Thomas Prince School Introduces STEAM Council

Thursday, December 24, 2015

GoLocalWorcester Lifestyle Team

The Thomas Prince School has announced the formation of the TPS Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics Council.

The council was formed to support the integrated STEAM education at the school by leveraging community and family resources, the STEAM Council is comprised of a diverse group of teachers and parents from Princeton and surrounding towns.

“The STEAM Council taps the talent and exploits the enthusiasm in the greater TPS community to help enrich our student experience. With time, we expect to add STEAM partner representatives to the Council to complement the teacher and parent ranks," said TPS principal Shannon Sutton.

The council is expected to build upon certain traditions and institutions established last year. Namely, the well attended STEAM Expo will return in 2016 in combination with the TPS Arts Festival.

The council will also oversee the introduction of new STEAM events and activities this school year.

STEAM Council Chair Tammy Boyle said, “Our STEAM Council members’ shared passion for STEAM along with strong TPS and District administrative support is a powerful combination. We would encourage more people to step up and join the Council. Our committees could each use some additional help so please contact me directly with any level of interest.”

About Thomas Price STEAM Program

The Thomas Prince School, public K -8 schooling Princeton MA, began conversation to a STEAM based approach. STEAM based learning helps couple logic and critical thinking with creativity and ingenuity.

Related Slideshow: MA Education Officials Debate Future of State Standardized Tests

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Mitchell Chester

Commissioner, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

“We are in the middle of a two-year tryout of the PARCC. You wouldn’t buy a car without taking it for a test drive. We know we have some items that need revision, that students found them confusing."

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Dianna L. Biancheria

Worcester School Committee

“I don’t want to see a hybrid of both tests; I want to see one or the other. The way I look at it is that the school district is prepared for PARCC testing or it isn’t. As a district, if we are ready and all factors are in place, then I see us moving forward. To split up the district would be irresponsible.”

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John L. Foley

Worcester School Committee

“There will always be some form of assessment tool in place to look at student achievement. The biggest concern that I have with moving to PARCC testing is that we lose the continuity of testing. Any sort of curriculum shift will render previous scores irrelevant. But then again, you always have to start somewhere.”

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David Perda

Chief Research & Accountability Officer, Worcester Public School District

“With any new initiative there is always a form of a learning curve. It would make it easier on the district if we could do some sort of hybrid. As a district, we don’t currently have any recommendation yet, but we are still giving it a lot of consideration; we have been asking a variety of people within the district about their opinion.”

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John F. Monfredo

Worcester School Committee

“I would like to get additional facts on PARCC testing. If PARCC is the next coming of MCAS then I want to find out exactly what we have to do and what some of the advantages could be. I would like a postponement of another year so that we can make an intelligent decision.”

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Tracy O'Connell Novick

Worcester School Committee

“I think it is unfortunate that we have to choose between two different standardized tests; we are choosing between two equally bad options. Teachers are evaluating students all of the time. We don’t need a formalized test which is something that is so outside of the classroom.”

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Linda Noonan

Executive Director, Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education

“MCAS is a good test for basic skills and testing for proficiency, but it is a basic test. It doesn’t test college readiness. We need to have an assessment in place properly tests whether or students are ready for higher education.”

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Brian A. O'Connell

Worcester School Committee

“The MCAS was developed specifically for Massachusetts as the standard. I’m concerned with PARCC testing because it is based on a national standard, whereas in Massachusetts we hold ourselves to a higher standard. I think that we should have a test that is tailor made to our state’s individual needs.”

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Hilda Ramirez

Worcester School Committee

“PARCC testing has been designed to test students on college readiness and 21st Century skills. A computerized test shouldn’t be a surprise; this is why the district put an emphasis of improving our technology infrastructure. I believe that the right steps are being taken to help districts align to PARCC.”

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JC Considine

Chief of Staff, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

“I wouldn’t be surprised if the state came down to a 50-50 split. We are hoping for a good split so that we can make sure that both sides are accurately represented, so that when the time comes, we can make a decision as a state.”