Swampscott Elementary School and Swampscott Middle School Principals Lori Sanborn and Jessica Minter provided a look into the classrooms of their respective schools at a Swampscott School Committee meeting on Thursday, January 8.
Sanborn and Minter talked about learning and behavioral objectives as well as how teachers and administrators have been trying to meet certain objectives this school year. At the elementary school, Sanborn set the goals of positive behavior, targeted instruction and community building. Minter’s middle school focus is looking more toward data literacy and academic growth, a writing excellence initiative, building student belonging and strengthening family partnerships.
“Last year, the focus at Swampscott Elementary was about the complex process of integrating the three schools,” said Sanborn. “Setting strategic goals really wasn’t on our windshield. This year, we had that chance.”
For the elementary school, Sanborn said the needle has started to move within all three goals. The students have really bought into it, she Sanborn. Teams of students have been rewarded for exemplary behavior with kickball games against their teachers and indoor carnivals in the gymnasium.
Sanborn said the cafeteria is an unrecognizable place compared to how it was in September, thanks to changes in student behavior.
Groups were established in October for targeted instruction at the elementary school. The groups are meant to help students in specified areas of need.
Like the elementary school, targeted instruction is being used to help with academic growth. Minter said targeted instruction is allowing some of the top students within grade levels to still be challenged.
“We met and looked at the first iReady scores and MCAS scores from last year,” said Minter. “Looking at who were the high flyers and who were the ones that needed a little extra support.”
An emphasis has also now been placed on the advisory period at the Swampscott Middle School to focus on building a sense of student belonging. According to Minter, the first 30 minutes of the school day are critical in setting a positive tone and encouraging students to want to be at school. During advisory period, each grade gets an open gym or time outside once a month.
The two schools also have opportunities for the students to interact with each other and the larger Swampscott community. Middle school students come and read to the younger grades. Some students have also written letters to firefighters.
Other incentive programs, activities and fun games have been used around the school as well. The district has put on events like a turkey trot and winter fair.
“I feel like we have so many amazing things happening academically, socioemotionally, the sense of belonging but also raising the bar all the way around,” said Superintendent Jason Calichman. “I couldn’t be prouder.”
