The decision to add fifth-graders to the summer middle school program “really paid dividends,” middle/high school summer session Principal Dave Plendl told the Goshen County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees at a meeting Tuesday evening.
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GOSHEN COUNTY – The decision to add fifth-graders to the summer middle school program “really paid dividends,” middle/high school summer session Principal Dave Plendl told the Goshen County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees at a meeting Tuesday evening.
“It was very welcoming … a very good transition. It will be even smoother next year,” he said.
Teachers requested the addition of fifth-graders to the middle school’s summer program with a goal to “begin the transition for students into middle school and allow the teachers to work with and establish a positive rapport with their new students,” according to Plendl.
“That goal was accomplished, and it is recommended that we continue to have the fifth-graders join the middle school for summer school,” he said. “Thank you to Tyler Floerchinger and Dawn Gilchriest for their help in making the transition from Trail to the middle school a success for their students.”
Plendl also credited the summer school teachers for their work.
“It’s almost miraculous what they do with those kids,” he said.
Teachers used a computer-based curriculum, which allowed them to tailor their instruction in both math and language arts to the individual needs of each student.
“The teachers developed daily work objectives for the students and used the academic theme of golf to encourage the students to make progress moving through their ‘Goshen County Open’ summer tournament,” a report on the program states. “There was a daily ‘Student of the Day’ … recognized at the beginning of each day, and that was another positive source of recognition for the students.”
The summer session averaged 30 students a day, peaking at 38. Although teachers administered STAR testing for the first time this summer, positive growth was evident, Plendl said.
“There are 60 levels of math per grade, and the students set a new summer school record with seven students earning all 60 levels. They then moved on up to the next grade level. Another 12 students made it past … level 40. Every student was able to pass through at least level 15 within their grade level.”
Teachers agreed summer school was a success, “especially for the fifth graders, since they were able to begin building a positive relationship with their new middle school teachers to be.”
Plendl also reported on the high school’s summer session, explaining with the combination of 17 Bridges credits and 59 summer school credits earned, every student at Torrington High School is back on track to graduate on time with their class, bringing the school – and the district – “significantly closer to the goal of 100-percent graduation.”
