Seneca Ridge Middle School Annual Report 2009-2010

1. Seneca Ridge Middle SchoolAnnual Report2009-2010 At Seneca Ridge we build relationships and empower students to become responsible citizens who value learning as a lifelong process.

2. Seneca Ridge Middle School Seneca Ridge is proud to be one of the most diverse middle schools in Loudoun County. This year, we educated 931 students from various economic, cultural, and religious backgrounds.

3. Seneca Ridge Middle School At Seneca Ridge we build relationships and empower students to become responsible citizens who value learning as a lifelong process. Seneca staff is committed to going the extra mile for our students. • In order to realize our vision and fulfill our commitment, our staff • works after hours to provide extra help. • provides individualized instruction. • maintains regular communication with parents. • treats students with respect. • sponsors after school activities and clubs for students. • creates an environment of success and fairness. • looks for new solutions and strategies to increase student success and • development.

4. Rethinking School Grading Grading for mastery is a term used to describe the new grading policies at Seneca Ridge. Simply put, students are graded based on their mastery of the curriculum. Extra credit, behavior, work habits, homework and class practice do not count toward a student’s final grade. Students’ performance on assessments of their knowledge are included in the final grade. Teachers are responsible for communicating students’ work habits and classroom behavior. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that student grades reflect their mastery of content and therefore cannot be inflated or deflated by teacher or students attitudes, perceptions or other items not related to academic performance. Homework Homework is assigned to students to provide practice for a skill learned during the day. Therefore it is not graded or used toward the calculation of a student’s final grade. This year teachers indeed assigned homework, reviewed the work with students, assessed their progress, and provided feedback to students and their families. So, students were given the opportunity to practice, review their work and track their progress. However, a student’s grade does not suffer if he or she is not successful with each night’s practice. Teachers use students’ Students performance on homework To decide if additional instruction is necessary. Homework becomes a tool for teachers and students instead of a potential trap. The final grade reflects students’ knowledge at the time of assessment.

5. Rethinking School Second Chance While homework is not a part of the final grade at Seneca, teachers and families understand its importance. In order to remind students of the importance of homework, Seneca began the Second Chance program this year. The program was a non-punitive, after school session where students are given a second chance to complete they failed to turn in earlier that day. Students worked during resource classes and lunch to complete missing assignments. All homework assigned is important and completion of work is mandatory. Retakes This year students were given an opportunity to retake exams if their teachers felt it was appropriate. Retakes are solely a teacher’s decision based on a particular student’s performance in class. Teachers use student class work, homework, warm ups and quizzes to determine the level of student learning. Sometimes a student’s daily performance is not demonstrated in his or her performance on an exam. In this case, a student may be given another opportunity to showcase their knowledge. Likewise, if a teacher reviews an assessment and determines that a child simply needs more instruction on a certain topic, the teacher may also decide to offer the student a retake. Seneca teachers use this method to be sure the students are learning to their full potential.

6. Rethinking School Assessments Beginning this year, teachers were required to categorize their assessments by formative and summative assessments. Formative assessments are daily assessments that teachers use to measure student progress throughout a unit. Most likely they are class practice, quizzes, homework or warm-ups. These assessments do not count toward a student’s final grade. Summative assessments are broader assessments that test students’ comprehensive knowledge of concepts. They are normally portfolios, projects, presentations or tests. Only these assessments count toward a student’s final grade because they test a student’s complete knowledge after instruction, practice and reteaching. Using this system, all work turned into a teacher is evidence of that student’s comprehension. If a teacher sees that a student’s performance does not match their classroom performance, teachers are obligated to allow students to re-take the assessment. Teacher Collaboration Teachers have always worked together at Seneca Ridge. In the past, teachers have worked together in inter-disciplinary teams to ensure the academic and social success of students. Last year, the teachers formed Collaborative Planning Teams (CPTs). Teachers work in teams grouped by grade level and content area. This year, the CPTs worked to plan common lessons and assessments. This type of collaboration helps teachers determine the best methods of instruction and assessment.

7. Teacher Accomplishments • Andrea Weiskopf(Latin), presented a workshop, Teaching Cambridge Latin Course Unit Two: What Happens When Two Cultures Collide, for fellow Latin teachers in the County for staff development. She was also the assistant coach for the Virginia National Certamen Novice team which placed 2nd in at the National Junior Classical League’s annual convention. She also assisted the Virginia State Intermediate Certamen team coach. • Donna Russel, (6th grade Language Arts), and Katherine Dalland (6th grade Language Arts), completed master’s degrees in New Professionalism from George Mason University. • Liz Diamond (8th grade counselor), was selected to present at a national convention in Delaware about the New Beginnings Program in the Dominion Cluster. • Jill Kimball, Jay Raines, Jennifer Efigenio, Bill Gulgert and Cynthia Lewis received training in SIOP strategies. • Sheryl Dufour, (8th grade math), won a fellowship from Northup Grumman to participate in an experimental education expedition organized by Earthwatch institute. She will be traveling to the edge of the Arctic Circle in Manitoba, Canada to study climate change this summer.

8. Student Accomplishments • Catherine Messerly (8th grade), received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for her work in the Seneca Ridge community. • Ally Sarkis (8th grade) was selected through competitive state auditions to be in the Virginia Honors Choir. • Zach Stultz, Shennie Yao, Sindy Hou and Kaitlyn Senchak were this year’s recipients of the Malone Foundation Awards in art, science, math and music. • Meena Nayagam was this year’s recipient of the Seneca Ridge award. • Matt Szelc earned the Ruritan Award for outstanding students in Loudoun County. • Allyson Foster won a gold medal in tennis skills at the Special Olympics. • Devon Tinius has volunteered at many Girl Scout functions through Loudoun Volunteer. She has worked at Girl Scout summer camps, hosted a dance for Girl Scouts, worked at "Barktoberfest," and she also helped at a Thanksgiving dinner at a local senior citizen home. We are very proud of her generosity and selflessness to our community!

9. Student Projects Thanks to a grant from Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation, Mr. Peck’s 6th grade science classes were able to plant 200 willow rods on the banks of the Seneca Branch of Sugarland Run on school property. The project addressed the erosion of the stream banks and loss of soil, caused in part by the soil impermeability that is a consequence of development. Students planted the willow rods, watered them during two dry spells, and inspected the growth over the spring time. Planting the rods was an action that students supported as a way of improving the environment. They also look forward to the opportunity, when they are seniors about to graduate from high school, to return to the willow tree they planted, and to stand under the canopy of the willow tree along with relatives invited to the graduation. Bryce Hartzel next to his healthy willow rod.

10. Student Projects The seventh grade Spartan team invited Kate Campbell Stevenson to share her presentation on "Women in History" as a way to prepare for the history SOL . Ms. Stevenson is a local actress/singer who uses live educational theater to entertain, educate and motivate students. She tailors her presentation to focus on women that teachers suggest best suits the needs of their group, and includes character building lessons to complete her stories.

11. Student Projects In the 7th grade Life Science, there are two moments when the students really feel like they are completing high school work. The Genetics project asks the students to “create” a life form using predetermined characteristics from a set of genome from made-up life forms. They choose which genes are dominant and recessive, and also which traits are visible in the offspring. The students then have to “create” or build their creatures. Aside from the artistic brilliance of some of our students, the creatures End up looking very different despite the fact that They are all working from the same data. This helps them understand why we have so many varieties of People and species on the planet. The second challenging opportunity is in the Frog Dissection lesson. Frogs and humans have many of the same anatomical structures. The students learn about the methods, procedures and the locations involved in proper dissection, and identify the locations of the major organs within the body cavity of a frog. After the initial shock and smell (which isn‘t as bad anymore), the students dive in and do amazing work. Some future surgeons and coroners do emerge at this time.

12. Student Projects Mrs. Moussaoui ‘s eighth grade students participated in "Shakespearience" this year. They read and performed Richard II with a teaching artist from The Shakespeare Theater. Later, they traveled to downtown DC to watch a matinee performance of the play with other students who had also participated in the program.

13. Student Projects As a collaboration between 8th grade English and science, students developed a creative story about molecules going through phase changes. Within the story, they demonstrated knowledge of how molecules move when they are solid, liquids or gas. Students also imagined what happens to the energy of the molecules and they ways they move as they go from one state of matter to another. This project required that they effectively develop a character with a personality and utilized correct grammar and punctuation for dialogue between characters. Their projects were either typed stories or detailed cartoons.

14. Seneca’s Teams • The Seneca Ridge Step Team won first place in the Stomp competition held at Dominion High School this year. • Seneca sent its team to the first annual Middle School Academic Competition at Smart’s Mill Middle School and made it to the second round of competition. Olivia Sorto • Danny Hoerauf • • Anastasia Chobany • Crystal Gong • Shenni Yao • Meena Nayagam • Matthew Zhou • Abby Rose • 8th Grade Band received all Superior Ratings at the District Band Festival. • 7th Grade Band received an Excellent rating and the District Band Festival. No other 7th Grade Band in the county competed at this level. • Once again, Seneca’s chorus was personally invited to sing the National Anthem at the Verizon Center at an official NBA game. • Dip-Set, Seneca’s proud step team performed at several venues and competed in four local competitions and won $400 in cash prizes. Most impressive was their first prize win at the Dominion Stomp Fest in May 2010 they place 2nd at other competitions Alayah Wood • EstefanyPeredo • Elizabeth Paz • Jennifer Paz • Ivana Robinson • Evelyn Reyes • Hannah Lewis • Mona Zitoun • Kaitlyn Kocher • Shawna Brown • Haley Halcrow • Evie Graves • DayanaCosme

15. Seneca’s Teams Congratulations to all of the Seneca Ridge Odyssey of the Mind teams. We had four teams competing in five problems at the regional tournament held on February 27, 2009 at Park View High School. The Nature Trail‘R team (Nicole Lidyard, Rachel Tao, Renata Wilson, Sarah Yang, and Thor Keller) had to build and drive a human powered vehicle that among other things had to clean up the environment. The team placed fourth in their division. The Return to Flight team (Steven Stallings, Sagar Govani, Bill Tang, Nelson Chen, and Kelvin Bryant) had to make and operate a series of aircraft that completed variety of flight plans. The team placed fourth in their division. The Discovered Treasures team (Aly Kamis, Audrey Newman, Jillian Kazmierczak, Ginny Ledwell, Lauren Musa, Katherine Armstrong and Emily Saldanha) had to create and present an original performance portraying the discovery of two archaeological treasures. The team placed second in their division. Jake Browning, Matthew Gibbs, Taaj Davis, Meera Chauhan, Morgan Chugg, Meghan Kelly, and Megan DiDomenico competed in two problems: Column Structure and Food Court. The Column Structure team placed second in their division. The Food Court team placed first in its division and competed at the Virginia Odyssey of the Mind State Finals held in Newport News, Virginia.

16. Seneca’s Clubs • Knitting – Toula Mitrakas • German Club – Karen Plummer • Soccer – Bill Gulgert • Basketball – Liz Diamond and Beth Carter • TAP – Chris Souther • Dance – Lauren McChesney • Bollywood Club – Amanda Patel • Rocket Club – Ron Stocking • Ranger Steve – Jerome Peck • Chess Club – Larry DeSimone • Tennis Club – Andrea Moussaoui & Lynne Austin • Math Counts – Sheryl Dufour

17. Giving Parents Tools Study Skills Sessions Seneca Ridge realized that students coming into middle school needed additional training and support with developing important study skills. A team of teachers using researched Based data and strategies, developed a study Skills seminar for the in-coming sixth graders and their parents. All parents and students were invited to attend a two hour session where teachers, counselors and administration shared the research, strategies and then modeled those study strategies for parents and students. Although students were still grappling with the importance and value of those skills, parents were overwhelmingly pleased and relieved to have tools and strategies, they could use at home to help their child be successful. Several sessions were offered to accommodate family schedules. Me Time Me Time is a program run through Loudoun Diversity, a local, non-profit, community advocacy group. The program offers tutoring and mentoring to students who have been identified by the school. Community volunteers and members of the Loudoun Diversity work with students on Saturday to work with students. The structure of the program is to improve academic skills and abilities through the use of direct instruction and teacher input. The major focus of the Seneca program was math. Bill Gulgert (assistant principal), worked with Loudoun Diversity throughout the second semester. Eight students consistently took advantage of the Saturday program and they met 7 times.

18. Communicating with the Community • This year Seneca switched the newsletter format from paper copies to an all on-line format. • Mr. McDermott began hosting “Principal Coffees”. Parents were invited in once a month to meet with the principal and discuss items based on parent feedback. Questions and discussion was encouraged. • Cynthia Lewis and Lauren McChesney continued to work with the parents of ELL students and the Parents as Educational Partners (PEP), program. The program met 4 times this year with topics that included college preparedness, pre-teen development, study skills and Seneca Ridge policies.

19. School Events • This year’s music production, High School Musical Junior was a huge success featuring two awesome casts. • The Seneca staff worked extra hard this year to prepare students for the SOL’s and to get them excited about doing their best. Deans and counselors organized Seneca’s first “Prep” Rally in May as one part of these efforts. The rally featured Seneca’s step team, a group of student actors, and a dance performed by volunteer members of the staff. The 8th graders had a special treat, Dominion High School’s drum line! • The SGA led by Howard Goldberg (7th grade history), organized the yearly switch day. Students got permission to switch places with the adults in the building and worked hard at being an education professional for the day! • The annual back to school community picnic featured games and activities for the whole family.

20. School Events • Seneca’s guidance counselors, Liz Diamond, Lauren McChesney, and Amanda Patel worked with Dominion High School staff as well as parent liaisons, Duke Butkovich and Taryn Simms to welcome new families to the Dominion cluster. The New Beginnings Dinner featured food, prizes, a free yard sale, and information for these families. • The Seneca staff worked extra hard this year to prepare students for the SOL’s and to get them excited about doing their best. Deans and counselors organized Seneca’s first “Prep” Rally in May. The rally featured Seneca’s step team, student actors, and a dance performed by staff members. The 8th graders had a special treat, Dominion High School’s drum line! • Liz Diamond (8th grade counselor), Freddie Martin (8th grade Language Arts), Madelyn Hetherington (8th grade Language Arts), and Diane Scott (ELL), organized the first Black History Poetry Café during Black History Month. 12 students were selected by their Language Arts teachers to memorize and perform a dramatic reading of their poem for the friends and family who were invited to hear them. The readers were accompanied by 8th grade drummers on African drums. • The annual back to school community picnic featured games and activities for the whole family. • Once again, the Seneca Ridge PTO organized and sponsored a fun-filled night for our 8th graders. The annual beach blast was a successful and celebratory evening for our 8th graders. SRMS

21. School Beautification The Seneca Ridge staff took special efforts to make our school decorations as meaningful as they are beautiful. Mrs. Liz Diamond added a wonderful bolt character to our front lobby and worked with Ms. Denise McKenna to add a complete mural to the House A lobby. Mr. Crews, our resident artist and cafeteria worker kept students entertained with his daily artwork on the cafeteria blackboard. His gorgeous drawings reminded kids about healthy nutrition as well as reviewing the middle school curriculum. Kids looked forward to the new drawing each day.

22. School Drives • Tanya Larriva sponsored the 2010 Pennies for Patients campaign and was recognized by the county for her efforts. Seneca students raised $1222.70 for cancer patients. • Kathy Dunkin organized the Women’s Heart Health Awareness at Seneca for the American Heart Association. Seneca staff and students wore red for the day and raised $103 for the cause.