Elementary

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Elementary School Improvement Plans Cunniff
Hosmer - Lowell School Committee June 1, 2009
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A Framework for Action Planning
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District (D-R-A-F-T) Goals
High Academic Achievement The Watertown Public
Schools will ensure that each student becomes an
accomplished learner in the arts, humanities,
mathematics, physical sciences and social
sciences. The school system will provide all
students with a learning environment that sets
high expectations and stimulates thinking,
problem-solving, inquiry, creativity, and hard
work. Self Actualization The Watertown Public
Schools will ensure that each student develops a
capacity for life-long learning through
comprehensive skill development, exposure to a
broad universe of knowledge and disciplines, and
support for a diversity of learning styles,
future plans, and personal interests. Global
Citizenship The Watertown Public Schools will
ensure that each student becomes informed about
and participates in local and world affairs.
Students will strive to understand people of
different backgrounds and cultures and the
interconnectedness of the contemporary world.
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Elementary School Improvement Goals Shared by All

• Curriculum
• Instruction
• Assessment
• Professional development
• District, Community Global Connections

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Reading K-3 Improvement Plan

• K-3 Reading Task Force Mission
• To articulate and help implement a balanced
  manageable, and flexible pre-K-3 reading
  curriculum.

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Reading K-3 Improvement Plan

• K-3 Reading Task Force Membership
• Co-Facilitators Caron Lehmann and Dari Donovan
• Teachers Allison Donovan, Trish McIsaac, Kelly
  Graves,
• Elizabeth Ucello, Kim Davidson

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Reading K-3 Improvement Plan

• K-3 Reading Task Force Accomplishments
• Phonemic awareness and phonics curriculum
  articulation
• Identification of materials and resources to
  support
• their implementation
• PD support to effectively provide instruction
• Support MAP implementation

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Reading K-3 Improvement Plan

• K-3 Reading Task Force Next Steps
• Vocabulary, Comprehension and Fluency
  Articulation
• Identification of materials and resources to
  support their
• implementation
• PD to support instruction
• Expand MAP to fourth grade

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Math Improvement Plan
Who teachers from all three elementary schools
both regular and special education teachers
Mission to ensure the effective implementation
of both the Think Math and FASTT Math programs.
PD Goals support assessment, curriculum and
instruction
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Math Improvement Plan

• Who
• Stephen Billhardt Principal Facilitator
• Shannon Sauder Co-Facilitator
• Maggie Mattson
• Susan Bellis
• Lindsay Jacobson
• Aimee Pellegrini

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K-5 Math Improvement Plan

• K-5 Math Task Force Accomplishments
• Visual Pacing Guides
• Collect benchmark data three-four times/year
• More grade level PD

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K-5 Math Improvement Plan

• K-5 Math Task Force Next Steps
• Begin MAP implementation K-3 in the fall
• Greater access for FASTT Math in all buildings
• Develop Math Practices Forum

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Science Improvement Plan
Who teachers from all three elementary schools
as well as the Middle School Mission develop a
plan to help realign the district's grade level
science outcomes to better match the
Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. PD Goals
support assessment, curriculum and instruction
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Science Improvement Plan

• Who
• Stephen Billhardt Principal Facilitator
• Christine Rono Co-Facilitator
• Ann Palermo Co-Facilitator
• Marcia Psychoghios
• Roger Dubuque
• Eileen Doherty
• Debra Garabedian
• Margaret Ferguson

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Science Improvement Plan

• Science Task Force Accomplishments
• Revised GLO recommendations for grades 3-5
• Piloted new curriculum kits in grades 4 5
• Created various proposals to review for science
  consistency in grades 3-5

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Science Improvement Plan

• Science Task Force Next Steps
• Determine best proposal which we can implement
  over the next 1-3 years to ensure consistent
  science curriculum, instruction and assessment
• Create grade level assessments to align with the
  outcomes
• Develop greater local partnerships

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Curriculum AccommodationImprovement Plan

• WCAP Task Force Mission
• Refine District Curriculum Accommodation Plan
• by focusing on
• Assessment practice (K-3 MAP implementation)
• Defining a 3 Tiered instruction/intervention
  model
• Close Collaboration with Curriculum Task Forces

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Curriculum AccommodationImprovement Plan

• WCAP Task Force Membership
• Principal facilitator Anne Hardiman
• Co-Facilitators Veronica Knight Kim Davidson
• Teachers Erin Condon, Susan Monfette, Zaida
  Wincelowicz, Anne Sudbay

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Curriculum AccommodationImprovement Plan

• WCAP Accomplishments
• Researched Response to Intervention Models (3
  tier model).
• Implemented MAP assessment K-3 reading.
• Identified steps needed to implement Tier 2
  intervention model.
• Identified Tier 2 reading intervention program.
• Provided Professional Development training on
  Response to Intervention (3 tier model)

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Curriculum AccommodationImprovement Plan

• WCAP Next Steps
• Develop school based Data teams
• Train data teams to manage and analyze data to
  support implementation RTI.
• Develop and implement school wide schedules to
  support implementation of RTI.
• Train staff to implement Tier 2 intervention
  program (Fundations) and use progress monitoring
  to inform instruction.
• Collaborate with Reading and Math task forces
  inform and monitor intervention programs.

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Early Childhood Improvement Plan
Early Childhood Task Force Mission To promote
best practices in all early childhood classrooms
in the Watertown Community through the alignment
of consistent learning expectations and common
assessment standards to inform instruction.
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Early Childhood Improvement Plan
Early Childhood Task Force Membership

• Principal Facilitator Anne Hardiman
• Facilitator Mary Kate Fitzpatrick
• Teachers Carol Blackwood, Judy Tan, Lynne Tarr,
  Caroline Labella, Karen Arena, Elizabeth Kelly,
  and Kathleen Maney Needel.

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Early Childhood Improvement Plan

• Early Childhood Accomplishments
• All Early Childhood classrooms in WPS completed
  national accreditation requirements and were
  awarded accreditation status by the National
  Association for the Education of Young Children
  on May 28, 2009.
• Aligned learning outcomes preschool through
  kindergarten with state and national guidelines.
• Identified common assessment protocols to monitor
  child development.
• Developed uniform transition activities for all
  children
• entering Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten
  in Watertown.

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Early Childhood Improvement Plan

• Early Childhood Task Force Next Steps
• Align early childhood math curriculum outcomes
  with Think Math K-5.
• Develop and implement protocols and rubrics to
  assess learning outcomes preschool kindergarten.
• Implement Creative Curriculum to assess students
  preschool through prekindergarten.
• Professional development to communicate learning
  expectations and assessment protocols to
  teachers.
• Professional development focused on role of play
  in the early childhood classroom.
• Maintain NAEYC accreditation standards.

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Professional Development Plan
Professional Development Council
Membership Facilitator Ann Koufman-Frederick Sec
ondary Kimo Carter, Katherine DiNardo, Elizabeth
Kaplan Curriculum Coordinator Rob
Stergis Elementary Bill McCarthy, Mena Ciarlone,
Lidia Dileso, Jill Fantasia, Bethan Nazzaro, Sara
Patashnick
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Professional Development Plan
Professional Development Council Accomplishments

• Four Strands Pre-School Grade 12
• Faculty meetings
• Department/ Grade Level
• District/ School-based
• T-I-P Program (17 courses)
• Support curriculum initiatives and use of
  technology
• Support Classroom Website design and development
• On-line collaboration in First Class Folder for
  PD
• My Learning Plan expanded

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Professional Development Plan
Professional Development Council Next Steps
(Summer)

• Secondary Curriculum Cohesion Initiative
• Elementary Task Forces
• Support access to digital resources through
  ThinkFinity
• Professional Development planning for next
  school year

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Induction Mentoring Program
Membership
Principal Facilitator Bill McCarthy Co-Facilitato
rs Claire Regan and Debbie Munger Staff
Marianne Cameron, Diane Centofantie, Steve
Harrington, Matthew Loughran, Lisa McDonagh,
Sheri Park and Mary White
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Induction Mentoring Program
Induction Mentoring Program Accomplishments

• First Year Teachers
• Summer Orientation Program
• Formal monthly meetings with mentors
• Informal monthly meetings with mentors at
  individual schools
• On-line collaboration in First Class Folder for
  New Teachers
• Shadowing Program

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Induction Mentoring Program

• Second Year Teachers
• Quarterly monthly meetings
• Program requirement of one of the following
• Teaching Diverse Learners Course
• Reading Practice Forum
• Member of an Elementary Task Force
• Individually approval of a Collaborative Action
  Research Project

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Induction Mentoring Program

• Mentor Program Next Steps
• Plan for 2009-2010 School Year program
• Develop Handbook
• Work with Teacher Evaluation Design Team
• on Principles of Effective Teaching Rubric

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Individual Schools Site Councils
DISTRICT, COMMUNITY GLOBAL CONNECTIONS Improve
and expand connections PreK-12 with community and
global resources and partnerships.
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Lowell School Site Council Members Co-chair
David Stokes Parents Michelle Gasseau, Ruth
Fleischer Teachers Jean Qualters, Nicole Brown,
Ruth Bender
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• Lowell School Site Council Objectives
• Improve content and timeliness of Lowell Lowdown
  
• Create schoolwide themes to encourage parent
  participation
• Improve transition to kindergarten for students
  and parents
• Enhance communication systems

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Cunniff School Site Council Members Co-chairs
Tina Conlon Carlos Cerqueira Parents Barbara
Powderly, Yasmin Daikh, Julie Ahern, Marissa
Petrillo, John Vitti Teachers MaryKate
Fitzpatrick, Judy Kearney, Bryan Magliocca,
Janelle Lacy
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• Cunniff School Site Council Objectives
• Enhance school-home partnerships
• Expand after school programming
• Broadcast more effectively using Connect Ed
• Use Google Calendar more
• Communicate with Google Translate
• Create safer environments for students with
  allergies

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• Hosmer Site Council Members
• Co-Chair Tim McGoldrick
• Parents Marie Fortin, Jennifer Weeks, Celeste
  Ignacio
• Teachers Marianne Cameron, Susan Monfette

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• Hosmer School Improvement Goals
• Home-School Communication
• Increase use of technology
• Principal coffees
• Parent Collaboration for Enrichment
• Increase club activity
• Develop enrichment activity protocols
• Resource book for activities
• Promoting School Values

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Elementary School Improvement Plans Cunniff
Hosmer - Lowell Questions?