 | | MESPA Home > Honors > Minnesota Schools of Excellence > 2007-2008 Validations > Murray County Central Elementary School |  | | MESPA Home > Honors > Minnesota Schools of Excellence > 2007-2008 Validations > Murray County Central Elementary School | | | Murray County Central Elementary School | |  | | Sally Berg, principal |
2007-2008 MESPA Minnesota School of Excellence
Murray County Central Schools, ISD #2169
“No one person makes a school excellent. It is the combined efforts of
a superior staff, caring parents, a supportive community, and great
kids. We are fortunate at Murray County Central Elementary School to
have this great combination working together to achieve excellence.”
Sally Berg is the principal of Murray County Central Elementary School, a PK-6 school located in the county seat town of Slayton in southwestern Minnesota. Murray County is the most agriculturally dependent county in the state; many of the students come from live on farms or their parents work in businesses related to farming. The elementary schools serves 380 students from Slayton as well as the surrounding communities of Avoca, Chandler, Currie, Iona, Hadley, Lake Shetek area and Lake Wilson.
Murray County Central Elementary students are located in two buildings. The "central" or high school building is home to the students in preschool, kindergarten and first grade. Second through sixth grade students attend classes in the "west" building. One administrator, Sally Berg, serves the elementary students in both the locations. Thirty-five percent of students receive free or reduced-priced lunches, and about four percent of the student population is racially diverse, most being of Latino descent.
The Murray County Central School Board supports the belief that our students will learn best in small classes: the average class size in grade K-2 is 16.9 students; grades 3-6 have an average of 18.4 students. The students at Murray County Central Elementary have physical education and music taught by professionals daily. Students in grades 5-6 may participate in the band program. All-day, every day kindergarten has been available for all students at no cost to parents since 1998. The Enrichment Program provides intellectual challenge and opportunities for students who are working above grade level.
To promote and support effective teaching practices, Berg annually evaluates each staff member. She also makes a point to conduct formal walkthroughs of each classroom one to three times per week. As the school’s instructional leader, this gives her an understanding of what is happening in the classrooms, and has the added benefit of showing students that what they do in the school is important. Teachers also are encouraged to conduct walkthroughs of other classrooms, to develop ideas and strategies that can be used in their own classrooms.
Murray County Central Elementary is a student-centered school, with a strong emphasis on community. The school’s mission is "to prepare all learners for a successful tomorrow." The mission was written by the elementary teaching staff 10 years ago and still seems fitting today as the school welcomes all students with the philosophy that they will graduate with Murray County. The staff believes that all children, regardless of intellect, socioeconomic status, or disability, can reach their potential and thereby have success. They often say “if our most challenged children can find success in our school, our school will also be successful.”
The student council wrote the following Rebel Pledge which is recited by Murray County Elementary students: "I am here to learn; therefore, I will do nothing to keep the teacher from teaching and anyone, myself included, from learning. I will cooperate with all school people. I will respect myself, others, and the environment. By acting this way, I can help myself prepare for a successful tomorrow."
As principal, Sally Berg believes: “No one person makes a school excellent. It is the combined efforts of a superior staff, caring parents, a supportive community, and great kids. We are fortunate at Murray County Central Elementary School to have this great combination working together to achieve excellence.”
Murray County Central Elementary Minnesota School of Excellence Celebration:
May 13, 2008
1 p.m.
Murray County Central Elementary School will hold a celebration to honor its Minnesota School of Excellence validation on Tuesday, May 13. The celebration will begin at 1 p.m., and will close with ice cream treats for all. The community has been invited to participate and this will be a vibrant, active event – with children, families, school staff, and community dignitaries, and a parade! The focus will be on the students. Staff and students will be wearing special School of Excellence purple t-shirts – and some parents have purchased them as well.
“We are excited for our celebration,” said Sally Berg, principal, Murray County Central Elementary. “The plans have evolved over several months by numerous committees. Hopefully we will have wonderful weather and a great day.”
At 1:15 p.m., grades K-1 will board their floats on King Avenue. At 1:30 p.m., they will travel to West to meet up with grades 2-6. From 1:30 – 1:45 p.m., the parade entries line up at West on 26th Street. Beginning at 1:45 p.m., the parade will travel to Broadway Avenue, turn south on Broadway, turn right on 28th Street, and left on King Avenue, to end at the school gym.
The indoor program will begin in the gym at 2:15. It will include a song by the elementary honor choir, reading of student essays, and the awarding of School of Excellence pins to teachers and volunteers with over 20 hours of service. In addition to the community of school parents, community and education dignitaries will include: Dan Woldt, chair, Murray County Central School Board; Stephen Jones, superintendent, Murray County Central Public Schools; and MESPA Past President Patrick J. Murray, who will present the Murray County Central Elementary school community with a Minnesota School of Excellence plaque.
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| Mission: The Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association is dedicated to promoting and improving education for children and youth, strengthening the role as educational leader for elementary and middle level principals, and collaborating with partners in education to assist in achieving these goals.
Leading schools toward excellence through the MESPA vision to be the premiere resource for preparing today's principals for tomorrow and a strong leading voice for public education.
Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association
1667 North Snelling Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108
651.999.7310 MN toll free 800.642.6807
Fax: 651.999.7311 E-mail: mespa@mespa.net |
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