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Anna Deacon June 15, 2013 at 07:59 pm
At the 98th Commencement of Marple Newtown High School on June 13th, 274 students graduated at…Read More Villanova University.
90% of the student body will continue on to Postgraduate Education having received over $9.6 million dollars in Scholarships and Awards. 2% will enter the Armed Service.
The Class included a National Merit Scholar Winner, Sabrina Pan.
Commencement Speakers were Madeline Conca and Sabrina Pan
Class Greeting was Julia Allman, President of the Class of 2012
Pledge of Allegiance was led by Daria Carini, President Student Council
Shelly Rahman May 9, 2013 at 01:28 pm
This is a wake up call for us. We must make the School board accountable for this unacceptable…Read More performance. We have many great Private schools that does not mean the Public school does not have to perform. Majority still rely on Public school. Radnor has access to same Private schools. How they are managing to have great school district!
Sally A Ziegenfuss May 9, 2013 at 02:08 pm
Our childred attended MNHS back in the day. Three of our grandchildren are students at all three…Read More levels of the district. We are proud of the education they are receiving as they do very well. But, there definitely needs improvement. At one time, the high school offered classes in German and even driver education while elementary schools developed a language program and children were well versed in Spanish by the time they reached the high school.
I believe that the School Board is probably pressed to pay more attention to the district's pocketbook these days. But I also believe that being on the School Board is a thankless job. These people volunteer their time for our children, while trying to manage taxes for our residents. I don't believe in bashing them. If someone has a great idea that can benefit our schools, speak up!
I hope that they goal for all is a quality education that will prepare our children for the constantly changing world. This starts with a great plan, outstanding teachers and involved parents working together with the district.
Shelly Rahman May 10, 2013 at 07:38 pm
I do not think school board is a volunteer job. These are elected positions and the members are…Read More accountable like other elected positions.
Walt April 26, 2013 at 02:27 pm
It would be nice if someone from the administration or the school board would come forward and…Read More answer these questions: 1. Why does the district not compare more favorably to the competition at the high school level (the lower grades seem to test fine- what happened) 2. What is the game plan to turn this around
Myra Rios April 26, 2013 at 04:34 pm
I agree with feelings of embarrassing and disgraceful. I also think it would be great to have…Read More parent outcry about this as they did for the music program. Just because we have a great music program doesn't mean it will transfer to better test scores unless all the kids are taking advantage of the music program- which is not the case. My bet is that if you measured those specific kids who are taking advantage of the music program, you will see that their particular test scores are higher. Until we get new board members who will push for more data driven accountability and give the staff the training they need to improve performance as well as educate parents on their role in making their kids do what is expected of them as well as make curriculum supervisors show what they are doing to keep up with 21st century core skills and spreading this to their staff.....it's not going to improve. Very sad.
Joseph C. Brangiel April 26, 2013 at 06:36 pm
It is not the exception! The school is judged based on the scores of all its students. If you were…Read More to look solely at the scores of those in the music program, especially the kids who read music, they would be significantly higher (on average) then the rest of the student body! If we could take the average scores of those students and send them to U.S. News...you would see just how much of a difference there is! As a result, if we want our overall scores to go up we need to get more kids taking part in the programs that are proven to increase their achievement.
Sally A Ziegenfuss April 20, 2013 at 06:30 pm
I know the position of School Board is a thankless job. I would like to thank the MNSchool Board for…Read More listening to the community and their needs. Everyone working together for the best interest of our children is what is important.
Boot Road Resident April 25, 2013 at 08:37 pm
How many people do you really think read the Marple Newtown Patch where a comment posted to an…Read More article which stays on the front page for two days would 'sway' public opinion?
Joseph C. Brangiel April 25, 2013 at 09:09 pm
Not really sure? But since this article received around 30 comments, I think it's safe to assume…Read More that at least double and maybe triple that number read it. If that's the case then it's also safe to say that it has come up in conversation with other community members etc.. That is exactly how public opinion and political activism (regardless of the issue ) evolves over time.
Boot Road Resident April 25, 2013 at 11:07 pm
I think it is a safe bet that 90% of the people in the Marple Newtown area have never heard of the…Read More Patch even though I do enjoy. It would be nice if people were as passionate about fixing our terrible test scores which was provided another point of evidence by US News and World Report this week.
Jessica Brangiel April 9, 2013 at 07:04 pm
And in addition to the research above:
According to the recent findings of three statewide studies…Read More (including in Pennsylvania), a strong library media program helps students learn more and score higher on standardized achievement tests than their peers in library-impoverished schools.
In Pennsylvania, the success of the school library media program in promoting high academic achievement was dependent on adequate staffing at all three grade levels tested. What constitutes adequate staffing? At least one full-time, certified library media specialist and one full-time support staff member. In schools with adequately staffed libraries, test scores in grades 5, 8, and 11 increased by four percent, five percent, and eight percent, respectively.
As cited in - Lance, Keith Curry, Marcia J. Rodney, and Christine Hamilton-Pennell. Measuring Up to Standards: The Impact of School Library Programs & Information Literacy in Pennsylvania Schools. Camp Hill, PA: Pennsylvania Citizens for Better Libraries
Available online at - http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA153041.html
JT April 9, 2013 at 07:53 pm
Maybe it is time for a new superintendant since our test scores have been going down since she has…Read More been here. As for the need to cut this teacher, with a $70mil budget, one would think you could find the money for this without increasing taxes. Low performance of the school standards should yield a reduction in pay for the leadership and not the past increases.
Dawn O'Neill April 19, 2013 at 03:43 pm
Thank you Angry MNSD Taxer!!! Well said...another suggestion would be for Mrs H to take Russell's…Read More principal back to Upper Darby as well. She has been a pure disappointment on many different levels!!
Boot Road Resident March 26, 2013 at 08:50 pm
Great post - I agree 100% - the only thing that is keeping up with the surrounding districts is the…Read More cost per student. Hopefully, the change will be a positive one.
Myra Rios April 7, 2013 at 03:14 am
I have had three children go through this district and each one received less and less. Our…Read More property values have plummeted because there is a strong correlation between perception and test and achievement data about Marple public schools and property values. In order to do our students right, we need to get new board members who are really vested in our kids' preparation for the 21st century, not those whose agenda is to cut costs and keep taxes low. Then we will see our property values go up. It will be a win-win for everyone-please vote for some vested candidates in the primary coming up!!!! I wish a requirement to serve on our board is that they have children in our schools or went through our schools. And a principal and superintendent no matter how well-trained or well-qualified can not affect progressive change without the approval of qualified board members. And, yes, you need stake holders that include board members, administrators, teachers, parents, community members and students to serve on school and planning committees so everyone is heard and needs and wants are addressed. Coming from the top down without concern for those who work with our kids-will create mediocrity because they are not asked for their expertise or cared about. I wish the new principal much success. It is up to the community, through their voice and vote to give him the support he will need to really up the quality of our high school.
joy chidinma April 17, 2013 at 10:04 am
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Marple Newtown 2013 Keynote Graduation Speech
Comment Recommend Courtney Elko (Editor)