Update: October 17, 2017
Performing Arts Center Construction Update
Trenches are being dug for the foundation of the Performing Arts Center along with the laying of rebar to support the foundation. Concrete has started to be poured and should take approximately 6 weeks for completion. Truck loads of fill are being brought in to shore up the base where the building will be.
School Resource Officer Update
We have been aware of several Facebook posts that were written regarding the SRO (School Resource Officer) position. Some parents and community members had posted that the district was eliminating the position. Please know this is not accurate. The district has no plans to eliminate the School Resource Officer position.Parents & community members should always feel comfortable reaching out to school and district administration around topics that arise.
Falmouth Cumberland Chamber of Commerce Meeting
On Thursday, October 12, Ashley Caswell, community development & resource manager and Mark Bay, pathways coordinator met with members of the Falmouth Cumberland Chamber of Commerce to talk with them about our newly expanded Pathways Program at Greely High School. The meeting was energizing and informative. There was lots of conversations of partnerships, networking and outreach to additional chambers which will be the next steps to further support the Pathways Program and our students.
Post Secondary Fair
The 2017 Post Secondary Fair was a huge success this year with 80 colleges, universities, GAP year, military, beauty school, and PG programs represented. Nearly 350 students attended this annual event from not only Greely, but eight additional high schools as well. Greely received wonderful feedback from the college admission counselors & other reps.Post Secondary Fair
MIW Math Night
On Thursday, October 12, adult/student partners from Grades 2 & 3 came to play math games at the Mabel I. Wilson school. This event, sponsored by a Foundation 51 grant, had partners play math games from Greg Tang Math to build their number sense and fact fluency. Comments from the evening include "It was such a fun way for our family to play and learn while in the school setting." and "My son and I had a lot of fun and look forward to finding similar games to develop during at-home play."Thank you to all who attended this wonderful night!
Athletic News
Congrats Coach Mike Andreasen reached a coaching milestone yesterday as the Boys' varsity soccer team rallied for a 2-0 victory vs. Freeport, earning him win #200 in his career as a coach.
Greely football recognized seniors at "Senior Night" last Friday in their game vs. York.
Carbon Footprint Reduction
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| Courtesy of the Forecaster |
Much of what has been done ties directly to Goal 2 in our Strategic Plan with the work done by the Environmental Stewardship Committee.
For more information check out the Forecaster's Article here.
Pool Improvements thanks to Seacoast Swim Club
Seacoast Swim Club generously donated a total of $10,632 for the following improvements to Greely Pool: starter blocks, grip surface for blocks, sound system, heat/event electronic panel, and starter system.
Thanks Seacoast Swim for your continued support!
Thanks Seacoast Swim for your continued support!
Proficiency Primer
Over the last couple blog posts, I have started to dive deeper into the major tenets of a proficiency-based education. Each blog through February, I will talk more about the tenets of a proficiency-based education (PBE). Stay tuned to my "Proficiency Primer" for more details on PBE.
Third Tenet: Providing students with clear and specific feedback on progress in meeting the learning standards (Part I).
Just a brief recap: Learning standards are a core set of essential learning expectations a student must meet in order to be considered proficient. In my lats blog, I talked about the difference between formative and summative assessments. Formative assessments are those which help a student practice desired skills, while summative refers to those assessments that measure whether a student has made progress on a standard. You can think of quizzes as formative and tests as being summative, as an example.
Obviously, the feedback students receive from their assessments provides them with an indication of their progress in meeting the expectations of a learning standard. More formal feedback comes in the form of progress reports (otherwise known as report cards) which come out quarterly at the high school and three times a year in grades K-8. Here's a summary of my opening year letter:
Proficiency Primer past posts:
Just a brief recap: Learning standards are a core set of essential learning expectations a student must meet in order to be considered proficient. In my lats blog, I talked about the difference between formative and summative assessments. Formative assessments are those which help a student practice desired skills, while summative refers to those assessments that measure whether a student has made progress on a standard. You can think of quizzes as formative and tests as being summative, as an example.
Obviously, the feedback students receive from their assessments provides them with an indication of their progress in meeting the expectations of a learning standard. More formal feedback comes in the form of progress reports (otherwise known as report cards) which come out quarterly at the high school and three times a year in grades K-8. Here's a summary of my opening year letter:
Proficiency Primer past posts:
Grades 6-12
Our expectation remains that students will graduate in four years from Greely High School. Teachers will continue to report student grades at regular intervals during the school year, by trimester at Greely Middle School 6-8 and by quarter at Greely High School. Grades will continue to be reported in ways that are familiar to our students and parents (100-point scale; A, B, C, etc). Habits of Work (HoW) will be reported separately using a 1-4 scale.
Grades K-5
Teachers will continue to report student grades at regular intervals, by semester at both Greely Middle School 4-5 and Mabel I. Wilson School. As in the past, the progress report will measure content standards (E, M, P, D) and the Guiding Principles (Most/Some of the time or Area of Concern).
One area of reporting is known as Habits of Work, or HoW. These work habits include things like being on time with assignments, respectful attitudes, collaboration with peers, attentiveness, coming to class on time, and being ready to learn, among others. When we went to school, you might get 10 points taken off for a late assignment or had 20% of your grade based on your effort in class.
In a proficiency-based system, HoW is considered to be a separate reporting area. There is a belief that proficiency in meeting standards should not be mixed in with other attributes of learning. Mastery of skills and content in attaining proficiency should be based on a student's knowledge, understanding, and application and not on whether or not they arrive at class on time or turn in assignments on time or work well with others. Of course, these are very important in supporting learning, but should be assessed outside of the content area.
In a proficiency-based system, HoW is considered to be a separate reporting area. There is a belief that proficiency in meeting standards should not be mixed in with other attributes of learning. Mastery of skills and content in attaining proficiency should be based on a student's knowledge, understanding, and application and not on whether or not they arrive at class on time or turn in assignments on time or work well with others. Of course, these are very important in supporting learning, but should be assessed outside of the content area.
For my next blog, I'll continue writing about feedback to students in meeting learning standards (Part II). My focus will be on graduation standards, how they are reported, and the two philosophical approaches that exist in determining a student's progress in meeting the expectations of standards.
#1: Being explicit and up-front about the Learning Targets
#2: Having clear assessments that align to the stated learning targets
#1: Being explicit and up-front about the Learning Targets
#2: Having clear assessments that align to the stated learning targets