New Pilot at Parkside Elementary Already Making a Difference
Parkside Elementary School, home of the “Bullfrogs” has already gotten a jump on school by piloting an “extended year” model for the first time.
Parkside began the school year on July 11th ( see the Naples Daily News article) with a format designed to combat the “summer slide” that so many students, particularly those who come from homes in which English is not the first language, struggle with. Eighty-six percent of the kindergarten students are English Language Learners, which is the highest percentage in Collier County.
This pilot is already making a difference for students. In just the last few weeks, Parkside has whittled the number of third-graders who faced the threat of retention based on FCAT Reading performance from 68 to 13 students. This is an initial result of the extended year model being built at Parkside, and as the year unfolds we hope there are many more good stories about student success.
This modified format focuses specifically on the core academic subjects from 8:25 am – 1:25 pm Monday – Thursday so that students are getting that ongoing support and practice. Students go for the rest of the day to do enrichment and other activities in a partnership with the Marco Island YMCA and Boys and Girls Club.
After the students leave for the afternoon, teachers work together to examine individual student progress and to devise strategies to help students improve. Teachers work in grade level teams as well as working to ensure smooth transitions between grade levels. Not only do the teachers have this time to really focus on the success of each child, but they are building a collaborative structure and relationships that will continue to serve them when the regular format begins in August.
In addition to piloting this instructional and professional development model, another key component is reaching parents. Dr. Jan Messer, principal at Parkside, is setting her sights high—100% parent participation in student lead conferences. The Education Foundation and many other partners, including East Naples Kiwanis, Literacy Council of Southwest Florida, Marco Island YMCA, Boys and Girls Club of Collier County, the Haitian Pastor’s Association, Collier Sheriff’s Office are working with the Parkside staff team and parent volunteers to help devise strategic ways to reach parents and to engage community volunteers to help achieve this goal.
A recent coffee hour for parents at the school brought 100 committed moms and dads to brainstorm ways to reach parents.
Congratulations to the Parkside school community—staff, students, parents, and community partners—for getting on the bus in a variety of new ways!
