MCS Elementary School Principal Sees Continuous Improvement

By David Avitabile

MIDDLEBURGH - After more than five months of the 2024-25 school year, Middleburgh elementary school Principal Amy Irwin sees continuous improvement at the school.

In her mid-year assessment to the school board at their February 12 meeting, Ms. Irwin noted several areas that have improved test grades and the overall culture of the elementary school.

The continuous improvement was the outcome of several factors, including, monthly building-wide writing themes, monthly Character Ed Assemblies, the OMG Intervention Group, grade-level and department team meetings, family engagement, and field trips.

A very big improvement this year was the return of the monthly Character Ed Assemblies, Ms. Irwin said.

Character Ed Assemblies have monthly themes for students to focus on and be recognized. The themes for 2024-25 were/are: September: Getting Along, October: Fairness, November, Respect, December: Self-Control, January: Optimism, February: Accepting Differences, March: Friendship, April: Learning Focused, May: Healthy & Safe Behavior, and June: Cooperation.

The monthly writing themes are determined by grade levels and shared with the whole school at the monthly assemblies, Ms. Irwin said. It provides a framework and shared resources for teachers and students Themes so far have been: “What I Wish My Teacher Knew”, Dragons, Being Thankful, Snow, and “What I Love About Myself."

Family engagement is an important segment of the school experience. Ms. Irwin said that each teacher was asked to create opportunities for families to come in and be a part of something in the classroom/school during the 2024-25 school year. Examples include: Pizza and PJs with the Reading Team, Mystery Readers, Field Trip Chaperones, help in the classrooms for projects, and more. In addition, parents of award winners are invited to the monthly assemblies and there was continued family engagement through school-wide events such as Halloween Parade, Veterans Day Celebration, Science Fair through the after-school program, Battle of the Books, and Field Day.

Ms. Irwin said the grade level and department team meetings were an important improvement this year. The meetings are held during the day with coverage provided. It is time to discuss grade-specific issues including topics like curriculum, specific students, sharing ideas among colleagues, and more. The agenda set ahead of time with room for additional discussion as needed. It eliminates the need for using building-wide meeting time to address issues related to specific grade levels and allows time for colleagues to bring issues/ideas to administration.

Field trips during the school year included: Proctor’s Theater, the NYS Museum, Lake George Steamboat Company, ValleyCats Baseball “Education Game Day," MiSci Museum, Mine Kill Park, Howe Caverns, Farmer’s Museum, Laraway’s Farm, Indian Ladder Farm, and Mobile Ed In-House Field Trips (four times this year).

The Ocular Motor Group, led by occupational therapist Rebecca Quinn with assistance from Sky Rivera was a new intervention for students with parent permission, Ms. Irwin said.

Students work with Ms. Quinn 40 minutes every other day for about 10 weeks. Data is tracked from the start and all students showed growth: one 5th grader and three sixth graders, Ms. Irwin added. .

The next group was to start after February break.