2011-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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) Report of the Our teachers used an organizational structure of grade-level professional learning communities(PLCs) Quashnet School to collaboratively focus on improving student earning and implementing best instructional practice, PLC developed a SMART goal in E glish/Language Principal: Patricia DeBoer Assistant Principal: Derek Thompson Arts or in Mathematics. Development of common assessments, progress monitoring,analyses of student Our mission at the Quashnet School, in partner- performance data, and the sharing of effective instruc. ship with parents, families, and community, is to tional strategies are integral components of the PLC empower all children to achieve excellence and to model. Our PLCs met twice each week throughout reach their full potential in a respect-filled, safe, and the school year. positive learning environment characterized by high expectations, quality instruction, continuous improve- instruction changes were made this year to improve p and student achievement. This was the ment, and civic responsibility. first year of our using the Everyday Mathematics pro. School Council Members: gram. We were grateful for the monthly support pro. Principal: Patricia DeBoer vided to our teachers by math consultant,Dona Apple, Teachers: Cary Marshall and Jacqueline Rastallis and for the outstanding work of the District's K-8 Parents: Jane Dolan, Maria Cortez, and Barbara Mathematics Coach, MaryKate O'Brien. We intro- Cotton duced our focused reading blocks (FRBs). Through Community Member: Jack Phelan these groups we were able to provide targeted reading instruction to meet the needs of each student. The PTO Officers: group placements were fluid with changes being made President: Kristen Boyd and Christine Greene throughout the year based on student performance Vice-President: Tracy Henschel data. This model also allowed us to provide more stu- Treasurer: Lindy Daley dents with daily small group instruction. We also fol- Volunteer Coordinator: Jennifer Bohnenberger lowed a six-day cycle for special subjects. Students at Secretary: Greta McCue the Quashnet School participated in the following spe- cial subject offerings: Physical Education, Art, We started the 2010-2011 school year with an Music—including band, strings, and chorus, enrollment of 527 students and ended the year with Science/Health, Library, and new this year, writing, 525 students. Grades three, five, and six each had six The writing special provided a foundation and a con- sistent school-wide approach to developing the skills homerooms, and grade 4 had seven homerooms. necessary in good writing. The Massachusetts curriculum frameworks and research-based best practice guide our instruction. We Updating instruction and learning through the focus on each student's academic growth. One mea- integration of technology has been a focus again this sure of academic growth is the annual MCAS assess- year. We now have sixteen classrooms equipped with ment for which our students are well prepared. Our interactive white boards which allow for web-based goal is for every student to score in the proficient or interactive teaching and learning opportunities. We advanced performance category on this assessment. have a Computer on Wheels (COW) which is a The percentage of students scoring in the proficient portable system of 24 laptop computers used through- and advanced performance categories on the 2011 out the day by different classrooms. Our computer lab MCAS are as follows: In English/Language Arts: houses 24 desktop computers used regularly by our Grade 6-64%; Grade 5-64%; Grade 4-44%; and students. Each homeroom has also been equipped Grade 3-52%; and in Mathematics: Grade 6-49%; with two wireless laptop computers for student use. Grade 5-58%; Grade 4-45%; Grade 3-71%; and Several document cameras with projectors are also Grade 5 Science/Technology-50%. When we study shared among the teachers. We are grateful for the the same students over time, we note that progress is ability to better prepare our students for success in the being made; however, much work still needs to be technologically advanced 21st century. done. 128