Washington County Public Schools

School-Wide Improvement Plan 2014-2015

Page (s)

Section I

Foundation

Section II

Current Reality

Section III

Action Plan

5 20

Section IV

Professional Development Matrix

21-22

2
3-4

SPRINGFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL

Mrs. Jennifer Ruppenthal, Principal
Mr. Dave Hanks, SIT Facilitator

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SPMS 2014-2015

Section I
Foundation

School-Wide Achievement Plan

Washington County Public Schools
SPRINGFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL

All students have the ability to grow and

learn.

B
E
L
I
E
F
S

Encourage independence and selfawareness

Promote student collaboration and
cooperation
Support technology, foreign language,
AVID, and STEM immersion

VISION

MISSION

Create student-centered classrooms

Actively engage students in 21st century
learning with hands-on-learning
opportunities
Provide a safe and inviting classroom
environment
Create a community of learners that value
academics

Excellence for All

At Springfield Middle School, we foster the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical
growth of our students while preparing them to be successful learners in the 21 st century.

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SPMS 2014-2015

Section II
Current Reality

Supporting Data for Area of Focus/Goals

SPRINGFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL

List only the data used and write a rationale for developing the schools primary improvement goal.
Outcome 1: Deepen teachers content knowledge and skills to provide effective instruction and assess student progress. (MD PD standard 1.a, 1.b,)
PERFORMANCE INDICATOR: Information from school-led walk-throughs, review of SIM unit organizers, and evaluation of unit / lesson plans implemented.
Outcome 2: Support teachers understanding and use of student learning data to identify gaps between student learning and student standards of proficiency.
(MD PD standard 7.d).
PERFORMANCE INDICATOR: MAP data, Teacher-created formal and informal assessments, Data analysis to inform further instruction and reflect on teaching
strategies
Outcome 3: Enhance Classroom-Focused Improvement Process (CFIP) to differentiate learning opportunities to support professional goals .
(MD PD Standard 1.c)
IMPLEMENTATION INDICATOR: CFIP agendas and meeting notes align to school and individual FFT goals. Teachers achieve distinguished / or proficient status
for their SLO.
Outcome 4: Ensure that teachers are able to create safe, secure, and supportive learning environments for all students (MD PD Standard 5.a and 5.b)
PERFORMANCE INDICATOR: School-wide benchmark indicators for PBIS demonstrate growth on all indicators, Student Achievement Meeting agendas and
meeting notes reflect steps to address concerns (OLWEUS) Teachers will be proficient and confident in Safety initiatives(Safety committee, safety drills, etc.)
Outcome 5: Support teachers understanding of behavior indicators, including attendance and disciplinary referrals and OSS, to enhance classroom
management practices (MD PD Standard 7.e).
PERFORMANCE INDICATOR: Decrease in disciplinary referrals and Out of School Suspensions with monthly updates of PBIS data and increase teacher use of
best practices for students of poverty (New teacher classroom management session; Accessibility Strategies; New Teacher Seminar 2014/2015).
Outcome 6: Ensure that teachers have the knowledge skills, and dispositions to involve families as active partners in their childrens education. (MD PD
standard 6.a and 6.b). See Section H and I for additional data sources.
PERFORMANCE INDICATOR: PTA newsletter, Letters home about MAP results, homework hotline, Synergy, My Big Campus, eHomework update, Alert Now,
Updates to school website with input from teachers, Parent interviews to reflect level of parent satisfaction. New Teacher Seminar Community tour.

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SPMS 2014-2015

Goal 1: By June 2015, Springfield Middle School will increase the number of students meeting the
academic achievement standards as measured by the Maryland State Assessments and the Measure of
Academic Progress and deepen teachers content knowledge and skills to provide a smooth transition to
Common Core State Curriculum.
Measurable Objectives: The Measurable objectives 1, 2, and 3 are based on the 2014 MSA results and Fall MAP results.
1. READING (Informational text and Vocabulary strand information included) and MATH results

6th grade

7th grade

8th grade

50%

52%

45%

137/276

154/299

111/245

50%

54%

41%

137/276

161/299

101/245

47%

51%

47%

131/276

161/299

116/245

48%

52%

48%

130/273

153/296

117/243

MAP
Results
Reading at
Grade
Level
Informatio
nal Text
Vocabular
y
Math GL
RIT

Reading: At the end of the year, the total number of students reading at grade-level will increase by 10% per each grade level,
AND we will increase the reading level in 90% of our population. (6th grade will increase to 60% reading at grade-level, 7 th grade
will increase to 62% reading at grade-level, 8 th grade will increase to 55% reading at grade-level)

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SPMS 2014-2015

NOTE: Informational Text and Vocabulary goals have been established as SLOs for the school. (see SLO for school)
Math: At the end of the year, the number of students at grade level in mathematics will increase by 10%, and we will increase
90% of our population. (6th grade will increase to 58% performing at grade level, 7 th grade will increase to 62% performing at
grade level, 8th grade will increase to 58% performing at grade level)
2. Continue implementation of the CFIP ELL quarterly team meetings to focus decisions on data and improve MAP Reading
and Math scores for 100% of ELL and Hispanic students

Goal 2: Springfield Middle School will maintain parent and community involvement through various
strategies.
Measurable Objectives: The Measurable objectives are based on input and data collected during the 2013-2014 SY.
1. Increase the number of parent volunteer hours from 582 hours to 700.
2. Increase the number of parent/family involvement nights from previous year.
3. Implement a Parent Academy via the web (Internet) for parents.

Goal 3: Springfield Middle School will provide students with a pleasant, conducive, learning environment
for students and teachers. Teachers will utilize the PBIS behavior referral process.
Measurable Objectives: These measurable objectives 1, 2, 3 and 4 are based on the total student population unless noted
otherwise.
1. Promote and reinforce positive behaviors of students through the PBIS program and parent/student contact and decrease
referrals from 830 to 780.
2. By June 2015, decrease the number of suspensions from 20 to 18
3. By June 2015, decrease the number of AISI served from 253 to 228 (as a result of referrals).
4. By June 2015, decrease the number of AISI visits from 820 to 738.
5. Identify all students absent 15 or more days in 2013-2014 and strategically assign mentors that will hold regular meetings
with students to establish and review goals to reduce the total from 62 to 46.

Section III
Action Plan

Priority Actions for Improvement

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SPMS 2014-2015

School-Wide Strategies for Improvement: Peak Performance for Students and

Staff

Area

Instructional Practices that

Support Student
Achievement
Action Steps
I.A.1 Utilize well organized
curriculum documents to guide
decision making on teaching and
learning of CC standards,
objectives, and assessment limits
I.A.2 Participate in CFIP
meetings and planning to
collaboratively determine weak
objectives aligned with scope and
sequence and students identified
needs
I.A.3 Monitor curriculum
understanding and implementation
through CFIP meetings, review of
lesson plans, walkthroughs noting
posted mastery objectives, and
observation/feedback on
classroom instruction with a focus
on disciplinary literacy, AVID
strategies, STEM lessons and rigor
I.B.1 Data analysis will determine
the interventions/enrichments
occurring as pullout, TIE, or after
school tutoring programs.
I.B.2 Houses will develop
individual success plans for
students facing challenges with

Collaborative teacher teams will identify research-based instructional and assessment strategies to
increase student achievement.

Person Responsible

Project Completion Date

Resources Needed

All Teachers

Daily

Pacing Guides/Scope and Sequence

Unit Organizers
Math Practices/NGSS/C3/Capacities
Activities Aligned with the Md College
& Career Readiness Standards

All Teachers

Minimum once per marking period

Academic Leadership Team

Monthly

Walk-Throughs

Content Area Teachers, BLT

Daily

Benchmarks, checkpoints
MAP Scores

House Members, Asst. Principals,

Counselors

Weekly

Item Analysis Reports

Unit Test Data
MAP data
Checkpoints/Benchmarks/Tasks

MP Failure Report
SAM documents

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SPMS 2014-2015

meeting academic goals

I.B.3 Full implementation of the
unit organizers- a research based
instructional delivery approach
(SIM) to assist students in meeting
academic goals
I.B.4 Through CFIP and
weekly/house collaborative
meetings identify appropriate
instructional strategies that result
in a high degree of student
engagement and student mastery
of learning objectives ensuring a
focus on interdisciplinary
connections, 21st Century skills,
and technology integration.
I.B.5 Provide special education
students/at risk students
opportunities for small group preteaching, direct instruction, and
guided practice
I.C.1 Familiarize students with
annual assessment formats
(Science MSA, and PARCC),
procedures and practices
I.C.2 Review data of all students
to determine reading and math
interventions
I.C.3 Implementation of common
assessment strategies through
collaboration meetings.
I.E.1 Conduct monthly SIT
meetings to monitor the
implementation of the School
Improvement Plan

All Teachers

Bi-Weekly

SIM Unit Organizers

Curriculum Documents

All Teachers

Weekly

Curriculum resources (PARCC,

CCSS, STEM)
WICOR-AVID Strategies

Weekly

Pre-Assessment results
Informal and Formal assessment
MAP data

Content Area Teachers

On-going

Online practice assessments

Ipad keyboards
Teacher Created Assessments
Content Benchmarks
LA Tasks, Checkpoints

IFIP Team, SEC, BLT

Weekly

Meeting Notes, MAP Scores, Lexiles,

LA Tasks, Checkpoints

Content Area Teachers

Weekly

Assessment Documents

SIT Facilitator

Monthly

Survey Results
Teacher Data

Special Education Case Manager

Content Teachers
Paraprofessionals

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SPMS 2014-2015

I.E.2 Conduct Instructional

Leadership Team meetings
(Admin, Department Leaders,
Special Education Case Manager)
to monitor subgroup performance
and school climate indicators
I.E.3 Conduct informal
classroom walk-throughs to
monitor quality classroom
instruction
I.E.4 Conduct weekly IFIP
(Literacy) Team meetings

Principal

Monthly

SIT Survey Responses

School Progress Index

Administrators, Instructional
Leaders

Monthly

Walk Through Documents

Teachscape Walkthrough

Weekly

RITS Spreadsheet

Admin, BLT, SEC, Sp. Ed dept.

leader, Reading Specialist

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SPMS 2014-2015

Section III
Action Plan

Priority Actions for Improvement

Area

School-Wide Strategies for Improvement: Peak Performance for Students and

Staff Customer and Stakeholder Satisfaction

Parent/Community
Involvement
Action Steps
III.A.1 Host grade
level/departmental parent forums
through Back to School Night,
Spring Celebration, Celebration
Ceremony (grade 8)
III.A.2 Encourage and provide
two-way family communications
through PTA newsletter (email),
PTA membership, phone calls
home for absent students,
Homework Hotline, Synergy,
School Web Site, eHomework line,
and AlertNOW messages
III.A.3 Increase PTA attendance
by making personal phone calls
requesting attendance and
ensuring that teachers and/or
administration attend each meeting
III.A.4 Encourage parent
participation in Student Support
Team meetings

Increase parent and community involvement through strategies outlined in the National Network for
Partnership Schools Action Plan.

Person Responsible

Project Completion Date

Resources Needed

Administration
All teachers

June August

Schedule Alert Now Reminders

School Website
Media

Administration and staff

On-going

Newsletter
Letters
Web Site

PTA President

Monthly

PTA Calendar
PTA Officers Phone List

Administration

Weekly

Parent Invitations
Administration & PPW Letters
Home Visits

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SPMS 2014-2015

III.A.5 Encourage parents to

assist by volunteering
School-based sports teams, Destination
Imagination Team, Green School, Book
Fairs (FALL and SPRING), Field Trips,
Office Support, Band Activities, Food
Pantry, and Spring Celebration

On-going

Calendar of Events
Email Addresses
Volunteer Coordinator

Principal and staff

On-going

Calendar of Events
Event Posters
Alert Now Reminders
Press Releases to Local Media

Activity Organizer

On-going

Flyers, Newsletters, New Webpage

Principal and staff

III.B.1 Increase school image in

the community through activities:

Music Performances (Riversong,

Orchestra, Band, Jazz Band)
Drama Productions
Spring Celebration
Sixth Grade
PBIS Carnival
PBIS Cougar Cup
Transition Night
Book Fairs
Student Government
Drives(Food, Hat Day, SPCA,
Toys for Tots, Pennies for
Patients, Breast Cancer
Awareness, etc.)
Back To School Nights
Orientation for incoming parents
and students
Springfield Middle Volleyball
League
Clubs: LEO club, National Junior
Honor Society
River Rat Cross Country Run
Field Trips
STARS celebration
Read Across America
Recycling Drives
Food Pantry

III.B.2 Encourage teacher

presence in the community
through AVID, Band & PTA
restaurant fundraising events and
local student events.

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Section III
Action Plan

Priority Actions for Improvement

Area

School-Wide Strategies for Improvement: Customer and Stakeholder Satisfaction

School Climate
Action Steps

Implement research based school-wide programs and strategies to address student discipline, increase
student attendance, and reduce suspensions and student drop-outs.

Person Responsible

Project Completion Date

Resources Needed

STUDENT ATTENDANCE
II.A.1 Utilize incentive program to
encourage and reward increased
student attendance
Record Cougar Cash at each
marking period for perfect
attendance
Hold drawings for gift cards every
marking period for perfect
attendance
II.A.2 Utilize Student Intervention
Specialists and Pupil Personnel
Worker to perform home visits of
identified students through SST
II.A.3 Increase student attendance
and opportunity to learn by
providing alternative programs to
Out of School Suspensions (OSS)
II.A.4 Utilize a variety of strategies
to decrease the number of tardies
to school (SST team to decide)

Houses and Homerooms

End of Marking Period

Attendance Data
Cougar Bank

Student Support Team

Weekly

Attendance Data
Referral Data

Assistant Principals

Daily

Attendance Data
Referral Data

Assistant Principals

Daily

Attendance Data

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STUDENT BEHAVIOR
II.B.1 Conduct Success Through
Academic Recognition of Students
(STARS) Assembly to reward
student achievement and conduct
II.B.2 Increase the consistency of
teacher use of Positive Behavior
Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
II.B.3 Engage students in
activities to support character
development including Character
Counts and NBA Zone
I.F.6 Employ the Where Everybody
Belongs (WEB) Program to provide
opportunities for student leadership
and to ensure smooth student
transition to middle school
including Summer Orientation
Meetings and Monthly WEB Followup Activities
I.F.7 Hold articulation meetings in
the spring with feeder schools for
incoming SWD sixth graders and
literacy screenings

Grade level teams/ teams

End of Marking Period

Team Representative
Student Write-Ups
Donuts and Coffee

PBIS Committee

Daily

Staff Meeting Reinforcement

Email Reminders
Walk-throughs

PBIS Committee
NBA Zone Committee

Weekly

Teacher Lesson Schedule

Lesson Plans
Book Study

WEB Leaders

Weekly

Calendar of Events
Sixth Grade Lesson Schedule

Special Education Case Manager

Reading Specialist

Spring

Elementary Case Manager Names

5th grade SWD Testing
Accommodations

Monthly

Communication Documents
SIS Documents
Team Collaboration

I.F.8 Establish standardized

communication with feeder schools

Sixth grade teacher visits/meetings

with incoming elementary students
Counselors to Counselor meetings
with elementary students
Student Intervention Specialists for atrisk students moving to high school
High School course explanations and
scheduling
AVID program in conjunction with high
school

Counseling Department
Grade Level SIS
AVID Coordinator

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I.F.9 Create master schedule by

March 2015 based on students
academic needs, interventions and
enrichment opportunities

I.F.10 Ease transitions within

the school by establishing
visitation between teachers and
students in upcoming grade
levels Invite 5th graders to Summer

Spring

Projected Enrollment
Staffing
Programs Offered

Spring

NBA Calendar of Events

Spring

Calendar of Events

Daily

Recommended Students

SIS
AVID Coordinator
Counselors

Yearly

Calendar of Events
Permission Slips
Teacher, Guidance, and Admin
Recommendations

Identified Teachers

End of Marking Period

Certificates
Grade Level Spreadsheet

Administration
SGA Advisors and Officers

Quarterly

Meeting, Agendas, and Notes

Instructional Leadership

Counseling Department
NBA Zone Group Leaders
Summer School Coordinator

School program

I.F.11 Conduct Vertical Teaming

Meetings with feeder elementary
magnet program teachers to share
instructional ideas.

Magnet Coordinator

STUDENT LEADERSHIP
II.C.1 Organize student produced
morning announcements
II.C.2 Provide opportunities for
students to participate in career
awareness programs including Day
on the Job, visitation to Tech
High/Barbara Ingram/Colleges,
STEM, guest speakers
II.C.3 Recognize outstanding
student achievement by:
Recognizing Honor Roll and
Distinguished Honor Roll each
marking period
Presidential Award for
Excellence in 8th Grade (yearly)
National Jr. Honor Society
II.C.4 Administration will meet
with Student Government
Association to allow student
representatives to share concerns
and offer suggestions for school

Sponsor Teacher

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improvement to promote literacy,

and college/career readiness.
Attend county level SGA meetings.
II.C.5 Design lessons for NBA
Zone to encourage WEB leaders to
take leadership roles

NBA Committee/ WEB Committee

Monthly

Calendar of Events
Lesson Ideas

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Section III
Action Plan

Priority Actions for Improvement

Area

School-Wide Strategies for Improvement: Peak Performance for Students and Staff

Transition to Common Core

Curriculum & Assessments

Attach Educator Effectiveness Academy plan if applicable.

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Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Column 4

Column 5

Professional Development Activity

Worksho
p
Pay

Additional
Pay

Substitute
s

____hours x
$25 =

1. PBIS/NBAZone/AVID Team Planning and

Implementation
2. Collaboration/Problem Solving
Workshop/Shadowing Days

24 hours x
$25 =
$600
48 hours x
$25 =
$1000

(other than
workshop)
($119.00/day
$59.50/1/2
day)

Column 8

Professional

Travel

Development

(Registration,
Lodging,
Transportation
,&
Subscriptions)

Consultan
t

Total
$4567.00

Materials
(books, journals,
etc. for adult
learners)

1@$119.00

$1319.00
2X $699.00

34 hours
X $25 =
$850

5. Standards Based Grading and Assessment

training
6.PARCC lesson development

Column 7

$600.00

3.AVID registration
4. Magnet 1-1 Integration PD

Column 6

13X 59.50=
$773.50
2@$119.00

7 hours X
$25

$1398.00
$1623.50

$413.00

$651.00
$175.00

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