Hamilton Elementary honored for helping kids achieve
Rob Rogers, MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL: 02/18/2010 05:31:48 PM PST
Novato's Hamilton Elementary School has won recognition as one of the state's top schools for helping low-income students close the "achievement gap."
The school is one of 238 statewide - and the only school in Marin County - to receive the 2009-10 Title I Achievement Award from the state Department of Education.
The award is presented to schools receiving federal assistance in which all students make significant progress toward proficiency in California's academic content standards, and in which socioeconomically disadvantaged students have doubled the achievement targets set for them for two consecutive years.
"For the last two years, we've been able to consistently show our subgroups increasing in their proficiency in language arts and mathematics, as well as fifth-grade science," said Principal Ruthanne Bexton, noting that about 58 percent of the school's 615 students are below the poverty line, and more than 40 percent are English-language learners. "Our teachers are so willing to support these programs, because they want the children to become proficient."
Hamilton has made this progress despite the Novato Unified School District's loss of millions of dollars in the last two years as a result of state cuts to education. Teachers help each student set goals in math or language arts and work with them throughout the year to meet those goals, assisting students before, during and after school.
"It's really remarkable that they've still been able to do intervention classes for the kids," said Novato Superintendent of Schools Jan LaTorre-Derby. "Hamilton does individual goal setting, so that kids know when they've met their individual goals and can keep pushing themselves forward. It's an amazing program."
Hamilton and the state's other award-winning schools will be honored at an April 21 reception and banquet at the Disneyland Hotel.
"These award recipients prove that with hard work and high expectations, students can overcome challenges and achieve academic success," said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell. "By working together, administrators, teachers, staff, students and parents have raised student achievement and narrowed the achievement gap."
Hamilton Elementary Teacher to be Honored by Novato Fire Department
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Stacey Beltran, a 33-year-old teacher at Hamilton Elementary School, used CPR to save the life of her uncle, Doug Briggs, at a Christmas Eve family gathering at Briggs Novato home. Beltran will be honored at the Novato Fire District board meeting. |
Pan-Napa Challenge Raises Over $100,000 for Novato Schools
On May 16, 214 riders participated in the second annual Pan-Napa Challenge and raised over $100,000 for Novato schools. Thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered, and sponsored a rider. We hope to see you all again next year.
The Hamilton Family Market is Here!
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The San Francisco Food Bank has teamed up with Hamilton to coordinate a FREE Market! Beginning Wednesday, May 6th, we will offer a variety of fruits, vegetables, and other food items to Hamilton families. There is no qualification or registration. If you have children at Hamilton you qualify! They will be providing enough food for our entire community, everyone is encouraged to participate. There are volunteer opportunities, if you are interested please contact Sally Carbonaro |
Marin Independent Journal Cover Story, May 21, 2009
"S.F. Agency Helps Feed Marin Needy"
Volunteer moms tore open cardboard boxes full of fresh vegetables, fruits, rice and other foods Wednesday as a steady stream of Hamilton School parents filed in to pick up the goods.
It's not a farmers market. It's an open pantry, and it's all free.
With donations from the San Francisco Food Bank, the school had its third Wednesday morning food giveaway for parents of students in the southern Novato area. It's one of seven food pantries open weekly in Marin with San Francisco Food Bank goods, and they're all situated in areas where needy families reside.
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