East End Community School Receives National Recognition for Continuous Improvements in Student Learning. Boyd Marley is the Principal.

Students Learning about Food and Gardening in the East End Community School Garden. Photo by Boyd Marley, School Principal.

Inside the Garden is an Area Called “Mary’s Garden” and Dedicated to a Former Volunteer Who Loved to Garden.

Nicole Evangeline Grace, Has Administered the Unique Garden & Food Studies Program at EECS This School Year.

East End Community School, (EECS),  has received national recognition for its successful focus on student outcomes in an unprecedented academic year.  EECS recognized opportunities for growth, collectively established a vision and systematically worked together to take action.  The Munjoy Hill School is one of only 16 Model Schools in the US so-designated by The International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE) according to a press release issued by the Portland Public Schools today.

EECS will share its best practices at The International Center for Leadership in Education’s 29th Annual Model Schools Conference next month in Nashville, TN. The event provides a forum for thousands of passionate teachers and leaders to share innovative and creative strategies for developing the minds of our future adults.

EECS is presenting on student equity and empowerment and how it has utilized the four pillars of the “Portland Promise” to improve overall student growth.  EECS Principal Boyd Marley notes the School’s presentation is based on the school’s vision of “empowering students of the world for the world.”

“Model Schools are courageously leading the charge in every conversation for the wellness of the learner,” says Weston Kieschnick, ICLE Associate Partner.  “Each of the 2021 Model Schools has thrived in the most challenging of times through their strength of conviction for rigor, relevance and relationships.”  Selected annually based on a number of criteria, Model Schools have substantive evidence of growth year after year, strong culture that focuses on student needs and dedication to continuous improvement no matter the circumstances.”

“Over 50% of our families are multilingual and Portugies is one of the predominant languages, as are Spanish, French and Somali.  We are also the partner program for elementary students who go to the Maine Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, many of whom communication with ASL (American Sign Language).  Approximately, 80% of our students are eligible for free and reduced lunch,” according to Boyd Marley, Principal of EECS, in an email to mhn.com last month.

Students at EECS have benefited from a garden and food studies program funded by a federal Cares Grant. The program occurs directly across North Street in a special garden adjacent to the North Street Community garden. It has helped to keep children outside and promoted outside learning according to Nicole Evangeline Grace, program administrator.  It has specifically helped New Mainers learn to prepare the soil for gardening and to harvest the product and then enjoy the fruits of their labor at home.  The funds for this program will run out at the end of the upcoming school year and the program is not expected to be refunded.  The EECS garden is maintained by a group of volunteers who live in the area.