RFH Administration Reports on Midyear Progress

The Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School administration attended the Board of Education meeting on Feb. 22 to report the high school’s achievements and progress toward specific goals set in the prior school year. 

The breakdown of these goals can be divided into three main categories:  the improvement of student achievement, the creation of a Professional Learning Community (PLC) and the improvement of student wellness.

Goal #1 Student Achievement

During the summer of 2010, the board created a definition of student achievement based on academic, artistic and athletic progress. Along with these three categories, the students’ ability to critically think, make healthy decisions, respect others, and ability to set personal goals, were included in this crafted definition of success.

To help assist in the area of student achievement, they decided they wanted to aid students’ progress and improvement in the PSAT and the SAT by June 2011. By this date, teacher's should be implementing strategies that will focus on PSAT and SAT skills.  

One way the faculty would assist students in improving their score is by using their reports from previous tests. Students are currently able to access their report (Summary of Answers and Skills) of the PSAT from College Board. This report is intended to be used to establish framework for meetings with supervisors in order to examine strengths and weaknesses to improve in future testing.

In using the results from College Board, each department will create lessons and activities related to the skills measured on the PSAT. Changes will be made to curriculums based on the break down of PSAT results and group meetings will be held by Math and English supervisors.

According to Sharon Bryant, the supervisor of Math and science, there will be “an attack on all fronts.”

Teachers have already seen success in addressing issues they have found by working closely with the students. “We will be looking at questions on the tests and identifying patterns for the students," added Jack Shea, supervisor of English and social studies. "There are questions that they just shouldn’t be getting wrong. Just after a few days of teaching these questions and identifying these patterns in the classroom, scores have improved."

While the resources are available for students, they are not making use of the information available to them, according to Shea.“There is no magic bullet. There has to be an effort of everyone’s part,” Shea said.

Another goal set by the board to improve student achievement was to have an increase of students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) classes. The goal was set to an increase of 5% by June 2011.

According to members of the administration, the increase of interest to take advanced courses has risen greatly. “We had informative meetings for students. Many came and asked terrific questions about what the classes are like and what to expect. The turnout was wonderful and it all begins with conversation,” said Fran Swift, the supervisor of guidance.

Sharon Bryant, the supervisor of Math and science, said now that most students plan on attending college, AP courses have become less intimidating and become a stepping stone to college classes. “Students and parents used to think it was ‘elite’ yet now there is a different type of conversation taking place where students believe they can do it,” Bryant said.

Students’ enrollment in advanced courses has increased rapidly in the last semesters. There is a 56% increase in advanced English courses, 88% increase in Calculus and 203% increase in AP Science.

The superintendent was happy with the increase. “You have to be proud as a board and we embrace that improvement,” Righi said.

Goal #2 Professional Learning Community

The second goal was to create a Professional Learning Community through the delivery of a comprehensive professional development plan focused on the improvement of student learning, according to the administration.

The board set a goal for teachers to analyze major test scores and to formulate and assess instructional practices for struggling students. By June 2011, a goal was set for there to be a 10% improvement in the fourth marking period quarterly assessment scores as compared with the fourth marking period assessment scores from 2010.

According to Bryant, this goal is being addressed currently in the subjects of Algebra  and Biology, in which many students struggle in their first year of high school. One way the faculty plans to address this issue is for teachers to sit down with students who are having trouble and go over what they did incorrectly and what they do not understand in the Learning Resource Center.

The administration believes this extra resource will help and the teachers are totally on board. “Teachers are excited for this to happen and are on board. The teachers will help students reach the correct assessment level and go over the material with the students until they understand,” Bryant said.

“For years we have taught, tested and moved on. It used to be okay to have a bell-shaped curve with some F’s and A’s. One failure is not good.  We should have the standard that one child failing is not okay,” said Superintendent Righi. “We will now be teaching, testing, analyzing data and re-teaching in a special way. This started in Algebra and Biology but this should be happening in all classes. The bell-shaped curve is not okay anymore.”

Goal #3 Improvement of Student Wellness

The last goal set was a continuation to improve student wellness. According to the administration, one of the goals for June 2011 is to have students participate in a minimum of two programs designed to increase awareness about a variety of social issues high school students face including the dangers of drugs and alcohol. These programs were presented through the first semester and will continue through the months of April and May.

 Programs include Voices of Violence, held on April 13 during the ninth and tenth grade assembly. This event will include a monologue that will cover civil rights and social justice, alcohol and drug abuse, cyber bullying, dating violence and eating disorders. Another assembly will be held in May, right before prom season and after AP testing, that will address diversity and the acceptance of diversity.

At the end of the meeting, Superintendent Righi was satisfied with what the administration reported. “The great thing I am hearing is that there is conversations about education,” Righi said. “The conversations are starting to help with kids’ decisions and plans about their futures. That’s a great thing.”