Hebron Fair Returns with a Rodeo Smarter Balanced Results Set
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US. POSTAGE PAID GLASTONBURY CITIZEN, INC. P.O. BOX 373, GLASTONBURY, CT, 06033 POSTAL CUSTOMER PRESORTED STANDARD LOCAL ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ RIVEREAST News Bulletin Serving Amston, Andover, Cobalt, Colchester, East Hampton, Hebron, Marlborough, Middle Haddam and Portland Volume 40, Number 19 Published by The Glastonbury Citizen September 4, 2015 Hebron Fair Returns With a Rodeo by Geeta Schrayter At the Hebron Lions Fairgrounds this week, sylvania and as far away as Las Vegas, to re- the most noticeable sound was… crickets. And search whether or not to bring one to Hebron. accompanying that not-so-rowdy noise was a “What was interesting in Vegas was, I went nonexistent crowd, empty vendor booths and prior to the opening to see the demographics, barns with nary an animal to be seen. and there were kids to elderly, dressed in ca- But there were hints of things to come: men sual wear to evening gowns. Everything went setting up giant tents and fixing up booths, across the board and I thought it would be a stacks of picnic tables and lines of garbage and great addition” he said, adding, “We’re look- recycling bins – all in preparation for the up- ing forward to that.” coming Hebron Harvest Fair, when the sights Also new this year will be a beer and wine and sounds on the grounds will be vastly dif- pavilion sponsored by ROGO Distributors and ferent. Coors – which calls itself “the official beer of The fair arrives next Thursday, Sept. 10, and rodeo.” Tarbell explained Coors Light will be runs through Sunday, Sept. 13, bringing with it the primary domestic beer, but there will be a wide array of activities, exhibits, food and other brands as well. In addition, red and white fun for the whole family. This year, the fair wine will be available from Glastonbury-based comes to town for its 45th year with the theme winery Crystal Ridge. “a country fair with rodeo flair” – a nod to a Drinking will only be allowed inside the pa- new addition to this year’s event: a professional vilion, and Tarbell explained photo IDs will be rodeo. scanned for age compliance. In addition, he The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Associa- added, “We’ve worked hard with state police tion (PRCA) ProRodeo will be at the fair Sat- and AHM [Youth and Family Services] to put The grounds in front of the Leos Stage may have been barren this week, but soon urday and Sunday with seven different events: on a successful event.” the area will be filled with people enjoying the various acts that will take to the steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, Tarbell said 37 people had received Training stage during this year’s Hebron Harvest Fair, such as the Farmers Cow Country bareback riding, roping, team roping and ladies for Intervention Procedures [TIPs], which is Music Showdown and Branded – Country That Rocks. Meanwhile, on the nearby barrel racing. “education and training for the responsible ser- Lions Stage, acts such as a tribute band to the Beach Boys, an ‘80s cover band and Mike Tarbell, this year’s fair superintendent, vice, sale and consumption of alcohol,” accord- this year’s main act – Nashville artist David Nail – will perform. explained Tuesday he’d gone to see a number ing to the website gettips.com. of rodeos over the summer in New York, Penn- See Hebron Fair Page 2 Smarter Balanced Results Set Assessment Baseline by Geeta Schrayter The results of the new Smarter Balanced ward the fulfillment of the promise of college this week regarding the results, “Overall we are that.” Assessments were released by the state Depart- and career readiness.” very pleased with this first round of testing. This Mathieu commented on the difference be- ment of Education last week and, through them, The new test scores range from one to four. is our baseline year and so we have a good foun- tween the Smarter Balanced Assessments and a baseline was formed that will help track stu- Level 1 means the student “does not meet the dation, but we also know the areas that we need previous exams such as the Connecticut Mas- dent growth and measure achievement moving achievement level,” and Level 2 means the stu- to work on and focus on.” tery Test and the Connecticut Academic Per- forward. dent is “approaching the achievement level.” Moving forward, she continued, “We know formance Test, and explained the district was According to the state Department of Edu- Meanwhile, Level 3 means the student “meets that we will be focusing on improving what the just beginning to look at trends and strands in cation (SDE), these new assessments, which the achievement level” and Level 4 means the teachers and students have already done, but the results to see how to adjust curriculum “so were administered for the first time last year, student “exceeds the achievement level.” overall we’re very pleased with how well the we can continue to improve on scores next align with the Common Core State Standards In the towns covered by the Rivereast, scores students did and it’s in large part thanks to the year.” which focus on critical thinking and problem varied, with superintendents who had the time work that was put in by the teachers and just Mathieu added a presentation on the results solving – “the real-world skills students need to look over the results amid the start of a new understanding the tests and having a really solid would take place at the next Board of Educa- to be successful in college and careers.” school year saying they were pleased, but rec- curriculum to back up the language arts and tion meeting Tuesday, Sept 8, at 7 p.m. at Jack The Smarter Balanced Assessments “are de- ognized more work would be needed, and em- math results.” Jackter Intermediate School. signed to measure these skills through reading phasized – like the SDE – that this year’s re- Over in Colchester, 32.8 percent of students Over in East Hampton, 26.9 of Belltown’s comprehension, writing, and math questions sults formed baseline data, and more informa- exceed the achievement level for English lan- students exceed the achievement level in En- that require students to demonstrate that they tion on student performance would be garnered guage arts while 36.7 percent meet that level, glish language arts while 37.1 percent meet that truly understand the content — not just fill in a as the years progressed. 20.5 percent are approaching that level, and 10 level. Meanwhile, 22.7 are approaching that bubble,” it’s explained on the SDE website, In Andover, the majority of students at percent do not meet that level. level and 13.3 do not meet that level. sde.ct.gov. “Smarter Balanced will help parents Andover Elementary School – 53.4 percent – As for math, 22.7 percent of Colchester stu- As for math, 14 percent exceed the achieve- and teachers better understand how the student were found to exceed the achievement level for dents exceed the achievement level while 28.5 ment level, 29.5 percent meet that level, 34.3 is progressing, revealing where the student is English language arts. This was followed by percent meet it. Meanwhile, 30.3 percent are percent are approaching that level, and 22.2 excelling and where the student needs extra 26.4 percent who meet the achievement level, approaching that level, and 18.5 percent cur- percent do not meet the achievement level. help.” 16.6 percent who are approaching the achieve- rently do not meet that level. In Hebron meanwhile, 26.1 percent of stu- Since the Smarter Balanced Assessments test ment level, and 3.7 percent who do not meet “We were pleased with our scores,” dents at the town’s two elementary schools ex- content and skills different from exams in the the achievement level. Colchester schools superintendent Jeffry ceed the achievement level in English language past, they also come with a change in scoring. Regarding math, 41.1 percent exceed the Mathieu said this week. “In looking at other arts, 38.5 percent meet that level, 20.6 percent The change, the SDE explained, “does not mean achievement level, while 29.4 percent meet the states that surround us that have been using the are approaching the level, and 14.9 percent do that students are learning less. Rather, it reflects achievement level, 23.9 percent are approach- test for a number of years, we were thinking not meet that level; as for math, 15 percent ex- that the bar was set higher.” And, moving for- ing that level and 5.5 percent do not currently that our scores would probably be more reflec- ceed the achievement level and 33.9 percent ward, the results garnered from the initial test meet that level. tive of those states, and [Colchester’s scores] meet that level, while another 33.9 percent are “will more fully reflect students’ progress to- Superintendent of Schools Sally Doyen said were much higher, so we were pleased about See Balanced Results Page 2 Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cov Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cov Balanced Results cont. from Front Page approaching that level, and 17.1 percent do not superintendent Philip O’Reilly said this week, meet that level. “so in the next few weeks to the next year we Hebron schools superintendent Tim Van Tasel will be digging into the results, disaggregating said he will present the results to the town’s data, and looking at where we have needs and Board of Education at the Sept.