Avon
Elementary School is one of only five Colorado schools nominated for the
national Blue Ribbon School Award by the Colorado Department of Education.
“We are extremely proud of what we have accomplished so far and honored by the nomination from the Colorado Department of Education,” said Melisa Rewold-Thuon, Avon Elementary school principal. “During the next few months, we will be focused intently on our instruction and student growth in order to continue excelling and working toward attaining 'National Blue Ribbon School' status.”
To be nominated, schools have to demonstrate academic consistency. In Avon Elementary School’s case, that included significant improvement.
“We are extremely proud of what we have accomplished so far and honored by the nomination from the Colorado Department of Education,” said Melisa Rewold-Thuon, Avon Elementary school principal. “During the next few months, we will be focused intently on our instruction and student growth in order to continue excelling and working toward attaining 'National Blue Ribbon School' status.”
To be nominated, schools have to demonstrate academic consistency. In Avon Elementary School’s case, that included significant improvement.
Exemplary
Improvements
Avon
Elementary was nominated based on its Exemplary Improving status. That means
that at least 40 percent of its students come from disadvantaged backgrounds
and the school has closed its achievement gap — the gap between the school's
highest performing students and its lowest performing students.
That data is gleaned from the school's performance on standardized tests. Rewold-Thuon is bilingual and smiles as she tells you about her school in both English and Spanish.
Between 2009 and 2010, Avon Elementary saw its standardized test scores shoot up more than any other local school by far. In 2009's Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) scores, only 39 percent of Avon Elementary School's third graders were proficient readers. When the 2010 scores rolled in, 73 percent were proficient. Just 16 percent of the school's students were native English speakers when they took that 2010 test. The last time CSAP scores were that high at Avon Elementary, the student body's ethnic makeup was almost the exact opposite of what it is now, she said. Of the 39 Avon Elementary students who took the CSAP in 2010, only four were native English speakers, Rewold-Thuon said. Even though CSAP offers a Spanish version, very few Avon Elementary students used it. They took the test in English, and 73 percent scored as proficient or advanced.
It really does take a village, she said. The Vail Valley Foundation and the Youth Foundation provide tutoring and after-school athletic programs, along with music and dance programs, Rewold-Thuon said.
That data is gleaned from the school's performance on standardized tests. Rewold-Thuon is bilingual and smiles as she tells you about her school in both English and Spanish.
Between 2009 and 2010, Avon Elementary saw its standardized test scores shoot up more than any other local school by far. In 2009's Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) scores, only 39 percent of Avon Elementary School's third graders were proficient readers. When the 2010 scores rolled in, 73 percent were proficient. Just 16 percent of the school's students were native English speakers when they took that 2010 test. The last time CSAP scores were that high at Avon Elementary, the student body's ethnic makeup was almost the exact opposite of what it is now, she said. Of the 39 Avon Elementary students who took the CSAP in 2010, only four were native English speakers, Rewold-Thuon said. Even though CSAP offers a Spanish version, very few Avon Elementary students used it. They took the test in English, and 73 percent scored as proficient or advanced.
It really does take a village, she said. The Vail Valley Foundation and the Youth Foundation provide tutoring and after-school athletic programs, along with music and dance programs, Rewold-Thuon said.
“It is
well established that the most important factor in providing a high-level
educational experience to students is the quality of the school principals and
teachers at those schools. Assuming these quality professionals are
present, another important factor is how many hours per day, and days per year,
students attend classes. The countries in the world with the best
education systems are ones that attract and pay high quality teachers, and ones
that have longer school hours and years. Both of these factors are being
challenged today in our county's school system.
We address the second factor above by providing “Extended Learning” through our PwrHrs After School programs. Working closely with the schools in our district, our staff and volunteers work side by side with teachers (whom we pay a livable wage for their work outside of normal school hours) to provide after-school academic and enrichment programs to children that need the help the most.
A summer-school program is an important component of Extended Learning. The school system has no money for summer programs, and “summer slide” (a well-measured decrease in student proficiency due to the lack of academic and social stimulation during the summer) is a fact of student life, especially for lower-income students, who do not have the resources to attend summer camps, or travel on vacations like many of their higher-income peers do. This year-round approach amounts to an extra 30 days of school for children in these programs!
The results of Extended Learning can be impressive. At Avon Elementary School, for exam CSAP scores (the statewide measurement tool) prior to this program were in the 51 percent to 53 percent proficient range in both reading and math. After a full year of this program — which included six weeks of summer school for these students — CSAP scores climbed into the 68 percent to 69 percent range, about the state average. And this was after one year of the program!
Avon Elementary, on the strength of its principal, teachers, educational tools and support available from the school system, coupled with our support, has moved from “turnaround” status to “performing” status in the eyes of the state school system.
We address the second factor above by providing “Extended Learning” through our PwrHrs After School programs. Working closely with the schools in our district, our staff and volunteers work side by side with teachers (whom we pay a livable wage for their work outside of normal school hours) to provide after-school academic and enrichment programs to children that need the help the most.
A summer-school program is an important component of Extended Learning. The school system has no money for summer programs, and “summer slide” (a well-measured decrease in student proficiency due to the lack of academic and social stimulation during the summer) is a fact of student life, especially for lower-income students, who do not have the resources to attend summer camps, or travel on vacations like many of their higher-income peers do. This year-round approach amounts to an extra 30 days of school for children in these programs!
The results of Extended Learning can be impressive. At Avon Elementary School, for exam CSAP scores (the statewide measurement tool) prior to this program were in the 51 percent to 53 percent proficient range in both reading and math. After a full year of this program — which included six weeks of summer school for these students — CSAP scores climbed into the 68 percent to 69 percent range, about the state average. And this was after one year of the program!
Avon Elementary, on the strength of its principal, teachers, educational tools and support available from the school system, coupled with our support, has moved from “turnaround” status to “performing” status in the eyes of the state school system.
This is but one of the programs that a combined Youth Foundation-Vail Valley Foundation offers.“ -Steve Coyer, co-chairman of the VVF’s Youth Foundation.
Susie Davis' Recipe for Results:
What is
the Blue Ribbon Award?
The National Blue Ribbon
Schools Award recognizes public and private elementary, middle and high
schools that excel regardless of race or socioeconomic status, said. The
National Blue Ribbon Schools Award recognizes public and private elementary,
middle and high schools that excel regardless of race or socioeconomic status,
said U.S. Department of Education guidelines. The National Blue Ribbon Schools
program is part of the U. S. Department of Education's effort to recognize
school leadership and practices, said Aba Kumi, director of the National Blue
Ribbon Schools program.
The 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools will be named and honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, DC in September.
The 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools will be named and honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, DC in September.
