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502 491 3171

office@stmarthaschool.org

2825 Klondike Ln

Louisville, KY 40218

7:30 am - 3:30 pm

Monday to Friday

The child has one intuitive aim: self development

MAP @ Martha for the WIN

As we embark on the next phase of MAP testing at St. Martha today, we wanted to explore a bit more of what the new MAP test is and the ways we’re using the data to create more personalized approaches to instruction, tailored to student’s needs.

This school year, the Archdiocese of Louisville has moved away from utilizing the Terra Nova test that was given for many years, to the NWEA MAP as the standardized test for continuous improvement. In the first few weeks of school, each St. Martha student took part in our first-ever, very successful round of MAP testing! 

MAP tests are unique in that they adapt to the child’s level of learning. If a child answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. If they answer incorrectly, the next one is easier. We are utilizing MAP tests to determine each student’s instructional level and to measure academic growth throughout the school year, and year to year as we move forward with MAP. Areas tested by MAP are as follows within the Archdiocese of Louisville: 

  • Kindergarten through 2nd grade – MAP Reading Fluency
  • 3rd through 8th grades – MAP Growth Math, Reading, and Language
  • 8th grade – MAP Algebra I

MAP results provide teachers with a detailed picture of what each child knows and is ready to learn – whether it is on, above, or below their grade level. Since MAP tests are given online, they provide immediate and accurate information about a child’s learning. It’s easy for teachers to identify students with similar scores who are generally ready for instruction in similar skills and topics, and then plan accordingly.

Teachers are collaborating to provide instruction that will individualize and address the needs of all students and empower our students to take ownership of their learning through goal setting. The information gained from these assessments is invaluable to the work at St. Martha! 

This fall, our primary (K-2), intermediate (3-5), and middle school (6-8) Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) have spent countless hours reviewing and analyzing data, planning collaboratively, and hosting various intervention groups to help address academic needs. While intervention activities are planned by teachers, our intervention groups are utilizing every adult in the school to make sure the needs of each student are met. We’ve even got a grandmother volunteer who is working with students on needed skills! 

As new readers, our primary students are working in what we call  M&M (MAP and Martha) groups weekly to strengthen their reading skills. In these groups, students are working on skills that range from phonics, to rhyming, to comprehension and inferencing. It is our goal to have each student grow from learning to read to reading to learn before they move into intermediate grades at St. Martha. Based on progress monitoring, it appears that our M&M groups are making some headway on meeting this goal! 

In our intermediate grades, teachers are providing time in the schedule for WIN-days! WIN time stands for What I Need and the kids love their WIN time! Wednesday WINdays are providing students with small group reading instruction based on skills that need to be developed. The teachers have created fun themes surrounding each unit of study using informational nonfiction, fiction, plays, etc. Each “round” of WIN groups has ended with a celebration of their growth and a re-evaluation of student skills for tweaking of the instructional groupings. 

Our middle school is taking a similar approach to meeting student needs. Their WIN groups are assigned by need as well and students are working to increase their skill sets.

Other ways teachers at St. Martha are utilizing MAP data include individual instruction through tutoring sessions before/after school and throughout other times in the school day. (It’s important to note that students never miss their regular classroom instruction in their core content areas though.) Teachers are also using online programs like Lexia, Moby Max, and Khan Academy to assign more targeted work to support student growth.

To monitor student growth, students will take another MAP assessment this month and again at the end of the year.

We are excited to see how our utilization of MAP data and student goal setting will propel our Shamrocks to new academic heights! With this series of assessments, it is all about about GROWTH and how teachers and parents can support students in growing in their content knowledge.” 

Thank you to our teachers, students, and parents for their continued support as we work to provide a quality educational experience for each child! 

#shamrocksfortheWIN #rockingMAP

For more information on NWEA MAP, take second to review this resource!

A Family Guide to MAP Growth

Great Prep for High School

“The community and fellowship are amazing. My boys have made friendships and bonds they will treasure. Their educational experience has been wonderful and will help them with their transition to high school!”

– Maranda White

Mrs. Brennan Ebersold
5.0
2016-03-14T15:19:08+00:00

– Maranda White

“The community and fellowship are amazing. My boys have made friendships and bonds they will treasure. Their educational experience has been wonderful and will help them with their transition to high school!”

Family is the Best Word

"The teachers are really vested in the kids long after they leave their classes. Family is the best word to describe St. Martha and prepared is the best word to describe my son after his time there.”

Amy Landrum

Mrs. Brennan Ebersold
5.0
2016-03-14T15:19:18+00:00

Amy Landrum

“The teachers are really vested in the kids long after they leave their classes. Family is the best word to describe St. Martha and prepared is the best word to describe my son after his time there.”

Warm & Inviting

“My children attend this school and love it!  The community is warm & inviting, the school staff genuinely care about my children's whole well-being. I highly recommend this school.”

– Kari Ogle

Mrs. Brennan Ebersold
5.0
2017-01-15T08:33:19+00:00

– Kari Ogle

“My children attend this school and love it!  The community is warm & inviting, the school staff genuinely care about my children’s whole well-being. I highly recommend this school.”

Being a Part of a Family

“When choosing a parish for my family, I was looking for a community that would fulfill our spiritual, educational, and social needs. St. Martha Church and School has been that for over 23 years now."

– Dana Bale

Mrs. Brennan Ebersold
5.0
2017-01-15T08:39:56+00:00

– Dana Bale

“When choosing a parish for my family, I was looking for a community that would fulfill our spiritual, educational, and social needs. St. Martha Church and School has been that for over 23 years now.”

Top-Notch Academics

“Top-notch academics, athletics, students and parents. You won't find a better school!

– Katherine A. McCurry

Mrs. Brennan Ebersold
5.0
2017-01-15T08:42:19+00:00

– Katherine A. McCurry

“Top-notch academics, athletics, students and parents. You won’t find a better school!

It’s a Blast

“Softball leagues here are a blast. Best fish in town!”

– Kathleen Smith

Mrs. Brennan Ebersold
5.0
2017-01-15T08:43:41+00:00

– Kathleen Smith

“Softball leagues here are a blast. Best fish in town!”

You Can’t Beat the People

"My husband and I toured several parish schools in Louisville, and St. Martha stood out for its incredibly friendly staff and supporting culture. We felt the magic immediately."

– Lauren Micka Thomas

Mrs. Brennan Ebersold
5.0
2017-01-15T17:10:14+00:00

– Lauren Micka Thomas

“My husband and I toured several parish schools in Louisville, and St. Martha stood out for its incredibly friendly staff and supporting culture. We felt the magic immediately.”

Neighborhood School

"Our family initially picked St Martha due to it being a private school in our neighborhood, we’re not Catholic. We didn’t know anyone but I had heard good things. As soon as the kids started there it felt like family. We quickly got engaged in clubs and sports and all of us have made great friends!! The staff is top notch and the boys can’t wait to go to school everyday!"

Kim Lockard

Kim Lockard

Mrs. Brennan Ebersold
5.0
2018-01-25T13:50:09+00:00

Kim Lockard

“Our family initially picked St Martha due to it being a private school in our neighborhood, we’re not Catholic. We didn’t know anyone but I had heard good things. As soon as the kids started there it felt like family. We quickly got engaged in clubs and sports and all of us have made great friends!! The staff is top […]

Our Teachers Go Above and Beyond

"It is a wonderful feeling knowing that the faculty and staff of St. Martha want your child to succeed just as much as you do as their parent. If I ever have a concern, or for that matter my child has a concern about something they don’t understand, they are provided with extra support until they are able to master the skill being taught. Our teachers go above and beyond!"

- Deana Price, St Martha Parent
Mrs. Brennan Ebersold
2022-02-17T16:07:27+00:00
“It is a wonderful feeling knowing that the faculty and staff of St. Martha want your child to succeed just as much as you do as their parent. If I ever have a concern, or for that matter my child has a concern about something they don’t understand, they are provided with extra support until they are able to master […]

St. Martha Truly Does Rock!

"St. Martha truly does rock! We have a solid faith foundation, a school that provides not only education, but love and support to our children. We have a parish that works together to make sure there are groups/activities for every member of the parish. I feel blessed to be a member of the St. Martha Community."

Deana Price
Mrs. Brennan Ebersold
2022-02-17T16:15:37+00:00
“St. Martha truly does rock! We have a solid faith foundation, a school that provides not only education, but love and support to our children. We have a parish that works together to make sure there are groups/activities for every member of the parish. I feel blessed to be a member of the St. Martha Community.” Deana Price

The Drive…It’s Worth It!

"We drive over 30 minutes each way to get to St. Martha - and it's worth it! We grateful to have found a community of loving, courageous, helpful, kind, genuine people to help us raise our babies - and we're not going anywhere. After 3 years of preschool and with our oldest now in Kindergarten - we know we're where we belong.
A deciding factor and one of the greatest benefits to our family is that SMS offers after school care AND summer care - that are run by SMS staff. My kiddo is in the same place, with people she knows, all year and its priceless!"


Eileen Burden
Mrs. Brennan Ebersold
2022-02-17T16:17:48+00:00
“We drive over 30 minutes each way to get to St. Martha – and it’s worth it! We grateful to have found a community of loving, courageous, helpful, kind, genuine people to help us raise our babies – and we’re not going anywhere. After 3 years of preschool and with our oldest now in Kindergarten – we know we’re where […]

There is Something For Everyone

"St. Martha offers such a wide range of extra curricular activities from sports to academic oriented clubs to service clubs and many more. There is something for everyone."

Meredith Havlin
Mrs. Brennan Ebersold
2022-02-17T16:21:09+00:00
“St. Martha offers such a wide range of extra curricular activities from sports to academic oriented clubs to service clubs and many more. There is something for everyone.” Meredith Havlin

Supportive Faculty

"I love being part of a faculty that truly cares about each student’s growth and progress. Our teachers are continually seeking ways to support the individual needs of every student."

Anne Bahr
Mrs. Brennan Ebersold
2022-02-17T16:22:52+00:00
“I love being part of a faculty that truly cares about each student’s growth and progress. Our teachers are continually seeking ways to support the individual needs of every student.” Anne Bahr

Rich History

"I LOVE that there is a rich history here at St. Martha. The St. Martha community is very welcoming. It is a place where I feel like I belong, and I am valued as an educator and as a person."

Karen Woo
Mrs. Brennan Ebersold
2022-02-17T16:24:10+00:00
“I LOVE that there is a rich history here at St. Martha. The St. Martha community is very welcoming. It is a place where I feel like I belong, and I am valued as an educator and as a person.” Karen Woo

Growth Mindset

"I am pleased to see St. Martha moving toward a growth mindset of learning where students are encouraged to manage their own learning goals."

Mariann Lawrence
Mrs. Brennan Ebersold
2022-02-17T16:26:44+00:00
“I am pleased to see St. Martha moving toward a growth mindset of learning where students are encouraged to manage their own learning goals.” Mariann Lawrence

No Worries At All!

"My daughter became a Shamrock in 7th grade, and my biggest worry as a parent was if she would feel like part of the school community. I shouldn’t have worried AT ALL. She has said multiple times that the students have been so wonderfully welcoming to her that she feels like she’s been at St. Martha since kindergarten. It’s been an amazing transition for her and we are so thankful for everyone who’s been part of her school experience at St. Martha - her new friends, teachers, school staff, and the St. Martha families. It’s never too late to find your perfect school!"

Sonia Fuderer
Mrs. Brennan Ebersold
2022-02-17T16:28:22+00:00
“My daughter became a Shamrock in 7th grade, and my biggest worry as a parent was if she would feel like part of the school community. I shouldn’t have worried AT ALL. She has said multiple times that the students have been so wonderfully welcoming to her that she feels like she’s been at St. Martha since kindergarten. It’s been […]
2.0
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