RMS Weekly Review

Volume 1 Issue 5.5
December 2, 2011

Now that the smoke has started to dissipate from the ClassA computers, I think I can get up-to-date with my Weekly Review.

Today, our teachers were congregated outside of my office area running their newly profound first trimester common assessments through the ClassA computers.  Needless to say, it was a tedious task to run over 90% of our student’s test results through the ClassA scanners; collecting the needed data to input student’s grades.  The data that was being reported back to me had many mixed results; which is a good thing.  We need to either develop a better assessment or we need to do a better job in the classroom.  Either way, I think it is a start in the right direction for my staff with analyzing their data.  I am hoping to have some complete data results Monday at the staff meeting.

OK, I am a week behind in my update so let’s go back a week...

Last Monday, I was out sick for probably the first time in years.  I ended up going to the doctor and, thanks to modern medicine, I felt better immediately.
Tuesday was a fun filled day with our “Riverside Has Talent” talent show.  Students that did not receive more than three marks on their PBS Focus card were dismissed to view the show.  That evening was our public presentation.  Everything was going swell until our lights and sound system gave out. We are still not sure what happened. (We currently have two technicians coming out on Monday to check on the system because we have a band concert and a parent presentation coming up soon.) Tuesday also brought on the Food Services’ Staff Thanksgiving Feast.  A special thank you needs to go out to Eve and her staff  for putting on a fantastic spread for the staff.  It was wonderful.
Lastly on Wednesday, I was out of the office due to my father-in-law having a heart cath and stint placed.  He is doing well.  He had to stay in the hospital overnight which altered our family plans for Thanksgiving.  All-in-all, an eventful, yet uneventful week.

This week, half of Monday and all of Tuesday, I spent in Lansing at the Michigan School Improvement Conference.  I was able to develop some great networking with fellow middle school administrators and ISD personnel.  The main topic of discussion was focused on program evaluation and data collection.  I was able to bring back a few resources that I will be sharing with my school improvement team.

Wednesday, a couple of my Title I teachers and myself met with a representative from Pearson’s “SuccessMaker”.  “A digitally driven K-8 reading and math learning experience singularly focused on the needs of the learner.”  It is an online tool students work with to narrow achievement gaps.  We will have an opportunity to pilot the program for the remainder of this year.  If it is something that we see that will be a beneficial tool for our students, we will try to fund it through our Title funds for next year.  For more information, www.successmaker.com

At Wednesday night’s Curriculum Council meeting, I brought up the interest a wanting to take a look at using NWEA for a national bases assessment tool.  Knowing that within the next two years, up to 50% of a teacher’s evaluation is going to be based on data (student growth) and if we really want to make a true shift in data driven decision making regarding teach and learning, NWEA provides a resource that has been a proven application to promote growth and academic progress. Unfortunately, something like this comes with a costly price tag; $16 per student.  It is something that we are looking at but we need to do a bit more R&D before we really start to move forward with something like this.
http://www.nwea.org/products-services/computer-based-adaptive-assessments/map.

Thursday’s “Coffee with the Principal” brought in eighteen parents.  This months topics included:

• Viewing the “School Safety: Parent’s Guide to School Safety Procedures in Your School” that was developed through RESA.
• Discussing our safety procedures regarding Lock-ins, Fire Drills, and Tornado drills
• An information packet that Dr. Klee shared at the last ELA meeting regarding time students read at home and their performance on standardized tests
• Highlights of activities planned for the month of December.

The rest of Thursday was exam day.  Friday was records day.  Things are good here at Riverside.

Things to come:
Dec 12 - Internet Safety presentation - students during the day, community 6-7p.m.

Wednesday, Dec 14 - Band Concert: Due to a problem with Riverside’s stage lights, we have to make some adjustments. Our concert will be held in the CRESTWOOD HS auditorium. The 5th, 6th, and 7th graders will perform at 6:30,  and the 8th graders and HS band will perform beginning at 7:45. There will be an intermission between the two concerts.

Dec 20th - Dinner with Santa 6-7:30 @ RMS - Fund raiser for 8th grade trip - Details soon to follow.