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 2011-12 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. Small group
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 their continued
support of our reading initiatives, to include the purchase of a SMARTBOARD for
our building leveled library and book room. 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. In addition, select classrooms at each
grade level will be piloting new Math material for a potential Math adoption
for the 2012-13 school year. Teaching,
reviewing, assessing, re-teaching and enrichment are important parts of our
math instructional delivery. I
thank our math committee for its continued efforts ensuring our instructional
practices and curriculum maps meet the needs of every child at each grade
level. Enhancing WHAT & HOW we
introduce material 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 fourth full year at 4th and 5th grade 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 are passed along to the next grade level or school. Ask your teacher at parent/teacher
conferences for details.
The Science and Social
Studies Committees collaborated over the past year to develop new curriculum
maps for the 2011-12 school year. Changes in content
assures each student streamlined exposure to important topics and
concepts K-8th grade.
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
815-478-3310
x 4