AN EXCITING LOOK TOWARD NEXT YEAR

THE MATH DILEMNA – A curriculum that is “a mile wide and an inch deep.”

Research as well as public opinion are expressing a growing dissatisfaction with the current mathematics performance of American students, especially in comparison with other industrialized nations.  Almost half of the job openings in Washington between 2007 and 2012 will be in fields requiring a strong background in math or science, and  already, Washington employers are importing graduates from across the United States and abroad to fill our high-tech job openings.  (Legislative Report, Senator Paull Shin)

Research has pointed to an underlying problem with many of our standards-based systems.  There are two main approaches used in the teaching of mathematics – skill development (focus on developing computational skills and recall of facts); and problem solving (encouraging students to explain how they arrived at a solution and to consider more than one way of solving a problem).

These approaches reflect the approaches used in teaching reading – the whole language approach, and the skills-based instruction approach.

(Principal, p. 52)

Research suggests that both can and should be done together.  The challenge for the teacher is finding the time to teach both approaches and also to “cover the book.”

Our SMM students perform well in mathematics, but SMM teachers and students are caught in the same dilemma that faces other Washington schools -- the challenge of teaching both approaches is weighted toward the conceptual approach.  This is due partly to today’s textbook content and methodology, partly to public demand, and partly to the role WASL testing plays in our curriculum. 

In standardized testing (ITBS) and in high school entrance exams, our students generally do well in the math concepts, estimation, and problem solving areas.  A typical SMM student, however, may have a significantly lower computation score compared to the critical thinking scores. 

Teachers tell me that this is partly because students cannot finish the test in the time allotted, but also because they had forgotten how to do basic math.  Though these students were performing two years above their grade level in their math scores, their computation performance was a whole year behind their critical thinking scores.

This brings about the issue of stressing some students by practicing for time tests (mad minutes, etc.) compared to making sure they know their “facts” by whatever method works for them.  I have a personal concern regarding gimmicks because many students never outgrow their dependence on the gimmick.  My goal is to have each student at SMM be able to master the memorization of the basic facts and also be able to solve fundamental math problems as well as problem solving.

Lately, I have done a lot of reading regarding the development of math instruction in the curriculum of United States schools.  I have separated out quotes from several sources for your interest.  Together we need to address math needs in our schools not only for the sake of our present students, but for the sake of our country.

Quotes Regarding Math Instruction.

The National Math Panel urges that students “develop automatic recall of addition and related subtraction facts, and of multiplication and related division facts” to adequately prepare for Algebra.  (ASCD SmartBrief)

 The following remarks are notes taken from the Washington Post.

A presidential panel declared math education in the United States “broken” and called on schools to focus on ensuring that children master fundamental skills that provide the underpinnings for success in higher math and, ultimately, in high-tech jobs.

The National Mathematics Advisory Panel noted that students need a deeper understanding of basic skills, including fluency with whole numbers and fractions.  Scores from the 2006 Program for International Student Assessment showed 15-year-olds in the US trailed peers from 23 industrialized countries in math.

The panel stressed that many students are simply befuddled by fractions.  It concluded that the math curricula and textbooks in elementary and middle schools typically cover too many topics without enough depth.  It noted that countries in which children do best at math, including Singapore and Japan, emphasize core topics.

The Washington State Board of Education (Herald) reported that Washington’s standards place too heavy an emphasis on the conceptual and not enough on the mechanics of math.  This does not mean that mechanics are more important than thinking and problem solving.  Rather, it calls for a balance.

 This balance is what St. Magdalen School teachers are accomplishing.  Next year promises to be a year of outstanding success.

posted 6/21/2010 5:31 PM | comment

WHEN FREE ISN’T FREE

At this time of year when increased tuition rates for the coming year are announced, one is tempted to look at the public school with the price tag of “free”.  I, myself, look at those beautiful buses and buildings with their awesome cafeterias and meeting rooms.  These are not free.  It has caused me to take a good hard look at our school and ask myself some key questions:

Where else can you get a Church and community who will loyally stand by you in your joys and your grief, your challenges and your successes.

Where else can you find support from others who share your philosophy and your values.

Where else can you find families and friends who accept you for who you are – and where can you find life-long friends for your children who will support and lead them in the ways you trust.

Where else will you find a child’s open belief in God that reminds you there is more to life than worldly goods.  Where will you be called to be your best, and where will you be thanked when you strive to fulfill that goal.

Where else will you find such awesome examples of generosity and service; utter selflessness and genuine goodness as in this school community.

Where will you find a climate where it is OK to be smart and get good grades…Where it is not OK to bully, and there will be a consequence if you do.

There are three states which are the least churched in our nation.  Oregon and Washington are two of the three.  Where will our children find values and morals to live by that are not destroyed by secularism and non-ethical conduct?  Even those who stray, know that a better value was held out to them, and that they are always welcome back.

Where will your child feel comfortable when it seems everything is lost and wrong, if it is not in the memories learned at school and church, where everyone believes and knows God is always present and will never leave us.

Yes, there are many sacrifices made to attend a Catholic School.  On the other hand, our most valuable possession is our children – more valuable than our cars and homes and vacations – PRICELESS.  No price is too great.

posted 4/20/2010 8:59 PM | comment

 This week we are celebrating national Catholic Schools Week.  The 23,000 Catholic school students in the Archdiocese of Seattle join the almost 2,000,000 Catholic School students throughout the whole nation in celebrating.  What are we celebrating?  Archbishop Brunett and Bishop Tyson give a good answer.  “Investment in Catholic education pays ‘dividends for life’.  These are not monetary dividends, but having a God-centered life, a moral compass, a relationship with Jesus Christ.  The dividend for life is God.  Catholic schools are known as the seedbed of the faith in the United States”.

St. Mary Magdalen School also celebrates an upcoming Jubilee.  Founded in 1960 our school will celebrate its 50^th anniversary this coming September.  We will have a great party Saturday, September 18, and an Open House and formal Mass with the Archbishop celebrating Sunday, September 19.

Some facts about our school:

Enrollment is steady with 408 students making us one of the largest in the archdiocese.  Most Catholic schools enroll about 250 students.  Academically, our students continue to score in the 90^th percentile nationally.  Most of our students continue their education in Catholic High Schools.

What makes St. Mary Magdalen School so special?

Community, strong Catholic beliefs and traditions, and strong academics.  All students are brought up to be strong Catholic leaders.  This year especially, school parents have worked hard to become more involved in the larger parish community.  This can be seen by their presence and involvement in the parish life and activities.  The parish in turn is also more involved in the school.  The parish priests and Deacon Wichert teach classes to the students each week as well as during the weekly children’s Mass.  The senior citizens work with the kindergarten students on projects.  A parishioner generously paid for a bus so the 8^th graders could participate in the March for Life rally in Olympia.

Students hold food drives for our St. Vincent DePaul Society and they serve Catholic Community Services in Everett by bringing Christmas gifts for the needy.  Last week the school community organized our “Gifts from the Heart” project which raised over $5,000 for those in need in Haiti and the Philippines.

Thursday we have open house all day and we will honor our distinguished graduate who is still a member of our parish.  Her name is Pam Forrest Wood.  Ms. Wood graduated the second year our school was in existence.  Her picture is posted on the bulletin board in the hall. 

We all have much to be proud of during this Catholic Schools Week.

posted 2/4/2010 12:58 PM | comment

Periodically an event so overwhelming occurs that we are shaken out of the way of life we are accustomed to.  This is how I felt when the overwhelming tragedy of the Haiti earthquake occurred.  One of the nuns of my Dominican Order has worked in Haiti for years caring for the infants and children up to age two.  She called in tears begging for prayers.  The pictures on TV accented her cries.

Educational materials sent to us from the Archdiocese of Seattle filled us in on the absolute poverty existing in Haiti even before the earthquake.  We were shocked to learn that the average annual family income in the United States is $37,000.  The average family annual income in Haiti is $370.  Haiti is the poorest country in all of the Western Hemisphere.  Then, the earthquake.

It is so awe inspiring to see Americans rising to the cause.  Millions of dollars have already been collected from the private sector, but they are a drop in the bucket compared to the amount required to alleviate the misery and death occurring just off our southern shores. 

St. Mary Magdalen parents have been calling, teachers have been meeting, and our school is stepping up to do our part.  I have sent an email to our parents and staff outlining our project.  It will be similar to our original “Gifts from the Heart” project that raised so much money for those devastated by the Tsunami tragedy a few years ago.

We are using the same project to address the Haiti crisis and also the recent flooding in the Philippines which occurred a few weeks ago.  (Several of our families have relatives in the Philippines who lost everything, even their lives in the Philippine tragedy.)

The Project:

Monday, January 25 before noon, students are invited to bring to the parish hall toys in good condition that they no longer need.  All of these toys will be priced by a Parents Club committee at very reasonable amounts (25 cents and up).  The next day, Tuesday, January 26 during the day, students will “shop” to purchase any of the toys they like.

A bake sale will also be part of this project.  Parents are asked to send baked goods if possible to school.  These will also be sold Tuesday.  Donations of money can also be made.  In our first project several thousand dollars were donated in addition to the sale.

“Gifts from the Heart” will be a very enjoyable event as well as a very profitable one.  In our initial project students brought a huge number of toys.  Many of them said, “I like this toy, but I don’t need it, so I’m giving it to help the people who have nothing.”

All of the money will be sent to “Catholic Relief Services” to distribute.  This branch of the Catholic Church gives almost 100 percent of the amount collected, keeping a very small amount for administrative purposes.  CRS had 300 workers in Haiti full time prior to the earthquake, so they will be in a good place for distributing aid to those who are most in need.

We thank everyone for their cooperation in this most necessary and urgent project. 

posted 1/22/2010 12:14 PM | comment

Recently, a small leaflet made its way across my desk.  In these tough financial times I don't look at ads, even good ones, but this one caught my eye.  First, the price was right -- $0.23; yes, twenty-three cents.  It is a leaflet about our faith, not erudite, not boring, but actual thoughts an ordinary family would like to read.  I read it.  I'd like you to read it.  The following are short comments and exerpts from the leaflet to give you the flavor.

The leaflet addresses the hard questions about attendance at Sunday Mass.  There are no criticisms or guilt trips.  Instead, we are reminded that the Sunday Mass, the Eucharist, is our spiritual family meal.  Comparisons are made between reasons for not attending Mass and not attending family dinners.

"I can pray anywhere."  True, and we can also eat anywhere, but gulping a burger differs from sitting down to the family meal.  "I don't get anything out of it."  Check if it's really true.  Even the worst family meal is rarely all bad.  Different parts of the Mass appeal to different people.  As with dinners, the total experience has something for everyone.

Research has shown that one of the best things parents can give their children is a regular schedule of eating dinner together.  "The more frequently teens have dinner with their families each week, the lower the chance they will abuse alcohol and drugs."

"Almost half of teens say that if they had something important to speak to their parents about, they would choose to do it during or after dinner."

Today church leaders are asking whether a Catholic School is worth it if the parents and students do not attend Sunday Mass.  We all know that attendance at Sunday Mass is not the only thing that identifies a Catholic.  In addition to attendance at Mass, a life lived according to Catholic beliefs and values is the goal we are strive for.  Attendance at Mass, parent modeling of our faith, and a Catholic school offer our children the fullness of the faith we all treasure.  Our faith is a special gift from God and we all seek to live it fully. 

 So, in the Thursday envelope in November I'm sending the first copy of of the leaflet "At Home with Our Faith".  If you find it helpful, we will send you a monthly issue.

Please tell me what you think.

posted 10/28/2009 5:03 PM | comment

October is characteristically the beginning of the flu season in schools, and St. Mary Magdalen School has lready had a few cases of seasonal flu.

Our teachers are especially vigilant this year because of the concern regarding H1N1 as well as seasonal flu.  Daily, teachers clean desk tops, door knobs, keyboards, etc. with soal and water.  The school is thoroughly disinfected each week.  In addition, students wash their hands with soap and water, cough or sneeze in the their elbow, and stay home if they have flu-like symptoms.

We highly commend our parents for the excellent job they are doing in monitoring their children's health.  As the season progresses we must remain vigilant toward protecting our students.  We recommend that parents seriously consider flu vaccinations according to their doctor's advice.

The King County Health Department has a very helpfu website parents may wish to access.  www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/preparedness/pandemicflu/swineflu/prevention

Symptoms this website includes are:

Sudden onset of illness; fever higher than 100.4 F (38 C)

Chills, cough, headache

Sore throat, stuffy nose, muscle aches

Feeling of weakness and/or exhaustion, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain

We look forward to a strong resistance to illness through a consistent and complete attention to everything possible to protect our studnts.

posted 10/5/2009 3:44 PM | comment

"School is awesome" was a sentence heard in many cars after school today.  Several parents have told us how happy their students are this year.

The same applies for the teachers and for me.  Our students arrived this morning with smiles and eager anticipation.  How much they've grown and matured since June!

These are very special kids and they know it.  All of us are looking forward to a most enjoyable and profitable year. 

Please call me if I can do something to make things even better.

posted 8/31/2009 5:11 PM | comment

August 31, 2009 is the start of a wonderful new beginning. Schools are about the future -- the students we work with today are destined to be our leaders tomorrow. We are privileged to share our values and knowledge with these very special children. Sixty percent of today’s jobs did not exist thirty years ago. Values are challenged as the internet and media extend our exposure to more experiences every day. At the same time the economy restricts and refocuses our lives. 

At St. Mary Magdalen School we are making sure that the quality of education we offer continues to be of the highest caliber. We are totally committed to offering every student every opportunity possible. Our Accreditation report validated the excellence of the school. Every piece of curriculum was evaluated; every relationship and program was examined; school-parent-parish interactions were studied; finances and management were reviewed in depth. There is always room for improvement, but our school received the highest rank with praise and the longest term possible of six years. Recognizing this and grateful for the outstanding work of students, teachers, and parents, we pledge to continue to improve.

SCHOOL FOCAL POINTS FOR 2009-2010

TECHNOLOGY -- Advanced computer literacy classes will be offered to our students.

MATH -- Continued focus on excellence in math with a thorough understanding of the concepts appropriate to each grade level, and with opportunities for enrichment. It has been noted by experts that the standard elementary math curriculum is a “mile long and an inch deep”. It has also been reported that 25% of the population understands math intuitively (are natural mathematicians). The other 75% need structured rules and procedures. We all need to memorize our basic math facts and times tables. Our goal is to provide each student with the method which best meets their learning style.  

PARENT ENRICHMENT – We are inviting parents to informal meetings for open discussions of helpful topics regarding hints and helps and just plain sharing of items relating to student life. We are hoping for parents of all grade levels to attend and share. Our first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 22 at 8:30 AM. We’ll meet in the extension portable or if numbers warrant it, in the parish hall. Our first topic will be organization. Carla Phillips will facilitate the meeting and I, of course, will have some “gems” of advice.J

PENMANSHIP AND PLANNERS – Research supports the benefits of structure and organization. For the month of September I have asked the teachers to ask every student in grades 4-8 to practice exercises in handwriting (cursive). I have also asked them to oversee student planners. Seventh and eighth graders use a different form for planning, but these also will be monitored. Most teachers post their assignments on their classroom websites. However, student participation in the actual writing down and planning for homework is an excellent tool.

HEALTH – We will be concentrating on good health for all this year. Our first attention is drawn to the concern regarding H1N1 (Swine Flu). The actual risk involved in this flu is not evident yet, but we are vigilant in our plans to prevent an outbreak as far as possible. 

To date we know that this flu is pandemic world-wide. We know that we do have instances of it in our area as well as throughout the nation. We are complying with the Health Department guidelines and will keep our parents informed as to what all of us can do to remain healthy.

The main thing that is being stressed at this time is prevention through cleanliness. We ask all parents to help us teach students to cough and sneeze only in their elbows. Students will be required to wash their hands after using the bathroom and before lunch. We ask also that parents keep students home who show even the beginning of flu symptoms. Students who have a fever or are sick to their stomach must remain at home twenty-four hours after the fever has subsided. The school will require any student who is coughing or showing flu-like symptoms to go home immediately.  We sympathize with parents who must leave work or who are inconvenienced. However, it is better to prevent the flu than to experience an outbreak. 

Last year we had one case of a student who came down with the Swine Flu. She was sent to the office immediately as her alert teacher noted that she was not well. Her parents were extremely cooperative and came to get her. Because our students were diligent about washing their hands, the classroom was clean, and the student was removed immediately, no other cases were experienced in our building.

In addition to attention to our students’ preventative procedures, our classrooms will be disinfected regularly. We are confident that all issues of health will improve with our close attention and focus on this important topic.

Yes, we are embarked on a new beginning, filled with excitement, fun, new learnings and friendships. We are united in our faith community and in our mission to provide the absolute best for our students which is the reason we are all here.

posted 8/28/2009 5:41 PM | comment

We received some very good news this week.  The Washington State Committee of the Northwest  Association of Accredited Schols (NAAS) granted our school full accreditation.  The Western Catholic Educational Association Elementary Commission also granted our school the full six year term of accreditation.

These two agencies are extremely important and their granting our school the highest level of accreditation is a great privilege.

This statement of excellence informs everyone that students coming from our school are coming from a highly accreditated institution.  It also qualifies our parents who use company matching funds to continue to do so.  Some companies require this level of accreditation (BOA etc.) before they will match funds.

Other advantages, as you know, include the fact that every part of our curriculum and procedures have been studied by our faculty and by the accreditation team.  We have received very high praise.  This encourages us to strive even harder to continue our pursuit of giving our students the best education possible.

posted 7/14/2009 3:46 PM | comment

With the initiation of our new website, my principal’s page will include my blog.  I intend to make good use of it to keep you aware in an informal manner of some of the things that are going on in our school community and my reflections on them.

My first “new” blog is a reflection on our lovely graduation and my sentiments regarding the year’s end.

“Commencement means a new beginning”.  I have given this statement a lot of thought as this school year ended with a lovely graduation.  On June 3rd, forty-six students marched proudly down the aisle and took their place as hundreds of St. Mary Magdalen graduates had done before them.  Proud and grateful parents and relatives applauded with joy, and also mixed emotions.  For one does not commence a new life without standing on the basic foundation and fabric of life that has gone into this moment.  There is a hint of sadness in moving from what is known and comfortable to a new experience.

I was touched and full of pride in these delightful and talented students whom I have enjoyed for nine years (in some cases pre-school as well).  But a twinge of sadness also filled my heart.  Twenty-seven of these parents were graduating their youngest child, and they are moving on.  I will miss them greatly.  They will return to visit, but the day-by-day interaction is now complete.  This class, as also those preceding them, had their own personality as a group, and part of that personality was their parents and the relationship that had developed among all of us.

A reflective moment emerged as so many of the parents reminisced over the years.  We’ve all grown together.  Several parents noted that the loving and close community that exists at St. Mary Magdalen is taken for granted, expected, and that what we have is not truly appreciated until one moves on.  But the community does not stay at school; each of us takes a piece of it with us and so we are transformed anew.

Are we better people because of this close community we have shared together?  I am deeply convinced that we are.  Now we step forward and embrace another year.  A new year, a new chance to work with very precious young people who have been entrusted to our care. 

I eagerly look forward to 2009-2010.  Our enrollment is good and growing, the economy is beginning to “turn around” and God is with us! 

posted 6/19/2009 2:44 PM | comment