Massachusetts Department of Education 2003 Pathways to Improved Student Performance Conference Keverian School Everett, MA (formerly Webster School) Presenters: Hugh J. Kelleher, Principal Susan Hasenfuss, Grade 4 Teacher Frances Connolly, Title I READ Coordinator Shannon Doherty, Title I Reading Teacher

From Last To First in 4 Years

Improvement Initiatives 4 MCAS Action Plan 4 Test Item Analysis 4 School Improvement Plan

Phase I MCAS Action Plan 4 Initial MCAS Staff Meeting (Mid-September) 4 Entire Staff grouped into Grade-Level Committees 4 Analyze DOE Preliminary Test Item Analysis

Phase II MCAS Action Plan

Phase III MCAS Action Plan 4D4Department of Education Guidelines Results 4C4Comparison of 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 Data , 2000 Lowest Scores in District , 2002 Highest Scores in District 4S4Strength/Weakness Chart

Department of Ed. Guidelines

Webster School Summary of Findings Utilizing the above data compiled by the Webster School MCAS Action Team, the following goals, strategies, and programs are established: 4 MCAS Day every Friday in Grades K-7, stressing test-taking skills such as multiple-choice questions and open-response questions 4 Reinforce mathematics skills in the areas of Measurement and Short Answer and Open-response questions 4 Analyze Test Wiz data when available 4 Weekly MCAS Home Assignments, including open-ended questions, signed by parent and reviewed by MCAS Action Team in Grades Support staff (Title I and Specialists) assisting daily with in-class modeling, working with ability-based small groups in Grades K-7

Webster School Summary of Findings 4 The C.C.C. Reading and Math Program, currently being used with at- risk students, and in all grade 3-6 classrooms 4 Blast Off! MCAS books are being utilized by all students in Gr Aim Higher books are being utilized by students in Grade 4 4 Continue Reader and Writer Of The Month Club to acknowledge proficient, advanced, and committed readers and to encourage all students to heighten their efforts and awareness about the importance of reading and writing 4 Weekly timed math fact sheets will be utilized to stress the importance of basic computation in Grades 1-7

Test Item Analysis 4 ITBS: Rank-ordered test results showing grade level equivalencies in ELA, Reading, and Math 4 Preliminary MCAS Strength/Weakness Chart 4 DOE/MCAS Test Item Analysis 4 Test Wiz

Test Item Analysis

School Improvement Plan 4 Needs Assessment 4 Professional Development 4 Action Plan and Goals 4 School Climate

Needs Assessment 4 Teachers like, support, and respect students, make extra efforts to help them, explain work carefully, challenge them to think creatively, and spend classroom time promoting learning activities. 4 Students, parents, and teachers feel safe in the school building, and the school is well- maintained. 4 School administrators set a good example by working hard, promote high standards, communicate effectively with teachers and parents, and are responsive to complaints and opinions. 4 Students have a sense of belonging to the school, felling that it provides a supportive and respectful climate, in which behavioral expectations are understood and a clear set of learnings have been promulgated, and that it is a school in which student accomplishments are regularly recognized. 4 A host of learning opportunities and enrichment activities are offered at the school. And are available to all students regardless of abilities. 4 Rigby - Parents, Children and Literacy Course was offered to parents.

Professional Development 4 RBT (Research For Better Teaching) 4 Kindergarten Literacy Program 4 READ Excellence Grant

SIP Action Plan and Goals 1.Reading/Language Arts 2.Mathematics 3. Science 4.Social Studies 5.Special Education 6.E.S.L. Education 7.Communication 8.Family/Communication Involvement 9.School Climate

School Improvement Plan

School Climate 4 1. Webster/Keverian School Code of Honor 4 2. Opening Exercises with students 4 3. Student Council 4 4. Students, Readers, Writers of the Month 4 5. Student Peer-Reading in Grades Pre Greet every student during the school day 4 7. Empower students to be responsible, caring, and respectful 4 8. Every visitor should feel the difference as soon as they enter the building 4 9. Coffee and Classical Music for staff in the morning