NMSA09 School Visits
- See exemplary middle school practices in action.
- Talk with teachers, administrators, and students.
- Hear firsthand the challenges and rewards of implementing best practices.
- Ask about lessons learned and improvements made.
School visit participants, must have a ticket to attend. Tickets must be purchased with conference registration. Register early. School visits sell out quickly!
All School Visits will take place on Thursday, November 5, 2009
Tickets - $50
SV1301
Professional Learning Communities in the Middle
Brownsburg East Middle School
Bus departs at 7:15 a.m. – estimated return at 12:00 p.m.
Teachers will spend time with Professional Learning Communities as they plan and pace curriculum, design assessments, analyze data, and implement the rigor, relevance, and relationships framework. After observing the PLC in action, teachers will have a question and answer session with a panel of teachers and administrators to gain further insight into the structure, mechanics, and vision of Professional Learning Communities.
SV1302
Connections in the Middle
Chapel Hill 7th & 8th Grade Center
Bus departs at 8:15 a.m. – estimated return at 12:30 p.m.
Inside a large, successful, urban school district, Chapel Hill is a deliciously diverse school of 1200 seventh and eighth graders. Because so many former middle school principals exist as principals at grades 9-12, as well as inside central office, the support for middle school is enormous. Chapel Hill runs a teamed, block schedule, which includes full services for a large ENL program, a special education program, as well as a gifted program. AVID, Read 180, and Systems 44 are all part of our outreach to struggling learners, in addition to an extensive professional development offering for staff. The CHC site visit would also include our 9th Grade Center Principal who would join us in discussing transitions, as well as RTI at the secondary level.
SV1303
Christel House Academy: an Intercity, Urban Charter School
Christel House Academy
Bus departs at 8:15 a.m. – estimated return at 12:30 p.m.
Christel House Academy is a diverse urban school that sits in an economically depressed neighborhood, where 88% of the students are on free or reduced lunch, 60% are minorities, and 20% don't speak English as a first language yet. The Academy's state test scores are nearly 20% higher than that of the local school district. Labeled as an "Exemplary School" by the Indiana Department of Education and awarded a Title I High Performing School Award for Closing the Achievement Gap in 2008, Christel House achieves these results by holistic investments in the students and their families.
SV1304
The "Greenwood Way": Developing a School Culture of Excellence
Greenwood Middle School
Bus departs at 8:00 a.m. – estimated return at 12:30 p.m.
Greenwood Middle School is a sixth, seventh, and eighth grade school on the edge of a large urban area. Over the last ten years, we have seen a significant change in our demographics, including an increase in our free/reduced textbook population and transience rate. Nonetheless, our academic successes continue to grow. We attribute this to adopting the "Greenwood Way" … a school culture the encourages students, parents, and staff to "but into" proven methods of educating young adolescents.
SV1305
Recognizing Student Success with Positive Reinforcements
Mt. Vernon Middle School
Bus departs at 7:30 a.m. – estimated return at 12:30 p.m.
Through as positive behavioral intervention plan called "Marattitudes," MVMS students understand the importance of being safe, trustworthy, present, prepared, and respectful. Students have developed skits, murals, videos, and scrapbooks among others to display their understanding of the Marattitudes and those who display a good understanding are rewarded daily, weekly, and quarterly. MVMS has numerous incentive committees that reward students for grades and academic success, along with a program to motivate students who are not succeeding at their best. Additionally, MVMS has developed a very successful Response to Intervention (RtI) model for both academic and behavioral issues.
SV1306
Improving a High-performing School: Creating a Culture for Students and Staff
School: Creekside Middle School
Bus departs at 6:50 a.m. – estimated return at 12:00 p.m.
Over 1300 students attend Creekside Middle School in suburban Carmel, Indiana. This high-performing school consistently excels academically, athletically, and in the performing arts. The students at Creekside take an active role in working with the staff to create a positive climate and an academic program that challenges its students and teachers. The foundation of the rigorous curriculum is a balanced literacy approach and an emphasis on problem solving in all disciplines. Creekside is a national training center for autism. View Creekside Middle School Video
SV1307
Meeting Students Needs with a Global Reach
Westlane Middle School
Bus departs at 7:45 a.m. – estimated return at 12:00 p.m.
Visitors will be able to observe a creative block schedule where high expectations and an innovative Core+ class provides imbedded enrichment and reteaching experiences daily. AVID strategies are used schoolwide providing challenges and critical thinking in all classrooms with the routine use of Socratic Seminars. Finally, our World Language curriculum, offers opportunities in French, Spanish, and Chinese and interaction with our second language learners. Our duel partnerships with China and Taiwan provide regular interactions between our sister schools.
SV1308
Using Technology to Create Education 2.0
Zionsville Middle School
Bus departs at 7:30 a.m. – estimated return at 11:30 a.m.
Zionsville Middle School began a 1:1 student laptop pilot program in the fall of 2008. This initiative has focused upon the construction of an improved instructional process and an evolved role of the teacher, all made possible through ubiquitous technology and staff interest in pursuit of best practice. Visitors will be invited to observe and interact with teachers and students in the 1:1 environment and to learn about the program's development and expansion.
SV1309
Implementing Research-Based Best Practices from the Ground Up
Franklin Township Middle School East
Bus departs at 7:30 a.m. – estimated return at 10:30 a.m.
Franklin Township Middle School East is a new, state of the art facility that was designed for implementation of research-based best practices. During the school visit, educators will experience a school environment and culture that is student focused and data driven. The school's program design includes an innovative block schedule that accommodates extended learning time in English/Language Arts, Mathematics, and re-teaching time daily. This new school environment is focused on implementing a new program known as Positive Behavior Intervention and Support, developed during the 2008-2009 school year.
SV1310
Sixth Grade Success: Closing the Maturity Gap
Southport 6th Grade Academy and Perry 6th Grade Academy
Bus departs at 8:00 a.m. – estimated return at 11:45 a.m.
Southport Academy and Perry Academy are two of the few 6th grade only buildings in the country. These Academies offer a unique approach to dealing with both the academic and emotional needs of young adolescents. We consider ourselves to be a hybrid of both elementary and middle school. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to observe the classroom setting, speak with school administrators and staff, and experience life as a 6th grader in the 21st Century.
SV1311
Center for Inquiry at School #2
Center for Inquiry at School #2
Bus departs at 8:30 a.m. – estimated return at 12:15 p.m.
The Center for Inquiry is a K-8 magnet option school within the Indianapolis Public School district. The magnet focus is inquiry and internationalism. The school is authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization in both the Primary Years Programme (PYP), serving students in grades K-6 and the Middle Years Programme (MYP), serving students in grades 7-8. The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) follows naturally the PYP and serves as excellent preparation for the Diploma Programme, which is offered at Northwest High School. The MYP model embodies three fundamental concepts: communication, holistic learning, and internationalism. MYP course work includes two languages. At CFI, these language studies are English and Spanish or Mandarin. Additional courses include Humanities (history and geography), Sciences, Mathematics (number and pre-algebra), Visual Arts, Vocal and Instrumental Music Performing Arts, Physical Education, and Technology.