Chowan Middle School 2009-2010 School to Watch

What is Schools to Watch? Schools to Watch® is an initiative launched by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform. Academically Excellent Developmentally Responsive Socially Equitable To achieve this level of performance, high- performing schools establish norms, structures, and organizational arrangements to support and sustain their trajectory toward excellence. The National Forum is an alliance of more than 60 educators, researchers, and officers of national associations and foundations dedicated to improving schools for young adolescents across the country.  The National Forum’s mission is to unite key stakeholders to speak with a common voice to leverage research, policy, leadership, and replicable model practices to drive middle grades reform. In order to prepare students to be lifelong learners ready for college, career, and citizenship, the National Forum seeks to make every middle grades school academically excellent, responsive to the developmental needs and interests of young adolescents, and socially equitable. Through the Schools to Watch® initiative, the National Forum identifies schools across the United States that are well on their way to meeting the Forum's criteria for high performance. Forum members believe that three things are true of high-performing middle-grades schools: They are academically excellent—these schools challenge all students to use their minds well. They are developmentally responsive—these schools are sensitive to the unique developmental challenges of early adolescence. They are socially equitable—these schools are democratic and fair, providing every student with high-quality teachers, resources, and supports. They have a sense of purpose that drives every facet of practice and decision-making.

How has Chowan Middle School established a structure to sustain their trajectory towards excellence?

Professional Learning Community Mission Vision Beliefs Motto Let’s start with our structure that we believe has made a difference in our success and laid the foundation for the academics, developmental responsiveness, and the social equity to take shape. PLCs is a term loosely used by a lot of schools and school districts across our state and nation. CMS believes that being a PLC is more than just having common meeting times and discussing common topics. Of course those things are important but it is about everyone in your building embracing the same beliefs about students.

Other Structures Teaming Walk-throughs PBS (Positive Behavior Support) Communication and Recognition Scheduling Start Time Homebase Various Schedules to Protect Academic Time Planning Time Protected Duty Free Lunch

Academic Excellence Academy Corrective Reading AIG Program NC Quest Technology Integration Accelerated Reader Focused Use of Data Focused Instruction

Developmental Responsiveness Discipline Procedures (School/Bus) Check-in/Check-out Young Men of Direction Student Development Center Bulldog Buddies Celebrations Pyramid of Behavioral/Academic Intervention

Social Equity Core Zero Heterogeneous Grouping/Common Strategies Gold and Maroon Clubs Student Council Career Day Job Shadowing 5th Grade Orientation 8th Grade Transition Service Learning Projects

What Happens Next? Middle School Conference March 14-16 April 14, 2010 Celebration @ 1:30 Posted on Web School Visits Staff Development Requests 3 Year Renewal

Questions