Middle School Goals

VVS Middle School Goals:

1. Improve student achievement: Continue to strive for 90% proficiency and 40% mastery on all assessments in order to prepare students to be college and career ready.

  • Implement more close reads in the technical subjects

  • Continue to use data to inform instruction

  • Implement more technology in the classrooms

  • Common Unit/Quarterly Assessments aligned to CCLS

  • Implement more STEAM activities

  • Implement more project-based learning

  • Continue to improve transition programs (ie: 6th – 7th and 8th – 9th)

  • Classroom teachers utilizing word walls with common vocabulary

  • Sharing effective instructional strategies at faculty meetings

  • Create incentive programs for students

  • Incorporate more self and peer reflections for students

  • Continue to improve SSG with specific, measureable, and attainable goals and specific strategies

  • Continue to improve teachers’ awareness of other teachers’ curricula and instructional strategies

2. Increase opportunities that promote physical, social, and emotional safety and wellness in our school community

  • Increase teacher visibility throughout the school

  • Develop an effective silent mentor program

  • Improve student hallway behavior

  • Increase student involvement in recognizing and reporting incidences of bullying

  • Presentation by The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at Open House

  • Insight House presenting on the negative effects of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco

  • Guidance counselor and social worker revamping character education curriculum so the students can relate to it more

  • Educate the students on the soft skills (working with others, making eye contact, presentation, reliability)

  • Continue to improve the Middle School Teaming process

  • Severe weather drills

  • Evacuation drills

  • Drug dog searches

  • The OCC – Middle School committee that works on and plans outer circle activities for both adults and students (ie: Back to School Dance, October Fiesta, Winter Fiesta, Olympics, Citizenship Dances, Cross-Teaming Field Trips, Comedy Club for teachers)

  • Students of the Month and Students of the Marking Period

  • Cross-teaming activities for students (zoo field trip, college visits, good citizenship activities)

  • FCS mock interviews and career exploration

  • Middle School Safety Team

  • Peer mediation

  • Student Council

  • Groups for students moving into the district

  • Recognition for Scholar Athletic Teams

  • Fundraising Opportunities (ie: Make-A-Wish, UNICEF, Ronald McDonald House, Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Food Drives, Sponsoring Families During the Holidays)

  • LEAD

  • DASA requirements

  • Bullying Boxes

3. Foster tolerance and respect needed for a diverse world through positive social interactions with parents, students, staff, and community

  • Each team will mail 5 postcards home to parents letting them know something positive their child did for the week

  • The OCC will develop a parent night showcasing student projects and other fun parent/student activities

  • Continue to expand teacher webpages

  • Career Day

  • Jr. Honor Society service component

  • Senior citizen breakfast and concert

  • Exploring giving the students an opportunity to experience having a disability and reflecting on what challenges they encountered throughout the time they were “disabled”

  • Increase parental involvement (ie: parents on Middle School Safety Team, chaperoning dances, Parent Portal, parents attending SSG meetings, sending SSG plans home to parents)

  • DASA requirements

  • Fundraising Opportunities (ie: Make-A-Wish, UNICEF, Ronald McDonald House, The National Center for Missing and Exploited Youth Food Drives, Sponsoring Families During the Holidays)

  • STEAM activities involving the community

  • Guest speakers in health class

  • Community Day involvement

  • 7th Grade Tour Day

  • Parent Transition Nights

4. Middle School will continue to increase student achievement through the use of STEAM activities and units

  • All teachers will visit Pine Grove Middle School in order to further gather information regarding STEAM

  • Each team will develop STEAM activities

  • Teachers will continue to develop students’ soft skills

  • Teachers will involve the community in STEAM activities

  • Teachers will implement activities that prepare students to be college and career ready