Middle School Review Steering Committee

Family Information Night

January 10, 2006 – 7:00pmPenndale Middle School Auditorium

Ms. Debra Harper

PrincipalPenndale Middle School

Dr. Curtis Dietrich

Assistant Superintendent North Penn School District

Overview of Middle Level Review Process

• 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.

• Our long-term goal is to reduce the number of levels.

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

PrincipalPennbrook 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

PrincipalPennfield 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 TeamShort 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 GuidottiTeacherPenndale 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-ReichleyTeacher Pennfield Middle School

Curriculum and InstructionAction Team

Currently Investigating: • Pre-AP classes • Vertical Alignment • Additional 8th Grade

Majors

Program Delivery and Assessment

Mrs. Lauri SchofieldCounselorPennbrook Middle School

Program Delivery and Assessment

•Reduction of Academic Levels•Rescheduling of Special Area Classes

•Intervention Specialist•Technology Coach

•Student-Led Conferences•Advisory Period

•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?

Professional Development

Mrs. Stormy VogelDistrict 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