little humor, a pinch of sarcasm, and go the extra mile.” A Phase III Model School
For the 2012 – 2013 school year CMS
selected McKee as a Balanced Literacy Phase III school based on staffing and the school’s ability to make changes. The school will serve as a model institution as CMS includes more schools in this program.
Language Arts under Phase III includes more time for Readers’ Workshop as well as increased read aloud time, small group book conferencing and lesson instruction, and additional literacy processing that calls on students to engage in higher order thinking. Although the program targets language arts, science and math also reap rewards as the curriculum requires more reading than ever before. Phase III remains aligned with CMS’ introduction of a national core curriculum, and participants have access to the Response to Instruct (RIT) online assessment tool providing a K-5 baseline screening. RIT gives teachers a goal for each student to achieve by year-end, according to Newsome. “Everything we are reading tells us the program is aligned with predicting student success,” she notes, “which makes it extremely beneficial.” Extra Curricular Student Leadership
Under Newsome’s leadership the school has experienced a dramatic increase in extracurricular offerings. Students can
choose from a variety of clubs ranging from chess to recycling and community service, as well as Girls on the Run, Odyssey of the Mind, and yearbook. Students this year can also audition for chorus and the musical production “Annie Jr.” These offerings help to strengthen the school’s community feel, while offering students ample opportunities to show leadership. A School of Character
McKee has always been and remains today school of good character, Bryant notes. To continue in the school’s tradition, Newsome instituted the highly-coveted Principal’s Award Elizabeth Bryant awarded to students each month based on adherence to distinct character traits outlined in the school’s agenda and discussed in the classroom. Newsome selects award recipients based on teacher and student feedback.
Newsome also tweaked the school’s discipline system last fall following a faculty book study of 1-2-3 Magic. The school’s “All-Star Way” outlines common sense expectations across all classrooms, and rewards students and classes for good behavior. The results have been extremely positive. “I’ve noticed a decrease in
student suspensions, and I see children striving to earn rewards and receive acknowledgement.” A Bright Future Although the school has always been good, in Newsome’s opinion a good school can always get better. She plans on continued innovation and excellence in education until 100 percent of students have achieved full proficiency as well as growth.
Teachers appear up to the challenge. “We’ve always been a great school with kids striving to do their best,” Bryant notes, “and teachers do their best to exceed CMS expectations.” Together with small differences that start the day off right – whether engaging the students in morning calisthenics or a patriotic sing along via the school’s televised broadcast system – staff, students, and parents should have no doubt the school will achieve its goals.
McKee Road Elementary 4101 McKee Road Charlotte, NC 28270 980-343-3970 http://schools.cms.k12.nc.us/ mckeeroadES/Pages/Default.aspx Principal: Beverly Newsome My School Rocks! –
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