My apologies, but this week's is going to be very short.
First, it's after 9:00, it's still more than 80 degrees, it's a Friday night, and, to be honest, I'm not feeling the creative juices flowing.
Graduation This Sunday!
If you're reading this before Sunday, I hope to see you there. If you're reading this on Monday, I hope you enjoyed graduation on Sunday, or had a pleasant weekend. We spent a lot of time working on graduation over the past couple weeks. Many thanks to everyone who chipped in and helped out - or who volunteered to help. Even if we said no to the request of assistance, the offer is always appreciated.
It goes without saying that Pat Cole, Larry, Jeff, and Santiago were invaluable last week and this weekend, and the assistance of Wanda and Lynda in holding down the fort while I was running around and getting everything ready also deserves a great deal of credit. Thanks also to Cathy Roach who chipped in when she was available.
Next week and Science MCAS
Science MCAS will be administered on Tuesday and Wednesday. If you are a proctor and have questions about particulars, please see me on Monday.
Boxes will be available for pickup by 7:30 a.m. on both days. There will also be an assembly on Monday during C block to give the freshmen an idea of what's happening on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The periods are different - again - because of MCAS. Long block will be second period. The building is still scheduled for a third period - just in case. We will make an announcement if we need the third period. Thanks for your cooperation - hopefully this is the last time the periods switch.
Hiring Committees
Next week, we will begin screening for our open positions in history, English, foreign language, music, and tv/video. We hope to have those positions finalized, along with the department leaders, very, very soon. Thanks to all who have volunteered or will be serving on screening committees.
Finally, with respect to next year's schedule, and to eliminate some rumors that are floating around:
1. There has not been a master schedule finalized yet. In fact, it is still in a skeletal state. Some periods have been set, but those assignments are not done. I'll be working with department heads in the next couple of weeks to get those squared away.
2. There is a big board in the conference room that some of you have seen with some sections starting to be put up. It is not remotely close to finished - and there are only a couple of classes that are fixed, basically because they are singletons that only one person can teach (i.e. band). Please don't read into it or start conversations with "I saw you're teaching {X} during E-block next year." Thanks.
Stay cool and enjoy the weekend.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Friday, May 24, 2013
Weekly News and Notes
Senior Week is here!
First off, thanks to everyone for getting their grades done in such a timely manner for the Class of 2013. We met today with the graduation speakers, and, had the grades not been done in time, we would have been staring down deadlines and trying to get in touch with students early next week - with speeches being delivered on Friday.
The number of numbers being crunched by our guidance staff to make sure every "i" was dotted and "t" crossed to make sure that all our students on the edge made it over the finish line is also appreciated - and it looks like we didn't have any surprises - and that we're very, very close.
Next week is a bit like a three-ring circus, for all of us. On Tuesday, the seniors will be heading to Hampton Beach, and on Wednesday morning they are on campus for graduation rehearsal. Scholarship and awards night comes on Wednesday evening, with their homeroom competition and barbecue on Thursday afternoon.
Class Day is scheduled for Friday at 12:50. The seniors will be reporting around 12:15 to the auditorium, where they will be lined up for the Class Day presentation.
I know that there has been much discussion about the traditional receiving line for graduation. I have heard positives and negatives from staff, students, former class advisors, parents, and School Committee. I am sensitive to make sure that graduation runs smoothly, without any bottle necking or impediments for the families.
Should we be outside - which many of the seniors and their families are praying for - the faculty will line the inside aisle as the seniors exit, forming a "gauntlet" of sorts, lining both sides. The seniors as they leave will be able to pass by all of you, to stop, shake hands, hug, whatever they are comfortable with. We actually did this at graduation at Brown, and, as students, we loved it - and it removed the awkwardness of shaking hands or embracing a student you didn't know at all. If we are indoors, the faculty will line the corridor from the gym to the foyer on the either side, and, again, the students will pass past you to the foyer.
A suggestion came my way to have a receiving line at Class Day. So, as the seniors leave, the faculty can line the corridor from the gym to the foyer, in single file against one of the walls. The seniors can exit similarly, and thus we have the best of both worlds. The underclass students will be dismissed from the gym, and they can leave from the exits by the gym and the parking lots.
I'm trying to find a happy medium and compromise; as a traditionalist, love the rituals that different schools have with graduation. At the same time, I must respect the concerns that have been voiced. I appreciate everyone's opinions, which are strong on both sides of the coin. Either way, thanks in advance for supporting us all in this next week, which, admittedly, is very nerve-wracking!
It goes without saying that Ms. Aigler and Ms. Ryan have done an incredible job of keeping all of the senior class activities organized and in line. For my first year at Medway, they have made things incredibly easy to follow and manage, and their class officers (Pat Monaghan, Aaron Coletti, John Ryder, and Brandon Greene) have been a fantastic group with which to work. For that, and their energy, I am grateful - so be sure to congratulate them on a job well done as we approach and pass next Sunday.
Finally, if you're planning on attending graduation, please be at the school by 1:15. We will step off at 2:00 sharp on Sunday, June 2.
FINALISTS FOR DEPARTMENT LEADER POSITIONS
Many thanks to those staff members who participated in our interviewing committees for the Humanities and STEM department leaders. Maureen Coutu, Spencer Christie, and Diana Rodgers represented their departments on the Humanities committee, and Kelly Bliss and Jon Jasinski served on the STEM committee. It goes without saying that the time, commitment, patience, and earnestness they brought to the respective processes is most appreciated, and more details for the rest of the staff will be forthcoming in terms of next steps.
We are committed to student voice, and there was actually a buzz among the students asking how to get selected to be on one of these committees. As we screen for social studies, foreign language, music, tv/video, and English, the students' voice will be involved as well, and if there are students you think would be good additions, let me know - we are trying to involve many different kinds of students, and that has added, I think, to some of the conversations by the students. So don't just think of an Honors student or class/club officer - it's nice to have variety of voice!
FORMATIVE EVALUATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL STATUS
Working through the formative evaluations has been a challenge for us all. Without question, the effort that everyone on cycle put into their portfolios was noticeable, and we're certainly hoping next year is more smooth for everyone, in terms of process and product.
THE SCHEDULE
The schedule for next year is taking shape, slowly. As a positive, many of the singleton courses are starting to be placed, and we are next tackling the co-teaching courses. The department heads are finalizing tentative assignments, which may have to be adjusted once the sections are placed in the schedule.
If you happen to walk by the conference room and see the big board with all the courses and staff on it, a couple notes. One, the names are in different colors, but for no reason in particular. The student who wrote the names on the placards just wrote them in alphabetical order on the first three sheets of the stack I gave her, which were three different colors. Second, the courses are not next to anyone in particular - in many cases, they're next to the person who taught them this year, and those assignments have not been finalized for 2013-14. So don't read too much into anything!
Finally, as some adjustments are made, Doug and I are working very hard to schedule some common planning. It's not a promise, but if study hall numbers are down - which is somewhat anticipated - and folks can be scheduled into common unassigned periods, that will assist with the facilitation of common planning time. Again, no promises - but that is in the back of our heads. Promise.
The master schedule will be very close by the time we leave - student schedules may not be done, but we are hoping to have teacher schedules - and preliminary rosters - very close by the time school ends.
Thanks for reading this week, and enjoy the holiday weekend!
First off, thanks to everyone for getting their grades done in such a timely manner for the Class of 2013. We met today with the graduation speakers, and, had the grades not been done in time, we would have been staring down deadlines and trying to get in touch with students early next week - with speeches being delivered on Friday.
The number of numbers being crunched by our guidance staff to make sure every "i" was dotted and "t" crossed to make sure that all our students on the edge made it over the finish line is also appreciated - and it looks like we didn't have any surprises - and that we're very, very close.
Next week is a bit like a three-ring circus, for all of us. On Tuesday, the seniors will be heading to Hampton Beach, and on Wednesday morning they are on campus for graduation rehearsal. Scholarship and awards night comes on Wednesday evening, with their homeroom competition and barbecue on Thursday afternoon.
Class Day is scheduled for Friday at 12:50. The seniors will be reporting around 12:15 to the auditorium, where they will be lined up for the Class Day presentation.
I know that there has been much discussion about the traditional receiving line for graduation. I have heard positives and negatives from staff, students, former class advisors, parents, and School Committee. I am sensitive to make sure that graduation runs smoothly, without any bottle necking or impediments for the families.
Should we be outside - which many of the seniors and their families are praying for - the faculty will line the inside aisle as the seniors exit, forming a "gauntlet" of sorts, lining both sides. The seniors as they leave will be able to pass by all of you, to stop, shake hands, hug, whatever they are comfortable with. We actually did this at graduation at Brown, and, as students, we loved it - and it removed the awkwardness of shaking hands or embracing a student you didn't know at all. If we are indoors, the faculty will line the corridor from the gym to the foyer on the either side, and, again, the students will pass past you to the foyer.
A suggestion came my way to have a receiving line at Class Day. So, as the seniors leave, the faculty can line the corridor from the gym to the foyer, in single file against one of the walls. The seniors can exit similarly, and thus we have the best of both worlds. The underclass students will be dismissed from the gym, and they can leave from the exits by the gym and the parking lots.
I'm trying to find a happy medium and compromise; as a traditionalist, love the rituals that different schools have with graduation. At the same time, I must respect the concerns that have been voiced. I appreciate everyone's opinions, which are strong on both sides of the coin. Either way, thanks in advance for supporting us all in this next week, which, admittedly, is very nerve-wracking!
It goes without saying that Ms. Aigler and Ms. Ryan have done an incredible job of keeping all of the senior class activities organized and in line. For my first year at Medway, they have made things incredibly easy to follow and manage, and their class officers (Pat Monaghan, Aaron Coletti, John Ryder, and Brandon Greene) have been a fantastic group with which to work. For that, and their energy, I am grateful - so be sure to congratulate them on a job well done as we approach and pass next Sunday.
Finally, if you're planning on attending graduation, please be at the school by 1:15. We will step off at 2:00 sharp on Sunday, June 2.
FINALISTS FOR DEPARTMENT LEADER POSITIONS
Many thanks to those staff members who participated in our interviewing committees for the Humanities and STEM department leaders. Maureen Coutu, Spencer Christie, and Diana Rodgers represented their departments on the Humanities committee, and Kelly Bliss and Jon Jasinski served on the STEM committee. It goes without saying that the time, commitment, patience, and earnestness they brought to the respective processes is most appreciated, and more details for the rest of the staff will be forthcoming in terms of next steps.
We are committed to student voice, and there was actually a buzz among the students asking how to get selected to be on one of these committees. As we screen for social studies, foreign language, music, tv/video, and English, the students' voice will be involved as well, and if there are students you think would be good additions, let me know - we are trying to involve many different kinds of students, and that has added, I think, to some of the conversations by the students. So don't just think of an Honors student or class/club officer - it's nice to have variety of voice!
FORMATIVE EVALUATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL STATUS
Working through the formative evaluations has been a challenge for us all. Without question, the effort that everyone on cycle put into their portfolios was noticeable, and we're certainly hoping next year is more smooth for everyone, in terms of process and product.
THE SCHEDULE
The schedule for next year is taking shape, slowly. As a positive, many of the singleton courses are starting to be placed, and we are next tackling the co-teaching courses. The department heads are finalizing tentative assignments, which may have to be adjusted once the sections are placed in the schedule.
If you happen to walk by the conference room and see the big board with all the courses and staff on it, a couple notes. One, the names are in different colors, but for no reason in particular. The student who wrote the names on the placards just wrote them in alphabetical order on the first three sheets of the stack I gave her, which were three different colors. Second, the courses are not next to anyone in particular - in many cases, they're next to the person who taught them this year, and those assignments have not been finalized for 2013-14. So don't read too much into anything!
Finally, as some adjustments are made, Doug and I are working very hard to schedule some common planning. It's not a promise, but if study hall numbers are down - which is somewhat anticipated - and folks can be scheduled into common unassigned periods, that will assist with the facilitation of common planning time. Again, no promises - but that is in the back of our heads. Promise.
The master schedule will be very close by the time we leave - student schedules may not be done, but we are hoping to have teacher schedules - and preliminary rosters - very close by the time school ends.
Thanks for reading this week, and enjoy the holiday weekend!
Friday, May 17, 2013
Weekly News and Notes
This week will be very brief - information overload, at this stage of the game, is not a good thing!
First, you should have received an invitation to graduation. If you plan on attending, please let us know ASAP. I'm working on the seating arrangements and some of the other logistics. Fortunately, Sharon "Graduation Guru" Guilfoil has it all committed to memory!
Next, to those who helped out on the Body Image Project: Wow. The male program was factual, helpful, and enlightening, and the female program was extremely personal - and gratifying, particularly as the students in the audience gave that standing ovation - those of you who were there know what I'm talking about! It was a great moment for our student body.
Some news:
Positions have been posted for teaching positions in music, video production, Spanish, English, and social studies. If you are interested in any being on the screening committees for any of those teaching positions, please let me know by the end of next week. We would like 2-3 teachers, the new department leader, and a couple of students for each of the committees. Ideally, all of our hiring will be accomplished in June, so we can move forward with...
THE SCHEDULE!
Okay, so the schedule is a little behind, admittedly, but we are hoping to have class assignments ready for staff in the next week or so, after conferring with department heads. As we have a better handle on numbers, we'll let you all know!
As an aside - if you just click "automatic schedule" and don't assign the sections to particular teachers, it does some funny things!
Handbook Committee
The Handbook Committee is working hard on getting some revisions together for next year. As those are available and approved, we will hopefully have a workable document. There are some ideas that are still being tossed around, but the changes should be finalized in a week or so.
Field Trips
Unless a field trip has already met approval, no further field trips for 2012-13 will be sanctioned.
To those at the prom, enjoy! Good luck with senior exams!
First, you should have received an invitation to graduation. If you plan on attending, please let us know ASAP. I'm working on the seating arrangements and some of the other logistics. Fortunately, Sharon "Graduation Guru" Guilfoil has it all committed to memory!
Next, to those who helped out on the Body Image Project: Wow. The male program was factual, helpful, and enlightening, and the female program was extremely personal - and gratifying, particularly as the students in the audience gave that standing ovation - those of you who were there know what I'm talking about! It was a great moment for our student body.
Some news:
Positions have been posted for teaching positions in music, video production, Spanish, English, and social studies. If you are interested in any being on the screening committees for any of those teaching positions, please let me know by the end of next week. We would like 2-3 teachers, the new department leader, and a couple of students for each of the committees. Ideally, all of our hiring will be accomplished in June, so we can move forward with...
THE SCHEDULE!
Okay, so the schedule is a little behind, admittedly, but we are hoping to have class assignments ready for staff in the next week or so, after conferring with department heads. As we have a better handle on numbers, we'll let you all know!
As an aside - if you just click "automatic schedule" and don't assign the sections to particular teachers, it does some funny things!
Handbook Committee
The Handbook Committee is working hard on getting some revisions together for next year. As those are available and approved, we will hopefully have a workable document. There are some ideas that are still being tossed around, but the changes should be finalized in a week or so.
Field Trips
Unless a field trip has already met approval, no further field trips for 2012-13 will be sanctioned.
To those at the prom, enjoy! Good luck with senior exams!
Friday, May 10, 2013
Weekly News and Notes
Fasten your seatbelts.
The last week of classes for seniors is finally upon us. Oddly, they have had just a single skip day, and while some have been mentally checked out for several weeks, we have kept them, by and large, on the route to June 2.
Some information about the coming weeks:
May 13 and 14: Math MCAS. The sophomores will meet in the cafeteria first thing in the morning and will be moved to testing rooms shortly after passing to first period.
May 13-17: Second week of AP tests (Thank you, Ms. Ford, for all your hard work coordinating!)
May 17: Junior Prom/Senior Reception. Sharon and Susan, along with the junior class officers, have been working tirelessly to get the event organized. Having been the advisor to them prom before, I know what goes into making it happen - as do many of you - and it's yeoman's work! Thanks for the effort!
May 15-31: Formative conferences for evaluation with professional status teachers. To all who are completing their portfolios - the energy, effort, and thought is appreciated!
May 20: History/English field trip to Newport
May 21-24: Senior Exams
May 23: Junior Class field trip to Bellingham Movie Theater to see The Great Gatsby
May 28-31: Senior Week. Ms. Ryan and Ms. Aigler posted the full schedule to the high school conference.
May 31: Class Day
June 2: Graduation. Expect invitations next week.
June 19-24: Final Exams
June 25: Last day of school
Hiring and Selection Committees
We will be posting in the next week or so for open teaching positions that we know are coming down the pike. We have sent some emails to those departments already to enlist support, but if you have a particular interest in serving on a hiring/screening committee, just let one of us know.
Handbook Committee
Thanks to the following members of the faculty who are contributing their ideas at the Handbook Committee meetings: Ms. Rodgers, Ms. Webster, Ms. Aigler, Ms. Kitka, Mr. Rojee, Ms. Heller, Mr. Christie, Ms. Guilfoil. Ms. Pearl and I are thankful for their insight, and the student reps have also been charged with specific tasks in terms of getting pieces of the Handbook together.
After the Committee drafts its proposed revisions, it will be sent for a reading to both School Council and School Committee, with School Council having the right of first approval. We will also be getting revisions to staff, hopefully by year's end, not that anyone will need them until next September!
REMINDER:
If you are going to be absent, please make sure you let Carol Kopec know. It is important that we know exactly who is in or out during the week, and that appropriate coverages are being arranged!
Student Teachers' Last Days
Friday, May 10 was also the last day for our two student teachers from this spring, Mr. Mitchell, who was working with Mr. Rojee, and Ms. Bammi, who worked with Ms. Coyle. I actually had a couple of students personally remark to me about how great their experience was - and how anxious they were at the beginning. The tasks associated with having a student teacher and mentoring him/her, particularly through some of the high-stakes waters and through some behavioral ebbs and flows, are even greater than ever in number and responsibility, and the job done by both of our educators is sincerely appreciated. The lessons Mr. Mitchell and Ms. Bammi will take with them into their careers is a credit to the professionalism and support they saw here at Medway!
NEASC!
Shari Fedorowicz, Doug, and I all had the fortune of being involved with NEASC-related tasks earlier this week. Doug was on a NEASC visit at Amesbury, while Shari participated in the NEASC visit to Littleton High School. Ms. Rojee, Ms. Kaeli, Ms. Hallett and I were at a NEASC pre-self study workshop, a very productive couple of days. There are many, many initiatives in which we are all involved that will support the goals NEASC establishes for re-accreditation, and there will be other standards which we will seek to achieve moving forward. Naturally, we'll have more to come in the coming weeks and months!
Curriculum Work
If you are interested in doing some curriculum work this summer, including quality control within Atlas, send an email to Doug ASAP. There is money available for this summer!
The weekly resources are located here. There is an interesting piece on using Google's 20% time theory in the classroom (not sure how I feel about it, but a good read), and the video called "My Second Chance" is a pretty cool animation (and short).
Finally, to all the moms out there, Happy Mother's Day!
The last week of classes for seniors is finally upon us. Oddly, they have had just a single skip day, and while some have been mentally checked out for several weeks, we have kept them, by and large, on the route to June 2.
Some information about the coming weeks:
May 13 and 14: Math MCAS. The sophomores will meet in the cafeteria first thing in the morning and will be moved to testing rooms shortly after passing to first period.
May 13-17: Second week of AP tests (Thank you, Ms. Ford, for all your hard work coordinating!)
May 17: Junior Prom/Senior Reception. Sharon and Susan, along with the junior class officers, have been working tirelessly to get the event organized. Having been the advisor to them prom before, I know what goes into making it happen - as do many of you - and it's yeoman's work! Thanks for the effort!
May 15-31: Formative conferences for evaluation with professional status teachers. To all who are completing their portfolios - the energy, effort, and thought is appreciated!
May 20: History/English field trip to Newport
May 21-24: Senior Exams
May 23: Junior Class field trip to Bellingham Movie Theater to see The Great Gatsby
May 28-31: Senior Week. Ms. Ryan and Ms. Aigler posted the full schedule to the high school conference.
May 31: Class Day
June 2: Graduation. Expect invitations next week.
June 19-24: Final Exams
June 25: Last day of school
Hiring and Selection Committees
We will be posting in the next week or so for open teaching positions that we know are coming down the pike. We have sent some emails to those departments already to enlist support, but if you have a particular interest in serving on a hiring/screening committee, just let one of us know.
Handbook Committee
Thanks to the following members of the faculty who are contributing their ideas at the Handbook Committee meetings: Ms. Rodgers, Ms. Webster, Ms. Aigler, Ms. Kitka, Mr. Rojee, Ms. Heller, Mr. Christie, Ms. Guilfoil. Ms. Pearl and I are thankful for their insight, and the student reps have also been charged with specific tasks in terms of getting pieces of the Handbook together.
After the Committee drafts its proposed revisions, it will be sent for a reading to both School Council and School Committee, with School Council having the right of first approval. We will also be getting revisions to staff, hopefully by year's end, not that anyone will need them until next September!
REMINDER:
If you are going to be absent, please make sure you let Carol Kopec know. It is important that we know exactly who is in or out during the week, and that appropriate coverages are being arranged!
Student Teachers' Last Days
Friday, May 10 was also the last day for our two student teachers from this spring, Mr. Mitchell, who was working with Mr. Rojee, and Ms. Bammi, who worked with Ms. Coyle. I actually had a couple of students personally remark to me about how great their experience was - and how anxious they were at the beginning. The tasks associated with having a student teacher and mentoring him/her, particularly through some of the high-stakes waters and through some behavioral ebbs and flows, are even greater than ever in number and responsibility, and the job done by both of our educators is sincerely appreciated. The lessons Mr. Mitchell and Ms. Bammi will take with them into their careers is a credit to the professionalism and support they saw here at Medway!
NEASC!
Shari Fedorowicz, Doug, and I all had the fortune of being involved with NEASC-related tasks earlier this week. Doug was on a NEASC visit at Amesbury, while Shari participated in the NEASC visit to Littleton High School. Ms. Rojee, Ms. Kaeli, Ms. Hallett and I were at a NEASC pre-self study workshop, a very productive couple of days. There are many, many initiatives in which we are all involved that will support the goals NEASC establishes for re-accreditation, and there will be other standards which we will seek to achieve moving forward. Naturally, we'll have more to come in the coming weeks and months!
Curriculum Work
If you are interested in doing some curriculum work this summer, including quality control within Atlas, send an email to Doug ASAP. There is money available for this summer!
The weekly resources are located here. There is an interesting piece on using Google's 20% time theory in the classroom (not sure how I feel about it, but a good read), and the video called "My Second Chance" is a pretty cool animation (and short).
Finally, to all the moms out there, Happy Mother's Day!
Friday, May 3, 2013
Weekly News and Notes
This week's notes will be fairly short - with lots going on!
Graduation Update
Having met with the senior officers and advisors throughout the year, the decision has been made to plan for an outdoor graduation. Depending on weather conditions, we will attempt to make decisions on moving it (in or out) very early - hopefully with a couple of days' notice. Expect invitations in the next week or so, but it would be great to see many of you there!
Class Day will be on Friday, May 31. It will be held in the afternoon - like always. There had been some conflicting times out there, but it is in the afternoon.
MCAS Exams
With the proctor lists updated for the math and science MCAS exams, please let one of us know if you need any additional support with respect to specific accommodations or procedures. We will not be completing any formal training in advance. Please let us know if you have anything you are uncertain about! The Test Administrator Manuals will be here on Monday or Tuesday, which we will hopefully be able to get to you.
Handbook Committee
We have a handful of staff members who have indicated their interest in serving on the Handbook Committee, which will meet on May 9, 16, and 23. Please let me know if you're interested!
Selection Committees
If you are at all interested in serving on the committees that will be interviewing for the Instructional Leader positions, please let me know. We will establish a timeline next week for the interviews, and I would like to put both committees (Humanities and STEM) together at least once to establish some common ground rules and norms. Ideally, representatives from all departments will be there.
Senior Obligations
Senior obligation forms were posted to the High School Conference. Let the office know if you have any questions.
Adviser Survey
To those of you who are advisers to a class, club, activity, etc.: I have published a brief survey for you to complete. It will help with some strategic planning for working with all activities next year, as well as the budgeting process. It can be found here if you missed the link elsewhere. I appreciate all your feedback!
Student Engagement
With all of the, well, paperwork and tediousness that comes with this part of the year, the best time(s) of my day comes when walking around the corridors and popping in, out, and by classes - even if the trip through the hall is to find a wandering soul. There have been so many great ideas and examples of student engagement, be it the Frankenstein trial, the "Presidential throwdown" in history, students climbing the ropes course, linoleum drawings (I know I'm not calling those by the technical term!), students generating statistical analysis from data they gathered themselves... everyone is certainly doing his or her part to keep our students in gear for these last few weeks of the year! There is awesome stuff happening around this building!
Don't miss the Spring Concert on May 8!
And finally... I will be out of the office on Tuesday and Wednesday, attending a NEASC conference with Joan Hallett, Aubrie Rojee, and Dianne Kaeli. Please, if you can, handle the minor discipline write-ups as you can with conversations with the students, and keep me and/or Dot posted on the major stuff. I'll be available electronically for those of you who have questions related to clubs, activities, anything academic, field trips, etc. Thanks for your patience!
Graduation Update
Having met with the senior officers and advisors throughout the year, the decision has been made to plan for an outdoor graduation. Depending on weather conditions, we will attempt to make decisions on moving it (in or out) very early - hopefully with a couple of days' notice. Expect invitations in the next week or so, but it would be great to see many of you there!
Class Day will be on Friday, May 31. It will be held in the afternoon - like always. There had been some conflicting times out there, but it is in the afternoon.
MCAS Exams
With the proctor lists updated for the math and science MCAS exams, please let one of us know if you need any additional support with respect to specific accommodations or procedures. We will not be completing any formal training in advance. Please let us know if you have anything you are uncertain about! The Test Administrator Manuals will be here on Monday or Tuesday, which we will hopefully be able to get to you.
Handbook Committee
We have a handful of staff members who have indicated their interest in serving on the Handbook Committee, which will meet on May 9, 16, and 23. Please let me know if you're interested!
Selection Committees
If you are at all interested in serving on the committees that will be interviewing for the Instructional Leader positions, please let me know. We will establish a timeline next week for the interviews, and I would like to put both committees (Humanities and STEM) together at least once to establish some common ground rules and norms. Ideally, representatives from all departments will be there.
Senior Obligations
Senior obligation forms were posted to the High School Conference. Let the office know if you have any questions.
Adviser Survey
To those of you who are advisers to a class, club, activity, etc.: I have published a brief survey for you to complete. It will help with some strategic planning for working with all activities next year, as well as the budgeting process. It can be found here if you missed the link elsewhere. I appreciate all your feedback!
Student Engagement
With all of the, well, paperwork and tediousness that comes with this part of the year, the best time(s) of my day comes when walking around the corridors and popping in, out, and by classes - even if the trip through the hall is to find a wandering soul. There have been so many great ideas and examples of student engagement, be it the Frankenstein trial, the "Presidential throwdown" in history, students climbing the ropes course, linoleum drawings (I know I'm not calling those by the technical term!), students generating statistical analysis from data they gathered themselves... everyone is certainly doing his or her part to keep our students in gear for these last few weeks of the year! There is awesome stuff happening around this building!
Don't miss the Spring Concert on May 8!
And finally... I will be out of the office on Tuesday and Wednesday, attending a NEASC conference with Joan Hallett, Aubrie Rojee, and Dianne Kaeli. Please, if you can, handle the minor discipline write-ups as you can with conversations with the students, and keep me and/or Dot posted on the major stuff. I'll be available electronically for those of you who have questions related to clubs, activities, anything academic, field trips, etc. Thanks for your patience!
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