Dr. Suzanne Scallion
As we witness the changes brought about by the cycle of light and dark, I am reminded of the shifts that we are enduring in our work of educating the students of Westfield. Some of the changes are amazing like the spectacular trees displaying the colors hidden by the green pigment in the leaves during the rest of the year. And some of the changes are harder to manage depending upon your tolerance to cold, snow, holidays and more. In our schools, our students and staff are experiencing an unprecedented pace of change that causes both positive and challenging consequences.
These challenges include the onset of new testing guidelines from the Massachusetts Waiver of No Child Left Behind, new Common Core Standards and new Interventions to support our students who require additional instruction. And the pace of change is brought on by the urgency of the task at hand. In a hospital, the pace is driven by the condition of the patient with things happening quickly when the stakes are high. In our school system, the pace of change is critical due to the data we have about student achievement. We are working hard and fast to improve the rigor of our academic program. And we have taken several important steps to align our programs with the new and more realistic goals set by the state. Our goal is to reduce the number of students in the Needs Improvement/Warning categories in half by the year 2017.
We have launched major initiatives that we might otherwise roll out over a longer period of time. But, the data is very clear that we cannot wait. The initiatives include our partnership grant with Bay State Reading Institute whose work has brought Highland Elementary to the top in student achievement based on Student Growth Percentiles. And, Keys to Literacy has been launched in our Middle Schools. Our Extended Day Intervention programs for students in need have just launched with Title I Federal funding. And, our teachers are participating in foundational Staff Development and working very hard to meet the demands of these needed steps to raise student achievement.
Although these are significant steps in the right direction, much more will be needed. Our Math scores are a cause for concern and will require funding for coaches, curriculum supervision and aligned materials. We must expand opportunities for Early Literacy in our community and coordinate the curriculum in our pre-schools. Our textbooks and their electronic counterparts are aging and need to be aligned with the new standards so we are working on a textbook replacement plan. And, our Science Labs at the High School are being flagged by the accreditation committee. These needs must be addressed within a short period of time to bring Westfield Schools to a more successful standing.
Our staff is working very hard at accommodating the reforms flying in our direction. And we continuously focus on the most important aspect of our work that is the success of our students. Please support our schools in every way that you are able and be sure to share the good news about the progress that we are making with the launch of these important initiatives.
In the meantime, let’s hope that Hurricane bumbling along in the Atlantic leaves us alone!
Best wishes,
Dr. Suzanne Scallion, Superintendent
