1. “A New Chapter and a New Day” An Update on the School Improvement Grant Staff Meeting Friday, August 5, 2011 9:30 a.m. LHS Commons

2.  Teaching Excellence  Student Learning  Teamwork and Collaboration

3.  C urriculum  A ssessment  I nstruction  P rofessional Learning Communities  S tudent Engagement Any district or building initiative that we will implement over the next three years will center on these five focus areas.

4.  Curriculum will be aligned to College Readiness Standards and eventually to the Common Core Standards.  English/Language Arts will be aligned to CRS first semester and aligned to the Common Core second semester.  All other subjects will have curriculum aligned to CRS this year and work towards Common Core Standards in years two and three of SIG.

5.  Students will be assessed regularly using Scantron & Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI).  Scantron/SRI will be administered three times a year in reading & math.  An enrichment period will support the work of our students, and interim assessments will be used to determine their academic progress.  Scantron and SRI will provide professional development on the implementation of these assessments.

6.  The Danielson Framework for Teaching is the instructional framework for LHS.  Instructional Coaches will provide support, as well as Administrators, and representatives from the American Institutes for Research (A.I.R.)/Learning Point will conduct informal classroom observations in the fall and spring using the CLASS Tool.  The LHS Freshman Academy will be a pilot site for the new teacher evaluation system based on the Danielson Framework.

7.  Grade 9 – The Freshman Academy will receive support from A.I.R. (materials, assessment structure, and instructional strategies) for the enrichment period.  Grades 10-12 will receive support from the Learning Strategist and Data Manager (materials, assessment structures, instructional strategies) for the enrichment period.

8.  All teachers will participate in a departmental PLC. In addition, freshman teachers will participate in an academy PLC.  LHS will also have an Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) and a Site Leadership Team (SLT).  The ILT will focus on curriculum, instruction, assessment, and student engagement.  The Site Leadership Team (SLT) will monitor the progress of the SIG initiatives. This group will include ILT members, parents, students, district, and community partners.  The ILT will participate in a Leadership Retreat conducted by A.I.R. and will have on-site support and continued training during years 1-3.  Departments will receive support from A.I.R. during years 1-3.

9.  Student engagement in classroom learning is a focus areas.  Freshmen Forward will include information and activities that will support our incoming freshmen as they enter high school.  Freshman First Week will continue to support our students in their transition to high school.  Student Engagement is vital to student learning.  Student Engagement will be assessed during classroom observations.

10.  The implementation of numerous initiatives has taken place.  Staff members have worked hard.  Positive changes have been made.

11.  Improved our school culture/climate  Improved attendance and discipline  Established a positive presence in the community  Improved morale and school spirit  Built relationships with families

12. When written in Chinese, the word "crisis" is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity.  John F. Kennedy

13.  If you do what you’ve always done, you will get what you’ve always gotten.  With the awarding of the School Improvement Grant, we have a chance, over the next three years, to do things differently that will directly and positively impact the lives of our students.  In spite of obstacles that we may encounter, we must all be committed to the idea of doing things differently, and begin to think, act, and work differently.

14.  Data tells us that our students continue to fall below benchmark.  Incoming freshmen are below benchmark in core areas.  Many of our students have been socially promoted and may never have experienced academic success.

15.  We are raising the bar.  We are asking more from our students and their parents.  I am expecting more from myself.  I am expecting more from each one of you. Plan: Increase the rigor in every class

16.  Align curriculum to the College Readiness Standards and the Common Core Standards.  Enrichment time for all students  Regularly scheduled universal screeners – Scantron and Scholastic Reading Inventory  PLCs – Departmental and Freshman Academy  Student Engagement  Additional Supports for Staff -- Teacher Instructional Leaders, District Transformation Officer, On-Site Coordinator, Learning Strategist, Data Manager, and the Administration will be providing ongoing support for teaching and learning.  The Freshman Academy will be a pilot site for the new teacher evaluation system in year 1.

17.  I am committed to leading this building into a new era.  I am committed to doing everything I can to help our students become successful not only in school and for life after graduation.  I am committed to providing support to all of our staff that will help them acquire the necessary skills and tools for to enhance and improve classroom instruction.

18.  Here is what I hope the results will be: Assessments will indicate that our students are improving in every academic area. Every child will be functioning at or above grade level when they graduate.

19. THROUGH TEAMWORK  Our students’ success depends on everyone’s support.  Higher expectations  Increased rigorous instruction in all classrooms  Improved communication among all stakeholders  Improved test scores for students  Increased graduation and attendance rates  Improved relationships with students and families  Fewer failures per class – increased credits for our kids

20.  District SIG Transformation Officer  On-Site SIG Coordinator  Learning Strategist  Data Manager  Teacher Instructional Leaders  Most of all, I am counting on all of you!

21.  These changes are necessary to move us forward.  My administrative team is on board.  Open Door Policy  Questions / Wonderings / Ideas  100% Staff Involvement and Participation -- TOGETHER we CAN and WILL do it!!!