Lancer ConnectionsIssue No. 33, March 7, 2014

Lancer Staff,

The stretch between winter break and spring break is always a long one.  The combination of wintry weather cooping up our tired Lancers, a pending EPAS day,

allocation deadlines and the focused work around our School Improvement Plan (SIP) has made this stretch prior to break busier than ever before. During this sometimes grim time of year, it is more important than ever to support each other and to do what we can to take care of our weary learners. There are several great community engagement opportunities coming up over the next month. They might be just what you need to liven up the end of a harsh Wisconsin winter.

Please consider coming out tomorrow morning to participate in the Frozen Five 5K Run/Walk. The Student Athletic Advisory Council (SAAC), with the sponsorship of the LHS Booster Club, is raising money for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society.

La Follette’s spring musical is Oklahoma. Shows are March 7, 8, 13, 14, and 15 at 7:30. Tickets are for sale online through our website.

The Staff Appreciation Luncheon is on Thursday, March 27th, the first day of third-term finals. Lancer parent Nancy Battist is organizing this annual event. Mark your calendars for lunch with your colleagues here at school.

The Booster Club is putting on a Casino Night/Silent Auction on Saturday, April 5, 2014 with the proceeds returning to La Follette to support student organizations.  Tickets are $25. This is a nice opportunity for adults to come together to support La Follette and at the same time have fun!  Come socialize and meet other La Follette parents and staff. Tickets are for sale in our athletic office.

In closing, we’ll have a few guests with us this coming Monday for our second SIP progress review of the year. Members of La Follette’s School-Based Leadership Team will join Assistant Superintendent Alex Fralin for an update on our work at La Follette related to our SIP. We’ll be visiting nine Lancer classrooms paying special attention to purpose, Common Core State Standards for Literacy in all subjects and shifting the cognitive load from teachers to students.  La Follette’s Theory of Action continues to guide us well.  Feedback from the SIP visit and from our upcoming May 22 Instructional Rounds will help us continue to evolve in our work to graduate all students career, college and community ready.

With Purpose and Pride,Chad

Professional Learning Spotlights @ LHS and District-wide@ La FOLLETTE HIGH SCHOOLCollaborative Classroom Visits & Walkthroughs: Lancer staff have prioritized learning with and from each other and our students about how the LHS theory of action is being brought to life in classrooms, specifically focused on multiple standards-based opportunities and supports for critical thinking, reading and writing and making thinking/learning visible both collaboratively and independently. Thank you very much to teachers and staff who have participated in CCVs in the last month as hosts or visitors for their thoughtful conversations about the instructional core: Shane Adams, Andrea Anderson, Marie Brown, Lauren Cabalka, Talitha Cushman, Melissa Denman, Sue Filo, Jovita Gandolfo, Anne Hank, Matt Krall, Andrew McCuaig, Terry Meissen, Eric Nelson, Martha Olsen, Pete Opps, Jim Pliner, Andrew Poquette, Darcy Poquette, Mary Puskarich, Carrie Rohde, Raymond Rosing, Beth Steffen, Berit Stevens, Karyn Stocks-Glover, Tom Theisen, Barb Washa, Brian Webb, Amy Wederath, Liz Weller, Chad Wiese, Serena Yu.

Increase Academic Achievement * Strengthen Relationships * Improve Post-secondary Outcomes

As a reminder, walkthroughs will resume later this month with teams of staff working together to emphasize the 2-way nature of walkthroughs and a more sharpened focus on shifting the cognitive load – the direction school-wide feedback from first semester is pointing us.

English Dept Day Away: Members of the English department and district colleague Denise Kalscheur collaborated for a third full day this year on March 4.  Considering the Common Core State Standards for Language and the role of grammar and usage in teaching and learning English comprised common departmental learning.  Team members also read and energetically discussed chapter one of Ken O'Connor's Repair Kit for Grading, a book that the School-Based Leadership Team has been considering.  The bulk of the day was spent in course-alike teams, developing common assessments, learning from students' work, and writing rubrics within the cycle of inquiry. Exit slips indicated that the day was rich and valuable. Participants included: Connor Beaudoin, Marie Brown, Mike Corbett, Talitha Cushman, Alyson Eith, Mike Harris, Andrew McCuaig, Jim Pliner, Darcy Poquette, Meg Randel, Joman Schachter, Phonekeo Siharath, Lindsay Simonson, Beth Steffen, Berit Stevens, Danielle Vogel, Richard Wagner, Barb Washa, Alicia Webb, Liz Weller, Nicole Wolf, Serena Yu.   

ESL/bilingual Department: Members of the ESL/bilingual department have been looking at ELL data, specifically progress report and term grades, to make decisions regarding this year’s BRS schedule and to find trends of success and areas where students need more support. Also using grade data, the ESL team is planning to submit SSIT referrals as a group for students who are struggling across more than one class. Additionally, on Monday, March 10, dept members are taking clustered homerooms on a college visit to UW-Milwaukee, followed by an afternoon at the Milwaukee Public Museum. As part of our action plan, we are taking steps to more explicitly educate our ELLs about college admittance and financial assistance for college. Members of the ESL Dept include: Sidiki Bitie, Marie Brown, Damaris Drohin de Arrieta, Lisa Endicott, Denisse Guerrero-Harvey, Emily Offerdahl, Jim Pliner, Darcy Poquette, Carol Samuel, Berit Stevens, Hector Valdivia, Alicia Webb and Seng Yang. Mikaela Hagen and Raymond Rosing also regularly attend ESL meetings and share their unique perspectives.

Instructional Coaching Team: The Instructional Coaching Team of Andrea Anderson, Terry Meissen, Martha Olsen, Jim Pliner, Beth Steffen, Amy Wederath and Chad Wiese, along with School Improvement Partner Karyn Stocks-Glover met February 26 and shared effective wonderings from recent Collaborative Classroom Visits (CCVs).  The team also brainstormed revisions to the current walkthrough form in order to have a tool that can provide consistently clear, specific and actionable feedback more focused on shifting the cognitive load. Both CCVs and Walkthroughs are professional collaborative experiences that bring La Follette's Theory of Action and 9 power Common Core State Standards for Literacy in All Subjects to life. On February 28, Lancer staff on the team joined Shane’s Adams’ 3rd block Geometry class for an Educator Effectiveness calibration visit, focusing on noticings and wonderings about 3 components in the Instruction domain – questioning, engaging students in learning, and assessment. The team will next meet on March 28.

Instructional Leadership Team (ILT): The ILT continues to learn together at bi-monthly Monday lunch meetings. La Follette's School-Improvement partner Karyn Stocks-Glover and neighborhood principals Terry Meissen, Jim Pliner and Amy Wederath alternately participated in meetings February 3, February 17 and March 3.  The team’s work over the past five weeks ranged from preparing to support colleagues’ engagement with Educator Effectiveness and EPAS at the all-school February 21st day of professional learning to analyzing feedback from February 21 to gearing up for a March 11th half-day retreat during which participants will learn from students’ work.  ILT members include: Jena Acker, Andrea Anderson, Todd Faulhaber, Kelly Ferguson, Scott Fernholz, Carl Horstmeyer, Arlene Krueger, Laura McCormick, John Neumann, Brady Nichols, Levi Olson, Darcy Poquette, Michelle Roe, Ted Ryan, Phonekeo Siharath, Lindsay Simonson, Beth Steffen and Chad Wiese.

Math Dept Day Away: On March 6, members of the math department, met at Douglas Stewart to continue their PLC work within the cycle of inquiry focused on close reading lessons, common learning targets and common assessments aligned to the Common Core State Standards. The extended amount of time allowed

Increase Academic Achievement * Strengthen Relationships * Improve Post-secondary Outcomes

participants to continue to align 3 of their courses to the CCSS in math content. Exit slips indicated learning that supported staff to take actions likely to impact students’ engagement and achievement. Those in attendance included: Shane Adams, Andrea Anderson, Allison Barnhart, Joel Batten, Theresa Breunig, Janice Chan, Damaris Drohim de Arrieta, Chris Jaramillo, Matt Krall, Jane Leussler, Martha Mallmann, Terry Meissen, Eric Nelson, Matt Nelson, Marcie Pugh, Ted Ryan, Carol Samuel, Karyn Stocks-Glover, Tom Theisen, Robby Vollbrecht, Jeff Ziegler, Janet Zintel.

New Lancer Instructional Staff: New members of the Lancer instructional staff met on Monday, January 27 and Wednesday, March 5. The purpose for the meetings is to support new Lancer staff as they successfully transition to LHS and enrich our community in ways that forward our Theory of Action. January’s meeting included time to reflect on first semester and to set a professional goal for second semester. Learning focused on supports for students provided by student services dept members and restorative practices. The group’s learning was facilitated by Patrice Hutchins and Kit Laibly. The March meeting focused on EPAS testing details and was facilitated by Martha Olsen. Staff in attendance included: Andrea Anderson, Anne Hank, Molly Hayes, Betsy Hood, Ryan Kelly, Scott Mankiewicz, Raymond Rosing, Sam Sackett, Susan Stachowicz, Beth Steffen, April van Buren and Chad Wiese. The group will next meet on March 31.

Positive Behavior Supports, Talitha Cushman: On Feb 4th, the Pride Team met to celebrate some positive trends in behavior data and restorative circle data as well as look ahead to February’s Lancer Lesson and "A is for Ally week." Many student teachers attended this meeting to learn about PBIS at La Follette. During the Feb 17 Lancer Lesson about becoming an ally, about 850 students completed a short survey about bullying and safety at La Follette. The data from this survey will drive the March Lancer Lesson, which will focus on creating a safe and supportive community at our school. The Feb 28 Lancer Pride Breakfast acknowledged 560 La Follette students who made Lancer Pride 2nd quarter. Student council and Student Services staff were all there to help pass out doughnuts and key chains. After noticing that our behavior referrals are down from last year at this time, the Pride Team celebrated Mardi Gras on March 4 with beads and King cake. We threw in Hawaiian shirts just to remind us that spring is on its way. Thank you to Julia Sherwood for suggesting the celebration to beat the winter blahs and for providing the beads.

School-Based Leadership Team (SBLT): La Follette's SBLT continues to meet bi-monthly on Wednesdays.  Recent meetings occurred January 29, February 5 and 26 and March 5.  The SBLT takes its charge to monitor implementation of the School Improvement Plan seriously and has worked hard in recent weeks, focusing on implementation data in the form of walkthroughs and student-achievement data in the form of grades.  At the most recent meeting, team members analyzed the school walkthrough form to prioritize shifting the cognitive load from teachers to students.  Continuing a book study of Ken O'Connor's Repair Kit for Grading, SBLT members explore more effective ways students' grades could be evidence of students’ learning. Team members include: Andrea Anderson, Kelly Ferguson, Carl Horstmeyer, Wendy Johnson, Terry Meissen, Martha Olsen, Jim Pliner, Darcy Poquette, Michelle Roe, Ted Ryan, Phonekeo Siharath, Karyn Stocks-Glover, Beth Steffen, Amy Wederath and Chad Wiese.

On February 19, for the second time this year a subset of La Follette’s School-Based Leadership Team joined SBLT representatives from all 50 MMSD schools at a district meeting.  Analyzing students’ close-reading work, shared by history teacher and Innovation Team member Raymond Rosing, La Follette’s team considered the implications of a text’s complexity when seeking to support student learning within the four corners of a text. LHS meeting participants also began the process of revising the school’s walkthrough form to emphasize shifting the cognitive load from teachers to students.  La Follette representatives included Andrea Anderson, Wendy Johnson, Terry Meissen, Martha Olsen, Michelle Roe, Beth Steffen and Chad Wiese.

DISTRICT-WIDEAristos Scholars: After school on February 26, six MMSD staff awarded an Aristos grant in the fall presented a mid-year progress update. Shane Adams, Andrea Anderson, Scott Fernholz and Chad Wiese were in attendance to hear the presentations, taking special interest in the one given by Janet Zintel. Janet was awarded a $10,000 grant and has used funds to develop a technology-centered math classroom in order to improve students’ success in math courses and also to increase their EPAS scores. Janet is able to provide

Increase Academic Achievement * Strengthen Relationships * Improve Post-secondary Outcomes

students in geometry and pre-calculus with more differentiated learning experiences through their use of Chromebooks purchased with grant funds.

High School Collaborative (HSC): LHS is well represented on the MMSD High School Collaborative team by Andrea Jones (parent), Khaleah Monger (student) and Jim Pliner (administrator), all of whom participated in the group’s second meeting February 19. Robert Schwartz, one of the co-authors of the Pathways to Prosperity report presented national research and made a case for a future where all of our students identify and leverage a personalized pathway to college, career, and community readiness. The HSC is a partnership of school, community and business leaders who are working to help create a vision around strategic framework pillar #2: Personalized Pathways. Cross-functional teams are exploring the recommendations from the HSC and are seeking, ultimately, to redesign the high school experience into something that reveals, develops, nurtures and connects each student's passion with his/her life's pathway. The group’s final evening meeting is scheduled for April 1.

All Sorts of Interesting Information and UpdatesAdvancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)/Teens of Promise (TOPS), Lindsay Simonson: Over 200 8th graders at Sennett, Whitehorse and Badger Rock Middle Schools received applications to be a part of the AVID/TOPS program at LHS for the 2014-2015 school year. Students were identified using a district rubric that considers their data and criteria for the program. These students have been invited to complete applications, including a 100-word essay explaining why they think they are a good fit for the program. Applications also include a teacher recommendation. Students with completed applications will be interviewed by members of the LHS AVID/TOPS site team next week. Students who best meet program requirements will then be invited to be part of an incoming AVID 9 class. 

AVID/TOPS students who receive D's or F's in classes are monitored closely by our LHS site team. Since the start of term 2 students have measurably decreased the number of D's and F's on progress reports. The 9th graders received 25% fewer D's and F's, 10th graders 20% fewer, 11th graders 19% fewer and 12th graders 18% fewer. After processing this data with the site team, we can attribute some of the successes to the adult actions occurring within our program such as lunch support sessions for struggling students and weekly check-ins with students to progress monitor their goals and improvement. We also have done a lot of goal setting with students and provided opportunities for reflection designed to impact the way they see their role as a student. 

A is for Ally Week: A is for Ally week, Feb 24-28, was a great success! Student groups including, Black Student Union, GSA, Imagine, OLA, PRIDE Guides, Project Unify, planned announcements, activities, and hosted tables at lunch in the commons to help promote ally behavior and raise awareness about bullying that occurs on many different levels. The week complimented the Lancer lesson about Ally behavior and set up the next Lancer lesson which looks at survey data collected about bullying from current Lancer students. Thank you to all the staff who wore their Ally buttons and to the staff who helped plan the week: Andrea Anderson, Talitha Cushman, Kelly Ferguson, Molly Hayes, Kit Laibly, Patrice Hutchins, Wendy Johnson, Beth Steffen, and Lonna Stolzfus.

Lancer Link:  A monthly opportunity for Lancer parents to get together and share learning from each other and with Lancer staff, Lancer Link's most recent meeting was Thursday, Feb 20.  Counselor Colette Bina and Assistant Principal Jim Pliner joined a small group parents to provide general school updates, discuss the scheduling process and answer specific questions. The group’s next meeting is Thursday, March 20 at 6:30pm in the LMC

Lancer Saturday Academy (LSA): The LSA continues to get wonderful support from LHS and MSCR staff. 40 students attended on March 1. Teachers have started taking advantage of this Saturday morning session to arrange for students to re-take assessments. If you have an assessment that you'd like to have administered you may arrange through Jim Pliner or Talitha Cushman. Please get a copy of the assessment to one of us and be sure to include any special instructions. We will return it to you on Monday. Any Lancer who needs a place to work or a bit of extra attention in order to meet academic goals is welcome in the LMC from 9:00 am until noon. Please continue to recommend the LSA to your students. Thanks to the following staffers: Marie

Increase Academic Achievement * Strengthen Relationships * Improve Post-secondary Outcomes

Brown, Jackie Burpee, Sue Filo, Alex Garcia, Molly Hayes, Natalie Kaminsky, Abbie Loeser, Andy Poquette, Darcy Poquette, Carol Samuel, Julia Sherwood, Susan Stachowicz, Beth Steffen, Jeremy Sutter, Hector Valdivia, Joshua Wright

Latino Parent Meeting (LPM): On February 17, a large group of participants welcomed three guests. Luis Yudice, coordinator of school safety and security for MMSD, and Zulma Castro, a Madison police officer with Amigos en Azul, were on hand to speak to LHS family members about gangs, bullying, and student safety in our schools. Lonna Stoltzfus shared La Follette's restorative justice practices and informed participants of the circle process. LHS parent and Habaneros owner Jose Garcia provided food, and ESL department staff members Damaris Drohin de Arrieta, Denisse Guerrero-Harvey, Emily Offerdahl and Hector Valdivia facilitated the meeting.

MSCR/CLC After School Clubs: Students who need help with homework or a quiet space to study can come to the CLC on Mondays from 2:24-4:00pm and Tuesdays-Thursdays from 3:30-5:00pm.  Students are able to access computers, have a snack, and get help with homework from teachers and tutors.  In the last month, we've been busy working with Project Unify events including raising awareness of the "Spread the Word to End the Word" campaign and raising money for Special Olympics to watch Mr. Pliner do the ice cold Polar Plunge!  We raised over $150 for the cause through the support of our Lancer community of students and staff.  Thank you for your support and donations! We are now preparing for MSCR's 3rd Annual Festival of the Arts on April 10th at 6pm.  The Festival is an opportunity for young people from all MMSD middle school and high school programs to display their talents for family, friends, and community members.  We are excited to host this awesome event! There are multiple clubs being offered in March:  Breakdancing, Latin Dance, Cake Decorating/Cooking, Mosaic Art, Service Learning, and Craft Club!  Students are encouraged to stop by the CLC (in the back of the Library) to pick up registration packets!  For more information regarding clubs or after-school homework help, please contact Molly Hayes (CLC Director) by phone 608-204-3625 or email mchayes@madison.k12.wi.us or let students know they can stop by the CLC at any time!

Applause, Applause Thanks to Levi Olson for coordinating a partnership between UW-Stevens Point music

professors (including Levi’s violin professor), UW-SP music students and Lancer musicians. In Oct, members of the UW-SP piano trio came to LHS to play with and coach students in the concert and philharmonic orchestras. More recently, violin and bass professors rehearsed with Lancers in the symphonic and philharmonic orchestras. The partnership was showcased through outstanding collaborative performances on stage at the February orchestra concert. Comments from parents and student-musicians at conferences showed sincere appreciation for the opportunity for Lancers to perform with professional musicians.

Great job to John Milton, Amy Schwab and Calvin Taylor who, along with Lancer students, showed tremendous Lancer PRIDE in the feature article about the LHS MENS group in the Madison Times!

Exciting to see Beth Steffen, former Aristos Scholar, pictured in the current issue of Madison Magazine and to read her contributions to an article entitled, Aspiring to Aristos!

Exceeding benchmark thanks to all staff who facilitated our first school-wide EPAS lesson with students in grades 9, 10 & 11 during 2nd block on Wed, Feb 26! Feedback indicates learning targets were met!

Colorful, beaded thanks to Julia Sherwood for providing festive beads to all Lancers as a celebration of Mardi Gras and an overall day brightener and to the Lancer PRIDE team for the delicious King’s cake!!

Increase Academic Achievement * Strengthen Relationships * Improve Post-secondary Outcomes

An enthusiastic cardinal and grey welcome to David Redwine, cross-categorical teacher and to Ruth Drifke, administrative assistant for the Meissen Neighborhood. We are very glad both of you are here!

A hoot and a holler congratulations to our very own “Conan the Librarian” aka April van Buren for her recent entry into the Mad Rollin’ Dolls roller derby league. Come seek the rookie in uniform for the Quad Squad on March 15 at the Alliant Energy center. Autographs and tickets are available in the LMC!

Healthy thanks to Bonnie Ohm, School Nurse, and Dustin Walsh, UW-Madison Student Nurse, for coordinating our Staff Wellness Day on Feb 4. Twenty+ Lancer staff stopped by the health office to have their blood pressure and blood sugar checked, BMI calculated using height and weight, or to indulge in some "healthy" snacks (rumor has it chocolate kisses were offered along with the carrots, peas and tea). Participants as a whole were very healthy. Keep up the good work!

A tickled pink thanks to Michele Guyette for helping us all pause and acknowledge each other and our students for the things we appreciate about them – especially during this long month of March!

Best wishes to Kelly Ferguson and all Forensics participants as they head to district competition!

Thanks to staff serving as cooperating “teachers” during second semester for those preparing to enter the education profession: Jena Acker, Marie Brown, Alyson Eith, Terry Fargen, Molly Hayes, Heidi Hyland, Kathie Johnson, Wendy Johnson, Matt Krall, Arlene Krueger, Ben Loritz, Andrew McCuaig, Eric Nelson, Carrie Rohde, Phonekeo Siharath, Lindsay Simonson, Tom Theisen, Liz Weller, Janet Zintel

Up and Coming1) Spring Musical - Oklahoma Fri & Sat March 7 & 8 and Thurs, Fri, Sat March 13-15, 7:30pm Aud2) Frozen 5K Sat, March 8, 9:00 am start LHS C173) Lancer Lesson Mon March 10, between blocks 1 & 24) PCT Mondays 2:40-3:40; March 10, 17, 24 & April 7. Student Dismissal @ 2:24 pm5) Booster Club Meeting Wed March 12, 7:00 pm LMC6) EPAS Testing Tues March 18, 8:00 – 12:15 LHS7) Latino Parent Meeting Tues March 18, 6:30 pm LMC8) Band Concert Wed March 19, 7:30 pm Aud9) Lancer LINK Thurs March 20, 6:30 pm LMC10) Tech Lunch Bunch Thursdays in G12 with LHS Tech Coach Scott Fernholz,11) Term 3 Exams Thurs (blocks 1 & 2) & Fri (blocks 3 & 4) March 27 & 28. Student Dismissal @ 11:55am12) Staff Appreciation Luncheon Thurs March 27, 12:15 Cafeteria13) Mariachi Concert Fri March 28, 6:00-10:00 pm14) First Day Term 4 Mon March 31, Student Dismissal @ 11:55 am15) ASVAB Thurs April 3, 8:30-11:30 am. Contact Calvin Taylor with questions16) Booster Club Casino Night & Silent Auction Sat April 5, 6:00pm-Midnight Coliseum Bar17) Term 3 Grades Due Mon April 7, Noon

Increase Academic Achievement * Strengthen Relationships * Improve Post-secondary Outcomes