Fall 2005	Accelerated Schools Center - Ohio
INSIDE Page1: Greetings from the Director, Accelerated Schools Center Information Page2: Coburn’s Scores, Roxie Perry Retires, Welcome Coburn’s New Principal Page 3: Kinder Elementary,& McKinley Elementary Achievements, Training Events, Leadership Institute, Powerful Learning Study Group	Greetings from the Director
	Greetings to All, It does not seem possible that a new school year has started! I remember as a child hearing adults say, “Where does time go? It just seems to fly by!” As a child and even as a teenager I did not understand those sentiments. Now that I’m a bit older I do understand how time seems to just disappear and that’s what happened to my summer months – they seemed to disappear. In June I was busy helping plan an early childhood summer institute held here in Dayton. Some of our colleagues from Corpus Christi and East End participated in that institute that featured Lilian Katz and Judy Helm talking about project-based learning. My husband, Jim, and I made a quick trip to the Finger Lakes in New York to visit family and friends right after that. I wasn’t in Ohio for much of July. Over the 4^th of July weekend I took a Shaker basket making class in NW Ohio. This was fun and very relaxing! From there we drove to St. Paul, MN where I attended a conference the following weekend. On our way back to Ohio Jim and I stopped for a few days in Door County, Wisconsin. If you ever have a chance to visit this area you should do it. Quaint little towns and a slower pace provided a little respite. A few days later I was off to participate in some ASP training sponsored by the SW Center for Accelerated Schools in Texas. August happened before I knew it! The first week was spent moving offices and settling into our new space. Vickie and I are still in Chaminade Hall, but located on the ground floor (in space adjacent to where the bookstore used to be). We like our new space and are finally feeling at home. On the 11^th I began the schedule of professional development with several of our network schools. It was great spending time with Corpus Christi, East End Accelerated, Kinder Elementary, and Coburn Accelerated. The 2005-06 school year promises to be a good year full of learning together. I look forward to seeing each of you as I visit schools and work with you in our training sessions.
	Accelerated Schools Center – Ohio University of Dayton Dr. Julie Biddle, Director (Phone: 937-229-4517/Email: Julie.biddle@notes.udayton.edu) The ASC-Ohio Newsletter is published 3 times a year by the Accelerated Schools Center – Ohio Vickie Hodges, Communications Coordinator (Phone: 937-229-3870/Email: Vickie.hodges@notes.udayton.edu) Web site: http://soeap.udayton.edu/support/accel/

I N T H E N E W S

“COBURN SCORES DESERVE PRAISE” By Julie Weighman published June 18, 2005

Battle Creek Enquirer (Michael McCullough, Executive Editor)

As an area Realtor, a parent, a citizen and a former teacher, local school scores are of interest to me. After analyzing school achievement based on the MEAP information section in the Enquirer, Coburn Elementary of Battle Creek Public Schools merits recognition for outstanding achievement.

Considering declining enrollment and a negative image that many urban districts, including Battle Creek Public Schools, have received in recent years, it’s time to pay recognition to an elementary school located in a district that deals with a population challenged by a variety of socio-economic stresses. Coburn not only outscored BCOS district and state averages in all areas of the MEAP but topped the outlying schools from Gull Lake and Harper Creek to Union City and Lakeview. While other schools might have scored higher in one area, Coburn was the consistent top line scorer of area elementary schools with scores of 97 percent in science, 76 percent in math, 76.5 percent in language arts and 26 percent in social studies. State averages in those areas respectively are: 79 percent, 73 percent, 69 percent and 26 percent.

Additionally, Coburn was on the initial March closing list by the board of education. What a great decision to leave this shining star open. Whatever is happening on Fairhome Street seems to be working very well.

Way to go, Coburn administration, staff, teachers, parents and students! Hope you are given the opportunity to serve as role model of success with our public schools!

And, in case you did not know, Roxie Perry (Coburn Elementary in Battle Creek, MI) retired as principal at the end of school year 2004-05.

In presenting the staff’s gift, Anne Burnham likened Mrs. Perry to the Master Gardener in Coburn’s “Garden” and said she provided the “light” for the Accelerated Garden and for that reason Coburn is in full bloom.

What a wonderful and well deserved tribute to a beautiful lady!

We welcome Coburn’s new principal, Kim Jankowski, to our Accelerated Schools Network.

Welcome Kim!

A c h i e v e m e n t N e w s
Kinder Elementary (Miamisburg, OH) outperformed district averages in 7 of the 9 categories on the state’s report card for grades K-5. They exceeded the state requirement of 75 percent in all 9 indicators. The school was rated “Excellent”! Congratulations Kinder!	McKinley (Elyria, OH) outperformed district averages in 11 of 14 categories on the state’s report card for grades K-6. The 6^th grade posted impressive results with 96.1 percent proficient in Reading; 98 percent in Writing; 74.5 percent in Math: 94.1 percent in Science, and 92.2 percent in Citizenship. Congratulations McKinley!
The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery – Mark Van Doren
Training Events
The Coaches’ Gatherings are monthly (or almost) on a Monday afternoon from 1:00-4:00 PM. Each school is encouraged to send a representative to these gatherings. They offer a rich opportunity for dialogue, sharing and trouble shooting challenges and exchanging ideas that work. The following dates are scheduled for this year’s Coaches’ Gatherings: September 19 January 23 October 17 February 27 December 5 April 10 May 15
Our Leadership Institute will meet three different times this year beginning on September 20. We are focusing our attention on the text, Best Practices, Best Thinking and Emerging Issues in School Leadership edited by William Owings and Leslie Kaplan. Our readings for September are Chapters 4, 5, and 6. Our second meeting is slated for February 2-3 and our third for May 8-9. Readings for the February and May Institutes will be set in September. Each school is asked to have at least one representative at the Institute gatherings. Optimal participation is to have the building administrator and a teacher leader from each school. Mark the dates and plan to attend these informative sessions!
Powerful Learning Study Group for Dayton area schools! The first meeting is to be held October 18, 4-6 PM. Our topic this year is on documenting children’s learning. If you plan to participate call or email Julie.

Accelerated Schools Center – Ohio

University of Dayton

300 College Park Drive

Dayton, Ohio 45469-0505