Dear Parents/Community Members:
In September the Virginia Department of Education awarded full accreditation status to all King William County Schools. Sixty-four percent of the Standards of Learning assessment pass rates received by the school division were equal to or surpassed the pass rate averages for the state. Sixty-three classrooms had 100% pass rates on SOL tests, fifty-two teachers had at least one student with a perfect score on an SOL test, and sixteen teachers had ten or more students earning a perfect score. During the last school year seventy-two homerooms had 95% attendance, or better and King William High School had an “On-Time Graduation Rate” of 90.06%.
The following goals have been set for this school year:
- Ninety percent pass rate on all Standards of Learning assessments
- All schools earning a VIP award
- Increasing the number of students taking Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment Courses
- All children reading on grade-level
King William County Schools begin this year with several new approaches. Last year, transition classes were established to meet the needs of students at Cool Spring Primary. This year an additional transition class begins at Acquinton Elementary School. Cool Spring Primary will provide an opportunity for identified gifted students to participate in Lego Robotics. Two single-gender fifth grade classes begin this year at Acquinton providing an additional option for students, and both Cool Spring and Acquinton begin the school year with a new schedule allowing more time for mathematics and reading targeted enrichment and intervention. Acquinton will also house a new parent resource center that provides information for parents.
This year Hamilton Holmes Middle School will offer Algebra I to students in the seventh grade, and students will participate in the Geography Bee. Last year eighth grade gifted students were provided an opportunity to participate in the Johns Hopkins Talent Search and this continues this year. These students are permitted to take the SAT as eighth graders and participate in the opportunities available to participants. King William High School, through Bridging Communities, will offer a dual enrollment electricity/electronics class, and a dual enrollment economics class will be available at the school. A partnership with the Northern Neck/Middle Peninsula Community Services Board will provide wrap-around services for students receiving Medicaid who are in need. Forty-five SMART Boards were received and installed this summer in classrooms in all of the schools.
During the summer King William County Schools offered its regular summer school program that served 209 students. In addition the instructional team added several programs funded by grants for students. Camp Safari provided enrichment in all content areas for students and Playground Math provided an opportunity for students to learn the importance of measurement, scale, and similar figures when designing and building a playground. King William County Schools partnered with King William Parks and Recreation to provide a reading program for students attending the Summer Youth Program. The libraries at Cool Spring Primary and Acquinton Elementary were opened every other Tuesday to allow book check out.
This year the high school and middle school will begin the implementation of the Strategic Instruction Model (SIM) Content Literacy Continuum (CLC). This strategic instructional model focuses on helping secondary schools develop and sustain comprehensive and integrated literacy programs. This school improvement process is led by a SIM Implementation Team with extensive experience in secondary literacy. The team works with administrators, teachers and staff to develop and implement a standards-based plan to improve literacy and content area learning tied to student performance on state assessments. The program is supported by more than 25 years of research conducted by the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI) will perform a SACS review on January 31 – February 3, 2010. This process is designed to help schools and districts continuously improve through a unified, clear and powerful approach. The accreditation process is based on a five-year term accreditation that provides ongoing external checks, support and feedback. SACS CASI has defined shared, research-based accreditation standards that cross state, regional and national boundaries. To earn accreditation, schools or districts meet the SACS CASI standards, engage in continuous improvement, and demonstrate quality assurance through internal and external review. The standards are based on the research on the factors that impact student achievement. The accreditation process helps schools and districts bring together all the parts of the school or district to improve student and organizational performance.
Parents and community members wishing to become more involved in the school division may join many of the committees and councils that exist at the schools and at the division level. Each school has an active Parent Teacher Association (PTA) that meets regularly throughout the school year. At the beginning of each year, School Improvement Plan teams are established to review the previous year’s plan and data and develop a new plan. Parents and community members are encouraged to participate on these teams. Also, there are various standing committees that meet throughout the school year. Some of these are as follows: Planning Advisory Council, Indian/Multicultural Education Committee, Career and Technical Education Committee, Special Education Advisory Council, School Health Advisory Board, and Parents for a Powerful Education.
While there is a security system on all school doors, parents and community volunteers are welcome in the schools. The daily operations, safety and security of the schools are greatly enhanced because of the protocol established for entering the buildings. This is not meant to be a deterrent to those wishing to volunteer. King William County Schools encourages parents and community members to volunteer in the schools. Volunteers work under the supervision of staff and donate time to assist with activities that enhance instruction, promote learning or support athletics and activities. Volunteers are extremely important to the fulfillment of the vision and mission of the school division.
Sincerely,
Mark R. Jones
Division Superintendent