In the Loop

Get Connected with Fremont Public Schools

You and I are busy people. We have no real opportunity to get together for a chat. Yet we do have new ways we can “talk.” That’s the point of In the Loop: a format for sharing with you regular insights of life at Fremont Public Schools.

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John Kingsnorth, Superintendent
jkingsnorth@fremont.net

 

April 22, 2008 In The Loop

In This Issue:

 

MEAP RESULTS

LANSING – For the third straight year, math scores have risen on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) tests for the state’s elementary and middle school students, the Michigan Department of Education reported today.

Mathematics scores improved at every grade tested (3rd through 8th) except fifth grade, which saw only a slight decline. Writing scores improved at the third, fifth, seventh, and eighth grade levels. Eighth grade science and reading scores also improved.

This year’s results also reveal a trend that shows students in earlier grades score at higher achievement levels than students in grades 6, 7, and 8. This suggests a greater benefit to students who have an earlier exposure to the new Grade Level Content Expectations.

"Our performance in the early grades indicates that when we are clear about what we want students to learn, they can reach the high goals we've set for them," said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm.   "But we need to keep pushing until students at all grade levels are demonstrating world class achievement."

Michigan students were tested in October 2007 on skills learned through the end of the previous year.

“This is very encouraging,” said State Board of Education President Kathleen N. Straus. “We are beginning to see the results of the foundation we’ve established to help Michigan’s children succeed.”

The State Board of Education adopted Grade Level Content Expectations for mathematics and English language arts (ELA), which include writing, three years ago. The State Board approved this past year the K-8 Grade Level Content Expectations for science and social studies.

The Grade Level Content Expectations provide teachers and students with detail and focus on the skills students should know at the end of each grade.  They were designed to bring a more consistent curriculum across the state for each grade, K-8.

“We expect to see similar gains in science and social studies as the new standards begin to be implemented in every classroom across the state,” Straus said.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan noted that even though this year’s reading scores fell slightly, over 70 percent of the students at each grade level tested were proficient, as they were in math, science, and social studies.

“A 70 percent pass rate is adequate, but not good enough for Michigan,” said Flanagan.  "I continue to be concerned for the 30 percent of the students not making the grade as if they were my own children."

Students’ MEAP scores are divided into four performance levels: Advanced, Proficient, Partially Proficient, and Not Proficient.  Students who place in either the Advanced or Proficient levels are considered to be “proficient” in that subject.  Those who place in the Partially Proficient or Not Proficient levels are deemed to be “not proficient.”

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To view complete MEAP results, go to www.michigan.gov/mde and click on the MEAP results link.

Click on the Frequently Asked Questions for more details.

 

PRIDE STUDENT SUCCESSES

Bt Rich Wheater

FHS senior Samantha Paine won the Public Speaking Challenge at the 31st annual PRIDE international youth substance abuse prevention conference last week in Cincinnati. FHS seniors Emily Scheffler and Zachary Robinson performed with the hand-picked PRIDE National Performance Team as dancers and FHS junior Ben Schultz performed with the national Acting Team. FHS junior Jessica Fox wrote, produced and acted in a TV public service announcement that won third place nationally. All are members of PRIDE of Newaygo County, which also won a third place award for an original dance/drama. PRIDE of Newaygo County, which includes students from five Newaygo County high schools, was the international PRIDE Team of the Year in 1993 and 2005.

 

TWO FREMONT TEACHERS NAMED NEWAYGO COUNTY OUTSTANDING TEACHERS

It is my pleasure to announce that two Fremont Public School teachers were selected by the Fremont Area Community Foundation as Newaygo County Outstanding Teachers of the Year. Congratulations to Steve Vissia, high school social studies teacher and Nancy Schwingler, Pathfinder elementary teacher for their selection as our representatives of great teachers in Fremont.

Twenty two teachers from around the county were nominated. Selection was made by the Foundation’s scholarship committee with a blind scoring rubric developed by local educators.

They will be publicly recognized at the “I care about kids” ceremony at the Dogwood on April 23rd.

A $2500 check from the Robert and Elsie Geeting Educational Fund will be made to their respective buildings in their honor for educational purposes.

Please join me in congratulating them when you see them.

 

April 2008 - School Matters Newsletter

Click Here for HTML Version of Newsletter (1.5 MB)
PDF File of Newsletter (3.9 MB)

 

Boys Track Update

By Coach Somers

The boys track team has been improving through this early part of the season.  Our sprint relay teams are steadily dropping their times while the field events also improve.  In the distances we are also improving with the young runners coming on and the veterans trying to find their form.  We lost a close meet to Grant and were overmatched by Ludington.  At the Mohawk Relays at Morley Stanwood we had some good performances highlighted by a 3rd in the 1600 relay (53 sec split by Andy Zahrt), Kevin Minton threw a PR 114 in the Discus and Alec Beattie ran a 54 second split 400 in the sprint medley.  Jake Featherstone and Nick Butcher both ran 10:42 to place 4th in the 2x3200 relay.  We also suffered from some lack of focus resulting in 2 disqualifications. 

 

ART STUDENT SELECTED BY HOEKSTRA’S OFFICE

By Chris Rosenberg

The attachment was sent from Representative Peter Hoekstra's office.  It contains the list of students who's art work was chosen to be printed their the annual calendar.  On the list, good news:  FHS student JORDAN CRANDELL had her black and white photo chosen to be included! 

 

THIRD GRADERS TOPS IN THE COUNTRY IN MATH

By Becky Miller

MEGAN SUPERNAW is first in the USA in VMath and BROOKE DEULING is second in the USA in VMath. 

 

S3 COMMITTEES CONCLUDE

All year members of our community have been meeting to study and make recommendations to the Board of Education. The four subcommittees are:

Technology

Community Connections

World Ready

And Facilities

Each subcommittee chair shared their recommendations with the group at a special meeting held April 21. The Facilities subcommittee shared a status report since they will be continuing with their study of the districts building. However, most of their discussion has been around the concept of updating or replacing the high school.

The recommendations will be shared with the Board of Education either next week or the first meeting in May.

Thanks all that participated in this process.


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In the Loop

Get Connected with Fremont Public Schools

John D. Kingsnorth
Superintendent
Fremont Public Schools
(231) 924-2350
jkingsnorth@fremont.net