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WESTFIELD-In light of the extraordinary scholastic achievements over the past year at the Abner Gibbs Elementary School, Mayor Richard Sullivan declared June 1, Abner Gibbs Celebration Day. It was just four years ago that this school was cited as "in need of improvement," and later as "corrective action," in their Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) by the Massachusetts Department of Education, because of their students low scores on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests. Now Abner Gibbs has completely revamped its teaching practices in order to become one of this year's recipients of the Compass Award, an award of excellence in practice, from the Massachusetts Department of Education, according to Margaret Adams, principal of the Abner Gibbs Elementary School. "Maggie Adams, her staff, the students and their families, particularly this year, have created a real exciting family learning environment," Sullivan said. "They have provided a great example of what an elementary school should be like, especially as a Compass School, and I was more than happy to declare this day Abner Gibbs Celebration Day." Also in attendance for this day of celebration was Massachusetts State Senator Michael Knapik, a third generation graduate of Abner Gibbs Elementary School, and parent of two children currently attending this academic institution. "Knowing what the Compass process is all about, and that this is a school that initially had been in so much trouble in the past, it shows what leadership can do," Knapik said. "My children are receiving a real quality education at this school and it is gratifying not only as a tax payer but as a parent." In an effort to meet the expectations of the Massachusetts Department of Education the teachers began staying after school to learn new techniques and practices so that the students would have a "common language" throughout each classroom, according to Kelly Dow, kindergarten teacher the Abner Gibbs Elementary School and co-chair of the Abner Gibbs Day. Such practices included having a common language of respect, implementing new literacy programs, and hiring extra staff members who are specialists in the education of math and English language. "We had to exceed the AYP in English language and math in order to meet the standards of the Department of Education," Adams said. "Not only did we exceed our own targets but the state targets as well and that's how we've been awarded the Compass Award this year." In honor of the school's achievements Kathy O'Donnell, a reading specialist at the Abner Gibbs Elementary School and co-chair of the Abner Gibbs Day worked with Dow to put together a day of activities for the students. Activities included speeches by Sullivan and Knapik, as well as a day of education about what this elementary school used to be like almost 100 years ago: outdoor and indoor games, and songs that Abner Gibbs students used to sing long ago, as well a bike museum showing the students the history of bicycles. Local police officers from the Westfield Police Department volunteered their time to teach bicycle safety, and ran the students through an obstacle course designed to teach them various driving techniques. "I am a bike officer myself," Kevin Bard, a police officer at the Westfield Police Department said. "We want to keep the children safe and we're trying to educate them on the importance of bicycle safety by teaching them balance, control, and hand-eye coordination." The importance of bicycle safety is prominent at this school of 180 students because Abner Gibbs Elementary is a walking-school, a school without bus transportation. Each student and their parents were required to sign a helmet promise, stating that they would always wear a helmet. Each student brought his or her bike or scooter to school for Abner Gibbs Day and was able to participate in the bike parade that capped off the days festivities. "This [Abner Gibbs Day] is an awesome day," Carolyn Cleland a third grade teacher at Abner Gibbs Elementary said. "I've been here for ten years and it has been a long time coming because we've worked so hard for so long and we are the hidden gem of Westfield and it is great how word is now getting out." According to Principal Adams, or Mrs. Gibbs as they call her, she believes that the future for her school is bright filled with even more new programs and instructional methods, and the tweaking of former methods in supplemental math programs. "I really think that Abner Gibbs Day is a real reflection of what our school is all about and that's community and family," Dow said. "I believe that like any family we can achieve anything." | ||||||
