File Photo
Dr. Amber Baker is the principal of Kimberley Park
Elementary School.
Core
from page A1
proficient in reading, 40.4
percent were proficient in
math. Only 39.6 percent of
local high school students
were proficient in Biology,
while 48.1 percent were
proficient in English II and
42.3 percent were profi
cient in Math I. Nearly all
of the local averages were
slightly lower than the
average state percentages
"I don't believe the
tests reflect either the abil
ity of our teachers to teach
or the ability of our chil
dren to learn," Collins said.
Winston
Salem/Forsyth
County Schools
Superintendent
Dr. Beverly
Emory said the
scores came as
no surprise to
school system
officials.
"These
results are what
we expected,"
bmory said in a statement.
"Our performance com
pared to state averages is in
line with where we've been
the past several years. This
is a baseline year using
new standards, and now we
can work on the areas
where we need the most
improvement."
Seventy one local
schools did meet or exceed
expected growth under the
new standards.
"I'm encouraged that
many of our schools
showed growth." Emory
said. "If parents wonder
what their children accom
plished last year, that
shows teaching and learn
ing were taking place. It's
our job to work with all
schools to make their
growth goals and improve
their proficiencies."
Twenty-one schools,
however, did not meet
growth goals; nine schools
did not receive a growth
rating.
Although there is a
good reason for the decline
in scores. Baker expressed
concern that the lower
scores could be damaging
for the morale of her stu
dents and staff.
"The biggest piece that
really is unfair and unreal
istic is that the state did not
think about how to roll this
out," said Baker, whose
school met expected
growth. "From an adminis
trative standpoint, it's
going to be hard to keep
our teachers motivated and
keep them moving forward
when they're still dealing
with the sting from last
year."
Collins said the cur
riculum could widen the
achievement gap for at-risk
students, who already face
myriad challenges in try
ing to keep pace with their
more privileged peers.
Increased community sup
port is needed
to address the
societal issues
that impact at
risk youth, from
hunger to
poverty, and
remove the bar
riers that they
face in learning
under any cur
riculum,
Collins said.
"You can't
assume that just by laying I
an increased rigor in K-3,
all the students, whether
they're at risk or not, will
be able to meet those stan
dards ... there has to be a
way to make up the deficit
and have some homogene
ity," he remarked. "...If
we're going to hold chil
dren to this level of rigor,
then we have to place the
resources necessary in the
classroom to make sure
that the children are going
to be successful."
Regardless of whether
folks in the support or
oppose Common Core,
children in public schools
need their help, Petitjean
said.
"Every child deserves a
free, quality education and
we have to be vigilant, we
have to be their champi
ons," she said. "We need to
start bonding together as a
community to get this
done."
For more information
about Common Core State
Standards in North
Carolina, visit
http://www.ncpuhlic
schools.org/acre/stan
dards.
Emory
?( WtlCOMV
'< Kit rMICNII
fKiif H.^tlK - ?
-ii,.-- i ? ? i i
(336) 744-1300
j jtoSamoM
Available the first week
of every month in
The Chronicle
Rams ready to put focus
back on playing football
BY LAYLA GAR MS
I HE C HRONICLE
Winston-Salem State
University is beginning the
slow process of repairing
its reputation and forging
ahead.
WSSU gained national
attention last week after its
starting quarterback, Rudy
Johnson, was attacked the
day before the CIAA
Championship game by
members of the opposing
team, Virginia State
University. The game was
cancelled, denying WSSU
an impressive third-straight
CIAA crown.
WSSU Chancellor
Donald Keaves told mem
bers of the media Monday
that the university will need
the support of fans and
alumni in order to over
come the negativity that
surrounded the incident
and the school as a result.
"It's going to be hard.
People are going to form
their opinions, and have
already tormed
their opinions,
based on what's
happened," he
declared. "But
we are who we
are. We stand for
integrity and
honesty and we
expect that from
our players, and
we get that from
our players."
Johnson said that he
was punched and kicked in
the restroom of the WSSU
Anderson Center, where a
pre-championship lunch
eon was taking place, by a
group of VSU players.
"I'm just trying to get
over this experience, take it
one day at a time." Johnson
said of the attack, which
left him with a black eye.
"I'm in shock still. 1 wish it
never happened. I was will
ing to play them on the
field, 1 just don't think they
were."
WSSU Head Coach
Connell Maynor said his
team was outraged when
they witnessed their star
quarterback exiting the
bathroom distraught, with
blood running down his
lace, but they
kept their calm,
even in the face
of extreme
adversity.
"Our guys
were able to
restrain them
selves ... even
though they
wanted to fight,"
said May nor."...
1 think it shows
the discipline that our
teams have, that we've
been trying to instill in
these guys since they
came."
Maynor said the judi
ciousness the players dis
played in a difficult situa
tion is indicative of the
higher standard of behavior
that the members of the
Rams Football program are
held to and known for all
across the country.
Reaves said he is call
ing for VSU to forfeit the
game and the title to
WSSU, which made it to
the NCAA Division II
finals last year, but says
VSU President Keith
Miller has declined to do so
thus far. The local commu
nity has rallied around
WSSU in its time of need,
Reaves said.
"This institution has
tremendous support from
this community," he said.
Johnson said his spirits
have been lifted by the out
pouring of support and.
encouragement he's experi
enced in the days after the
harrowing attack.
"I've received a lot of
support. A lot of people
have kept me in their
prayers," he related. "I
couldn't ask for a better
family when it comes to
Ram pride."
Despite the heartbreak
and disappointment of hav
ing been robbed of the
chance to compete in the
CIAA Championship
game, Johnson, who
returned to practice on
Monday, said the team is
more determined than ever
to end the season on a high
note.
"Believe it or not, it's
brought us closer as a fam
ily," he said. "When some
thing happens to one of us,
it happens to us all."
The team is focusing its
energy on the future,
Johnson said.
"We're just willing to
play harder to get to the
national championship," he
said.
Maynor said the set
back won't stop the team,
which has only lost one
game this season, from
achieving its dream of cap
turing the Dll national title.
In fact, they are already
looking ahead to the next
game against Slippery
Rock University of
Pennsylvania during the
first round of the NCAA
Division II playoffs at
Bowman Gray Stadium on
Saturday.
"It was a long, long
weekend," he admitted.
"We're just glad we can get
back to a normal day's
work of practice and class
and get back to what we do
best."
Photo by Layla Garms
Rudy Johnson speaks as WSSU Chancellor Donald Reaves looks on.
Maynor
II H
L These days, people caRffQ^I
Ke can'tjjtop listenin|r^^H
n,
It's simple, you know people better when you spend time
together. That's why our staff goes beyond today's standards
and spends more time with you. More time starting conversations
about your healthcare. More time listening to your questions
and concerns. That way you're receiving the most attention
and best treatment possible. It's that simple.
Visit us at NovantHealth.org to learn more
Nb novant
? HEALTH