Students at the Shawmont School aren’t just mastering academics; they’re learning to take responsibility. With nearly 427 students, the K-8 school blends creative incentives, dedicated teachers and rigorous academic programs to help students take ownership of their actions, achieve high standards and prepare for the next stage of their education. “Shawmont has always been a great school,” said guest principal Jeffrey Petty. “The staff is supportive and the students are engaged. It’s a strong, active community, with an incredibly involved Home and School Association. “They raise significant funds, provide teachers with classroom stipends, and recently held an outstanding fundraiser that exceeded expectations,” he added. “The best part is knowing that whenever we need support, we can count on them to help us achieve our goals.” Shawmont has been finding creative ways to encourage strong attendance among its students. Principal Petty explained that the school uses an incentive program to reward classes for consistent participation and commitment. “We have an incentive program where, if a homeroom class has three consecutive days of 100% attendance, they’re rewarded with pretzels the following week,” Petty said. “Several homerooms have already joined that club, so to speak. “One thing I’m especially proud of is that since the start of the school year, our attendance hasn’t dropped below 90% on any given day, he continued. “Every other day, we’ve maintained an impressive 93% to 94% attendance rate.” In addition to improving attendance, Shawmont has made significant progress in academic performance. The school’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports program, along with help from volunteers, has strengthened learning for students in the lower grades. “This past year, our students made great progress on the ELA and PSSA assessments,” Petty said. “From grades three through eight, we achieved a 51% proficiency rate in English Language Arts, including an 8.5% increase in third grade. “In math, overall proficiency was 35.1%, up 6.1% from last year. Our third graders stood out with 56.8% proficiency in math, a 21.8% increase, putting us well above the district averages of 33.5% in ELA and 22.7% in math.” Petty attributed the students’ success to the commitment and hard work of the school’s staff. “We have incredible faculty here,” he said. “They show up almost every day, fully committed to their students. Our teachers have high expectations and consistently push students to meet and exceed them.” Shawmont also focuses on preparing students for the next stage of learning by promoting responsibility and achievement. Teachers set ambitious expectations, and advanced programs like algebra provide students with opportunities to reach higher academic standards. “Our teachers set high expectations for their students, and some are particularly rigorous, which can sometimes challenge parents,” Petty said. “These expectations are designed to help students reach their full potential. “For example, we have an algebra program with six students, some of whom work asynchronously, and a teacher comes in one day a week to provide specialized instruction and support.” The guest principal said he wants students to leave Shawmont with a strong sense of personal responsibility. “I want students to understand that they are responsible for their actions,” Petty said. “That responsibility applies to social interactions, classroom learning, and everything they do. Whether the outcomes are positive or negative, students need to take ownership of their choices.” Stay informed and connected — subscribe to The Philadelphia Tribune NOW! Click Here Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don’t Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don’t knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the ‘Report’ link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We’d love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.
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