Standardized testing controversy

Parents and officials at the school, with the support of the school board, have challenged the state over standardized tests. In about 2005, the school decided not to administer the tests as required by the federal education law. After a visit from the state education commissioner, who threatened to revoke the licenses of the principal and superintendent, the school relented. But in early 2007, only 92 percent of eligible children at the school took the tests when many parents withheld their children from school during the testing. The federal No Child Left Behind Act requires schools to have at least 95 percent attendance when the tests are taken, so Marlboro was put on the state's list of schools that did not make adequate yearly progress. The school district has a policy allowing parents to refuse to have their children take the standardized tests.^[3]

Marlboro Realms of Learning and portfolios

In developing a school assessment plan, school officials identified "Realms of Learning" to "guide our instruction, focus student learning, and provide the broad palette used to assess how students are progressing", according to the school Web site. The areas identified as of early 2008:^[4]

• Communication
• Problem Solving
• Personal Development
• Civic and Social Responsibility
• Knowledge (knowledge and understanding, application of knowledge, making connections)

Portfolios of student work are kept as part of the school assessment plan. Students help select the portfolio pieces, and older students organize their portfolios by "learning realm". The portfolios are used to share student work with parents during conferences. Eighth grade students must present a completed portfolio to a panel consisting of their teachers, the principal, and another teacher as part of the school's graduation requirements.^[5]

Library

The Marlboro School Library offers a wide selection that varies from research material to picture books to leisurely young adult reading. Every week, each classroom has a class with the librarian where they learn more about computers and internet, or listen to books. The library has a computer lab where students go to do research or type their homework. Each classroom also has a selection of computers that offer the same applications.

Performance

Marlboro students put on several regular shows each year. The Holiday concert, a show that’s been around for generations, includes singing, sword dancing, morris dancing, and plays put on by the different grades, K-8. Another performance that has been around for a while is the Poetry Reading or "Paper Feelings". Each student in the school writes a poem; all are put into a book and read aloud. The Art Show includes all of the work that students have made with the art teacher over the year as well as singing, guitar performances, and a performance by the school’s musical band. We also show or perform what we did over Winter Workshops. One of the most common performances is the Cabaret. The Junior High puts on a series of different skits at Marlboro College's Whittimore Theater.

Specials

Marlboro School’s Specials include Art, Music, and Gym. In Art class we paint, print with paint, make collages, do self-portraits, sculpt, draw/sketch, and make books. In Music we sing songs, learn different dances and play guitar and other instruments. In Gym we enjoy ourselves by playing soccer, basketball, dodge ball, kick ball, hockey, and other games.

Field Research

Field research has been integral to the Marlboro School curriculum since the 1960s. The school thinks that field trips are a great way for kids to experience things and be engaged. Between kindergarten and fourth grade, most of the field trips are small and local, with students going to places like Magic Wings, the Post Office and various farms to learn about things outside of the classroom. In fifth and sixth grades they start to go on longer and farther, and beforehand do more in-depth research. They go on week-long trips to New York City and Cape Cod. They complete a program called Applewoods, where they create a field guide to a 3 by 3m area. They also take a trip to Woodford State Park and a "get to know each other" trip. They finish eighth grade having gone to Washington, D.C. and Costa Rica. They also climb either Mount Chocorua or Mount Mansfield in the beginning of the year. Students take part in grant writing and fund raising. With the help of a local coffee roster, students sell fair trade coffee to raise funds for the Costa Rica expeditions.^[6]

Recess

During recess, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., students may build forts in the woods, climb marked climbing trees, swing, play wallball or teatherball, play sports on the soccer field, or play 4 square, hopscotch, or basketball on the blacktop. In the winter supervised sledding and snowball fights are allowed on the soccer field and down the hill in the woods. The boundaries are marked by large red Xs and are shown to the children before they begin their first recess. Teachers switch recess duty daily.^[7]

Winter Sports

Marlboro school's winter sports program is designed to teach kids skiing, skating and snowboarding. Anyone from age seven and up has the choice to ski but any age under seven must skate. The program is perfect for any skill level; there are different groups from beginners to advanced. Originally, downhill skiing took place at Marlboro’s Hogback Mountain (Vermont) Ski Area until its closure in 1986. Students who preferred cross-country skiing would instead travel to neighboring Wilmington, Vermont. Today skiing and snowboarding is done at nearby Mount Snow. The Ski and Skate program is for all ages.

After School

The Marlboro After School Program (MASP) for students in the first through sixth grades runs from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. after school and also operates on some days when school is not in session. Participants have a variety of activities and a quiet period at the end of each day where older children can do homework.^[8]