Change marks the start of school year at H-M-S

A change in buildings to start the new year is not all that's different at the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Middle School.

To increase instructional minutes, OREO time is no longer on the schedule. The 15-minute homeroom period had been used to create positive relationships, work on social skills, and monitor and help with students' academic progress.

According to Principal Corey Ramsey, the change both increases instructional time and reduces unstructured time.

Seventh and eighth graders will also have their recess eliminated and replaced with an intervention and extension time called WIN (What Students Need). A shorter WIN time for fifth and sixth graders will accompany their recess.

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports is being introduced at the middle school. The program, which was implemented at the elementary school last year, helps teachers recognize the significance of classroom management and preventive school discipline to maximize student success.

Parallel with that is Multi-Tiered System of Supports, which provides teachers with academic and behavioral strategies to assist students with various needs.

To improve literacy instruction, the elementary and middle school instructional coaches and at-risk teachers are being trained in LETRS, which provides teachers with the knowledge and skills to help students progress in literacy and language development.

"Our hope is to begin building capacity in our staff's ability to address literacy both in their core classes as well as more intensive intervention, ultimately lifting our students' test scores," Ramsey said at the Aug. 16 school board meeting. "The teachers are going to be ready to support our kids."

• Elementary schedule, high school computers

H-M-S Elementary has a new master schedule that is designed to align with building and district goals.

"One priority was making sure that grade levels have common, uninterrupted literacy and math blocks," said Principal Ashley Benz.

The new schedule also provides time for teachers to collaborate on Professional Learning Community goals and for interventions at all grade levels.

The elementary staff completed a book study of "The First Six Weeks," which focused on creating structure and routine at the beginning of the year. Benz said that will help students understand expectations and build a safe, caring classroom/school community.

Most staff members participated in the district-wide PLC virtual conference. The three-day session focused on starting PLCs, using assessment data to drive instruction and on teachers working effectively together as teams. Principal Nate Hemiller said the high school staff will evaluate one or two goals on which to focus during the year.

High school students will have new computers this year, transitioning from Chromebooks to Windows laptops. Hemiller said many businesses use Microsoft Office, so the change will prepare students to use that software in the future.

Student numbers at the high school appear to be on the rise. According to Hemiller, early registrations indicate that just over 200 students will be in the building.

"That's the highest since I've been here," he noted.