FAYETTEVILLE — The band played, the choir sang and cheering students waved shiny silver pom-poms as Owl Creek School was recognized for academic achievement Tuesday.
The middle school portion of Owl Creek was named a Diamond School to Watch for 2013, one of four Arkansas schools to receive the designation by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform.
Seventh-graders Zoe Reif, 12, and Maynard Valley, 13, unrolled a banner proclaiming the recognition in front of fellow middle school students, teachers, district administrators, principals from other schools, parents and community partners.
Correction
Zoe Reif's last name was misspelled in a previous version of this story. The error has been corrected.
At A Glance
Schools To Watch
Kirksey Middle School in Rogers was the first Diamond School to Watch in Arkansas. It received the honor three times. Other schools in Northwest Arkansas honored have been McNair Middle School in Fayetteville, and Helen Tyson, J.O. Kelly and Hellstern middle schools in Springdale. This year’s honorees are Owl Creek, Kirksey, Crossett Middle School in Crossett and Vilonia Middle School in Vilonia.
Source: middlegradesforum.o…
Schools are recognized for being academically excellent, developmentally responsive and socially equitable, said Mona Briggs, a state coordinator for the program.
Principal Kristen Champion said Owl Creek maintains high academic standards for all students and recognizes those achievements; has established activities to promote healthy living through afterschool programs and a wellness clinic; promotes leadership among students and teachers; and teaches students decision-making skills.
The recognition comes on the heels of Owl Creek coming off the state improvement list two years ago. The school was on the list for two years for failing to meet targets designated by No Child Left Behind.
The past spring, 84 percent of seventh-graders scored at or above grade level in math and 75 percent at or above grade level in literacy on the Benchmark exams.
“It’s a hard thing to climb out of,” said Champion. “This is a resounding public accolade for the unsung heroes who work here every day, the teachers, staff and students.”
Superintendent Vicki Thomas said, “This is another jewel in our crown. It speaks to the excellence going on in the district. The student achievement has been phenomenal.”
Students who escorted guests to the cafeteria for the program said they were excited about the honor.
Payton Seay, 12, said it is a good experience for the school to be recognized.
The recognition was built around a student-centered program that featured five students reciting Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address;” a video about the school by the Student Council; Iman Blackwell, the 2013 Martin Luther King Jr. essay winner; and an essay by Aura Comer about what the school means to her.
