Hall-Dale School District

Notes from HDHS Public Parent Meeting on August 17, 2010
Topic: Standards-based reporting implementation
Participants: Hilary Neckles, Terri Pelletier, Leanne Greeley Bond, Renee Page,
Marc Vachon, Lori McPherson, Carol Sinclair, Diane Smith, Alan Plummer, Steve
Zembroski, Karen Zembroski, Karen Stebbins, Terese Beaudoin, Abby Thrower, Steve
Lavoie, Greg Henderson, Christine Chamberlain
Monthly public meetings for all interested parents will occur on Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Nov. 9,
Dec. 14, Jan.11, Feb. 8, March 8, April 12, and May 10. Each meeting will go from
6:00-7:30 p.m. at the Hall-Dale High School library. The specific topic for each meeting
will be determined from a list of topics generated by parents, teachers, and/or
administration and will focus on some aspect of standards-based implementation.
Suggested topics include:
- Moving from a 3 to a 4
- SBR & College Admissions, SBR Transcript & Class Profile Review
- Intervention Systems
- SBR Review of Basics (use of rubrics, scoring/grading, effort vs. proficiency,
etc.)
- SBR Conversion Options

Read More…
Click here for a PDF file containing the full document

Deadine for applications is May 28, 2010

Hall-Dale Middle/High School
Communications Cohort Meeting
Tuesday April 27, 2010
7:00am

Members present:  Diane Smith, Steve Zembroski, Edda Briggs, Carol Sinclair, Kendra Guiou, John Stivers, Chris Chamberlain, Steve Lavoie

I. Shared Visioning
What is it?  A process of having stakeholders identify what is good about our schools, what needs to be addressed, what our students need upon graduation…..
How is it done? An initial review of student achievement data at the national, state and local level is presented.  It articulates how students in the US are falling behind other countries.  It compares proficiency rates of our students to Maine.  For example:  proficiency rates in reading for students in grade 11 may be 50% and that is at or above the state average.  However it also means that 50% of students are not proficient in reading upon graduation.
Following a discussion of data, small groups are formed each with a specific question such as “What specific skills do our students need upon graduation?”  Groups respond and categorize responses.
There is an RSU visioning process scheduled for 4/29 with 25 people form each community attending.  A shared visioning process is underway at HDMS/HS with faculty.
The discussion:  The discussion included items relating to student performance such as what happens at the 8th grade level at HD and statewide that results in lower student achievement scores, the value of job shadowing as a taste of the real world, the value of the Senior Capstone project and the need for more communication on a wide variety of issues.

II. Leveling

What is it?  It’s a method of presenting curricula (such as reading) that addresses specific student needs based on assessments that identify strengths and weaknesses.  Students are groups by reading levels and lessons are designed to address identified strengths and weaknesses.  An example:  a 4th grade student reading at the 3rd grade level is grouped with others to read appropriate level material and work on identified deficits.  By the same method, a 4th grade student reading at the 7th grade level is grouped and presented appropriate reading material.  The system is designed to be fluid allowing students to move when appropriate.
The discussion: We discussed the current situation with a small group of freshmen who are exceeding the standards in English 9 and the possibility of their taking AP classes as sophomores.  The state is willing to give a waiver of the 4 year “seat time’ requirement for English.  Other parts of the discussion included that the system has possibilities if designed and implemented with stakeholder understanding, the comparison to an ‘open curriculum’ that exists in a Connecticut High School and the need for solid assessment to determine student levels.  A parent relayed a comment made by their student, “Don’t remove the process of natural selection”, meaning let’s allow students to perform at their own level.  Leveling supports this concept.

III. Other topics discussed
Freshman meetings:  are being held on a regular basis.  Can a summary of those discussions be posted as the notes from these meetings are?  Good idea!
Next meeting:  May 18, 2010
Topics of discussion: 
1. Adding gradations such as 2.5 and 3.5 to the 1 – 4 scale currently in use.
2. Reviewing a newer and more current Parent/Student Grading Guide.

Please click on the link below to view the current Strategic Plan.

Strategic_Plan_SBR_website_post.pdf

Hall-Dale Middle/High School
Communications Cohort Meeting
April 6, 2010
7:00 - 7:45AM

Members Present:  Leanne Bond, Diane Smith, Kendra Guiou, Chris Chamberlain and Steve Lavoie

I. Purpose/Structure of the Group
- To open and maintain lines of communication between parents and school regarding ongoing efforts to implement a standards-based, student centered educational environment.
- Structure of the group:  5 parents (some with students at multiple levels in Hall-Dale Schools), 2 teachers, and members of the HDMS/HS Administrative Team (Principal, Assistant Principals, Guidance Director as needed).
- 3 parents have responded that they are willing to be involved and can make most if not all of scheduled meetings.  2 parents have yet to respond and will be contacted again.
- Minutes of meetings will be posted on both the middle school and high school websites within 24 hours of each meeting.
- An agenda will be provided to members of the cohort prior to each meeting.

II. Strategic Plan
- A draft of a strategic plan is being developed and will be shared with the superintendent and faculty by April 9.
- Once shared with superintendent and faculty, it will be posted on both the middle school and high school website.

III. Freshman Meetings
- Regular meetings with the freshman class have been scheduled and each will have specific topics to be discussed.
- First meeting topics are:
1. Results of the most recent honor roll.
2. Work ethic/behavior:  how to make them count and how they affect student motivation.

IV. Professional Development
- All upcoming Wednesday afternoons are dedicated to staff development relating to implementation of standards.
- Current discussion of the group known as 9SIT and its role in supporting teachers in the upcoming year of implementation.
- Recent discussion is that 9SIT may be more effective if they serve as mentors to small groups of faculty organized around content areas with others assigned as needed.  9SIT should continue to meet as a whole group in order to maintain consistency.
- Upcoming Early Release Day on 5/19 is being planned with multiple sessions designed to meet faculty needs around standards, utilizing Infinite Campus as an effective communications tool, and others TBD.

V. Other
- The group had a discussion regarding offering students and teachers opportunity for ‘safe feedback’.  Students and teachers could have a way to ask specific questions regarding implementation of standards based reporting, etc. that would offer anonymity.  Questions could then be given to 9SIT, or some other group, for consideration in terms of professional development needs.
- Grading guide feedback was discussed.  Some parents have a draft of the Parent/student Grading guide and have feedback to offer.  How can that be done effectively?  Also discussed was should there be different guides based on each target audience:  incoming 6th graders, freshmen and next year’s sophomores.
- An intervention committee of teachers for both middle and high school has been established with the charge of examining current interventions in place, what changes are needed and what new interventions are possible.  A timeline for recommendations is in place. 
- Some parents may not know what interventions are available and currently in place such as after school hours when all teachers are available for students to access.  Is there a need for a structured learning lab at the high school similar to what exists at the middle school?

To: Parents and Students, Grades 6 - 9
From: Steve Lavoie, Principal
Date: March 4, 2010
RE: Honor Roll

Over the course of the last school year and the first trimester of the current school year, it has become apparent to me that the method currently being used to determine honor roll status and recognition is problematic.  The honor roll in past years was extraordinarily long.  We now have an honor roll that is extraordinarily short and it is not clear to parents and students how to achieve this recognition.  In addition, it is based on a percentage of content standards assessed that are at a ‘proficient with distinction’ level, 25% for honors and 50% for high honors.  This method of calculating honor roll has created some unintended weighting.  Appropriately so, different classes have a different number of standards that are assessed during any given trimester.  The end result is that courses are weighted mathematically so that some courses have much more impact on whether or not a student achieves honor roll status.

The way in which honor roll is calculated is in a regulation of the school board policy. Changing a board policy is a time consuming process that literally takes months of revision and readings at the board level.  It is clear that an adjusted method of calculating honor roll is needed now.  The new method is described below and is considered a pilot for this school year.

In order to be on either honor roll, a student still must achieve all 3s, proficient on all content standards assessed as well as work ethic and behavior.  All content standards in any course will then be averaged to determine a ‘course GPA’.  Those course GPAs will then be averaged to determine a trimester standards based grade point average (SBGPA).  In order to make honor roll, a student SBGPA must be at least 3.0.  In order to make the high honor roll, a student SBGPA must be at least 3.33. Courses that are AP and Honors at the high school level or considered to be ‘advanced’ at the middle school will be weighted by a factor of 1.05.  This method is consistent with how these classes are weighted for transcript purposes at the high school.

It is my hope that this method will result in an honor roll that is calculated fairly and that parents and students have a clear understanding of how our honor roll is determined.

HDHS Fall Concert!
Thursday, November 19, 7:00
HDHS Gymnasium
free admission

Presenting the
Concert Band * Combined Chorus’s * Jazz Band * Jazz Choir

It’s going to be a wonderful evening of kids, music and excitement. 
Special guests (joining our Concert Band) will be the Rocky Bag Pipe Band - featuring our own Jane Gilbert! 

We hope you can join us! 
(The program, and kids names are attached. )