Mountain Middle School

MOUNTAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL (MMS OR THE SCHOOL), A COLORADO NON-PROFIT CORPORATION, WAS CREATED IN 2009 PURSUANT TO THE COLORADO CHARTER SCHOOLS ACT TO FORM AND OPERATE A CHARTER SCHOOL LOCATED IN DURANGO, COLORADO. IN 2011 THE SCHOOL ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE COLORADO CHARTER SCHOOL INSTITUTE (THE INSTITUTE) TO AUTHORIZE THE SCHOOL FOR AN INITIAL TERM OF THREE YEARS, TO JUNE 30, 2014. THE SCHOOL BEGAN OPERATIONS IN AUGUST, 2011. IN 2016, THE SCHOOL RECEIVED CSI APPROVAL FOR A FIVE YEAR CHARTER CONTRACT THAT GOES THROUGH JULY 1, 2021.

2020-2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: MOUNTAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL, A PROJECT-BASED LEARNING CHARTER SCHOOL, SERVED 240 STUDENTS IN GRADES 4-8 IN DURANGO, COLORADO. THE SCHOOL YEAR 2020/21 WAS THE TENTH YEAR OF OPERATION FOR MMS. THE SCHOOL HAS EARNED AN ACCREDITATION RATION OF DISTINCTION IN 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020. THE 4TH AND 5TH GRADES COMPLETED THEIR THIRD YEAR OF OPERATION REACHING AN ACCREDITATION RATING OF DISTINCTION. MOUNTAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL'S DESIGN SPRUNG FROM COMMUNITY CONCERN ABOUT THE LACK OF GROWTH SEEN IN HIGH PERFORMING MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE DURANGO AREA, AS WELL AS CONCERNS REGARDING SCHOOL CULTURE AND STUDENT - TEACHER INTERACTION. AS A RESULT, MMS ADOPTED FIVE CORE BELIEFS IN MIDDLE LEVEL EDUCATION AS THE FOUNDING PRINCIPLES FOR EFFECTIVE MIDDLE LEVEL EDUCATION. EACH STUDENT DESERVES: AN INDIVIDUALIZED CURRICULUM THAT IS DESIGNED ON THE NEEDS, STRENGTHS, ABILITIES, AND LEARNING STYLE OF EACH STUDENT TO MAXIMIZE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT; AN ENVIRONMENT REINFORCING THE BELIEF THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAS A UNIQUE POTENTIAL THAT CAN BE DEVELOPED, WHILE UNDERSTANDING THAT NOT EVERY STUDENT CAN BE SUCCESSFUL ALL OF THE TIME; AN OPEN AND RECEPTIVE ATMOSPHERE THAT RESPECTS AND ENCOURAGES THE INDIVIDUAL IDEAS AND INTELLECTUAL PURSUITS OF EVERY STUDENT AND FACULTY MEMBER; AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE FACULTY, STAFF, AND ADMINISTRATORS LEAD BY EXAMPLE FOR STUDENT ATTAINMENT OF HONESTY, RESPECT FOR OTHERS, TRUTH, AND THEREFORE SELFLESSNESS; FOSTERING MEANINGFUL STUDENT-FACULTY INTERACTION; AND INSTRUCTORS THAT RECEIVE CONTINUING EDUCATION ON THE COGNITIVE, ACADEMIC AND EMOTIONAL BENEFITS OF PROJECT- BASED LEARNING AND TEACHING METHODOLOGIES RELEVANT FOR 4TH - 8TH GRADERS. THESE BELIEFS ARE EXPECTED TO GUIDE PROGRAMMING, AS WELL AS SOUND DECISION-MAKING IN SUPPORTING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FOR ALL MMS STUDENTS. THESE CORE VALUES WERE A RESULT OF COMMUNITY INPUT AND THE ANALYSIS OF DATA FROM THE EXISTING MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN THE DURANGO COMMUNITY AS PART OF ITS DEVELOPMENT. THE UIP WAS CREATED FROM INPUT PROVIDED BY STAFF, SCHOOL BOARD, AND OUR SAC COMMITTEE. OUR SAC COMMITTEE IS COMPOSED OF BOARD MEMBERS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. TOGETHER WE ANALYZED ALL DATA AND FORMULATED TARGETED GOALS TO IMPROVE OUR STUDENT'S ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND CLOSE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS. 2021-2022 GOALS: SCHOOL CONDITIONS GOAL: STUDENT-TEACHER INTERACTION & SCHOOL CULTURE I CAN ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN DEVELOPING A STUDENT-CENTERED, RESILIENT ECOSYSTEM FOCUSED ON THE JOY OF LEARNING, TRUST, HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND ACCOUNTABILITY; A CULTURE WHERE STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT TO BE THE LEADERS OF THEIR OWN BEHAVIOR AND LEARNING SO THEY CAN BE PREPARED TO REACH THEIR SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC POTENTIAL AND OWN THEIR FUTURE. (STUDENT SUCCESS TEAM -SST LED BY OUR DEAN OF STUDENTS) - I CAN OVERTLY AND DIRECTLY ARTICULATE AND TEACH BEHAVIORS AND ASPECTS OF THE HABITS OF HEART AND MIND/AGENCY OUTCOMES NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS. - I CAN HELP STUDENTS BECOME ORGANIZED AND SELF-DIRECTED IN ORDER TO OWN THEIR LEARNING AND BEHAVIOR BY WRITING GOALS AND REFLECTIONS ALIGNED WITH THE PERFORMANCE OUTCOME LANGUAGE. - I CAN INCORPORATE SOURCES OF STRENGTH INTO MY ADVISORY LESSONS. - I CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A CULTURE AND CLIMATE CONDUCIVE TO EXCELLENT BEHAVIOR AND PERFORMANCE FOR ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF. - I CAN BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR MY RESPONSIBILITIES AS A STUDENT AND STAFF MEMBER. (INCLUSION, CO-TEACHING, ETC.) - I CAN MANAGE MY ENERGY TO BE MY BEST SELF. - I CAN HELP STUDENTS CONTRIBUTE TO THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND CULTURE BY FOLLOWING OUR SCHOOL'S MISSION AND VISION. - I CAN HELP STUDENTS PREPARE FOR SUCCESS IN HIGH SCHOOL AS CITIZEN SCHOLARS IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN COLLEGE AND BEYOND. STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT GOAL: ACADEMIC GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT I CAN ENHANCE MY PROJECT-BASED LEARNING INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS BY PARTICIPATING IN ONGOING FEEDBACK AND INSTRUCTIONAL COACHING TO FOSTER AND BUILD A STUDENT CENTERED CULTURE THAT CONSISTENTLY PRODUCES STRONG ACADEMIC GROWTH, ACHIEVEMENT, ENGAGEMENT, AND STUDENT AGENCY. (INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM -ILT LED BY OUR INSTRUCTIONAL GUIDE) - I CAN CREATE AND IMPLEMENT A UNIFORM PROJECT CURRICULUM MAP THAT IS ALIGNED TO COLORADO ACADEMIC AND COMMON CORE STANDARDS TO ENSURE RIGOROUS, EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTIONAL PLANNING TO DEVELOP STUDENT AGENCY. - I CAN USE LEARNING TARGETS ALIGNED TO STANDARDS AND CHARACTER TARGETS TO GUIDE MY DAILY CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION IN ORDER TO DEVELOP MY STUDENT'S AGENCY (GROWTH MINDSET, INCREASE THEIR ENGAGEMENT, AND ACHIEVEMENT.) - I CAN UTILIZE MULTIPLE ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES/DATA TO CONTINUOUSLY INFORM MY INSTRUCTION TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL STUDENTS IN ORDER TO MEASURE THEIR PROGRESS TOWARD MASTERY OF GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATIONS AND IMPROVE MY INSTRUCTION. - I CAN INTEGRATE PBL INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES/PROTOCOLS TO ENGAGE ALL STUDENTS COGNITIVELY AND ENSURE THAT STUDENTS LEARN TOWARD MASTERY. - I CAN UTILIZE QUALITY CO-TEACHING TECHNIQUES TO PRODUCE THE CONDITIONS FOR GROWTH, ENGAGEMENT AND HIGH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN MY CLASSROOM. - I CAN INCORPORATE GRAPPLE PROBLEMS CONSISTENTLY IN MATH AND HUMANITIES TO PROMOTE A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF MATHEMATICAL AND HUMANITIES CONCEPTS. - I CAN ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN OUR PD AND PLANNING TIME TO SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR STUDENT'S SUCCESS AND RIGOROUS CYCLES OF TEACHING AND LEARNING.