From the desk of Dianne C. Suiter, Ph.D:
Summer is almost over, and we at Central are all looking forward to seeing our students and Central families again. But the heat didn't keep us away from school totally. Our halls and classrooms have been busy all summer with 4 different summer reading programs that many of our families have enjoyed. These reading programs,designed and taught by Central staff, have offered additional support for many students beginning before they enter K, and continuing through Early and Late Primary. Almost all of our teachers have also taken classwork themselves this summer to increase their own understanding of the learning process. They're excited to share the effects of those classes together with their own past expertise and experience.
We're also celebrating the results of our state tests from last May. They include:
3rd Grade:
Reading:
81% of our students scored proficient or better
63% of our students scored advanced or accelerated
Math:
79% of our students scored proficient or better
21% or our students scored advanced or accelerated
4th Grade:
Reading:
87% of our students scored proficient or better
26% of our students scored advanced or accelerated
Math:
71% or our students scored proficient or better
17% of our students scored advanced or accelerated
5th Grade:
Reading:
64% of our students scored proficient or better
14% of our students scored advanced or accelerated
6th Grade"
Reading:
83% of our students scored proficient or better
30% of our students scored advanced or accelerated
Math:
79% of our students scored proficient or better
47% or our students scored advanced or accelerated
Since each of our students have individual learning goals that guide their daily work and learning, every student, whether working above, at, or below grade level will continue to learn at his/her personal best level each day.
Our school was founded on a set of well tested ideas and practices that focus on the whole child's development, enabling each child to become a powerful, articulate and skilled adult in a position to fulfill his or her own life goals, as well as to contiribute to the larger community's welfare. Beyond the results on state standardized tests, we continue to nurture each child's individual abilities and gifts, to work with and encourage each child to achieve his/her own personal best, and to celbrate each child's growth throughout the year. Our goal is to help students become active, thinking members of our community and democracy, able to achieve whatever their dream may be.
We truly believe that helping students grow is about more than just memorizing information for a test. It's about learning how to be an active member of a community. It's about learning how to learn, and how to access information. It's about growing socially and emotionally as well as intellectually. And it's about listening carefully to each voice. Learning from each other.
I realize daily how much I appreciate being at a school where we can openly talk about caring and love; and where we can challenge each other's ideas without fear of repercussions. Central Academy really is a very different kind of school. We invite you to join us in our journey.
Respectfully,
Dianne
E-mail Dianne C. Suiter, Ph.D