Penn: A Year In Review by Chelsey Thompson

thompsonchelsey — 2025-05-14 02:10:27 UTC

thompsonchelsey — 2025-05-14 02:11:12 UTC

Our ENL team has been instrumental in our success as we have begun our SIOP journey!

thompsonchelsey — 2025-05-14 02:19:47 UTC

thompsonchelsey — 2025-05-14 02:23:32 UTC

2025-05-14 12:18:32 UTC

spirit weeks!

2025-05-14 12:19:04 UTC

Easy access to admin and support during times of need

2025-05-14 12:19:10 UTC

I'd love to receive more communication about field trips, events, etc. before the day of the trip! Love all the experiences our students get but need more advanced notice.

2025-05-14 12:19:49 UTC

Katie Thyen has been so helpful to teachers all across the building!!! In both classroom support and instructional support!

2025-05-14 12:19:59 UTC

Transition to and Addition of STEM standards within all classes

2025-05-14 12:20:02 UTC

2025-05-14 12:20:15 UTC

Incorporating team building games has been a huge success for classroom culture.

2025-05-14 12:20:23 UTC

quick and directed responses to students in need

2025-05-14 12:20:28 UTC

Katie Thyen!! Katie is a superstar. I would not have made it through my more difficult classes without her constant support, feedback, and instructional strategies <3

2025-05-14 12:20:30 UTC

Katie Thyen has been amazing as an instructional coach. Always quick to help with lots of helpful additions to lessons and truly useful feedback.

2025-05-14 12:20:46 UTC

Ability to be ourselves within the curriculum and classroom.

2025-05-14 12:20:53 UTC

Teaching IM in order next year and adding intentional supports for ENL and SPED students

2025-05-14 12:21:18 UTC

Cover the upstairs windows that look down into Gym

2025-05-14 12:21:18 UTC

cries in temperature dysregulation

2025-05-14 12:21:23 UTC

No lunch duty for teachers!

2025-05-14 12:21:57 UTC

Continue to push students to Higher levels of understanding / Mastery of skills

2025-05-14 12:22:07 UTC

Adult Presence on the catwalk upstairs

schuttea5 — 2025-05-14 12:22:08 UTC

Now that we have good passing times, I would like to see the students WALK and be CALM in the halls.

2025-05-14 12:22:19 UTC

Entry procedures have been smooth with the incorporation of metal detectors

2025-05-14 12:22:48 UTC

2025-05-14 12:22:50 UTC

A great variety of clubs and sports for students to participate in!

schuttea5 — 2025-05-14 12:22:52 UTC

staff at the top/bottom of EVERY stairwell from 845 to 9

2025-05-14 12:22:56 UTC

Admin has been quick to recognize when issues come up and address them in a way that works. Then ask for staff feedback to make more permanent change. Like the quick response to issues to make a temporary fix and then work to make a better more permanent fix.

2025-05-14 12:23:00 UTC

Transparency in student consequences and increased communication about students with staff. Not information we don't need to know, just an update of what admin is doing and what next steps are for us/the student

2025-05-14 12:23:07 UTC

Being able to be part of awesome groups of coworkers and students ✨

2025-05-14 12:23:23 UTC

Would like to see structural changes to tech time dismissal-- it still feels unorganized and chaotic in the classrooms. Potentially organize students into classrooms based on how they dismiss?

2025-05-14 12:23:28 UTC

More celebrations, more opportunities for our non-Problem students to get rewards, breaks, drinks, snacks, etc.

schuttea5 — 2025-05-14 12:23:28 UTC

More teacher facilitation and student-directed learning.

2025-05-14 12:23:30 UTC

robertsona23 — 2025-05-14 12:23:50 UTC

A plan for covering classrooms since subs do not arrive until after 9

2025-05-14 12:23:58 UTC

Having a consistent behavior/consequence system within the 7th grade has held adults and students accountable!

2025-05-14 12:24:18 UTC

ILearn testing was so beautifully organized by Thyen.

2025-05-14 12:24:28 UTC

I love the way passing periods were strategized. I feel like we are at a good place with that transition now.

2025-05-14 12:24:33 UTC

2025-05-14 12:24:43 UTC

Having amazing team members to lean on to get support in an academic space and behavioral space. I've grown so much because of the feedback I've gotten throughout the year!

schuttea5 — 2025-05-14 12:24:51 UTC

Lab materials for every class. Streamlined procedure for acquiring needed materials.

2025-05-14 12:25:16 UTC

2025-05-14 12:25:28 UTC

Need better communications about events and things going on around the school. A quick weekly email or something with major events and such going on.

2025-05-14 12:25:31 UTC

Creating building wide rules for phones/hats/language etc. at the beginning of the year and making sure they are a building wide standard

2025-05-14 12:25:59 UTC

Holding our students accountable with the low level "studenting" behaviors. Ie: not being tardy, putting phones away, not running through halls. (Chelsey just announced phone lockboxes so this is kind of irrelevant now).

2025-05-14 12:26:35 UTC

Making sure every teacher feels like they are part of a team regardless of what grade level(s) they teach

2025-05-14 12:26:37 UTC

More calm/focused resets for dysregulated students. Our BAF's are AWESOME, but 140 often feels chaotic due to the layout/nature of the classroom and mix of students present.

2025-05-14 12:27:04 UTC

Continued support from Admin and Support systems for students' behaviors. Has been GREAT this year.

2025-05-14 12:27:25 UTC

Having schoolwide systems for behaviors, other operations that are currently planned within grade level teams. It gets confusing for multi-grade and mixed grade teachers and kids take advantage of knowing what they can get away with that other grades can't.

2025-05-14 12:27:43 UTC

Underground spirit days!

2025-05-14 12:27:54 UTC

2 minute passing periods!!

2025-05-14 12:28:20 UTC

We have a safe community within this building where people take care of each other and share ideas!

2025-05-14 12:28:36 UTC

Would like hot pass students to have a calm and regulating environment to use their pass in. A separate space from 140, to allow for hot pass students to reset.

eppersonc4 — 2025-05-14 12:28:39 UTC

Our USS group rocked! Under staffed yet did it all!

2025-05-14 12:29:03 UTC

Having more adults in the hallway during every passing to avoid altercations

2025-05-14 12:29:04 UTC

Cameras in every stairwell!

schuttea5 — 2025-05-14 12:29:53 UTC

A way to track the level 1 and 2 referrals so they trigger something to correct behavior before a level 3 occurs.

2025-05-14 12:30:08 UTC

Continuing with what worked this year and growing further!

2025-05-14 12:30:09 UTC

Potentially starting a social committee to organize staff outings, breakfasts, or celebrations

2025-05-14 12:30:22 UTC

Providing a weekly update about the happenings in our building/grade level with instruction, escalation of student consequences, extras, fun things, etc.

2025-05-14 12:30:36 UTC

Being stricter on headphones/airpods will be very helpful.

2025-05-14 12:31:19 UTC

ELA starting off the year with 3 dedicated journal/notebook spaces, as Wit & Wisdom expects

2025-05-14 12:31:39 UTC

More time to co-plan and brainstorm with content areas

2025-05-14 12:31:53 UTC

Advisory time including team building activities in addition to successbound and other interventions. Maybe some pull out intervention time incorporated into this time. IT NEEDS TO BE UNIFORM IN THE BUILDING!

2025-05-14 12:32:44 UTC

Tech time dismissal is crazy! Need someone stationed in each hallway or need different structure. Maybe can't get phones until mode of transportation is called?

2025-05-14 13:43:27 UTC

This is a pipe dream, but I would love for the library to be an enclosed space.

2025-05-14 14:36:37 UTC

Day and Soto are so responsive and they really know our kids! Thanks!

2025-05-14 14:38:51 UTC

Better communication between grade level teams and related arts teachers... please!

2025-05-14 16:51:22 UTC

Robotics team!

2025-05-14 16:56:13 UTC

Running in the halls has been a huge issue that students disregard and ignore. It leads to a very chaotic transition time.

2025-05-14 18:11:11 UTC

Set dress code at the start of the year and adhere to it, need better hallway rules. Students are in the halls all day. Phones need to be locked away in boxes on a cart and stored in a secure room until the end of the day (this was done in past years and worked well). Need a way to track students asking for the bathroom pass because many are getting a pass from every period. Also, making sure teachers are following only one student with the pass at a time.

eppersonc4 — 2025-05-15 19:44:25 UTC

If it's possible, keep kids in cafeteria to finish eating breakfast before dismissing to class.

2025-05-19 15:46:31 UTC

transitions became smoother throughout the year

2025-05-19 15:46:54 UTC

lunch being divided between cafeteria & gym

2025-05-19 15:47:33 UTC

school wide no-go bathroom/hallway list

2025-05-19 15:48:04 UTC

building feels consistent and (mostly) in control

2025-05-19 15:48:20 UTC

good handling and shifting of schedules and events when issues came up

2025-05-19 15:50:53 UTC

block schedule changes for next year

2025-05-19 15:51:11 UTC

interruptions (to classes? unclear from the notecard)

2025-05-19 15:51:31 UTC

breakfast - more organized, in the cafeteria (food all over the building)

2025-05-19 15:51:52 UTC

breakfast timing so kids who arrive late can get hot food

2025-05-19 15:52:24 UTC

COWs in classrooms for tech wrap up

2025-05-19 15:52:56 UTC

radio/walkie for each team lead

2025-05-19 15:53:23 UTC

"town hall" meetings & "we don't do that here" talks with students

2025-05-19 15:54:11 UTC

admin presence in hallways during class time --> minimize kids out of class hanging out, adults available quickly when behaviors/concerns arise

2025-05-19 15:58:06 UTC

now that rooms are (mostly) done we can make rooms more welcoming for next year

2025-05-19 15:58:17 UTC

Dean's list (motivational)

2025-05-19 15:58:27 UTC

resources from Ammari

2025-05-19 15:58:46 UTC

students were more engaged in classwork, especially for rewards

2025-05-19 15:59:04 UTC

teachers on the same page for grade level or subject norms

2025-05-19 15:59:18 UTC

Meetings with Thyen

2025-05-19 15:59:30 UTC

SIOP training

2025-05-19 15:59:40 UTC

like my curriculum

2025-05-19 15:59:50 UTC

New labs - amazing spaces!

2025-05-19 16:00:02 UTC

appreciate the SPED team

2025-05-19 16:00:15 UTC

Navigating curriculum and doing it well

2025-05-19 16:00:37 UTC

increased confidence in implementing IM in my classroom (Harshman visit was VERY helpful)

2025-05-19 16:00:58 UTC

Great support and help from Katie in building strong lessons

2025-05-19 16:01:44 UTC

pacing of math and how much to push the depth of IM

2025-05-19 16:02:22 UTC

Holding support staff (SPED, ENL) accountable to expectations in the classrooms

2025-05-19 16:02:59 UTC

Planning to be more tuned in, more organized, and more fluid after a year of actual experience in middle school

2025-05-19 16:03:28 UTC

plans for services/special education minutes in 90 minute block

2025-05-19 16:03:38 UTC

time for subject area meetings

2025-05-19 16:03:55 UTC

ELA pacing guide - appreciate the flexibility, but not the vagueness

2025-05-19 16:04:08 UTC

need more textbooks and fewer workbooks

2025-05-19 16:04:36 UTC

more resources and hands on materials for special students

2025-05-19 16:05:05 UTC

More communication and support to be on the same page from SPED and ENL supports

2025-05-19 16:06:57 UTC

students felt supported by BAFs

2025-05-19 16:07:11 UTC

Dean & Whitfield/Ashanti

2025-05-19 16:07:33 UTC

more supports were put in place as the school year went on

2025-05-19 16:08:00 UTC

Students know some basic needs can be met at school (ex: hygiene backpack)

2025-05-19 16:08:23 UTC

commitment to enforcing behavior contracts has been so helpful

2025-05-19 16:08:57 UTC

Students having a SPED resource room that supports general/whole student well being

2025-05-19 16:13:15 UTC

Many relationships were formed with adults and students

2025-05-19 16:13:44 UTC

MTSS supports have worked well the majority of the time. Having MTSS monthly has made the process much smoother.

2025-05-19 16:14:10 UTC

Easy to get ahold of Stiner and Soto for student supports

2025-05-19 16:14:33 UTC

Quick response to help students (outside of 3rd period)

2025-05-19 16:17:53 UTC

How to get help with/for students when lunches are happening

2025-05-19 16:18:19 UTC

MTSS has not been highly useful, especially for academic concerns. Who is available to do interventions?

2025-05-19 16:19:19 UTC

Need a better HOT pass system - too many students used as an excuse to get out of class, need to teach students when to use and structured activities used to chill out when students are on their break

2025-05-19 16:19:49 UTC

What are behavior support expectations? ISS, breaks, etc... sometimes 140 looks crazy, kids are just hanging out, etc.

2025-05-19 16:20:47 UTC

Better break/regulation time for students - they need a calm environment for those resets and chaotic 140 doesn't help

2025-05-19 16:21:03 UTC

Following through more on behaviors/consequences (teachers and admin)

2025-05-19 16:21:18 UTC

More SEL or groups pulled

2025-05-19 16:21:34 UTC

More teacher involvement in student discipline/consequences

2025-05-19 16:21:52 UTC

Soto - less scheduling, more student chats

2025-05-19 16:22:08 UTC

Actual SEL - topics that are about real life things

2025-05-19 16:22:51 UTC

Clearer expectations for HOT passes for students AND adults with a quiet space for them to go to

2025-05-19 16:23:13 UTC

more availability slots for speaking to counselor, social worker, dean

2025-05-19 16:23:28 UTC

more support needed with behaviors

2025-05-19 16:23:52 UTC

Probably not practical, but a BAF designated for each grade level

2025-05-19 16:24:19 UTC

In addition to student breaks for behavior, breaks for positives - ex: student completed a required assignment and wants to show it off

2025-05-19 17:32:39 UTC

being able to leave at 4:10

2025-05-19 17:32:49 UTC

liked my team and felt supported

2025-05-19 17:33:04 UTC

new furniture/carpets/general classroom renovations

2025-05-19 17:33:26 UTC

Appreciate having to be with a great team in the building

2025-05-19 17:34:05 UTC

Leaving by 4:30 each day; keeping up on grading and planning so not feeling swamped or behind and taking work home

2025-05-19 17:34:22 UTC

Warm greeting and hellos everyday

2025-05-19 17:34:54 UTC

Positive environment

2025-05-19 17:35:01 UTC

HUB is awesome

2025-05-19 17:35:25 UTC

Always felt welcomed and supported

2025-05-19 17:36:15 UTC

more communication about things happening in/around the building (not sports only)

2025-05-19 17:37:16 UTC

Be wary of making promises that cannot be kept. I was promised additional support/adult presence in my room multiple times and never received it. I understand staff shortedness, but wish the promise had not been made if there couldn't be guaranteed follow through

2025-05-19 17:37:32 UTC

lack of communication when students are written up

2025-05-19 17:37:50 UTC

lack of communication on building stuff happening outside of our grade level/hallway

2025-05-19 17:39:47 UTC

small committees like MTSS, celebrations team, racial equity, etc

2025-05-19 17:40:21 UTC

regular check-ins/updates about all the things (behaviors, building culture, instruction)... seriously, all the things

2025-05-19 17:40:36 UTC

more reliable in-building substitutes

2025-05-19 17:46:39 UTC

Updates on discipline - like a status update for referrals or larger situations. Something like "restorative conducted", "handled - Dean", "in progress", "awaiting district resources" so we can be updated on what is happening especially for situations where we can't necessarily know the details

2025-05-22 15:13:46 UTC

School-wide consequence systems for things like tardies, destruction of school materials, very distracting behaviors... The many multi-grade teachers this year couldn't use lunch detentions (except for the 7th grade team, which had a great system), unless we happened to be available during that grade's lunch.

2025-05-23 14:57:55 UTC

I know we have to follow district dress code, but it states no head coverings unless for religious purposes. Even though it doesn't specifically say "hoods" these are a type of head covering. When students wear hoods, it is very difficult to recognize students when their back is turned to you. It is a safety issue. They hide their ear buds then they can't hear instruction. Just a thought.