Northport Public School students can expect a few new changes implemented as they get ready for the first day of school next week.
One of those changes being the district utilizing a “standards- referenced grading” system to better understand where students are at in their educational journey. The instructional approach will be implemented for all grades at Northport, with grading guided by how students meet academic standards.
“It’s really looking at grades in two different categories,” said Neil Wetherbee, Northport Public School Superintendent. “Quite often, grades are combined or muddied into one letter grade, so it’s hard to tell whether you’re struggling with the learning or struggling to do your homework or trying to see what the grade actually means. So it’s breaking that grade up… It’s really looking at what you’ve (the student) learned and not actually what you’ve done… it’ll also mean students and families have a better understanding of what the grades mean and how their students are doing in school.”
Besides several support staff hired for the new year, new teachers this fall include Emily Alt as a secondary ELA teacher and Jessica Ball as a kindergarten teacher. Wetherbee said Ball most recently taught elementary at Suttons Bay Public School, while Alt has taught in Mexico where she was previously living, however she has also taught in Leelanau county.
As busy as the summer has been for administrators and other school staff, Wetherbee said they’re ready to welcome kids back to campus for a new year.
“The students are really what keeps all of us going,” he said. “So as summer is coming to a close, we’re looking forward to having the students back in the building and that fresh energy. Staff reported today and they seem enthusiastic about the school year as well, so we’re looking forward to a great school year.”
