1. Congratulations on being named a School to Watch® 2016

2. You join a league of 438 schools in 17 states through the National Forum’s Schools to Watch program

3. The National Forum Puts spotlight on the middle grades. Coalition of 60 organizations, professors, state department of education consultants, and state STW directors. National effort to improve legislation and policy for the middle grades. Recipient of 3 Federal grants: 2010 — i3 Grant; Schools to Watch ® Transformation Network 2013 — i3 Grant; Middle Grades Leadership Development 2015 --- SEED Grant; Power of Two; Pairing Literacy and Numeracy Professional Learning for Middle Grades Teachers

4. National Schools to Watch Conference June 22-25, 2016 Arlington, VA

5. 2016 Schools to Watch ® Google Site Signing on to Google site User Name: schoolstowatch@middlegradesforum.org Password: schoolstowatch For a PowerPoint on how to log-in to Google site, e-mail tracycain@middlegradesforum.orgtracycain@middlegradesforum.org

6. Congratulations Message from the National Forum Letters to Superintendents: Sent after School Information form completed –Congratulatory letters to superintendents for having a Schools to Watch, and inviting them and board members to the National Schools to Watch conference. –Draft posted to the Google site. Congratulations Video: Link sent to school –Congratulatory video from the National Forum featuring Executive Director, President and Treasurer. –Link also available on Google site.

7. 2016 Schools to Watch ® Google Site Links and Due Dates School Information Form 3/14/16 Conference Presentation Proposal Form 4/1/16 Pin Order Form anytime Tee-shirt order information and image opens 4/1/16 – 4/15/2016

8. 2016 Schools to Watch ® Google Site Forms and Uploads with Due Dates School Profile 3/21/2016 Program Form 5/1/2016 Presentation Proposal (Optional) 4/1/2016 Six (6) Pictures 5/6/2016 Promising Practice Article 5/6/2016

9. School Information Form Due March 14, 2016 – Used for: –Your award –Superintendent letter –Contact for updates –Hill visit contact –Website –Press release –Conference program booklet –Schools to Watch data for grant submissions - no specific school named

10. School Profile Due March 21, 2016 -- Used for: Posted on website to highlight your school. Lists strengths of your school. Each state has its own template with a header reflective of the state STW program. A copy of your state’s profile template can be found on the Google site, on your state page. Check with your State Director as some of them complete the profiles for their state’s schools.

11. Program Form Due May 1, 2016 –Read during presentation of award during recognition ceremony. –Put on website and may be used in social media. School description - 50 word limit –Word limit strictly enforced due to time constraints at ceremonies. –This is your elevator speech about your school. Blank form on Google site: Fill out and upload.

12. School Pictures Due May 6, 2016 6 pictures uploaded to Google site: –One of school. –One of your Schools to Watch ceremony, if you have one. –Four of students and/or teachers engaged in activities. –Pictures are shown as your school is being presented award during the recognition ceremonies at conference and used on the website.

13. Promising Practice Article Due May 6, 2016 2-4 paragraph article. Include a photo that relates to the practice. Used on website, blog and social media accounts. Purpose:  shine spotlight on your school.  continue the sharing from the conference.  advance outstanding practices.

14. Conference Presentation Proposal Due April 1, 2016 –Form on the Google site. –If you are registering for the conference prior to the April 25 presentation acceptance date and you have submitted a Conference Presentation Proposal, you may go ahead and register one of your attendee’s for the presenter rate of $250. If a school does multiple presentations, it is still just one reduced registration per school. If two schools from the same district do one presentation together it is only one reduced registration.

15. Conference Presentation Proposal Acceptance Presentation Acceptance: April 25, 2016 April 25 e-mail to all listed presenters with the date, time and room for presentation. A summary of what you submitted will be sent for review. –This information goes into the program booklet and on signage. Please review carefully. –Edits need to be e-mailed back to Tracy by May 6, 2016. –The 50 word description limit for sessions will be enforced.

16. Conference Presentations Presentations are 1 hour in length. Number of attendees can range from 4 – 50, average around 25. Think about posting handouts on your school website and giving attendees link, or provide handouts on a flash drive or CD. If needed, there is a Kinkos on 2 nd floor of hotel. A pocket projector, projection screen, table for projector, and extension cord will be in each presentation room. –The Pocket projector is an AAXA P4 P4X Pico Projector. Free Internet is not available in the presentation rooms. Must be purchased from hotel. Paid Internet from hotel room will not work in presentation rooms. Please let Tracy know prior to the conference if you will be needing Internet. The projector does not have speakers. If you plan on having audio make sure your computer speakers will be loud enough.

17. National Schools to Watch ® Press Release Distributed: April 25, 2016 –Explains the Schools to Watch program. –Indicates national Schools to Watch numbers. –Lists all new and redesignated schools and state directors. –Posted to the Google site and website. Sent to press and all representatives in D. C. Encouraged to send to local media.

18. Local Press If your school receives press, whether in a local paper or larger story, please forward to Tracy Cain and your state director. Will post to website under Schools to Watch ® News and will post to Facebook and Twitter. E-mail to tracycain@middlegradesforum.orgtracycain@middlegradesforum.org

19. Have Questions or Need Assistance Contact Tracy Cain: tracycain@middlegradesforum.org Do your best to meet deadlines, if you have an issue let Tracy know and adjustments can be made. The National Forum wants this to be a great experience for your school. E-mail usually gets the quickest response.