• Category 2

    Selected in 2023

  • Grades: pre k - 5
    School Setting: urban
    Town Population: 230,163
    Student Enrollment: 438
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 22.3%
    White/Caucasian: 40.6%
    Hispanic: 25.1%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.2%
    Asian: 1.6%
    Native American: 0.2%
    Other: 9.9%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:0
    % Reduced Lunch: 47%
    % ELL Learners: 9%
    Founded: 1953
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Danielle McIntyre
  • CONTACT:
    137 Westmont Avenue
    Norfolk, VA 23503
    757-531-3039
    dmcintyre@nps.k12.va.us
Mary Calcott Elementary School
Norfolk, VA
There was full collaboration between the classroom teacher and ELL teacher.
1. Tell us about your school’s success.
Black students at Mary Calcott increased their academic achievement in the area of science from 17% in the spring of 2021 to 53% in the spring of 2022, and then 83% in the spring of 2023.

Students with disabilities increased their academic achievement in the area of science from 50% spring of 2022 to 70% spring of 2023.

English Language Learners at Mary Calcott have increased their academic achievement in the area of reading over the past three years from 24% in the spring of 2021, to 50% spring of 2022, and 59% spring of 2023.
2. Talk about the greatest contributing factor(s) that promoted positive change in your school.
We created a Journeys Club for our ELL students to build community, provide academic support and social and emotional learning support for them. Our ELL teacher focused on content vocabulary, phonics, and connecting new concepts taught in class to existing understandings during her group time with her students. There was full collaboration between the classroom teacher and ELL teacher.

We created a group on our school-wide communication app specifically for our ELL families to encourage two way communication. This also gave the parents a platform to communicate among themselves and have direct contact with a school staff member for support.

We applied the scientific method within more units of the science curriculum. As a result of increasing the number of scientific investigations that students participate in, students have built a conceptual understanding of scientific concepts.
Another significant factor for increasing performance with our special education students in science was providing SPED support from the special education teacher or special education teacher assistant during the science block.
3. How has ESEA funding supported the school's success?
A large percentage of our funds were utilized to hire part-time tutors to increase the number of small groups and individualized instruction provided to our students during the school day. In addition to using funding for part-time tutors, Mary Calcott also benefited from a full time Title One Teacher who heavily supported remediation for students as well support for teachers to build their capacity with Tier One instruction. The Title One teacher also facilitated regular data meetings and supported teachers with analyzing data and strategies to improve student performance. Title One funds allowed field trips which provided meaningful learning opportunities for our students and a wealth of technology resources.

Title One funds were also utilized to pay a classroom teacher to provide evening science workshops for parents to equip them with the knowledge and understanding needed to support their students at home with their science fair projects.
4. What professional development activities were used to improve teaching and learning?
Teachers received training on the Five E Instructional Model - engage, explore, explain, elaborate and evaluate. In planning meetings and professional development sessions, teachers mapped out units to ensure that students had opportunities to fully engage with each component.

Our literacy professional development focused on best practices in phonological awareness routines, comprehension, and creating data driven flexible groups. In kindergarten through second grade, professional development focused on equipping our teachers with the knowledge and skills to provide daily whole group phonemic awareness and phonics routines that follow a systematic and explicit approach to teaching literacy skills.
In third through fifth grade, professional development consisted of training teachers to use a systematic approach to teaching word features, vocabulary, and language comprehension in order to support all levels of readers.
5. Talk about the cultural shift leading up to your school's success.
Mary Calcott took a close look at how we were delivering instruction. We determined that one key element that was missing in science was consistent hands-on engaging activities. Students were missing opportunities to engage with scientific investigations on a regular basis along with other hands-on activities. We began looking into ways to engage our students not only in science but in other content areas as well. We began having conversations and professional development about engagement. Our Title One teacher created a bulletin board in the lounge called, "Spotlight on Student Engagement." We began celebrating and recognizing teachers for implementing engaging activities in their lessons by displaying pictures of engagement in classrooms with a description of the activity on the bulletin board. The bulletin board not only recognized teachers for their efforts but we used it as a tool to share strategies with other teachers.
6. How has community involvement strengthened your success?
Mary Calcott has a strong partnership with our PTA. The PTA is very supportive of our academic programs and extracurricular activities for students. The PTA supports activities such as providing resources for honor roll programs, career day fairs, Young Audience programs, and volunteers for school events.
Our school also has faith-based partners who donate school supplies annually, food baskets to our families during holidays, and show appreciation to our faculty and staff during teacher appreciation week and various holidays.
Mary Calcott is also a Purple Star school and we partner with the nearby military base who volunteer annually for our Field Day. To show our appreciation, the school sponsors a military breakfast each year.
Stats
  • Category 2

    Selected in 2023

  • Grades: pre k - 5
    School Setting: urban
    Town Population: 230,163
    Student Enrollment: 438
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 22.3%
    White/Caucasian: 40.6%
    Hispanic: 25.1%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.2%
    Asian: 1.6%
    Native American: 0.2%
    Other: 9.9%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:0
    % Reduced Lunch: 47%
    % ELL Learners: 9%
    Founded: 1953
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Danielle McIntyre
  • CONTACT:
    137 Westmont Avenue
    Norfolk, VA 23503
    757-531-3039
    dmcintyre@nps.k12.va.us