|
Welcome back to another great year at Hazel Park. I hope that the 2009-2010 school year is the best ever!
Welcome back! I trust you all enjoyed the wonderful summer and spent some time engaged in those fun summer time activities and events. The McDonough family took a vacation to Green Lake, Wisconsin. We had a ball; swimming, fishing, and my boy, Quinn and I paddled around an island in a paddle wheel boat... he thought that was pretty cool... come to think of it, so did his dadJ All in all it was a wonderful summer, but I am excited to get back to school!
As our summer draws to a close, the new school year is upon us. I have much to share with you as we are continuing to get better.
· Academic Intervention Pyramid – a systematic way to ensure that all students learn. Please review the pyramid located on p. in our newsletter.
· Behavior Intervention Pyramid – a systematic way to intervene with students to support them in their social development. Please review this pyramid, located on p. xx in this newsletter
· MAP test – (Measure of Academic Progress) – an exceptional tool, new to HPA that will allow your child’s teacher to identify specific areas where your child experiences difficulty and support them accordingly.
· Agendas – all students at HPA are required to USE their agenda. (An HPA organizational tool). Middle school aged students often struggle with this element of school. Lack of organization can lead to other struggles. Please support your student by demanding to see this agenda regularly, daily if that is reasonable for you.
· Cornell Notes – a researched based strategy that will also help your student organize their learning. For further explanation, see the AVID link on our website..
· The ‘HIVE’ – our extended school day program is exciting. Please see p. for more details... EVERY student is invited... if I was a parent of an HPA student, I would ‘require’ my child to take advantage of this unique opportunity.
I’m certain you are all aware of our AYP status; we did not meet Adequately Yearly Progress as it is prescribed by the federal government’s No Child Left Behind legislation (NCLB). We have entered Stage 2 of the NCLB process. What does this mean? All students are eligible for a tutoring program in addition to HPA’s regular programming. If you have questions about this possibility, please call us and we’ll share all the details... it’s a pretty good deal. Now, while we are disappointed in the overall results, there are clearly areas where significant improvement leaves us on the brink of breakthrough. I have posted all of this data on our website, please visit and take a look at our data, and all of the other cool things going on at HPA.
This evidence clearly shows that our efforts to improve student achievement have begun to have a positive impact for all of our students. We are in year 3 of a new school wide philosophy involving professional learning community concepts. These concepts have truly changed the face of how we do business at HPA. Our culture is changing... from a focus on teaching to a focus on learning. We are a learning community.
Moving an organization toward greatness requires is a process. It takes a committed group of highly trained professionals to identify, practice and perfect the learning process for our students... and for the adults. Let me be clear, HPA has grown remarkably in the last 3 years. We believe in our direction and each other. We are approaching breakthrough. We have worked remarkably hard to learn how to do our jobs better to ensure every child that enters our door experiences substantial growth in all facets of their development.
I have shared with you some of the specific and intentional strategies and techniques that we are using to support your child’s learning. Here’s the cool part... there’s more!
- New Instructional Media Center (IMC) just wait till you see it, seriously. A written description simply doesn’t do it justice. Ask your student, or better yet... come and see it!
- Family and Consumer Science (FACS) – this space has been completely remodeled offers our students a state of the art space and equipment from which to learn.
- Technology – technology continues to grow at HPA.
- 16 interactive whiteboards in our classrooms which adds a completely new dimension to learning.
- Audio enhancement technology in 9 classrooms offers student a consistent, clear audio of their teacher’s voice.
- Mac lab – 30 new Mac computers in our newest lab will offer HPA students a variety of new and exciting learning opportunities.
- Learner Response Systems – yet another cool technology that allows teachers and students to interact with a keypad, during instruction, and gives teachers feedback on what their students are learning.
HPA continues its efforts to improve instruction based on research based best practice. While I imagine most principal’s would say they have a great staff, and they would probably be right, you need to know what highly skilled and committed professionals are working with your children. I have been around SPPS for many years and at no time have I ever been associated with such a comprehensive skill level on behalf of our staff. Our commitment to the success of your student is unparalleled… truly.
PARENTAL EXPECTATIONS – Parents, your role is critical and I know you are aware of this… all of our efforts in the school are enhanced dramatically if you as parents are engaged in your child’s education. There are 5 things HPA is asking from you to ensure your child meets the high expectations we have set for them:
1) Parent your middle school child… it’s ok to say “NO”
2) Talk to your child… even the tough stuff.
3) Create a quiet place and routine to engage in daily school work at home.
4) Ask them about school and don’t take “fine” for an answer.
5) Oct. 9th, Jan. 22nd, Feb. 9th (Family Involvement Day); Apr. 23rd. Please put these on your calendar…your attendance clearly sends the message that your child’s education is important to you.
6) Trimester 1
Progress Reports September 30,2009
Conferences October 22, 2009
Progress Reports November 11, 2009
Report Cards December 4, 2009
The bottom line… we can’t do it without you!
HPA is not only the place where your child attends middle school, but it is a partner with you. You might be surprised at what we can offer you as parents. If you have questions regarding any part of your student’s development; how to handle sensitive issues, strategies to change behavior, communication tactics or anything else you may have questions about, please call us. I won’t claim that we have all the answers; those that we don’t, we’ll work with you to get the support you and your family needs. Hey, give us a try, you’ll find you don’t have to do it alone and raising a child is no simple task… believe me I know, I have three of my own.
| 
