Newcastle School Receives Another Award for Academic Success!!
March 13, 2009
Newcastle students and teachers were notified this week by the Texas Education Agency that they are one in 312 schools across the state of Texas to receive the "Distinguished Performance Award". Superintendent, Gordon H. Grubbs said, "The Distinguished Performance Award holds special significance because it can only be earned by sustaining academic excellence over a three year period. It's not just a one year deal." The letter from the Texas Education Agency acting associate commissioner, Anita Givens said, "To achieve and maintain such high standards is an accomplishment that serves as a model for other schools in the state to emulate."
Criteria for receiving the Distinguished Performance Award include the following:
- Title I, Part A School 2006 - 2009;
- 40% or more low-income in 2008-09;
- Met Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in 2007 and 2008;
- Spring 2008 Exemplary
- Spring 2007 Exemplary or Recognized; and
- Spring 2006 Exemplary or Recognized.
Newcastle ISD is one of four districts within the Region 9 Educational Service Center area that will be receiving this award this spring. This is the third significant recognition of Newcastle School's academic excellence during the 2008-09 school year for their academic accomplishments. "There is no doubt that our school is a diamond in the rough," said Grubbs. "We have found that we can do great things when our focus is on education. My peers have called to congratulate us and have asked the secret to our success and I simply tell them it always comes down to people and a small school, family environment. We have an outstanding principal, Cathy Creel, and we have some of the best teachers in the state for a small, rural district such as ours. We make a great team!"
