PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY TENAFLY HIGH SCHOOL April – June 2014 English Supervisor Brian Ross Member of the THS English Department collaborated on several projects this spring. As they prepared to finalize their SGOs, several teachers met to discuss student work. Discussions expanded to include the process of creating and scoring SGOs, along with their effects on delivering quality instruction. At the same time, teachers collaborated on course-, grade-, and departmental-specific objectives. Much of this discussion centered on developing final examinations that offer students the ability to demonstrate their mastery of literacy skills. There was still time for interdepartmental teamwork, as English teacher Amanda Oppedisano and Social Studies teacher Tom Hutchinson worked to outline various units (e.g. Romanticism, modern art, etc.) for their Humanities Honors courses. Social Studies Supervisor Mr. Glenn Peano Tenafly High School Social Studies teachers continued to collaborate on a number of projects, assessments, and administrative mandates in the last quarter of the school year. Collaboration on final exams between department members has been ongoing, and the assessments themselves are being finalized for submission to the department supervisor on June 3rd. Teachers also collaborated to plan summer curriculum projects that support new courses, address curricular revisions, and ensure a viable and guaranteed scope and sequence to the Social Studies program. Teachers also discussed and chose the recipients of three senior awards from the department. With the summative evaluation process completed in this first year of Achieve NJ implementation, teachers have been reflecting on its various components, particularly Student Growth Objectives, with an eye towards next school year. Tom Hutchinson and ELA teacher Amanda Oppedisano have continued to collaborate on the interdepartmental Humanities Honors program to better align the content of the classes and identify opportunities for interdisciplinary learning activities. Science Supervisor Cathy Paz Science department along with the Science Research teachers, Mrs. Helen Coyle, Dr. Robert Kennedy, and Ms. Anat Firnberg are happy to report on a successful Science Research Symposium. We were honored to have leading particle physicist, Dr. Michael Tuts from 1 Columbia University speak to us about the ATLAS experiment at CERN in Geneva Switzerland. Four students also presented their science research that evening to an audience of 150. The other 40 science research students prepared and presented their research in a poster session in the cafeteria that evening. We are grateful to all science teachers for preparing their students to do high level and high quality scientific research. Thank you to the following staff members that helped with the symposium: Ms. Grace Woleslagle, Ms. Carol Pastushok, Ms. Jennifer Halliwell, Mr. Adam Rendell, Mr. Paul Nelson and Mr. Dan Vollenweider. Mathematics Supervisor Ellen Nelson Math teachers have used recent collaborative time to: 1. Explore many facets of the new PARCC assessments. Tenafly field tested the Geometry PBA and EOY. Teachers have debriefed about the tech aspects of that assessment. In addition, they considered the standards covered on each part of the assessment and how that information will drive the work they will do this summer. 2. Analyze SGOs. Teachers examined the data from common SGOs and discussed results relevant to changes in how and when the content is presented. 3. Use Teachscape for Domain 4 artifacts. 4. Design multiple versions of final exams as the high school moves to a new period by period exam schedule. 5. Continue to explore the use of technology in the classroom, that is, the flipped classroom, Smartboards, and Catch Up Math. World Languages Supervisor Dr. Elizabeth Giblin In Spring 2014, teachers in the World Language department conducted post-assessments for the Student Growth Objectives (SGO) to determine how well students met the benchmark set in the fall. The results of the SGOs showed students’ growth over time in their written and oral proficiency as well as their interpretive listening and reading skills. An overwhelming majority of students demonstrated growth by moving from one proficiency level to the next, according the proficiency scale set by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). The department also continued to explore the various functions of the Study 1200 system in the language lab while also considering the Sans/Sony lab system in an effort to streamline assessment in oral communication. Finally, teachers finished revisions of final exams to ensure that students are assessed in alignment with the communicative strands of the standards: interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational. ELL – Visual & Practical Arts Supervisor Freddy Nuñez Change of conversation shifted to inclusion of PARCC Strategies into current ELL and Language Arts classes after the elimination of the proposed PARCC Courses for the 2014-15 school year. Teachers will be doing summer curriculum work to address these needs in the current curriculum. 2 Business Supervisor Freddy Nuñez Mr. Hiler and Mr. Nuñez visited Forest Hills High School in Queens, NY to look at their Virtual Enterprise (VE) program. Both agreed to investigate further as to the cost and flexibility of the program. Mr. Nuñez has been in contact with Nutley High School and Livingston High School in New Jersey to review how they use the program, while Mr. Hiler has been in contact with Morris Hills High School. The overall feeling was that the VE program would be a welcome capstone course for the Business Academy; however we do not want to be restricted because of mandated curriculum or because of cost. Once we have done our due diligence, we will report back to Dr. K and Mr. Cory. Visual Art Department Supervisor Freddy Nuñez The hydroponic STEAM initiative was a success and the Photography program has received many positive reviews from students and staff who have worked with Mrs. Kirschbaum and Mrs. Pacheco respectively. Discussion has taken place to see how we can implement another STEAM initiative in the 14-15 school year. Sadly, we are saying goodbye to Nancy Nagel, who is retiring. Pat Pacheco will be taking over the AP art Studio Course. Family & Consumer Science Department Supervisor Freddy Nuñez Summer Curriculum Work will be done in the Regional Foods to incorporate lessons that will gear themselves towards the cultures of our student population (Korean, Jewish/Israeli, etc.) . The Child Development teacher will be working with Mr. Nuñez to find ways to increase enrollment in the Tiger Cubs program at THS. Physical Education Supervisor Bill Jaeger The department members Jim Sutera, Dave Burns and Jeff Koehler have been working with Vice Principal Cory to identify obsolete equipment in our Fitness Center for replacement. These individuals also submitted new schematics for equipment placement, as well as, identified new equipment to be purchased. The new equipment has been ordered and a new lay-out for the Fitness Center will be arranged over the summer. Jeff Koehler, Jim Sutera and Kristen McCall have met for evaluation and revision of newly instituted Family Life 4 class. Ms. Weissman met with Ms. Spiotto to revise Project Adventure activities to meet the more limited schedule of days due to increased testing and other school functions. Ms. Weissman also met with Ms. Desplat to review and revise Project Adventure activities to meet the needs of some classified students. Ms. Capone continued to work with Ms. Gould to revise activities/presentation by Peer Leader and Teen Pep programs to high school underclass and middle school students. The department has met and discussed the need for new activities for the auxiliary gymnasium with an eye towards developing new activities for the coming school year. 3 Special Education Supervisor Ann-Marie Desplat The high school’s special education department continues to work toward improving student learning outcomes as the school year comes to a close. Planning for the Language-based Learning Disabilities Program which will be in its first year of operation in 2014-15 has continued. Our department, in conjunction with the Transition Committee met to discuss and plan the transformation of Room 210, which included placement and storage of new laptops, Smartboard, television and furniture. Teachers have been approved for summer curriculum work to develop units of instruction; they have begun to order materials for the new English, History, Math, Science replacement and weekly health course. Special education teachers will meet in June with teachers in a neighboring district to observe and review their replacement programs and curricula. Class lists are being finalized, and our .8 posting has been increased to a 1.0 FTE due to increased need. The search for a qualified candidate continues. The, “It's All About Work” Program, offered by Heightened Independence & Progress (HIP) has come to a close and students will complete final surveys after finals which will be returned and possibly submitted to DVR for use in their future portfolios. Faculty meetings, departmental PLC and common planning time were devoted to the high school’s new final exam schedule, and to the resulting development of a system to deliver accommodations for students with IEPs and 504 plans. The third exam slot in the afternoon necessitated pulling students who need 100% extra time to the second time spot. With each