Principal's Welcome
Welcome to Anna McDonald School “Where We Succeed Together!”
Anna McDonald School serves the educational needs of students in 3rd through 5th grade. As a learning community, we are committed to providing our students with a well-rounded educational program. With the support of our families, friends, and the community of Manhattan, our children receive a quality education in a learning environment that is both enriched and nurturing. As a growing school community, we welcome all students and families to the 2010-11 school year.
Our instructional goals this year are to continue the rich tradition of academic excellence and increase student success and achievement in literacy, math, and writing. In the area of literacy, students will receive instruction using Harcourt STORYTOWN and other various reading materials. Guided Reading instruction, as well as a Response to Intervention approach, is implemented at all grade levels to promote student success. Thank you to our Education Foundation for sponsoring many of our reading initiatives, to include its latest monetary contribution for our brand new building leveled library and book room and SMARTBOARD Technology for our special instruction students. I would also like to thank our Board of Education & Superintendent Butters for their continued support of curricular initiatives.
Third through fifth grades will continue to use the Houghton-Mifflin math series. Teaching, reviewing, assessing, re-teaching and enrichment are important parts of our math instructional delivery. I thank our math committee for meeting over last school year to tweak our curriculum maps for the district. Enhancing how and what we introduce is of utmost importance and the great work of our committee ensures State Standard alignment and appropriate content exposure for your child.
Our Accelerated Math program will be in its third full year and I am very proud of the progress and accomplishments from this past year’s students and staff. The goal at each grade level for this group of students is to fulfill 5 quarters of work in a school year.
Our writing committee met before summer to tie up loose ends and prepare for the upcoming year. To continue our continuity district wide, student writing portfolios have been passed along to the next grade level or school. Ask your teacher at parent/teacher conferences for details.
Anna McDonald seeks success for each student through instructional excellence, teamwork, and school spirit. We are very proud of the education we provide to our students & families and we are dedicated and committed to excellence. Please e-mail, call, or visit us any time.
Sincerely,
Ryan McWilliams
Principal
rmcwilliams@manhattan114.org
815-478-3310 x 4