An awards ceremony will debut at Waterville Junior-Senior High School in June to recognize all students with academic achievements this year.
A student assembly on June 5 will announce the Class of 2025 Top 10 academic students, including the valedictorian and salutatorian.
The ceremony will also include announcing which seniors have achieved High and Highest Honors under the district’s new academic ranking standards.
Underclassmen awards will also be presented.
WCS Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Spring said all students will attend the assembly to recognize the academic achievements.
She outlined the new program at last week’s WCS Board of Education meeting.
She said the district is still working on developing consistent grading policies across the board.
Senior Day will be June 16, with fun activities and some programs for post-high school success.
The 90-minute meeting opened with Spring giving a review and update of the district’s priorities and measurements on how they are being addressed.
The first priority is to address learning gaps and encourage academic focus in students. Spring said this year’s restricted cell phone policy has helped create a distraction-free environment.
Professional development for teachers is being done in a number of ways.
Students who took an English Regents in January had results that Spring called not spectacular but not bad for a first-time attempt.
Waterville is hosting the All-County Music Festival this month.
Spring and Board members discussed the use of artificial intelligence in student learning and how to teach the correct method to use it.
“It could be a win for teachers on efficiency,’’ Board member Steve Stanton said.
Spring said data analysis continues to direct approaches. “We’re making progress.’’
Spring provided some details for this month’s Stay In The Game March Madness attendance competition at the Junior-Senior High.
Traditionally, students have their worst attendance in March, and the contest is being conducted to help combat that.
The Waterville Central School Foundation has provided $2,000 toward the prizes. Each grade and homeroom will track attendance during the month.
Spring said classes will decorate their doors, come up with team names and take team photos.
Students at the elementary school will have a different method of focusing on attendance.
Junior-Senior High Principal Andre Paradis said the goal is to get the attendance numbers back to 2018-19 levels. Data shows that missing school ties in to reading ability and graduation rates.
During the month, parents will receive information on how attendance impacts grades and learning.
Board members asked ...
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