Julius West MS - Staff Development: Programs

Programs for 2008-2009

The administration and staff of Julius West Middle School continue to support the programs and initiatives of Montgomery County Public Schools while implementing several programs of interest and concern to the school.

The School Improvement Plan
Establishes the focus for the year with the objectives and tasks to pursue in an effort to increase student achievement. The objectives and tasks were established after an analysis of data and an examination of previous programs and staff skills. The plan, which includes a literacy goal, a math goal, a PRIDE goal. School data will be reviewed by a School Improvement Team at established checkpoints in order to monitor the tasks and responsibilities of the tasks.

The Baldrige Integrated Management System for School Improvement
Provides a system for planning and management of the school improvement process. The program provided training for a core team during 2005, with implementation of the process during the 2005-2006 school year. MCPS provides resources and support for all schools in developing and managing school goals and decisions.

Middle Years Programme
Continues for Julius West MS as an accredited International Baccalaureate Organization school. The MCPS courses of study are supported through the MYP Areas of Interaction and MYP course offerings. Students who choose to continue MYP through grades 9 and 10 at Richard Montgomery High School will culminate their experience with a Personal Project. An April 2007 visit by IB officials will provide review and feedback for the current JW and RM activities.

Middle Years Programme at JWMS

Professional Growth System
Activities continue as teachers enhance their knowledge and skills. At the heart of the program is the development of a Professional Development Plan, which outlines teacher growth through the evaluation cycle. Professional portfolios provide an opportunity for teachers to reflect on their growth and to gather documentation of their attainment of evaluation standards.

Academic Interventions
Assist students with skills development and strategy building in order to meet the challenges of the curriculum. Programs support former ESOL students and other students in social studies, reading skills development, math, and algebra support. Classes in reading and math are arranged after school to improve skill levels in those areas.

Technology Training
Continues in collaboration with the MCPS technology support team. The training enables teachers to develop and enhance technology skills to assist students in improving their own technology awareness and achievement. The training additionally provides ways for teachers to develop monitoring tools to measure student progress. One significant initiative is the Instructional Management System (IMS) to support teaching and learning. Teachers can access state course standards, examine data, develop lesson plans, generate reports, and register for professional development courses.

Eighth Grade Transition Program (SuperTeam)
Is a focus of the eighth grade instructional team to assist students in the transition between eighth and ninth grades. Monthly focus topics are presented to eighth grade students through JAG time and re-enforced through academic classes. The goal is to assist students in understanding the academic and career pathways available to them in high school and to preview high school procedures and programs.

National History Day
Is an after school option for students who wish to pursue a program to further their critical thinking, research, writing, and presentation skills. Competition in the National History Day competition has provided winners at state and national levels in the past few years.