Family Town Hall MeetingThursday, April 4, 2019

Benjamin Tasker Middle School

Ready to Lead, Roaring to Achieve

BTMS is an exceptional school community that provides a supportive, engaging, and collaborative environment that challenges students to achieve mastery as independent

creative thinkers and learners within a global society.

BTMS Vision Statements

BTMS Achievements for 2019/20

● Tasker received 4 out of 5 stars for ESSA MD Report Card

● 24 students won 1st/2nd /3rd place in the County’s Write_A-Book Competition

● BTMS winner of the 2018 PGCPS Recycles! Recycling Poster Contest

● Boys basketball advanced to Semi Finals in playoffs

● Tasker established a food pantry for the families affected by Government Shut-down

● Math Meet Competition Team Ranks 1st, 2nd, and 4th

● BTMS 6th grader was #1 National Debate League

● Science Bowl Team Semi-Finalists ● 6th Grader TAG Student, selected in the Lions

Forever Almanac Challenge● Riley Thomas, BTMS Spelling Bee Champion,

represented us in PGCPS Spelling Bee● Naimah Edward was the 3rd Place Finalist in the

City of Bowie’s MLK Art Contest● Over 400 Honorees in our Honors Assemblies● Cheerleading Squad placed 3rd in the PGCPS

Cheerleading Competition● Shahad Singh is the PG County Educator’s Minority

Affairs Committee’s Poster Contest 1st Place Winner for the Middle School Level

Achievements for 2019/20 Continued

● Random Acts of Kindness were highlighted during a week in March

● National History Day Competition awarded 1st places to Shabad Singh, Shelemiah Griffiths-Johnson, Saamiyah and Kamiali Burns, Alanna Francis, Olivia Noel Richard Potts, Savannah Grooms, and Amie Yansane won: 2nd place Tristan Corey 10 students will move on to represent BTMS at the state competition

● Royalty Squad, Naimah Edward, Eileen Wilson, Felicia Worthy, and Grace-May Yesso, came in 3rd place for the Engineering Challenge at the Destination Imagination Tournament

● PGCPS STEM Fair results: Shabad Singh-1st Place, Logan Hines- 2nd Place, Emma Craig-3rd Place

● Science Bowl Semi-Finalists are Joy Nkongho, Ajibola Ajani, & Sameer Kumar

● Our Tiger Mosaic was restored via our Partnership with Bowie Senior Center

● Tasker Festival Band performed at the Music Assessment Festival at Northwestern HS and received an overall good rating.

● Debaters, Urban Debate National Championship, included Aida Teferi and Shabad Singh winning the Novice Division and Stephanie Maceiko and Tremayne Bivens qualifying as alternates for Nationals

● Shabad Singh was selected as one of the winners for this years PGCPS Recycling Poster Contest

Acceptance into Specialty Programs for High

Decisions Automatically Based on Student Performance (Grades & Assessments)

Science & Tech Eligible Waitlist● Roosevelt 10 10● Flowers 1 -● Oxon Hill 1 -● AeroSpace 28 18

Students Must Apply

Specialty Programs Eligible Waitlist● Health & Sciences 1 8● Health & Sci - Teachers 4 3● IB 1 -● 3D Scholars 1 2● PTech 1 -● VPA 3 -● Summit 18 -

Culture & Conduct at Benjamin Tasker Middle School

The following data is based on the Bullying and Reporting Form (7-16), which can be submitted by parents, staff, or students.

# of Submitted Grades 7-16 Forms

6th Grade: 4

7th Grade: 0

8th Grade 0

2018-19 Reported Bullying Cases by Grade Level

Physical aggression with another student that is designed to or likely to cause physical harm and/or substantial disruption to the education environment.

● Intentionally shoving, pushing or otherwise being physically aggressive.● Intentionally engaging in a fight which may result in minor cuts, scrapes

or bruises.● Intentionally engaging in a fight which may result in major injuries.

Fighting as Defined in the Student Rights and Responsibility Handbook:

Month 6th 7th 8th TotalSeptember 1 0 0 1October 5 3 2 10November 7 5 2 14December 3 2 1 6January 4 1 1 6February 4 4 1 9March 5 0 0 5

Documented Fights/Physical Altercations by Grade Level (Denotes # of Incidents)

Percentage 8.2% 4.8% 2.5% 5.4%

Enrollment (352) (309) (277) (938)

Month 2017/18 2018/19 September 4 1October 9 10November 11 14 December 12 6January 12 6February 11 9March 13 5April 8 --May 9 --June 1 --

Monthly Comparative Data Number of Fights/Physical Altercations

● Schedule with Weekly Grade Level Meetings & Content Planning Meetings● PBIS Team with Bi-Monthly Earned Activities● Monthly Enrichment Activities● Instructional Leadership Team● Bi-monthly Staff Meetings (School Improvement, PD)● Reflection Room with Student Reflection Sheets● Lunch Detention● Anger Management Lunch Groups with Certified Therapist● Staff Assigned Duty Posts● Quarterly Student Town Hall Meetings (Whole Group & Small Groups)● Review Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook with Each Grade Level● Implement Consequences Outlined in SRRH for Incidents Involving Physical Altercations, etc.

Current Practices to Address Culture & Conduct

Current Practices to Address Culture & Conduct

● Teachers Walk Students to Lunch Tables (Exiting/Entering through Identified Doors Only)● Unsupervised Students Must Have Hall Passes (Good for 5 Minutes / Sign In and Out At

Doors)● Morning Announcements on Television & Afternoon Announcements on PA● Individual Student Behavior Intervention Plans● Student Individualized Point Sheets / Behavior Intervention Plans● Counselors and Administrator Support● Student Behavior Tracker (All Staff)● Infraction Log (Admin & ISS)● Days of Peace ● Bullying Training for Staff

Student Bullying & Conflict Resolution

Adult Support: Students may seek support from teachers, grade level administrators, principals, and counselors

Addressing Student Conflicts

Investigation: We gather information from all involved parties by first speaking individually to the student making the allegations and then to other student(s) involved, as well as identified witnesses.

Processing: We take the time to process with students individually to assist them (a) in reflecting on their actions, (b) assisting them in making better decisions, and (c) preparing them for mediations.

Mediations

Purpose: Bring students together to dialogue and work through the issue, so everyone feels safe within the building.

Objectives: Students will leave mediations (a) understanding the schools expectations, (b) what will happen if the issue occurs again, and (c) feeling happier and/or safer, as the initial mediation is not punitive, but intended to help students get along and feel safe.

● Lunch: 6th & 7th Grade Teachers Walk Students to Lunch Tables.

● Lunch Bunches: Counselors Hold Weekly Lunch Bunches with Identified Students

● Internal Substitute Trainings with Handout

● Announcement Reminders● No Hall Pass List for Students with

Ongoing Behavioral Issues Outside of Classrooms

● Posted Expectations in the Hallway

Adjustments to Support Improved Culture and Conduct:

● Develop Core Values Posters for Hallways● Develop Expectations/Consequences Posters

for Hallways● Change Seating for Reflection Room● Identify Additional Paid Staff Volunteers to

Support Lunches ● Reflection Room:

○ Reflection/Lunch Room Sheets Sent Home for Parent Signature

● Proposed SBB: Purchasing additional out of classroom positions to support infrastructure:○ 3rd AP, Peer Mediator, Paraeducator, Data Coach

● 4 Lunches for School Year 2018/19● Ordering Additional Staff Radios● Purchasing Additional Cameras● Saturday School / Evening Detention with Parent Participation

○ Students will Complete Missing Assignment ○ Parents will Review Missing Assignments at the Start & will Review & Sign Off on Completion

During Dismissal● Customer Service Training & Review of Expectations● Restructuring the ISS Physical Space● Address Social Media Issue - Parent Night ● Anonymous Dropbox to Share Concerns

Long Term Adjustments to Support Culture & Conduct

Long Term Adjustments to Support Culture & Conduct Continued

● Hold Focused Town Hall Meeting for Repeat Offenders with Parent Attendance.● Assign Staff Mentors for Students in need for morning and afternoon check ins. ● 8th Grade Peer Mentors assigned to 6th grade classroom for mentoring groups● Restorative Practice Circles

○ Staff is currently participating in training to infuse throughout the building○ Morning Restorative Practice Circles during morning advisory

● Parent Shadow Days in Lieu of Suspension● PBIS Team currently participating in training to become a PBIS school

○ Core Values○ Behavioral Expectation w/ Matrix

● Hallway Maps for Transitions● Hallway Duties for Leadership and Teachers on Planning Time● Process for Reporting: See Something, Say Something, Hear something, Say Something● Art Class will Generate Posters re: Anti-bullying, Peaceful Conflict● Increase student participation in planning (SGA)

● Enrichment Mod: Arts & Crafts, Asian Folk Dance, Yoga, Basketball, Brain & Game Challenges, Business Finance, Chess, Computer Tech, Creative Writing, Crochet, Cup Stacking & Games, Debate, Double Dutch, Drama, Gospel Choir, Handwriting & Calligraphy, Jazz Band, Knitting, Makerspace, Math Hoops, Multiculturalism, Song Writing, Student Govt. Volleyball, Walk & Fitness.

● PBIS Activities: Dances, Harvest Festivals, Field Day, Movie Rooms, Game Room, Quiet Room

● Ongoing Communication ○ Television in the Lobby ○ Friday Weekly Updates○ Monthly Family Newsletter○ Twitter

● PTSO Support: Glow Party, School Festival, Outdoor Movie Night, Staff Appreciation, Facebook, etc.

● Instructional Leadership Team

School Culture & Collaboration

School Culture & Collaboration Continued

● Sunshine Committee

● After School Clubs & Activities: Oratory, Debate, Lego Robotics, Chess, Jr. Honor Society, Drama, Tutoring, Yearbook, Photography, Student Government, GAVRT, Green Schools, EFNEP, BETA, Science Olympiad

● Competitions: Math Meets, Debate, National History Day, Write a Book, STEM Fair, Science Bowl, Destination Imagination, etc.

● Field Trips

● Sports: Boys Baseball, Girls Softball, Girls/Boys Basketball, Girls/Boys Soccer, Cheerleading

● Ongoing School Activities: Career Day, Men Make a Difference, College Day, PARCC Pep Rally, Black History Month Assembly, TAG Night, Pi Night, etc.

● Days of Peace: Outdoor Free Play○ 6th - 16 Days○ 7th - 17 Days○ 8th - 18 Days

Parking Lot

As partners, and in the best interest of children, we look forward to collaborating and working together to continuously improve and grow the school.

It takes a village!!

Closing