Principal Michael Podraza’s Weekly EGHS Update
Week of 10-17-2016
EGHS News and Information!
A weekly newsletter with information about upcoming events related to East Greenwich High School
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS- Rhode Island Department of Education Issues School Classifications- East Greenwich High School
Earlier this week the Rhode Island Department of Education released school classifications for all public schools (for State-wide classifications, please click here). In the metrics and calculations used to create these classifications, East Greenwich High School did extremely well- receiving 97 out of a possible 100 points.
To put our “points” in perspective, the only two high schools in Rhode Island to receive “Commended” classifications, Barrington and North Smithfield, had 93 and 90 points respectively. However, in spite of our score, we did not receive a “Commended” classification. The reason we were not a commended school was due to our participation rate in State testing (PARCC). Our participation rate was- 89.6% for ELA/Reading and 89.9% for Mathematics. While this was an improvement from participation rates in SY 14-15 (ELA/Reading 83% and Mathematics 81%), this was still below the federally required participation benchmark of 95%. As such, East Greenwich High School was disqualified from receiving a “Commended” designation this year. An EGHS’ participation rate below the required level is a recent phenomena that coincides with the introduction of PARCC as the State’s assessment tool and our participation rate was impacted last year by family’s decisions to “opt out” of state testing for various reasons.
Looking forward to State testing in Spring 2017, the metrics and populations used to create school and district classifications will once again be changing. This year, due to changes instituted by the Commissioner at the beginning of this year, only members of the Class of 2020 AND other individual members who have not yet taken taken a Mathematics PARCC assessment while in high school to date will be tested and used for school and district accountability purposes.
While we salute the Commissioner for implementing a reduction in the amount of testing, we must also acknowledge the inherent flaws of classifying and holding accountable an entire 9-12 school based on one cohort of students who have received less than one year of instruction in the school being classified, and a small cohort of students that for whatever reason, have not yet taken a subject area test in PARCC Mathematics.
In spite of our lack of “Commended” status due to participation rates and what we believe are flaws in next year’s accountability metrics, East Greenwich High School takes any accountability metric and outcome very seriously. We will continue to focus on improving all areas that are within our locus of control to positively impact all students’ learning and the achievement of East Greenwich High School’s mission. It is in this vein that I would like to use this opportunity to encourage all parents, guardians and students in the EGHS community to also seize what is within your control as well. In this case, I would ask that you please consider the implications that any future decision to “opt out” may have on the accountability status and the overall reputation of East Greenwich High School.
In closing, I thank you for your consideration of this request and for all of the support that you continue to give to our students, our educators, our school, and our mission.
THIS WEEK’S
UPCOMING EVENTS
Spirit Week: 10-17 through 10-21. Details about daily spirit week activities can be found here.
PSATs 10-19 Important: No late start for students taking PSATs. Students taking the PSATs need to report to school for an 8 AM start. All students not involved with PSAT will stay with our Wednesday schedule.
Wednesday- PTG Meeting 9:30 AM in the Cafeteria.
Homecoming Dance Saturday 10-22, 7 PM to 10PM . General information regarding the homecoming dance can be found here.
ADVANCED PLANNING- 10-24 through 10-28 Gallup Student Survey (information on EGHS participation in the Gallup Student Poll can be found by clicking here)
- 10-24 through 10-27 Cabaret Auditions after school. See Mr. Petrucci for details
- 11-8 No School- Election (Professional Development Day for EGHS Faculty)
- 11-9 Last Day of Quarter 1
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
This week’s “Food for Thought” is an invitation to “time travel” to 2100 to look back on Stanford University’s 2025 revisioning of what school and the undergraduate experience needs to be. A description from the site gives an general overview of what you will find by exploring the website:
“The project culminated with an experiential exhibit entitled “Stanford 2025,” held at the d.school in May 2014. To encourage an exploratory mindset, the event was staged as a time-travel journey. The community embarked to the distant future—and landed just at the moment when Stanford was looking back retrospectively at major paradigm shifts that “happened” around 2025. These possible shifts were shared as provocations—a subjective, student-centered imagining of what could happen as the future unfolds.
Here, on this website, we invite you to travel with us and explore these possible futures. Then, we hope you will use the provocations—and the tools available on the site—to spark your own vision for the future of higher education by trying some experiments.
Now, strap in, and let’s go to the year 2100…
While the entire Stanford2025 site is worth looking through, I believe the section “Purpose Learning” is a fantastic example of how education could be truly personalized, leading to the empowerment of each learner. Hope you enjoy this trip “back in time” and this vision of the future.
East Greenwich High School exists to EMPOWER
We, the EGHS community, strive to empower all members to achieve their full potential as learners, thinkers, and responsible global citizens. We take risks in order to inspire learning and discover passions.
We, the East Greenwich High School community, live our values:
- Respect: Be considerate of others' ideas and opinions while maintaining personal integrity and self- confidence.
- Creativity and Innovation: Embrace flexibility and individuality when explaining and demonstrating knowledge and skills.
- Relevance: Link concepts across subjects and make connections to today's global society.
- Enthusiasm: Generate excitement and curiosity about learning.
- Achievement: Work vigorously to obtain knowledge and skills measured against the highest standards.
We hold ourselves and each other accountable to these values in support of our mission.
East Greenwich High School
300 Avenger Drive, East Greenwich, RI, 02818
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