On Wednesday afternoon, February 27, the students of Louisville Elementary School gathered in the auditorium to celebrate moving to letter grades, from a ‘D’ rating to a ‘B’ rating.
Concerning the B rating, LES Principal Rhyne Thompson said, “It’s huge! I try to tell our kids that it’s just about taking tests, but it is good for our school, it is good for you.” Thompson added that it is good for the community, as well, as a higher rated school reflects on the entire community including industry and economics.
Thompson said that reaching the B rating takes ‘buying in’ from the students, staff and faculty and the community because it takes a lot of hard work.
The celebration included the presentation of a special banner by Thompson and LES Teacher of the Year, Jessica Bonkowski. And all students who tested at Level 4 and 5 received a special hooded sweatshirt that proudly displays the LES emblem.
But the highlight of the celebration was a beard-shaving. Last year, then third-grade student, Trip Hill, asked Thompson if he could shave his beard if LES achieved at least a C rating. Thompson, who had a full beard, agreed and Hill and the rest of the students took great delight as Hill removed Mr. Thompson’s beard.
