Mackinaw Trail Middle School Improvement Plan
2003 – 2008

Annual Report
2004 – 2005

We believe that the most promising strategy for achieving the mission of MTMS is to develop our capacity to function as a professional learning community. We envision a school in which staff members:

• Unite to achieve a common purpose
• Work together in collaborative teams
• Seek and implement promising strategies for improving student achievement on a continuing basis
• Demonstrate a personal commitment to the academic success and general well being of all students

We are committed to the values stated below for the purpose of becoming the kind of school described in our mission statement:

• We will treat all members of the learning community with respect
• We will monitor student performance in a timely manner
• We will look for interventions that will meet the learning needs of our students
• We will help students who are struggling in their self-esteem to see themselves as worthy individuals
• We will live the Core Democratic Values
• We will show kindness to one another
• We will show the following characteristics to students:

• Affirmation
• Compassion
• Civility
• Perseverance

• Students scoring at level 1 or 2 on the 6^th and 7^th grade MEAP will increase by 3% annually
• Reading/Writing/Listening Test

• All staff will implement the John Collins Writing Method.
• All staff will use Junior Great Books.
• All staff will use Daily Oral Language.
• All staff will implement Instructional Strategies That Work.

• 6^th and 7^th grade MEAP Reading/Writing Test Scores
• 6^th and 7^th grade common assessments
• District 6^th and 7^th grade writing tests
• Language Arts grades

• All teachers trained in Developing Writing and Thinking Skills Across the Curriculum by John Collins
• All teachers trained in Junior Great Books
• All teachers trained in DOL
• All teachers will study Instructional Strategies That Work.
• All teachers share ideas and methods

• Students scoring at level 1 and 2 on the 6^th and 7^th grade MEAP Mathematics Test will increase by 3% annually.

• All staff will use Math Thematics from McDougal-Littell (current text).
• All staff will use Extended Explorations for students to communicate ideas orally and in writing.
• All staff will use concrete materials to explore mathematical properties and relationships.
• All staff will implement Instructional Strategies That Work.

• 6^th and 7^th grade MEAP Mathematics Test Scores
• 6^th and 7^th grade common assessments
• District quarterly assessment scores
• Mathematics grades

• All teachers will be trained to use Math Thematics
• Teachers attend math in-services and conferences
• Teachers share math ideas and methods

• Students scoring on the 8^th grade Science MEAP test will increase by 3% annually.

• All teachers will use Science Explorer from Prentice-Hall (current text).
• All students will participate in MTMS Science Fair.
• All staff will provide opportunities to apply the scientific method.
• All staff will implement Instructional Strategies That Work.

• 8^th Grade MEAP Science Test Scores
• Students will achieve at least 70% on MTMS Science Fair project (based on district rubric)
• District quarterly assessment scores
• Science grades

• Teacher in-service/discussion on Teaching Reading in the Middle School by L. Robb
• In-service teachers/administrators in reading in the content area
• In-service teachers/administrators in technical/science writing method
• Teachers share ideas and methods

• Students scoring at level 1 and 2 on the 6^th grade MEAP Social Studies test will increase by 3% annually.

• All teachers will instruct students in informational reading strategies.
• All teachers will reinforce world geography skills using table maps.
• All teachers will require quarterly Type III Writing in response to a prompt.
• All staff will implement Instructional Strategies That Work.

• 6^th grade MEAP Social Studies Test
• Score 70% or higher on quarterly Type III Writing
• Social Studies Grade

• Teacher inservice/discussion on Teaching Reading in the Middle School by L. Robb
• All teachers trained in Developing Writing and Thinking Skills Across the Curriculum by John Collins
• Inservice teachers/administrators on map skill instruction
• Teachers share ideas and methods
• Teachers will study Instructional Strategies That Work.

Cadillac Area Public Schools embraces a curriculum reflecting Michigan Content Standards for Curriculum and national standards. Our School Improvement goals show our desire to improve the performance of all students in reading and writing skills across content areas, student understanding and application of scientific processes, student understanding of social studies context and the application of geography skills, student use of mathematics and logic skills in problem solving. All Mackinaw Trail Middle School students learn about technology and refine their skills as they apply them across content areas. The district curriculum guide, Michigan Content Standards and Benchmarks, textbooks, technology plan, computer software, and building personnel are focused on desired student outcomes in each of the four goal areas. The Instructional Advisory Committee, district, and building content area committees review and update the district curriculum and materials throughout the year to support student-learning goals. All Mackinaw Trail Middle School students engage in challenging and purposeful learning that prepares them for the future.

Mackinaw Trail Middle School prepares students for successful entry into the world of work and/or continuing education in order to pursue their career goals. Collaboration with the community beyond the walls of the classroom is a vital component to help students develop the skills, attitudes, and behaviors needed to get and keep a good job. Students need to see a clear connection between what they learn in class and what they will need to succeed in a career.

The School-Business Partnership program provides speakers and volunteers to assist in this goal. Adult volunteers visit classrooms to speak about their specific careers and students visit the partner business for on site instruction. Volunteers with careers in the science field meet with students to discuss and demonstrate the use of the scientific process on the job. Speakers can also be procured through the Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce who maintain a list of topics and local individuals who are willing to share with students. Adults from the community serve as mentors, volunteers, speakers, and resources for MTMS. They also serve on the School Improvement Committee and various other committees within MTMS and the district.

Junior Achievement, which helps prepare students for the expectations of business and industry, is a significant part of our community resources. Scheduled days and time are planned throughout the year for all sixth grade students to be involved in this program.

Low achieving, at-risk, and special needs students are provided additional support through Individual Education Plans (IEP’s), Section 504 Plans, Student Success Center, Linking Thinking Class reading, writing, and higher order thinking skills), an after-school tutoring program, and Flexible Instruction Time (FIT, focused tutoring by classroom teachers). Many low achieving, at-risk students are also paired with mentors. Those students, who still need additional support or those who want extended learning opportunities, may attend summer school.

Mackinaw Trail Middle School uses the School Improvement Committee consisting of teaching staff, support staff, administration, parents and non-parent community members. Ideas and information are submitted to the School Improvement Committee and they then seek input from the entire school community before decisions are made.

Mackinaw Trail Middle School makes a concentrated effort to provide professional development for all staff in technology knowledge, application, and integration. Staff members are encouraged to evaluate the usefulness of emerging technologies and to think outside the box when incorporating technology in the classroom. Students learn with and about technology preparing them to live responsibly in a democratic, technologically driven society. Both staff and students use technology for knowledge, acquisition, communication, information management, problem solving, creative expression, research, and design across disciplines. Mackinaw Trail Middle School continues to identify individual student’s needs and to address those needs through all appropriate means including the use of electronic curricula and technology tools. This past year a common assessment was implemented and resulted in baseline data.

Technology plays an important role in communication with parents and the community. MTMS does local broadcasting in our school for our morning announcements and to communicate our character development program.

Each year, we evaluate our school from a parent/customer perspective and from a data analytical perspective. A parent survey is distributed during parent teacher conferences. Within this survey we are evaluated based upon teachers meeting the educational needs of the child, administration effectiveness and support staff helpfulness. Our Title 1 program is also assessed at this time by the parents to monitor ways of making improvements and enhancing the program. Data is used to evaluate our successes in reaching our goals. The data being disaggregated include MEAP, Grade Level Common Assessments, After-school Grade Improvements and Mentorship Information and Adopt a Student Grades. As we review this data we are able to celebrate many successes in accomplishing our goals.

All Mackinaw Trail Middle School professional staff members are classified as Highly Qualified in accordance with the Michigan Department of Education Standards and NCLB. We are considered self-contained classrooms due to our building’s configuration of teaming. Teachers who are involved in exploratory programs are certified based upon the subjects they are teaching.

2005

  2004

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