School Board Recognitions

October 18, 2005

6. Student, Employee, and Public Awards and Recognitions

6.A. Outstanding Attendance – September 2005

The School Board is pleased to recognize the schools with the highest rates of student attendance for the month of September 2005. Representatives from these schools are invited to come forward as their school’s name is announced.

Kingston Elementary, with an attendance rate of 98.77% is the recipient of the elementary school attendance award for September. Accepting Kingston’s attendance certificate is Assistant Principal Gloria Davis and Barbara Hudson, PTA President.  Congratulations to students and staff at Kingston Elementary!

Kemps Landing Magnet , with an attendance rate of 99.13%, receives the attendance award for middle schools for September 2005. Accepting the attendance certificate for Kemps Landing Magnet is Assistant Principal Charles Foster. Congratulations to students and staff at Kemps Landing Magnet School!

At the high school level, the attendance award for September 2005 goes to Tallwood Highwho reported a 97.48% student attendance rate. Accepting the school’s certificate is Principal Jobynia Caldwell, Assistant Principal Paul Palombo, and SCA president, Kyle H.. Congratulations to Tallwood High School students and staff!

6.B. 2005 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School Award

The School Board is pleased to recognize Hermitage Elementary School for being designated a 2005 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schoolby the U.S. Department of Education.

Hermitage Elementary is one of seven Virginia public schools that have been designated as 2005 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools by the U. S. Department of Education. The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors high performing public and private K-12 schools that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement. All public schools must be fully accredited and meet objectives for student achievement under NCLB. All public schools are selected based on one of two criteria:

• Schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that
dramatically improve student performance on state tests;
• Schools whose students, regardless of background, achieve in the top 10 percent of their state on state tests.

Accepting tonight’s award for Hermitage Elementary are:

Principal Kathleen Starr
SCA Vice President -- Amanda E.
Third grade teachers --Amanda Wall, Alison Cooper, and Maria Ash
Second grade teacher --Chris Fisk
Media assistant --Nancy Manfreedo
Art teacher --Laura Falls
Gifted Resource Teacher --Denise Smith, and
Special education assistant and PTA president -- Angie Brewer

From Spring 1999 to Spring 2004 Hermitage Elementary has seen significant growth not only in percent of students passing on the SOL tests, but also in the number of students passing advanced in each area. Data from Spring 2004 show that almost 86 percent of third graders passed proficient on the reading SOL while approximately 29 percent of those students passed advanced. The gap between the minority and non-minority students in reading at the third grade level has been significantly reduced over the past five years. Spring 2004 math results showed that 100 percent of Hermitage third graders passed proficient on the math SOL with 75 percent passed advanced. There are no significant gaps within subgroups for this assessment. Approximately 96 percent of students taking the grade five Spring 2004 SOL reading test passed proficient with 44 passing advanced. There were no significant gaps in the minority and non-minority subgroups. Approximately 95 percent of third grade students passed proficient in Social Studies with 75 percent passing advanced. Many of these students got a perfect score of 600. The same success was also noted in Science where 98 percent passed proficient and 66 percent passed advanced. Grade five registered similar success in both areas.

Despite the challenges involved with what was essentially moving out of the area and school zone to a temporary location for two years, staff and students have maintained a strong instructional focus over time. Staff commitment to this mission is evident in the assessment results achieved over the last five years.

Please join me in congratulating the students and staff at Hermitage Elementary!

Mr. Chairman, that concludes our scheduled recognitions for this evening.