Our internet connectivity slowed work in the office for a while last semester. It made work on the computer difficult as the connections were evaluated and many of the issues were resolved. I had to put this blog on the back burner as many tasks were slowed if they required the computer.
Some highlights over the past few months you might not be aware of have been:
1. Our faculty coming together with administrative support to raise ACT scores - most of our students scored from 1 to 5 points higher. In addition, some seminar time is now being used for students wishing to improve their scores.
2. Our academic booster club focused on literacy and exceeded their goal to gather 750 new or gently used books for our students to support our drop everything and read time on Wednesday afternoons.
3. The first Gary Filbert classic shootout was held this winter and drew fans and teams we normally do not see in our schedule..
4. Our teachers are using IPADs to learn their feasibility in the classroom and two high school students serve on this committee to explore ways they can be integrated into learning and increase student engagement in learning.
5. Our positive behavior and support team continues to develop plans of action to guide our building toward teaching and affecting student behavior to increase learning. They have attended several trainings and have presented to our entire faculty with the support of the Columbia regional professional development committee. This is an effort to help our faculty and students achieve more in the classroom.
We continue to look for ways to improve learning at the high school. We are looking forward to an updated and remodeled science lab for 2012-13, an improved library space, and improvements to Emmons auditorium sound storage.
As we continue to improve, I hope any parent or community member will feel free to call upon the leadership at the high school to provide input and guide our efforts. I have been very appreciative of our academic boosters work this year for our students; it is also a great opportunity for parents and citizen to discuss issues of concern. For your information, the entire community should know this simple fact:
Students attending MHS regularly and pursuing our advanced placement and college preparatory classes (in other words, they report they are taking challenging classes at MHS) score above the national average on the ACT. Students can find what they are looking for at MHS and our faculty and staff are committed to looking for ways to improve our service to families everyday.
In closing, I hope everyone will attend our next playoff basketball game in Moberly for our boys this coming Wednesday night February 29. I'm looking forward to watching our students excel and represent our high school; it's exciting to watch our kids succeed.
Dr. Terry Robinson
