Commodore Macdonough School, a two-story brick structure built in 1924, and dedicated in 1925, is located in the northeast corner of Middletown. Our seventy-five year history reflects one of diversity, community involvement, excellence and equity. Upon entering Commodore Macdonough School one is aware of the motivation, passion and achievement of our children. Samples of student work, stories, artwork, photographs and other student projects welcome our many visitors. Staff members, parents, faculty and our principal are committed to the success of all children and work diligently toward this goal. Opportunities for learning and new programs have been developed in conjunction with student's needs and the school district's goal to provide all students with the opportunity to achieve at advanced levels of performance. All programs are aligned to meet the various needs of our students while developing independent learners.

School improvement goals are developed by a committee comprised of general education teachers, special education teachers, the principal, support staff, Title I teachers and parents. The committee meets quarterly to review curriculum implementation, school operations, community involvement, professional development and student performance. Our school Improvement Plan is shared and discussed with staff, parents and the Board of Education. This year's goals are focused on improving student performance in reading, writing, mathematics, and science as well as expanding school-business partnerships, increasing the integration of technology and increasing parent and community involvement.

Our school's current enrollment of 246 students is divided among two full-time kindergarten classes, and two classrooms each of our first through fifth grade levels. We are committed to maintaining small class sizes; the average class size is 19 students. In addition to the 12 classes we have two special education teachers who provide services through an inclusion and resource room model. Two Reading Recovery teachers, one of whom is funded by Title I, are available full time. They provide daily Reading Recovery instruction to our most at-risk first graders. In addition, the two Reading Recovery teachers provide language arts support to staff and supportive integrated language arts instruction to second graders. A part-time priority grant support teacher provides writing instruction to students in grade 3.

As we experience changes and new initiatives in our curriculum to support the achievement of high standards, several innovative programs have resulted. Our Integrated Language Arts program is viewed as the keystone to all other curriculum areas. It is the heart and soul of our students' learning, growing and becoming literate citizens. Characteristics of our Integrated Language Arts approach include cooperative learning, flexible grouping, guided reading and literature-based instruction. All kindergarten through third grade teachers use running records to provide accurate guided reading instruction to their students. Literature circles are utilized in grades three through five to provide opportunities for all students to experience a piece of literature of their choice. A new method of spelling instruction provides teachers with an opportunity to authentically assess students' abilities through selected everyday writing. Writing skills are developed and enhanced through the use of a writing support teacher, an on-line ACES Technology grant and a Goals 2000 grant. A portfolio is kept of each student's work while in attendance at Commodore Macdonough School.

We continue to use the Saxon mathematics program for students in kindergarten through fourth grade and we have begun implementation of a new problem-based mathematics program for fifth grade. All students use manipulatives, engage in discussions and work in cooperative math groups to help one another learn.

Student achievement and performance are extremely important to Commodore Macdonough School staff and parents. A new initiative is underway in the implementation of a 4 Step Intervention Process. Recently trained teachers from Commodore Macdonough School are educating other teachers through a training -of - trainers model. All staff will become peer partners in assisting other staff members through this comprehensive intervention model. A part of this 4 Step Intervention Process is the Child Study Team (C.S.T.), which is comprised of the principal, two classroom teachers, pupil staff members as needed and parents. Our school nurse and School Based Health Center staff serve on the team as needed. The purpose of the four-step process is to provide immediate support to classroom teachers when a student is experiencing difficulty academically, socially or emotionally. Case partners assist teachers in formulating specific intervention strategies, collecting data, and defining performance goals. Classroom teachers implement the collaboratively developed modifications and strategies. The implementation of these strategies frequently eliminates the need for referral to Special Education.

Our Title I program provides several innovative programs to our ever-increasing number of at-risk students. Our lowest achieving students are well served by our Title I program and our successes are supported by student performance and data. Commodore Macdonough School's Title I program provides a foundation for our acceleration, remediation and comprehensive services provided to all students. Title I paraprofessionals support students in our full day kindergarten classrooms to assist classroom teachers in each student's academic and social-emotional development. Title I paraprofessionals work one to one, and with small groups to insure all students have an equitable opportunity for learning. Reading Recovery, a program initiated with Title I funds, enables all at-risk first graders to receive accelerated instruction in reading and writing. At second grade, Title I provides daily remedial instruction in language arts. In order to maintain high quality instruction, collaboration between classroom teachers and Title I staff is conducted regularly. The Macdonough School Title I staff recognize the need to provide all students with appropriate, challenging and meaningful modes for learning.

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Email to Commodore Macdonough Elementary School , cmmdr.mcdngh.elm.sch@snet.net