House Concurrent Resolution 59

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE BOVINA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL UPON THE EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT PERFORMANCE OF THE KINDERGARTEN ASSESSMENT AND PRE-KINDERGARTEN READINESS ASSESSMENT, ATTAINING THE HIGHEST SCORES IN THE VICKSBURG-WARREN SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WHEREAS, according to reports of the State Department of Education on the kindergarten and pre-kindergarten assessments for the 2017-2018 school year, the Vicksburg-Warren School District, with a score of 697, scored sixteen points higher than the state benchmark score of 681; and

WHEREAS, on the assessments which are given twice during the school year, in the fall and spring semesters to evaluate skills such as the ability to recognize letters and match letters to their sounds and a student's recognition that print flows from left to right, the Vicksburg-Warren School District experienced an average pre-K score increase of more than 150 points from the beginning of the year and an average kindergarten score increase of more than 180 points from the fall to the spring; and

WHEREAS, the state average for the fall kindergarten test was 504, and it jumped to 710 in the spring, while the Vicksburg-Warren School District scored 517 in the fall and gained 180 points on the spring test, which places those kindergarteners who hit the target of 681 on a solid path of success to meet and exceed the benchmarks established for the Third-Grade Reading Assessment; and

WHEREAS, Bovina Elementary School in Bovina, Mississippi, just on the outskirts of Vicksburg, is a beacon of success, having the second highest score in the district with a 723, just one point behind its sister school Warrenton Elementary, which chronicles the exceptional work and efforts being demonstrated by the school's instructional and administrative professionals, as well as the diligence and laudable efforts of the students coupled with consistent parental support and reinforcement; and

WHEREAS, the district also performed well in the Pre-Kindergarten Readiness Assessment, conducted on all state-funded pre-K programs for 4-year-olds, and with the state benchmark score of 498 the Vicksburg-Warren School District easily cleared that target with a score of 580, which was 154 points higher than the fall score and 30 points higher than the state average; and

WHEREAS, while all Vicksburg-Warren School District elementary schools with pre-K programs scored above the state benchmark, Bovina Elementary lead the school district with a score of 671, more than 200 points higher than its fall score, with Warrenton Elementary next at 618; and

WHEREAS, Bovina Elementary School's superior performances on these assessments is not by accident, but is attributed to the important role teachers, students and the community play in providing the foundation necessary for academic success by: setting high expectations for all students; having clear, written-out objectives; being prepared and organized; and planning and teaching lessons aligned to the district's standards; and

WHEREAS, because the leadership of Bovina Elementary School is always progressing and evolving with the best interests of the educators and students at the forefront of their planning, they envision a trajectory of continued success in all the academic years to come; and

WHEREAS, this accomplishment by Bovina Elementary School highlights the district's success in creating an innovative and compelling learning environment that engages students and provides tangible evidence of academic accomplishments, and is a great tribute to the wonderful students who have done a stellar job of meeting and exceeding established goals; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize the excellent academic progress made by schools such as Bovina Elementary School, which have brought honor to their community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Bovina Elementary School upon the exceptional student performance of the Kindergarten Assessment and Pre-Kindergarten Readiness Assessment by attaining the highest scores in the Vicksburg-Warren School District, and extend best wishes to school administrators, teachers and students for continued success in all of their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the principal of the Bovina Elementary School, the school board of the Vicksburg-Warren School District and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.