Principals Say Their Schools Are Ready For FCAT

March 10, 2009

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Area principals say they are ready for the FCAT tests that get underway today for students grades three through 10.

At Bratt Elementary School, the top rated school in all of Escambia County according to the Florida Department of Education,  Principal Sheryl Pomeroy said her students are ready for the FCAT.

“Bratt works everyday to prepare to be our best academically,” Pomeroy said. “Over the past week, we have done a lot of FCAT review with material provided by the state.”

Now that test time is here, the Bratt principal said her students are “encouraged to relax and think positive thoughts”.

At Carver/Century K-8 School, Principal Jeff Garthwaite also feels that the school has worked hard to prepare students for FCAT testing. But he knows that the impending closure of the school and all of the negative discussion about the school’s past low FCAT grades will likely impact the students and teachers.

“We feel positive about the FCAT, but there is a certain measured feeling because of the closure issues,” Garthwaite said. “The closure issue has kind of been on our shoulders all school year.”

But regardless of the impending closure — which will see a final school board vote on March 17 — Garthwaite said his staff has worked hard to prepare and motivate students.

“We can’t get away from the focus of our school, and that is each and every child,” he said.

“We believe in you!” is the word from Ernest Ward Middle School Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry to her students.

At Ernest Ward, breakfast will be served each FCAT testing day to give students a little extra boost. And students are asked to not checkout prior to noon for any reason.

At Northview High School, Principal Gayle Weaver said her students are more than ready for the FCAT, and she’s hoping for just a little improvement this year to move Northview to “A” status, a level the school barely missed last year.

“The faculty and staff were  excited about the progress made last year, and they became immediately dedicated to surpassing those results for this year,” Weaver said. “Northview’s commitment to education has always been  to provide the best education possible to each and every student.  This has been Northview’s  objective, whether it has been for either the FCAT or any other tool of measurement. Students at Northview are fortunate to have such dedicated individuals working to help each and every one of them succeed.”

Weaver is also hoping that students at the other area schools do well on the FCAT. ” To our fellow educators, we wish much success on FCAT 2009,” she said.

Comments

5 Responses to “Principals Say Their Schools Are Ready For FCAT”

  1. . on March 11th, 2009 7:41 pm

    ask how many of the teachers actually like the fcat……………… not many

  2. l on March 11th, 2009 7:39 pm

    the fcat is a ridiculous waste of tax payers money. it does nothing but force our teachers to spend 10 years putting our kids in a box, which has to be undone in their 11th and 12th grade years before they go to college.

  3. . on March 11th, 2009 7:32 pm

    the fcat is a bogus way to test students progress

  4. D.R. on March 10th, 2009 8:21 pm

    Good luck. I Hope you do well on the FCAT. Again Good Luck.

  5. Observer on March 10th, 2009 8:23 am

    Good luck to all students! You work sooo hard all year long preparing for FCAT!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News