VALDOSTA —
State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge visited Westside Elementary School Thursday to present them with a trophy for being named a 2011 Georgia School of Excellence.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling just to have him here with us,” said Westside Elementary Principal Creacy Sermons.
Barge named the Georgia Schools of Excellence back in December of 2011. Only 26 schools — broken down as one public school from each Congressional District — in the state were named.
This achievement recognizes schools that have shown the greatest improvement or highest achievement across the state.
“Not only are you really, really cute, but you’re really, really smart,” Barge said, as he addressed a gymnasium full of very enthusiastic children.
The Georgia Schools of Excellence are honored in two categories. Qualifying schools are chosen from each Congressional District in the following categories:
• Top 10 percent: Schools, regardless of demographics, that are in the top 10 percent of schools in Georgia as measured by assessments in reading and mathematics in at least the last grade tested.
• Greatest Gains: Schools, regardless of demographics, that demonstrated greatest continuous gains in student achievement for the past three years as measured by assessments in reading and mathematics.
Westside Elementary rose to the category of top 10 percent.
“We have over 1,200 elementary schools in the state of Georgia,” said Barge as he explained to the children what their achievement means. “The top ten percent means you’re way up there.”
Additional criteria for the award: Meet AYP for a minimum of three consecutive years; meet or exceed state mean scores in science and social studies; not to be considered a “persistently dangerous school” under the Unsafe School Choice Option of No Child Left Behind; offer a minimum of two AP courses (grades 9-12 only); schools must be in existence for five years and not under any type of state investigation within the last year.
According to Sermons, being named a School of Excellence is a result of hard work and dedication from teachers, staff, parents, students and all of the stake holders in Lowndes County.
“It’s a school-wide effort that begins in Pre-K,” said Sermons.
Aside from this great honor, a representative from Georgia Natural Gas presented Westside Elementary with a check for $1,000 to be used however administrators wish.
To thank all the teachers and staff for their hard work, United Healthcare surprised them with what Barge called a “stress free day.” On whatever day of their choosing, United Healthcare will send in massage therapists to the school and every teacher and staff member will receive an uninterrupted massage therapy session.
Lowndes County Superintendent Dr. Steve Smith, Superintendent Elect and Lowndes High School Principal Wes Taylor and Board of Education members Brian Browning, Fred Wetherington, Philip Poole, Fred Davis and Jason Wisenbaker were also present to take part in the School of Excellence Celebration.
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