Site+Visit+Subcommittee

Site Visit Subcommittee Members: Janet Dunn jdunn@lmtsd.org Hanne Laursen hlaursen@lmtsd.org Bobbie Koenig bkoenig@lmtsd.org Shaina McDaniels smcdaniels@lmtsd.org Michelle Kim mmkim97@aol.com

Identify priority issues: Character Education ( already being researched by another committee) Social/Friendship skills development Teach empathy Instill a sense of responsibility Restorative Practices All students have access to the counselor to meet individual need
 * __Elementary__**

__**Middle School**__ Study Skills Character Education (already being researched by another committee) Social/Friendship Skills Development Teach Empathy Instill a sense of responsibility Restorative Practices All students have access to the counselor to meet individual needs Transition Practices Anti-Bullying Program

__**High School**__ Mentoring Program (Student Forum) Central Bucks System to Improve Placement of Students

New Student Screening Parent Overide Process in placement issues

Next Meeting:Tuesday, January 12, 2010 @ 2:45pm in Room 46 @ Pine Road (Bobbie Koenig's classroom) We will be discussing priority issues which have been identified at each building level, and any preliminary research findings and resources

Attendance: Hanne Lauerson, Bobbie Koenig, Michelle Kim, Janet Dunn Pertinent topics per building level were discussed and prioritized by team members interests. It was decided that many of the topics listed in the elementary level also were important at the middle school level, so the m.s. list was edited. The **top** area of interests:
 * Meeting Notes from January 12, 2010**

Character Education Restorative practices Bobby Koenig and Hanne Lauerson will be contacting/visiting Lower Merion (Anne Heffron, Principal) to gather information on the implementation of their Character Education program
 * __Elementary__**

Transitional Practices Michelle Kim will be contacting/visiting Upper Dublin (Jill Morgans, Guidance Director) to explore their programs for students transitioning from 8th into 9th grade
 * __Middle School__**

Mentoring Program (Student Forum) Parent Override Process Janet Dunn and Shaina McDaniels will be contacting/visiting Central Bucks and North Penn to explore their mentoring progams and parent override policies.
 * __High School__**

Next meeting: February 23, 2010 @ 2:45pm in Rm. 46 @ Pine Road We will discuss findings from our contacts/visits

Contact was made with Lower Merion School District, Merion Elementary School. They have many excellent programs in place. We are trying to set up a time to visit so that we can learn more about the nuts and bolts of implementing these programs as well as the results that have been observed with their use. They currently use: School Families - a cross-grade level group of children who meet with an adult staff member once a month Second Step - program for impulse control and anger managment used K - 5 Morning Meetings - daily circle time in each classroom to address any current problem or issue Responsive Classroom - just getting started Bucket Fillers - positive reinforcement
 * Meeting Notes February 23, 2010**
 * __Elementary__**

__**Middle School**__ Contact was made with Upper Dublin School District, Abington School District and Cheltenham School District regarding Transitional Practices to High School Abington General Orientation No transitional Programs or services. No tracking until high school with the exception of Math
 * HS Seniors talk with jr. high students about the transitions to the high school. Topics: programming, expectations, extracurricular activities
 * Jr. high students set goals using "Career Cruising"
 * Students have mid-terms and finals
 * Students can attend a Learning Center, staffed by certified teachers, for aditional academic support to ready for HS
 * Any student not proficient on the PSSA must attend a two period/week class: Math Plus or Reading Access
 * For grades 7 and 8 they offer tutorials
 * All 7 and 8 grade students must take a Reading Class with Study Skills embedded
 * 9th grade students do a major research paper for one marking period
 * Parent night with counselors and department chairs
 * Cheltenham**
 * Middle School teachers and HS teachers have in-service days together to review programs in both schools to align
 * 8th grade students have mid-terms and finals to learn good study habits
 * 8th grade students do a major research paper for Social Studies which is also being graded in English
 * Two student/parent evenings: Department Chairs
 * Freshmen ambassadors program, where freshmen students reach out to middle school students
 * There is a push for more universal acceleration-more heterogeneous placements
 * Upper Dublin**

__Anti-Bullying Site Visit__

Murray Avenue is also looking to implement an anti-bullying program for the 2010-2011 school year. Radnor Middle School, in Radnor School District, has an Anti-Bullying Program in place. Linda Helm and Shaina McDaniels visited the school on 3/9/10 to learn more about the program. A list of questions was drafted prior to the site-visit. The questions are listed below, as well as the responses to those questions.



The two priority issues identified were Parent Override Process and Student Forum. Findings: > Student must remain in course regardless of performance (not in any written policy) > > **Central Bucks** > Parents have final say of course placement up to and through the first week of the school year > > **Upper Dublin** > Against Educational Advice (AEA) form signed by parent. There is no restriction on having to remain in the inrecommended course. > > **Cheltenham** > Course Recommendation Override Form > Parent signs form which states that the parent takes responsibility for student success and that they will not be removed from the class, regardless of grade. > > **Wissahickon** > Parent Override Form where parent takes responsibility for student success but allows them to move if student is unsuccessful > > **Student Forum** > The only comprehensive Mentor program found (to date) is Central Bucks South H.S. It was instituted as part of a grant, thesis, etc. by one of its administrators. The purpose of the program is well intended, but has experienced its share of problems and concerns with the faculty. > Purpose: > The goal is to increase community, decrease student isolation and alienation, empower students, build self esteem and personalize learning....A Personal Connection to the Students Responsibilities of Mentor:
 * __High School__**
 * Parent Override Process**
 * Springfield**
 * Parent must write a letter to petition change in placement after a meeting has been held with the counselor and department head.
 * To help students develop constructive relationships with their peers, key adults, and with their communities
 * To work on developing, both individually and in a group context, the inquiring habits of mind
 * To help students feel that it matters what they are doing with their minds and their lives and to recognize the ways in which the two relate.
 * Implement lesson plans (Staff provided summer curriculum writing to develop lesson plans) that meet the daily/weekly objective
 * Be a student advocate
 * "Notice" what's going on...student that is upset, angry, etc. and refer to appropriate staff memnber or diffuse a situation
 * Ensure that no student becomes ananymous
 * Make a connection with each student
 * Know students well enough to detect problems but don't counsel students through them.
 * Facilitate the articulation of student voices
 * Encourage participation in student government and extracurricular activites

15 students /group. 15 minutes/forum. All high school personnel have a forum. No discipline/attendance interventions. Sample Topics: Orientation to High School Safety/Security Study Skills Time Management Naviance Career Planning and Goal Setting Bias and Stereotype Drug/Alcohol Awareness Breast Cancer Awareness Food Drive Naviance 7 Habits of Highly Effective teens Teen Driving: Getting Your License PSAT/SAT Post Secondary Planning Naviance Homecoming Activities Post High Planning SAT Prep Senior Project Senior Class Activities (yearbook, prom, etc.) Naviance
 * 9th**
 * 10th**
 * 11th**
 * 12th**

Central Bucks High School South- Janet Dunn and Laura Blanche visited with Taryn Barrett, Guidance Counselor and Maria Reitano, Assistant Principal on April 22, 2010. The main focus of the visit was to observe Titan Forum, a unique and effective mentoring program that exists in the high school for grades 10 through 12. Laura visited a 12th grade forum and Janet visited a 10th. As well, we had an opportunity to meet with Ms. Reitano, the Administrator overseeing the program and received valuable resources and information on the purpose, the process, and implementation of Titan Forum. We were also provided with sample topics per grade level, and responsibilities of forum mentors. Our overall impressions were very positive, and the student reception for forum is very high.
 * SITE VISITS**
 * High School**

Comparing Websites:

Conestoga High School

I visited the Conestoga High School web page to look into the Guidance Department web page. It was not easy to locate the web page in the first place. It was listed under Student Services, and the you still had to search for Guidance Services. A mission statement was posted and individual counselors were listed. The page was very matter of factly set up. No frills and basic. Creativity was kept to a minimum. It contained information about the guidance calendar, though it was called Developmental Plan, College Applications could only be accessed if you logged onto Naviance or The Common Application. I did not find anything on this page from which we could benefit. It seems to me that our page offers much more information, is more creative, and easier to navigate.