Medfield High School Academic Year in Review: Goals for 2011-2012

Editor's Note: Medfield Patch will take an individual look at each theme in Judy Noble’s end of year report at the high school and will also take an in-depth look at goals for the 2011-12 academic year, new curriculum being offered in the fall, an advisor-advisee pilot program taking place, student life and community involvement and the transition from Noble to Robert Parga as Medfield High School principal. This is part seven of our 11-part Medfield High School series.

Arguably the most important aspect to a school’s improvement plan is its goal for the upcoming academic year.

In Judy Noble’s end of the year report at Medfield High School, she listed goals for the upcoming school year at MHS:

Facilities, Equipment and Technology:

• Continue professional development in the area of integrating technology in the classroom.
• Provide professional development in the use of the newly installed technology.
• Increase the use of digital technology in the art department.

Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment:

• Continue to review courses and establish common learning targets. Also create and analyze the results from common assessments.
• Work to integrate the curriculum to include formal and informal interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary units.
• Review and approve revised civic and social student expectations.
• Create a process to use data to assess the success of the school in achieving each of its social and civic expectations.

Student Life:

• Refine and enhance “Fun Fridays.”
• Continue to provide ongoing professional development for faculty regarding bullying and cyber-bullying prevention.
• Continue to educate parents about bullying and cyber-bullying prevention.
• Increase the involvement of students in educating about bullying and cyber-bullying prevention.
• Continue to develop the role of senior ambassadors in a more formal manner, especially in the new pilot advisory program.
• Continue to increase the role of senior ambassadors in a more formal manner especially in the new pilot advisory program.
• Continue to increase the role of students in developing school procedures, policies and programs.
• Review the school’s attendance policy as it pertains to loss of grades and/or loss of credit in a course due to excessive absence.
• Study the many facets of homework in the high school environment.

Personal and Professional Development:

• Continue to promote “best practices” through professional development opportunities.
• Provide professional development around bullying prevention.
• Provide professional development about the use of advisories to enhance the school climate. During professional collaboration time provide opportunities for the faculty to practice advisory lessons.
• Through the use of the Integration Technology Specialist support the infusion of more “blended learning” opportunities into the classrooms.

School Management and Leadership:

• Continue answering the recommendations from the NEASC report and craft the two-year report.
• Continue to study the issues involved with beginning a formal advisor/advisee program at MHS. Offer a pilot program for the 2011-2012 school year and assess its success.

Communication and Community Outreach:

• Implement the plan to review the school’s mission statement, core values and expectations for student learning.
• Continue to involve students, staff and parents in making a difference in the community at large.
• Continue to reduce the use of paper by sending the newsletters, handbooks, program of studies etc. in an electronic format.

It will be the responsibility of new Medfield High School principal Robert Parga to see these goals through as he takes the helm in the fall.

To read part one of this series,

To read part two of this series,  

 To read part three of this series,

To read part four of this series, click here.

 To read part five of this series, click here.

To read part six of this series, click here.