Horace Mann Middle School
School Improvement Plan (SIP)
2015-2016
Overarching Goal
We will define, identify, develop, and implement strategies to advance increased complexity,
rigor, and access across all curricula, instructional practices, and assessments within the
HMMS.
Sub-Goals:
Standard 1

The HMMS will continue to align curricula to the Massachusetts Frameworks and will
continue to use data from common assessment to ensure that all students have
opportunities to develop and demonstrate mastery in the required concepts and skills.
Standard 2





Community Engagement
Through effective partnerships with families, community members, and organizations,
educators will promote learning expectations and initiatives that enable all students to
grow academically, socially, and physically.
Expectations for proficiency and mastery of concepts and skills will be shared with
families and the community, including celebrations of success.
Through school-based activities and initiatives, the HMMS will continue to grow as an
inclusive community.
Standard 4

Teaching All Students
The HMMS staff will differentiate their instructional practices to meet the needs of
students at all levels. We will focus on refining the workshop model of instruction,
especially in Math and Literacy. The implementation of high expectations for increased
complexity and rigor for all learners will be achieved through the use of varied
classroom structures and supports such as- co-teaching, flexible groupings, and
Response to Intervention.
By implementing research-based curricula to support social/emotional learning all
HMMS students will benefit from a safe and supportive learning environment. A focus
will be for students, staff and families to know, understand and exemplify our Core
Values.
Standard 3

Instructional Leadership
Professional Culture
The HMMS staff will continue to participate in the alignment of curricula, the
development and implementation of common assessments, and will provide evidence of
differentiated instruction in their classrooms.
Using the Professional Learning Community (PLC) model, the HMMS faculty and
administration will collaborate in professional activities to implement instructional
practices that engage and challenge all students to meet or exceed their potential.
Subgoals: Instructional Leadership, Teaching All Students, and Professional Culture
Objectives
Action Steps
Resources
Create rigorous standards based
units of instruction that are
aligned across grade levels and
content areas with the
Massachusetts Frameworks and
use varied instructional strategies
to reach all learners.
Develop units of study fully
aligned with MA standards;
including interdisciplinary
units of study
 MA Curriculum
Frameworks
 Peer Visits
 Professional
Library/Internet
Resources
 Instructional Support
Team
 Math and Literacy
Specialists
 Co-teaching/ Special
Education Liaisons
 District Professional
Development
Opportunities
 Technology
 Common Planning
Time
 District Determined
Measures
 Developmental
Guidance
Curriculum
 Counselors and
Related Service
Providers
 Positive Behavioral
Interventions &
Supports
Use instructional and clinical
practices that reflect high
expectations regarding content
and quality of effort and work;
engage all students; and are
personalized to accommodate
diverse learning styles, needs,
interests, and levels of readiness.
Create and maintain a safe and
collaborative learning
environment that motivates
students to take academic risks,
challenge themselves, and claim
ownership of their learning.
Use formative and
summative assessments to
plan instruction appropriate
for each student (flexible
grouping, intervention and
enrichment plans)
Collaborate in professional
teams (grade level teams,
vertical teams, cross-district
teams, literacy specialist,
etc.)
Engage in targeted
Professional Development
(e.g., school-based, across
the district, self-directed,
book study)
Implement Developmental
Guidance Curriculum across
all grade levels.
Subgoals: Teaching All Students, Community Engagement and Professional Culture
Objective
Action Steps
Resources
Engage in regular, two-way,
communication with families and
the larger community around
school events, student
learning/development, and core
values.
Define and explore Core
Values and Beliefs through
periodic “Community
Meetings.”
 Community Meeting
planning team
 Technology
 PCC Meetings
 Newsletters, Blogs,
Social Media
 Student Council
Follow-up activities from
community meetings to
engage families in
conversations around Core
Values.
Expand and enhance modes
of communication with
families (e.g., varied
newsletter formats, email,
blogs, social media)
Offer parent information
sessions on topics related to
student learning and
growth.
HORACE MANN MIDDLE SCHOOL
CORE VALUES AND BELIEFS ABOUT LEARNING
Students thrive at HMMS when:
 Behavioral and academic expectations are clearly articulated,
appropriately challenging, and modeled, building confidence and
the desire for students to always do their best.
 They can count on an environment where they feel safe to take
academic risks, focus on learning, strive for excellence, and
presume that their experiences will be positive.
 The entire school community promotes supportive relationships
which model compassion, equality, empathy, and accountability.
 Our words and actions are respectful, fostering a genuine interest
in each other and creating an atmosphere of openness and trust.