They might not have realized it, but Daniel Island School’s middle school students have been participating in a contest.
The contest involves a software program called i-Ready, an online assessment and instruction tool teachers use to support students in reading and math proficiency. In the contest, students were monitored for following their i-Ready lessons and completing tasks within a certain amount of time per week.
Daniel Island School students ended up winning the first-ever contest because they did such a great job with their i-Ready math lessons, and subsequently helped their school be named an “i-Ready Super School” for the next month.
Berkeley County School District Superintendent Deon Jackson and Coordinator of Innovation Jennifer Croley came to the school on Thursday morning to present the school and with a special banner during an assembly with the middle school students.
“We’re excited – you’re the first school to get it,” Croley told a packed multipurpose room. “Congratulations, Daniel Island School. We are proud of your hard work.”
Jackson also told students that the contest is not necessarily over; their hard work will continue to be assessed over the next month, and Daniel Island School could potentially win again.
“You have the opportunity to not just have it for this month; you have the opportunity to keep it,” he said. “Can you do it?” (This was met with a big “yes” from the students).
In addition, Principal Nancy Leigh recognized 11 students have scored the highest ratings in the program in their grade level: eighth-graders Nathalie Montano, William Webb, London Silbiger and Charles Brollier; seventh-graders William Rodgers, Parker Dolan and Parker Layton; and sixth-graders Elyse Gerding, Troy Shaw and Nathaniel Rizzo.