Yale Elementary teacher Kyle Niekamp helps fourth- and fifth-grade students use the Internet for a research project. The fifth-graders earned the school the Apple Award for significantlyimproving on the state standardized test.
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Yale Elementary students play basketball in the rain duringrecess. Students at the small school in Ariel received a $25,000grant for improving their state test scores and plan to use some ofthe money to spruce up the court.
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ARIEL A small class of fifth-graders at Yale Elementary Schoolis learning firsthand hard work pays off.
In the students case, it pays $25,000.
As fourth-graders, the students out-scored many of theircounterparts across the state on the standardized test. Last year,80 percent of Yale fourth-graders met or exceeded the state standardin reading and 90 percent hit the mark in math and writing.Statewide the percentages were much lower: 67 percent in reading, 54percent in math and 61 percent in writing.
True, we have small cohort sizes, Principal Mark Houk said. Butwhen you get 80, 90 percent of your students meeting the standards,those students, staff and parents are really doing something right.
As a reward for their hard work, the Ariel-area school with fewerthan 50 students was one of five elementary schools in the state toreceive the Apple Award. The annual award is given to schools thatshow significant improvement on the states standardized test. Threeyears ago, the percentage of Yale fourth-graders meeting thestandards ranged from 36 percent to 54 percent.
The Cowlitz County school also received a $25,000 grant, fundedby the Legislature, for capital construction projects determined bythe students.
When our principal told us we were just so surprised, 10-year-old Kiely Barton said.
For a small school like this, we never would get $25,000, sheadded. It was just life-changing.
The students, who are now fifth-graders, were tasked withfiguring out how to spend the money. They brainstormed ideas andgathered input from the younger students and parents. The wish listincluded a flat-screen TV for the lunch room, a skate park, newplayground equipment and renovating the gym. After thoughtfulconsideration, the students decided to use $10,000 to purchase 15laptops for the classrooms. The remaining money will renovate andexpand the schools outdoor basketball court.
On Wednesday morning, students in the combined fourth- and fifth-grade classroom huddled around the old, clunky desktop computers toresearch why bears are at the top of the food chain. Each of thefour computers had two to three students using it. Sometimesstudents argue over who gets to use the faster of the fourcomputers, 10-year-old Christian Catania said.
Several of the computers just freeze up and dont work right, hesaid.
While the laptops address educational needs, the basketball courtremodel will serve the whole community, Houk said. The students wantto expand the small court, paint lines on the concrete, fence thecourt, replace the old backboards and metal chains with new hoops,and build a cover, said Kyle Niekamp, the third-, fourth- and fifth-grade teacher.
After teaching the students for two years, Niekamp said hes ableto tailor lesson plans to meet the students needs. He tries to findfun and engaging ways to teach so the students are eager to learn.Theyre then able to translate what they learn in class into passingthe state test.
I dont like teaching to the test, Niekamp said. I dont thinkthats the most exciting way to learn. I dont want to teach them howto answer a multiple-choice question.
Several of the students also credited the small-schoolenvironment that makes it easier to get one-on-one help.
When I came here, I found out I learned a lot more here, said 10-year-old Elly Miller, who moved to the area from Washougal two yearsago.
And, of course, the hard work by students, staff and parents ispaying off, Niekamp said.
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