The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1037900
A-6 Local Wednesday, October 10, 2018 The Press-Dispatch ,1752'8&,1*285 1(:(673529,'(5 /XFDV3LWWPDQ13 3V\FKLDWU\ 1RZDFFHSWLQJQHZSDWLHQWVDW WKH3HWHUVEXUJDQG:DVKLQJWRQ 6DPDULWDQ&HQWHUORFDWLRQV&DOO WRGD\WRPDNHDQDSSRLQWPHQW *RRG6DPDULWDQLVSURXGWRZHOFRPH/XFDV 3LWWPDQ13WRLWVPHGLFDOVWDII%RUQDQG UDLVHGLQ*UHHQH&RXQW\,QGLDQD3LWWPDQ EHJDQKLVFDUHHULQKHDOWKFDUHDW*RRG 6DPDULWDQLQRQWKH/D6DOOH,QSDWLHQW %HKDYLRUDO+HDOWK8QLW3LWWPDQKDVDOZD\V KDGDSDVVLRQIRUKHOSLQJRWKHUVDQG ZDQWHGWREHFRPHDQXUVHSUDFWLWLRQHUVR KHFRXOGGRPRUH³8SRQHQWHULQJP\ODVW \HDURIQXUVLQJVFKRRO,DSSOLHGWR*RRG 6DPDULWDQDQGDFFHSWHGDSRVLWLRQRQWKH /D6DOOHXQLWZRUNLQJZLWKSV\FKSDWLHQWV´ VDLG3LWWPDQ³,OLNHGLWDORWDQGZDQWHGWR FRQWLQXHVHHLQJWKHVHSDWLHQWVDQGUHPDLQ DW*RRG6DPDULWDQ´ :DVKLQJWRQ2I¿FH 3HWHUVEXUJ2I¿FH *6+9,125* REDUCED TEMPERATURE SWINGS ENHANCED PERFORMANCE IMPROVED DEHUMIDIFICATION Variable-speed technology means invariable comfort. The Infinity ® 20 air conditioner combines the energy efficiency of Greenspeed ® intelligence with the convenience and precision of the Infinity System Control. With reduced temperature swings, improved dehumidification and ultra-quiet operation, the Infinity 20 air conditioner will have you more comfortable than ever before. Energy Efficiency That's Right in Your Comfort Zone. ©Carrier Corporation 4/2018. carrier.com PH: 812-743-2382 HEATING & AIR-CONDITIONING Perry ' s LLC Serving the area since 1950. Perry ' s Perry ' s 303 Breckinridge Rd, Monroe City Email: perryshvac@gmail.com Craig Perry Vance Perry Chase Perry Petersburg Kiwanis members Sue Shoultz (left) and Sharon Blaize stepped away from their booth during the Pike Co. Chamber Expo to vis- it the Chamber food booth. They were served by Ella McGuire (front) and Jessica Aldridge. The Chamber Expo was held at the Jefferson Twp. Community Center on Thursday, Oct. 4 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. It featured businesses, service orga- nizations and health care services, free to the public. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS AND HEALTH EXPO Pike County 4-H Extension Agent Sarah Hopkins sets up her display pri- or to the Chamber of Commerce Expo on Thursday in Otwell. Judy Edwards stops by The Press-Dispatch booth to speak to Pam Lemond during the Chamber of Commerce Expo in Otwell on Thursday afternoon. the beginning of the 2017- 18 school year with period- ic testing that measured stu- dents' growth. "Our students, as a whole, showed very strong growth on those assessments for the year," Padgett said. "We have continued our assess- ment testing this year, estab- lishing individual plans for our students to meet their needs. We are also partner- ing with (Northwest Evalua- tion Association) in order to add another way to track in- dividual growth and needs that will drive instruction during their time at OMA." "Since this year will pres- ent yet another version of the state assessment, we are us- ing the tools provided by the IDOE to unpack the test for- mat and testing structures to prepare our students and staff for this new bench- mark system," Padgett add- ed. "We are in the process of providing additional staff remediation and skill build- ing for those in need. Also we will begin hosting after- school help sessions. Times and days are being worked out over the next couple of months." PETERSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL At Petersburg Elementary School, 122 of 228 students in third through fifth grades – or 53.5 percent – passed the English/language arts test and 122 of 229 students in third through fifth grades – or 53.3 percent – passed the math test. In 2017, 51.3 percent of third through fifth graders at Petersburg Elementary School passed the English/ language arts test and 53.0 percent of students in third through fifth grades passed the math test. In addition, 40 of 69 stu- dents in the fourth grade – or 58.0 percent – passed the science test while 46 of 84 students in fifth grade – or 54.8 percent – passed the so- cial studies test. In 2017, 68.6 percent of fourth graders at Petersburg Elementary School passed the science test and 50.5 per- cent of fifth graders passed the social studies test. "This past year, our third grade students missed the state average by about two points in math and English/ language arts," PES princi- pal Rick King said. "They were above the state average by five points on IREAD3. The state average was 87.1 percent. Petersburg Ele- mentary scored 92.1 per- cent." King also noted that the school's fifth graders missed the state average in math in 2017 by approximately half a percentage point. "In 2018, they were off about eight points in math as well as English/language arts," King said. In 2015, King noted, the school's fourth graders scored in the 80s in math and English/language arts. "This was above state av- erage in English/language arts, and seven-tenths of a point below average in math," King said. "So, in the last four years, each grade level has done well in specif- ic areas." "If you look closely at the ups and downs with our scores, and if you track the same students from year to year, most of the time, Pe- tersburg Elementary fol- lows the same pattern as students across the state," King continued. "We are op- timistic that with less test- ing this year, and with test- ing being a couple months later, our students will have a better advantage. Teach- ers will have more time to teach before testing begins, and less time will be re- quired to test. We will con- tinue to work hard to attack the skills that our students need help with." The school's teachers, from kindergarten through fifth grade, have been working with the diagnos- tic formative assessment, IREADY Math and Read- ing to support and enrich students in the academic growth process, King said. "RTI continues as we use multiple intervention re- sources," King said. "We are in the process of imple- menting a new writing cur- riculum, and our goal is not only to help with our process writing, but also to increase reading skills. PES will con- tinue to stay committed to character education as we emphasize RESPECT ev- ery day. We strive to devel- op and maintain a positive mindset in our staff and students to set the tone for an atmosphere conducive to learning." WINSLOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL At Winslow Elementary School, 74 of 136 students in third through fifth grades – or 54.4 percent – passed the English/language arts test and 70 of 136 students in third through fifth grades – or 51.5 percent – passed the math test. In 2017, 57.5 percent of third through fifth grad- ers at Winslow Elementary School passed the English/ language arts test and 47.1 percent of students in third through fifth grades passed the math test. In addition, 26 of 48 stu- dents in the fourth grade – or 54.2 percent – passed the science test while 28 of 53 students in fifth grade – or 52.8 percent – passed the so- cial studies test. In 2017, 55.6 percent of fourth graders at Winslow Elementary School passed the science test and 54.8 per- cent of fifth graders passed the social studies test. "Although our scores ap- peared to be low, they were not compared to the rest of the state," WES princi- pal Ritchie Luker said. "I am very proud of the hard work and dedication that students and teachers alike put into preparing and com- pleting the test. We are al- ready working hard to im- prove on our scores for this year's new test, ILEARN." PIKE CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL At Pike Central Mid- dle School, 230 of 411 stu- dents in sixth through eighth grades – or 56.0 per- cent – passed the English/ language arts test and 190 of 413 students in sixth through eighth grades – or 46.0 percent – passed the math test. In 2017, 60.0 percent of sixth through eighth grad- ers at Petersburg Elemen- tary School passed the Eng- lish/language arts test and 49.9 percent of students in sixth through eighth grades passed the math test. In addition, 83 of 134 stu- dents in the sixth grade – or 61.9 percent – passed the science test while 85 of 134 students in sixth grade – or 63.4 percent – passed the so- cial studies test. In 2017, 70.9 percent of sixth graders at Pike Cen- tral Middle School passed the science test and 62.7 per- cent of sixth graders passed the social studies test. "Students and staff at PC- MS worked hard last year to meet the demands of the ever-changing and increas- ing rigor of state standard- ized testing," PCMS princi- pal Mindy Hill-Keeker said. "There is always room for improvement and growth to ensure that our students are receiving a quality ed- ucation. We will continue to work this year to imple- ment new initiatives and programs necessary to pre- pare students for the new ILEARN assessment that will be administered this spring." PIKE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL At Pike Central High School, 94 of 157 sopho- mores – or 59.9 percent – passed the English/lan- guage arts test and 41 of 157 sophomores – or 29.1 per- cent – passed the math test. In 2017, 57.1 percent of sophomores at Pike Central High School passed the Eng- lish/language arts test and 29.1 percent of sophomores passed the math test. In addition, 54 of 133 sophomores – or 40.6 per- cent – passed the science test. In 2017, 51.0 percent of sophomores at Pike Central High School passed the sci- ence test. "For Pike Central High School, our EL A scores have gone up and we are now above the state average," PCHS principal Brian Hol- land said. "Though it may not be reflective in the test scores, the additional math supports that have been im- plemented are resulting in better achievements over- all for our students. Our students are excelling in the classroom with the new Math 10 classes and the off- semester Algebra 1 class. We expect greater success in the coming years. We are definitely moving in a posi- tive direction." ISTEP+ Continued from page 3