Yelle Given 10k Grant For Academic Achievement

Norton school superintendent Dr. Patricia Ansay recently received a letter from the Commission of Education, commending staff for the school's narrowed achievement gap for low-income students. Because of this achievement, the school has received a $10,000 title one academic achievement grant.

Yelle principal Lisa Farrell said she will use the grant to provide professional development courses for staff members.

Yelle is one of 15 schools that received this grant, out of 351 districts in the state.

According to results by Dr. Amy Berdos, curriculum coordinator, students from low-income families have been improving in mathematics each year by year since 2008.

“In math, in 2010 from 2009, we went up 15.1 points. So something definitely is being done that is really catching students’ attention. And what we wanted to do is find out what is that something,” Farrell said.

At Monday's School Committee meeting, Farrell gave a presentation on programs that have contributed to improvements. Some of those include Terrific Tuesday students, Citizens of the Month, Fifth Grade Student Senate, MCAS Academy, team teaching, hands on learning and more.

“We’ve all been struggling with MCAS for 10 years now, and trying to change things and make things better. Every so often we get it right,” said committee chairman Andrew Mackie.

Dr. John Roper of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will be come to the school April 4 to see first hand how the school has made the changes.

“This is a school that we were watching and we wanted to see improvement and I think we’re seeing it. We’re seeing it in leaps and bounds,” said committee member Beth McManus at last night’s meeting.

McManus also commended Farrell’s staff for turning a tragedy into a positive thing by holding the American Heart Association Hoops for Heart basketball fundraiser in honor of Caitie St. John, a victim of heart disease.

“I think it starts at the top and it comes down, but you are to be commended for what is going on at that school,” McManus said.