After scoring at or above the 95th percentile on the California
Standards Test last spring, four Morgan Hill Unified students were
elected to participate in the annual John Hopkins University Center
for Talented Youth Assessment Program.
After scoring at or above the 95th percentile on the California Standards Test last spring, four Morgan Hill Unified students were elected to participate in the annual John Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth Assessment Program.
Nineteen students in Morgan Hill Unified School District were chosen to take the special math and verbal reasoning test to determine the victor of the John Hopkins Talent Search. Though just four received high honors for their test scores: Alexander Holmstrom and Maxim Medvedev from Jackson Elementary; Sam Mossadeghian from Nordstrom Elementary; and Erin Lamontagne from Britton Middle School. The test that third- through sixth-grade students were given is described as an above-level test that has material students have not yet been taught in school at their grade level.
Lamontagne took the College Board’s SAT 1 or ACT Reasoning Test as part of the Talent Search in which she equaled or exceeded the average score for all college-bound high school seniors.
The four students will be honored by the MHUSD school board at tonight’s meeting at 6 p.m. at 15600 Concord Circle.
Committee formed to assist Jackson Elementary
As Jackson Elementary School moved from year four of Program Improvement into year five, the school district brought on board an “alternative governance consultant” Ernie Zermeno, a retied teacher and principal, to guide staff, parents and students on a path away from another year of PI.
The unwanted distinction of PI is given to schools that do not meet the federal measure of Adequate Yearly Progress, which is based on students’ annual state test results. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 places schools in PI if they fail to meet certain AYP criteria, primarily if any subgroups, such as English language learners, do not perform at grade level.
The school board trustees agreed at the Sept. 28 meeting to form an alternative governance committee to “serve as an outside perspective on the progress of the school in implementing its Single Plan for Student Achievement,” the plan that outlines how Jackson will improve student learning and staff development.
Committee members are: Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Socorro Shiels, Trustee Peter Mandel, Zermeno, County Office of Education Regional System of School/District Support Director Martha Martinez and Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers liaison Cathy Goodere.
The group will make its first visit to Jackson as an oversight committee Nov. 2 and a presentation will be made at the next school board meeting Nov. 23.
While the committee has not formally met, according to the district, Zermeno will give a presentation to the board at tonight’s meeting with an update on Jackson’s after-school activities, parent collaboration and professional development.
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
When: 6 p.m. tonight
Where: 15600 Concord Circle, Morgan Hill
On the agenda: Approve contracts for two consultants for Jackson Elementary, update on the professional development activities.
