Marblehead K programs receive accreditation

MARBLEHEAD – As the town prepares for next year?s high school accreditation, programs for Marblehead?s youngest students have received accreditation from a national organization.The National Association for the Education of Young Children examined kindergarten classes at the Bell, Gerry and Eveleth schools during the fall, rated the programs in 10 different areas and praised the town?s efforts in each program.A summary of the NAEYC?s final report, presented by Bell Principal Donna Zaeske, Coffin/Gerry Principal Sean Satterfield and Glover/Eveleth Principal Mary Devlin, said, “All three Kindergarten(s) met the required criteria and exceeded 80 percent or greater for each of the 10 program standards, and exceeded the minimum criteria in every classroom.”Accreditation areas include teaching, health, physical environment, and program relationships inside and outside the classroom. Parents and staff were surveyed in advance, and the NAEYC evaluator visited two classrooms at each school, reviewed each principal?s program documents and observed the building and site.The association commended Marblehead on hiring qualified teachers, encouraging “each child?s sense of individual worth” and promoting children?s nutrition and health. They also urged the town to improve professional development programs for its kindergarten teachers and upgrade its buildings, and indoor and outdoor environment, particularly at the Gerry and Eveleth.Devlin called this year?s accreditation process “rigorous” and Satterfield noted, “Five years ago it wasn?t nearly this hard.”However, Satterfield added, “Teachers felt it forced them to look at the way they were teaching.” The principals will file annual reports on their program improvements.Each of the three schools has four kindergarten classrooms, totaling 23 children in all this year. The Eveleth is exclusively for kindergartners, the Gerry has kindergarten and Grade 1 and the Bell has pre-kindergarten-Grade 3.The school department is planning an open house for parents of next year?s pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students at the Gerry School Thursday, Jan. 12 from 8:45-10 a.m.