West Allis- West Milwaukee School Districts Multifaceted Approach To Freshmen Success

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West Allis- West Milwaukee School Districts
Multifaceted Approach To Freshmen Success

• Nathan Hale High School Freshmen Mentoring
• Nathan Hale High School - 9 for 9 Initiative
• Central High School Freshmen Academy

Presented by Nikki Levine and Nate Rice, Nathan
Hale Dan Langkammer and Paul Mielke, Central
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Nathan Hale High School Freshmen Mentor
Program 2013
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HISTORY

• MODELED AFTER ADLAI STEVENSON HIGH SCHOOL
  FRESHMAN MENTOR PROGRAM IN LINCOLNSHIRE,
• ILLINOIS
• NATHAN HALE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED IN 2004
• MODIFICATIONS SINCE THEN INCLUDE
  FORMAT,TRAINING, STRUCTURE AND LESSON CONTENT

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THE ROLE OF PEER MENTORS

• POSITIVE ROLE MODELS
• HELP ACCLIMATE 9th GRADERS TO HIGH SCHOOL
• ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIPS WITH 9TH GRADERS

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MENTOR PROGRAM STRUCTURE

• TWO-THREE MENTORS ARE ASSIGNED TO EACH FRESHMEN
• HOMEROOM FOR 25 MINUTES TWICE A WEEK
• VETERAN MENTORS PAIRED WITH NEW MENTORS
• SOPHMORES SENIORS ELIGIBLE
• MONDAY/TUESDAY LESSON PLANNING
• WEDNESDAY LESSON DELIVERY
• THURSDAY LESSON REFLECTION
• FRIDAY CONNECTION ACTIVIITES WITH FRESHMEN

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SAMPLE LESSON TOPICS

• PEER PRESSURE
• TIME MANAGEMENT AND STUDY SKILLS
• BULLYING
• FRIENDSHIP, DATING AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
• DEALING WITH STRESS
• HOW TO ACHIEVE ACADEMIC SUCCESS

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MENTOR SELECTION PROCESS

• NOMINATION BY TEACHER
• SELF-SELECTION
• APPLICATION SUBMISSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
• APPLICATION REVIEW
• AUDITIONS
• MANDATORY SUMMER TRAINING
• CONTRACTS

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BENEFITS TO MENTORS

• LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
• COMMUNITY SERVICE
• SELF-CONFIDENCE
• PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS
• CORDS AT GRADUATION
• COURSE CREDIT

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GENERAL EXPECTATIONS OF MENTORS

• ENTHUSIASTIC
• FULLY PREPARED FOR LESSONS
• ON TIME
• GOOD ATTENDANCE
• OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH CO-MENTORS AND ADVISORS
• MAKES POSITIVE CONNECTIONS WITH 9TH GRADERS

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MENTOR ADVISORS

• ASSIST IN PLANNING LESSONS
• OBSERVE MENTORS DELIVERING LESSONS
• EVALUATE MENTORS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH FEEDBACK
• LIASION WITH STAFF
• TRAIN MENTORS

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MENTOR COORDINATOR

• OVERSEES ENTIRE PROGRAM
• SUPERVISE MENTOR ADVISORS
• CREATE CURRICULUM AND SELECT SUPPLEMENTARY
  MATERIALS
• FACILITATE TRAINING SESSIONS
• SET POLICY
• PROGRAM ADVOCATE

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OBSTACLES

• HOMEROOM TEACHER SUPPORT INCONSISTENT
• ACCOUNTABILITY OF MENTORS
• TOO LITTLE TIME FOR PLANNING
• OVERSCHEDULED MENTORS
• CHEMISTRY
• CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT ISSUES

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BENEFITS TO MENTORS

• COURSE CREDIT
• LEADERSHIP/COMMUNITY SERVICE
• PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS
• SELF-CONFIDENCE
• ELITE STATUS

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PROGRAM BENEFITS TO FRESHMEN AND SCHOOL

• A GO-TO UPPERCLASSMEN AND ROLE MODEL
• SETS HIGH BEHAVIOR AND ACADEMIC STANDARDS
• CREATES A WELCOME ATMOSPHERE FOR NEW FRESHMEN

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9 for 9

• Nine connecting activities first nine weeks
• Orientation (1)
• Curriculum Pathways to Success (2)
• Curriculum Safety and Wellness (3)
• Individual Planning Conference (4)
• Five old school USPS letters (5-9)
• Message 1 Orientation invite, Get to know me
• Message 2 Homecoming, Get involved, Goals
• Message 3 9th Grade Conference Preview Invite
• Message 4 Attend., Attitude Academics,
  Activities
• Message 5 Work hard, Seek extra help, Aim high

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Freshman Academy

• West Allis Central High School

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Next Generation Learning

• The School District of West Allis-West Milwaukee
  believes a personalized learning environment
  engages todays learners in a rigorous curriculum
  that is paced to individual learning needs and
  tailored to the specific interests and learning
  styles of our students. Within the context of
  core academic knowledge, students collaborate,
  communicate and problem solve using critical
  thinking. Student voice and technology drive
  global pathways creating authentic experiences
  that are relevant and accessible anytime,
  anywhere.

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Next Generation Learning

• College and Career Readiness
• Graduates have the essential skills, including
  academic, technical, employability and
  interpersonal, to succeed at the next level in a
  post-secondary education or career pathway.
• Student Centered Learning Environments
• Learning environments are varied and flexible to
  accommodate the needs of learners and provide
  ongoing opportunities to build a collaborative
  community of students and staff.
• Competency Based Progression
• Learners demonstrate evidence of deep learning
  along a continuum based on the rigor of the
  Common Core Standards.
• Student Voice in Learning
• Learners have significant and meaningful
  influence in co-designing their educational
  experience through the use of goal setting and
  rigorous personal learning paths.
• 21st Century Skill Set
• Students will collaborate, communicate, think
  critically and problem-solve using creativity,
  innovation, and technology as a tool for
  personalized learning.
• Family and Community Partnership
• Meaningful relationships with parents and
  community provide expertise and contributions
  that are leveraged to support student success.

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Why a Freshmen Academy?

• Movement towards NxGL
• Movement toward Personalized Learning
• Give students more choice and voice in their
  education
• Maximizes our 1 to 1 iPad initiative
• Flexible Scheduling
• Proactive approach to help students transition
• Build student connections and relationships to
  school

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What is the Freshman Academy?

• 125 freshman, amongst a total freshman population
  of approximately 400
• All the core classes are represented
• English, Math, Science, Social Studies
• Reading and Special Education teachers are also
  part of the staff
• Students leave the Academy for electives and
  lunch
• Core classes have their own wing in the building,
  and classrooms are interconnected

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How were students selected?

• By invitation
• Parent request
• Recommendation
• From middle school staff member
• Coach
• Administration

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Student Body

• Representative of the student body as a whole
• Male vs. Female
• Demographically
• Honors, Advanced Placement, Special Needs,
  English Language Learners

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How do we help transition?

• Mentorship
• Each student is mentored by one of the six staff
  members
• Attendance, grades, and other concerns are
  monitored closely by mentors
• Organization skills
• Online portfolios
• 3 ring binder with weekly binder checks
• Online planners
• Monthly goal setting
• Personal, academic, long-term, short-term
• Flexible Scheduling
• Class start and end times are flexible
• Student movement is flexible
• Cross-curricular instruction
• Staff meets daily to plan inter-disciplinary
  units

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Benefits of the Freshman Academy

• When compared to the freshman in the general
  student body for 2012-2012, Freshman Academy
  students had
• Higher GPA
• 2.95
• 2.77 (non-academy freshman)
• Higher Attendance
• 92.2
• 88.7 (school-wide)
• Fewer behavior referrals

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• Freshmen Academy Video

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Resources

• Google Accounts
• Email
• Google Docs (online portfolios, note taking)
• Google Forms (assessments, surveys)
• Max Journal
• Goal setting
• Bell ringers and exit tickets
• My Homework/Teachers.io
• Online planners/schedules for students
• Teachers can insert assignments
• Students can access all assignments
• Notability and Paperport Notes
• Online Note taking
• Online assignment completion and submission

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Questions?