Cold Springs Middle

Our Kids at a Glance 1700 Students 6 th -8 th grade 50% ESL Students and Growing 50% Free and Reduced Lunch

Appreciative Inquiry: A Model For Change Define: What gives us Focus Define: What gives us Focus Destiny: What will be… Design: What should be… Dream: What might be… Cold Springs MS

Cold Springs Middle School Appreciative Inquiry Conference Results June 25-28, Supportive and trusting administration -Open communication and collaboration between faculty and administration -Shared vision -More ESL teachers -More time to plan effective lessons -Recognize success of students -Peer counseling -Collaboration of all staff in helping ESL students Student Achievement Professionalism Community Involvement Themes Wishes

We are educators committed to the academic achievement of ALL students. We are students ourselves, committed to growing professionally and collaboratively as a learning community. We are a school community committed to meaningful partnerships with parents, students, and community members.

Blueprint for Supporting Staff and Overcoming Obstacles Strategies Celebrating Success Using shared-decision making Supporting professional learning communities Open and Transparent Communication Reviewing and adjusting SGP Continuing the AI process

Proposition 1: Effective Professional Development “Unpacking” SOL Research Based Instructional Practices Differentiated instruction Disaggregate Data Professional Learning Communities Scheduling: Observations, Common Planning, Reflective Practices Need Based Staff Development

Professional Development Student achievement data will drive participation in local and national conferences. Schedule Trace Success Recognize achievement of professional development goals and objectives Student achievement data and teacher observations will drive staff development

Professional Learning Communities Curriculum Mapping Unpack Standards Implement research-based instructional strategies 4 th and 9 th Week Assessments Mentor opportunities for struggling students Implement differentiated instruction Provocative Proposition #2: Academic Press

Academic Press Continued Creative scheduling options – single gender, double blocking/periods Integrate instructional technologies Implement Content Based ESL Pyramid of Interventions beginning with the premise: “What we do when students are not learning” Quarterly Data Presentations/Talks –AYP Groups –Quarterly Exam Grade Distribution –SOL Strand Analysis –Overall Grade Distribution –Ethnicity –Reflections/Actions/Steps/Strategies –Tuning Protocol

Provocative Proposition #3: Collaboration between Students, Parents, Teachers, and the Community Increase ESL parental involvement in parent-teacher-student conferences through: –translated invitations –teacher and administrator phone calls –native language translators Welcome parents into the school building by: –Coffee with the Principal: morning, afternoon, and evening sessions Have a parent wait area/conference room stocked with soda, coffee, tea, and snacks Breakfast for new-comers each quarter Develop and implement meaningful opportunities for parent involvement –International Night –Grade promotion ceremonies

Collaboration between Students, Parents, Teachers, and the Community Establish relationships with community and parents through: –financial partnerships, strategies in the business world that work in the school –resources in the community to improve/acquire resources Engage in community outreach programs such as coat and food drives Identify families in the school who would benefit from outreach Create student community service requirements Implement “Community Priorities Workshops” to allow community leaders, parents, and teachers to share current successes and future wishes for Cold Springs Middle School.

Our School Growth Plan Specific/Strategic, Measurable/Monitored, Action Oriented/Agreed Upon, Realistic/Results Oriented, Timed/Tracked S.M.A.R.T SGP is a living document Collaborative Effort Shared Decision Ownership Program Evaluation “Systems Thinking” approach