WHAT IS NAEP?
When I first came to this wonderful state a decade ago, Arizona
and the State Legislature was ranked by national report cards
at #48 in the country in terms of how much education money was
spent on its pupils. While this ranking was certainly nothing
to brag about, it clearly left the door open for Arizona to move
up, if you will, improve its image regarding the education of
children, and show the rest of the country the value and premium
it placed on educating children. Well, Arizona received a new
ranking this week according to a lead story released in the Wednesday,
January 5th edition of the Arizona Republic: 'Arizona is 50th
in pupil spending-Stingy reputation confirmed'. Arizona has received
this bottom ranking from NAEP. What is NAEP?
NAEP is the acronym for National Assessment of Educational Progress
which is a federal test given every two years to a sampling of
students in 53 states and jurisdictions. It's known as the "Nation's
Report Card." In 2003, 3,766 Arizona fourth-graders took
the reading test and 3,952 took the math, while 2,625 Arizona
eighth-graders took the reading test and 2,713 took the math.
The Report Card is included in the Quality Counts report on each
state. The math results for Arizona fourth-graders reaching a
proficient level of competency or above was 25%. For eighth-graders
in math it was a 21% proficiency level or above. The reading component
for fourth-graders was 23% (translated another way, 77% of fourth-graders
are not at grade level in reading) proficiency or above, while
the eighth-graders came in at 25%.
True, a fair number of variables play in to Arizona's scores
and are too numerous to elucidate in this column. At the same
time, the Arizona scores were lower than 42 states or jurisdictions,
the same as seven and higher than three. Students at Mountain
Oak School did not take this particular test, but when compared
with similar testing ( AIMS for example ) mechanisms, MOS fourth-graders,
during that same time period, had a 71.4% proficiency level or
above in math and 83% in reading.
Clearly, the Governor's Office, Arizona Superintendent of Public
Instruction Tom Horne, and the State Legislature will continue
to grapple with 'Quality Counts' reports and what to do about
it. Meanwhile, in this new year, the board of directors, administration,
faculty and staff is committed and dedicated to improving upon
our mission and vision of serving a quality Waldorf curriculum
to the diverse and wonderful families and children of Mountain
Oak School and the Prescott community. On behalf of all my colleagues,
we say "thank-you" to all the parents who choose to
send their children to Mountain Oak School.
Next week's edition will feature a column by a MOS student!
- Merrill Badger, Principal
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Happenings:
CANCELLED: Tuesday, Jan., 11th from 6:00
to 7:30 pm Rosemary and Merry Gold Kindergartens Parent Meeting.
Tea Garden will resume on Friday morning
Jan., 14th. See you there!
Thursday, Jan., 20th, 7:00 to 8:00 pm Special
Community Update Board Meeting.
Monday, Jan., 17th there is NO SCHOOL in
honor of Martin Luther King day!
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Human-i-tee's orders
This was a very successful fund raiser! We not only raised over
$1300.00 for the school,
but preserved many acres of rain forest land.
If you have returns, exchanges or missing items from the Human-I-Tee's
fund raiser, please be in contact with Nancy Reid-McKee by the end
of the week- Friday Jan. 14th. I will be at MOCS on Wednesday Jan.
12th at 2:45 pm by the front gate in order to talk with anyone who
had problems with their order, or you can reach me at 541-1056.
The Destiny Our Children Bring Us
Working and Living with
Children with Learning Challenges
Saturday, January 29th
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
At Desert Marigold School
For parents, teachers, and health-care professionals , this workshop
will offer additional insights and approaches to the challenges
of living and working with children with learning difficulties.
This program is offered by Mary-Jo Oresti, founder of AHE Remedial
Training Program and Lee Sturgeon Day, co-founder of Lifeways
for Healing Education. Call Jamie at Desert Marigold School in
Phoenix to pre-register at 602 243-6906. Cost is $45.00 and bring
your bag lunch. More details on this program are available through
Mary Sue Bourland in the office.
Early Childhood Puppetry
Saturday and Sunday, January 22nd and 23rd
Perhaps you have been touched by a puppet performance offered
in a Waldorf Kindergarten. There is a growing effort out of Waldorf
Education to bring forth a renewal of puppetry arts. One of the
national leaders of that art, Suzanne Down, is coming to Prescott
to offer a puppetry workshop for parents and teachers. I’ve
worked with her for a summer intensive and greatly appreciated
her skills. Suzanne is not only a master Waldorf Kindergarten
teacher, but also trained in the art of Eurhythmy, a movement
art that Rudolph Steiner and his associates developed. Suzanne
utilizes her background in Eurhythmy to bring life into gestural
language of puppetry. Don’t miss this opportunity to work
with Suzanne Down. Cost $150.00, payment plans easily arranged.
Workshop details are available in the office or through Sharon
McFeely.
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After Care Position
Want a fun job? After Care position available -- 2:30 to 4:00
pm (or 5:00 pm depending on enrollment) Monday through Friday.
Free childcare for your child, sign on now! See Pat or Dianne
in the After Care office 12:00 to 5:00 pm, Thank you.
TSUNAMI Fundraiser
We, the 6th/7th grade, are doing a TSUNAMI fundraiser to help
the victims of this tragic event. We are having people donate
treasures and freshly made food to sell. See us during the lunch
hour or after school to buy items.
Creating a Family
Storytelling Tradition
Friday, January 21st
7:00 to 9:00 pm
Mountain Oak School
An evening workshop for anyone interested in joining us for an
exploration of creating, telling, and treasuring stories from
the heart for children. Suzanne Down, Director of Juniper Tree
School of Storytelling and Puppetry Arts will be teaching this
workshop. The cost is $15.00 and you can pre-register with
Sharon McFeely at 776-8014.
More details are available on the flyer in the community resource
room.
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After Care Position
Want a fun job? After Care position available -- 2:30 to 4:00
pm (or 5:00 pm depending on enrollment) Monday through Friday.
Free childcare for your child, sign on now! See Pat or Dianne
in the After Care office 12:00 to 5:00 pm, Thank you.
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