Almost all of the principals recited a litany of their accomplishments during the past year at the School Committee meeting last night.Their comments came as the school year comes to a close and after Superintendent June Doe updated the Committee on the progress made towards meeting the goals of the Strategic Plan.
High School principal Jake Santamaria began by highlighting the Freshman Academy that is finishing its first year.Administrators say they are pleased with the progress the 33 students in the program have made, but that they will be tracking them throughout their remaining three years and beyond to determine the long term benefits.
Santamaria also said that science teacher Fred Spring would be offering an “intensive five-hour biology enrichment program” to prepare students for the MCAS exam in June.The voluntary program will take place next week.
In a look towards the future, Santamaria said the school would be implementing Saturday School beginning next fall.The twice monthly program will be an alternative to out-of-school suspensions and will run from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.It will be supervised by teachers on “paid details,” according to Santamaria, and will feature alternating hours of studying and service work around the school.
Committee member Tom Ryan said he had heard from parents whose children received an out-of-school suspension and said he looked forward to this alternative.
“Many times they say, ‘[The out-of-school suspension] doesn’t punish the child, it punishes the parent,’” Ryan said, “and as a result I think a Saturday School is a great idea.”
Principal Holli Armstrong highlighted the after school enrichment programs at the Oakdale School.Over 200 students participate in the programs, she said, which include fun with flowers, cooking, musical theatre and zumba, an exercise program set to Latin music.
Riverdale principal Doris Claypool also spoke of several programs being offered for her students.Included among them are a running club to help dissipate the energy levels of students who are wired throughout the day.She also mentioned a program to help conserve paper by only sending notices home with the oldest child in the family, and project-based learning assignments in which students in each grade focused on specific themes and used interdisciplinary skills to show what they had learned.
Clare Sullivan, principal of the Avery School, said her students’ visits to the senior housing complex at nearby O’Neil Drive have become so popular that the seniors are requesting that they return nearly once a month.The seniors are also popular among the students, who have requested their older friends ride on the Avery School float in the Flag Day Parade with them.Sullivan also noted that several students have been trained as peer mediators to help resolve minor incidents arising between classmates.
Sullivan also read a statement from Early Childhood Education Center principal Heidi Dineen who was attending the Spring Sports Banquet at the High School.Dineen’s statement said that they were researching ways to better reach out to parents and that summer reading and math calendars will also be sent home soon.
Principal Ron Dziergowski of the Greenlodge School said his role since taking over for retired Principal Betty Cummings in January has been to “keep the ship afloat.”He said his efforts at the helm have included reducing bullying and increasing respect for personal differences among students.While much has already been accomplished, he said, “there is still much to be done.”
Outgoing Principal Tim Ruggere of the Middle School did not attend the meeting.Assistant Principal Andrew Bowles was present, but did not offer an update.
