PLANNED IMPROVEMENT FOR THE SCHOOL AND DISTRICT

Based on the school’s improvement plan, areas of success and areas for planned improvement are provided below and/or on a separate sheet by our school and district.

The Illinois Learning Standards are statements which define a rigorous core of essential knowledge and skills that Illinois students enrolled in public schools are expected to know and be able to do. Student achievement of these standards, as tested with the Illinois Standards Achievement Tests ( ISAT ) is essential in accordance with the passage of the No Child Left Behind ( NCLB ) federal legislation. Scores reported on this report card reflect the progress of students in grades seven and eight, as mandated by state law.

The School Improvement plan is revised annually in each building. We will continue to study our demographic base and to critically examine methods by which we evaluate student performance. We will also continue to assess our educational program to ensure that it meets the needs of all of our students. The Internal Review Team, made up of Memorial Junior High School educators, will continue to assess the progress we are making to reach our goals. These goals are reflected in our School Improvement Plan.

Memorial Junior High School offers a sound, well rounded academic and extra-curricular program to the student body. Spanish, algebra for eighth graders, and an enrichment program are provided for qualified students. The Enrichment Program will continue district-wide and has had a positive impact at Memorial. Special subjects such as the addition of the new Reading Strategies class, Mission Math, technology, civics, art and music are provided on a rotating basis to every student at each grade level. Memorial’s Production Lab will soon be available for use by students and teachers. Engaged Interdisciplinary Learning and the Esteem Builders Program as well as the Challenger Space Program, continue to improve technological opportunities for our students. Athletic opportunities are provided via daily physical education classes and interscholastic sports. Our Memorial band and choral activities have received statewide and national recognition. Numerous clubs and organizations enhance the extra-curricular program.

During the current 2003-2004 school year, Memorial will continue to implement the Middle School concept for all students. Sixth, seventh, and eighth graders have been successfully grouped into six interdisciplinary teams led by four teachers each. We are expecting continued positive feedback from this academic approach to education. Curriculum is constantly being reviewed and revised. New textbook series have been adopted in both science and Language Arts for this school year.

Building focused staff development activities are conducted on a regular basis to offer the opportunity to evaluate current trends and needs. Each teacher will continue to develop methods, activities and strategies to enhance student learning.

Technology continues to be a priority in District 158 and is making an impact on our schools. Students and teachers have access to training and equipment in both our computer labs and classrooms. These tools, promoted by our Director of Curriculum, Assessment and Technology, and maintained by our Computer Technician/Network Specialist, provide us with a firm foundation for engaged learning projects.

Increasing numbers of transient and low income students are making an impact on our test scores. Every year we monitor our demo- graphics to determine areas of concern and to devise strategies for meeting the needs of our disaggregate groups.

A variety of strategies are implemented to stimulate and challenge the performance of students who do not meet the standards for the learning outcomes. These include, but are not limited to, the following: computer laboratory experiences; LRC remediation sessions; use of calculators in the classroom; greater parental involvement via assignment notebooks; homebase activities geared to improve student attitude towards learning; individual and group counseling activities; use of staff development to foster improved instructional techniques, strategies and methods.

District 158 has made a commitment to enhance teacher responsiveness to the needs of our students via staff development. Means of successfully accomplishing this has been and will continue to be addressed through half day inservices, workshops and teacher institutes.

Memorial Junior High School’s Parent-Teacher Association supports a wide variety of activities which are most beneficial to and appreciated by our students. Active PTA organizations are present in each of our four District 158 schools.

No report card can accurately describe the excellence and diversity of our entire Memorial school program. We are proud of our students, their achievements and of the efforts made by the staff to fulfill student potential.

If you have any questions or comments concerning this report card, please call your building principal, Justin Brink (474-2383) or Superintendent Veronda Cottle (474-6700) at any time.

Quality Education: Putting the Children First. The School District 158 Advantage.