WILTON – Fifth-grader Megan Labbe passed a torch to fourth-grader Sully Jackson Friday, challenging him and his fellow classmates to go for the gold in education.
Labbe and her classmates increased the Academy Hill School’s scores on the Maine Educational Assessments up to 10 points in several subjects. They also surpassed state averages.
Principal Paul Gooch also passed torches to third-, fifth- and sixth-grade teachers.
It was a celebration of increasing state educational scores on the Maine Educational Assessment and inspiration to continue raising the bar and to do well on both state and federal assessments.
Teachers and students treated it as their own Olympics.
One student or teacher in each class carried a paper flag in different colors: red, green, yellow, blue, orange and white representing teams as they came into the gym for morning meeting.
It didn’t matter that the torches and gold medals that teachers placed around this year’s fifth-grade students were paper – it was what they represented.
Labbe passed the challenge to this year’s fourth-graders to do their best on statewide tests this year.
The torch is a symbol of teamwork and a strong decision to whatever it takes to get the job done, Labbe said.
“We want each of you to do as well as our class did. … We’ll be cheering for you,” Labbe said.
“Best wishes as you chase your dreams and achieve your goals,” she added.
Academy Hill School’s grades increased from 2003 to 2004 in writing from 531 to 532; in reading, 539 to 546; in math, from 528 to 538; and in science and technology from 525 to 531.
Fifth-grader Dustin Zamboni waved his team’s red flag during the ceremony. He tried hard on the MEA’s last year, he said.
“I do my best in school so I can play sports,” Zamboni said.
Before the ceremony, Gooch said this is the first year the school’s scores have increased significantly.
Gooch and teachers are hoping to make it an ongoing trend for both state and federal assessments.
This school year, for the first time, third-, fifth- and sixth-graders will take grade-level assessments as part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
Valerie Barker , who teaches third and fourth grades, as in charge of Friday’s meeting.
Students decided that training for educational achievement tests was similar to an athlete training for the Olympics, Barker said.
An athlete needs practice, courage, determination and support – and so does a student, she said.
Teachers worked hard last year, Barker said, and focused on math to teach students the skills they need to be successful in tests like the Maine Educational Assessment.
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