RGS receives School of Distinction award

The Ritzville Grade School is celebrating a School of Distinction award they received on Oct. 14 for sustained improvement in English language arts and math.

Ritzville Grade School is one of 94 schools so honored by the Center for Educational Effectiveness (CEE) and their partner organizations that have recognized schools all over the state for continuous and substantive improvement.

On Oct. 14, RGS Principal Tom Arlt attended the awards ceremony at ESD 101 in Spokane. Teachers attending and representing the entire grade school staff were Carol Templin, Jenn Boness, Jen Verhey, and Janna Gingrich. Matt Ellis also attended, as well, representing the LRSD.

The highest scoring math and reading students from the 2016 SBAC were also invited. The students attending were Brody Boness, Brix Curtis, Michael Nichols, Ashleigh Swartz, Hunter Cameron and Taylor Galbreath. Each of the students shared one thing that made a difference in their academic success last year.

Arlt explained there are many reasons for the success of his grade school students. He cited the comprehensive intervention program and new reading curriculum, Reading Wonders, as the two most important reasons why students were so successful at RGS.

“When you check in and find out what each student is learning, no one is falling through the cracks. All kids are accountable for learning and all of them know we care enough to make sure that they are doing the learning work,” Arlt said.

“Students are regularly assessed in literacy and math and then placed in specialized groups for intensive study so students get the help and assistance, as well as extended applied learning options, they need. No student is an invisible learner. Our goal is that all students are successful.”