Page 14 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JunE 21, 2024 ~ Excellence in the EPS ~ From the ELA Department Read and Reacts StudySync selected after a lengthy vetting process A committee led by Department Chair Ryan McGowan and comprised of EHS teachers and two student representatives has unanimously selected a new high-quality curriculum for Grade 11 and 12 English Language Arts (ELA) classes and ELA Honors courses. StudySync by McGraw Hill was chosen after a year-long vetting process and will be rolled out in time for the 2024-2025 school year. “In the end, StudySync’s robust common assessments as well as the strong and direct scaff olds for diverse learners were the deciding factors for the committee in the unanimous vote in favor,” said McGowan. “The team agreed that the features of StudySync were most in line with our department, school, and district goals to improve achievement for all students, especially English Learners and Students with Disabilities. The new curriculum does not impact Advanced Placement courses but will be used for all mainstream, small group, and Honors ELA 3 and ELA 4 courses.” This work was completed as part of a as part of a larger cycle of curriculum review overseen by Everett Public Schools (EPS) Director of Instruction Anne Auger. The ELA Vetting and Selecting Team convened in the summer of 2023 and commenced a data-driven review of the Savvas curriculum. After receiving input from diff erent stakeholder groups and reviewing the curriculum itself, as well as third-party audits, the team recommended an overhaul of the Grades 11 (American Literature) and Grade 12 (World Literature) courses to increase students’ exposure to more high-interest texts with diverse perspectives for those two grade levels. McGowan worked alongside ELA teachers Michael Clifford, Stephenie Devino, Emily Gould, Sarah Simmons and Christopher Wright to develop an updated Literacy Vision for the ELA Department. The vision focuses on the use of high-quality instructional materials to increase all students’ access to grade-level text and tasks. Additionally, the committee used the TNTP (formerly known as The New Teacher Project) report “The Opportunity Myth” to help frame the instructional needs of students in diverse, urban communities. Finally, the team utilized guidance from the district’s Growing Literacy Equity Across Massachusetts team, which recently selected the Amplify ELA curriculum for grades 6-8. When the review was complete, the Vetting Team selected two products as fi nalists: StudySync and Odell High School Literacy. The members did a deep dive into both products, including meeting with representatives from both platforms and consulting with curriculum leaders from comparable districts, such as Salem and New Bedford. In addition, several ELA teachers piloted units with various parts of each curriculum. When it came time to pick a winner, StudySync was the clear choice. The next step in the process is training and setting pacing guidelines and curriculum expectations for next school year when students get their fi rst exposure to everything StudySynch has to off er. T he Keverian School Drama Club held its debut performance on Thursday, May 23, 2024, inside the EHS Center for the Performing Arts. Under the direction of teacher David Raposo, the students performed “James and the Giant Peach,” a delightfully offbeat adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic. Congratulations to the students, Keverian staff , PTO and parents and families who made this such a memorable moment for the district’s growing theater program. Crimson Tide Track Races to New Levels Team wins three GBL titles, sets three school records W hen he returned from the 2024 Greater Boston League (GBL) Outdoor Track Championships, Everett High School Head Coach Jehu Cimea had to sprint for the Crimson Tide record book – eraser in hand. In what was literally a historic day for the EHS track team, three Crimson Tide track athletes set new school records at the GBL Championships held on Monday, May 20, at Somerville’s Dilboy Stadium: • Sophomore Kayshaun Eveillard broke the 400-Meter record with a time of 51.31 – just eclipsing the previous mark of 51.34 held by Peter Duperier. (Earlier this year, Kayshaun set the school standard in the 200 with a time of 23.22, breaking another record held by Duperier.) • Senior captain Darrynn Desrameaux broke the shot put record with a throw of 33’ 11”. The previous record was held by fellow teammate and captain Layla Betancur-Cardona, who recorded a throw of 33’ 2.5” earlier in the season. • Senior captain Shane MacKenzie broke Kenneth A Widening Stage Keverian School Drama Club holds inaugural production From left: Sophomore Kayshaun Eveillard, Shane MacKenzie, senior captain Jalen Jones and Senior Captain Darrynn Desrameaux. From left: Senior Kaesta Sandy; 4 x 100 Meter Relay team members Isabella Pimenta, Yelsa Garcia and Zyelle CannonMathias and Kaesta Sandy; and Jalen Jones and Dawens Germain. Bailey’s discuss record (133’) with a throw of 133’ 8”. In addition, the Crimson Tide recorded for four firstplace finishes at the GBL Championships: • Desrameaux: Shot put and Discus. • Senior Kaesta Sandy: Javelin. • Senior captain Dawens Germain: High jump.
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