Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elementary School Improvement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Nathaniel Morton details academic interventions, facility upgrades and SEL initiatives in annual plan
Summary
Nathaniel Morton principals Kristi Chase and Taylor presented the school's improvement plan, describing academic data teams, inclusive EL supports, building improvements, and expanded social-emotional learning and family engagement efforts.
Kristi Chase, principal of Nathaniel Morton Elementary School, and Taylor (SEL lead) presented their school improvement plan to the Plymouth School Committee on May 5, outlining academic targets, recent facility work and social-emotional learning programs intended to reduce referrals and strengthen family engagement.
Chase said the school's leadership team has focused on data-driven interventions. "We're working with a school-wide data team," she said, naming math coach Jen Marciani and CTLs as collaborators. Chase said the school uses STAR district assessments to track intervention needs and set growth targets; she said the school established a goal range of 40—60 percent growth for assessment periods and reported that many classrooms met that benchmark.
Chase reviewed recent facility projects: a roof replacement completed a few years ago, a new cafeteria floor, a refinished gym floor and ongoing painting and ceiling work. She said air-conditioning units have been installed in the cafeteria and larger units are planned for the gym and library. She also said the school will add upgraded security cameras.
On English-language supports, Chase said the school shares 1.5 EL teachers with Cold Spring and reported testing and benchmark data this year: of 26 students with standing EL goals, nine met the benchmark and eight tested out of the EL program. She described an early success after hiring a bilingual paraprofessional who helped a newcomer student participate in a field trip and eased language barriers between staff and families.
Taylor described social-emotional work at Nathaniel Morton: weekly SEL team meetings including the nurse and counselor, bus-safety assemblies with School Resource Officer Vinnie Roth, and "community meetings" (grade-level assemblies) that revisit expectations after breaks. Taylor said the school piloted responsive, grade-specific community meetings this year and plans to continue them monthly to reinforce expected behavior and perspective-taking skills.
Family-engagement steps described included "coffee with the principal" sessions on topics such as anxiety and social media safety, a volunteer-friendly PTA that runs family events, and a March challenge to limit screen time called "screen-free Fridays." Chase and Taylor also listed after-school clubs, a Kindness Club started by the school nurse, and fundraising efforts that raised roughly $17,000 for playground upgrades.
Committee members praised the presentations and singled out the bilingual paraprofessional, the SEL meetings and community meeting model as constructive steps. Superintendent David Campbell and other committee members thanked school staff for the work.
No formal committee action was taken on the Nathaniel Morton improvement plan at the meeting; the presentation was entered into the committee record for review.
