During the month of July, Kindergarten Teacher Michelle Yaussy, Preschool Director Julie Green and K-6 Principal Chris Boshnack attended a three-day, Gesell Institute certification workshop for child development in the Hudson Valley.  Below is a brief explanation from gesellinstitute.org

The long-used and well-loved assessment known as the Gesell Developmental Observation (GDO) is a standard procedure for direct observation of a child’s growth and development. This assessment is conducted by a trained examiner who makes discriminating observations of a child’s behavior and then evaluates these observations by comparison with normative patterns developed for each developmental age.

The GDO has no right or wrong responses.

Conducting a Gesell Developmental Observation is quite different from usual testing where a quantitative score is obtained. Gesell assessment items are designed to allow the child to accomplish successfully within his or her attained developmental level. There are no right or wrong responses. Developmental evaluation is based upon the processes, the organization, the underlying neurological-motor patterns, overt behaviors, and verbalization, as well as the end products completed. This qualitative assessment provides a composite picture of a child’s developmental age, his or her individual rate of growth, and his or her integrity in the total growth process.

Adaptive behavior integrates all areas of child development. 

The certification is renewable every five years.