School Improvement Plans
1
A Report to the Winchendon Public Schools School Committee
Thursday April 4th, 2024
Background to Tonight’s SIP Presentation
Memorial Elementary School
Focus Area 1: Safe & Supportive Learning Environments
Data of concern
Other context for priority goals
Focus Area 1: Safe & Supportive Learning Environments
School Priority: Develop & implement a school wide system of support for the emotional well being of our students
School Priority: Develop & implement a school wide positive behavior and accountability system
Initiative | How We Will Measure Progress | Timeline |
Establish clear expectations and procedures across the school | A completed matrix that shows the values and expectations in each of the school areas 80% of PK-2 students will be able to explain the matrix and expectations | October 2023 -March 2024 |
Develop Tiered model for behavior supports {Review PBS options/SEL curriculum to develop something ‘homegrown’- include visual cues} | A completed MTSS model to support student behaviors {95% of staff will be able to articulate what our MTSS model of support is} | On-going Sept-June To implement in September |
Explore and Pilot ‘Choose to Be Nice’ program to focus on character traits | Using a pre-post questionnaire for students about the characteristics to be taught; increase in knowledge about characteristics by at least 70% | Fall ‘24 |
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Focus 1: Highlights/Challenges Thus Far
Highlights
Challenges
Focus Area 2: Providing Equitable Access to HQIM & Experiences Aligned to the Massachusetts Standards
Data of concern
Other context for priority goals
Focus Area 2: Providing Equitable Access to HQIM & Experiences Aligned to the Massachusetts Standards
School Priority: Implementation of Wit & Wisdom and SRSD Writing
School Priority: Review our instructional practices with a focus on equity and standards alignment
Initiative | How We Will Measure Progress | Timeline |
Offer Parent info nights and send newsletters home about
| Attendance at parent nights will increase from 20% from our first parent night offering. 75% of parents will view our newsletters | Winter/Spring 2024- info letters Fall 2024 info nights (after Ts have taught the modules and have more info) |
Alignment of SRSD with Wit & Wisdom and Science/SS curriculum K-2 | Creation of a scope and sequence for writing instruction that aligns SRSD routines with writing through Wit & Wisdom, Science and Social Studies topics. Review of end of year independent writing portfolios in grades K-2 will show a 70% increase in rubric scores. | Fall 2024-Spring 2024 |
Consistent structure / terminology from grade to grade (hand signals/gist) | A document will be created that outlines the consistent terminology that will be used by 100% of teachers at each grade level | Spring 2024- Fall 2024 |
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Focus 2: Highlights/Challenges Thus Far
Highlights
Challenges
Focus Area 3: Culturally Responsive Instructional Practices and Celebration of Diversity
Data of concern
Other context for priority goals
Focus Area 3: Culturally Responsive Instructional Practices and Celebration of Diversity
School Priority: Exploration and learning about culturally-sustaining instructional practices
School Priority: Providing windows and mirrors to expose our students to diversity
Initiative | How We Will Measure Progress | Timeline |
Diversity through the Arts- Exposing students to culturally diverse artists so they can make societal and historical connections through Art & Music. | Incorporate diverse artists from various cultures in at least 50% or more of the curriculum to give students opportunities to make societal and historical connections through Art & Music. Curate diverse artworks and music deliberately to create a rich learning environment fostering cultural awareness and understanding. | Fall 2024- Spring 2025 |
Systematic review of our instructional practices from an equity lens | Teachers will use a self-reflection tool to determine which of their instructional practices need revision from an equity standpoint. Teachers will choose at least 1 practice to refine with their new knowledge | Fall 2024 |
Focus Area 3: Culturally Responsive Instructional Practices and Celebration of Diversity
School Priority: Exploration and learning about culturally-sustaining instructional practices
School Priority: Providing windows and mirrors to expose our students to diversity
Initiative | How We Will Measure Progress | Timeline |
Use of diverse books throughout our curriculum and programs | March Madness book choices will include at least 5 titles with diverse characters (main characters that look like our less represented students) | March 2024/2025 |
We will purchase 10 books to start the lending library and will add at least 5 books per year | We will purchase 10 books to start the lending library and will add at least 5 books per year | Spring 2024-2025 |
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Focus 3: Highlights/Challenges Thus Far
Highlights
Challenges
Focus Area 4: Two-Way Ongoing Communications to Strengthen Family and Community Partnerships
Data of concern
Other context for priority goals
Focus Area 4: Two-Way Ongoing Communications to Strengthen Family and Community Partnerships
School Priority: Provide opportunities for parents/families to engage in face to face communication with school staff.
School Priority: Provide multiple means of communication to meet family needs/preferences
Initiative | How We Will Measure Progress | Timeline |
Implement Preschool and Kindergarten Home Visits in addition or as part of the screening process (spring/fall) | PK/K teachers will conduct home visits on 80% of their students | Fall 2025 |
Offer ‘coffee chats’ at least 4 times per years for families to have the opportunities to come to school and talk to principal / staff | ‘Coffee chats’ are offered at least 4x per school year Reflections from attendees will be used to determine the effectiveness of the chats | Spring 2024- then ongoing |
Communication app in addition to Parent Square to allow teachers a different direct contact with parents | Send out a ‘survey’ to parents about what they would prefer… 30% increase in parent engagement with classroom teachers versus Parent Square only | Fall 2024 |
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Focus Area 4: Two-Way Ongoing Communications to Strengthen Family and Community Partnerships
School Priority: Provide opportunities for parents/families to engage in face to face communication with school staff.
School Priority: Provide multiple means of communication to meet family needs/preferences
Initiative | How We Will Measure Progress | Timeline |
Family-Teacher Conferences will be held twice a year (Fall/Spring) to align with report cards | Working with the Calendar Committee- Conferences to discuss student progress will happen in Nov/Dec to align with the first trimester report card and another one in March to align with the second trimester report card. 80% of parents will attend each conference | Fall 2024- Spring 2025 |
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Focus 4: Highlights/Challenges Thus Far
Highlights
Challenges
Questions?
Comments?
Toy Town Elementary School
Focus Area 1: Safe & Supportive Learning Environments
Data of concern?
Other context for priority goals?
Focus Area 1: Safe & Supportive Learning Environments
Goal | How We Will Measure Progress | Timeline |
1. Review PBIS |
| Ongoing |
2. Pilot Choose Love lessons |
| Feb-June 2024 |
Focus 1: Highlights/Challenges Thus Far
Review PBIS- has turned more into developing the steps to support students who have challenging behavior
Restorative justice
Developing lacking social skills
We are also using school-wide lessons on developing mindset skills and social-emotional regulation skills
Focus Area 2: Providing Equitable Access to HQIM & Experiences Aligned to the Massachusetts Standards
Data of concern?
Other context for priority goals:
Providing support and curriculum that was challenging to meet the grade level standards
Focus Area 2: Providing Equitable Access to HQIM & Experiences Aligned to the Massachusetts Standards
Goal | How We Will Measure Progress | Timeline |
Provide appropriate ongoing professional development | See an increase in overall ELA student achievement as measured by 2025 MCAS results compared to 2023 and 2024. In addition to comparing Star Reading Data Fall to Fall 2023 to 2024 and winter to winter and spring to spring. | SRSD- all year W&W- January-June 24 |
The ILT will teach multiple evidenced based teaching strategies to the TTE staff | This high teaching practice encourages students to give a complete fully developed correct answer. “Building On” Behavior Strategies | Ongoing Faculty Meetings |
Focus 2: Highlights/Challenges Thus Far
Focus Area 3: Culturally Responsive Instructional Practices and Celebration of Diversity
Data of concern?
Other context for priority goals?
Focus Area 3: Culturally Responsive Instructional Practices and Celebration of Diversity
Goal | How We Will Measure Progress | Timeline |
Grade 5 participating in Investigating History professional development and adoption | Teachers and students will be trained in It seeks to engage all students in inquiry-based, culturally affirming, and civically relevant social studies learning - and address educators' challenges finding high-quality social studies materials that are aligned to the 2018 History/Social Science Framework. The curriculum was developed and vetted by subject matter experts, scholars, and teachers over the course of two school years Investigating History Curriculum Summative assessments for every Unit, linking information and skills from throughout the unit. Minor assessments within the unit, link to ELA standards too. Some rubrics are available for some of the tasks. | August 2023-June 2023 4x throughout the year at the end of each unit. |
Wit and Wisdom Grade 5 unit 1 “Culture in Conflict” | Structured organization and progression of skills, linking to Investigating History. Written tasks are focused on linking the knowledge of the indigenous people and their culture and lifestyles. The assessments are focused on students being able to self and peer assess with rubrics and checklists. | Units are not taught in a spiral fashion and can therefore be taught at any time of year to be taught at the sametime as Investigating History |
Focus 3: Highlights/Challenges Thus Far
Investigating History (unit 3) and Wit and Wisdom (Unit 1) are linking topics which allows the students a deeper understanding of the ideas covered. The lessons are content rich, and students are developing their inquiry skills as historians. .
Training for Investigating History with other districts has been very helpful for teachers who participated in the PD days. There have been multiple PD days throughout the year as well as zoom calls with the other districts.
Not having a Social Studies curriculum in the past has meant that it has been difficult to cover all the necessary standards. Having this curriculum in place has allowed the teachers to be sure that all standards are covered through the year.
Teachers have been part of Professional Development with other Districts in the Region supported by a facilitator that has taught the material . Part of this incorporates classroom visits by an Instructional Coach to model lessons and provide us feedback to enrich our teaching.
Focus Area 4: Two-Way Ongoing Communications to Strengthen Family and Community Partnerships
Data of concern?
Other context for priority goals?
Focus Area 4: Two-Way Ongoing Communications to Strengthen Family and Community Partnerships
Goal | How We Will Measure Progress | Timeline |
Weekly Parent contact by the Principal and teachers | Families are invested in the school community | Ongoing |
Math/Literacy Night | Promote math and literacy in the school community | March 2024 |
Parent Night on Zoom with the DA’s office | Educate parents about bullying and cyber safety | December 2023 |
Individual parent conferences | Inform and educate parents about their student’s learning and achievement | November 2023 |
Focus 4: Highlights/Challenges Thus Far
*Families attendance for educational night- Escape Room and 2 additional Math Nights
*High attendance for the Monster Ball and Open House/Book Fair
*Multiple office calls for events that were publicized for weeks with details
Questions?
Comments?
Murdock Middle School
Focus Area 1: Safe & Supportive Learning Environments
Data of concern?
Other context for priority goals?
School Priority 1: School Safety Team - meet bi-weekly
School Priority 2: Establish a safe and supportive learning environment
Focus Area 1: Safe & Supportive Learning Environments
Goal | How We Will Measure Progress | Timeline |
Schedule Safety Team Meeting dates and agenda collaboratively, ensure all classrooms have necessary information posted and readily available (red folders, Go Bags). Establish Emergency Routines for Fire Drills, Ambulance, Medical Emergencies, Codes on the Radio, and user-friendly guides | Emergency procedures established, emergency materials purchased and distributed, professional development provided to staff for emergency situations. | October 2023 (March 2024, currently being reviewed by ILT) |
Establish a safe and supportive learning environment at Murdock Middle School, with the initial effort to be in reducing incidents that involve school and student safety concerns, decreasing incidents of bullying and increasing student and staff satisfaction, as measured by documented behavior referrals, reported bullying incidents and school climate surveys |
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Focus Area 1: Safe & Supportive Learning Environments
Goal | How We Will Measure Progress | Timeline |
Cont’d: Establish a safe and supportive learning environment at Murdock Middle School, with the initial effort to be in reducing incidents that involve school and student safety concerns, decreasing incidents of bullying and increasing student and staff satisfaction, as measured by documented behavior referrals, reported bullying incidents and school climate surveys | 3. Review and re-introduce district policies and procedures that have been lost in transitional leadership changes. This will require both internal and external communication with staff and community. 4. Implement Restorative Justice practices, alternative consequences to actions, community service, implement vape interventions curriculum, detention worksheets reviewing misbehaviors along with ways to avoid such conflicts, improve behavioral, safety and daily plans/charts for ease of use, social skills group 5. Reduce student absenteeism, incidents raising safety concerns, and reports of bullying month over month from March through November 6. Introduce a formalized social/emotional learning curriculum |
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Focus 1: Highlights/Challenges Thus Far
Priority 1 - Due to a leadership change, a comprehensive review of existing structure and processes is taking place. Safety is the priority in this review.
Priority 2 - Initial challenges include creating and maintaining a safe and effective building environment so all students can learn.
Focus Area 2: Providing Equitable Access to HQIM & Experiences Aligned to the Massachusetts Standards
Data of concern?
Other context for priority goals?
School Priority 1: Implement HQIM ELA Curriculum and Amplify Science
School Priority 2: Implement SRSD writing strategies in History
Focus Area 2: Providing Equitable Access to HQIM & Experiences Aligned to the Massachusetts Standards
Goal | How We Will Measure Progress | Timeline |
Undertake 6-12 review of available High Quality ELA programs with view to adoption during the 2024-25 academic year |
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Implement SRSD writing strategies for History, then Science |
| March 2024 Fall 2024 |
Focus 2: Highlights/Challenges Thus Far
Challenges
Highlights
Focus Area 3: Culturally Responsive Instructional Practices and Celebration of Diversity
Data of concern?
Other context for priority goals?
School Priority 1: Increase Culturally Responsive Instructional Practices
School Priority 2: Increase Student Awareness of Cultural Diversity
Focus Area 3: Culturally Responsive Instructional Practices and Celebration of Diversity
Goal | How We Will Measure Progress | Timeline |
By the end of the current academic year identify ways in which all classrooms already do, and will further develop and use the rich cultural experiences of their students and community to enrich the learning and development of all students. |
| Quarter 4 2024 |
Focus 3: Highlights/Challenges Thus Far
Highlights
Challenges
Focus Area 4: Two-Way Ongoing Communications to Strengthen Family and Community Partnerships
Context for priority goals?
Initial community relationship was in need of immediate repair. Consistent, clear and focused attention was required to begin the process of repair. In most cases, communication was part of the issue with failed community support.
School Priority 1: Restore Communications between MMS and Stakeholders
School Priority 2: Develop sustainable expectations around transparency and trust
Focus Area 4: Two-Way Ongoing Communications to Strengthen Family and Community Partnerships
Goal | How We Will Measure Progress | Timeline |
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| Immediately – 02/26/2024 |
Focus Area 4: Two-Way Ongoing Communications to Strengthen Family and Community Partnerships
Goal | How We Will Measure Progress | Timeline |
Use existing communication methods with fidelity (voice, email, newsletter ParentSquare), social media and individual notifications such as letters home. Inconsistent communication has fostered significant distrust as a response. | 4. Emails - response to parents/community members within 24 hours of receipt to ensure we are being accessible as a public employee. This is an all MMS expectation, both administration and faculty with students. 5. Social media - used only for situations as outlined by district policy and within the scope of our role as public employees of the town. This is an administration expectation. Faculty and staff should not use social media on behalf of the WPS schools/district unless directed to by administration. | Immediately – 02/26/2024 |
2. By practice, set expectations for communication by district employees which will align with best practice and support parent and community engagement. | | Immediately – 02/26/2024 |
Focus 4: Highlights/Challenges Thus Far
Highlights
Challenges
School Priority 1: Restore Communications between MMS and Stakeholders
School Priority 2: Develop sustainable expectations around transparency and trust
Questions?
Comments?
Murdock High School
Add school logo here
Focus Area 1: Safe & Supportive Learning Environments
Data of concern?
Other context for priority goals?
Focus Area 1: Safe & Supportive Learning Environments
Goal | How We Will Measure Progress | Timeline |
Reducing incidents of bullying and enhancing overall student well-being | 1. Creation of an effective Student Support Team
2. Establish a safe/confidential reporting system that collects and tracks incidents
3. Utilization of Anti-bullying programs and campaigns - measured by referral system accessible via QR codes in the school
| By June 2025 |
Improve poor attendance associated with school avoidance Student (whole school) attendance rates will improve by 10% from Spring 2024 to Spring 2025 | 1. Attendance team formed that tracks student attendance, schedules proper and timely communication with the home, develops interventions, and facilitates education and support | By June 2025 |
| Student and Staff school climate surveys | February 2024 June 2024 November 2024 June 2025 |
Focus 1: Highlights/Challenges Thus Far
Highlights:
Challenges:
Focus Area 2: Providing Equitable Access to HQIM & Experiences Aligned to the Massachusetts Standards
Data of concern?
Other context for priority goals?
Focus Area 2: Providing Equitable Access to HQIM & Experiences Aligned to the Massachusetts Standards
Goal | How We Will Measure Progress | Timeline |
To create a culture of achievement at Murdock High School organized around the belief that ALL students can do high level academic work, teachers and administrative leaders are committed to making a challenging curriculum available to ALL students, and where students understand that being a member of the Murdock High School community means being an achiever. Student passing rates will improve by 10% from Spring 2024 to Winter 2025 and will improve by 20% overall between Spring 2024 and Spring 2025. | 1. Establish Collaborative Learning Communities with staff (departments and interdisciplinary teams)
2. Targeted Professional Development for staff
3. Promoting a Positive Feedback Culture
4. Strengthen Mentoring Program
5. Create staff-student-home communication plans
6. Celebrate Achievement and Success
| Ongoing - Beginning of Year / Middle of Year / End of Year |
Focus Area 2: Providing Equitable Access to HQIM & Experiences Aligned to the Massachusetts Standards
Goal | How We Will Measure Progress | Timeline |
To create a culture of achievement at Murdock High School organized around the belief that ALL students can do high level academic work, teachers and administrative leaders are committed to making a challenging curriculum available to ALL students, and where students understand that being a member of the Murdock High School community means being an achiever. Student passing rates will improve by 10% from Spring 2024 to Winter 2025 and will improve by 20% overall between Spring 2024 and Spring 2025. | 7. Grading Policies Committee 8. MyCap My Career and Academic Plan
| Ongoing - Beginning of Year / Middle of Year / End of Year |
Focus 2: Highlights/Challenges Thus Far
Highlights:
Challenges:
Focus Area 3: Culturally Responsive Instructional Practices and Celebration of Diversity
Data of concern?
Other context for priority goals?
Focus Area 3: Culturally Responsive Instructional Practices and Celebration of Diversity
Goal | How We Will Measure Progress | Timeline |
Murdock High School will increase the integration of culturally responsive instructional practices and celebration of diversity across all subject areas, as evidenced by measurable improvements in student engagement, academic achievement, and cultural competence. | 1. Increase our student engagement as measured by pre- and post-surveys 2. Improvement in academic achievement among historically marginalized student groups 3. Regular classroom observations and evaluations focusing on the integration of culturally responsive practices and celebration of diversity. 4. Increase in participation in extracurricular activities and events that promote cultural understanding and appreciation. | Ongoing |
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Focus 3: Highlights/Challenges Thus Far
Highlights:
TAG (Bystander assembly) completed in September 2023
Ball in the House - culturally responsive assembly - during Black History Month - combined music with history
Challenges:
Lack of clear educational philosophy and expectations
Lack of understanding of what Culturally Responsive Instructional Practices look like
Focus Area 4: Two-Way Ongoing Communications to Strengthen Family and Community Partnerships
Data of concern?
Other context for priority goals?
Focus Area 4: Two-Way Ongoing Communications to Strengthen Family and Community Partnerships
Goal | How We Will Measure Progress | Timeline |
Facilitate transparent and inclusive communication between the school and its families Positive interaction between school and home will increase by 25% by Spring 2025. | 1. Newsletter engagement data 2. Attendance in School Council Meetings 3. Parental/Guardian attendance at school events 4. Positive family involvement in students education (participation in meetings/ plans/etc) 5. Feedback surveys | Spring 2025 |
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Focus 4: Highlights/Challenges Thus Far
Highlights
Challenges
Questions?
Comments?