Norton Elementary and Middle School School Improvement Plan

PURPOSE: Vision and Mission Statements Our vision is to provide a safe, caring, and stimulating environment to cultivate productive and responsible life-long learners, in partnership with parents and community members. NURTURING EXCELLENCE AND MOTIVATING SUCCESS Mission: Norton Elementary and Middle school recognizes that each child is an individual who can succeed with the support of their family, school and community. We strive to promote a safe and caring atmosphere that creates and enhances challenging learning programs to foster the development of social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth of all its members. COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE- CREATING LIFE-LONG LEARNERS ONE CHILD AT A TIME

Overview of Targeted Goals Improve Student Achievement Encourage Stakeholder Engagement Demonstrate Fiscal Responsibility Offer Student Activities and Programs that Promote Personal Development Use Data to Improve Learning

Improve Student Achievement MATH 70% of all students, grades 3-7, will obtain a passing score on the math SOL for the school year. Subgroups: 57% of students with disabilities will meet Federal Annual Measurable Objectives on the SOL assessment in the Spring of 2015.

Strategies: Establish a Math Academy Program as part of the Afterschool Program which will serve as a recovery program and focus on At- Risk students to supplement regular day instruction with a focus on building math concepts. Provide a Tutoring Program that will focus on the special education subgroup during the regular school day in a focused, small group setting. Develop a Pre- Algebra class for 7 th grade students in which students are identified for the class determined by set criterion. Professional Development: Development of math pacing guides by teachers in cooperation with the Math Specialist for grades 1-7.

Improve Student Achievement READING 75% of all students, grades 3-7, will obtain a passing score on the Reading SOL for the school year.

Strategies: The Title I program will identify students grades 1-6 and offer services to teachers and students in areas identified. Accelerated Reading Program will be encouraged for grades 1-7. Utilization and critiquing of the new reading series as a means to begin the process of developing pacing guides for reading by May Professional Development: Unpacking Standards and utilizing the VDOE curriculum framework using Bloom’s levels of taxonomy for grades 1-7. Professional Development: Assessment for Learning strategies will be utilized to form instruction and provide remediation to enhance student learning.

Encourage Stakeholder Engagement Collaborate with City Council to develop plans that will meet the needs of both Norton Elementary and Middle School and the city of Norton. Develop partnerships with local businesses and organizations and utilize talents within the community to enhance student experiences. Develop a School-Wide Leadership team to serve as an advocate for School Improvement. Provide opportunities for parent involvement within the school setting. Encourage Community Service projects within the school community.

Strategies: Invite guests from the community to share talents and knowledge with students to enhance the academic curriculum. Acknowledge and share positive aspects of the school community via newsletter, , social media, newspaper, Channel 51 and other local news stations. The Leadership Team will be a vital part of the AdvancEd Review and Indistar reporting. Teachers will provide opportunities for parent involvement in the classroom setting and extra-curricular activities as well as school community service projects. Showcase Greenhouse Project with annual Farmer’s Market.

Demonstrate Fiscal Responsibility Norton Elementary will maintain a balanced budget in all areas of school finance and will seek grant funding to supplement projects related to student achievement at the school level. Norton Elementary will work with the Division to enhance the technology department- Internet, acquiring resources, training. Fundraisers that are conducted for the procurement of funds for school projects/resources will meet the approval of the Superintendent and relate to student participation in a positive manner.

Strategies: Monthly meetings will be established with the bookkeeper to review funds and disbursements. Monthly reports will be reviewed and kept on file by the Principal. The Principal will seek grants that will enrich student achievement. The Principal will encourage and support teachers in the writing process. Communicate technology needs to the Superintendent and the Technology Director. A NEMS Cookbook will be developed by the community and students and sold as a fundraiser for the Playground Project. The Annual Farmer’s Market will be held in the Spring to highlight student learning in Science and sustain the Greenhouse Project.

Offer Student Activities and Programs that Promote Personal Development There will be a balance of co-curricular and extra- curricular activities offered for students to participate throughout the school year. The guidance counselor will lead the coordination of the Gifted Programs.

Strategies: Gifted Programs (before, during and after school) grades 4-7 Enrichment Programs grades k-3 STEAM Activities - 6 th and 7 th grade Science/Math program Jr. SWAG Clubs & Intramurals- 6 th and 7 th grade GET FIT Program- Girls Health and Fitness Awareness Program Fuel Up to Play 60 Program Choir Band Continual discussion of activities and programs with faculty to improve, revise and implement procedures as needed to make stronger.

Use Data to Improve Learning SOL data from will be analyzed to guide instruction for the school year. A system of benchmark assessments will be implemented using Interactive Achievement as the tool in Math and Reading. Assessments will be analyzed to form instruction for remediation and enrichment in Math and Reading. Students will be identified for the Afterschool Math Academy using data from SOL’s and other assessments in grades 3-7.

Strategies: Grade level/departmental meetings on a bi-monthly basis. Faculty meetings on a bi-monthly basis. Math Meetings with the Math Specialist for lesson planning and reviewing assessments to plan for differentiation. The Math Specialist will be a resource for all math teachers and will focus instruction for identified Title I students. The Reading Specialist will be a resource for reading teachers grades k-6 to analyze PALS data, identify Title I students and guide instruction.