NORWOOD — Superintendent David Thomson and Principal Hugh Galligan are pleased to report that the Commission on Public Schools of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) has released a report on the school’s reaccreditation process.
A visiting team assigned by the Commission on Public Schools conducted a Decennial
Accreditation review to the school in March. The visiting team conducted a virtual visit to the school; reviewed the self-reflection, Collaborative Conference report and Decennial Summary Report documents; met with administrators, teachers and staff, students and parents; and visited classes to determine how the school aligns with the Committee on Public Secondary Schools’ and Public Elementary and Middle Schools’ Standards for Accreditation and how the school is making progress toward its identified priority areas for growth as indicated in the school’s improvement plan.
The report notes that the school meets all of the Standards, including Learning Culture, Student Learning, Professional Practices, Learning Support and Learning Resources.
In its report, the Commission commended the school in several key areas of growth and effective practices, including:
- The continued commitment of the leadership team to promote an inclusive school culture that is focused on diversity and equity
- The alignment of the strategic plan, district improvement plan and the school improvement plan and goals
- The culture and trust cultivated by the administration to enhance the relationships with faculty, staff, students and community
- The marriage of Norwood’s 4As goal (help all students attain high levels of engagement and achievement in academics, arts, activities and athletics) complemented by the 5Cs core values (communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and citizenship) has created cohesion within the school community
- The embedding of the newly crafted Portrait of the Norwood Graduate into the school culture that has been supported by all stakeholders
- The commitment to bolster and support the co-curricular activities in arts and athletics with the spring 2019 override, supported by the Norwood community
- The commitment to providing sustained, research-based, thematically organized professional development that reflects the values of the school and the Portrait of a Norwood Graduate
- The maintenance, cleanliness, and safety of the school building and grounds
“We are pleased to have received such a positive report from the visiting team and are proud to have been recognized for our commitment to promoting an inclusive and trusting school culture, developing well-rounded and successful graduates, and providing professional development opportunities that will continuously enhance student learning,” Principal Galligan said.
This report of the findings of the visiting team will be forwarded to the Commission on Public Schools, which will make a decision on the Accreditation of Norwood High School.
The full report can be viewed here.
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