Twenty-two Plainwell educators spent a week in the Intel^® Teach Program learning to develop 21st century skills and the integration of technology for teaching and learning. Teachers will go back to the classrooms this fall and collaborate, analyze information, problem-solve, and communicate using online resources and technology tools.

 The class was taught by High School Principal, Dr. Jeremy Wright. The teachers earned graduate level credits from Central Michigan University for participating in the class.

Recently the state of Michigan released a top to bottom ranking of all schools as part of a requirement for federal Race to the Top grant dollars. The rankings were based on averaging a school’s reading, writing, and math scores on the MEAP or MME from 2008 and 2009 and then factoring in the change in that average from 2006 to 2007 and from 2007 to 2008. As we looked at the rankings, we were all surprised by the low ranking of Plainwell High School. Why was that ranking so low? There are two major factors. First, we had lower than expected passing rates on the MME for those two years. They were quite low in 2007 and after an improvement plan was put in place they improved slightly in 2009 – from an average of 51% to 57%. That was a move in the right direction, but it is not good enough. Improving our MME passing rate will be the number one priority for the high school staff and administration this year. The second factor has to do Read More…

 Here are some pictures of the new auditorium.

A view of the stage from the balcony

The lobby area