Wisdom from The Action Wisdom In Action

courtesy Republican News


Sep. 11, 2008

Garrett College has begun its fall semester with a record-breaking number of students enrolled. Enrollment numbers will not be official until the cut-off date later this month, but the college's enrollment has risen to 851, which is a 9.5% increase from the fall of 2007.
"This dramatic increase is the result of several factors," said GC president Dr. Paul Dauphinais. "It is in part a result of the Garrett County Scholarship Program, through which the county is making a real and significant investment in the education of its young people."

According to the president, it can also be attributed to "a long standing history of excellent education provided by the faculty at Garrett College." GC graduates who transfer to four-year institution have reportedly earned the highest grade point averages of any Maryland community college. "It is also a result of a concerted effort by our Student Affairs staff to recruit good students, provide excellent services, and create a top notch living and learning environment," added Dauphinais.

College officials state that a major contributing factor for the increase is the experience that GC offers student with its residence halls and student activities. "The college experience is very unique for a two-year college and quite comparable to that of a four-year college."

A large number of students from various parts of Maryland have been enrolling in Garrett College in recent years, as well as students from out of the state. "This year we enrolled students from areas such as D.C., Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York," noted Dean of Students Ed Robinson."What our students are realizing is that we can offer them a true college experience, allowing them to go away to college, stay in our residence halls, and have a slate of activities in which to participate."

The college has seen a major increase in students living on campus this year as well. Since the new residence hall has been completed, which allows the housing of 184 students, the dorms are nearly at capacity.

The school year began with an orientation weekend, a three-day event including food and activities. Residential students were greeted on move-in day by a student welcoming team, pizza, and a movie. Labor also offered a barbecue, Slip 'n Slide, and other outdoor activities.

Several other activities have been planned throughout the school year, including a beach luau, family day, a winter and spring formal, a talent show, and Garrett College Olympics. In addition, the school renovated its loft area over the summer to give students a place to lounge, interact, and relax with one another before, between, and after classes. The loft will also serve as a venue for movie nights, dances, parties, and pool tournaments.

Those seeking additional information may contact Melissa Parker at 301-387-3010 or via e-mail at melissa.parker@garrettcol-lege.edu.


If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Long & Foster Real Estate for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

courtesy Republican News


Aug. 14, 2008

Book-Signing Slated Aug. 23

by Mary Sincell McEwen

After completing a history project about area schools some 16 years ago, two retired teachers, Jean Williams Grose and Alice Feather Eary (above left and right) shared a vision. "Let's compile a book about all the schools of Garrett County," said one. "Do you think we'll live long enough to get it finished?" asked the other.

The answer is yes, and decidedly so. Eary and Grose now are the accomplished authors of Garrett County Schools of Yesteryear, a 670-page tome of stories, pictures, and rich history of the education system of the area from its very beginning. The book was published by Schlabaugh Publishing in Sugar Creek, Ohio, and is now available at the Garrett County Museum in Oakland.

The two writers will be available for a book-signing at the museum on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. The production of the hardback book, priced at about $40 each, was funded by the Garrett County Historical Society, and all the proceeds from its sale will benefit that organization.

Both writers are members of Delta Kappa Gamma, a teachers' society. That group was hosting an exhibit at Garrett College in about 1992, and Eary and Grose said they were appointed ("more like drafted," Grose said, smiling) to compile a history of area schools for one part of the display. They became so engaged in the research that they decided to embark on the journey of finding out all they could about the entire history, and doing their best to preserve it in book form.

Their trek was long and arduous, with a number of obstacles. For one thing, the decision was made in about 1943 by the school board at the time to get rid of most minutes and records of the school system, as there was apparently no known need to keep them. So precious documents were indeed destroyed. However, Eary and Grose remained steadfast and found other resources, such as the back issues of The Republican newspaper.

"There was a wealth of school information in the newspaper," Eary said. "We just had to take the time to find it."

Over the years, she combed through issue after issue, with the help of the Ruth Enlow Library and its microfilm collection of the paper.

"There have been so many letters-to-the-editor dealing with the school system; some complaining, some praising. That helped. And there were many stories about pageants and events, too, at the schools. It took a long time, but I found a lot in the papers over the years," Eary said.

The two asked for the public's assistance in gathering any school information out there. At first, they said, the response was very slow. But as word spread about the project, more and more information began to flow in. The book features multiple photographs of the many area facilities, both staged pictures and candid. There are 20 chapters, 14 of which are specifically about the schools from Finzel to Kitzmiller and all in between. At one time, every small community throughout the county had its own one-room or two-room school. The book includes photos and information of facilities, teachers, and students, now long gone, as well as data about more current schools and their administrations.

Both women had a passion about the topic, as both were longtime teachers in the community. Eary began her career in 1951, teaching in a one-room schoolhouse in Preston County, W.Va. After one year there, she moved on to Garrett County and taught at the Oakland Elementary School (Center Street) for seven years. Later, after her son was born, she taught for seven more years at Loch Lynn, and then settled in for 25 years at Southern High School, teaching business education. In all, she was a teacher for 40 years.

Grose began as a substitute, and then enjoyed the position enough to complete her degree and take a full-time position at Northern High School, teaching math. She remained a math teacher for 33 years, working at Northern, Southern, and Southern Middle. Both women said they loved their careers. The odyssey of the book has enhanced their retirement years.

"I feel a deeper connection with Garrett County now," Grose said. "Even though I am a West Virginian (having grown up in Romney), Garrett County is the place I know and the place I love."

Eary said one of the best aspects of completing the project was the way people wanted to help.

"It has been very gratifying the way people have shared pictures and memories and so on," she said. "We have been so touched by the generosity and willingness to help, and we are so pleased with the reception of the book we've already witnessed."

The two women, who both reside in the Cranesville, W.Va., area, attended an Oakland High School allclass reunion last week. They were barraged with requests to see the book, and actually sold several at the event.

"That was a surprise," Grose said. "We were selling them left and right."

The two have even had requests for the book at their church.

"It felt rather odd, selling books out of my car after the church service. I don't think that's very appropriate," Eary said, laughing. "But all the proceeds do benefit the historical society."

"We so appreciate the cooperation of Garrett Countians," Grose said. "Their enthusiasm has been rewarding."

The book lists a large number of individuals who helped with the project, and contains a forward written by Dr. Jerome Ryscavage, former superintendent of schools.

"We had a lot of help, with everything from gathering information to assistance with the computer," Eary said. She especially appreciated the help of her son, Matthew Eary, who helped create a program to aid in the compilation.

Robert Boal, president of the historical society, said the women have outdone themselves on the book.

"They absolutely have done a beautiful job with this," Boal said. "It will be of great interest to so many people."

Both women noted that there are still opportunities for anyone who has information about the history of public (or private) education in Garrett County but who were not able to pass it along before the publication of the book.

"If there are pictures or stories or information out there still, people may submit the data to the historical society," Eary said. "It can then be published in the Glades Star." (The Glades Star is a quarterly publication of the historical society.)

For more information about the book, persons may contact the museum at 301-334-3226.


If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Long & Foster Real Estate for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

Jul. 17, 2008


Significant improvement in reading and mathematics scores was recorded on the Maryland School Assessment (MSA) for 2008, building on the consistent progress made over the past five years, according to data released this week by the Maryland State Department of Education.

Garrett County schools showed improvement in both reading and math across the board - from the third through the eighth grade - with the single exception of fifth grade math.

The 2008 scores for Garrett County when compared to those of 2007 were as follows:

Third grade: reading, 80% proficiency in 2007, 84.5% in 2008; math, 79.4% in 2007, 85.1% in 2008.

Fourth grade: reading, 87.6% to 93.7%; math, 89.7% to 93.1%.

Fifth grade: reading, 82.8% to 89.5%; math, 82.5% to 79.9%.

Sixth grade: reading, 78.6% to 87%; math, 72.6% to 84.9%.

Seventh grade: reading, 75.7% to 91.1%; math, 76.4% to 77.3%.

Eighth grade: reading, 72.6% to 76.4%; math, 70.8% to 76.1%.

All of Garrett County’s scores, with the exception of fifth grade math, also exceeded the averages for the entire state. The state score average for fifth grade math is 80.5%, with Garrett County’s score (79.9%) less than one percentage point behind.

Garrett County’s eighth grade math average score (76.1%) is nearly 15 points above the state average (61.8%).

The complete list for the state is as follows: third grade, reading, 83.0, math, 82.6; fourth grade, reading, 88.4, math, 88.5; fifth grade, reading, 86.7, math, 80.5; sixth grade, reading, 81.7, math, 75.8; seventh grade, reading, 81.1, math, 68.2; and eighth grade, reading, 72.8, math, 61.8.

Assessment scores across the state show marked improvement in the performance of students across racial categories and for students receiving special services. Scores are being expressed as the percentage of students in each system who scored at or above the proficiency levels set when the exams launched in 2003.

Composite MSA reading proficiency at the elementary grades has risen more than 24 percentage points in Maryland since 2003, while composite elementary mathematics proficiency has increased by nearly 24 points as well. Composite middle school reading proficiency has increased 18.6 percentage points since 2003, while composite middle school math proficiency has risen nearly 29 points.

State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick praised the continued dedication to educational excellence.

“Hard work in the classroom and strong grade-by-grade standards are really paying off for Maryland students, thanks to their efforts, as well as those of principals and teachers,” said Grasmick. “Our vibrant Voluntary State Curriculum has given birth to creative and consistent instructional programs. These scores tell us that schools are improving in every corner of the state.”

In addition to developing the highly regarded Voluntary State Curriculum, MSDE has bolstered school improvement through the Principals Academy leadership initiative, strong professional development, and a variety of teacher support programs for local school systems, according to a release from the department.

The percentage of students statewide scoring at the proficient or advanced levels for reading in grade three, for example, rose from 58.1 percent in 2003 to 83 percent this year. The percentage of students scoring in the proficient range for grade five mathematics rose from 55 percent five years ago in 2003 to 80.5 percent this year.

Results from recent assessments also prove that progress made in the early grades is being sustained as students progress through school. Reading and mathematics scores for third grade students have increased every year since the assessments were introduced. Middle school reading and mathematics scores have mirrored those improvements. Data show each class cohort scoring better than those in the previous years.

The results, according to a department spokesperson, also point to the importance of Maryland’s strong, centralized system of early childhood development, which has given many students “a leg up” on their studies.

“An increasing number of students are entering schools ready to learn, which has contributed to the consistently positive results in the early grades,” the spokesperson said.

Under the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requirements, all students must score at proficient levels by 2014.

NCLB charts the progress of the overall student population in the grades tested, as well as that of students receiving any of three categories of special services: Free and/or Reduced-Price Meals (FARMs), Special Education, and Limited English Proficient. It also follows the success of students in five racial subgroups: American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, African American, White, and Hispanic.

“These test results show conclusively that our efforts have paid off for all Maryland students and their families,” Dr. Grasmick said. “Our goals remain in sight, and the data prove that great principals and teachers - providing focused, compelling instruction - are the best recipe for reaching them.”

There has been strong, consistent improvement among students receiving special services. For example:

•The proportion of Maryland students receiving Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FARMs) scoring in the proficient range in elementary school reading jumped from 40.9 percent in 2003 to 76.6 percent in 2008.

•The proportion of students receiving special education services scoring in the proficient range in elementary school mathematics increased from 30.5 percent in 2003 to 66.7 percent in 2008.

The test results are open to appeals from schools and school systems. Whether schools and systems made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) under the federal guidelines, as well as final MSA scores, will be released later this summer.

Also scheduled for release at a later date are the 2008 High School Assessment scores, graduation rates, and attendance figures.

Statewide, system, and local school MSA data is available on the Maryland State Department of Education’s improved report card Web site: www.mdreport-card.org.