News from Wicomico County Board of Education http://www.wcboe.com/BOE/News.php Fri, 22 Jun 2007 09:11:08 -0500 en-us http://www.wcboe.org/BOE/News.php?nID=4 Wicomico County students continued to show improved math and reading skills by performing better on the Maryland School Assessment in 2007.“This is another indication of the hard work that’s being done around the county,” said Tom Field, interim superintendent of schools. “Everybody – everybody – is focusing on the kind of instruction that we need to do for our students, and that’s reflected in the improving scores.”Schools will mail out home reports showing each student’s MSA results on Monday, June 25. The school system and its schools will analyze MSA results at all levels – county, school, classroom and student – to evaluate the effectiveness of the instructional program and to continue working toward the school system’s goal of “Success – One Student at a Time.”Wicomico made overall gains in the percentage of students at the proficient or advanced level on the 2007 Math MSA in grades 4, 7 and 8. One school, Northwestern Elementary, became the first in Wicomico County to have all of its students at the proficient or advanced level on one of the tests: every Northwestern fourth-grader tested at the proficient or advanced level in math.In reading in 2007, Wicomico recorded a higher percentage of students scoring at the proficient or advanced levels in grades 3, 4, 5 and 7. Significant increases – defined as gains of 5 percentage points or more – were made in the 6th-grade Reading MSA and the Math MSA for grades 5 and 6. Scores for students in subgroups also improved. The African-American subgroup made gains on the Reading MSA in grades 3 and 5 and made significant increases in grades 4 and 6. On the Math MSA, the African-American subgroup made gains in grades 3, 4, 5 and 7 and significant gains in grade 6.The percentage of students receiving special education services who scored at the proficient or advanced level on the Reading MSA increased in grades 5 and 8 and significantly increased in grades 3, 4 and 6. The FARM (Free and Reduced Meal) subgroup made gains on the Reading MSA in grades 4, 5, 6 and 8. Wicomico educators will continue to work toward closing the achievement gaps between subgroups.“We are on a very good, steady course with the Maryland School Assessment toward demonstrating the successful learning of our students,” said Margo Handy, director of elementary education.Wicomico’s progress follows a state trend which shows that reading and mathematics scores on the Maryland School Assessment (MSA) have improved in all 24 school systems for the fourth consecutive year, according to preliminary results released Thursday, June 14, for elementary and middle schools by the Maryland State Department of Education. Local school data is available on the Maryland State Department of Education’s report card Web site, www.mdreportcard.org.Maryland uses MSA and HSA data is used to meet federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) testing requirements. Under NCLB goals, all students must score at proficient levels on state tests by 2014.The MSAs in Math and Reading are taken each spring by students in grades 3 – 8 and 10. (For students in grade 10, the HSA (High School Assessment) English exam fulfills the requirement for reading and the HSA Algebra exam satisfies the math requirement.) MSDE has not yet released information on HSAs, on the MSA Science exam that was piloted this spring, or on adequate yearly progress for Maryland schools and school systems. Wicomico County Board of Education Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.wcboe.org/BOE/News.php?nID=5 Graduates with unique stories, the county's Math 24 Game champions, the summits for African-American Males and African-American females -- there's something for everyone in the latest edition of "Working Together for Children," now airing on PAC 14 (Comcast Channel 14).In this show, "Working Together" explores:-the African-American Male and African-American Female Summits at UMES-the May 17 Math 24 Game Tournament (with some peppy music!)-three students who recently received their diplomas: a senior who had a brush with death a few weeks before graduation, a World War II veteran finally receiving his diploma, and a Korean student succeeding in an American high school-awards, awards, awards! A $1,000 recycling award and other recognition for Fruitland Primary, two arts education awards for Willards Elementary, three Excellence for Minority Achievement award-winners, two Maryland Service Stars, and two educators recognized in the Maryland PRIDE program-activities in our schools and community: Bennett Middle pond project, Parkside High art students sketching on sidewalks, Salisbury's Promise and Can-struction, a focus on early reading at the Wicomico County Library, a Holocaust Remembrance program at Wicomico High, an author and musician visit to Beaver Run Elementary, Wicomico Mentoring Project friendship picnic-an overview of the 2007-08 school calendarThe program is currently scheduled to air at 8:31 p.m. Tuesday, 6:59 a.m. and 9:59 p.m. Wednesday, and 6:59 a.m. Thursday. Our regular showtimes are 6:30 p.m. Thursdays and noon Saturdays; visit pac14.org for additional times.As always, thanks for tuning in! Please let us know what you think, and send us your ideas for future shows.Producers Tracy Sahler and Faye Wilson Wicomico County Board of Education Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.wcboe.org/BOE/News.php?nID=6 Music teacher Ginger Rogers Rizzi approaches the end of another year with her Pemberton Elementary Students by guiding them with the same energy and enthusiasm for which they have known her since school started last August. Yet this year -- her 32nd -- is not just another year. This was the year that Rizzi’s excellence and dedication as a music educator earned her the honor of the Maryland Music Educators’ Association Award for Excellence, Outstanding Music Teacher Award, Career Teacher Category. Or, to put it more succinctly, Rizzi is the Maryland Music Teacher of the Year for the elementary level.“There’s really no greater reward than being valued for one’s contributions. It validates what I am doing in the classroom, and it is a validation of and affirmation of my work,” Rizzi said. “Music education is extremely important, to send to the next generation the passion I have for music. From singing in a choir and from learning to play music instruments with others, they learn cooperation, teamwork, pride, self-esteem and courage.”Teachers of special subjects like music are islands in their schools, unlike classroom teachers who interact with their grade-level colleagues. But from that island, Rizzi seeks to boost intellectual skills while instilling a lifelong love for music. To perform well in music class, students must be able to count notes and measures, and to sing with clarity and confidence, they must be able to read.“I’m reinforcing what’s happening in the classroom. I would never want to see the arts taken away,” she said. “I’d like to see them be consumers of the arts, to be involved in church choirs, to be able to read music.“I just want to give them intellectual and creative skills that will last a lifetime.” Rizzi received a bachelor’s degree in music education from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1974, and began her career in Wicomico schools 32 years ago, spending most of her years as a teacher at Beaver Run Elementary. She received her master of education degree from Salisbury State College in 1985. Among her many achievements are: six nominations for Wicomico County Teacher of the Year, recognition as a Nationally Registered Music Educator, co-director and accompanist for many years for the Children’s Choir of the Magi Concert benefiting Joseph House Village and Christian Shelter, and 18 years as children’s choir director at Trinity United Methodist Church.Gary A. Beauchamp, the supervisor of fine and performing arts in Wicomico schools, attached a letter to the form nominating Rizzi because he knew mere forms couldn’t capture the essence of her excellence. “You have to be present to see her working with students, hear their responses and see their reactions in their voices, eyes, demeanor and body language to truly understand the impact she has upon all the students, parents and teachers she works with,” he wrote.Parents and students were equally enthusiastic in their praise of Rizzi. As executive director of the Salvation Army - West Salisbury Youth Club and vice president of the Wicomico County Board of Education, Mark S. Thompson has many opportunities to see the effect outstanding teachers can have on students. This time, the student was his son. “He has said and I quote, ‘Mrs. Rizzi is a great and fun teacher. She teaches us a lot of fun songs, movements, and she makes music fun.’ We were so impressed because she was the one to inspire Joshua to expand his enthusiasm in music because now he is in the concert choir. He is learning to play the recorder and the violin.”Susan Hendrickson’s two daughters studied under Mrs. Rizzi throughout elementary school. “Because of her, their love for music will last a lifetime. For both to be able to sing with the Children’s Magi Chorus and be exposed to that high level of performing offers life experiences they will never forget ... “ Wicomico County Board of Education Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0500