The 7th and 8th-grade classes of Springs’ Renaissance Valley Academy (RVA) in San Jacinto have made significant gains in reading during the school year. Seventy-seven students have been assessed and reflected an average annual growth of 50% among students. One student who was lagging in reading showed an 825% reading growth for the year; Ciara Wery, an 8th grader with Down Syndrome, showed 583% growth, progressing from grade one to grade five. William Fackelman, 7th/8th grade ELA teacher, attributes the “tremendous growth” to the i-Ready reading program implemented in the school. Students were also tested for math and showed significant gains as well.
In other RVA news, the school is adapting to virtual learning during the pandemic, with students, for example, taking virtual field trips to such locations as Paris and teacher Kellee Speakman giving a virtual tour of her ranch. While seniors are disappointed that they are missing their senior activities, Principal Nikia Hovey reported, teacher Oscar Maria “is doing a GREAT job at keeping them centered and focused with their eyes on completing their units for graduation” while site facilitator Theresa Rodriguez “has set up senior lunch sessions just to check in with kiddos and give them an outlet to ‘hangout’ at lunchtime.”
