Lighthouse Corner Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence
Updates from Blue Ribbon
Schools of Excellence Inside The Blueprint of Excellence Network of Best Practices Newsletter
Spotlight On...Sparkman Middle School -
We are proud to offer a professional 2011 Points of Light School Award Recipient
learning opportunity in partnership
with the Reading Public School District
to our network of educators! Blueprint for Educational Excellence National Spring Institute
What: 2-Day Professional Reading Public School Site Visits & Institute Daily Overview
Development Institute
When: April 12th -13th, 2012
Reading Public School District Spring Institute ’12
Who Should Attend:
This conference is perfect for teachers,
principals, superintendents and/or
college students thinking about a
career in education and for educators
seeking implementations of the latest
instructional strategies.
Complimentary Continental
Breakfast & Lunch both days
Lodging - Marriott Courtyard
Woburn -Room Block Available
School Site Visit Options
April 12-13th - Two-Day Professional Development Institute
75+ Concurrent Sessions Host School Site: Reading Memorial High School
Select for More Information or Register Today!
Keynote Speakers:
• Dr. David Walsh
Spotlight On...
• Mr. Warren Phillips
Registration:
2-for-1 Rates - will expire!
Individual Registration: $149 per At Sparkman Middle School, our
mission is to produce responsible
Team of Four: $125 per students who will work
cooperatively and show respect
All Call for Presenters: for self and others while
Do you have a fabulous program or best pursuing lifelong goals. Located
practice in education that you would like just north of Huntsville in Toney,
to share with the rest of the world? Be a Alabama, we are a Title I school
Blue Ribbon Presenter! serving a population of 830
Complete the online Concurrent Session students.
Form or Download the form and submit
to info@blueribbonschools.com For 2011 National Conference Review Information-
Visit EduPlanet or Facebook for Photo Gallery & Presentation
Handouts
Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Newsletter | Volume 2, Number 17 | January 2012
Best Practices at Sparkman Middle School
SMS is dedicated to continuous improvement and
increased student achievement. This year we have
developed several exciting initiatives to improve
our school’s professional community, our school
and community relations, and our character
education program.
Here are just a few of the Best Practices at SMS!
“Speed Dating” Format for Faculty Meeting
After attending the Blue Ribbon Conference in 2011 Points of Light Award
Disney World, the SMS team was excited to come
back and share the wonderful lessons learned and
strategies observed both in workshops and school
visits. During a January teacher work day, SMS The Stations Include: a praise time from the SMS
teachers participated in “Speed Dating for Blue Principal for our school’s Point of Light status, a
Ribbon”. review of the innovative idea of student led data
The faculty was broken into five groups. Each meetings and notebooks by the SMS Assistant
small group rotated among the teachers and Principal, a slideshow of school décor and
administrators who attended the Blue Ribbon improvements presented by the SMS Media
Conference. The Blue Ribbon attendees shared Specialist, a review of the new faculty celebration
their experiences and lessons learned in ten board and faculty writing board by an SMS teacher,
minutes. After ten minutes, the buzzer sounded and finally a review of service projects observed
and each group rotated to the next speaker. while at the Blue Ribbon Conference by another SMS
teacher.
This was a great way to quickly present our
wonderful conference experience without losing
teachers’ interest or focus.
Parent & Student Technology Night
Sparkman Middle School hosted its first
Parent-Student Technology Night on January 5,
2012.
The Library-Media Specialist and a SMS
Technology teacher showcased some of the new
learning tools SMS students and faculty are
using in the classrooms on a daily basis.
Parents were asked to attend anytime
between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. in the library to try
out our new equipment with their students.
There was a home basketball game that
evening and all fans were asked to visit the
Technology Night during halftime.
2 Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Newsletter | Volume 2, Number 17 | January 2012
Best Practices at Sparkman Middle School
Parent & Student Technology Night Activities Celebration Board
Most teachers and school staff members
•CNN (school news) broadcast routinely demonstrate their dedication to their
•Dissect a frog on a Smart Board work by putting in extra hours, going the extra
•Play Math Apps on iPads mile, coming up with new ideas, and helping
•Language Arts lessons using the iPods others in many ways. Too often, however, these
•Social Studies lessons using the iPods contributions seem to go unrecognized. We have
created a “Celebration Board” to provide faculty
It was a great success with many families and staff with a way to acknowledge each other’s
attending. SMS looks forward to hosting many more accomplishments and contributions. Located in the
Technology Nights with student demonstrations. teacher workroom, the board is stocked with note
sheets and markers for posting notes of thanks
and encouragement. Being acknowledged for all
that we do boosts morale and makes our school a
more pleasant place to be.
We Appreciate
You!
Professional Learning Community for New
Teachers
To better support beginning teachers, we
are developing a professional learning community
(PLC) for teachers in their first three years of
service. The intent is to provide a non-threatening
environment where new teachers can discuss their
specific needs and issues with veteran teachers
who are willing to share their time and experience.
Participation in the PLC is open to anyone seeking
to learn and share ideas. While our primary focus
will be supporting and fostering the growth of new
teachers, we all have our own strengths and
weaknesses, and we hope that new teachers and
veteran teachers alike will benefit from working
together in this group. THANK YOU!
Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Newsletter | Volume 2, Number 17 | January 2012
3
Best Practices at Sparkman Middle School
Faculty Writing Board
As a part of developing a culture of literacy
in our school, we have displayed a faculty writing
board, which highlights the writing of both
teachers and non-teaching staff. The current board
features our reflections on the television shows we
watched when we were our students’ age. As a
staff, we enjoyed writing about and sharing our
memories, and our students have certainly
enjoyed reading about what we were like when
we were their age. The board has allowed us not
only to model the skills we want our students to
use, but also to connect with our students and SMS Bunch - Faculty Writing Board
learn about each other.
Character Posters - “We can…” Students finished the
sentence with what they could do to make
SMS a better place. (see photo to left)
Too Good for Violence: A Framework for
Prevention - A School-Wide Campaign to
Promote Positive Youth Behaviors
This framework for prevention illustrates the
Mendez Foundation’s perspective on
developing positive youth behaviors and
preventing alcohol, tobacco and other drug use
and violence.
Seven Habits Training Although the framework is school-based, it also
involves the family and the community as equal
In January, SMS was offered the opportunity partners. Research has shown when a child bonds
to participate in training on Steven Covey’s The Seven with the school, he or she is more likely to adopt
Habits of Highly Effective People with our cluster the prosocial values of the school and less likely to
schools. A representative from each grade level and become involved in violence, drug use, and other
an administrator attended, as the Seven Habits will problem behaviors. (O’Donnell, Hawkins, &
be the basis for our character education program Abbott, 1995).
next year. This program will give students the skills to
accept personal responsibility, set goals and Following a kick-off rally on Tuesday, January 24,
priorities, and communicate and collaborate lessons will be taught weekly for 10 consecutive
effectively. By cooperating with our cluster schools, weeks school-wide.
we will be helping students from an early age to
Information from Sparkman Middle School Site by Jennifer D. Whitt
develop skills they will need to succeed in life.
4 Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Newsletter | Volume 2, Number 17 | November 2012
Keynote Speakers
David Walsh, Ph.D. has
emerged as one of the
most sought after
speakers in American
education. He is the
president and founder of
the National Institute on
Daily Overview Media and the Family in
Minneapolis.
Thursday, April 12th:
He spent over ten years in the classroom, is an
• Site visits to nationally recognized elementary, middle, award-winning psychologist, the author of eight
and high school including Blue Ribbon Lighthouse books, a television personality, and the parent of
Schools featuring technology applications and successful three. His numerous articles have appeared in both
educational initiatives. professional and general publications. He is a
• Keynote address--Warren Phillips frequent guest on national media and is the author
• Choice of exciting workshops that welcomes sharing and of the best selling book, Why Do They Act That Way?
collaboration. A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for You and
Your Teen. (Free Press, 2004).
Friday, April 13th:
• Keynote address--Dr. David Walsh
• Over 75 workshop sessions by K-12 teachers and Warren Phillips is a
administrators sharing best practices in the area of recently retired seventh
technology, literacy, curriculum, instructional practices, grade science/ARL
wellness and social emotional needs. teacher in Plymouth,
where he taught for 35
Other Learning Opportunities: years. He has a B.A. in
Earth Sciences, an M.A.T.
• Model 21st Century classroom set up featuring the latest i n Te a ch i n g P hy s i c a l
technology (Bring Your Own Device Model) Sciences and an M. ED. in
• Informal conversations and sharing of best practices with Instructional Technology
educators from all over the country from Bridgewater State
• 15 Professional Development Points (PDPs) available College in Bridgewater,
Mass.
Wa r r e n w a s r e c e n t l y i n d u c t e d i n t o t h e
Lodging InformatioN Massachusetts Science Educators Hall Of Fame. He is
a contributing author in a new uplifting book about
teaching called Today, I Made A Difference. He's co-
authored a brain-based book called Science
Reading Public School Room Block at Courtyard by Marriott Woburn Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites. He has also
produced 3 CD's of Science Songs entitled Sing-A-
Group Rate Available Long Science ,Sing-A-Long Science--The Sequel, and
Sing-A-Long Science--The Second Sequel.
King Bed - $134 a night - Select this link or call 1.800.321.2211 and
reference Reading Public School Room Block.
Room Block Ends: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 Courtyard by Marriott
240 Mishawum Road
Be advised that reservations must be made prior to this date. Any remaining Woburn, MA 01801
rooms in the block will be released for general sale and additional reservations
will no longer be available at your discounted group rate.
Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Newsletter | Volume 2, Number 17 | January 2012
5
BLUEPRINT FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE
Best Practices SPRING Institute ’12
School Site Visit BY Level
Reading Public School District Spring Institute - Site Visits
Elementary School Site Visit:
If you would like to see a "bucket-filling"
school and meet lots of T.R.R.F.C.C.
students and staff members, then J.W.
Killam Elementary is the place for you!
Our 60 member faculty and staff make
our home-like decorated school a place
where learning is fun for our 450 students
each and every day.
Our newly developed mission is that our
school is a T.R.R.F.C.C. (trustworthy, Upon entering our school, members of our student service
respectful, responsible, fair, caring, and squad will greet and lead you to our dining hall, which was
good citizens) place where everyone recently named by our students, The Kids’ Café, for a quick
belongs, where everyone achieves at viewing of our daily news show Killam News Live! (a
their personal best and where everyone’s student centered webcam broadcast) After a brief welcome
accomplishments are celebrated! and introduction from some of our staff members and
parent organization chairs, you will tour our school to see
21st Century teaching and learning in action!
6 Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Newsletter | Volume 2, Number 17 | January 2012
Reading Public School District Spring Institute - Site Visits
We are fortunate to have exceptional grade-level teams of highly-qualified educators who use research-
based educational practices to support our students as they learn to demonstrate their knowledge in
alignment with their learning style and preferred multiple intelligences. If you’re lucky, you may even see
a group of students doing a variety of brain-based exercises to help stimulate their learning.
We are especially proud of our Curriculum and Instruction and Weekly Grade Level Data Meetings.
Although our Differentiated Learning Team will be in the classrooms team teaching, you will have a
chance to meet with principal Cathy Giles to hear about these incredible professional learning
communities and how the staff collects, analyzes, and uses this Tiered Instruction Model (TIM) data to
drive all future instruction. We are proud of our Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School and we welcome you to
come and visit. Cameras and Questions are welcome, of course!
Elementary School Site Visit: Best
The Birch Meadow Elementary School motto,
“Learn, Achieve, Believe TOGETHER” voted
on by the students, staff and parents, sets
the stage for a great learning environment.
As a 2011 Blue Ribbon Lighthouse Award
winner, Birch Meadow features
SMARTboards in every classroom,
computers on wheels, staff wikis and blogs,
digital photo story displays, a computer lab
with SMARTboard, a parent resource
center, flip video images of events, student
and professional art work displays, wireless !
access points, assistive technology,
language-based classrooms and hands-on learning opportunities. The daily instructional program
at Birch Meadow includes a Tiered Instructional Model for our 1st and 2nd grade students, guided
reading instruction in grades K – 5, 21st century learning experiences, Fundations Reading,
Everyday Mathematics and block scheduling.
Middle School Site Visit:
Coolidge Middle School is characterized by a
shared mission and vision, an organizational
structure of collaborative teams, a continuous
striving to improve, and annual self-
assessment to examine results. The school
focuses on integrating technology and 21st
century skills across the curriculum,
effectively addressing the behavioral health
needs of young adolescents, and adopting
best practices for meeting students’ diverse
learning styles—while at the same time
providing a successful inclusionary
experience for a variety of special needs.
Teamwork is the cornerstone of Coolidge’s culture, and facilitating strong communication among all the
school’s stakeholders is also a constant goal of the school.
Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Newsletter | Volume 2, Number 17 | January 2012 7
Practices
Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence
2011 Award Recipients
2011 Blueprint for Excellence National Conference
Lighthouse Awards Banquet
Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School Award Winners
1. Greeneville Middle School - Greeneville, TN - Renewal Originally Named in 2004
2. Prince of Peace Catholic School - Hoover, AL
3. Park School Campus - Round Lake, IL
4. Central Elementary School - East Brunswick, NJ
5. Buckhorn High School - New Market, AL
6. F. E. Burleson Elementary School - Hartselle, AL
7. Birch Meadow Elementary School - Reading, MA
8. Penn-Bernville Elementary School - Bernville, PA
9. Tusculum View Elementary School - Greeneville, TN - Renewal Originally Named in
2005
Blue Ribbon Beacon School Award Winner
1. Springfield Middle School - Springfield, TN
Points of Light School Award Winners
1. Celebration K-8 School - Kissimmee, FL
2. Sparkman Middle School - Toney, AL
Aspiring School Award Winners
1. J. C. Solomonese Elementary School - Norton, MA
2. Katherine B. White Elementary and Middle School- Detroit, MI
3. Hemingway Elementary School - Hemingway, SC
4. Jewish Day School - Allentown, PA
Congratulations to each school for their efforts and participation in the
Blueprint for Excellence School Improvement Model.
6 Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Newsletter | Volume 2, Number 17 | January 2012
Blueprint for Excellence School Improvement Model
The Blueprint for Excellence can help your school determine how well
it is doing in nine areas of critical performance that research says
leads to educational excellence.
This comprehensive school assessment can guide the creation of a
school-wide action plan that includes measurable student achievement
and, potentially, can result in the honor of receiving the Blue Ribbon
Lighthouse School Award, which celebrates schools that excel in all
nine performance areas.
The Blueprint for Excellence is the brainchild of Blue Ribbon Schools of
Excellence, Inc., an organization of seasoned education professionals
with many years of experience in identifying schools of excellence for
federal agencies at the national level. These individuals have
dedicated their lives to immersing themselves in the finest quality
research on school excellence.
Their understanding of the components that accumulate to form a
first-class, high performing school has led them to create a
challenging, online self evaluation tool that schools can use to
compare their practices to the very best — to identify their strengths
and weaknesses.
What’s Happening at Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence
Upcoming Events
April 12-13, 2012 - Blueprint for Excellence Spring Institute, Reading, Massachusetts - Registration is Live
December 4-8, 2012 - Blueprint for Excellence Conference, Walt Disney World, Florida - Registration is Live
How is your school really doing?
Blueprint for Excellence School Improvement Process
How to become a Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School
Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Professional Development Course Offerings
Stay Connected to the Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Network
Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Newsletter | Volume 2, Number 17| January 2012 9