School principal Rizalina M. Purugganan said KoES has re-opened its computer laboratory after it closed in 2006 due to lack of funding.
The computer laboratory has 15 computers and a computer teacher, she said.
The school was able to purchase five new computers for the library, three new laptops for the Power Reading Program, and four new computers and computer accessories for Umang Times, the school magazine, she said.
Purugganan said they also provided 27 new computers to all classrooms, with wireless Internet and software for reading, math, and social science.
Moreover, all classrooms were provided with overhead projectors, computer printers, ink supplies and flash drivers, she added.
In her progress report to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Associated of Schools and College, Purugganan said the school developed and created a School Grade Level Assessment, or SGLA, to determine student progress based on the standards and benchmarks taught in all grade levels.
Purugganan said the SGLA was implemented in school year 2007-2008 and many discrepancies and issues were raised during the period.
The data were not properly recorded, she admitted.
“Stakeholders decided to address discrepancies and concerns n SGLA this school year and implement the assessments again in school year 2009-2010,” she said.
The principal said KoES teachers developed curriculum maps and curriculum units to ensure that the expected school wide learning results are used as the basis for the development of the curriculum.
She said the teachers’ lesson plans indicate which standards and benchmarks and expected school wide learning results are being addressed.
The Public School System aims to develop and implement the standards-based report card for all elementary schools in the CNMI.
Purugganan said the plan is to assess student progress based on the appropriate standards and benchmarks in each grade level.
KoES student report cards include an ESLR grade which indicates the status of the students, she said, adding that the benchmark mastery will be outlined for each student.
KoES, she said, has piloted the standards-based report card in certain grade levels this school year.
In accordance with the goal of becoming a standards-based school, teachers developed a standards-based checklist to report student progress during mid-quarter progress report.
While the new standards-based progress report checklist was introduced to parents for the first time during the second quarter, the school plans to fully implement the standards-based report cards for all grade levels in school year 2009-2010, Purugganan said.
