Swampscott schools aim to raise standards

SWAMPSCOTT – Swampscott schools have set goals to improve their respective learning environments in order to raise both academic and community standards for their students, according to school improvement plans presented to the school committee.”One of the biggest things, and I think you’ve seen it in the other presentations too, is to establish and promote a climate of courtesy, respect and dignity within the high school and among its constituents,” High School Principal Layne Millington told the school committee at its Wednesday evening meeting.Each school in a district must present an annual improvement plan according to statute, Superintendent Lynne Celli explained after the meeting. The plans identify goals for the school year, steps to be taken to accomplish the goals and how success will be measured. The plans are devised by a school council that includes teachers, parents and a community representative and is headed by the school’s principal.The plans each revealed the programs, challenges, or strengths unique to each school, but improving the learning environment was a common theme.The elementary schools are continuing to promote the unique identities for each of the schools. For instance, Clarke students “think, dream, believe and achieve,” ideals embodied in the Responsive Classroom program where the school holds community meetings to encourage collaboration.The middle school focused particularly on increasing parent involvement. Principal Ralph Watson joked that middle schools were where “PTOs die” because parents are burned out by involvement in elementary schools and kids are seeking independence, so the school is planning focus groups with parents to discuss community goals for the school, Watson said.Millington set goals of aligning the high school’s social curriculum with the anti-bullying law and delivering a consistent message about appropriate behavior such as cellphone use, attendance, etc. according to his presentation. He also proposed an “open internal campus,” where students could use the gym, library or cafeteria during a free period, to promote responsible time-management skills.”We’re trying to raise standards so that (people) look at students and recognize that they are held to a higher standard as a Hopscotch schools graduate,” Millington said.Cyrus Moulton can be reached at [email protected].