Executive Summary

Pleasant Grove Junior High School Alpine School District

Brian Jolley, Principal 810 N 100 E Pleasant Grove, UT 84062-1744

Document Generated On March 18, 2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

1

Description of the School

2

School's Purpose

6

Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement

11

Additional Information

13

Executive Summary Pleasant Grove Junior High School

Introduction Every school has its own story to tell. The context in which teaching and learning takes place influences the processes and procedures by which the school makes decisions around curriculum, instruction, and assessment. The context also impacts the way a school stays faithful to its vision. Many factors contribute to the overall narrative such as an identification of stakeholders, a description of stakeholder engagement, the trends and issues affecting the school, and the kinds of programs and services that a school implements to support student learning.

The purpose of the Executive Summary (ES) is to provide a school with an opportunity to describe in narrative form the strengths and challenges it encounters. By doing so, the public and members of the school community will have a more complete picture of how the school perceives itself and the process of self-reflection for continuous improvement. This summary is structured for the school to reflect on how it provides teaching and learning on a day to day basis.

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Executive Summary Pleasant Grove Junior High School

Description of the School

Describe the school's size, community/communities, location, and changes it has experienced in the last three years. Include demographic information about the students, staff, and community at large. What unique features and challenges are associated with the community/communities the school serves?

Executive Summary

-Pleasant Grove Junior High School's total student population for the 2013-2014 school year is 1450. The breakdown by grade level is as follows: 468 7th graders, 476 8th graders, and 506 9th graders.

-Pleasant Grove Junior High School is part of the Alpine School District and is located in Pleasant Grove, Utah. The school was built in 1976 and has undergone several additions since then. The most recent addition was to the cafeteria in 2011, which was expanded to accommodate an increasing student population. PG Junior has experienced steady growth in population over the past 10 years.

-Pleasant Grove Junior High is an important part of the community, as we serve nearly all of the junior high-aged students in Pleasant Grove City. Many of our parents and staff are alumni of our school.

-Student Demographics

Student Sub-Groups2011-122012-132013-14 Asian

1.3% 1.4%1.1%

Black

1.1% 0.6%0.6%

Hispanic

8.2% 8.8%9.9%

American Indian

0.5% 0.4%0.2%

Pacific Islander White

1.2% 1.3%1.3% 85.9%85.0%83.7%

ESL Special Ed.

2.9% 2.4%2.2% 12.2%10.8%10.5%

Free/Reduced Lunch29.8%27.7%27.3% Total Students

1493

1503

1450

CRT Data:

Test/Year

Pass Rate% of 4's% of 3's% of 2's% of 1's

Lang. Arts 2011

91%

67% 24% 6%

Math 2011

85%

51% 34% 10% 5%

Science 2011

75%

49% 26% 17% 8%

Lang. Arts 2012

92%

66% 26% 5%

Math 2012

88%

56% 32% 9%

Science 2012 © 2013 AdvancED

79%

3%

3% 3%

54% 25% 15% 6% Page 2 www.advanc-ed.org

Executive Summary Pleasant Grove Junior High School

Lang. Arts 2013

93%

70% 23%

5% 2%

Math 2013

90%

67% 23%

5% 5%

Science 2013

80%

52% 28% 15% 6%

-All subjects have increased pass rates of CRT's each of the past three years. -Math and Science have experienced a 5% increase in pass rate over the past two years. -In 2013 our school received a B grade on the Utah School Grade Report

-Pleasant Grove City Information (All information provided from the Pleasant Grove City website)

Race % of Population White89% Black0.4% American Indian0.4% Asian0.9% Pacific Islander0.5% Hispanic6.9%

Languages Spoken in Home English…………………………………………………91.1% Spanish………………………………………………...4.8% Other Indo-European Language……………………….2.8% Asian or Pacific Island Language……………………..1.1% Other Language………………………………………..0.3%

Foreign-born population.....................................4.8% (52% of all foreign-born are naturalized citizens of the United States)

Pleasant Grove City median age.........................25.3 yrs.

Average household size.....................................3.6 people

Percent of households with single parent.............8% Percent of married couple families......................92%

Percent owner occupied housing........................76% Percent renter occupied housing.........................24%

Education Percent over age 25 without High School Education....................3.9% Percent over age 25 with High School or higher...........................96.1%

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Executive Summary Pleasant Grove Junior High School

Percent over age 25 with Bachelors degree or higher...................39.6% Percent over age 25 with Graduate or Professional degree...........10.6%

Percent unemployed...............................................................6.1%

Median income in 2011...........................................................$68,441 Percent of families below poverty level in 2011...........................6.2%

Percent of households receiving Food Stamps during the past 12 months......................................................4.5%

Faculty & Staff Demographics:

Position

Total NumberNumber of Males

Administration

3

3

Teachers

53

20

Number of Females 0 33

Counselors

4

1

3

Secretaries

7

0

7

10

3

7

Custodians

3

3

0

Specialists

3

0

3

Aides

Aides: -We have 2 trackers whose responsibilities include: running the tardy program, creating flex slips, supervising detentions and in-school suspensions, and tracking academic progress of at-risk students.

-We have one Science aide who is shared by several Science teachers

-We have 2 Math aides, but only one on any given day. 1 Math aide works Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays and the other works on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Math aides also assist a full-time teacher in the math lab after school.

-We have 1 Special Education aide who attends various regular education classes with some students being serviced by Individualized Education Plans.

-We have 2 aides that assist with Life Skills students.

-We have 1 ELL aide who assists the teacher in our 1 period of ELL.

-We have 1 part-time copy aide who assists teachers by making copies until 11:30 am.

Teachers: -Average years teaching = 14 yrs.

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Executive Summary Pleasant Grove Junior High School

-Percentage of teachers with 5 years or fewer of teaching experience = 22.6% -Percentage of teachers with 20 years or more of teaching experience = 30.1% -Percentage of teachers with graduate degrees = 32%

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Executive Summary Pleasant Grove Junior High School

School's Purpose

Provide the school's purpose statement and ancillary content such as mission, vision, values, and/or beliefs. Describe how the school embodies its purpose through its program offerings and expectations for students.

Pleasant Grove Junior High School Mission Statement We empower students through quality teaching to become lifelong learners, responsible citizens, and effective communicators.

Belief Statements - All students can learn at high levels (grade-level or higher). - Relationships built on respect matter. - We work collaboratively with students and parents to promote high levels of learning for all students. - A high-quality teacher with a collaborative team is essential to high levels of learning. - We provide a safe environment for students. - Students need high and consistent expectations. - We utilize best practices that help students be active participants in their learning.

Vision - We will prepare all of our students to graduate from high school and pursue some form of post-secondary education.

Mission Statements-Past and Present

According to the accreditation report from 1994-95, the mission of Pleasant Grove Junior High School was the following:

"As a junior high school, a unique place of transition from childhood to young adulthood, our mission is to provide the academic, social, cultural and recreational skills that enrich students' lives and prepare them to become productive citizens."

It also listed the following belief statements:

We believe that: -An environment of high expectations and mutual respect foster great learning -Students come to school for the primary purpose of learning and to be successful -The unity of faculty, parents, and students will develop common goals that will improve the quality of learning and promote a positive learning environment -Parents who are concerned and involved with education are their children's greatest assets -Caring, enthusiastic, professional teachers continue to improve and change, thereby benefiting students and themselves by promoting an atmosphere conducive to learning -The purpose of education is to teach students skills so they can be productive, responsible citizens who will continue to learn and contribute to society

Then in 2007-2008, as part of the accreditation process, the mission statement and belief statements were adjusted in an effort to make them Page 6 © 2013 AdvancED www.advanc-ed.org

Executive Summary Pleasant Grove Junior High School

more precise and focused on student learning. The mission statement said:

"We strive to inspire students to become lifelong learners, responsible citizens, and effective communicators."

It also listed the following belief statements:

-Students need to demonstrate their understanding of essential knowledge and skills, be actively involved in solving problems, and produce quality work -Students learn best when actively engaged in the learning process through curriculum and instructional practices that involve them in a variety of learning activities and assessments -A student's self-esteem is enhanced by positive relationships and mutual respect among students and staff -Teachers, administrators, counselors, parents, and the community share responsibility for advancing the school's mission

Finally, in 2013-14, the faculty and staff continued to evaluate whether the mission and beliefs matched what we truly believe and the actions that we see each day.

In August of 2013 we went through a process where we systematically identified what we truly believe about the education process. Dialogue helped us to identify 15-20 potential beliefs. Through an additional process we narrowed those down to 8-10 clear statements. Then our teams were able to dialogue what each statement meant and we got feedback from our School Community Council and PTSA. This entire process led us to adapt our mission and beliefs. Here are the current mission and beliefs.

Mission Statement We empower students through quality teaching to become lifelong learners, responsible citizens, and effective communicators. Belief Statements - All students can learn at high levels. - Relationships built on respect matter. - We work collaboratively with students and parents to promote high levels of learning for all students. - A high-quality teacher with a collaborative team is essential to high levels of learning. - We provide a safe environment for students. - Students need high and consistent expectations. - We utilize best practices that help students be active participants in their learning.

Programs and Expectations

- Pleasant Grove Junior High School embodies its purpose through various programs, collaborative structures and high expectations for all students.

- Our School Community Council comprised of parents, teachers, and administrators, meets monthly to discuss student success resulting from the efforts of collaborative teacher teams within a Professional Learning Community model and our school-wide pyramid of interventions. The council advises on issues of school mission, vision, values, and SMART goals. They also oversee the allocation of Trust Lands funds for professional development and improved teacher collaboration.

- Every Monday in the Alpine School District is an early-out day. Students are dismissed an hour early in order to provide teacher teams time built into their contract day to collaborate and answer the 4 Essential Questions of a Professional Learning Community: 1) What do we

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Executive Summary Pleasant Grove Junior High School

expect students to learn? 2) How will we know what students have learned? 3) How will we respond to students who haven't learned? 4) How will we respond to students who already know? These questions are answered as teams develop common standards, formative and summative assessments, collect and analyze assessment data, use assessment data to inform discussions about improving instruction for all students, discuss intervention strategies for those students who did not learn essential standards, discuss ways to differentiate instruction for all learners, and develop ways to meet the needs of students who have already learned essential standards. Our teachers and staff know that collaborative teams are essential in ensuring high levels of learning for all students. Since the formation of collaborative teams in 2004, data shows that more students are passing their classes.

- Each collaborative team is lead by a Collaboration Team Leader. The CTL is responsible for leading and facilitating the PLC process in addressing the 4 Essential Questions. They are critical teacher-leaders who help shape the culture of their team and ultimately the school. Collaboration Team Leaders help to disseminate to the team important information regarding the PLC process within our school.

- Collaboration Team Leaders meet with the administration monthly to discuss such topics as team SMART goals, school mission, vision, and values, interventions for failed-learners and intentional non-learners, assessment data, and professional development.

- Another critical structure implemented at PGJHS to ensure high levels of student learning is a 3-tiered pyramid of interventions.

Tier 1 is sufficient to provide nearly 80% of students with the interventions necessary to achieve high levels of learning. The crux of tier one is quality core instruction. Quality instruction happens as collaborative teams work together to identify essential standards, create common formative and summative assessments, use assessment data to inform them on areas of success and needed improvement, and develop common pacing guides, teaching strategies, lessons, and interventions. Those teams making effective use of collaboration time have also had great success in providing students with quality Tier 1 instruction.

At any given time roughly 10-12% of our students require Tier 2 interventions in addition to Tier 1. The centerpiece of Tier 2 is a 25 minute period built into the class schedule Tuesday through Friday. We call this flexible time built into our schedule Flex. Students use this time to receive re-teaching from teachers and to re-take tests and quizzes and complete missing assignments. Students are identified as needing extra help based on F, I, and D grades and by teachers requesting them to stop by their classrooms for extra instruction or help. Those students are given a white slip with a report of all their grades as well as the name of any teacher who may have requested them to come to their room for that Flex period. Students not receiving white slips receive a colored slip with a grade report of each class. This colored slip allows them to participate in fun and enriching activities such as watching a movie, talking with friends in the cafeteria, playing sports in the gyms and in the fields, karaoke and comedy improv, art, reading and studying, playing computer games, and weight-lifting. We believe that Flex has played a major role in the steady increase in pass rates at Pleasant Grove Junior High School.

In addition to Tier 1 and Tier 2 interventions an estimated 3 to 10.5% of our students require Tier 3 interventions. Students requiring Tier 3 interventions require individualized intensive support based on such factors as attendance, poor behavior, large gaps in learning, mental disabilities, and poor processing skills. Our Tier 3 interventions include, Guided Studies and Credit Recovery classes, Zero Period PE, Double Dose Math Skills classes, Referral to Truancy School/Court, Reading and Writing classes, English-Language Development classes, Escorting students to teachers for mandatory after-school help based on parent approval (Viking Express), and Special Education classes.

- Our Pyramid of Interventions is routinely discussed by administrators, counselors, special education teachers, and support staff in a weekly meeting known as ACT ONE. In ACT ONE we discuss the effectiveness of interventions, particularly Tier 3 interventions for our most at-risk students. We also use ACT ONE as a means of identifying those students displaying the most risk factors such as number of failing grades, chronic absenteeism, suspensions and behavior issues, and failed core classes. Once students have been identified we determine which intervention is required to solve the underlying cause of those students' struggles.

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Executive Summary Pleasant Grove Junior High School

- The Pleasant Grove Junior High School PTSA is very active and provides support to our school through volunteer and fundraising for our school programs, activities, and initiatives.

- PGJHS encourages academic excellence and responsible citizenship through student recognition programs. These programs include the following:

- Viking Bucks and Viking Store: Teachers can reward students for any reason by awarding them Viking Bucks. Viking Bucks can be use to purchase goodies from the Viking Store every Tuesday at lunch.

-Viking Club: Students who have at least 5 Outstanding citizenship marks with no Unsatisfactory or Needs Improve marks and no F or D grades for an entire term become members of the Viking Club and are given a Viking Club card. The Viking Club card allows them to leave 5 minutes early for lunch on Monday and to receive special treats on those days.

-ON BOARD Assemblies: ON BOARD is an acronym that highlights essential characteristics of academic success and good citizenship. O - On time, N - Noble Character, B - Be Cooperative, O - On task, A - Attitude, R - Respect, D - Diligently Prepared

Students who display these characteristics by having no tardies, no unexcused absences, a 3.7 GPA or higher, and a minimum of 5. Outstanding citizenship marks with no Unsatisfactory or Needs Improvement marks for an entire term are invited to attend an ON BOARD Assembly. These assemblies are very entertaining. Past ON BOARD Assemblies have included a BMX demonstration in the gym, visits from the cast of BYUTV's Studio C, Comedy Sports, Divine Comedy, and dances. Those students who do not qualify to attend ON BOARD Assemblies attend an extended Flex period where they can receive extra help from teachers or participate in an enrichment activity.

-Viking of the Month: Each department nominates a male and female student from each grade level to be recognized for outstanding academics, citizenship, or effort. Students are presented a certificate and small prizes. Their picture is taken and displayed near the main office.

- Pleasant Grove Junior offers a number of quality elective classes. Classes are offered in orchestra, band, percussion, choral music, twodimensional and three-dimensional art, drama, keyboarding, computer technology, communication technology, woods and metals technology education, foods, sewing, teen living, German, French, Spanish, yearbook and creative writing. We also sponsor student government.

- PGJHS has advanced class offerings for students who desire a more rigorous learning experience. These classes include an advanced track in Math for those who qualify, Honors English, Honors Geography, Honors Biology, AP Geography, and a Gifted and Talented class for Utah Studies.

- Our school offers a number of after-school clubs and extracurricular activities which create important connections and a sense of attachment to the school. Competitive track is offered to students of all grades and Boys and Girls Basketball Freshman basketball teams compete and represent the school in league, non-league, and tournament games. Our after-school clubs coordinator oversees various after-school clubs, all of which begin with a 30 minute homework completion period. Our after-school clubs include: Duck Dynasty Club (hunting discussions), Hip Hop Dance Club, Ballroom Dance, Button-making, Soccer, Volleyball, Science, Magic, and Music. After-school clubs change on a trimester schedule.

- Our fantastic Counseling Department offers support groups for students identified as needing help due to lack of will, grief and loss, and divorce.

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Executive Summary Pleasant Grove Junior High School

- Last year our school had to cope with the loss of one of our students due to suicide. As a result of that experience our Counseling Department has teamed with Administration to create the HOPE Squad. The HOPE Squad (Hold On, Persuade, and Empower) is comprised of a group of 24 8th and 9th graders chosen by peers as people in whom they can trust and confide. These students complete a 9 week suicide prevention training and help students who are contemplating suicide to get the help and support that they need.

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Executive Summary Pleasant Grove Junior High School

Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement

Describe the school's notable achievements and areas of improvement in the last three years. Additionally, describe areas for improvement that the school is striving to achieve in the next three years.

Teacher Awards & Achievements:

-2011-2012 Veterans of Foreign Wars Teacher of the Year (Dave Myers - Tech. Ed. Woods/CTE Intro)

-2013-2014 Veterans of Foreign Wars Teacher of the Year (Dez Harris - U.S. History and Yearbook)

-2013-2014 Veterans of Foreign Wars Teacher of the Year (Dan Palmer - Spanish)

-2012 Huntsman Award Winner (David Beck - Orchestra)

-Utah State Keyboarding Committee member (Linda Twiggs - Keyboarding/Computer Tech/CTE Intro.)

-2013-2014 Pleasant Grove Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year (Trevor Manning - Choir)

-2013 Homes for Heroes Teacher Award Winner (Ken Tom - Utah Studies/U.S. History)

-2014 National Presidential Award Finalist (Karen Feld - Math)

-State of Utah UCTM Vice-President, Council for Math Teachers (Karen Feld - Math)

-2012 National FCCLA Adviser Mentor Award (Lenora Reid)

-2013 Utah Nominee for National FCCLA Lifetouch Exemplary Leader Award (Lenora Reid)

-2011 UATFACS Outstanding Teacher in Community Service (Lenora Reid)

-2012 ACTE Outstanding Teacher in CTE (Lenora Reid)

-FCCLA 4 STAR Chapter Award (The highest award a chapter can receive)

-Ours is the only junior high school in the state with a steel drum program

Student Awards & Achievements:

-2011 1st place in We the People State Constitution Competition -2012 1st place in We the People State Constitution Competition © 2013 AdvancED

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Executive Summary Pleasant Grove Junior High School

-2014 3rd place in We the People State Constitution Competition -Our band received 1st place in the Statewide Peaks Jazz Festival -For the past 3 years our band has received Superior ratings at the University of Utah State Junior High Band Festival -Our band received the prestigious honor of presenting a jazz ensemble in the St. George Utah Music Educators Conference -In 2011 our Shakespeare team received 3rd place for their Ensemble Scene in the Utah Shakespeare High School Competition, Stafford Division -2013 Utah Shakespeare High School Competition, Stafford Division award winners: 1st place Sweepstakes, 1st place Duo Scene, 3rd place Ensemble Scene -2011-2012 FCCLA: Student received Top Gold in Utah State Competition and advanced to Nationals -2012-2013 FCCLA: Student received Top Gold in Utah State Competition and advanced to Nationals -2013-2014 FCCLA: At Area Conference 8 students received gold medals, 4 students received silver medals, and 2 students received bronze medals

School-wide Successes:

-The past 3 consecutive years of 90% pass rate of all classes -Upward trend of 9th graders transitioning to the high school on track to graduate: 2010-2011 school year 90%, 2011-2012 school year 92%, 2012-2013 school year 96% -Upward trends of pass rates in all classes with the exception of Earth Systems

Areas of Improvement for the Next Three Years:

- Increased pass rate on assessments of classroom standards in all classes, especially our Earth Systems classes - Steady improvement in preparing for SAGE testing - Increased scores on SAGE tests - 98% of students on track to graduate by the end of 9th grade - Improved classroom instruction as a result of teacher teams collecting, analyzing, and using assessment data to ensure the every student demonstrates proficiency on every essential standard

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Executive Summary Pleasant Grove Junior High School

Additional Information

Provide any additional information you would like to share with the public and community that were not prompted in the previous sections.

We at Pleasant Grove Junior High School are committed to ensuring high levels of learning for all of our students.

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