Hendersonville MiddleSchool

Continuous School Improvement Plan

2014-2016

Submitted: October 26, 2014

Table of Contents

School Improvement Team Members, Statement of Assurances………………………………….3

Mission and Belief Statements…………………………………………………………..……………..4

School Vision and Goals……………………………………………………………………………...…5

School Profile Narrative Summary………………...... 6

Action Plan…………………………………………………..…………………………………………..…9

Plan for duty free lunch and planning time……………………………………13

Waiver………………………………………………………………………..14

School Improvement Team Members

Statement of Assurances

The School Improvement Plan has been developed and aligned to the requirements of the following initiatives.

  • Henderson County Public Schools Strategic Plan and Technology Plan
  • ABCs Accountability Model & No Child Left Behind Model of Accountability
  • AdvancEDSchool and District Accreditation Standards

The following are members of the School Improvement Team as specified by legislation.

Team Member / Position / Team Member / Position
Mary Rouse / Chair / *Luke Manuel / Principal
Rena Nisbet / Media Coordinator / Jason Joyce / Asst. Principal
Frank Wilson / 8th / Buddy Gudger / Arts
Tom Bushe / 7th, STAC / Hugh Price / CTE
Angie Eudy / Member / Justin Heatherly / Health & PE
Julie Rogers / 6th / Brent Stepp / Member
Peggy Aubrey / Member / *Lorie Beck / EC
April Zace / ESL / Kim Wagner / Member
*Anne Boyette / AIG / Katy Gash / Member
Scott Bond / Assistant / Angie Reid / Parent
*Carolyn Blakely / Guidance / SteffDefillipo / Parent
Sharon Ashe / Central Office / Sallie Carr / Parent
*Betsy Schneider / Instructional Coach
Anne Bethea / Assistant

Members of the School Improvement Team were elected by their representative groups.

The School Improvement Plan was approved by secret ballot vote on ______.

______

Principal DateSchool Improvement Chair Date

Mission and Beliefs

Henderson County Public Schools’Mission Statement

“Henderson County Public Schools will provide all students the opportunity to learn and the encouragement to succeed in a safe environment. We will honor the individual and nurturethe potential of all children.”

Guiding Principle: The success of a child is the result of a collaborative partnership ofschool, child parent and community.

Henderson County Public Schools Core Values

We are here for the children we serve.

  • We value each child.
  • We value the development of the whole child.
  • We value a safe, supportive, and caring learning environment.
  • We value respect, honesty, and integrity.
  • We value the commitment of quality employees.
  • We value effective learning through high quality instruction.
  • We value the pursuit of excellence.

School Mission Statement

Hendersonville Middle School is dedicated to producing young adults who are Honorable in character, Motivated in learning, and Successful in life.

School Beliefs (Core Values)

HendersonvilleMiddle School affirms the core values of Henderson County Public Schools.

School Vision

Each student will achieve academic success and develop a positive character through serving the community while being supported by caring, highly qualified teachers and staff.

The following are agreed upon goals that will support our vision for student achievement.

Goal 1: Goal 1: Students will be prepared to graduate future core ready; at least 90% of students will demonstrate grade level proficiency on EOGs and other NC Finals; HMS will meet 100% of AMO targets

Goal 2: Hendersonville Middle School will provide a safe and orderly environment as evidenced by 100 percent of staff members who agree or strongly agree with the “My school is a safe place to work” statement on the “Managing Student Conduct questions on the Teacher Working Conditions survey.

School Profile Narrative Summary

Our School Improvement Team utilized various sources of data in completing our comprehensive needs assessment. Data sources include the following: the Annual Measurable Objective (AMO) Report for 2013-14; the ABC Summary for 2013-14; the NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey; the NC School Report Card; the AdvancED Standards for Quality Schools Self Assessment demographic and socioeconomic data collected by HCPS; along with observations by the School Improvement Team. The HMS School Improvement Team relied on a collaborative consensus approach in establishing our goals.

The history of HendersonvilleMiddle School is as rich and diverse as the student population that we serve. The school site was originally a regional “union” school (a school that contained grades 1-12 within the same building) from 1951-1965 and was called the NinthAvenueSchool. At the time of its opening, the school was the last “union” school in HendersonCounty and served African-American students from Henderson, Transylvania, and Polk counties. In 1965, the school became an integrated junior high school in the HendersonvilleCitySchool district. In 1993, the city and county systems consolidated, and HMS became one of four “middle schools” in the HCPS system. While our school is primarily an urban school serving students within the city limits, HendersonvilleMiddle School draws numerous students from other school districts. Indeed, we are a school of choice for many in HendersonCounty.

After an extensive renovation in 2004, we wished to maintain our rich heritage by prominently displaying a photograph of each of the 15 graduating classes of the original NinthAvenueSchool as well as artifacts from the former school for all students and visitors to see.

Our enrollment continues to grow; last year we had 566 students, and this year, we had 618 on the 20th school day. Our minority percentage is steady (34.5%), but our students with disabilities percentage has increased from 13% to 16%. Our percentage of students on free and reduced lunch is down from 52% to 47.3%, but I anticipate that rate will increase. We are proud of our diverse student population: economically, academically, and demographically. Indeed, it is our student diversity that makes academic life at HMS so rich and unique.

Our school exceeded growth last year under the Education Value Added Assessment System. As a matter of fact, HMS had the highest growth of all schools in the county with a 6.69 overall growth index. In addition, HMS met all 41 AMO targets for 2013-14.

Our attention this year is on maintaining subgroup performance and increasing student growth across the board. Our instructional focus is very specific this year:

Effective instructional practices

Clear curriculum choices

Frequent assessment

Emphasis on non-fiction writing

Collaborative grading

(Leadership and Learning Center)

Regarding instruction: teachers are receiving ongoing training and support in the use of highly effective strategies. Most of the strategies used have an effect size of .5 or greater; additionally, teachers are using the Depth of Knowledge© continuum to develop learning tasks and assessments. Non-fiction writing can be seen in every classroom; and teachers are using common rubrics to evaluate student writing.

Our teachers are collaborating to implement the new Common Core/Essential Standards Curriculum. Teachers are planning together weekly and developing common assessments to monitor student progress. For students who aren’t making progress, teachers are developing targeted interventions based on ongoing assessments. This weekly planning time is completely dedicated, and teachers are able to focus solely on the cycle of instruction/assessment/intervention. While some teams are immersed in the data team process, all teams are participating in structured planning and collaborative assessment.

Teachers have expressed the need for increased professional development that is specific to content. Not only are teachers participating in district wide professional development, but they are also participating in school level professional learning communities by content area. Each content area has a facilitator that has been trained in PLC protocols, and each area is focusing on a content related text. Ultimately, PLCs will conduct protocols to examine teacher assignments and student work.

Preparing students for the 21st century workplace continues to be a priority for us, and students must be immersed in technology in all classroom settings. We have committed a large portion of our local funds for the continued acquisition of technology tools for students and teachers, completing a netbook lab for students and introducing Ipad technology to teachers. Additionally, teachers are instructing students in the use of 21st century tools to research, synthesize, and present information.

In conclusion, the School Improvement Team at HMS has narrowed the instructional focus to support student achievement in every area.

Progress on School Improvement Plan 2014-16

Hendersonville Middle School implemented all strategies put forth in the 2013-14 School Improvement Plan, and we are encouraged by current indicators. Teachers worked hard to implement the new CCES- a new and more rigorous course of study that was accompanied by more difficult assessments, and the addition of NC Final Exams for all students in social studies and sixth and seventh grade science. Teachers participated in ongoing professional development, weekly collaborative planning, and PLCs leading to a greater focus on standards based instruction and assessment.

During the school year, quarterly benchmark tests revealed that HMS students were making good progress relative to the district. Out of 24 total benchmarks administered, HMS performed higher than the district average on 20 of those benchmarks. After each administration, teachers analyzed student performance in relation to each standard tested with the principal and the School Improvement Specialist. Our first quarter benchmark results for 2014-15 are not finalized, but performance continues to be strong.

Another positive indicator was our school’s performance on the NC Final Exams. Unofficial results show growth from the 2012-2013 school year to the 2013-2014 school year, as seen below:

6th Science / 7th Science / 6th Social Studies / 7th Social Studies / 8th Social Studies
AVMS / 51 / 52 / 53 / 49 / 44
FRMS / 70 / 61 / 68 / 55 / 57
HMS / 66 / 62.5 / 68 / 60 / 60
RMS / 68 / 60 / 72 / 61 / 60

Last week the NC Department of Public Instruction released end of grade test scores for the 2013-14 school year, and again HMS continued to improve compared to the 2012-2013 school year. Scores improved in all categories across the grade levels, according to state proficiency, as seen below:

HMS 2014 EOGS- State Proficiency, Unofficial, Number of 3s, 4s, 5s

2013 / 2014
6th Reading / 55.9% / 71%
7th Reading / 59.6% / 77%
8th Reading / 58.5% / 70%
6th Math / 46.2% / 61%
7th Math / 54% / 57%
8th Math / 43.9% / 55%
8th Science / 82% / 89.5%
Math 1/Alg. 1 / 89% / 100%

Our overall composite rating was 58.3, compared to a state average composite of 44.7 and a district average composite of 53.5. Additionally HMS met 41 of 41 AMO targets, or 97.8%, and as a school, HMS exceeded expected growth. According to the 2012-13 READY data, Hendersonville Middle School is in the top 18% of all schools in North Carolina reporting composite ratings.

We are continuing with strategies that yield more high growth and quality teaching, and we are heartened that our performance indicates that we are on the right path. Common planning and common assessments are pervasive in the school, and we are currently working to use data to drive instruction. We believe that along with our data, the focus on standards based instruction and assessment will continue to support learning at HMS.

A look at discipline data from the 2012-13 school year to the 2013-14 school year confirms that students are in class and on task. The total number of reported incidents has significantly declined over the last few years due to building relationships between staff and students, supervision, focus on instructional methods in the classroom.

1

School Improvement Plan for 2012-2016

Goal 1: Students will be prepared to graduate future core ready; at least 90% of students will demonstrate grade level proficiency on EOGs and other NC Finals; HMS will meet 100% of AMO targets

Alignment to District Strategic Plan: IA, IB, IIIB SACS/CASI Indicator Alignment: 3.11, 4.2, 5.4 HCPS Technology Plan: 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4

Measurable Objective / Strategy / Progress Monitoring / Professional Learning Needed to Support Strategy / Resources Required/
Budgeted
At least 90% of HMS students will demonstrate grade proficiency in reading, in math, and in 8th grade science on state tests.
At least 90% of HMS students will be proficient on common final exams.
One hundred percent of subgroups will continue to meet AMO targets. / Teachers will collaborate to identify power standards and common instructional assessments.
Teachers will incorporate the use of non-fiction writing, exemplars and common rubrics to support student achievement.
Teachers will provide instruction in the use of technology tools and research strategies to support non-fiction writing.
Students will maintain data folders for each core area: setting goals, charting progress, and including quarterly benchmarks and EVAAS data as appropriate.
Math teachers will work on strategies to improve low scores in specific concepts.
Teachers will utilize high yield strategies and the depth of knowledge continuum in all instruction / Review of unit plans and common assessments
Data Displays
Data Folders
PLCs and data teams to examine student work
Administrative monitoring of data folders / Common Core/Essential Standards training
Data Team Training
PLC Training
Ongoing school level training in non-fiction writing strategies
Data Folder Rubric
Professional Development on Depth of Knowledge
Edgenuity Training
Intervention Groups during Encore / EVAAS
Benchmark Resources
SchoolNet
Technology
Edgenuity
Trans Math
Read 180

Goal 2: Hendersonville Middle School will provide a safe and orderly environment as evidenced by 100 percent of staff members who agree or strongly agree with the “My school is a safe place to work” statement on the “Managing Student Conduct questions on the Teacher Working Conditions survey.

Alignment to District Strategic Plan: Goals 3D, 4B, 5A; SACS/CASI Indicator Alignment: Standards1.2, 2.5, 4.3,

HCPS Technology Plan: Priorities 2 and 4)

Measurable Objective / Strategy / Progress Monitoring / Professional Learning Needed to Support Strategy / Resources Required/
Budgeted
One hundred percent of staff will follow the Henderson County Emergency Procedures Guide for Safe Schools. / Staff will:
  1. Participate in school-wide review of all drills and practice the emergency procedures with fidelity.
  2. Complete School Safety Assessment Inventory and address any deficiencies or areas of concern.
  3. Implement the new electronic door access system
  1. Implement Identikid Check-in
  1. Keep classroom doors locked
/
  • Document practice of emergency procedures
  • Checklist for the safe and orderly assessments
  • Monthly fire drills & monthly facility report
  • Yearly tornado and coded drills
  • Safe Schools documentation report
  • Student survey
/
  • Nurse Training at beginning of school year
  • Videos
  • Mock dismissal
  • Mock Drills
  • School Safety Inventory
  • New electronic door access system
  • Anti-Bullying Strategies training for teachers
  • Ruby Payne study
/
  • Videos
  • Critical Incident Box
  • Emergency Procedure flip chart
  • Walkie-Talkies
  • Door Buzz-In System
  • Identikid

Henderson CountyPublic Schools - 1 - 10/7/2018

Duty Free Planning

Our school recognizes that planning is an essential element of successful teaching practices, and is especially important in preparing lessons in a Focused Learning format and completing required tasks such as grading and reporting on NCWISE. A regular block of planning time also allows team members time to collaborate on lessons, discipline, and classroom management. This time is also critical to teacher success in contacting and meeting with parents and meeting with our administrators and instructional coach. In order to provide teachers with this important time, two forty-five minute blocks of time will be provided to teachers each day.

Duty Free Lunch

Core teachers who are responsible for supervising lunches daily have agreed to work among themselves in providing occasional duty-free lunch for one another. Given the nature of our schedule, it is very difficult to assign exploratory or encore teachers lunch duty on a regular basis. When possible, having an administrator at lunch to help oversee students provides supervising teachers with additional support so they are able to eat lunch as well as supervise students.

Building-Level Waiver Request

2014

School: Hendersonville Middle School / LEA Number: 450 / School Number: 335
Please insert the waiver you are requesting. (State Request)
We are requesting the flexibility to use state textbook funds to purchase texts that are not on the current state-approved adoption list.
Identify the law, regulation or policy from which you are seeking an exemption.
General Statute 115c-9b: Use of textbooks not adopted by the State Board of Education
Please state how the waiver will be used.
Currently, there are a limited number of textbook titles available on the state-approved textbook list. This waiver permits us the flexibility to use state textbook funds to purchase texts that are currently in use in the district, but are no longer available on state contract and for texts that we already purchase off state contract. Additionally, the waiver would allow us the flexibility to purchase texts off the state contract for courses for which there is no text available.
Please state how the waiver will promote achievement of performance goals.
While teachers integrate many supplementary resources into classroom instruction, student texts are basic and essential instructional materials.

Principal: ______

Henderson CountyPublic Schools - 1 - 10/7/2018

Henderson CountyPublic Schools - 1 - 10/7/2018