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TO: Seekonk School Committee FROM: Dr. William V. Whalen III, Principal & Committee Members SUBJECT: Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle School—School Improvement Plan DATE: June 3, 2013

2012-2013 Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle School—School Council Membership

Dr. William V. Whalen III, Co-Chairperson / Principal Alexis Bouchard, Teacher Representative

Jacqueline Fournier, Co-Chairperson / Parent Representative Deborah Handfield, Teacher Representative

Sharon Carney, Parent Representative Ellyn Metcalf, Teacher Representative

Martha D’Amico, Parent Representative Stephen Kandarian, Community Representative

Dina Cloutier, Teacher Representative

Meeting Dates: September 26, 2012 October 24, 2012 November 28, 2012 January 23, 2013 March 20, 2013 May 22, 2013 All meetings were held at 4:00 p.m. in the conference room at Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle School The school council has four major areas of responsibility. School councils are to assist principals in:

1. Adopting educational goals for the school that are consistent with local educational policies and statewide student performance standards 2. Identifying the educational needs of students attending the school 3. Reviewing the annual school building budget 4. Formulating a school improvement plan

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Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle School—SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Background Information and Table of Contents Pages 1-2 II. District Vision Statement / HMS Mission Statement Page 3 III. Dr. Kevin Hurley Middle School Faculty and Staff Roster Page 4 IV. Dr. Kevin Hurley Middle School Enrollment Data / School Accountability Pages 5 - 6 V. Curriculum and Instruction Goals Page 7 VI. Teacher Quality and Educator Evaluation Goals Page 8 VII. Providing an Academically Rigorous Environment Page 9-10 VIII. Communication Goals Page 11 X. Student Responsibility and Accountability Program Goals Page 12 XI. Student Support Programs and Services Goals Page 13 XII. School Council Member Sign-off Page Pages 14 XII. Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle School Annual Report of the Principal Pages 15 - 16

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SEEKONK PUBLIC SCHOOLS VISION STATEMENT Seekonk Public Schools serve as a model for educational innovation as a result of using best practice instructional strategies, an integrated K-12 curriculum, and a variety of assessments in a technologically rich environment. Students are able to access multiple pathways which encourage and prepare them to think critically and use creative problem solving. We are a community united in the belief that it is our fiscal and moral responsibility to provide outstanding educational opportunities and facilities for all of our students. Our graduates are able to set goals, make responsible choices, and appreciate diversity in order to live their lives with a sense of purpose and face the challenges of the future.

DR. KEVIN M. HURLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT

The Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle School community seeks to develop students to their greatest academic, personal, social, and physical potential by providing a challenging, quality education incorporating the latest theories of learning and adolescent development. We look to prepare students for the challenges of the future by assisting them in becoming self-directed learners with the necessary problem solving and critical thinking skills and creativity to be successful in an informational, technological, and global society          

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Principal         Dr.  William  V.  Whalen  III  Assistant  Principal         Mrs.  Mary  C.  Westcoat  

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Enrollment Data

Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity (2012-13) Race % of School % of District % of State African American 1.6 1.2 8.6 Asian 2.4 2.4 5.9 Hispanic 2.0 3.1 16.4 Native American 0.0 0.0 0.2 White 92.7 91.7 66.0 Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander 0.0 0.0 0.1 Multi-Race, Non-Hispanic 1.4 1.5 2.7

Enrollment by Gender (2012-13) School District State Male 230 1,022 489,289 Female 275 1,067 465,484 Total 505 2,089 954,773

Enrollment by Grade (2012-13) PK K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 SP CT Total District 31 123 139 155 144 160 186 170 167 168 164 145 187 150 0 - 2,089 Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle School 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 170 167 168 0 0 0 0 0 - 505

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School Goal #1: To fully align the school’s curriculums to the Massachusetts Common Core Standards.

School Based Activities Person(s) Responsible

Resources Required

Evaluation Measures Status / Timeline

1a

Align curriculum vertically and horizontally to reflect the MA Frameworks/Common Core integrating all content areas including encore subjects.

Principal Asst. Principal Curriculum Director Teachers Curriculum Leaders

Curriculum Guides MA Frameworks Common Core Curriculum Director Edwin

Curriculum Documents Meeting Minutes ATLAS

Ongoing

1b

MCAS preparation will continue during Super Core with a focus on literacy across the curriculum. The design of the Super Core classes will be based on the results of benchmark testing.

Guidance Counselors Core subject teachers

Common Benchmark Assessments Released MCAS Items

Informal and Formal Assessment

Ongoing

1c

Utilize newly established Curriculum Leaders and other core teachers in collaboration with high school department heads and elementary teachers to meet in order to align curriculum and review student work.

Curriculum Leaders Teachers Principal

Time / Scheduling Common Planning Time Professional Dev. Faculty Meetings

Meeting Agendas Meeting Minutes

Ongoing

1d

Offer Technology Education to all eighth grade students as a core subject.

Guidance Counselors Principal

Scheduling

MCAS Results for Grade 8 Science, Technology/Engineering

2013-2014

1e

Reorganize the layout of the courses that are offered by grade in the History Department

History Curriculum Leader 6th & 7th Gr. History Teachers Principal Curriculum Director

Time / Planning Curriculum Resources Dept. Faculty Mtgs.

Curriculum Documents Meeting Minutes

2013-2014

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School Goal #2: To improve teaching and learning via the analysis of student assessment results, and other pertinent data.

School Based Activities Person Responsible Resources Evaluation Status / Timeline 2a

Employ new evaluation system: Teacher goal setting Multiple classroom visits

Administration

New Evaluation System Teacher/Administrator Training

Staff Evaluations Evaluation Schedule Improvement in Student Performance Assessment data

2013-2014

2b

Expand classroom walkthroughs and provide feedback after each visit incorporating this information into new evaluation system

Administration

Literature on using walkthroughs effectively

Documentation of number of walkthroughs completed Completion of scheduled evaluations

2013-2014

2c

Create and utilize common benchmark assessments for all content areas on a quarterly basis. Identify standards to be assessed and analyze student work.

Teachers Curriculum Leaders Guidance Curriculum Director

Time / Scheduling Teacher input Understanding by Design Expert

Schedule of Assessments Descriptions of Assessments Examples of Assessments Results of Assessments / Examples of Student Work

Ongoing

2d

Annual development / revisit / revision of department goals

Curriculum Leaders Teachers

Department Faculty Meetings Common Planning Time

MCAS Data Common Benchmark Data

Ongoing

2e

Utilize formal assessment data from Galileo testing to evaluate the abilities of students in order to assist with providing a baseline of student abilities and needs and inform instruction.

Core subject teachers

Internet access, hard copies of tests, scanning/scoring equipment

Grade level department goals

2013-2014

2f

Explore the possibility of NEASC accreditation process to assist with the improvement process for our school.

Administration

Research

Research Findings

2014-2015

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School Goal #3: Create an academically rigorous school environment. School Based Activities Person(s) Responsible Resources Evaluation Status /

Timeline

3a

School-wide initiative to research activators and summarizers as instructional strategies and employ these strategies in classrooms on a regular basis.

Administration Teachers

Faculty Meeting Time Common Planning Time Research for Better Teaching Resources

Meeting Minutes Increased Student Performance

2014-2015

3b

School-wide initiative to properly and consistently frame learning by posting daily agendas and common lesson objectives as well as verbally communicating them to students. Additionally, teachers will post key terms for lessons.

Teachers Administration

Training in Faculty Meetings Common Planning Time Department Faculty Meetings

Curriculum Documents with common objectives

2014-2015

3c

Use of faculty meeting time to better enhance teaching and learning as a whole. Presentation of effective strategies by Principal, Assistant Principal, Faculty Members

Administration Faculty Members

Faculty Meetings

Meeting Agendas Increased Student Performance

Ongoing

3d

Increased collaboration between teachers regarding instructional strategies and effective practices through peer observations

Administration Curriculum Leaders

Time Scheduling

Teacher reports Increase in variety of instructional practices

Ongoing

3e

Development of an ELA Lab along with the Math Lab that is already in place so that students’ individual strengths and weaknesses can be addressed and accommodated.

Principal Guidance Reading Specialist

Scheduling Current Data—MCAS scores, Report Grades, Recommendations

Data Analysis—MCAS Scores, Report Grades

2013-2014

 

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3f

Implement a Foreign Language Program in order to provide an opportunity for students to begin high school at the second level of a foreign language.

Administration Curriculum Director Spanish Teacher-new hire

Financial Resources

Mastery Exam Results Data—students enrolled in Spanish I at Seekonk High School

Ongoing

3g

Provide students with consistent rubrics, vocabulary, skills, and processes across the disciplines to promote school-wide literacy skills to improve academic achievement and critical thinking skills of all students.

Curriculum Leaders Faculty

Time

Department Documents Meeting Notes

2013-2015

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School Goal #4: To continue to improve communication with students, parents, and the community including easing students in the transition from elementary school to middle school. School Based Activities Person(s) Responsible Resources Evaluation Status /

Timeline

4a

Creation of an improved Parent Newsletter that includes updates on academics, extracurricular activities, and news from the school administration. The newsletter includes photos student projects and events and is published on the Principal’s Webpage. Parents reminded to view it weekly. Teachers and students have input. Collaborate to find ways to encourage students to regularly read the weekly newsletter.

Administration Teachers Coaches Club Advisors Guidance Librarian

Time Web site

Parent Survey

Ongoing

4b

Increase opportunities for transition activities for parents and students into and out of the middle school. Continue 8th grade visit to the high school in November. Continue 5th Grade Student Visit to the Middle School with a revised presentation. Continue 5th Grade Parent Orientation with a revised presentation.

Administration

Time Scheduling

Presentations

Ongoing

4c

Send information about programs, school events, etc. to the Sun Chronicle, Seekonk Patch, Seekonk Reporter

Administration Teachers

Time

Articles

Ongoing

4d

Evaluate and revise website to make it more user friendly.

Administration Librarian Technology Director

School Spring

Parent Survey

2013-2014

4e

Visit the elementary schools in the spring to present to students regarding life at Dr. Kevin Hurley Middle School prior to their visit and tour of the school in June. The visit will include a multimedia presentation created by students in Computer Application class, which will be published on the school website.

Principal Computer Application Teacher Students

Web site Scheduling

Presentation

Ongoing

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School Goal # 5: Develop programs that engage students in and recognize them for developing a strong self-concept, personal responsibility, and good decision making skills. School Based Activity Person(s) Responsible Resources Evaluation Status

5a

State of the School Address—Serves as a “check-in” with students for the administration in January on an annual basis.

Administration Accountability Data Discipline Data

Teacher feedback Student feedback Presentation

2013-2014 Ongoing

5b

Documented recognition of accomplishments,

exemplary work, and practice in fostering students’ achievement, participation and growth. Establish as school-wide recognition breakfast ceremony for students that will be publicized on a quarterly basis.

Administration Faculty

Written Documents

Letters of Commendation (School Committee, Central Office, Media) Public Recognition: Local programming and media.

Ongoing

5c

Develop Career Day into a similar program with an additional focus on higher education. The program will become College and Career Readiness Day.

Administration Parents

Time PTO College and Career Professionals

Student Survey

2013-2014 Ongoing

5d

Revise the organization of the 8th Grade Promotional Ceremony and 6th and 7th Recognition Assemblies.

Administration Teachers

Time

Teacher feedback

2013-2014

5e

Research and hold a school-wide assembly with a guest speaker that will help students to recognize the importance of strong self-concept, personal responsibility, and good decision-making skills.

Administration PTO School Council

Financial PTO Existing Research Networking

Teacher Feedback Student Feedback

2013-2014

5f

Research, develop, and incorporate a chartered National Junior Honor Society.

Administration Faculty Advisor Faculty Counsel

Time NJHS Bi-Laws

NJHS Ceremony Faculty Counsel Feedback

2013-2014

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School Goal #6: Design student supports that address learning gaps for all students. School Based Activity Person(s) Responsible Resources Evaluation Status

6a

Using MCAS data and teacher recommendations to identify students in need of participation in both Math Lab and ELA Lab to strengthen weaknesses.

Math Lab Teacher ELA Lab Teacher Administration Guidance Math and ELA Teachers

Existing MCAS Data Teacher Recommendations Existing Academic Grades

Future MCAS Data Future Academic Grades

2013-2014

6b

Utilize Edwin Analytics to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses in our specific curriculum areas.

Administration Curriculum Leaders Teachers

Edwin Analytics Curriculum Maps

Accountability Data

2013-2014

6c

Utilize Edwin Analytics and other assessment data to identify individual areas of weakness to be addressed through direct instruction.

Administration Guidance Curriculum Leaders Teachers

Edwin Analytics Galileo Testing Results Common Assessment Results

Accountability Data

2013-2014

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Report of the Principal

Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle School 2012-2013

The Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle School completed a very successful school year for 2012-2013 under the new administration of Dr. William V. Whalen III and Mrs. Mary Westcoat. The student population at the close of the school year by grade was as follows:

Grade 6 174 students Grade 7 165 students Grade 8 168 students Total 507 students

The Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle School includes a highly qualified faculty in addition to many exceptional staff members and support personnel. The faculty and staff embrace a common set of expectation messages for students that we have adopted from Research for Better Teaching. These messages include telling students, “This is important! You can do it, with effective effort. We won’t give up on you!” The members of the HMS community also believe in a common theme for the school, “Show Respect, Be Responsible, and Keep it Safe.” Many teachers serve actively on school and district wide committees in order to foster improvement. These committees include the School Council, Curriculum Council, Teacher Evaluation Committee, Teacher Mentoring, and Technology Committee. This past year, through a grant obtained by Curriculum Director Kristin Dykstra, we have instituted Curriculum Leaders for each academic department. The curriculum leaders serve as liaisons between the teachers in their department and the Director of Curriculum, as well as the Principal. The faculty at the middle school meet twice a month for faculty meetings. The first meeting of the month is a faculty-wide meeting, led by the Principal. The second monthly meeting is held by department with the Curriculum Leader facilitating the meeting, as well as setting the agenda for the meeting along with the principal. The Curriculum Leader is also responsible for forwarding the minutes of the meeting to the Principal. The curriculum meetings always focus on discussion around curriculum documents, data, content area instruction, and at times, the budget for the specific department. Teachers analyze MCAS test results for students and use the data to direct their instruction. The HMS PTO supported our students and staff in many ways. Last fall, the PTO financially supported a school-wide assembly by Mr. Michael Higgins, a wood-carving artist. Mr. Higgins carved a wooden warrior, which is displayed in the main office lobby. The students and staff had the opportunity to watch the carving take place right before their very eyes. Mr. Higgins also spoke to the students about making good choices, and having a strong work ethic. The PTO held fundraisers in connection with Mr. Kevin Donnelly from Great American Opportunities in order to be able to support our teachers and students. The faculty at the Dr. Kevin Hurley Middle School focused their professional development on Understanding By Design this past school year. Understanding By Design trains the teacher to start with classroom outcomes and before planning the curriculum, choosing activities and materials that help determine student ability and foster student learning. Teachers participated in a full day in-service that was facilitated by Eric Carbaugh from the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). Other professional development included the members of the curriculum council being trained in Atlas Curriculum Mapping, a mapping tool for curriculum to assure both vertical and horizontal alignment. Chris Guthrie provided the training. Furthermore, members of the ELA department worked along with Dr. Kate Scheidler in regard to the transition to the common core standards. Informally, teachers received professional development at faculty meetings as the sharing of best practices was included on most meeting agendas in order for the administration and teachers to present effective practices to colleagues. This past year, the TAP program was added to the special education department of the middle school. The Therapeutic Alternative Program is a “school within a school model” and typically serves students with social and emotional needs. The program includes a special education teacher, an instructional aide, and a mental health worker in order to provide the therapeutic wraparound support. There are daily therapeutic meetings that foster a sense of community among the students. The use of instructional technology continues to be embraced by the faculty and the student body at the Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle School. The technology that is accessible at HMS includes eight lap top carts, one IPad cart, four digital camcorders, eight digital cameras, four flip (handheld) camcorders, four sets of Renaissance Responders, and four document cameras.

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This year, members of the ELA, science and math departments also received interactive projectors through a grant. The projectors allow for any common whiteboard to be utilized as an interactive Smartboard. Extracurricular programs at the middle school continue flourish with tremendous participation by the students. This year, the drama program performed “Aladdin Jr.” in front of two sold out audiences. Students participated in sports such as soccer, basketball, baseball, and softball in competition versus the schools that participate in the Massasoit League of Middle Schools. Academic competition is also part of the Massasoit League, with students participating in both the Math Team and the Spelling Team. Intramural programs at the school included both volleyball and dodge ball. After school clubs included the Knitting Club, Scrabble Club, Running Club, HMS Idol (a talent competition), the Rocket Club, and the Builders Club (a community service group). HMS also has a Student Council, which participated in a Government Day this year. Students in the council had the opportunity to meet local government officials and department heads in town and learn about what their roles and responsibilities consist of. In January, students met with the administration for the first annual “State of the School Address.” The assembly serves as a mid-year check-in for the students and the administrators. Topics of the meeting include looking at academic achievement data for each grade and the school as a whole, as well as reviewing school policies, discussing new ideas and changes within the school, and addressing the issue of bullying. Students have the opportunity to ask questions and make statements so that their voices are heard as an important part of the HMS community. The State of the School Address is facilitated by the administration along with SRO Steve Kandarian. Students and faculty also participated in the first annual “Afternoon in the Gym.” This event includes teachers and students competing against each other in basketball, dodge ball, and volleyball. The “Afternoon in the Gym” took place on the Friday afternoon before February vacation. One hundred eight students and twenty chaperones participated in the eighth grade class trip to Washington DC and Baltimore, MD. The trip was a huge success, with the group visiting Ford’s Theater, Arlington National Cemetery, and all of the memorials. The group also spent time at the Smithsonian Museums of Natural History and American History, in addition to Fort McHenry (birthplace of the Star Spangled Banner), and a Major League Baseball game (Red Sox vs. Orioles). The Parent Newsletter for this school year was new and improved and provided the HMS community with an abundance of information about academic and extracurricular news. The newsletter is published weekly and is archived on the Principal’s Page of the HMS website along with other important documents. Parents receive a weekly email with the link to the Principal’s Page as a reminder to read the weekly bulletin. The HMS community ended the year with a very nice 8th Grade Promotional Ceremony. The ceremony took place on the front lawn of the school and included 8th grade students receiving their promotional certificates in addition to certificates and plaques for academic achievement and participation in extracurricular activities. The guest speaker of honor was Mike Tamburro, President of the Pawtucket Red Sox. Other special awards were also presented to both the students and some adults. Sixth and seventh graders were also recognized for their accomplishments this year during the school day with recognition assemblies. Overall, this was a very successful year at the Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle School. The year closed with the retirement of the physical education teacher, Mr. John Smaldone, after forty years as an educator. Other retirements included Mrs. Linda Halpin, reading specialist, and Mrs. Linda Potter, instructional aide.