Holmes International Middle School: A “Schools to Watch –Taking Center Stage” Model

Holmes International Middle School, located in Northridge and part of the Los Angeles Unified School District, is selected as a “Schools to Watch—Taking Center Stage” model school for 2007. Their selection meets the high criteria established by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform to identify those schools achieving progress toward academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity, and clear organizational structure and processes.

Before Holmes International Middle School applied for the California GEAR UP grant, the school was identified as II/USP and Title I school with students not achieving the progress expected. In 2002, Principal Barbara Mecka examined the data with her staff, discussing what changes were needed to close a significant achievement gap between white students and African-American and Hispanic students. Recognizing the need to increase parent and community involvement and to increase the academic rigor of student work, the Leadership Team applied to become a GEAR UP school in 2004-2005. The staff used the professional development resources of GEAR UP to support their goals related to a college-going culture and continued this program in 2005-2006. Academic achievement scores went up, the school became a California Distinguished School in 2005, and the principal was promoted.

During the administrative change, the GEAR UP site contact, Assistant Principal Felicia Drew, along with the other Leadership Team members provided continuity and focus on their goals. A new principal, Valerie Turner, was selected and quickly became immersed in staff plans for improvement.

▲Facilitator Vicki Rice and Lilly Turner, mother of principal, join with Gabby Longan, AVID teacher; Valerie Turner, Principal; Felicia Drew, Assistant Principal, to celebrate the “Taking Center Stage—Schools To Watch” model school award for Holmes International Middle School.

Holmes Middle School first considered applying to be a Schools To Watch at the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year. Because of the short timeline staff had to prepare the application, it was decided to wait a year to apply. In the meantime, the faculty completed the Schools To Watch Self-Rating tool to determine if the school was indeed on the right track. The staff felt it was important to validate all their hard work over the last five years to reach the current level of success. During professional development, staff analyzed the data from the survey and identified some areas of weakness to change. A dialogue beginning with a brainstorming session with teachers, administrators and support staff culminated in collaborative efforts and a plan to systematically improve school programs. Another milestone was reached with the Title I Academic Achievement Award in 2006.

At the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year, the Schools To Watch self-assessment was done again and in October 2006, Holmes Middle School completed a ten page Schools to Watch description of their stellar journey. Under the “Social Equity” section, the school describes two programs that are integrated into their school wide improvement program as follows:

“Our GEAR UP grant and AVID program help to ensure equal access to typically underrepresented minorities. Students receive small group counseling meetings informing them of the A-G requirements and post secondary opportunities. AVID provides access to rigorous coursework and the study skills needed to be successful. Students have access to college campus tours, scholarships, career explorations through Career Day programs and parent information meetings. We have a college-going culture at Holmes that includes a College Awareness Month and college t-shirt days. The college bound culture generated by these programs has become infectious at Holmes.”

Currently the school participates in the GEAR UP Continuing School Project.

Holmes Middle School activities and programs include the following:

INFORMATION ABOUT COLLEGE-GOING

“I’m Going to College” Poster Contest
College T-Shirt Days
Scholarship Essay Contest
Career Day
College Campus Weekend Tour
College Trivia Contests
AVID Program

RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES

“DISCOVER” Career Planning Program
Counseling Sessions for All Students
Using College Board Materials in Homeroom and Electives
College Corner
College Letter Writing Campaign
Homerooms Adopt A College
College Display Contest
College: Making It Happen Folders

RAISING STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

AVID Program
Counseling Program
Engaging Students in Goal Setting

More information about Holmes International Middle School will be available in the near future on the Schools to Watch website: www.clms.net/stw.

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Newsletter Credits

Joann Zgonc - Publication Coordinator
Bernadette Ramirez - Executive Assistant
Tarik Assagai - ACS Digital Media

Regional Coordinators

Sandy Carpenter-Stevenson	Vance Mills
Shirley A. Cunningham	Gina Rodriguez
Frank Holmes	Robert Van Zant
Donald Mar	Joann Zgonc

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Holmes International Middle School: A “Schools to Watch –Taking Center Stage” Model
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