Academic Achievement
Academic success and improvement is an evergreen goal, but the team at North Dover keeps managing to branch out in all directions. And that strategy is rooted in something intrinsic to a strong education: acronyms.
"Our data team carefully analyzes student performance data and provides feedback to teachers during PLCs," said McGrath. PLCs, btw, are professional learning communities, and they're a crucial element to the team approach to academic achievement.
The school is also one of the flagship buildings for the TRRS H.I.T. project鈥攁.k.a. the Hi-Impact Tutoring grant program鈥攖hat was extended for the 2024-2025 school year at certain schools. The before-school H.I.T. program is focused on improving math scores for grades 3, 4, and 5.
The STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) Club Art Enrichment program impacts all levels, from the second-grade group led by Dawn Gawalis to Keith Cheek's fourth graders, whose custom-designed ceiling panels provide a 360-degree view of a school culture that values arts-infused education (below). Speaking of arts, "Do-Re-Mi" might not technically be an acronym, but the third-grade Recorder Club led by Ms. Kaye nevertheless teaches students the foundation of learning to play a musical instrument.
Then there's the WIN period鈥�"What I Need" time. The three-days-a-week sessions have teachers using data to drive standards-based instruction tailored to the needs of students.
All of these acronyms merge to make a big difference irl.
"We have seen improvements," said O'Donnell. "The latest progress on the iReady diagnostics shows increases in both typical and stretch growth for math and reading."
Academic acronyms, ftw!