Hahira Middle School - Middle Grade Forums

GEORGIA LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOLS TO WATCH
HAHIRA MIDDLE SCHOOL—VISITOR’S GUIDE
Hahira Middle School
2010-2011 School Statistics
(Source: Hahira Middle School)
Enrollment: 820
Grade Levels: 6-8
Student Demographics
02%
Hispanic
76%
White
16%
African American
>1%
American Indian
03%
Asian
02%
Multiracial
30%
Free/Reduced Lunch
>1%
English Learners
Designated in 2009
2004 AYP:
2005 AYP:
2006 AYP:
2007 AYP:
2008 AYP:
2009 AYP:
2010 AYP:
MET
MET
MET
MET
MET
MET
MET
Hahira Middle School
● County: Lowndes
● State: Georgia
● Principal: Janet Hendley
● School Address: 101 S. Nelson St. Hahira, GA 31632
● Phone: (229) 794-2838.
● Website: www.hahiramiddle.org
School Characteristics and Replicable Practices
E-mail (XXX) XXX-XXXX
School Web site
Academic Excellence
• High expectations for academic success are set for all students at HMS. Parents are notified of these
expectations through communication via syllabi, team letters, newsletters, school handbook and
school and teacher web-pages.
• HMS develops a school improvement plan each year based on data interpretation and needs of the
students from the previous school year.
• All teachers at HMS incorporate the Georgia Performance Standards in their lessons and use a
variety of teaching strategies to ensure student success. Lessons are enhanced through the
incorporation of Learning Focused strategies.
• Grade levels are ensured common planning times so that teams and departments may utilize the time
to work cooperatively on units, lessons and strategies to continue student success. This time also
contributes to each team’s ability to cover a topic across disciplines. Many departmental meetings
are held in the teacher resource/data room so that teachers may incorporate the data findings in the
decision making process. Departments also develop common benchmark and unit assessments.
The assessments are analyzed so that necessary re-teaching strategies may be developed.
• Technology is an ongoing incorporation in classrooms at HMS. The media specialists continuously
•
•
•
•
update teachers on new technology and software that they have been introduced to through
professional development trainings, seminars, conferences, journals and research. Each year every
teacher at HMS receives a minimum of six hours of technology training delivered by the media
specialists.
All disciplines incorporate writing in their lessons to ensure that all students are Writing Across the
Curriculum.
Meeting the reading across the curriculum (RAC) standard is a school wide effort. Students read in
all of their academic areas as well as their connections and physical education classes. The media
specialists develop a program each year to assist with the goals of the RAC program. Students
receive various recognition and awards throughout the school year for meeting the set goals.
HMS utilizes computer programs such as Study Island, Success Maker and Online Assessment
System to assist with student success. Needs of students with disabilities who might require extra
help are met through an extended learning time, tutoring, collaborative teaching classes, blueprint
classes, RTI, after school program and benchmark/unit assessments.
Students are recognized for their academic success through the Honor Roll Board, Vikings On A Roll
recognition, Pride Power Drawing, Principal’s Cookout, Picnic Lunch Reward and Honor’s Day Award
Ceremony.
Developmental Responsiveness
• HMS demonstrates an awareness and understanding of the developmental changes of our
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
adolescent students. Each summer, HMS holds a 6th, 7th and 8th grade summer orientation to give
students an opportunity to visit the school, make school pictures, pay for lockers and yearbooks,
etc. as they tour the school. A transition committee works with students and teachers to ensure that
the transition from elementary to middle school is smooth and students are ready to handle the
transition.
In addition, upcoming 5th grade students from our feeder schools visit HMS and visit with students to
get a feel for the teachers, classes, and schedule.
Counselors work with students on team with career guidance, bullying, and other issues that
adolescents deal with in middle school.
Teachers are trained to recognize and handle situations that are problematic for the students.
Parent University is scheduled yearly to assist parents with the issues that affect their students as
they attend middle school.
HMS provides two counselors as well as a school nurse, and resource officer who provides special
assistance to students and their families. Other services are available through social workers.
Teachers provide standards based learning activities that are designed to promote creativity,
curiosity, and development of social skills in a structured and supportive environment.
A variety of instructional strategies are employed as well as procedures and routines to establish
effective classroom management. HMS has an assertive discipline plan that allows teachers to
handle minor issues on team before they result in office referrals.
Study and organizational skills are addressed by teachers in AA as well as in each academic and
connection classroom. Students are required to keep organized notebooks and teachers perform
notebook checks to monitor organization. Students are required to keep an agenda book to record
homework and grades.
Students have access to state of the art technology in the classrooms such as Airliners, Mobi’s,
laptops, smartboards and computer microscopes. Teachers ensure that the curriculum is tied to the
personal and career interests of the students. They are given opportunities to talk about the issues
they deal with on a daily basis not only in their own lives but in their community and the world.
The HMS counselors provide peer mediation for students involved in conflicts. Students are taught
to make informed choices, to work collaboratively with others in groups, and how to resolve
conflicts. Team work is a theme that is stressed and incorporated throughout the school.
HMS has a Career Day each year to give students an opportunity to learn about various careers. The
8th grade teams visit local college campuses to learn about the programs of study available at each
school.
HMS has a student advisory council made up of students from each team. This group meets with the
Principal regularly to discuss topics related to the school. Through this council, student
representatives are given a voice to ask questions and participate in decisions. Teachers and
•
•
•
•
•
administrators promote an open door policy for students. Teachers utilize student-led parent
conferences in an effort to promote student involvement and accountability.
Through writing, reading across the curriculum, and problem-solving activities, teachers use an
interdisciplinary approach in order to reinforce important concepts, skills, and addressing real world
problems.
Students are given many opportunities to explore a rich variety of topics and interests in order to
develop their own identity, to identify their strengths and weaknesses, and make plans for their
future. This is done through classroom guidance, clubs, career day, and “reality checks” with
counselors for students who are struggling academically. School-wide emphasis is placed on high
expectations when establishing academic and career goals.
Parents and community members are informed and encouraged to participate in school activities and
decision-making through HMS parent/teacher organization, HMS website, Community Partners in
Education, Parent Connect, Parent Link, and School Council.
Students are given many opportunities to develop their citizenship skills and use the community as
their classroom as they involve the community in their learning through events such CPIE breakfast,
Honeybee Pageant, Jingle Bell Festival, Parent University, mock elections, tournaments, canned food
drives, and letters to our military soldiers.
Students are able to foster social skills and character, and to develop their own interests outside the
classroom through participation in clubs, sports, connection classes, chorus, band, art exhibits,
Pure Love Conference, and Power Team presentations.
Social Equity
• HMS has high academic and behavioral expectations for all students.
• The faculty and administration of HMS are committed to do whatever it takes for students to succeed.
• Students are offered opportunities for tutoring, Blueprint classes (remediation), differentiated
instruction, heterogeneous grouping, mentoring, technology training, and extended learning classes.
• Instruction and assessments are varied and differentiated based upon the needs and interests of the
students.
• Teachers meet weekly to discuss units/lessons and student work. Teachers participate in
professional development opportunities based upon needs identified within the school.
• The leadership team meets regularly to discuss programs, curriculum and other ways to improve the
performance of the students.
• HMS believes in providing full access to all resources for students as they research and analyze data
and learn to solve problems.
• All students have the opportunity to participate in extra-curricular activities and classes.
• Students are given opportunities to learn about other cultures through the Asian Cultural Festival,
Taiwanese Young Folk Sports Troupe, guest speakers, and through academic studies.
• Students are valued and respected and each student has one significant person who is an advocate
and supporter for that student.
• The faculty and administration is committed to providing a culturally diverse faculty for the school
and community.
• Teachers, students, parents and community members are kept informed of the rules and discipline
code through the student handbook, agenda, assertive discipline plan, teacher/school web pages,
resources officer, classroom management classes, discipline newsletters and counselors.
Organizational Supports
• HMS shares their mission and vision statement with students, parents and community by ensuring it
is posted in every classroom, in the hallways and on the school website.
• HMS has formed various committees that are critical to the school’s success. These committees
analyze, plan and develop programs that are incorporated in the school. These committees are the
following: Leadership Team, School Council, Department Heads, Administration, Transition
Committee, and SEEDS (new teacher program).
• Professional learning opportunities are available throughout the school year. The basis of these
classes are determined by faculty needs, in-service training, technology needs, Academic Coach,
Curriculum Director, continued GPS training, unit revisions and Learning Focused Schools
strategies
• County wide in-service training for data analysis, unit revisions, curriculum mapping, common
•
•
•
•
•
assessments, transitions, vertical teaming and new teacher orientation ensures that HMS is a part of
the Lowndes County School System.
HMS has developed a teacher resource/data room that is utilized by all faculty members to assist
with the school improvement plan to ensure student success.
HMS partners with Valdosta State University to mentor student teachers.
HMS’ community is a large aspect in our continued success. HMS currently has over thirty
Community Partners in Education, as well as access to over sixty Partners At Large (who service
both Lowndes County and Valdosta City Schools).
The Parent School Improvement Committee at HMS continues to grow each year. The PSIC works
hard to assist teachers and provide the teachers with needed support.
HMS’ school website is continuously updated to provide students, parents and community with the
most current information. The website also provides links for communication with school
employees, resource for parents, teachers and students, the school improvement plan and numerous
other resources to work towards student success.
www.hahiramiddle.org