • General’s Academy is offered for students that are identified at-risk providing them with additional help and support • All students develop an ILP at which time they explore career interests and post-secondary educational options • The Green Team is a student group that evaluates energy usage in the school and recommends conservation measures

14. SCHOOL CHARACTERISTICS AND REPLICABLE PRACTICES Social Equity • Adults and students show mutual respect for one another • There is open communication between families and the school (e.g., One-Call system, monthly newsletter, e-mail, text messages, team letters, agenda books) • The community is involved with and supportive of the school (e.g., church after school tutoring program, Spanish teacher, scholarships for 8th grade trip) • Behavior expectations have been established and shared with students and families • Special effort is made to Intentionally integrate teaching about cultural diversity into the curriculum • Several courses are offered for high school credit • The school strives to be all-inclusive with most special education students placed in collaborative classroom settings • The school partners with many community agencies (e.g., Community Ministries, Lions Club, Kentucky School for the Blind, Seven Counties Services) to provide for the needs of their students • School rules are firm, fair, and consistently applied and General’s Reports are issued by teachers for minor infractions with the assistant principal following up on these

15. SCHOOL CHARACTERISTICS AND REPLICABLE PRACTICES Organizational Support • Strong working relationship between the principal and staff exists • By using a retired, part-time teacher Spanish is available to students • Principal meets with classified staff weekly so they can communicate their concerns and opinions • Principal’s Cabinet is a formal structure that brings together the leadership of the school • The history of the school and connection to the community have been honored and celebrated but have not kept the school from progressing • During weekly PLC meetings current practices are analyzed and discussed as to their effectiveness and new strategies are examined • The district provides one early release day a month • A sign in the front lobby that says “What have we done for kids today?” sets the vision for the school