Meeting Adolescent Needs in a Rural School

1. Meeting Adolescent Needs in a Rural School Ashe County Middle School Warrensville, NC

2. Presenters Mr. Bobby Ashley, Principal Mrs. Kim Ball, Assistant Principal Mrs. Sheila Richardson, Media Specialist

3. Flow Chart for ACMS Instructional Staff (Teachers) Support Staff (Secretaries, Custodians, Cafeteria, Tutors, Teacher Assistants) Administrative Staff Principal Central Office Support

4. Success To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty; To find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived; This is to have succeeded. Ralph Waldo Emerson

5. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs http://en.wikipedia.org.

6. Staff development is not what the staff is taking…it is what they are providing for other professionals Staff Development Staff must be reflective practitioners Teamwork: Everyone focused on success for all Our School’s Hierarchy Student growth and achievement Meeting student physiological needs

7. Demographics The Scenic New River Photo courtesy of Ashe Chamber of Commerce and A.T. Barbee

8. COMMUNITY DEMOGRAPHICS • Population – 23,000 • Economically diverse • 7.4% unemployment rate • $28,824 per household income • Major industries– Christmas trees, electronics, farming Photo Courtesy of Ashe Chamber of Commerce and J. Roark

9. Student Demographics • 48% Free or reduced lunch • 93% Caucasian • 20 students speak English as a second language • 95% attendance rate • 13% EC • 16% AIG

10. Faculty Demographics • 48 Certified Personnel • 6 National Board Certified • 21 Advanced degrees • 7 AIG certified • 5 Exceptional Children’s Teachers

11. Recognition 2005-2006 School of Distinction/Expected Growth National School to Watch 2004-2005 Honor School of Excellence/Expected Growth Met AYP Goals 2003-2004 Honor School of Excellence/High Growth Met AYP Goals 2002-2003 School of Excellence/High Growth National School to Watch Met AYP Goals 2001-2002 School of Excellence/High Growth 2000-2001 School of Distinction One of four model Coordinated School Health Programs 1999-2000 School of Distinction/Exemplary

12. National School to Watch • ACMS awarded recognition in 2003 and 2006 • Recognition launched by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform • Criteria for recognition: • Academic excellence • Developmental responsiveness • Socially equitable • Organizational structure • More info at www.schoolstowatch.org

13. Organization • Based on bridging the gap between elementary and high school • Program components meet the developmental needs of the young adolescent • Enforces a high standard for learning

14. Organization • Teaming • Six academic teams • 3 or 4 person teams • Compatibility/Varied Talents • 40 minute team planning daily • 40 minute individual planning daily • Teams can re-organize academic time as needed • Teams can move students around

15. Academic Excellence

16. Accountability • Teach NC SCOS • Quarterly assessments • EOG Academy • Disaggregate test data by teacher and student to identify strengths and weaknesses • Testing retreat

17. Discovery Block

18. Discovery Block Developed to meet the academic needs/interests of the students (remediation and enrichment)

19. Discovery Block • Enrichment Sessions • Character Education • Advisory/ Advisee • Intramurals

20. Discovery Block Choices • Year-long • Semester • Quarterly

21. Year-long Choices • Battle of the Books • Broadcasting • Math Counts • Science Olympiad • Techies • Yearbook • Journalism

22. Semester • Chorus • Percussion

23. Quarterly

24. Example of Math Enrichment

25. Instruction • Relevance -- Prepare students for high school and real life • Rigorous curriculum • “No-Excuses” approach

26. Instructional Strategies • Cooperative Grouping • Learning styles inventories • Guest Speakers • Thinking Maps • Guided reading • Socratic seminars • Literature Circles • Paideia • CRISS • Novel studies based on Social Studies curriculum

27. Instructional Strategies • Interdisciplinary Units • African Safari • A Christmas Carol • North Carolina Coast • Hands-on science • Stream monitoring • Aquifer modeling • Integration of media and technology • Community-based instruction for multi-handicapped classroom

28. Instructional Strategies • Writing taught through modeling and practice • Writing across the curriculum • Project-based learning • Poetry notebooks • Short story projects • Literature projects

29. Encore • Exploratory time which enables students to expand on academic classes and discover abilities, talents and interests • Encore 1 • Computers • Physical Education • Encore 2 • Art • Band • Career Skills • Chorus • Life Skills • Spanish

30. Encore Classes Elective Rotation Spanish Art Life skills Career Skills Band—year long Chorus—semester Required Classes Health and PE Computers Classes meet for 40 minutes/day Teachers are certified in their area Seventh graders not in band or chorus rotate through the other four electives each nine weeks

31. Transition Strategies • Looping of Guidance Counselors and Assistant Principals • Visits to elementary schools • “Meet in the Middle” • Parent Nights • Beginning of school orientation nights for 7th and 8th grade • 8th grade visits to high school • 8th grade parent night at high school

32. Programs for At-Risk and Special Needs Children

33. Alternative Learning Lab (ALL) • Purpose is for academic assistance, not punitive • Staffed by certified teacher with 32 years middle school experience • Teacher Referrals by: • Period • Assignment • Day (team approves) • Separate setting for EC students who have testing modifications • “Time-Out” room for students having difficulties in regular classroom and would receive benefit from lower student/teacher ratio • Capacity limited to 6 students • Students have access to textbooks, workbooks, reference materials, Internet, etc.

34. Project Turn-Around • Candidates are students with attendance issues, poor homework and study skills, or lack of parental guidance • Positive atmosphere with teacher advocate • For 7th grade • 6th grade teachers recommend • Exceptional children are ineligible • 12 students • Self-contained except for Encore

35. Tutoring • Before and after school • Certified teachers • For everyone -- At-Risk of failing or need additional support • Partnership with Ashe County 4-H • Teachers collaborate and schedule to meet needs of individual students

36. Exceptional Children’s Services • Inclusion • Self-Contained • Pull-Out • Severe and Profound • BED • Inclusion • Special Help and Support • Counseling

37. English Language Learners • Classroom Instruction • Pull out • Tutoring • Differentiated Instruction • Interdisciplinary Units • Accommodation Plans • Parent Involvement • Projects • Cultural Heritage Day

38. In-School Suspension • Designed as alternate to OSS • Extra help for low-performing students in reading and math • Punitive • Assigned by administration • Behavior contract • Behavioral modification packet

39. Counseling • Mental Health Services • Individual Counseling • Small Group Counseling • Anticipatory Counseling • Crisis Intervention • Consultation • School Psychologist • Character Education • Individual Volunteerism • Service Learning Projects

40. Health Clinic • Treat only students enrolled • 95% of students enrolled • Bill insurance, Medicaid--no bills to parents • Acute Health Care • Physicals • Counseling: parents, students • Referrals to family physician, specialists • Challenge: Sustainability

41. WISH Team • Ways to Intervene with Students Holistically • Student Assistant Team • Identify students struggling academically or exhibiting signs of at-risk or self-destructive behaviors • Team comprised of • Teacher from each grade level • AP • Counselor • EC teacher • School psychologist • Interventions include • Counseling • Further academic testing • Other interventions

42. After-School Programs

43. After-School Program Philosophy We believe that an after-school program which provides physical, social, and academic activities for students creates an environment where students can experience success and personal growth.

44. Athletics • 2 team philosophy • Picking of teams • Try-outs • No cuts where possible • Stress fundamentals and practice time • No personal awards, ceremonies, banquets, or trophies • Community coaches—not staff members

45. Athletics Two TeamsOne Team Volleyball Wrestling Basketball Track Softball Soccer Cheerleading Football Baseball

46. Scheduling • Home and away games • Football on Saturdays • Practice Schedule – 4 days per week including games • One month at a time • Rotate times for teams • After-School tutoring/homework time for late practices

47. Lifetime Sports • Develop skills and interest for lifetime activities • After-school • No qualifications except interest • Non-competitive

48. Lifetime Sports • Tennis -- Fall and spring on campus • Golf – Fall and spring—Mountain Aire Golf Course • Skiing – Appalachian Ski Resort Appalachian Swiss Ski College – Fee $18/per student • Swimming – Fall and spring on campus (indoor swimming pool)

49. Second Chance • After-School Detention • Services for students • Struggling academically • Not completing homework • Needing small group assistance • Accumulated tardies instead of ISS

50. 4-H SOS • SOS - “Support Our Students” • Provides safe, supervised place to participate in activities to: • Improve grades • Provide cultural activities • Stress importance of community service • Teach good decision-making