Year: 2023
Lessons connect LMS students with others across the globe
At Liberty Middle School, students in fifth and sixth grades are partners in learning with students from across the globe, thanks to Level Up Village.
The mission of Level Up Village is to “globalize the classroom by facilitating cultural collaboration between students from around the world.”
To do that, each class is divided up into groups of about four students. Level Up Village provides a basic lesson outline and an online platform where the interactions take place. Each course is divided into tasks, with each 10-week course consisting of five tasks. Each group is given question prompts, which they use to write a response and record a video of themselves discussing the prompts. Videos, of no more than two minutes per group, are posted weekly on the platform. The groups will then watch the videos from the partner groups in the other country, after which the students create a response to their partners’ video and they do the same.
Liberty began using Level Up Village last year.
It is offered as an enrichment activity within the High Achiever MTSS pillar of the LCSD strategic plan. “It works perfectly for fifth and sixth grade MTSS enrichment groups,” LMS School Media Specialist Jill Parks said.
The first course, taught by Parks, was STEM-based. Sixth grade students worked with a class in Zimbabwe, where each group researched current public health issues in their area.
Sixth grade ELA teacher Samantha Abplanalp led a course on education, leadership and community service using the book “I am Malala” and working with a group of students in Columbia.
Earlier this year, Parks worked with a group of fifth grade students on a course called “Kenya and New York: Connecting with Communities Around the World,” which focused on environmental concerns.
Most recently, Parks has been working with fifth graders focusing on human rights using the book “Esperanza Rising.” In this course, students are working with a group in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Students said they have learned a lot about other cultures and how other people live by taking part in the Level Up Village courses.
“I have learned that my life is easier than many others,” fifth-grader Brycen Smith said. It taught Hayden Smith, “to appreciate what I have.”
They found out there are similarities between the groups of students, too. “Students in Ukraine like the same sports as we do,” Antoni Klys said. And “they have the same holidays as us,” Zalaina Nash added.
The course also gave students a chance to read a book they may not otherwise have been exposed to, Claire Ferguson said.
Many students also enjoyed the technological aspects of the projects, with many students citing the video-making as their favorite part.
Not only did they gain an understanding about other cultures and technology, the students also learned cooperation and collaboration by working in groups, they said.
Participants in the latest project also recognized how current events were impacting the students halfway around the world.
“(In Ukraine), they have lots of students that left,” Lilly Kehrley said.
“They still have hope and made videos for us even though they were in a tough condition with the war between them and Russia,” Meily Valencia added.
Learning directly from students in other countries helped change some LMS students’ thinking, they said. “These programs made me think differently because I know more about people around the world and how our decisions could affect them,” Aiden Herandez Mejia said.
“This program is very student-centered. They take ownership of their work,” Parks said. “They like learning about other cultures straight from global peers their own age.”
Students will continue to have a chance for that global interaction, Parks said.
“I have already agreed to do at least two more courses next year,” she said. “My goal is to incorporate more technology on our end with programs like WeVideo, and Canva, so our students can create even better video presentations.”
Consistent, innovative curriculum at the core of effective learning
We’re halfway through our stories highlighting each pillar in our strategic plan. In this article, we’ll be looking at the curriculum.
The first thing that comes to mind when “school” is mentioned, is what children are going to learn and why. Curriculum is what we teach. Ensuring our curriculum is aligned with state and federal standards as well as providing students with what is needed for success in today’s and tomorrow’s world is a priority in Liberty Central School District.
The first strategic intent under our curriculum pillar is: “By June 2027, 100% of PreK-12 curriculum will be vertically and horizontally aligned to meet all New York State standards for all content areas as evidenced by improved student outcomes (in all subgroups) on NYS and local assessments and an increased graduation rate.”
The second is: “By June 2027, 100% of the administrators and teachers will use identified data protocols to analyze content area assessment results, identify student gaps and strengths in order to grow students (in all subgroups) to a new level of performance.”
What do these intents mean?
These mean that our curriculum, across all subjects and grade levels, will be designed to meet state and federal learning standards with a goal of improving student achievement on assessments and overall graduation rates. We will also be able to analyze results and use that date to see where students’ gaps and strengths are and adjust lessons accordingly.
Why is this important?
What we teach is the center of what we do. Having consistent curriculum and grading systems across grade levels and as a student progresses throughout school gives our learners a chance to build upon each lesson without falling behind. Aligning these lessons with New York State Next Generation Standards ensures we are setting the playing field at the same level for our students.
How are we doing this?
- We are reviewing our curriculum and are working to design a guaranteed and viable curriculum at all grade levels. To provide a consistent curriculum, we have begun implementing the HMH ELA “Into Reading” and “Into Literature” program for grades K-8 as well as. HMH “Into Math” curriculum and Science 21 programs in kindergarten through sixth grades. We are also working to ensure our curriculum helps students learn what they need to know for future careers, including the innovative Business INCubator program and Level Up Village, which allows our students to build a sense of cross-cultural empathy while learning skills for the future. 21st Century technology skills, such as coding, programming and internet technology are also becoming a focus across curriculum disciplines.
- We are also creating entry and exit criteria for each grade level, identifying the master standards and determining what content must be taught and understood at each level.
- We are aligning our report cards with New York’s Next Generation Learning Standards, and identifying best grading practices
- As we implement the curriculum plan, we are focusing on consistent use of research-based instructional strategies for all. Teachers are engaged in professional development that provides effective methods for meeting the needs of all learning including English language learners and students with special needs..
- Our curriculum audit is in process. Curriculum maps provide the overarching standards and components of content at each grade level. From these maps, teachers have all the resources, links and strategies they need to create effective and powerful weekly and daily lessons.
By creating and delivering a consistent, aligned curriculum taught with researched-based methods, hand-on activities and active student engagement PreK-12, we are working to make Liberty a great place to learn for all.
Seventh graders get tasty lessons on healthy eating
Liberty Middle School seventh grade students recently learned about the health benefits of consuming local foods and the farm-to-table philosophy thanks to Foster Hospitality and its nonprofit, A Single Bite.
This is the second year LMS and A Single Bite have partnered in this program, which is coordinated by Sara Hazlenis, a LCS alumna.
“This program is a great way for students to see different foods that are produced locally, and get them out of their comfort zone by trying new foods that are prepared fresh,” said seventh grade health and PE teacher Rich Feeney.
In January, Kyle Goldstein, A Single Bite presenter and LCS alumnus, visited classes and discussed health and nutrition related statistics for New York state and Sullivan County. Chef Peter Yurasits prepared three “bites” for students to taste and then discuss characteristics of each with their classmates. All ingredients came from different areas of the county, and each student was encouraged to try “A Single Bite” of each snack.
The bites included cheddar cheese on a Granny Smith apple, smoked trout on cucumber, and a potato pancake with applesauce.
Students then took a field trip to Sprouting Dreams Farms in February where they were given the opportunity to explore the grounds with farmer Eugene Thalmann. He discussed goal setting and using resources, as well as conducted a tour of his vegetable farm, which includes three greenhouses that he discussed the purpose for each during the tour. Students sampled a few greens fresh from the garden and enjoyed the company of the farm dog, Loki.
The following week, students were treated to a farm-to-table, family-style lunch at The Arnold House. The meal included fresh salad, roasted chicken, carrots, fingerling potatoes and a lemon honey tart. All ingredients were locally produced and freshly prepared. Students discussed the tastes, smells and textures of the food while enjoying the meal. After each course, the chef shared with the students where the food came from and how it was prepared.
Goldstein returned to the Liberty classrooms mid-February to recap the field trips as well as discuss the difference between real versus processed foods, as well as health benefits. Yurasits prepared three more snacks for the class, and they were asked to once again try “A Single Bite” while describing the food. The bites included parsnip soup, venison summer sausage on a sweet potato chip, and a garlic scape on a roasted carrot.
“It was a great experience,” student Tyler Juron said, “because we learned about local foods and got to eat an amazing lunch.”
Goals are more powerful than wishes
How Liberty schools use goal-setting for improvement
A wish is something we hope happens. A goal is something we make happen. The main difference between wishes and goals are: clear purpose, effort and priority.
Goal-setting is an integral part of the Leader in Me program, which Liberty has instituted in all of its buildings.
This year, elementary and middle school students have begun setting Wildly Important Goals, or WIGs. SMART goals have been a feature at the high school level for several years. In each case, these goals are those determined to be more important than all others. They are specific, measurable and realistic and can be personal or academic.
But setting the goal is only the first step.
Once a goal is identified, action steps are planned to help reach that goal.
For example, an elementary student’s WIG may be to read a chapter book each month. The student decides that goal can be achieved by reading 20 minutes each night. That task, known as a lead measure, can be used to track progress each day. This is habit building.
At the elementary school, goals can be academic, behavioral or social, and generally focus on the individual student. Although the goal may be personalized, the progress is shared with a partner, group, class or building. At LES, there are school-wide, classroom and individual student goals.
Sharing your progress toward a goal is important, according to LES Principal Robert England. “Letting your accountability partners know how you are doing is key. When students know that other people are invested in their daily progress, students are more likely to change their behaviors to achieve their goals. Eventually, these healthy behaviors turn into self-sustaining habits for long term wellness.”
At the middle school, the WIG starts at the building level: ”By May 2023, 80% of grade 5-8 students’ current Student Growth Percentile will be at or above proficiency level (25+) as evidenced by the Spring 2023 STAR Assessment in Reading.”
Each student’s goal is set using the STAR assessment given at the beginning of the year. The assessment breaks down each student’s progress and offers areas on which a student can improve. The students set their WIGs and list at least two things (lead measures) that can be used to help them reach that goal, such as taking notes during daily reading or effectively logging their reading time. Students will be reviewing their new STAR Assessment data from this winter to update their WIGs and Lead Measures.
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t LMS, time is set aside during classes to focus on the individual WIGs, and the teachers track the time spent. The time spent is compiled by grade on a google form. The tracking also makes it more fun for students, there is a schoolwide scoreboard displayed in the lobby and grade levels are celebrated at the monthly LIM DEAL (Leader in Me Drop Everything and Lead) Assemblies, said LMS Principal Heather Cheh.
At the high school level, goal-setting is done slightly differently, using Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Relevant, Time Bound goals, which encompass the same dynamics of WIGs.
The high school has been using SMART goals since the Professional Learning Community model was introduced a few years ago. Each Content Teacher Team, those who teach the same course, has a SMART goal. Tracking progress is specific to each goal, but is accomplished through common assessments and data analysis.
Each level of goal-setting builds on the others.
When students do better, classrooms do better, then grade-levels do better, and the building does better, and eventually the district, as a whole, will see improvement.
These improvements could be academic, behavioral or social. Improvement in all three helps make for a better community schoolwide.
Student photographers earn 17 keys, 20 honorable mentions at awards
The Mid Hudson Region of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards were held at SUNY New Paltz on Feb. 3, with all Liberty student photographers participating earning honors.
Gold keys are award to the top 5% of all works adjudicated in the category in the Mid Hudson Region; Silver Keys are the top 6% to 10%.
Every Liberty student photographer earned at least one key, with six Gold Keys and 11 Silver Keys awarded. The students also earned 20 honorable mentions. The ceremony awarding the keys was followed by the opening of the exhibition of more 600 works selected as Gold and Silver Key recipients.
Zandy Valencia Bamac earned three Gold Keys, one Silver Key and three honorable mentions. Oliva Dworetsky earned two Gold Keys. Grace Wormuth earned one Gold Key, three Silver Keys and one honorable mentions. Ximena Garcia Gomez earned two Silver Keys and three honorable mentions. Haylee Gomez earned two Silver Keys and one honorable mention. Summer Schmidt earned one Silver Key and seven honorable mentions. Brian Gonzalez earned one Silver Key and four honorable mentions and Wyatt Green earned one Silver Key.
See the winning pieces below
Strategic Plan: What coherence means to Liberty
When we introduced our strategic plan at the beginning of the school year, we just scratched the surface of what the plan means for the district and how we will implement it.
As we mentioned in introducing the plan, the purpose of the plan is to help Liberty set its long-term priorities and establish overarching goals to ensure our students get a well-rounded and quality education.
As with any plan, we need a solid foundation on which to build. Our plan has four pillars, and every month or so, we’ll look closer at one pillar of the plan.
Here, we will focus on the first pillar: Coherence. Our first strategic intent in the strategic plan reads: “By June 2027, create and align 100% of applicable district procedures involving the fluid movement of information and expectations throughout all buildings evidenced by annual perception data.”
What does this mean?
It means that we are working to improve our communication across the buildings and the district to get everyone on the same page on how procedures inside and outside the classroom work and to keep everyone informed.
Why is this important?
We are one district. It is important that students, faculty and staff have consistent measures on which to gauge their progress and success. A move from elementary to middle school or middle to high school shouldn’t mean a whole new set of expectations for a student, and staff members who work in multiple buildings should be able to use the same rules, methods and procedures, no matter which building they are in.
It is also important to have open and transparent exchanges of thoughts and ideas between all members of the school community, whether it be at the grade or subject matter level, building level or district wide. These collaborative actions help build a sense of belonging among our Liberty school family.
How are we doing this?
- We are aligning our goals and setting procedures to be used across the entire district.
- Our strategic plan, District Comprehensive Improvement Plan and building-level plans ensure we are measuring success with a consistent gauge.
- Using Multi-Tier Systems of Supports and Professional Learning Communities, we are regularly assessing our data to gauge where we are succeeding and where we need improvement. This allows us to actively adapt our teaching methods and strategies.
- We also use our PLCs to collectively problem solve and exchange ideas to improve our teaching methods.
- Building- and district-level meetings are also held regularly. We will continue to seek input through community forums, focus groups and surveys for all sectors of our school community.
- We are improving our staff training and are working on making our internal meetings more productive to better share ideas.
- Professional development for all staff is important. Our Professional Development Plan serves as a guide to ensure our staff is getting the tools they need to succeed. We are also developing methods to annually review our procedure and policies with all staff.
- New personnel procedures have been implemented and we are looking at ways to help improve the onboarding of new staff and substitutes to ensure every new employee understands our policies.
- New teachers have extra support. They have mentors who they meet with at least once per week to address issues the new employees face. They also work together to set and achieve at least one SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time Bound) goal. Professional development begins with new teacher orientation and continues with mentor/mentee specific sessions available throughout the year. We do this to provide opportunities for teacher growth, support best practices, maintain the best classroom instruction, cultivate a positive school culture and promote teacher retention.
By ensuring coherence, Liberty Central School District will be able to better lead Liberty into the future with one voice.
Character Counts for dozens at LES
Dozens of Liberty Elementary School were honored during the monthly “Character Counts” awards ceremonies held Friday, Jan. 27, in the gymnasium. Both assemblies were livestreamed. The third and fourth grade awards livestream can be seen here. The livestream for the ceremony for the kindergarten through second graders can be viewed here.
The awards, given to one student in each classroom and chosen by the teacher, recognized students who embodied one of the seven habits promoted by Leader in Me. January winners received the “First Place Focus” and “Task Tackler” awards. The awards, named by the students, are based on Habit 2 (Begin With the End in Mind) and Habit 3 (Put First Things First). The students focused on their Wildly Important Goals, or WIGs, in January, by setting their goals (Habit 2), and determining how they can reach them (Habit 3).
The winners of the “First Place Focus” Awards, for setting realistic goals and working to achieve them, were Allison Martinez, David Pineda Monzón, Remaissae Benadim, Elenna Farias, Yasmim Macedo Melo, Jazmin Ramirez Gonzalez, Lucas Kern, Omar Garcia Martinez Jr., Michael Garcia-Vargas, Ana Barragan Velazquez, Emilia Warren, Adriana Colocho Argueta, Grace Wang, Blake Beseth, Mackenzie Beatty, Austin Cuellar Jeronimo, Sophia Lopez Luna, Jordan White, Camden Lake, Ana Hernandez, Cailynn Pate, Willis Gamble Jr., Jamel Smith, Nyjha Miranda, Neviya Cash, Katie Lopez, Dylan Joya Reyes, Farrah Conklin-Degraw, Emma Boyles, Brenda Lucero Andrade, Riley Church-Bradley and Lilliana Garzon Ferrufino.
The “Task Tackler” winners, for working before playing and being organized and managing their time according to their personal priorities, were Valentino Valencia Vasquez, Anastasiia Honcharenko, Rain Mott, Adah Smith Juarez, Emely Aguilera Bonilla, Juan Corona Jr., Sam Martin, Madelyn Gavidia Reyes, Jayden Reyes, Jean Valdiviesio Cajamarca, Ethan Hernandez Mejia, Mia Harrison, Leyvi Eli Banegas Cortes, Eliab Torres Garcia, Aizah Suleman, Emily Portillo, Karrah Atkins, Indigo Love, Jordana Ratner, Keily Martinez Zelaya, Joseph Wilson Jr., Lillian Keating, Nicholas McPhillips, Yarixa Reyes Cardenas, Joseph Geoghan, Savannah Gonzalez, Avery Decker, Kaydence Kalthoff, Denali Owens, Ellis Dilworth, Megan Martinez Gomez, Scarlett Ratner and Anabel Hernandez Fuentes.
Well done, students!