Transcript Top 25 Reasons ASD is a GREAT School District

Top 25 Reasons ASD
is a GREAT
School District
ONE
Aberdeen School District has a proud
history, yet continues to be known
throughout South Dakota and beyond for a
student-centered philosophy, innovative
programs, and the exemplary education it
provides.
TWO
Four Elementary Schools have met the
Department of Education’s criteria for
being named a Distinguished School:
– C.C. Lee Elementary – 2004 through 2007
– May Overby Elementary – 2005 -2006
– O.M. Tiffany Elementary – 2004 - 2006
– Simmons Elementary – 2003 through 2007
THREE
ASD attracts outstanding teachers from
the upper Midwest. Teachers in ASD have
an average of 15 years of teaching
experience and 43% have a Master’s
degree or higher.
FOUR
ASD teachers and coaches have
consistently received recognition at the
State levels:
– Michelle Adams – 2007 Asst. Gymnastics
Coach of the Year
– Merle Aske – 2007 Asst. Wrestling Coach of
the Year
– Dianne Brenden – 2004 Middle School
Counselor of the Year
– Gene Brownell – 2004 Athletic Director of the
Year
– Stacy Charron – 2006 Asst. Volleyball Coach
of the Year
FOUR continued
– Connie Diebert – 2007 Middle School Coach
of the Year
– Rose DesCamps – 2005 SD History Day
Teacher of the Year
– Jon Frey – 2002 Milken Educators Award
– Missy Hill – 2006 Special Olympics Coach of
the Year
– Bruce Kleinsasser – 2003 Spirit Coach and
2007 Cheer Coach of the Year
– Colleen Meisenheimer – 2007 SD Forensic
Coaches’ Association Asst. Coach of the Year
FOUR continued
– Joell Rachel – 2007 Aberdeen Area Arts
Council Educator of the Year
– Georgia Ramos – 2004 Special Education
Director of the Year
– Jill Stephenson – 2007 Multi-Level
Counselor of the Year
– Sandy Ullrich – 2007 Presidential Award for
Excellence in Math and Science Teaching
– SueAnn Yonkovich – 2007 SD History Day
Teacher of the Year
FIVE
ASD students and employees are actively
involved throughout Aberdeen in
volunteering and community service
events.
– The Chamber of Commerce awarded ASD the
2004 Community Involvement ABBY Award.
– HMS students are actively involved in SOS
(Serving Others and Self), an organization
that promotes generosity and compassion.
– SMS’s Youth Power earned the Chamber’s
STAR Award in 2005.
SIX
Central High School seniors have earned
over $9 million in scholarships since
2001 (Hehn era).
– CHS’s class of 2001 was the first to surpass
the $1 million mark in scholarships.
– 246 students in CHS’s class of 2007 earned
$1,699,137 in scholarships.
– Three students earned National Merit
Scholarships in 2007, more than any other
ESD school.
SEVEN
CHS’s Class of 2007 scored above the
National and State averages on all test
areas of the ACT as well as the national
composite average.
EIGHT
Aberdeen School District students are
scoring exceptionally well on NCLB tests.
Year
2005
Proficient
Sub-Groups
110/110
Percent
Proficient
100%
2006
98/108
91%
2007
103/108
95%
NINE
ASD utilizes Foster Grandparents
throughout the District to help promote
community relations and crossgenerational understanding.
TEN
ASD’s Foundation has forged partnerships
with local businesses who have
generously supported our District’s
mission to empower all students to
succeed.
– The Foundation recognizes graduates and
contributors on its Hall of Fame and at the
annual Hall of Fame Banquet.
– Endowments, Daktronics project, field house
lockers, landscaping, mini-grants, Phonic Ear
systems, fine arts projects
ELEVEN
As a result of prudent fiscal management
(Janish era), ASD has completed the past
five years “in the black.”
– The District is fiscally responsible and
accountable to its taxpayers.
TWELVE
151 students took Advanced Placement
courses in 2006-07, up from 107 the
previous year.
– Just under 70% score 3 (out of 5) or above on
their AP tests.
THIRTEEN
CHS’s athletic teams have finished in the
top three of the ESD Conference All Sports
Competition six out of the last seven years
(Brownell era).
– In any given year, 40% of ASD’s Middle and
High School students participate in athletics.
– Students involved in activities averaged a 3.2
GPA vs. 2.2 GPA for those not involved.
– ESD Conference, established in 1927, is the
oldest continuous conference in South Dakota.
– In 1998, all ASD schools became Eagles.
FOURTEEN
CHS’s debate team (Frey era) consistently
finishes at or near the top in upper Midwest
competi-tions and ranks Nationally in the
top 1%.
– State Team Champions 3 of the last 4 seasons
– 11 Individual State Champions since 2002
– Team Sweepstakes Champions at the National
Tournament Qualifier in 2006 and 2007
– 37 National Tournament Qualifiers since 2002
FIFTEEN
ASD’s outstanding music program offers
many talented students the opportunity to
learn and be recognized.
– CHS’s Jazz Central has won the Outstanding
Performance Award (highest honor) at the
University of Mary International Jazz Festival
from 2000 through 2007. (McDermott era)
– CHS’s A Cappella Choir and SMS’s band have
been invited to perform at the SD Music
Educators’ State Conference three times since
2004.
FIFTEEN continued
– CHS’s A Cappella Choir will represent the sixstate region as one of 15 out of 200 auditions to
perform at the American Choral Director’s
Association Conference in March 2008. (Owens
era)
– Singronicity, CHS’s Vocal Jazz Ensemble, has
won regional competitions in SD, IA, MN, and ND
– CHS is one of only two high schools since 1951
to be represented each year at All-State Band
– CHS’s Symphonic Band has earned superior or
superior plus ratings each year since 1984
(Letcher era)
SIXTEEN
CHS’s Drama Department is consistently
one of the best in South Dakota.
– The past three years, CHS’s One-Act Plays
have earned 3 superiors.
– Since 2002 (McCafferty era), actors have
earned 14 Outstanding Ensemble Awards and
15 Outstanding Individual Acting Awards.
SEVENTEEN
ASD’s School Board’s vision to update
facilities has enabled our District to provide
outstanding learning environments.
– Central High School campus is currently the
best facility in South Dakota.
– The Simmons Middle School addition makes
this school equitable with HMS.
– C.C. Lee’s gymnasium, kindergarten room, and
activities room allow improved delivery.
– The developing Master Plan for elementary
schools will impact accommodations for years
to come.
EIGHTEEN
Hub Area Technical School provides
vocational courses not available to most
South Dakota high schools.
– Building trades
– Automotive technology
– Electronics and computer repair
– Graphic Communications
– Health Occupations
– Radio and TV production
– Machine tool technology
NINETEEN
Grades 2-5 enjoy learning from members of
the business and industry community
through Junior Achievement.
– In only six years, Aberdeen’s JA program has
grown to become the third largest in South
Dakota.
TWENTY
ASD’s Special Education Department (Grote era)
has been an innovative leader in South Dakota.
– Reverse inclusion at Lincoln Elementary
– Transition Learning Center at Presentation
– Therapy dogs are used for students with
autism.
– The Opportunities Classroom (HMS) and the
TLC have been given a Promising Practices
Award.
– ASD is a Special Education Model School for
the Infinite Campus program.
TWENTY-ONE
School Safety and Drug/Alcohol Prevention
are taken very seriously.
– D.A.R.E. program in grades 5 and 7
– School Resource Officer (SRO) at CHS
– Community panel discussion on drug testing
– Annual physical improvements to keep staff
and students safe
Blinds, locks, intruder drills, reunification plan
TWENTY-TWO
ASD now has All-Day-Every-Day
Kindergarten in each elementary school.
– Reading scores are being impacted.
TWENTY-THREE
ASD’s partnerships with Northern and
Presentation benefit our students
– Lab schools at MO and SE (NSU)
– Reading Clinic for CHS students (NSU)
– Swisher Activities Complex (NSU, City, ASD)
– 40 Students in Rising Scholars program (NSU
and PC)
– Transition Learning Center (PC)
– Student teachers (NSU) and Nurse interns (PC)
TWENTY-FOUR
ASD enjoys success due to dedicated
parents’ involvement in our schools.
– PTA
– Booster Clubs
– AIPAC
– School Improvement Committee
– Principals’ Advisory Committees
– Parent Portal
TWENTY-FIVE
…because of the incredible students
with whom we interact on a daily basis.
Throughout the year we see numerous
acts of courage, compassion,
generosity, empathy, creativity, and
enthusiasm from our students. Their
tremendous efforts and progress continue
to be on display scholastically, artistically,
and physically.
– Andrea Prehn, Asst. Principal, HMS