1. Thomson Middle School Annual Title I Parent Meeting August 18 and 19, 2014 6:00 PM

2. School Vision and Mission Vision –To produce high school ready students who are socially and mentally equipped to meet the challenges of society. Mission –To inspire, support, and prepare each students with a quality educational experience, while building integrity and character to be successful and competitive in a global society.

3. System Overarching Goals To improve academic achievement as reported by state and other standardized tests To promote academic success by instituting a safe and orderly environment and by providing quality support services that deliver on time and within budget To increase parental involvement, community collaboration & business partnership with Houston County Public Schools To employ and retain caring and quality staff members who foster lifelong learning and a positive climate for all stakeholders

4. What is a Title I school? Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) is amended to read as follows: –Title I: Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged Title I funds aim to bridge the gap between low- income students and other students. The U.S. Department of Education provides supplemental funding to local school districts to meet the needs of at-risk and low-income students. Title I is the nation’s oldest and largest federally funded program, according to the U.S. Department of Education n.

5. How does our school spend Title I money? Supplies Parent Resource Center Training Personnel –Mrs. Alesia Chadwick, Parent Involvement Coordinator –Jami Moore, Academic Instructional Coach

6. How does our school participate in the Title I program? We follow all federal and state regulations as directed by our Director of Federal Programs

7. What are our school’s requirements? School-wide Title I School –Any Title I funds can be used with all students Examples –Math manipulatives, ELA books, workbooks –Professional learning for staff –Parent resource center materials –Consumable supplies (paper, notebooks, pencils) –Personnel –Report school status to parents –Provide opportunities for parental engagement –Maintain highly qualified staff

8. What is our school’s designation status and what does it mean? Under the ESEA waiver, Thomson Middle is not designated as a Title I focus, priority, or alert school. TMS is not currently under any federal or state requirements to offer a Flexible Learning Program or other tutoring sessions, though many teachers offer these services.

9. 6th, 7 th and 8 th Grade CRCT Scores 2014

10. What are our school-wide goals? Increase the percentage of students with disabilities meeting the state standard on the science and social studies EOG assessments Increase parental involvement with a new parent teacher conference model (Academic Parent Teacher Teams) Increase math and science achievement by offering Thursday and Saturday tutoring with a STEM focus

11. What programs/supports are in place to help my child? Thursday and Saturday Tutoring Academic Learning Time (ALT) Enrichment and Remediation Use of Assessment for and of Learning –Formative and summative assessments –Re-grouping Professional Learning for Staff Reading and writing across the curriculum Pacing guides, planning calendars and unit frameworks for teachers Academic Parent Teacher Teams

12. Liaisons & Connections The McKinney-Vento Act requires schools to educate homeless children. The Houston County School System offers a Spanish-speaking liaison for families Alyeda Spidel (478-953-0465, ext. 49450) School Social Worker-Shantae Hendricks (478- 953-0489)

13. What curriculum does our school use? CCGPS –Math –ELA/Reading GPS –Science –Social Studies https://www.georgiastandards.org/Pages/p arents.aspxhttps://www.georgiastandards.org/Pages/p arents.aspx

14. What tests will my student be taking? Local assessments –Formative assessments daily and weekly –Summative benchmarks each nine weeks –Universal Screeners for reading and math State assessments –Grades 3 – 8 End of Grade (EOG) in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies –ACCESS for English Language Learners –Student Learning Objectives (7 th Grade Only)

16. What is required by law for parent involvement? Notification of highly qualified teacher status (parent’s right to know) TMS staff is 100% highly qualified under the guidelines of Title II-A. Notification of school status under ESEA 1% of system allocation must be reserved for parent involvement

17. Title I Parent Involvement Plans This Policy describes how we will provide ongoing opportunities for Parents to assist in their support Student Academic Achievement. The Policy includes a variety of ways that Thomson Middle will support parent engagement and how parents can help plan and participate in activities and events to promote student learning at school and at home.

18. School-Parent Compact The Compact is an agreement that parents, teachers, and students develop together which explains how parents and teachers will work together to make sure all our students reach grade-level standards.

19. School-wide and Parent Involvement Plans Title I School-wide Plan and Budget will be made available on our website, in our main office and Parent Resource Center. Parent Involvement Plans and School-Home Compact will be distributed in our Title I Parent Handbook, available on our website, in our main office and Parent Resource Center. The District Parent Involvement Plan is available on the district website @ www.hcbe.net These documents are crafted with parental and community stakeholder input at every meeting held. All stakeholders are invited to provide their thoughts to Alesia Chadwick (alesia.chadwick@hcbe.net or 478-953-0489 ext. 43483)alesia.chadwick@hcbe.net

20. What opportunities does the school provide for parent involvement? Volunteers –Field trips –Mentors –Fundraisers –Media Center –Guest Speakers –Career Days –Clerical Assistance –Community Outreach Classroom visits Special events

21. Parent Decision-Making Opportunities Parent-Teacher Organization Meetings School Council Meetings Parent Leadership Team Title I Survey (fall and spring) Document Revisions –School-wide Plan –Home-School Compact –Parent Involvement Policy Teacher-Parent Conferences

22. Parent Resource Center Visit our Parent Resource Center Located in Room 318 Monday-Friday 10:00am – 3:00pm Homework tips Insightful articles School & Community event information Computer w/internet available for your use Parent Engagement Program – State and Federal Parent Involvement Resources –http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/tss_title.aspx?Page Req=ParentEngagementhttp://www.doe.k12.ga.us/tss_title.aspx?Page Req=ParentEngagement

23. How will TMS be responsive to parents? Parents are invited to call the school at any time: 478-953-0489 E-mail addresses: first name.last name@hcbe.net Conferences will be held during teacher planning times (Please contact your child’s teacher for apppointment) –6 th grade planning ( 10:20-11:10) –7 th grade planning (8:10-9:00) –8 th grade planning (1:05-1:55) –Connections (9:50-10:20)

24. Conclusion Every Adult Please Sign On! Visit the Media Center to: Register or Question for Infinite Campus Purchase the 2014-2015 TMS Yearbook Visit the classrooms to make an appointment for a conference THANKS FOR COMING!