Hazel2007 – 2008 Quarter 2 Review

Greetings all!  We have reached the mid-point of our school year. The growth and progress of our school continues to produce great results, while improving all aspects of our program delivery.

As I shared with you in our Quarter 1 Review, the structural shifts we have made as an organization are beginning to show significant results.

• Student Recognition – This quarter HPA rolled out its Student of the Quarter campaign (SOQ) and it proved to be a huge success.  24 students were honored for their performance in the 2^nd Quarter.  All students who had received

“Student of the Week” recognition were eligible for selection.  A cross section of staff then looked at all of the eligible students and made the selections based on the following criteria: Academic Achievement, Attitude and Attendance. Wow, the selection was tough as we have so many high performing students!  Our honored SOQs were treated to a recognition breakfast with their friends and family, a pizza lunch with the principal, and a field trip to WorldVison, a company that provides school products for schools. The SOQs did some warehouse organizational work to benefit other student in the metro area.  In addition they were given an HPA T-Shirt that identified them as SOQ and will be privileged to be “out of uniform” on Fridays during Quarter 3, as well as being given a “Front of the Line” lunch pass for Quarter 3.  We are very proud of our SOQs and look forward to our next recognition at the end of March. 

• Hornet Challenge – We also began another pride building effort in the form of the Hornet Challenge.  An advisory competition features the principal and in many cases students each Friday morning.  The principal gets on the closed-circuit TV and presents questions (related, for the most part, specifically to our curriculum) to all the HPA advisories. Advisories then submit their answers to the office.  A running total is kept and at the end of the quarter the advisory (both 7^th and 8^th grade) with the most points are awarded a pizza lunch with the principal.  For Quarter 2 the 7^th grade advisory winner was Mrs. Stuart and in the 8^th grade, Mrs. Corbett who was tied with Ms. Lamprecht’s advisory took the title on the roll of the die. The student participation and “chatter” in the hallways indicated they had fun with it… which ultimately was the point.

• Family/Community Involvement - We have worked very hard as a learning community to establish new relationships with our community as well as reengaging previous relationships.  Working with the East Side Business Association and the White Bear Avenue Business Association we have begun to share our vision for HPA.  We are now in the process of developing partnerships to support our students.

• 3M Partnership – A new relationship has developed between HPA and 3M. Boy are we excited!  While still in its infancy, much discussion is taking place to identify specific ideas and programs that can again offer for our students great opportunities.  Stay tuned for more details as this relationship grows and ideas begin to take shape and move into implementation.

• DATA… just look at the Data.  First quarter data was impressive and 2^nd Quarter was no let down.  Specific academic achievement information as well as discipline data is available here. The DATA will be loaded for you to view in the near future.

• Technology Initiative – HPA continues to move forward in providing its learning community with state of the art technology.  We are have just begun an initiative with the district technology department as our partner to begin installing SMARTboards.  SMARTboards are interactive boards that provide teachers and students with creative and fun ways to learn.  Five SMARTboards will be installed in the coming weeks and we will continue to invest in this type of technology, with a total of nine boards installed by the fall of ’08!

• HPACC - Hazel Park Academy Collaborative Council – the leadership team at HPA is currently facilitating research based, best practice task forces focused on our three primary initiatives:
1. Systematic academic intervention pyramid -  will allow us to set up specific interventions for ALL students.  The outcome will allow us to provide various, specific and directed interventions for students who are not proficient.  More specific details will be provided as they become solidified.
2. Systematic behavioral intervention pyramid - will allow us to identify ways to address behavior concerns and student issues systematically and in ways that are proactive and supportive, rather than exclusively punitive.
3. Comprehensive Grading Protocol – an effort to identify the best way to evaluate our students and their proficiency in all coursework.  Research and professional development will be involved in this important initiative.

Additionally, HPACC has moved forward with the decision to transition HPA from a Quarters grading system (9 weeks) to a Trimester grading system (12 weeks).  The rationale behind this move is twofold: give excelling students additional enrichment opportunities and to provide those students who have not yet reached proficiency time to work within our intervention pyramids to meet all academic requirements.