Elizabethtown, NC – In our first article of this series we introduced you to some of the good things happening at Bladen Lakes Primary, Bladenboro Middle, and Elizabethtown Primary. We also briefly talked about the importance of having good schools and how we need your help in assessing our schools. We directed you to our School Assessment Parent/Guardian Survey, asking you to complete the survey for us.
This week we’ll focus on Booker T. Washington Primary, Clarkton School of Discovery, and Dublin Primary. There are successes every day in our schools we can emulate. We can honor the hard work of students, recognize the professionalism and commitment of educations, and appreciate parents and community members who work toward quality public schools for every student.
Booker T. Washington’s new principal Ronald Coley brings a passion for the Singapore Math (SMP) curriculum to the school. With extensive experience in Singapore Math at his former school, Coley can often be found modeling SMP lessons in the classrooms at Booker T. Washington. The school had an 5.6 percent growth in student achievement in math with its 4th graders from the 2012-13 school year to the same cohort in the 2013-14 school year. Coley is also raising the bar of expectations from teachers and students to progressively use SMP.
Coley was excited to learn that Booker T. is an A+ School program. A+ is about building a collaborative, creative, arts-infused culture and community within a school. Teacher professional learning committees designed around the A+ program across all grade levels are used to raise student achievement. . Looking for ways to increase the schools A+ presence, Coley hopes to soon begin a Chess club for students.
Booker T. Washington is one of several schools in the county that offers to its students the Released Time Bible Education program. With parent permission, students attend a program once a month during their enhancement/elective time in a program that offers music, singing, and character-based bible education. The school partners with Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with the Released Time program.
While Dublin experienced academic success by exceeding expected growth and meeting 100 percent of its annual measurable objectives, Haley Cheshire, principal, is quick to point out that the focus at the school is to grow the whole child; both academically and socially. Throughout the year, students and staff alike participate in numerous civic efforts, often surpassing goals previously set. Recently, Dublin held its annual United Way campaign for Bladen County. Cheshire waged a penny war between classes and grade-levels, and within a week the school had met and exceeded its campaign goal. Proving once again that Dublin is ready to meet any challenge put before them.
One of their academic challenges has been the growing Hispanic population at the school. The school has the largest group of Hispanic students than any other in the county. But that doesn’t deter the school. Staff use small groups and peer tutoring with the students to further aid in learning the English language, focusing on vocabulary and exposure to words in literature. Teachers also use learning centers, strategically working with students that are struggling.
With a strong math program, the school is home to both the top 2nd grade student and one of the top ten 2nd grade classes in the state in the competition based First in Math program. Students have solved over 1,000,000 math programs this year alone. The school had a 13.30 percent growth in student achievement in math with its 4th graders from the 2012-13 school year to the same cohort in the 2013-14 school year.
The school is a literacy focused school with students reading over 1,000 books per week from the media center. Data is used to help students set and reach individual reading goals. The school had an 11.10 percent growth in student achievement in reading with its 4th graders from the 2012-13 school year to the same cohort in the 2013-14 school year. Evidence of the belief that reading is a foundational skill at Dublin.
Additionally, Dublin is home to the 2014-2015 Bladen County Teacher of the Year Sabrina Sasser and the 2014-2015 Bladen County Principal of the Year Haley Cheshire.
Since 1995, Clarkton School of Discovery has been operating as an A+ School, a school that maintains an Arts-integrated approach to teaching and learning and is an affiliate of the NC A+ Schools Network. In a 21st Century learning environment, students create, using media and visual products that advance critical thinking, decision making, and communication.
Students are off to a very busy start first semester with over 50 elective choices in addition to their core classes of English Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science. Elective choices range from “Website Design” to “Oceanography” with many productions and performances along the way. Electives are generated each year by teachers and must meet STEM guidelines as well as Literacy Design.
An inside look into core classes first semester will reveal 21st Century learning throughout. Math classes are engaged in online programs such as Kahn Academy, Learn Zillion, and SumDog as well as collaborative problem solving. All English Language Arts classes are facilitated from Literacy Design Collaborative Models which focus on the writing process. The school has developed and implemented a Literacy Plan that assists us in building academic vocabulary, writing in all content areas, and reading fictional and non-fictional texts. Science classes are gearing up for competition in Science Olympiad and Envirothon. In Social Studies, students present skits and generate digital presentations on historical achievements that still influence our world today. Several students from CSD won placements in the “Daughters of the American Revolution” essay contest.
Clarkton School of Discovery teachers consistently participate in Professional Development related to their content to improve facilitation of student learning and improved student achievement. First semester training for teachers include, but is not limited to, Project Learning Tree, Cultivating Effective Reading Habits, Math Behind the Market, Accelerating Achievement in the Middle, and A+ Schools New Teacher / Leadership Training.
Next week we will feature East Arcadia School, East Bladen High School, and Elizabethtown Middle School, highlighting the good things happening in their buildings.
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