Congratulations Chieftains!!

For the first time since 2005, Congaree Elementary School made AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) under No Child Left Behind.  Put simply, that means we had over 60% of our students in all our sub-groups score Met or Exemplary on the 2010 PASS.  Way to go Chieftains!  I am so proud of your hard work, and all the learning that took place. 

But that's not all.  Based on our 2010 test scores the SC Deptartment of Education has awarded Congaree Elementary School 2 Palmetto Awards. 

Palmetto Gold for overall achievement: Our Absolute Rating of Average and Improvement Rating of Excellent placed us among 195 other elementary schools who received a Palmetto Gold Award for general achievement.  (one other Lex2 school received a gold and 3 others received silver awards). 

Palmetto Silver for closing the Achievement Gap: Both our African American and FARM (Free And Reduced Meal) subgroups scored above the state average of white and Full Pay Meal students.  We join 149 other elementary schools in South Carolina receiving a Palmetto Silver Award for Closing the Achievement Gap.  (Three other Lex2 schools recieved silver awards).   

We have continued that momentum this year.  Our theme for this school year is "Going Below the Surface!"  Our staff is studying how to better use metacognition - thinking about our thinking, to achieve that deep learning.  We're looking at how we learn and teach that to our students, so that they may monitor their own learning for better results. 
 
We will also work on three goals for the school year:
1.  All subgroups will make AYP on the 2011 PASS.
2.  Teachers will learn about their students' lives.
3.  The number of office referrals will decrease by 10% over last year.   

I look forward to many great things this year.