#MASSPchat Archive
Chats will be moderated by MASSP staff, members of the MASSP Board of Directors and MASSP Members – we will also have special guest moderators on occasion.
Monday September 26, 2016
Good Evening! Welcome to . Tonight we will discuss academic culture. with special guest Grayling HS Principal.
Please introduce yourself
Matt M, Director of Innovation, Schoolcraft Community Schools. Love the topic tonight!
Good Evening Tammy! Jason Messenger Lakeshore Middle School checking in https://t.co/2h6xCSUxwn
Good Evening! Welcome to . Tonight we will discuss academic culture. with special guest Grayling HS Principal.
Good Evening! Jenni Thunberg, AP, Bay City Central
Jason Salhaney, MS Principal from Romulus, MI
Good evening! Steve Carlson, Principal of Sandusky Jr/Sr High School.
Ryan Cayce, Principal of Ubly Jr/Sr High School
Will be checking in/out. Steve Poole, principal, H H Dow High School.
Hello all...Paul Hungerford, Fulton MS/HS. Watching the Tigers trying to stay alive.
Scott Pfeiffer, MS/HS Principal at Countryside Academy in Benton Harbor. Looking forward to tonight's chat!
Welcome all looking forward to learning from you!
Ryan Roberts AP/AD checking in from Beaverton Jr/Sr High.
We will use the Q1/A1 format. Make sure to use in your post. Question 1 is on the way
Tracy Wilson Grand Haven HS checking in ... happy to participate.
Hi Ryan . Thank you for joining us!
Mike Alley checking in from a Board Meeting
Q1: 1How do you celebrate academic success school wide?
Hello Madam President! No debating tonight....LOL
apparently checking scores, too!
Thanks Mike....we need your wisdom!
Academic Culture?How important? Our school found it automatically increased attendance and curbed behavior issues. Aim high!
A1: our SIT determines certain criteria, per 5 week period for teachers to post outside their rooms. gpa, no missing assign, etc
Falisadoll Green, Belleville High School AP
A1- We have quarterly Honor Roll Recognition Assemblies held first thing in the morning so mom and dad can stop in before work.
My 1st day as principal at the MS I noticed the rows of trophy's for sports, but the lack of academic awards.
A1: recognize academic success at pep assemblies. Post top 10 NWEA MAP scores. Newspapers publish honor rolls
A1: Quite honestly, I'm looking for ideas. https://t.co/Ki7GRJnRJP
Q1: 1How do you celebrate academic success school wide?
A1: academic assembly each year, student of the week in each dept., working on a Top Ten display for main hallway
At the SCMS, we try to celebrate in a variety of ways, free activity nights, positive post cards home, award nights, etc
I struggle with the traditional ceremonies/celebrations...much like this article points out... https://t.co/DxDVMujoh8
I look for deals on vistaprint to get tons of postcards with our logo
Same here Steven! I feel like a lot of the things we do are stiff and we could use some fresh ideas.
A1: reward Ss and Ts when it happens....it takes both make success
Looking forward to hearing more/new ideas on celebrating successes early and often
A1 - I believe success should be recognized from student presentations of learning much like the film "Most Likely to Succeed"
I think we need to find various options, but kids and families still enjoy the traditional stuff.
We use positive notes/emails. Powerful way to encourage middle schoolers. https://t.co/RDigpdc3ky
At the SCMS, we try to celebrate in a variety of ways, free activity nights, positive post cards home, award nights, etc
1st day assembly showing off academic awards to the Rocky Theme. W/in 1st month academic award assembly https://t.co/S4P4LAlAy5
Q1: 1How do you celebrate academic success school wide?
Kids still get excited to get something in the mail, especially from a teacher https://t.co/PVZbmr9W7J
I look for deals on vistaprint to get tons of postcards with our logo
that's why I'm taking note of answers way better than mine!
A1: data wall, publications, acknowledging our Educators and students publicly
The hard part is the kids who need to most support and motivation rarely get recognized at trad assemblies
that's why we need to think deeper; most improved grades, etc.
what if I"m not good at the game of school, but am awesome at acting, tinkering and/or talking with lonely kids?
We also hold student of the month before school. Every teacher comes in early twice per school year with 🍩
P.S. just being devils advocate..not trying to be rude :)
We will end tonight’s Chat at 8:50pm so we can make our popcorn and secure our seats for the big debate! #2 on the way
A1: Face to face congratulations is the best way for S's to know we care about their academic success. Just did National Merit!
Oh I get it. I feel that we need to push kids, but also prepare them for the real world.
Q2 2How do parents know that you school values academic achievement?
A2: This is a great question. We talk about it, but not sure that it is enough.
Recognizing students for academic success sends a great message to parents and the community.
A2 We try to use social media (Twit, Instag & for parents FB) to highlight great work daily in class and creative Ss proj
A2: data walls. Publishing academic success. Need some ideas on this. We do not communicate academics as well as athletics
A2: We are working on an Academic Hall of Fame that resembles an Athletic Hall of Fame so that parents/public sees the priority.
A2: shout it loud and proud! Parents need to know its celebrated just like sports or anything else
find what students value. recognize as many kids as possible. Attendance, involvement, attitude, achievement
whoa, you slid right in there, huh?
A2: shift focus, as we are seen as "extracurricular success. school" -trying to make champions culture about academ.
A2- We are very fortunate to get a great deal of parent involvement in everything we do. Each event is opp. for us to share
A2 Put together a student advisory council and ask them how they want to be recognized for academic achievement.
A2: I like to think the level our Ts communicate w/ parents on S progress helps highlight the value on achievement
Student voice! We often overlook this and think we know.
A2 We had alumni day (week before Xmas break) highlighting many ways to be successful (military, self owned car shop, dr. etc.
Thats the best part about Grayling...you are all inclusive!
Q3 What are the barriers when you increase student achievement expectations?
A3 Until you change the culture students are hesitant to challenge themselves because they value their GPA!
A4: You must have the supports in place to bring students along. You can't raise expectations without showing Ss a path forward
A3: finding ways to increase the support for bottom 30 Ss with limited resources
Scheduling, for a small school and over 12 AP classes….whew try to get those in! ! https://t.co/ct3mS3IKLR
Q3 What are the barriers when you increase student achievement expectations?
A3 Getting Ss & Ps buy-in that raising expectations & essential skills helps long term w/ growth mindset regardless of GPA
A3: goals about college readiness/test scores/etc. - some S's don't value because goals might not take that path
A3 there is always the fear of not achieving the expectations to the level we hope. Also takes work. Need everyone on board
It takes the whole district! One common goal. Must have the prior knowledge to be challenged at HS https://t.co/ct3mS3IKLR
Q3 What are the barriers when you increase student achievement expectations?
A3 In EJ we developed a program. Everyone who took an AP class earned a min. $500 scholarship. Increased enrollment 300%.
True! Understandable priority standards & proficiency scales which roadmap Ss learning & goal setting! https://t.co/foHoEiLvBP
A4: You must have the supports in place to bring students along. You can't raise expectations without showing Ss a path forward
A3 Academic success is not always seen as "cool" within black male peer groups.
How do we turn that around!?
Wow, you got any docs with information to explain how you did this?
intentionally build the academic culture among ALL students. Highlight minorities that have succeeded academically
True! Important to find what career readiness looks like to students. How can doing their best help their goals?
Was there an expectation for achievement/effort level?
$500 is you took the exam. It went up as grade went up capping at $1200.00.
A3: trying to shift from a results-oriented focus to a process-oriented focus
How can you make it cool? That was a struggle we had to overcome.
Q4 Have you made any changes in the criteria for academic recognition at graduation?
I'll dig some up for you. Created the EJ Extravaganza to support it. Cost around $32,000.00 a year to support.
A4 w/ grade inflation I have been a part of districts that added volunteering, extra presentations of learning etc to class rank
Hi All, Sheila Pilmore, Breckenridge logging in late.
A4: Recognize the top 10%. Currently looking at ranking criteria. https://t.co/IAGwKayk6c
Q4 Have you made any changes in the criteria for academic recognition at graduation?
A4: we don't announce our top 10 until after the 3rd MP to keep our focus on a strong process
A4: Top 10 lead in the group. Highest achievers recognized in program.
levels of honor chords for GPA, Virtuoso status recognized 5 or more AP. academic awards in grad program https://t.co/aTl5DjW8le
Q4 Have you made any changes in the criteria for academic recognition at graduation?
We use the same criteria in determining our top 10.
is that in lieu of or in addition to Val-Sal?
Great discussion tonight! We are going to wrap up a little early so we can get a good seat for the debate! See you next week.
Thanks for letting this ex principal jump in tonight! Have a great week folks!
Thanks & for hosting! Thanks to all for the great exchange of ideas! https://t.co/hz1AC620pz
Great discussion tonight! We are going to wrap up a little early so we can get a good seat for the debate! See you next week.
Thank you! Have a great evening!
