Clinton1118web

The CHALKBOARD
CLINTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Eastside
Clinton’s fourth- and fifth-grade school,
Eastside Elementary, is a 2018 National Blue
Ribbon School. Eastside is one of 349 schools
nationwide to receive this recognition from
the U.S. Department of Education. Eastside’s
award is for an “Exemplary High Performing
School.”
“I am thrilled that Eastside will join only
two other schools from Mississippi as being
designated as Blue Ribbon Schools for 2018,”
said Dr. Tim Martin, superintendent of schools.”
This is the result of a lot of hard work from the
faculty and staff, tremendous support from
parents and the community, outstanding
leadership from (Principal) Cindy Hamil and
(Assistant Principal) Brittany Ricker, and of
course, to our wonderful students who
perform so well. We also want to congratulate
the teachers of Northside and Clinton Park
Elementary in preparing these students so
well in grades K-3 before coming to Eastside.”
“The faculty and staff at Eastside are
honored to have been named a National Blue
Ribbon School,” said Eastside Principal Cindy
Hamil. “We pride ourselves in upholding the
district’s legacy of excellence.”
In recent test score data, Eastside fourthgraders
showed staggering increases on state
tests in English Language Arts, growing from
48.8 percent proficiency in 2016 to 78.2
percent in 2017. Fourth-graders also jumped
from 67.9 percent proficiency in math in 2016
to 83 percent in 2017.
Eastside is currently rated A, the highest
possible academic rating a Mississippi school
can attain, and is expected to maintain this
high rating when 2017 ratings are approved
by the Mississippi State Board of Education.
The coveted Blue Ribbon award affirms the
hard work of educators, families and communities
in creating safe and welcoming schools
where students master challenging and
engaging content. Now in its 36th year, the
National Blue Ribbon Schools program has
recognized more than 8,500 schools. Two
other Clinton schools have earned this honor,
Clinton High School in 1982 and Lovett
Elementary School in 2013.
Hamil cited Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quote
“Nothing great was ever achieved without
enthusiasm,” as inspiration at her school.
“Being enthusiastic every day has afforded
us the positive teaching and learning
environment we strive to achieve,” she said.
“Our students are excited to come to school
and have proven year after year that this
enthusiasm pushes them to accomplish more
than they could ever imagine.”
Blue Ribbon recipients were honored at
the annual awards ceremony on November 7
and 8 in Washington, D.C.
60 • November 2018