[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 54 (Tuesday, May 5, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E761]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E761]]
McCARRICK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF FALL RIVER, MA RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BARNEY FRANK

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 5, 1998

  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to my 
colleagues' attention the recognition bestowed on McCarrick Elementary 
School of Fall River, Massachusetts, which was recently chosen as a 
Title I Distinguished School. McCarrick is located in the second 
largest city in my Congressional District in an area which 
unfortunately has high levels of unemployment and other social problems 
that have often been barriers to educational achievement. However, 
because of the hard work of the entire McCarrick community, the school 
has compiled a strong record of achievement over the past few years.
  McCarrick has developed an effective curriculum with a heavy emphasis 
on literacy, professional development partnership with other community 
institutions, and, above all, commitment to the growth of every 
student. This focus and commitment has allowed McCarrick to be one of 
only 109 schools across the country honored this year as a Title I 
Distinguished School by the National Association of State Coordinators 
of Compensatory Education in partnership with the U.S. Department of 
Education. The criteria on which the selections were based are 1) 
opportunity for all children to meet proficient and advanced levels of 
performance; 2) professional development; 3) coordination with other 
programs; 4) curriculum and instruction to support achievement of high 
standards; 5) partnership among schools, parents and communities; and 
6) three years of successful achievement data. A special award ceremony 
recognizing all the honorees will take place today at the International 
Reading Association Conference in Orlando, Florida.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a paradox of government that those who do the most 
for others frequently get the least recognition, and I can think of no 
example of which this is more true than our public schools. All public 
schools face a constant battle to provide the best possible education 
they can, more often than not with inadequate financial resources. This 
is particularly true for schools with high percentages of low income 
students, where additional instruction in basic academic skills, 
including English proficiency, is often necessary. So, I think it is 
particularly appropriate to honor in this fashion the Title I schools 
that have done such a good job, and I congratulate the staff, students 
and families who have done so much to make McCarrick a successful 
institution of learning. Because I believe it is important to both 
recognize quality public education and to emphasize how important and 
effective the Title I program is, insert the school's mission statement 
and some additional background on its curriculum for printing in the 
Record.

                           MISSION STATEMENT

       The McCarrick School is striving to provide a safe, 
     attractive, physical environment that fosters learning. Our 
     aim is to provide an atmosphere of encouragement in which 
     each child can maximize his/her potential. Everyone works to 
     promote a climate that is conducive to the intellectual, 
     social, and emotional growth of each child. We wish to 
     acknowledge the individual learning styles of children, 
     thereby producing students that read, write, compute and 
     critically think to the best of their ability.
       In this increasingly technological world the ability to 
     write with organization and clarity is more important than 
     ever. Our goal is to have every child--with no exception--
     communicate fluently, using the written word.
       Our vision is to enhance the curriculum through technology. 
     Every child shall be computer literate, and know how to 
     access information. We want to prepare students to be active 
     well-rounded citizens of the twenty-first century. In order 
     for them to lead productive, fulfilling lives, we must begin 
     the process of making them lifetime learners.


Opportunity for all children to meet proficient and advanced levels of 
                              performance

       In the Spring of 1996, we decided to adopt a Title One 
     Schoolwide Program. In retrospect, it was the single most 
     important, educational decision in the school's short 
     history. It opened the doors to systemic change. The 
     springboard for this process of change was propelled by our 
     invitation to attend the first New England Conference for 
     Schoolwide Programs. We shared a genuine feeling of mission 
     to use literacy as the integral part of our schoolwide 
     program, both across subject areas and grade levels. In order 
     to accomplish this we needed to better use our available 
     resources. These include: Title One Schoolwide Program, 
     Reading Recovery, First Steps, part time reading teacher, 
     adoption of a new math program, hands-on science kits and two 
     graduate social work interns in the MSW program at Boston 
     University.


  Curriculum and instruction to support achievement of high standards

       The staff of the McCarrick School believe in high standards 
     for all. Our logo is a lighthouse, and our motto is ``We 
     Shine!'' We have a unified thematic approach which weaves 
     itself into all areas of the curriculum. To help us in this 
     approach we use many programs.
       The Title 1 Schoolwide Program enables each child to 
     receive help at his/her level. Because of our school-wide 
     program there is more open dialogue. Teams of teachers meet 
     with the Title 1 teacher and supervisor to coordinate 
     students' writing skills. This reduces fragmented learning 
     and makes us a more cohesive unit.
       Reading Recovery is a safety net for first graders at risk. 
     It is a data-based, highly prescribed method of one-on-one 
     tutoring that targets children needing more specific 
     instruction to develop reading strategies.
       Our Reading Teacher is on staff for three days a week. She 
     offers instructional support to small groups of children who 
     require intervention to maintain grade level skills.
       We have adopted a Hands-on Math program that is proving 
     highly successful. Manipulatives are the key to this 
     innovative approach. The students acquire mathematical 
     concepts and creative problem-solving skills.
       Our Science Program is a Hands-on Approach, exercising 
     critical thinking, data based prediction, and utilizes kits 
     of materials sent out and collected by the Office of 
     Instruction. The students participate enthusiastically in the 
     projects and experiments.
       The Title 1 nurse will instruct all grades K-5. Focusing on 
     need, areas to be discussed will be hygiene, dental, safety, 
     drug awareness and self-esteem. A contact, by the nurse, has 
     been made to the Fall River Police Department. A safety 
     officer will visit all classrooms and offer additional advice 
     on personal safety and drug awareness.
       Our principal, Mary Whittaker, a Licensed Independent 
     Clinical Social Worker is privileged to be a Field Instructor 
     for the Boston University School of Social Work. She 
     supervises the clinical training and field work of two NSW 
     candidates each year, which affords the school a gamut of 
     Social Services not available to most. The graduate interns 
     work with individuals, groups, and families, providing 
     counseling and therapeutic intervention.
       The staff of McCarrick believe strongly that an 
     appreciation for the Arts is essential to the education of 
     every student. The principal was appointed to the Executive 
     Board of the Zeiterion Theatre in New Bedford. This enables 
     the school to have free admission to cultural events, and 
     very inexpensive hands-on theatrical/musical workshops given 
     directly at the school.

     

                          ____________________