The WASC team — Dr. James Denight, Visiting Committee Chairman, and Lourdes San
Nicholas — was in the country on April 8 and 9 to oversee the accreditation process. Two months ago, PHS officially received its certificate of accreditation.
Both Principal Ibuuch Tomoichi and Vice Principal Smyth Rdang are happy with the results of the accreditation. The accreditation is good from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2013.
“The recommendations are nothing major,” PHS Principal Ibuuch Tomoichi said in an interview. Although the results of the accreditation came out months ago, Tomoichi did not talk about it with the media until she had a meeting with the school Board.
The WASC accrediting team has commended the school for its development and implementation of clinical supervision that is used by school administration to observe, monitor and evaluate all teachers’ performances on a regular basis; the way the school provides professional development workshops to teachers in using individual student test data for increasing student achievement; the school’s use of data-driven decision-making when deciding what programs will best meet the need of individual students; and last but not least, the school’s strong collaboration between teachers and counselors in the collection of data regarding the academic and social development progress of each student.
The team also complimented the school for its courteous, friendly and proud students who have responded positively to the expectations of the new school leaders; its focus on maintaining effective leadership with the appointment of a new principal and vice principal; and its expansion of the current academies with the creation of the new Arts and Humanities Academy and Health and Human Services Academy, as well as renovation of both the addition of the internet and wireless connections and the fencing of the school campus.
The PHS staff are commended for their dedication in assisting the new school leaders during the WASC process.
The WASC accrediting team also noted the development of a student tracking system that involves grouping all teachers and staff as advisors for each of the grade levels, holding weekly departmental meetings, monthly staff meetings, quarterly PTSA meetings, and regular school assemblies.
However, along the commendations are areas recommendations for improvement of the school, which includes strengthening of the area of professional development and certification by the administration and the MOE, and working on aligning the curriculum standards with the district assessment tools and school curriculum.
The WASC team also found that there has been no significant increase in the five core content areas during the last five years for grade 10. “The school and the MOE should continue to explore instructional strategies and methods that will increase student achievement across the curriculum,” the WASC team recommendation said.
Also, the school administration and MOE should continue to explore ways to repair and maintain the Language Lab.
There is likewise an urgent safety and health needs to address the continuing deterioration of the school building, and to establish a consistent daily custodial program for the campus.
To enhance the Physical Education Program and to provide for the health of the student body, it was strongly recommended that the school administration and the MOE consider physical education students with showers and locker rooms.
It was also recommended that the school consider adding music and art instruction to the school curriculum, given the strong artistic background of the Palauan Culture and the interests of the students.
PHS received its first accreditation in 2007.
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