School Improvement Plan
School Improvement Plan and Goals
School Improvement 2007 - 2008
Nashoba Regional High School - School Community Council
l Jeremy Roche - Principal/Co-Chair
l Maureen Busch - Parent/Co-Chair (Stow)
l Kate Lynch -Teacher (Secretary)
l George Babich - Parent (Lancaster)
l Ann Farrell - Parent (Bolton)
l Paula Castner - Community rep (Lancaster)
l Brenda Mason - Teacher
l Katie Gianetti - Teacher
l Ryan Nicoll - Student
l Rebecca Hoover - Student
l Giulia Rizzo - Student
l Brad Giunta - Student
School Improvement Plan
|
Goal 1: Nashoba Regional High School will expand programs and establish expectations for personalizing the learning process. |
|||
| Goals | Time Line | Measurement | Impact of Budget |
| Teachers will engage students in the use of Personal Action Plans or Individual Student Success Plans. The Nashoba Regional High School Community works together to achieve high intellectual and ethical standards while discovering and developing the gifts and talents of all (Mission Statement). | 2008-2010 | Students will be referred through the school’s Student Assistance Team in an effort to conduct Child Find but also to identify students who are potentially at-risk of graduation or otherwise. In addition, students who receive a Failing/Warning or Needs Improvement on the MCAS mathematics and English language arts exams will also have an ISSP completed to measure progress. | Small stipends for potential advisorships. |
| A peer mentoring program would seek to utilize students to help resolve minor issues of student conflict. As such, the program would fulfill our Civic/Social Expectations for Student Learning per our Mission Statement: “Cultivating and developing pro-social skills in order to minimize conflicts within the community and/or school” (Civic/Social Expectations for Student Learning). | 2008-2010 | A pilot program for the Fall of 2007 has been in place. An assistant principal and faculty member have been leading the process and will continue to do so. Harassment and peer conflicts are then addressed through the program. A review of harassment data can be used to determine effectiveness of the interventions. | Small stipend for advisor. |
| A Senior project/portfolio program would enhance second semester opportunities for students and give greater meaning to Senior year. In addition, the program would fulfill our Civic/Social Expectations for Student Learning per our Mission Statement: “Participating in meaningful community and/or school activities that promote service to others” (Civic/Social Expectations for Student Learning). | 2008-2010 | Faculty advisor to oversee small group of students to create their own course of study. Academic pursuits or projects will be chronicled by the faculty advisor to be shared with community as necessary. | This may/would require the reduction of one teacher’s course load by one teaching section. The cost is approximately $11,000. |
| Develop more student, parent and faculty surveys to determine current needs at the HS. “Communication activities written into each school improvement plan” (NRSD Mission-Goal 4). | 2008-2010 | Results of the surveys will be reviewed to analyze efficiencies and overall data trends. For example, senior exit surveys could be conducted to determine areas of strength, general interest areas to identify areas of improvement, teacher course or content surveys to inform instruction, etc. | None. |
|
Goal 2: Nashoba Regional High School will address areas of concern with the NEASC accreditation and be able to complete or make progress in areas that need improvement. |
||||
| Goals | Time Line | Activity/Measurement | Impact of Budget/Benchmark | |
Address the issue of the master schedule as it pertains to the Leadership and Organization Standard. The organization of the school and its educational programs shall promote the school’s mission and expectations for student learning. (http://www.neasc.org/cpss/standard)
|
2008-2010 | The Standard for Leadership and Organization remains a warning status item. NEASC has said that NRHS needs a new master schedule implemented by 2008-2009. As such, the Scheduling Committee is conducting a vote on November 30th, 2007 to make a decision about upcoming schedules. | Possible increase of FTE’s. Possible professional development needs for teaching in a longer block. A newly implemented schedule must be in place for 2008-2009 and will be reviewed for effectiveness during the 2009-2010 school year. Surveys, MCAS results, SAT results, AP scores will all be utilized to determine effectiveness. | |
|
Address the issue of curriculum alignment with the mission statement as it pertains to the Leadership and Organization Standard. The organization of the school and its educational programs shall promote the school’s mission and expectations for student learning.(http://www.neasc.org/cpss/standard)
|
2008-2010 | Teachers are developing curriculum guides that align state/national standards, Big Ideas/Essential Questions, and the Mission and Academic/Civic-Social Expectations. Teachers will then develop pacing guides that include teaching artifacts, supplemental materials, rubrics/assessment tools, and individual lesson plans to complement the curriculum guides. | Department of Teaching and Learning funds curriculum facilitator stipends and individual teacher stipends in developing curriculum guides and pacing guides. Materials and resources related to the curriculum and pacing guides are minimal. Curriculum and Pacing Guides will be made available via the web site for public review. | |
| Improve athletic facilities for all athletic programs. “To provide the necessary space, materials, and technology conducive to a quality education” (NRSD Mission-Goal 3). | 2008-2010 | The increase of athletic offerings will necessitate an altering of current athletic facilities. The high school track has been resurfaced; however, a capital project that will provide installation of Field Turf and a new track is underway. In addition, the school has seen the addition of new stands that seat 2,000 spectators. Furthermore, the athletic program has added girls’ volleyball, indoor track, and lacrosse in recent school years. Intra-mural athletic activities have also spurred the need for more space. | Capital Plan monies to support the athletic programming for students. | |
|
Goal 3: Where practical, instruction and assessment at Nashoba Regional High School will be connection to real-life application of knowledge and skills. |
|||
| Goals | Time Line | Measurement | Impact of Budget |
| A School to Career Program will provide post-secondary work opportunities as well as providing support for internships for student body. (Consistent with the goals of the District’s At-Risk Committee.) | 2008-2010 | A .8 STC counselor was hired for the 2007-2008 school year. The role consists of efforts centered on students considered “at-risk” of graduating. | .8 FTE with potential for 1.0 as the position expands. |
| Personalize the learning experience for all students through self-assessment or reflection. (NRSD Core Values Statement-“All students deserve personalized learning”) | 2008-2010 | By reviewing assessment practices through the curriculum guide development process, teachers are attempting to provide for more personalized instruction and assessment through differentiation and formative assessments. Through personal reflection, students will identify strengths and interests and how they best learn. The reflective process will help inform instruction but also personal learning strengths, habits and areas of improvement. | Department of Teaching and Learning support for curriculum facilitator training and teacher development and implementation. |
|
Goal 4 – Evaluate course offerings dependent upon student interest and societal trends so that students will have additional course offerings and establish class sizes with a maximum of 24 per class. |
|||
| Goals | Time Line | Measurement | Impact of Budget |
| Strengthen all areas of curriculum through task force review and recommendations. Provide an update on the development, evaluation, review, and revision of the written curriculum, including a description of the curriculumcycle (5-Year Progress Report) | 2008-2010 | Teachers are developing curriculum guides that align state/national standards, Big Ideas/Essential Questions, and the Mission and Academic/Civic-Social Expectations. Teachers will then develop resource guides that include teaching artifacts, supplemental materials, rubrics/assessment tools, and individual lesson plans to complement the curriculum guides. | Department of Teaching and Learning funds curriculum facilitator stipends and individual teacher stipends in developing curriculum guides and pacing guides. Materials and resources related to the curriculum and pacing guides are minimal. Curriculum and Pacing Guides will be made available via the web site for public review. |
| A committee will examine student and teacher needs to determine best instructional practices (instructional day, length of periods, advisory). (NEASC Follow-Up Committee-Develop, implement and describe the plan to use the school-wide rubrics to assess the achievement by each student of each of the academic expectations in the mission). | 2008-2010 | The Scheduling Committee work which has investigated a variety of schools and curriculum offerings will make recommendations on the master schedule as well as the necessary programs that will support it (advisories). | N/A |
| Continue to assess space needs (internal and external) as needed for instruction, small group meetings and cafeteria space. “To provide the necessary space, materials, and technology conducive to a quality education” (NRSD Mission-Goal 3). | 2008-2010 | A capital plan has been developed to add up to 10 classrooms (including two science lab classes) and an expanded cafeteria in addition to a Superintendent’s Office. | District and State Funding sources. |
|
Goal 5 – Encourage involvement of students to participate in community service and civic responsibility. |
|||
| Goals | Time Line | Measurement | Impact of Budget |
| Continue to improve school culture and environment. (Each member of our school community recognizes his or her role and responsibility in creating a learning environment based upon respect, trust, teamwork, and enthusiasm NRHS Mission Statement) | 2008-2010 | Student surveys will be conducted to determine if the balance of core academics and electives is sufficient. Other factors including class sizes, harassment/bullying, etc may be measured to inform future decisions. | None. |
| Continue to provide all students with best possible education through a variety of offerings and experiences. (NRSD Core Values Statement-“All students deserve personalized learning”) | 2008-2010 | Student measurements include MCAS, SAT, AP, college and career placement, graduation rates/drop out rates, senior exit survey results, etc. | None. |
| A Senior project/portfolio program would enhance second semester opportunities for students and give greater meaning to Senior year. In addition, the program would fulfill our Civic/Social Expectations for Student Learning per our Mission Statement: “Participating in meaningful community and/or school activities that promote service to others.” | 2008-2010 | The faculty advisor or teacher will compile a list of the service activities to be shared with the school community as necessary. See Goal 1 for specific details. | See Goal 1 for specific details. |
District Goals
-
District Goals [pdf]
Recent School Community Council Minutes
-
April 8th, 2008 [pdf]