Student Recovers After Accident

Former Sherwood student, 19-year-old David Oughton, and current 16-year-old junior Khadijah Hopkins were involved in a car accident on October 29.

New Academy System Developed

by Brad Matthews ’11 A year after the academies were implemented, the school is overhauling its offerings. According to the Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) meeting held on November 18, there is “no support for wall to wall academies.” Therefore, the academies will become optional, and students will not be required to register for an academy. Assistant Principal Renee Brimfield said … Read More

Breaking into Mental Sweat

Competition is defined as a comparison of skill in which a team challenges another to reveal the superior victor. It’s Academic provides the ideal venue for true competition, even if many don’t recognize that its challenges against other schools can be just as intense and thrilling as any athletic sporting contest. It’s Academic over the years has attracted some of the school’s brightest pupils due to its energetic environment and ability to challenge the intellect of such outstanding students.

‘Waiting for Superman’ Depicts an Educational Landscape in Turmoil

The United States is the richest country in the world, and yet, compared to the 26 developed countries in the world, ranks last in mathematics and fourth to last in reading. David Guggenheim’s documentary, “Waiting for Superman,” shines a light on why many of America’s public school systems produce such disappointing results.

Teaching Quality

This year, the Obama administration launched “Race to the Top,” a program designed to spark education reform and effective teaching practices by awarding states who make significant improvements in their education systems with a federal grant. Around the nation, teaching quality and student preparation have become a major concern as schools face increasing scrutiny.

MCPS Attempts to Slim Down Students

First Lady Michelle Obama has taken serious charge in attempting to slim down America’s youth. However, she is not alone in her efforts to do so—school systems around the nation are also fighting to lessen childhood obesity.

‘Race to Nowhere’ Asks ‘When Does Homework Become Too Stressful?’

Abeles’ documentary was inspired by the 2008 suicide of 13-year-old Devon Marvin who took her own life due to school-related stress. Soon after, Abeles’ two children—one in elementary school, one in middle school—came home with stomach and headaches. They were tired and irritable and faced the early symptoms of childhood depression. The film follows her kids and six others aging from middle school to college through their trying academic experiences.

School Fails AYP, Institutes Reform

Sherwood did not meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for the 2009-2010 school year. AYP is a measure of academic performance established by the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Three subgroups within the school, Hispanic, Limited English Proficient (LEP), and Free and Reduced Meal Students (FARMS) all failed to meet the minimum participation requirement in reading, and the LEP subgroup fell short of satisfactory reading proficiency. Additionally, the FARMS, Special Education and African American subgroups met reading proficiency by margins of three or less students.

The West Moves to the Right

Recently the United States and countries in Europe moved toward the right end of the political spectrum. This shift has been primarily influenced by the global economic downturn, but this swing to the right varies on each end of the Atlantic.