2016-2017

School Board Report

ROBERT A. TAFT

MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL: MICHAEL C. HAZEN

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL: TRACY SEIBERT

STANDARD 1:PURPOSE AND DIRECTION

The school maintains and

communicates a purpose and

direction that commit to high

expectations for learning as well as

shared values and beliefs about

teaching and learning

STANDARD 1: PURPOSE AND DIRECTION

We provide a nurturing environment in which appropriate and productive experiences promote independent thinking, self-discipline, academic achievement, and learning as a life-long

process.

OUR BELIEFS:

• Students’ needs are a priority.

• The educational process is a shared responsibility among school personnel, students, parents and community.

• Curriculum and instruction match the unique developmental characteristics of middle-level students. Students are given the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills.

• Students are provided with the tools to grow academically, socially and emotionally and to participate in an active and healthy life-style.

• Students are provided an opportunity to develop a positive attitude toward themselves, their world, country and society.

INDICATOR 1.1: THE SCHOOL ENGAGES IN SYSTEMIC, INCLUSIVE, AND

COMPREHENSIVE PROCESS TO REVIEW, REVISE, AND COMMUNICATE A

SCHOOL PURPOSE FOR STUDENT SUCCESS.

• School Improvement Team Meetings

• Leadership Team Meetings

• Department Chair / Team Leader Meetings

• PLC Meetings

• Articulation Meetings

• PBIS Monthly Staff Meetings

• Daily Team Plan Time

• Wednesday Professional Development “Menu of Options”

• Principal’s Message to Staff and Community

• Monday Memo

• Friday Focus

• Newsletter

• Team-Teacher Newsletter Updates to Parents

• Student Agenda-Handbook

INDICATOR 1.1: THE SCHOOL ENGAGES IN SYSTEMIC, INCLUSIVE, AND

COMPREHENSIVE PROCESS TO REVIEW, REVISE, AND COMMUNICATE

A SCHOOL PURPOSE FOR STUDENT SUCCESS.

6th Grade Transitions

• Parent Orientation Night

• Elementary School Visits

• Summer Engage

• Bulldog Rush

• Online Schedule Tutorial

- “How to Read Your Schedule”

INDICATOR 1.1: THE SCHOOL ENGAGES IN SYSTEMIC, INCLUSIVE, AND

COMPREHENSIVE PROCESS TO REVIEW, REVISE, AND COMMUNICATE A

SCHOOL PURPOSE FOR STUDENT SUCCESS.

• 2015-2016 DOE Accountability Grade: B 80.0

Performance Domain: 72.80 (weight 0.50) = 36.40 weighted points

Growth Domain: 87.10 (weight 0.50) = 43.55 weighted points

• ISTEP + 2016 Pass Rate Results (Math 69.2%) (English/Lang. Arts 76.3%)

• Star Reading and Math Data

• Acuity Data

• ASPIRE Data

• Co-Taught inclusive classrooms across all three grade levels

RESPONSE TO AdvancEd

PERSONALIZATION

• CP 2.0 Build and Implementation

• One – to –one with chromebooks grades 6 – 8

• Personalization through BUZZ courses

• Individualized and Differentiated Instruction through

Enrichment classes

• Resource Period

RESPONSE TO AdvancEd

STUDENT ADVOCACY

• PBIS

• Student Stakeholders Meetings

• Advisory meetings once a week

• Empathy and Communication

• Bullying Prevention

• Emotion Management

• Problem Solving

• Substance Abuse Prevention

STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

TO BOAST STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

• 8 Period day with 48 minute class periods

• Double Block English/Language Arts Classes with 100 minute

class periods

• Double Block Math Classes for struggling students

• Math Interventionist

• Read 180

INDICATOR 1.2: THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP AND STAFF COMMIT TO A CULTURE THAT IS

BASED ON SHARED VALUES AND BELIEFS ABOUT TEACHING AND LEARNING AND

SUPPORTS CHALLENGING, EQUITABLE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND LEARNING

EXPERIENCES FOR ALL STUDENTS THAT INCLUDE ACHIEVEMENT OF LEARNING,

THINKING, AND LIFE SKILLS.

• High School Classes

• Pre-AP Geometry

• Pre-AP Biology

• Pre-AP English 9

• Math Enrichment Tiered Groups

• Intense Special Education Programs

• CASS high school mentor visits

• Consistent Grade Level Progress Monitoring Grade Checks

• PBIS-Reflective Working Lunches

• Read 180

• English RTI Lab

INDICATOR 1.2: THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP AND STAFF COMMIT TO A CULTURE THAT IS

BASED ON SHARED VALUES AND BELIEFS ABOUT TEACHING AND LEARNING AND

SUPPORTS CHALLENGING, EQUITABLE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND LEARNING

EXPERIENCES FOR ALL STUDENTS THAT INCLUDE ACHIEVEMENT OF LEARNING,

THINKING, AND LIFE SKILLS. Academic Teams

• Academic Super Bowl

• Spell Bowl

• Science Olympiad

• Robotics

• Geography Bee

• Lake-Porter Academic Conference Math Competition

ACADEMIC AWARDS AND HONORS • Spell Bowl: 1st Place in the Region & 3rd Place at State, Matthew Gerona competed

• Science Olympiad: 14th out of 37 teams from around the state, 2nd place medals earned by 2 teams; Fast Facts, represented by Matthew Gerona and Daniel Sibincic; and Invasive Species, represented by Nora Carpenter and Daniel Sibincic, 1st place medal in Anatomy and Physiology; represented by Kristian Maunes and Daniel Sibincic. Daniel Sibincic is the first student in Science Olympiad history at Taft Middle School to medal in all of the categories that he competed in at the state competition.

• Robotics: The Robotics team won all the awards that were offered at the Middle School VEX IQ Crossover State Qualifier on Feb 4th, 2017. Billy McCall, Mason Eaton, and Ben Ogrentz placed first and won the Teamwork Champion Award, qualifying them for the state competition. Caleb Kuiper and Travis Henderson placed first for the Robotic Skills event, qualifying them for the state competition. Austin Grimes, Matthew Buford, and Austin Vesich were awarded the Judges Award for the knowledge, skills, and sportsmanship they demonstrated at the competition. As a result of the state competition, two Taft Robotics Teams, consisting of, Caleb Kuiper, Travis Henderson, Billy McCall, Ben Ogrentz, Mason Eaton, and Jack Wendrickx earned an invitation to the VEX IQ World Championships at the Kentucky Convention Center in Louisville, KY. This three day event (04/23/2017 - 04/25/2017) will have 275 teams from all around the world! This opportunity is a first ever for any school in the Crown Point Community School Corporation.

• Geography Bee: Taft participated in the 2016-2017 National Geographic Geography Bee. The preliminary round took place during social studies classes in December. The team winners were: Luke Witham – 6A, Carl Fuess – 6B, Ray Filter – 6C, Daniel Sibincic – 7A, Mareo Todd – 7B, Vasilije Micic – 7C, Brayden Stiener – 8A, Justin Reichelt – 8B, Abhi Nimmagadda – 8C

• On Wednesday, January 19, these students competed for the school championship. Abhi Nimmagadda won for the second year in a row. He then completed the qualifying test and qualified for the state finals in Indianapolis on March 31. Only the top 100 in the state qualify for the state finals so this is quite an accomplishment! Abhi finished in 2nd place at the state competition!

ALL-MUSIC AWARD

Band and Orchestra at Taft Middle School is a

recipient of the Indiana State School Music

Association All-Music Award for 2016-2017.

Congratulations to the talented young musicians and

the instrumental music staff for the outstanding

musical accomplishments this past year. ISSMA is

presenting the Band and Orchestra a special banner

to display in recognition of these outstanding

achievements.

BAND AWARDS AND HONORS

• ISSMA All-Music Award Winner

• ISSMA Organizational Contest:

• 6th Grade Gold Rating (with distinction)

• 7th Grade Gold Rating

• 8th Grade Gold Rating

• ISSMA Solo and Ensemble Contest: 28 gold medals and 7 silver medals

• ISSMA Jazz Festival: Gold Rating

• Jazz in the Meadows Festival Participating Band & Outstanding Musician Award: Ethan Trump (8)

• Indiana Bandmasters Association All-Region Honor Band Members:

• Savannah Becka (8)

• Luke Neal (7)

• Claire Patena (7)

• Performance at Museum of Science & Industry – Chicago, IL

ORCHESTRA AWARDS AND HONORS • Gold Rating: ISSMA Organizational Contest at Munster High School

• 6 students chosen for All-Region Honor Orchestra - November

2016

• Over 100 gold medals at ISSMA Solo and Ensemble contest -

January 2017

• 8th grader Nora Boland (Cello) wins gold medal at ISSMA State

Solo and Ensemble Contest in Indianapolis – February 2017

• Diamond Ensemble (Chamber Orchestra) earns gold rating

award at ISSMA Jazz Contest – March 2017

• 8th Grade Orchestra wins Gold rating award at ISSMA

Organizational contest – March 2017

• **Orchestra Department awarded All – Music Award from

ISSMA for earning the above gold ratings in all

categories**

CHOIR AWARDS AND HONORS

• 6th Grade Ensembles

• 1.Allyson Bosse, Amaya Hunter, Emma Yonan, Sumandeep Multani-6th Grade: GOLD

• 2.Daelyn Garcia, Makenzie Slauson, Mileyann Seville, Alaina Longoria-Zeller: SILVER

• 7th Grade Ensemble

• 3.Chaela Laus, Ali Lucas, Danielle Kamleiter, Lily Castaneda, Eliza Surdzial, Natalie Toth -: GOLD

• SOLOS

• 1. Jackson Smith - 8th grade: GOLD

• 2. Samuel Maxwell - 7th grade: GOLD

• 3. Katherine Ignas - 6th grade: SILVER

• 4. Caitlin Ashby - 8th grade: GOLD

INDICATOR 1.2: THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP AND STAFF COMMIT TO A CULTURE THAT IS

BASED ON SHARED VALUES AND BELIEFS ABOUT TEACHING AND LEARNING AND

SUPPORTS CHALLENGING, EQUITABLE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND LEARNING

EXPERIENCES FOR ALL STUDENTS THAT INCLUDE ACHIEVEMENT OF LEARNING,

THINKING, AND LIFE SKILLS. Clubs

• Book Club

• Chess Club

• Creative Writing Club

• Drama Club

• Environmental Club

• History Club

• Mosaic Club

• National Junior Honor Society

• Newspaper

• Magic Club

• Pokemon Club

• Builders Club

• Student Council

• Students Helping Students

• Yearbook

ATHLETIC AWARDS AND HONORS • Volleyball: 7th and 8th grade Lake-Porter Conference Champions

• Football: Lake-Porter Conference Runner up

• Cross Country: 2016 6th Grade Girls & 7th Grade Boys Lake-Porter

Conference Champions, Conference Champion -7th Grade Cam

Zimmerman

• Boys Basketball: 7th Grade Boys Lake-Porter Conference Runner up

• Cheer: 1st place LaPorte Invitational, 1st Place Hoosier Open, Brickie

Cheer and Dance Invitational 1st place and Best Tumbling.

• Dance: Regional Runners-up Pom, State: Third Place Pom, Semi-

State Champions Ensemble, State Champions Ensemble

• Wrestling: Ben Burandt, Lake-Porter Conference Champion

• Girls Basketball: 7th Grade Girls Lake-Porter Conference Champions,

8th Grade Girls Lake-Porter Conference Runner up

INDICATOR 1.2: THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP AND STAFF COMMIT TO A CULTURE THAT IS

BASED ON SHARED VALUES AND BELIEFS ABOUT TEACHING AND LEARNING AND

SUPPORTS CHALLENGING, EQUITABLE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND LEARNING

EXPERIENCES FOR ALL STUDENTS THAT INCLUDE ACHIEVEMENT OF LEARNING,

THINKING, AND LIFE SKILLS.

• NJHS Peer Tutoring

• Professional Development Menu of Options

• Teacher Evaluations Highly Effective-Effective for 2015-2016

• High Yield Instructional Strategies Instruction for Teachers

• Marzano I-Observation Training for Teachers

• Technology “Buzz” Training for Teachers

COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS

• October is Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF. We earned and donated: $1200.00

• November is Socks for Vets: We donated three huge garbage bags full of new, clean white socks.

• December is a Food Drive for St. Vincent de Paul: We donated so much food this year, they gave us

an award!

• January Beach Bash with PTA: We raised $4515

• March St. Baldrick’s: The final total is not in, but at this time we are over $5800. Our goal was $5000.

• CASS Coin Wars. All of the donations that we received were given to the city of Crown Point, and

used to feed Taft families during the holiday season. We raised $1,200.00 this year! The mayor of

Crown Point came here to Taft to accept the check, and Culver’s donated ice cream to reward the

winning team. Liz Franklin’s team won this year.

• Hoops for Heart raised $14,961

INDICATOR 1.3: THE SCHOOL’S LEADERSHIP IMPLEMENTS A

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PROCESS THAT PROVIDES CLEAR

DIRECTION FOR IMPROVING CONDITIONS THAT SUPPORT STUDENT

LEARNING.

• Fluid RTI Process for ELA/MATH

• Department Chair Vision Goals and Progress Updates Provided to Principal

• PLC Progress Updates Provided to Principal

• School Improvement Committee Updates Provided to Principal

• Porter/Lake Math Competition

• PE Partnerships

• Reality Store

• All Music Award

• Honor Roll Breakfast

• Career Days

Have a Great Evening!