Boulder Creek Elementary earns ‘distinguished’ honor

Boulder Creek Elementary School has been named one of only two distinguished elementary schools in Santa Cruz County by the California Department of Education.
Jack O’Connell, state superintendent of public instruction, announced the 2010 list of 484 elementary schools Monday, April 19. The list included Boulder Creek Elementary and Mar Vista Elementary School in Aptos.
“I’m very proud of the hard work of our whole staff, the students and family support,” Principal Lynn Chappell said. “We all have to work together to get an award like this.”
For Boulder Creek, it was the fourth such award, but the school’s first since 2006, Chappell said. The elementary school has 461 students and is part of the San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District.
Chappell said the award is based on Academic Performance Index scores and two specific programs — in Boulder Creek Elementary’s case, its Flex Math Grouping and its Literary Collaborative.
The Flex Math Grouping allows teachers to break large classes of students into smaller groups based on what their needs are, Chappell said. As they improve or need more help, the students move into different groups determined by what they can and can’t do well.
“It’s very flowing,” Chappell said.
In the Literary Collaborative, language arts specialists and a resource specialist team up to form small groups that work with students at various reading levels, in addition to regular classroom instruction.
The state recognition carries no monetary reward, but the school administrators are proud of the accomplishment.
“It’s external validation for the great work we’re doing here,” Chappell said.
At a glance
• For a complete list of distinguished elementary schools: www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/cs/disting2010.asp