Pine-Richland Middle School Named School to Watch

PRMS to officially Celebrate on May 29, 2007

Pine-Richland Middle School (PRMS) is one of only three Pennsylvania middle-grades schools to be named “Schools to Watch” as part of a recognition program developed by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform.

The Pennsylvania Don Eichhorn Schools: Schools to Watch Team announced March 4, 2007, at the PA Middle School Association State Conference in Harrisburg, that DuBois Middle School, Lenape Middle School and PRMS are schools that met its strict criteria.

At that conference, PRMS Principal Dr. Kathy Harrington, PRMS Assistant Principal John Pietrusinski and teachers Dr. Susan Frantz, Jennifer Latronica, Angela Morascyzk, Andrea Peck, J.P. Prager, T.J. Srsic and Ryan Woods accepted the award. The group made a presentation highlighting the middle school’s academic teams, pre-advanced placement programs, technology and community service projects. Delegates toured PRMS virtually through a video that students and staff created.

State leaders based its selection criteria on many factors including the following:

• Academic excellence
• Responsiveness to the needs & Interests of Young Adolescents
• Commitment to Helping All Students Achieve at High Levels
• Strong Leadership Team
• Teachers Who Work Together to Improve Curriculum & Instruction
• Commitment to Assessment & Accountability to Bring About Continuous Improvement

“We congratulate these schools for being places that do great things for all of their students,” said Dr. John Harrison, president of the National Forum. “These schools demonstrate that high-performing middle grades schools are places that focus on academic growth and achievement. They are also places that recognize the importance of meeting the needs of all of their students and ensure that every child has access to a rigorous, high-quality education.”

To be considered, schools submitted a written application showing how they met criteria developed by the National Forum. Schools that appeared to meet the criteria were then visited by state teams who observed classrooms, interviewed administrators, teachers, and parents, and l ooked at achievement data, quality of lessons, and student work. Schools are recognized for a three-year period, and at the end of three years must repeat the process in order to be re-designated.

Dr. Harrington says the selection committee described PRMS as an “exciting, electric environment for learning inspired by a hardworking staff”.

“This is a team award,” Dr. Harrington said. “I am really proud of the middle school. The staff gives 110 percent every day. The kids are marvelous. That’s because of the parents. This starts with the central administration and the school board. They’ve been really supportive.”

While PRMS makes up of only one of three schools chosen in 2007 for the middle school award, it is only one of 34 in the US.

In May, the middle school students and staff will host a celebration in recognition of the award.

From June 21-23, representatives from the middle school will attend the Schools to Watch Annual Conference, in Washington, D.C.

The Schools to Watch Team established partnerships with the Pennsylvania Middle School Association, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Duquesne University and Lehigh University.