Tri-town students at both the high and middle school levels have exceeded state averages in the MCAS for science, mathematics, and English language arts, according to a presentation from Sharlene Fedorowicz, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning.
Following the heels of her meeting with the Marion School Committee from earlier this month, Fedorowicz last Thursday told school officials that Old Rochester Regional Students – much like elementary students in Marion – have not shown much growth in ELA, though still surpassed the state in every category.
This presentation, as well as a presentation on the district-wide Community Learning Program, were some of the major topics discussed at the December 12 ORR School Committee meeting.
“We remained well above the state scores,” Fedorowicz told school leaders.
In Grade 8, students displayed a slight decrease in growth in ELA but surpassed the state average in all domains. Grade 10 students displayed a 6-percent decrease in growth but outperformed the state in all categories, according to Fedorowicz.
Fedorowicz mentioned that some of these students took the test following several months of online, at-home learning during the 2020 COVID-19 shut down. This shutdown followed a school year in which students had to learn through masks, worn by both students and their teachers during the 2020-21 school year.
She and other school leaders’ students especially excelled at analyzing literature that traces character development.
In math and science, the district exceeded state scores by a wide margin and displayed growth over previous years.
She and other leaders noted that Grade students exceeded state scores by 19-percent and displayed a 6-percent increase over the previous year.
Some school leaders touted a learning program implemented across the district, OpenSciEd, a program that focuses on problem-solving learning, rather than traditional lecture-based learning for students.
School leaders also witnessed a slide show about the district’s Community Service-Learning program.
District leaders were wowed by the interest of students in giving back to the community. Projects included but were not limited to writing letters to soldiers and staff within the community, baking hot desserts, creating cold desserts for seniors, teaching students and certifying some with CPR training, making bags for the elderly, visiting sick children at hospitals, working on a community garden, as well conducting campus and community clean-ups, including Silver Shell Beach.
With the holiday season underway, school officials were impressed by the “Sounds of Happiness” program in which holiday songs have been recorded by district students and are being aired on Old Rochester Community Television.
The School Committee acknowledged the retirement of longtime ORR High School science teacher Lynn Connor. School leaders noted that Connor pioneered a marine biology program that brought students on exploratory trips in locations around the community – “bringing science to life,” according to one school leader. Officials said she has also helped the district over the years garner grants to improve education within the district.
The district approved an art student trip to France in April 2026. School leaders noted that these trips often happen during school vacation weeks and offer a great opportunity for students to travel abroad and improve their artistic understanding and cultural awareness.
The ORR committee will meet again February 27 at 6:30 pm through a hybrid Zoom link and at the junior high school media room.
ORR School Committee
By Jeffrey D. Wagner