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January 31, 2008

Our Lady of Perpetual Help students far from average on standardized test

By TARA HETTINGER The News and Tribune Thu Jan 31, 2008, 12:15 PM EST

NEW ALBANY — Students filled the gym at Our Lady of Perpetual Help on Wednesday to honor the 99 students who not only passed the ISTEP test, but received the highest honor of getting pass-plus recognition.

About 8 to 12 percent of students in the state who take ISTEP receive that honor every year. At OLPH, 43 percent of students who took the test reached the pass-plus level.

“I think that’s super,” said Principal Terry Horton. “It shows the kids and the teachers are right on target.”

In honor of Catholic Schools Week, Horton decided to recognize those students and the student body for their achievements. OLPH scored above the 95 percentile on ISTEP for the third year in a row.

As each of the pass-plus students were called up to the front of the gym by name to receive a certificate, fellow classmates yelled and cheered. Seventh-grader Austin Williams, 12, threw her hands up in the air as she stood in front of the school body holding her award.

“It felt really cool,” she said. “It felt really special.”

“It was pretty exciting,” Michael Whitis, 9, said.

Others said they were scared to be in front of so many people.

“I was sort of nervous and excited at the same time, because everybody in the school was there,” Ethan Hunter, 10, said.

“I was really nervous, because I’ve never really gotten up in front of a big crowd like that,” said Jordyn Jansa, 10.

Half of Hunter and Jansa’s fourth-grade class received the same honor.

“I’m proud of them. They study really hard,” said Judy Saver, fourth-grade teacher. “I’m not surprised I had as many as I did.”

Bob Hornung, seventh- and eighth-grade teacher, attributes the students’ success to the parents.

“I think that probably one of the things that helps the kids achieve here is the parental involvement. It just makes a big difference,” he said. “They just can’t go home and forget everything as to what their responsibilities are and then come back the next day to school. Parental involvement is what is needed.”

To reward everyone in the school, each class had a party after the assembly with treats, such as ice cream and juice.

“I am just so proud of them — very, very proud of them,” said Pat Cade, special needs resource coordinator. “I’m just proud of our school and how hard our students have worked.”