Superintendent Reports High Levels of Student Achievement

At the August meeting of the Board of Education, Superintendent David Quattrone presented an annual profile of student learning results on NY State Assessments, Advanced Placement Examinations, and college matriculation. He reported that levels of achievement for the 2009-10 school year remain high, with stable patterns and trends.

A new wrinkle this year stems from the higher cut-off scores set by the Commissioner of Education. The higher standards for determining proficiency reflect the state's expressed commitment to ensure that all high school graduates are college ready. The new standards will lead to higher numbers for whom intervention and academic support is required, beginning in 2011. Quattrone reported that the district already extends those services using local criteria and will continue to do so. Last year during the budget process, the Board affirmed the importance of a strong skills program, and the District remains in a good position to deliver these services to a wider group of students.

Quattrone also announced a plan to hold a series of "curriculum conversations" with the Board throughout the year, focusing on "the next level of learning" - the development of higher order thinking skills.

Science Olympiad Team Scores at the State Competition

Coached by Middle School science teacher Jean Windels, thirteen Bronxville students competed at the state Science Olympiad, held at SUNY New Paltz on the weekend of May 1st. After advancing from regional events, the Bronxville group scored twentieth among the thirty-seven best teams in the state. They also won several medals for individual events.

At last week's Board of Education meeting, six students described the events and displayed some of their work, including an elevated bridge and a plane. Chris Landy, Owen Hayes, Tepi Ennis, Victoria Corbo, Will Stoeffhaas, and Mari Kawakatsu represented the team.

College Admissions Results Jump Up

At the September Board of Education meeting, Superintendent David Quattrone presented student achievement results for 2008-09. Overall patterns are stable with respect to state testing and advanced placement results. But college admissions at the nation's most competitive colleges and universities jumped by 16%. Nearly two-thirds of the Class of 2009 (65%) enrolled in colleges and universities ranked in the "most competitive" category by Barron's Guide. Typically, about 90% of Bronxville graduates attend colleges in the top three tiers - "very", "highly", and "most" competitive.

For the full presentation on achievement results, go here.

Two State Championship Teams in One Season

The Board of Education recognized the accomplishments of the Boys Soccer and Girls Cross Country teams, both of whom won state championships this season. Principal Terry Barton and Athletic Director Karen Peterson introduced the coaches who, in turn, introduced their players. The introductions were followed by a brief slide show.

What Do You Know?

Dr. Martin Brooks, executive director of the Tri-State Consortium, gave the Bronxville Board of Education an overview of the Tri-State Consortium accreditation program, which emphasizes a continuous improvement process.

The Consortium brings together forty-two school districts in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. Visiting committees of educators from member schools evaluate the quality of specific programs on a three-year cycle. The Consortium last conducted an evaluation of Bronxville’s K-12 mathematics program in 2005 and is slated to assess K-12 science in the fall of 2009. Dr. Brooks contrasted the limits of standardized testing with performance assessment: “Standardized tests ask ‘Do you know this?’”, he said. “Performance assessments ask, ‘What do you know?'”

Board members asked questions about what the District will learn from the K-12 science review, how best practices are identified and shared, and whether our current scope and sequence will be validated. Dr. Brooks said the report would be organized around essential questions developed by the faculty.

Superintendent David Quattrone said the essential questions under consideration address curriculum alignment, inquiry skills, technology applications, and the educational needs of diverse learners. These questions dovetail nicely with the professional development themes that have been adopted for the next three years. Over this period of time, he said, he expects achievement levels to remain high and stable, but the faculty will design new units of study and develop technology applications that promote depth of inquiry, authenticity, and engagement with real-world problems.

Sophomore Showcase

Bronxville High School students display and demonstrate their work for parents and teachers

Student Achievement Results

Uploaded on authorSTREAM by quattrod

Posted by email from Across the Bronxville Schools (posterous)

Bronxville Middle School Gets Blue Ribbon

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings has named Bronxville Middle School as one of 320 Blue Ribbon Schools in 2008. The No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools award distinguishes and honors schools for helping students achieve at very high levels and for making significant progress in closing the achievement gap.

For the past 26 years, this prestigious program has honored more than 5,800 of America's most successful schools.

The No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are either academically superior or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement to high levels. Bronxville was nominated and selected based on its record of student achievement, scoring in the top 10 percent of New York's testing program.

The award reflects the culmination of a year-long application process, led by principal Barry Richelsoph. As he said in his message to staff, "You are a great staff, blessed with great kids in a great community, and I am a very proud principal."