Cowiche school's reading program honored nationally

by Mark Morey
Yakima Herald-Republic

Links
Email_black_18  E-mail           Print_black_18  Print            Talk_black_18  Comments
Advertisement

More 'Local'

  1. Trails a tangible part of quality of life
  2. Forum takes hard look at keeping kids out of gangs
  3. How well did you read the YH-R last week?
  4. Road work will slow Valley Mall Blvd. traffic
  5. State to look anew at mosquito control rules
  6. Yard sale has class written all over it
  7. Transplanting history in Grandview
More Stories:   Today's News | This Week

 

COWICHE -- The Highland School District's elementary school has received national recognition for improving students' reading ability.

Marcus Whitman Cowiche Elementary received a National Distinguished School award from the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, one of only two schools in the state to be so honored. The other was Crownhill Elementary in Bremerton.

Principal Janice Sauve credited the staff for working together to support all students.

"They want success for every student that walks through the door, and their hard work has shown that is what is happening," Sauve said.

Four district represen-tatives will attend a January conference in Washington, D.C., for formal recognition of the school's accomplishment.

The district also receives $10,000, which officials can use as they want to improve education at the school.

The award was based on the school's accomplishment in boosting the percentage of students who are passing the reading portion of the state-mandated WASL test.

The percentage of third-graders passing the test went from 58 percent in the 2005-06 school year to 75 percent last year. The statewide average last year was 71 percent.

Examples of the staff's efforts to improve reading include setting aside extra reading time for students during recess and organizing literacy nights, where students and their parents meet at school to learn reading skills. A grant provides free books for each student.

The district receives funding to improve math and reading through the federal Title 1 program, which targets low-income children.

Three-quarters of Marcus Whitman students are on the free or reduced-price lunch program. Forty percent are bilingual, and 21 percent are migrant students, according to the school district.

 

* Mark Morey can be reached at 509-577-7671 or mmorey@yakimaherald.com.



Commentsicon2
Log in or Register to leave a comment.

Posting Guidelines - Updated Aug. 21 2009
Readers are encouraged to use these forums to discuss issues affecting the Yakima Valley. Debate the ideas presented in stories and other comments, but refrain from personal attacks and offensive remarks aimed at others; e.g., you may call an idea idiotic, but don't say the person is an idiot. The Herald-Republic reserves the right to remove any comment for any reason. Examples include material that is obscene, encourages illegal activity or stereotypes based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs and other factors. Continued violation of these guidelines can lead to suspension or revocation of your ability to post comments. If you believe a comment is inappropriate, you can bring it to our attention by clicking the "report violation" link by each comment. Guidelines revised Aug. 21, 2009.

Registered User?