Schools focus on math, technology
By Suzanne Hodgson
Staff Writer
While students in Cape Elizabeth and South Portland enjoyed their summer vacations, staff members in the two districts spent time focusing on new initiatives for the school year.
South Portland has begun steps to fix last year’s accreditation problems, which included 17 violations that needed to be addressed. A new fire alarm system, stairwells and fire doors are now up to code in all of the schools.
After disappointing results in standardized math tests last year, Suzanne Godin, superintendent for South Portland’s 3,100 students, said students will need to get out their calculators because this year teachers will be focus on improving the math program.
According to Godin, administration brought in consultants to work with teachers during the summer to help them understand the best way to teach students who are economically disadvantaged, have special needs or don’t speak English. Godin said low standardized math scores showed educators struggled to effectively teach those groups of students.
South Portland also is working to address the truancy and dropout rates by broadening its understanding of the 21st-century student.
“Technology is our biggest issue. The way students learn is changing; we are committing to understand the needs of students in technology,” said Godin.
Cape Elizabeth Superintendent Alan Hawkins agrees technology plays a major role in teaching. “We have three technology integrators at the school working with staff to see how we can use technology in the teaching process,” he said.
Cape Elizabeth educators also are focusing on changes in science, English and language arts and foreign languages. Hawkins said teachers will focus more on helping students reach their learning goals. For example, teachers will be expected to make sure all students can read at their grade level or above before moving on to the next curriculum item.
The district’s laptop take-home program will still only be open to middle school students, while South Portland’s state Mac program is expanding to the high school and provide all upper-level students Mac computers to use throughout the school year.
Staff Writer Suzanne Hodgson can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.
Staff Writer
While students in Cape Elizabeth and South Portland enjoyed their summer vacations, staff members in the two districts spent time focusing on new initiatives for the school year.
South Portland has begun steps to fix last year’s accreditation problems, which included 17 violations that needed to be addressed. A new fire alarm system, stairwells and fire doors are now up to code in all of the schools.
After disappointing results in standardized math tests last year, Suzanne Godin, superintendent for South Portland’s 3,100 students, said students will need to get out their calculators because this year teachers will be focus on improving the math program.
According to Godin, administration brought in consultants to work with teachers during the summer to help them understand the best way to teach students who are economically disadvantaged, have special needs or don’t speak English. Godin said low standardized math scores showed educators struggled to effectively teach those groups of students.
South Portland also is working to address the truancy and dropout rates by broadening its understanding of the 21st-century student.
“Technology is our biggest issue. The way students learn is changing; we are committing to understand the needs of students in technology,” said Godin.
Cape Elizabeth Superintendent Alan Hawkins agrees technology plays a major role in teaching. “We have three technology integrators at the school working with staff to see how we can use technology in the teaching process,” he said.
Cape Elizabeth educators also are focusing on changes in science, English and language arts and foreign languages. Hawkins said teachers will focus more on helping students reach their learning goals. For example, teachers will be expected to make sure all students can read at their grade level or above before moving on to the next curriculum item.
The district’s laptop take-home program will still only be open to middle school students, while South Portland’s state Mac program is expanding to the high school and provide all upper-level students Mac computers to use throughout the school year.
Staff Writer Suzanne Hodgson can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.
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