|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Graham Middle School has been named a California Distinguished School — an honorary title given by state education officials to schools that have displayed significant improvement from one school year to the next.
“It’s exciting,” Graham Principal Kim Thompson said, adding that she takes as a sign that her school’s community is “doing something right by the kids.”
Graham is one of 218 California middle, junior and high schools recognized this year, according to Thompson. The last time a Mountain View Whisman school was named a Distinguished School was in 2010, when Landels Elementary received the honor.
Thompson said that while higher API scores were the ostensible reason for receiving the award, the school could not have raised its scores without first improving its culture and strengthening its staff.
When Thompson took over at Graham three years ago, she and Assistant Principal Steve Chesley initiated a program called “Essential Elements,” which sought to overhaul the way everyone from the kids to the teachers and parents, thought about Graham. Since she began, each year children at Graham are constantly reminded of the Essential Elements — five mantras aimed at bolstering community at the middle school: “I belong,” Do no harm,” “Together we can,” “Pursue knowledge,” and “Take pride.”
Thompson said she believes the Essential Elements have made a big difference in increasing school pride among the students and teachers, which translates into a better learning and developmental environment.
Graham has also focused on integrating the Explicit Direct Instruction model of teaching into all of its classrooms, as well as a program for English language learners called “constructing meaning” — both district initiatives.
Being named a Distinguished School means Graham can use the California Distinguished School seal on its website and on school memorabilia. “It’s bragging rights,” Thompson said, and according to her, it has boosted school pride.
Thompson gave credit to the entire Graham community for stepping up to the plate and making the school better.
“Graham could not have achieved this great honor without everyone working together to provide our students the best possible learning environment possible,” she wrote in a press release thanking parents, students and staff. “Thank you Graham community for being there to teach, mentor, prod, guide, encourage, counsel, and celebrate with each and everyone of our students.”
Nice work Teachers, Kids and COMMUNITY! More upside to come as we continue to improve. This is a great sign we’re on the right path.
As a former Graham Junior High student (Class of ’73) I’m very proud to hear this news. Congratuations and GO BEARS!
Let’s just remember that schools that receive these awards nominate themselves and not all schools compete. The results are hardly objective and are more a PR move by the state.
Let’s just remember, on anonymous message boards, there will always be at least one person who wants to find some sort of negative, trying to make people as miserable as they are I guess.
Didn’t work, I loved reading this story and glad people are proud. They should be.
You may be 100% correct about the fact that the school nominate themselves and that not all schools compete.
However, it is difficult to get. Not everyone who applies gets it. They are definitely NOT a PR move by the State. That I happen to know you are 100% INCORRECT.
So this has nothing to with the ever-growing socioeconomic status of families with children attending Graham? Crediting success to her own “essential elements” is rather insulting
If you look at all the differing sub-groups, Graham is doing quite well. This award said that it looks at closing the achievement gap.
I have children that attend Graham. One (now in High School)was there before the “essential elements” and was there after they had been introduced. That child noticed a difference on the campus.
Please keep your negativity to yourself unless you actually know something about it. And it is obvious that you do not.
Sugary drinks, chips, and fast food are also really popular and the result of heavy PR. We better not talk negative about that either.
Congratulations to Graham!! As a former elementary principal, I can attest that these awards are not easy to get. It took our school two application cycles to achieve! The application itself is lengthy, time consuming and extremely detailed in terms of school climate, best teaching strategies, and on-going achievement improvement. Furthermore, I am extremely impressed with the five essential elements that the school and community focus on – “I belong,” Do no harm,” “Together we can,” “Pursue knowledge,” and “Take pride.” It would be nice if those who choose to negatively comment here were guided by these same elements! Again, congratulations to Principal Thompsen, AP Chesley, certificated and classified staff, all students, their families, the community at large and the district!! It takes the whole community to achieve this recognition.
I agree with reality above. Thompson will take credit for anything. There are no original thoughts. This is what happens when you appoint favorites from within based on twisted loyalties who never had to compete with their peers or prove themselves on an equal footing. She is just a mouth piece for district initiatives at the expense of individualized high-quality instruction. In the end it’s all about raising a few test scores at the lower end. For bright kids, Graham is still stuck on mediocre.