Yesterday, April 3rd, the DOE published the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) report for the state. I am pleased to announce that the Ellis School made AYP in reading and missed AYP in math in just one sub-group causing the entire school not to meet AYP in this area.
Last year, we did not make AYP in any of the areas. The progress that we have made in the past year has been remarkable and is an indicator of the hard work of the teachers at Ellis.
As some may know, for the past three years, we have been focusing on reading and writing. It is obvious that the focus has paid off! Last fall, we began to work on math. I am confident that as we continue to hone our reading and writing instruction, math achievement will rise as we work on improving student learning in mathematics.
There is much to celebrate and I am proud of the administration and teaching staff at Ellis1 However, we can't rest! We must continue to positively impact student learning.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
More good things at Ellis
I have been remiss in not posting to this blog news about our middle level guidance counselor, Michelle Farrar. Ms. Farrar has been recognised by her peers throughout the state as the guidance counselor of the year! Congratulation to her!
This is just one of the wonderful things to celebrate at the Ellis School this year!
This is just one of the wonderful things to celebrate at the Ellis School this year!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
NECAP Progress
At the Fremont School District Deliberative Session, I spoke about the progress that we have made academically based on the latest NECAP results. I want to make this information available on my Blog if you were not in attendance and for you to share with others.
Looking at our present eighth grade class, over a three year period of time, the eighth grades' proficiency rate has increased by 21% in reading and 16% in math.(this figure compares the 8th class of 2009 with the class of 2011) If one is to follow this class's proficiency rate from when they were in sixth grade to this year, this cohort group increased proficiency by 36% in reading and 7% in math over those three years. I believe that this is significant growth of the students as they end their career at Ellis.
While we can trace this same type of growth from the seventh and sixth grade cohort groups over the three year period, we know that clearly we can't give up! We are working diligently to make sure that all grade levels increase the academic performance for our children.
I also need to point out that NECAP results should not be seen as the only indicator of success within a school. There are other measures such as attendance rate, discipline referrals, NWEA and AIMS Web data and the general climate of the building. In all areas, we are making sound progress. If you haven't been in to visit the school, I encourage you to contact Mr. Safina to make arrangements to see what is taking place.
I welcome your comments.
Bill
Looking at our present eighth grade class, over a three year period of time, the eighth grades' proficiency rate has increased by 21% in reading and 16% in math.(this figure compares the 8th class of 2009 with the class of 2011) If one is to follow this class's proficiency rate from when they were in sixth grade to this year, this cohort group increased proficiency by 36% in reading and 7% in math over those three years. I believe that this is significant growth of the students as they end their career at Ellis.
While we can trace this same type of growth from the seventh and sixth grade cohort groups over the three year period, we know that clearly we can't give up! We are working diligently to make sure that all grade levels increase the academic performance for our children.
I also need to point out that NECAP results should not be seen as the only indicator of success within a school. There are other measures such as attendance rate, discipline referrals, NWEA and AIMS Web data and the general climate of the building. In all areas, we are making sound progress. If you haven't been in to visit the school, I encourage you to contact Mr. Safina to make arrangements to see what is taking place.
I welcome your comments.
Bill
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Fremont School District Deliberative Session
I would like to remind you that the Fremont School District Deliberative Session is scheduled for Saturday, February 4, 2012 in the Ellis School Gymnasium beginning at 9:00AM. During this meeting, the school board will provide an overview of the 6 warrant articles that will be officially voted on in March. As voters of the Town of Fremont, you will have an opportunity to ask questions, discuss and debate each of the warrant articles. Warrant articles may be amended subject to the laws of New Hampshire, which are within the actual copy of the warrant articles. Additionally, a brief overview of things that have taken place during the last year will be presented.
The warrant article include:
1. An overview of the election of School District Officers.
2. Approval of the Support Staff Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
3. A special meeting option if the CBA id defeated.
4. The operating budget of $11,049,721; the default budget is $11,048,753.
5. The approval to take $10,000 from the 2012 fund balance to be placed in the existing expendable trust fund for building and ground maintenance.
6. The funding for a foreign language teacher ($69,990)
Deatilas of the budget and the warrant articles can be found on the Ellis School website.
I hope to see you on the 4th.
Bill Lander
The warrant article include:
1. An overview of the election of School District Officers.
2. Approval of the Support Staff Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
3. A special meeting option if the CBA id defeated.
4. The operating budget of $11,049,721; the default budget is $11,048,753.
5. The approval to take $10,000 from the 2012 fund balance to be placed in the existing expendable trust fund for building and ground maintenance.
6. The funding for a foreign language teacher ($69,990)
Deatilas of the budget and the warrant articles can be found on the Ellis School website.
I hope to see you on the 4th.
Bill Lander
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Administrative Restructuring
At the April 12, 2011, Fremont School Board meeting, the Board voted to eliminate the combined position of the Elementary Principal/Special Education Director. Since that time, the Board has been working toward the restructuring of the administration at the Ellis School beginning in the 2011-2012 school year. It is anticipated that there will be one Pre-K-8 Principal, an Assistant Principal and a Special Education Director. Details of the positions are still under consideration.
The topic of administrative restructuring will be on the Fremont School Board meeting agenda scheduled for Tuesday, June 14, 2011, beginning at 6:30 PM in the Ellis School library.
The topic of administrative restructuring will be on the Fremont School Board meeting agenda scheduled for Tuesday, June 14, 2011, beginning at 6:30 PM in the Ellis School library.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Snow days
Good morning!
First, I want to thank all of you who attended the deliberative session Saturday. The turn out was far better than I expected. Don't forget the ballot vote on
March 8th!
Snow seems to be dominating the thought process of many of us! February is not over yet and we have had five snow days to date. If we have no more and the floods avoid us, the last day of school right now is June 22nd. This isn't too bad. BUT, if we get more days and go into the last week of June, it becomes more of an issue.
I'd like to get some feedback on ideas of how to make up days if we do get into the last week. The timing is too close to do anything for February vacation. What are your thoughts about making up a few days during April Vacation? Having school on Saturdays? Other ideas? I am not in favor of extending the school day unless absolutely necessary.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Bill Lander
First, I want to thank all of you who attended the deliberative session Saturday. The turn out was far better than I expected. Don't forget the ballot vote on
March 8th!
Snow seems to be dominating the thought process of many of us! February is not over yet and we have had five snow days to date. If we have no more and the floods avoid us, the last day of school right now is June 22nd. This isn't too bad. BUT, if we get more days and go into the last week of June, it becomes more of an issue.
I'd like to get some feedback on ideas of how to make up days if we do get into the last week. The timing is too close to do anything for February vacation. What are your thoughts about making up a few days during April Vacation? Having school on Saturdays? Other ideas? I am not in favor of extending the school day unless absolutely necessary.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Bill Lander
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Deliberatvie session
Good afternoon,
I want to remind you that the school district deliberative session is scheduled for this Saturday, 2/5/11 at 9:00am in the Laurence Pettengill Hall at the Ellis School. This will provide an opportunity for the voters of Fremont to hear about what is taking place throughout the school district as well as gain an overview of the budget for next year.
I hope that you can make this important meeting.
Bill Lander
I want to remind you that the school district deliberative session is scheduled for this Saturday, 2/5/11 at 9:00am in the Laurence Pettengill Hall at the Ellis School. This will provide an opportunity for the voters of Fremont to hear about what is taking place throughout the school district as well as gain an overview of the budget for next year.
I hope that you can make this important meeting.
Bill Lander
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