SECRETARY, MD-On May 27, parents and students from Warwick
Elementary gathered at the Laurel Airport in Delaware to watch
Assistant Principal Leslie Tolley jump out of an airplane! Several
days later, both Tolley and the school's principal, Susie Price,
puckered-up to kiss a pig in front of the entire student body.
Students cheered wildly at both events, which were the payoff on a
promise Tolley made to her students at the beginning of the school
year.
Assistant Principal Leslie Tolley just seconds
into her free-fall, and kissing an adorable baby pig provided by
Kral Farms.
"Warwick Elementary participated in the national First in Math
Top Ten competition this year for the first time," explains Tolley.
"Students immediately became engaged in the program, but I decided
I wanted to present them with a challenge, so in September I told
them I would kiss a pig in front of the whole school if Warwick was
ranked #1 in Dorchester County out of all elementary and middle
schools by May. The older students one-upped my challenge, and
asked if I would skydive instead. I couldn't say no," smiles
Tolley.
Warwick teachers did their part, announcing their Player of the
Day every morning, awarding Player of the Week and Team of the Week
prizes every Monday, and routinely holding drawings and contests
for those students who were top players. Students donated a toy pig
playfully named 'Bacon' and made it their unofficial mascot. Tolley
says students not only remained enthusiastic and engaged in the
mathematics challenge throughout the school year, but they also
exceeded her expectations.
"As a former math teacher, I am thrilled to see the level of
excitement in both the students and staff regarding First In Math,"
says Tolley. "This program made math fun for our kids, and provided
incentive for them to learn beyond the scope of their prescribed
curriculum. Teachers regularly shared that students would ask for
instruction on topics that are typically not taught until much
later in the year or even the next grade level. In years past,
teachers have struggled with keeping their students on
education-based websites when given time on the computers. This
year, students were begging to get on First in Math!"
"I am anxious to see the increase in our standardized
mathematics scores. I have no doubt that scores will far exceed
what we have achieved in the past, due largely to our participation
in First in Math."
Principal Price points out that in addition to all of the
recognition students received-and all of the math practice-she was
ecstatic to see the number of minority students who ranked in the
top five in their classes. "First In Math truly motivated these
students to excel in the area of mathematics, which was an
advantage that we did not fully realize until the FIM awards were
handed out at the end of the year."
Top left: Principal Susie Price, Assistant
Principal Leslie Tolley and FIM Rep. Brock Estes congratulate
Rachael Albert, top-ranked student in Dorchester County and the
State of Maryland among 2nd graders. Top right: Several Warwick
students offer encouragement at the airport. Bottom: Top five
students in each class receive awards at the FIM recognition
ceremony.
"Congratulations on a great first year with First In Math,"
exclaimed FIM representative Brock Estes, who was a guest of honor
at the school's May 31 Award Ceremony. "Assistant Principal Tolley
certainly went way above the call of duty in her promise to kiss a
pig. And, oh yeah, jump out of a perfectly good airplane! I've
never seen someone so totally calm before a first jump... it was as
if she were gathering students for an assembly." The skydiving
footage was played at the beginning of the celebration, to the oohs
and aahs of all in attendance. Estes presented Principal Price with
a plaque recognizing the school's #1 ranking in Dorchester County,
and Tolley received a plaque for excellence in promoting
mathematics education.
Additional honors went to Cole Ledger, the top-ranked first
grader in the state of Maryland, and Rachael Albert and Ian Ledger,
ranked #1 and #2 in Dorchester County, respectively, among all
second-graders. Teacher Lisa LeCompte was recognized as the
top-ranked educator player in Dorchester County and 8th-ranked
educator in the state. Awards were given to the top five players on
each Team, and medals were awarded to the top five players in the
school.
Estes also thanked Michael Johnson, K-12 Supervisor of Math, for
making sure that that Dorchester County had FIM in all their
Elementary and Middle schools this year.
Looking back, a happy Tolley says it was all worth it, even
though she may not have needed to provide the additional
motivation. "When I first presented the 'kiss a pig/skydive'
challenge in September, it was because I never dreamed that
students could remain at the same level of enthusiasm and
excitement until May. Right now, instead of dropping the program
until next year, our students are still playing, and have been
tossing around ideas for future challenges. I am so proud of the
fact that they want to do even more, and exceed the bar that they
have set so high this year."
Although the challenge for next year has yet to be determined,
Mrs. Tolley-and her students-are looking forward to September.