Celebrations

Journal story...

School celebrates students passing state tests
Mayfield Elementary holds a red carpet event for pupils.

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By Hannah Poturalski
Staff Writer
MIDDLETOWN — School districts across the state will receive preliminary results on Monday on how students fared on the annual Ohio Achievement Assessments.
Dawn Crook, principal at Mayfield Elementary, eagerly awaits her school’s results so that she and the staff can send out invites and make personal calls home to students that passed one or more tests.
Mayfield is prepping to host its Second Annual OAA Honors Reception at 6:30 p.m. June 27 inside the school on Burbank Street.
“It’s an attempt to celebrate students’ success,” Crook said.
Third and fourth graders are tested in math and reading; fifth graders are tested in math, reading and science. Previously the OAA tests were conducted earlier in the year and schools could honor their students before the year ended.
When the tests shifted to April, Crook said she wanted to create a summer recognition program for students.
During the inaugural celebration last summer, 175 families — or 83 percent of students — were invited to the ceremony. One family even arrived in a limousine, Crook said.
“Families were excited and appreciative we took the time to honor them,” Crook said.
All students in grades 3-5 who passed at least one OAA test are invited to the red carpet affair — complete with medals, cake, certificates, a VIP area for teachers and an area designated for parents — or paparazzi — to take their child’s photo as they come down the red carpet.
Crook said the honors reception has been a motivator for students during the school year.
“I anticipate quite a few this year because we practiced a lot and did well with benchmark assessments,” Crook said.

A NICE IDEA TO RECOGNIZE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE STUDENTS.......HOWEVER

ARE THE SCHOOLS, BY BEING SO KIND AND GENTLE, PRESENTING A FALSE PICTURE FOR THE KIDS WHEN THEY ACHIEVE SUCCESS AFTER SCHOOL IS OVER AND THEY ARE OUT IN THAT COLD CRUEL WORLD WE ALL CALL WORK?

SOMETIMES, RECOGNITION FOR HARD WORK AND DOING A JOB WELL ISN'T HANDLED IN THIS WAY. SOMETIMES, HARD WORK AND SUCCESS IS MEANT WITH INDIFFERENCE AND, AT BEST, A "GOOD JOB" OR "NICE GOING" COMMENT. NO RED CARPET, NO CERTIFICATE, NO CEREMONY MARKING THE EVENT......SOMETIMES NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AT ALL, BUT RATHER A "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY" ATTITUDE FROM THE CEO'S AND UPPER MANAGEMENT. SOMETIMES UPPER MANAGEMENT LIKES TO PIT BIG SHARK AGAINST BIG SHARK TO SEE WHO RISES TO THE TOP AND WHO FALTERS, WITH THE WINNER BECOMING THE STAR.....UNTIL THE NEXT ROUND OF COMPETITION ARRIVES AND THE PREVIOUS WINNER IS PLACED OUT OF FAVOR WITH THE BIGGIES.

ARE THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS, CREATED BY THE SCHOOLS, REALLY SHOWING THE KIDS THE REAL DEAL? ARE THEY HELPING THE KIDS DEAL WITH UNFAIRNESS, INEQUITIES, PRESSURE, COMPETITION AND DISAPPOINTMENT THAT IS COMING THEIR WAY WHEN THEY JOIN THE RANKS OF THE WORKING CLASS? OR DO THE KIDS COME OUT OF THIS THINKING ALL IS WELL, WITH GUARANTEED REWARDS COMING MY WAY, BY ACHIEVING? I WONDER.

We  must appreciate anything positive that happens around here, especially improvements in elementary academic achievement. Improvement at that level is most important, and will lead to continued improvement as these students progress through the system. Only logical.

“It’s an attempt to celebrate students’ success,” Crook said.
During the inaugural celebration last summer, 175 families — or 83 percent of students — were invited to the ceremony. One family even arrived in a limousine, Crook said.
“Families were excited and appreciative we took the time to honor them,” Crook said.
Crook said the honors reception has been a motivator for students during the school year.
“I anticipate quite a few this year because we practiced a lot and did well with benchmark assessments,” Crook said.Sounds like a good, motivational  program that has produced great results.  Excellent idea, Ms. Crook.  chmoore

Well the Mayfield area of Middletown isn't exactly the mecca of celebration and money. I think this principal is trying her hardest to find a motivation for these kids to succeed. The school that my children attend do nothing except have the regularawards assembly. Maybe the socio-economic climate in Mayfield warrants more grandiose celebrations? Celebrating success is actually a good thing. Celebrating academic success is about the best thing a school could do. I think Mayfield has just in the last couple years climbed out of academic emergency.

I must have confused them with another school or had my information wrong. I thought the students from that area were allowed to take part in the voucher program to other schools and the criteria for that was for a school to be in emergency standing. I apologize. Maybe I'm thinking of another school.