Welcome Back LHS Family September 1, 2010

Let’s Celebrate… Tenured Michelle Maser Abdul Zaid Sean Gong Sean Gong

New HS Staff Sue Palumbo - Media Specialist Sue Palumbo - Media Specialist Greg Staniszewski – ELA Greg Staniszewski – ELA Jacob Costello - AIS Jacob Costello - AIS Donna Klubek - Aide Donna Klubek - Aide

LHS Initial Assessment Met with Various stakeholders…department heads, administrators, support staff, parents, students, and community members. Met with Various stakeholders…department heads, administrators, support staff, parents, students, and community members. Asked the following questions of all stakeholders. Asked the following questions of all stakeholders. What do you value? What do you value? What’s best about LHS? What’s best about LHS? What are the challenges at LHS? What are the challenges at LHS? What would you change about LHS? What would you change about LHS?

What do we value? Collaboration Collaboration Diversity Diversity Relationships Relationships Multiple experiences Multiple experiences Everyone can achieve Everyone can achieve

What’s best about LHS? People (staff and students) People (staff and students) Diversity Diversity Culture Culture Relationships Relationships

What are the challenges at LHS? Diversity Diversity Communication Communication Involvement Involvement Consistency Consistency Low expectations Low expectations Ownership of issues Ownership of issues

What would you change about LHS? Work smarter, not harder Work smarter, not harder Consistency with Discipline Consistency with Discipline Structure of school supports Structure of school supports Improve Communication Improve Communication Attitudes and Expectations Attitudes and Expectations Rigor – raise the bar Rigor – raise the bar More academic and extra-curricular offerings More academic and extra-curricular offerings Politics Politics Consistency with Curriculum Consistency with Curriculum

What’s New to LHS The addition of five new Extra-Curricular clubs: The “Steeler Lifting Crew” club, the “Martial Arts” club, the “Chess” Club, the “Get Out”- nature club, and the “Media Productions” club. The addition of five new Extra-Curricular clubs: The “Steeler Lifting Crew” club, the “Martial Arts” club, the “Chess” Club, the “Get Out”- nature club, and the “Media Productions” club. Curriculum additions including, but not limited to: Advanced Placement US History and Government, Nutrition-(ECC Articulation Course), Pre-Biology, Pre-Algebra, double periods of Algebra and English 9 for select students. Curriculum additions including, but not limited to: Advanced Placement US History and Government, Nutrition-(ECC Articulation Course), Pre-Biology, Pre-Algebra, double periods of Algebra and English 9 for select students. The implementation of NovaNet, which is an online curriculum that will be used to help supplement classroom instruction with a primary focus on remediation and Credit Recovery. The implementation of NovaNet, which is an online curriculum that will be used to help supplement classroom instruction with a primary focus on remediation and Credit Recovery. A revision in our grading policy so that students will not receive a grade lower that a 50 in any given quarter. A revision in our grading policy so that students will not receive a grade lower that a 50 in any given quarter. The institution of PBIS. A School-Wide Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports system to help prevent problem behaviors. The institution of PBIS. A School-Wide Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports system to help prevent problem behaviors. A revision to the Interscholastic Sports and Extracurricular Activities policy. A revision to the Interscholastic Sports and Extracurricular Activities policy. Building Aesthetics. Building Aesthetics.

Where we are…

June Regents 2010

2006 Cohort Graduation Rate

54 The number of students who dropped out last year. 16 The number of students who graduated after 5 years.

A Vision for High School Excellence All students have experienced a rigorous course of study that expects and prepares them to enter and successfully complete postsecondary education. There are high expectations for all students, and a comprehensive intervention system exists that provides differentiated and individualized support. Struggling students receive extra time & support. Strong students are challenged and enriched. The School does not say “you can’t.” It says “You can and here’s how we’ll support you to be successful.”

Common Characteristics of High Achievement Schools A focus on academic achievement Clear curriculum choices Frequent assessment of student progress and multiple opportunities for improvement An emphasis on nonfiction writing Collaborative scoring of student work

A New Definition of Prepared From: “Minimum Core” Four Credits: Social Studies Four Credits: English Language Arts Three Credits: Science Three Credits: Math One Credit: LOTE One Credit: Art Two Credits: Physical Education One-half Credit: Health Pass Five Regents Exams: Algebra I Global History US History Science English Language Arts To: “Rigorous Core” Four Credits: Social Studies Four Credits: English Language Arts Four Credits: Science- Living Environment, Earth Science, Chemistry Four Credits: Math- Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II Three Credits: LOTE One Credit: Art Two Credits: Physical Education One-half Credit: Health Pass Eight Regents Exams: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II Global History US History Living Environment, Earth Science, Chemistry English Language Arts LOTE

Building Instructional Goals Data Driven Decision Making Data Driven Decision Making Develop Common Assessments within Course level teams Develop Common Assessments within Course level teams Develop Common Grading Policies within Course level teams Develop Common Grading Policies within Course level teams

Interscholastic Sports and Extracurricular Activities Eligibility Requirements for Student Participation in Sports and Activities 1. Determining Minimum Course Credit requirements: The first test for eligibility is to determine if a particular student has earned the minimum number of course credits prior to the beginning of a cohort year. a. The Guidance Department shall provide a list of all students (sorted by cohort year) who fail to meet the minimum standard for eligibility to the building principal and athletic director on or before August 15th annually. Cohort Year Minimum Credits (Freshman) Cohort Year 0 credits 2 (Sophomore) Cohort 4.5 credits Year 3 (Junior) Cohort 10.5 credits Year 4 (Senior) Cohort 16 credits (This minimum credit policy will affect those students entering LHS beginning with the 2010 cohort.)

Eligibility Continued… 2. Determining Course Failures: the second test for eligibility is to determine if a student has met the minimum standard for passing courses in each 5-week benchmark during the school year. a. At the end of each five-week period, a list will be generated by the Guidance Department identifying any student failing two or more courses. b. These students will be declared ineligible to participate in games or contest for a minimum of one full calendar week (7 days) beginning the Monday after the end of the five week period. The period of ineligibility will continue until at least the following Monday. c. Such students will be placed into an Academic Recovery Program

95% Could name a teacher who had made a life changing difference 93% Described that it had little or nothing to do with content

The single most important element in the overall success of a school and of a student is a teacher. You touch lives, you change lives, you make a difference.

All Means All These are ALL of OUR students. These are ALL of OUR students. All kids can learn. All kids can learn. We will do what ever it takes for all kids. We will do what ever it takes for all kids. DO YOU BELIEVE THIS????