J.C. Mitchell Elementary School

July 29, 2009

To Whom It May Concern,

We are thrilled to have the blessings in a backpack at J. C. Mitchell Elementary School.  Children learn best when their basic needs are met.  This program helps to meet one of the basic needs and assures that these children are well-fed on the weekend.  Being well-fed makes these students ready to learn and this helps to increase the school test scores.  
This year J.C. Mitchell increased readings scores by 3% from 86% to 89%.  Our writing scores soared from 81% to 98%, Science scores went from 68% to 75% our learning gains in reading also increased.

There is no doubt that children who are well nourished do better than those who are not and this is reflected in our increased for the 2008-09 school year.  

Educationally yours,
Linda Nelson
Principal

Arelis Cardona- Hilaire
Assistant Principal 

Boca Raton Elementary Technology School of Choice

March 16, 2009

Blessings in a Backpack as been instrumental in assisting our faculty and staff by positively affecting test scores for the 2009-2010 school year.  

Scholastic Reading Inventory is a reading comprehension test that assesses students’ reading levels, tracks students’ reading growth over time, and helps guide instruction according to students’ needs.  The students that participated in the “Blessings in a Backpack” program increased their reading SRI scores by 80% overall.  These students made at least 1 year’s growth, much of which occurred after the start of this program.

FCAT Writing scores for the 2009-2010 school year and not in.  However, the students’ scores for the SSS Diagnostic which was taken during the Fall and Winter (October/ November) that participate in the “Blessing in a Backpack” program, reflected learning gains.  In grades 3rd- 5th, there was a 31% increase in Reading and a 29% increase in Math.  

Educationally yours,
Bradley S.L. Henry
Principal

Danielle Garcia
Assistant Principal 

Hammock Pointe Community Elementary School

August 13, 2009

Again, thank you and your staff for bringing Blessings in a Backpack to our school this year! 

The students in grades three, four and five did very well on their FCAT scores in Reading and Math!  

Below is the information that you requested:

FCAT    

Gr. 3
31 Students     
Reading: 25/31 Students - 81% proficient
Math: 27/31 Students - 87% proficient

Gr. 4
18 students
Reading: 12/18 Students - 67% proficient
Math: 15/18 Students - 84% proficient

Gr. 5
42 students
Reading: 34/ 42 students - 81% proficient
Math: 32/ 42 students - 76% proficient

Overall, the 91 students in grade three, four and five in the Blessings in a Backpack Program showed improvement in their FCAT Reading and Math scores.  

Thank you again for offering this wonderful program to our students at Hammock Pointe!

Educationally yours,
Carol Crilley
Principal