Third Quarter Report

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Pequannock Valley School
Third Quarter Report May 11, 2007
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Key Accomplishments

• PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES INSTRUCTION
• PLCs developed watch lists of students and
  reviewed benchmark information from MP2. Review
  of MP3 info is ongoing.
• New Schedule Planning shared with PLCs at several
  after-school meetings.
• Provided an after-school professional development
  in Teaching in Extended Time Periods (April 25,
  2007)
• USE OF TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE PARENT COMMUNICATION
• Teachers continue to use eGrades as an electronic
  grade book.
• K12 Planet used to announce school events and
  parent meetings as well as grades and homework.
• USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION
• Increased use of SmartBoards and wireless laptop
  cart in classrooms.
• Continued to provide technology collaboration
  through the Library Media Center and the
  professional development program.
• Provided an after-school Digital Portfolio
  workshop (April 4, 2007).

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Key Accomplishments

• PARTNERSHIPS WITH PARENTS AND COMMUNITY
• Take Action Projects have community impact.
• Music ensemble performances planned for Hearle
  Village.
• CHARACTER EDUCATION INITIATIVES
• Take Action projects by eighth graders
  continued through the spring.
• Advisory Pilot Program held first meetings on
  March 16, 2007.
• Applied for a Mentoring Grant in CE through
  Rutgers April 2007.
• Dr. Trusheim invited to take part in planning for
  a Professional CE Association for NJ.
• RANDOM DRUG TESTING INITIATIVES
• Comparison of ADA Survey Data presented to BOE on
  April 30, 2007.
• Implementation of EtG, a more rigorous alcohol
  test, began in February 2007. Strong media
  interest gave the district national exposure.
• Presentations given outside of Pequannock during
  Quarter 3
• Parent Programs in Livingston and Pompton Lakes
  in March 2007.
• Interviewed by Swedish National Public TV in
  March 2007.
• Feature story in New York Times on March 25,
  2007.
• Morris County Youth Drinking Prevention Coalition
  Town Meeting at Morris Museum on April 19, 2007.
• Parent Forum on RDT in Hanover Township May 2,
  2007.

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Achievement Goals

• Third Quarter actions
• Drop Everything and Write culminated prior to
  testing in March.
• Continued infusion of Open-ended Questioning in
  classroom instruction across subject disiplines.
• Standardized Testing Program was administered in
  March 2007.
• Use of technology in instruction.
• Increase in use of SmartBoards, Laptop cart, web
  resources plus after school Technology Workshops.
• Benchmark Testing Third test in March 2007.
• SRI Testing of Sixth Graders March 2007.
• Implementation of New Science Curriculum
• Trout in the Classroom program Trip to
  Pequest Hatchery.

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Overall Grade Distributions MP3
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Grade Distributions MP3
GRADE SIX DETAIL
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Grade Distributions MP3
GRADE SEVEN DETAIL
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Grade Distributions MP3
GRADE EIGHT DETAIL
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Q1/Q2/Q3 Comparisons
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Failure Rates MP3
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Success Rates MP3
Success is defined as attaining grades of A
or B
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Benchmark Testing
The third Benchmark exam tested additional
standards covered in class during MP3. The
results of this test were consistent with results
on previous tests. Appropriately, we continue to
increase the level of difficulty of these tests
to continue to challenge our students. Test items
included those which required students to use
higher order thinking skills. By increasing
expectations, we are essentially asking students
to perform at higher levels of competency.
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Scholastic Reading Inventory

• In March 2007, our sixth graders took the
  Scholastic Reading Inventory to determine their
  reading level in terms of Lexile scores. The
  data table and pie chart show the results of this
  test. We are looking at ways to schedule reading
  to accommodate these score differences. There
  are two possibilities
• Differentiate reading activities by using novels
  at the appropriate Lexile level.
• Create different reading sections based on the
  Lexile scores.

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Program Development Goals

• Rethink the distribution of instructional time.

• Devote more time to the basic core subjects -
  English/Reading/Math.
• Consider longer blocks of time to accommodate
  special learning activities (labs, etc.)
• Increase opportunities for collaborative
  leadership.
• Provide consistent common meeting time for PLCs.
• Provide an elective program for the middle
  school.
• Consider advanced level courses in the core
  academics.
• Provide for the essentials while maintaining a
  comprehensive and engaging program of offerings.

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Program Development Goals

• Rethink the distribution of instructional time.

• Academic Classes
• English and Math will be scheduled for double
  periods daily.
• Science and Social Studies will have the
  flexibility to meet daily for one period or for
  double periods every other day.
• Special Subjects
• PE/Health will meet daily to meet state time
  requirement.
• Instrumental Music classes will meet within
  schedule no pull-outs from other classes.
• World Language Program will meet every other day
  in Grades 7 8 to cover Level I of the language.
• Computer Program will be expanded in Grade 6 to
  provide fundamentals of basic software
  applications. These will be applied to subject
  area projects in Grades 7 8.
• Elective (Exploratory) Program
• Elective classes in development in special
  subject areas

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Program Development Goals

• Rethink the distribution of instructional time.

• Elective Program
• Different strands (categories) of electives to
  provide comprehensive program for all students.
• Strands (These are ideas in development)
• Sixth Grade Music, Art, Careers, Computers,
  Tech and Family/Consumer Science, Language
• Arts (Grade 7 8) Guitar, Piano, Music Theory,
  Drumming, Painting/Drawing, Cartooning, 3D
  Crafts, Hand-building, Creative Drama, etc.
• Business (Grades 7 8) Kids, Inc
  (Entrepreneurship), Restaurant Design Project,
  Business Math and Finance.
• Creativity (Grades 7 8) Creative writing,
  Journalism, Layout and Design, Digital
  Photography, Media and Film, KidWitness News,
  etc.

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Program Development Goals

• Consideration of Expanded Honors Program
• Development of Honors English in Grades 7 8 for
  2007-08.
• Investigation of Honors level science and social
  studies courses for possible implementation in
  2008-2009.
• Curriculum development would be required for all
  of these courses and entrance criteria would also
  need to be established.
• Computer Instruction and Standard 8.1
• Grade Six students would take a computer course
  as part of their exploratory program. This course
  would provide basic instruction in application
  software.
• In order to meet Standard 8.1, Computer projects
  will be developed for implementation in Grades 7
  8 in the subject areas.
• Team leaders would be responsible for setting a
  schedule for computer time within each team to
  complete these projects.
• A computer teacher would work alongside of a
  subject area teacher to handle the tech side of
  the project while the subject area teacher would
  handle the content side.

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School CultureStatistics for 1/29/07 4/5/07

• Students have continued to display positive
  camaraderie by supporting our students Take
  Action Projects, PV Schools athletic teams, PV
  Schools Drama Club, and maintaining active
  participation in school clubs.
• Continued to receive compliments by assembly
  presenters about positive behavior and respect
  from our students.
• Zero discipline issues at school-run dances and
  fun nights.
• Number of Suspensions 15 ISS, 1 OSS
• The increase in ISS numbers reflects our
  progressive discipline policy. Students who
  chronically miss detentions are also assigned
  ISS.
• Number of Disciplinary Referrals 118
• Does not include such issues as dress guidelines,
  cell phone visibility, unprepared for PE, or gum,
  though these issues are still addressed and
  documented.
• Referrals included such offenses as rudeness, not
  following directions, hallway and classroom
  safety, name-calling, and general classroom
  disruption.

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Student Attitudes Survey

• On March 16, all students participated in an
  advisory pilot program.
• A modified class schedule was developed and used
  to provide time for the Advisory groups to meet.
• The student body was divided into small groups of
  10-12 students and each group met with a teacher
  or staff member.
• After an ice-breaker activity, students
  completed an attitudes survey to assess their
  feelings about school, decision-making, character
  and values education, and opinions about academic
  and elective courses.
• A faculty survey was also developed to assess the
  perceived effectiveness of the Advisory Pilot.
  The results of the faculty survey are part of
  this report.
• An additional Advisory meeting is planned for
  late May or early June.

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Student Attitudes Survey
Student groups consisted of students from all
three grades. Students responded to survey
questions about various aspects of the school.
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Student Attitudes Survey
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Faculty Opinion Survey

• QUESTIONS
• The first advisory ran successfully. (4.41)
• I was able to make a connection with my group of
  students. (3.74)
• Students made a connection with each other.
  (3.30)
• Advisories would be a positive addition to our
  school. (4.48)
• Advisories help students connect with positive
  adult role models. (4.41)
• The lesson plan provided was sufficient for me to
  run my group successfully. (4.33)
• We dont need advisories in our school because
  all or most of our students are already
  connected. (1.67)

The results of this survey support the inclusion
of advisories in our school program. We plan to
conduct one more advisory activity prior to the
end of the school year to continue to collect
data. We will also look for ways to help
students connect with each other in the advisory
experience. This may happen naturally after
several advisory meetings. We plan to use
advisories next year to help with the transition
to middle for new sixth grade students.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
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Take Action Projects
A Faculty/Student Charity Basketball Game was
held to benefit the New Jersey Food Pantry. Over
1000 was donated to the cause. With matching
gifts, this amounts to over 10,000 worth of food
to needy families!
Four of our students organized a fashion show
called Trendy Styles for Smiles. Their cause,
Operation Smile provides surgeries for children
with cleft palates. Their donation to this
charity was enough to provide 11 operations for
those in need!
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Take Action Projects
Joe Rosano, Chelsea Kapotes, and Christopher
Greco raised over 250. for the Susan B. Komen
Foundation for breast cancer research. They
raffled off an I-pod. Kathryn Kanczewski, Megan
Kleinschmidt, Stephanie Garcia, and Deanna Lundy
ran a Cutest pet contest, and raised over 100.
for the ASPCA of Louisiana, providing care for
pets injured or abandoned after Hurricane
Katrina. Steven Hanes and Douglas Wintemberg
organized a student movie event during spring
break. They hosted a showing of Rocky at a
theater in Preakness, raising over 1700. for
research to fight Alzheimers disease. Brian
OHara, Mike Vitcavich, Alec Shuman, and Ben
Kohle were involved in a fund-raiser. Raffling
off sports memorabilia (football) at a community
dinner dance, they raised over 500. which they
are contributing toward AIDS research. Kelsey
Domm, Jenna Torchia, and Danielle Derricks
organized some candy/bake sales, raising nearly
70. for St. Judes hospital. Their particular
area of concern was childhood leukemia. A Take
Action Relay for Life team composed of Jordan
Lohn, Tim Hout, Alex Riotto, Jim Templeton, and
Ryan Bennett, raised over 500. at a car wash.
Their project built on the exciting
community-wide effort for the American Cancer
Society. Alex Krum held a garage sale over spring
break, bringing in over 200. for St. Judes
Hospital. Kristen Jones and Alexis McCagh
collected nearly 100. door-to-door from their
neighbors for St. Judes Hospital. Styles for
Smiles was a huge success. Megan OBrien,
Kelsey Dudgeon, Rachel Leva, and Katie LaGreca
organized a Friday-night extravaganza, raising
awareness for children with cleft lip and palate
and netting over 1700. for that worthy
organization.
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Special Programs

• SIXTH AND SEVENTH GRADE ACTIVE LEARNING DAY
• As the eighth grade completed standardized
  testing, the sixth and seventh grade teams
  participated in a day of active learning,
  organized by the team leaders and PLCs.

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Special Programs

• DISTRICT MUSIC FESTIVAL March 29, 2007
• Music ensembles from all schools in the district
  participated in Growing With Music in Our
  Schools.

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Special Programs

• WELLNESS NIGHT - April 18, 2007
• This event gave students the opportunity to share
  interests and hobbies that contributed to their
  well-being. A wide range of presentations were
  feature during this event.

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Special Programs

• HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL - April 26-27, 2007
• The seventh and eighth grade members of the Drama
  Club presented High School Musical at PV
  School. The show was a great success, playing to
  a packed house. Congratulations to our
  directors, cast, and crew!

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Special Programs

• RELAY FOR LIFE May 4-5, 2007
• PV School students and faculty participated in
  the townships Relay for Life which is a major
  American Cancer Society event. PV Schools Rope
  of Hope accompanied cancer survivors and their
  caretakers during the initial laps of the event
  which raised over 140,000.