District and School Accomplishments

The Woodbridge Board of Education and Beecher Road School recognize and thank the Town of Woodbridge for ongoing support of our comprehensive elementary school program. This support has directly and positively impacted the success of our students and school over the years. Beecher Road School is recognized as a school of excellence in our region and there is great sense of pride in our school throughout the Woodbridge community.

ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Smarter Balanced and NGSS Assessments	State Student Achievement Summary Percent of Beecher students Meeting and Exceeding Goal (Levels 3 and 4) In English Language Arts, Math and Science
	2014-15	2015-16	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19
ELA	73	80.1	76.8	74.8	80.5
Math	61.3	71.2	72.2	70.2	74.5
Science					83.5

 

Smarter Balanced Assessment	State Student Achievement Summary Percent of Beecher students Exceeding Goal (Level 4) In English Language Arts and Math
	2014-15	2015-16	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19
ELA	42.0	49.9	49.9	48.9	51.3
Math	35.4	39.9	43.8	41.3	45.0

 

Smarter Balanced Growth	Student Growth Data Average Percent of Growth Targets Achieved			Student Growth Data Growth Rate
	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19
ELA	67.7	70.7	78.6 (5th in state)	50.0	50.3	58.4 (6th in State)
Math	74.2	72.0	85.7 (5th in state)	53.4	52.5	67.9 (5th in State)

 

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS

School and District Initiatives and Achievements

❖     Board of Education recognized by Connecticut Association of Boards of Education for Level 1 Leadership Award.

❖     Principal’s Newsletter recognized by CABE with “Going Green” award

❖     Superintendent’s Strategic Development Plan recognized by CABE with “Annual Report” award

❖     Creation of Instagram account to share news, updates and special events

❖     BRS Recognized as a CT Green Leaf School after the formation of a School-wide Green Team

❖     Strategic Development Plan initiating school-wide enrichment activities for the benefit of all students.

*Implementation and expansion of Enrichment Clusters in Grades 3 & 4 to support student choice and interest-based instruction

*Project Based Learning Model (Genius Hour) in Grade 5

*Capstone Project implemented in Grade 6 with a focus on heroes and a community service component

*Development of curriculum compacting to support high performing students

❖     Curriculum teams developed to revise and review current curriculum objectives/ standards in Math, Science and Social Studies

❖     Restructured SRBI model to refine special education service delivery to maximize efficiency and ensure comprehensiveness/coherence.

❖     Strong student achievement levels in Language Arts, Math, and Science as measured by state assessments.

❖     Beautification Committee work to “beautify and enhance” the appearance of BRS common areas (South Gym, South Assembly, Hallways, etc.) with a child-centered focus

❖     Diversity Committee established to explore current instructional and extra-curricular activities as a basis for future planning

❖     Advancing Technology Literacy through a Technology Plan that focuses on problem solving, coding, creativity, research, and digital citizenship

 

 

Educators as “Leaders of Learning”

❖     BRS faculty selected to participate in study groups facilitated by consultants from Columbia’s Teachers’ College on various aspects of Readers and Writers Workshop

❖     BRS serves as visitation site for Multi-Age Group Program (MAG) and Readers/Writers workshop

❖     Grade 3 teachers invited to present work on Enrichment Clusters at Statewide IGNITE Innovation Conference

❖     Two faculty members serve as local and national trainers for Responsive Classroom

❖     On staff “Trainer of Trainers” for certified and non-certified physical management training (PMT) and proactive behavior strategies.

❖     Superintendent active leader/member of: CT Legislative Task Force on Water Safety and CAPSS committees on Accountability, Small District, Innovation and Legislation.

❖     Director of Business & Operations member of: CASBO Professional Development committee for school business officials, state wide.

 

 

Student Recognition and Awards

❖     BRS overall high levels of student achievement on SBA State Assessment – Top 10% in State

❖     BRS students earned top rankings in the state math awards in the Continental Mathematics League and nationally in the National Math Olympiads competitions. Two fourth grade student’s regional winners in the Eudidean Division of the Continental Math League

❖     Grade 5 students selected to participate in a Worldwide Assembly of seven schools from around the world to participate in a video conference with Alan Alda and discuss the finalists’ entries for the Flame Challenge

❖     First Place in the Elementary Concert Band Competition; Gold and Platinum Awards for Jazz, String and Choir Ensembles, performing at middle school level standards

❖     Band/Orchestra/Chorus participation in Connecticut Music Educators Association statewide festival and awarded seats in honors orchestra and band

❖     Robotics program recognition: Beecher Eagles Robotics Team won Core Values Award, Beecher Hawks Robotics Team won the Science Project Award, and Orbiting Owls won State Championship in Robot Design

❖     Robotics program recognition at CAPSS/CABE Convention with showcase of projects

 

Student and Staff Outreach to the Local and World Community

❖     Student Council fundraisers for numerous charities

❖     Student Council visitation to the Woodbridge Senior Center

❖     Band and Chorus visitation and performances at Senior Center, Massaro Farm, etc.

❖     BRS community adopts Ambo the Baby Elephant at the Nairobi National Park in Kenya

❖     BRS community raised over $800 in support of hurricane relief for Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico

❖     PE Department partnership with local triathlon in memory of former student

 

 

Unique Opportunities for Students

❖     Grade 6 students create the weekly WBRS Student News program writing each script, producing and recording the newscast.

❖     After-School enrichment opportunities including Poetry Guild, Math Olympiad, Math Counts, Spanish Club, and Open Technology Lab.

❖     Student Council outreach: community service minded, supports local and national charitable organizations, and promotes school-wide community building.

❖     Open Art Studio and Theater

❖     TAG program in grades 3-6 for integrated learning and problem solving

❖     Learn to Swim program Grades K-6. . BRS is the only elementary school in the state that teaches aquatic safety. 

❖     Visit from Olympic Bronze Medalist Margaux Farrell, a former BRS student.

❖     STEM instructional activities – Digital Fun and 3D Printing, Math Olympiad Club Grades 4-6, Yale Girl’s Science Investigations, Math Infinite Possibilities for Girls and Robotics/Legos.

❖     BRS Honored with STEM Talent Pipeline Grant from PhRMA. 

❖     Guided Study offered to students in grades 4, 5 and 6. 

❖     Beecher Student serve as Owl Pals - mentors to younger students.

❖     Beecher Students participate in composting and food donation initiative daily. 

❖     Partnership with PTO and PE department, along with the greater Beecher community (Fun Run, etc.)