Pilot Program Improves Pierceton School
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
PIERCETON - While most school corporations throughout the state just began dealing with Public Law 221 in the past year, Pierceton Elementary School is a little ahead of the game.
Monday, Title I Resource teacher Patti Goldsmith gave a report to the Whitko Community School Corp. Board of School Trustees on the new writing initiative, staff training and data utilization to improve student achievement at Pierceton.
She said approximately two years ago, Pierceton was asked to become a part of a the pilot program Target Assistance Schools with the Title I Division of the State. It allowed the school to begin its school improvement plan before the school even knew about PL 221.
A needs assessment was conducted and from that, the needs list was prioritized with writing being the first priority. Goal two become language arts and goal three is parental involvement. The school is now entering its third year with the program.
At Pierceton, Goldsmith said there is a special writing time for students every day under the program. "We watched our children grow as writers."
As the new school year starts today, Goldsmith said they are adding on to the program. An expert was brought in this year to help set up criteria for writers' workshops. In the writers' workshops, the idea is that not everyone writes the same way or at the same speed and "that's OK." With the different writing styles, the expert also gave the school tips on how to keep track of how each child is doing.
Everything the school is doing under the program, she said, is in step with the state standards.
It was also determined this year, Goldsmith said, the original steering committee for the program needed three subcommittees - a reading task force, a writing task force and a parental involvement task force.
"That's what we're looking at doing," Goldsmith said.
Each subcommittee organized and will do some research to find guiding principles and then determine how to implement the principles into the daily life at Pierceton.
Also under Title I, this past summer Pierceton had its second year of its summer reading program. The group was not large but Goldsmith said it was "consistent" and they hope to continue the program next year. This school year, they'll have the Breakfast and a Book program once a month again so parents can have breakfast with their child and then go to the library with them. The school also will be looking at talking with parents about their children reading and writing at home.
Diana Showalter, director of curriculum, said when Pierceton found out they were going to be a part of the pilot program, they were excited but overwhelmed, but are now a year ahead of everyone else.
"I think it's going to be nothing but positive for kids," Showalter said.
She also reported the new teacher orientation was held and the Student Assistance Program through the Bowen Center will be offered again this year to students. The program allows students to have two free sessions at the Center. The cost this year for the school corporation will be $6,500, which will be paid through grant money.
"We're very satisfied with that amount," she said. The school board approved the program for the 2002-03 school year.
In other business, the school board:
• Approved the purchase of three 72-passenger buses and one 30-passenger handicapped bus from Wise International, Fort Wayne.
• Rejected all buds for fuel and authorized fuel purchases from the open market for the 2002-03 school year.
• Approved the invoice from NiBlock Excavating Inc. for the renovation project of the Whitko High School tennis court for $60,150.
• Held the public hearing on the 2003 budget, capital projects fund plan and the bus replacement plan. There were no comments or questions from the public.
• Approved a $1.825 million additional appropriation for the school corporation's unfunded liability. There were no comments or questions during the public hearing.
• Held the first reading of policy revisions. The proposed changes will be reviewed at the Sept. 23 meeting and voted on Oct. 21.
• Approved the resignations/terminations/retirements of: George Morales, special education teacher and boys' assistant wrestling coach at Whitko Middle school; Chad Adkins, assistant football coach, WMS; Adam Robbins, assistant football coach, WMS: Stephanie Baker, special education assistant and freshman volleyball coach, WHS; and John Strayer, varsity baseball coach, WHS.
• Approved the employment of: Michael Klein, English teacher, WHS, and assistant football coach, WMS; Catherine Rowe, change from assistant cheerleader sponsor to cheerleader sponsor, WMS; Fred Stoffel, boys' assistant track coach, WMS; Steve Olsen, change from assistant varsity volleyball coach to varsity volleyball coach, WHS; Lance Christiansen, freshman volleyball coach, WHS; Nate Myers, assistant football coach, WMS; and Kara Tucker, alternative program teacher and junior varsity assistant volleyball coach, WHS.
• Heard the number of participants in the high school band is up from 26 to 37 this year.
• Heard there were 137 parents and students who attended the sixth grade orientation. "Back to School" night will be Sept. 5 at the middle school, with picture day Oct. 1 and Colonial Days Oct. 18.
• Heard at South Whitley Elementary School, enrollment is 430. The school's open house is Aug. 27 from 6 to 7 p.m., Sept. 10 is picture day.
• Heard Pierceton Elementary School's "Back to School" nights will be Thursday, Monday and Tuesday.
• Heard all schools and facilities were inspected for asbestos and the findings were normal with no unusual conditions observed.
• Reported Whitko Community Schools received their full accreditation from the Indiana Department of Education through Fall 2006.
• Approved the submission of grant applications and receipt of grant monies.
• Announced the September board meeting will be Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. A reception for new teachers and staff will be held in the board room at 7 p.m.
• Announced a special meeting on Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. to adopt the 2003 budget.
Members of the Whitko School Board are Pete Mitchell, E. Marie Trump, Hal Trump, Dave Tranter and Michael Braddock. Superintendent is Dr. William Worl. [[In-content Ad]]
PIERCETON - While most school corporations throughout the state just began dealing with Public Law 221 in the past year, Pierceton Elementary School is a little ahead of the game.
Monday, Title I Resource teacher Patti Goldsmith gave a report to the Whitko Community School Corp. Board of School Trustees on the new writing initiative, staff training and data utilization to improve student achievement at Pierceton.
She said approximately two years ago, Pierceton was asked to become a part of a the pilot program Target Assistance Schools with the Title I Division of the State. It allowed the school to begin its school improvement plan before the school even knew about PL 221.
A needs assessment was conducted and from that, the needs list was prioritized with writing being the first priority. Goal two become language arts and goal three is parental involvement. The school is now entering its third year with the program.
At Pierceton, Goldsmith said there is a special writing time for students every day under the program. "We watched our children grow as writers."
As the new school year starts today, Goldsmith said they are adding on to the program. An expert was brought in this year to help set up criteria for writers' workshops. In the writers' workshops, the idea is that not everyone writes the same way or at the same speed and "that's OK." With the different writing styles, the expert also gave the school tips on how to keep track of how each child is doing.
Everything the school is doing under the program, she said, is in step with the state standards.
It was also determined this year, Goldsmith said, the original steering committee for the program needed three subcommittees - a reading task force, a writing task force and a parental involvement task force.
"That's what we're looking at doing," Goldsmith said.
Each subcommittee organized and will do some research to find guiding principles and then determine how to implement the principles into the daily life at Pierceton.
Also under Title I, this past summer Pierceton had its second year of its summer reading program. The group was not large but Goldsmith said it was "consistent" and they hope to continue the program next year. This school year, they'll have the Breakfast and a Book program once a month again so parents can have breakfast with their child and then go to the library with them. The school also will be looking at talking with parents about their children reading and writing at home.
Diana Showalter, director of curriculum, said when Pierceton found out they were going to be a part of the pilot program, they were excited but overwhelmed, but are now a year ahead of everyone else.
"I think it's going to be nothing but positive for kids," Showalter said.
She also reported the new teacher orientation was held and the Student Assistance Program through the Bowen Center will be offered again this year to students. The program allows students to have two free sessions at the Center. The cost this year for the school corporation will be $6,500, which will be paid through grant money.
"We're very satisfied with that amount," she said. The school board approved the program for the 2002-03 school year.
In other business, the school board:
• Approved the purchase of three 72-passenger buses and one 30-passenger handicapped bus from Wise International, Fort Wayne.
• Rejected all buds for fuel and authorized fuel purchases from the open market for the 2002-03 school year.
• Approved the invoice from NiBlock Excavating Inc. for the renovation project of the Whitko High School tennis court for $60,150.
• Held the public hearing on the 2003 budget, capital projects fund plan and the bus replacement plan. There were no comments or questions from the public.
• Approved a $1.825 million additional appropriation for the school corporation's unfunded liability. There were no comments or questions during the public hearing.
• Held the first reading of policy revisions. The proposed changes will be reviewed at the Sept. 23 meeting and voted on Oct. 21.
• Approved the resignations/terminations/retirements of: George Morales, special education teacher and boys' assistant wrestling coach at Whitko Middle school; Chad Adkins, assistant football coach, WMS; Adam Robbins, assistant football coach, WMS: Stephanie Baker, special education assistant and freshman volleyball coach, WHS; and John Strayer, varsity baseball coach, WHS.
• Approved the employment of: Michael Klein, English teacher, WHS, and assistant football coach, WMS; Catherine Rowe, change from assistant cheerleader sponsor to cheerleader sponsor, WMS; Fred Stoffel, boys' assistant track coach, WMS; Steve Olsen, change from assistant varsity volleyball coach to varsity volleyball coach, WHS; Lance Christiansen, freshman volleyball coach, WHS; Nate Myers, assistant football coach, WMS; and Kara Tucker, alternative program teacher and junior varsity assistant volleyball coach, WHS.
• Heard the number of participants in the high school band is up from 26 to 37 this year.
• Heard there were 137 parents and students who attended the sixth grade orientation. "Back to School" night will be Sept. 5 at the middle school, with picture day Oct. 1 and Colonial Days Oct. 18.
• Heard at South Whitley Elementary School, enrollment is 430. The school's open house is Aug. 27 from 6 to 7 p.m., Sept. 10 is picture day.
• Heard Pierceton Elementary School's "Back to School" nights will be Thursday, Monday and Tuesday.
• Heard all schools and facilities were inspected for asbestos and the findings were normal with no unusual conditions observed.
• Reported Whitko Community Schools received their full accreditation from the Indiana Department of Education through Fall 2006.
• Approved the submission of grant applications and receipt of grant monies.
• Announced the September board meeting will be Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. A reception for new teachers and staff will be held in the board room at 7 p.m.
• Announced a special meeting on Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. to adopt the 2003 budget.
Members of the Whitko School Board are Pete Mitchell, E. Marie Trump, Hal Trump, Dave Tranter and Michael Braddock. Superintendent is Dr. William Worl. [[In-content Ad]]