04/12/11 It was a day of celebration for Webster Elementary School in Plymouth as local dignitaries and school staff and administrators gathered at the school for a “pat on the back.”
Kids at the school were congratulated for their accomplishment of being a “Four Star School” – one of only 100 in the state and the first such designation for a Plymouth school since 2004. The only other school in the area receiving a four star designation was John Glenn in Walkerton. Several Plymouth elementary schools came close to the honor given to schools in the top 25 percent state wide.
“This is not the end of the journey,” said Plymouth Superintendent Dan Tyree speaking to the assembled students, parents and guests for the ceremony. “This is a road sign that says celebrate, pat yourself on the back and get back to work.”
Tyree praised the students and staff of Webster for their dedication to the core values of the Plymouth School Corporation – a commitment to student’s education as well as caring about them as human beings, high expectations, teamwork and integrity.
“You have a commitment to doing whatever it takes to make sure your students do their best, act their best and learn their best,” said Tyree. “This is just the beginning for all Plymouth Schools to continue to get better and do whatever it takes for our students to be their best.”
“I don’t think that it’s really something you can point to,” said Webster Principal Carrie McGuire. “It’s something that you can feel when you come in the door. We have great parental support, dedicated teachers, the Plymouth Schools have instituted an outstanding reading program that we started a couple of years ago and it’s helped us to get where we are.”
In addition to current school board President Melissa Caine and past President Frank Brubaker, Tyree was joined by Principals Donna Burroughs of Riverside Intermediate School, Bob Remnih of Jefferson Elementary, Mike Dunn of Menominee, Michele Riise of Washington and Jim Condon of Plymouth HIgh School in wishing the school well. Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter and candidate for Mayor Jim Vinall were also in attendance to give their congratulations – Senter proclaiming next week as Webster Warrior Week in the city of Plymouth.
School Board members Todd Samuelson, Larry Pinkerton and Larry Holloway sent letters of congratulation that were read to students as well as letters from State Senator Ed Charbonneau, former Webster Principal Mike Pettibone and former Webster student Katie Tyree.
Rusty Nixon Correspondent
