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Show Wuzsm Ehmmtmy Sis km E 'Pnmipesi - SommisMlts &bh Eimmtmm 1m Pmb (Hilly In response to queries . Ifrom the Record last week, Marsac Elementary School Principal John Elvell com-'mented com-'mented on education in Park iCity, the programs at Mar-isac, Mar-isac, the recent NTCS survey, and parent-teacher-community involvement. What Is Your Background? Back-ground? I have a B.S. and M. Ed. We are striving to further improve the curriculum and instruction as material and human resources allow. As in the past, we hope to work with the school patronage and seek their support. Can You Comment On The NTDS Survey? We are appreciative of the many positive remarks made about the elementary school in the N.T.DJS. survey. Some general negative remarks were difficult to interpret because of their vagueness. The term 'schools in the survey is too vague. We have two entirely different schools and many facets to our operation. The survey itself was probably a good sample and served it's purpose. I would like to see a more complete survey which would include our total school community, Such as Summit Park, Sny-derville, Sny-derville, etc. Most of the school criticisms have been heard before. I do think the school should be responsive to allthecrit-cisms allthecrit-cisms whether we agree with the comments or not. Better public relations, communications and continuous con-tinuous evaluation should be a part of our business. Some school criticism is unfortunately heresay from uninformed people. I would urge all citizens to visit the schools, attend school board meetings, support school activities ac-tivities and attempt to find out what is going on. Apathy and malicious gossip do not improve community schools. What About Comments Com-ments In The Survey On LDS Influence. In The Schools? The N.T.D.S. also recorded record-ed a few negative remarks about dominant L.DJ5. influence in-fluence in the schools. This is a common criticism crit-icism by non-Mormons of Utah's schools and government. govern-ment. I can find no basis for these comments in the Marsac School. Our staff represents people from varied backgrounds back-grounds and locations. I know of no survey or of anyone asking faculty members of what faith they might be at the time of hiring or after. We are only concerned with professional qualifications qualifica-tions and proven competence in the field of education. The L.DJS. majority of Utah's population is certainly certain-ly a contributing factor of why so many Mormons are in education. This state also has some excellent teachers' colleges tfiat provide many top candidates can-didates in a surplus market. I understand that there has been a special citizen advisory advis-ory committee formed to study local education. This is not a new approach in attempting to improve the -schools. Many school districts dis-tricts have advisory committees com-mittees for each school it has proven to be a good vehicle ve-hicle for improved communication commun-ication and relations if properly prop-erly used. - ' v. " V .. , I "... ;, s,v. 'V:-0: . . w. i .. .. .;. ., : v - ; ; .... , j "i '' .- & school day schedule that allows al-lows a three-hour teacher preparation, evaluation or inservice training period each week. Most of the children use this afternoon to take school sponsored ski lessons. Part of each afternoon is normally used for P.E. periods. per-iods. Evidently this program is misunderstood by a very few. Children will spend the same amount of time in school and the teachers do not get this time off. Data indicates the school achievement achieve-ment has been getting much better and the one afternoon contributes to better prepared pre-pared teachers andastu-dentbody andastu-dentbody .with high morale. This program has also been successful in other Utah districts and ski towns in other states. Parents, teachers teach-ers and students have given this program overwhelming support. What About Student Performance On Achi-vement Achi-vement Tests? Recent independent achievement test evaluations conducted by the Rocky Mountain Regional Resource Center at the University of Utah reported scores well above norm levels compared to the six neighboring districts. dis-tricts. Data of the nationally normed Metropolitan achievement tests showed Park City elementary students stu-dents above average to excellent ex-cellent in all areas and especially es-pecially high in primary reading and math programs. How Do You Feel About Parent-Community Involvement? We have benefited greatly from a strong PTA that has helped many school projects. They have organized an outstanding out-standing volunteer teacher aide program and community commun-ity resource service. Community involvement has definitely improved communications of what the school is doing and what the community would like it's elementary school to be. in Curriculum and Educational Educa-tional Administration from Brigham Young University. Also I did non-matriculated graduate study at University Univer-sity of California at LosAn-geles LosAn-geles and Stanford University Univer-sity in curriculum, philosophy philos-ophy and psychology. My professional education experience ex-perience includes elementary elemen-tary and secondary schools in California and Utah. I have been an elementary principal for seven years in Utah. I have served on state curriculum selection committees inCaliforniaand Utah. I am presently the director dir-ector of the North Central Region for Utah Elementary Principals' Association and am presently in my third year as principal of the Marsac Mar-sac Elementary School. What Kinds Of New Programs Are There At Marsac? In the past two years the Marsac school has been in continuous evaluation for upgrading up-grading the curriculum. The library is small but of high quality. It has recently been improved with the purchase pur-chase of many new books. Math, reading and spelling programs have been renewed renew-ed and are comparable to any of the best schools in Utah and the UJS. Several innovative programs pro-grams have received national nation-al and state recognition. The Marsac School has been designated as a Physical Fitness Demonstration Demon-stration Center for its exemplary ex-emplary program. It has recently re-cently been notified that it has won the Utah State Championship for the highest student fitness scores in the state for 1974. The Utah State Board has granted $8,000.00 to Marsac for an innovative instructional instruc-tional resource center. Last year we were funded by the State for unique approach ap-proach for drug abuse prevention pre-vention and other high risk behaviors. This particular approach, based on value clarification and decisionmaking, decision-making, is now being given major emphasis in education. educa-tion. Our students also enjoy Spanish, band and a wide range of sport opportunities. Skiing, wrestling, tumbling and soccer along with the usual sport activities are very popular with our students. stu-dents. The last few years Marsac Mar-sac has had an expanded John Elwell looking over survey results |
