This morning I was able to expand my personal knowledge about influenza vaccinations and the H1N1 virus that was previously a topic on this blog. As a member of the Athol-Orange Emergency Preparedness Committee I have the opportunity to attend meetings at Athol Hospital about every six weeks. As I expected would be, the major topic of discussion was the upcoming flu season and the added danger of an H1N1 outbreak. I learned some very valuable information that I believe needs to be shared with anyone who is willing to read.
There are Two Types of Seasonal Influenza Vaccination – H1N1 Vaccine is a Third
Inactivated - this is actually “killed” vaccine that is given in the “flu shot” by injection into the muscle.
Live, attenuated – this is weakened influenza vaccine that is sprayed into the nostrils. For the use of this type of vaccine, it is very important that the person who is taking it is healthy, and not experiencing any type of illness.
Novel H1N1 Vaccine – the term “novel” is applied to this vaccination to indicate that it is the only one of its kind – in a sense H1N1 is the only occurrence of this strain of influenza.
Timelines
The general (seasonal) influenza vaccine is going to be released within a week with the recommendation from the Center for Disease Control that those responsible for its distribution begin earlier this year than in previous years. This is because the H1N1 vaccine is likely to be released in October. It is also possible that the H1N1 vaccine will be given in two separate injections that are a number of days apart.
Distribution
Normally the general (seasonal) vaccine is shipped to over 3,000 locations in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health stated in today’s conference call that the H1N1 vaccine would only be shipped to 1,800 specific sites. It was stated that there is likely to be significantly less supply of Novel H1N1 vaccine than the supply of seasonal influenza vaccine. I was also provided with information from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services that specified an order in which the vaccination would be distributed. These efforts will focus first on the following target groups:
• Pregnant Women
• Household and caregiver contacts of children younger than 6 months of age
• Health care emergency medical services personnel
• Children from 6 months to 18 years old
• Persons aged 19 – 24
• Persons aged 25 – 64 years who have medical conditions associated with higher risk conditions.
The Importance of School Involvement
To date in Massachusetts nearly 63% of the reported cases of H1N1 influenza have been confirmed to be in those between the ages of 0 – 18 years old. In this group of nearly 900 children there was one fatality. The school day is characterized by many students seated in classrooms in which they are not far apart from one another. Students in the middle and high school are more likely to shake hands, high five, and/or hug and kiss. It is imperative that we continue to educate our students on the importance of hand washing and proper hygiene. It is our hope that the H1N1 vaccine along with healthy practices that we continually remind our students to practice will limit the incidence of H1N1 and seasonal influenza in our community.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Let's Be Real!
This morning our High School Adjustment Counselor (Mrs. Ramon) and I sat down with Jeanette Voas and Kat Allen from the Community Coalition for Teens to review the results of a recent assessment of our students. Earlier this year, our 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students participated in a survey designed to assess adolescent substance use and other risk behaviors. This survey was also conducted in 2006 – so we are able to compare data from 2006 with what was collected in 2009.
In all, approximately 75% of the students who were given the survey actually completed it and their responses provided us with valuable information. The conversation that I had today focused on what appeared to be a downward trend in students’ use of marijuana, alcohol, and/or tobacco. Most school administrators would be happy about this, but after I have had some time to digest the survey I am having different thoughts. To be perfectly honest the statement that comes to my mind is simply, “Let’s be real!”
First, this survey only reports what students are willing to say. We have to ask ourselves how many adolescents are willing to admit on paper that they have used drugs, gambled, smoked, been drunk, stolen, or perhaps carried a weapon? Second, I wonder what the responses of the 25% of students that did not respond would have been. Perhaps there are reasons that approximately 100 students chose to simply not respond? Finally, the fact that we are even assessing such things means that there is a problem. So, like I said above, “Let’s be real!”
When it comes to drug use, alcohol use, and other risky behaviors my head is not in the sand. 12.9% of our eighth grade responders and 22.2% of our twelfth grade responders admitted to using marijuana within thirty days of taking the survey. To be honest these numbers are unacceptable and any reasonable mind can conclude that the real number of students who have used marijuana is actually higher than reported. So I can’t sit here and cheerfully report that fewer of our students are using drugs in 2009 than in 2006. I have to be truthful and say that some of our students are using drugs, and that in and of itself is deplorable.
As a former Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, and then Principal I have accumulated many awful stories. For every story that I have about confiscating illegal substances and dangerous items from students during the school day there is probably one that I forgot. In the last seven years I have confiscated cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, pills, and heroin (syringe included) from students. Given these experiences and the aforementioned survey results, I feel that we have to step up our efforts to ensure an alcohol and drug free school.
This year, we will continue to hold evening events to keep parents in the know about teen drug use and abuse. We will continue to provide our students with the health and wellness education necessary to curb the likelihood of poor choices about drugs and alcohol, and we will continue to work with our outside partners. We are grateful for organizations such as the Community Coalition for Teens, the work of our counselors, and for whatever funding that we receive to keep our parents informed and our students safe. But guess what…..It’s not enough. In my mind, one student who chooses to use drugs is just too many.
In all, approximately 75% of the students who were given the survey actually completed it and their responses provided us with valuable information. The conversation that I had today focused on what appeared to be a downward trend in students’ use of marijuana, alcohol, and/or tobacco. Most school administrators would be happy about this, but after I have had some time to digest the survey I am having different thoughts. To be perfectly honest the statement that comes to my mind is simply, “Let’s be real!”
First, this survey only reports what students are willing to say. We have to ask ourselves how many adolescents are willing to admit on paper that they have used drugs, gambled, smoked, been drunk, stolen, or perhaps carried a weapon? Second, I wonder what the responses of the 25% of students that did not respond would have been. Perhaps there are reasons that approximately 100 students chose to simply not respond? Finally, the fact that we are even assessing such things means that there is a problem. So, like I said above, “Let’s be real!”
When it comes to drug use, alcohol use, and other risky behaviors my head is not in the sand. 12.9% of our eighth grade responders and 22.2% of our twelfth grade responders admitted to using marijuana within thirty days of taking the survey. To be honest these numbers are unacceptable and any reasonable mind can conclude that the real number of students who have used marijuana is actually higher than reported. So I can’t sit here and cheerfully report that fewer of our students are using drugs in 2009 than in 2006. I have to be truthful and say that some of our students are using drugs, and that in and of itself is deplorable.
As a former Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, and then Principal I have accumulated many awful stories. For every story that I have about confiscating illegal substances and dangerous items from students during the school day there is probably one that I forgot. In the last seven years I have confiscated cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, pills, and heroin (syringe included) from students. Given these experiences and the aforementioned survey results, I feel that we have to step up our efforts to ensure an alcohol and drug free school.
This year, we will continue to hold evening events to keep parents in the know about teen drug use and abuse. We will continue to provide our students with the health and wellness education necessary to curb the likelihood of poor choices about drugs and alcohol, and we will continue to work with our outside partners. We are grateful for organizations such as the Community Coalition for Teens, the work of our counselors, and for whatever funding that we receive to keep our parents informed and our students safe. But guess what…..It’s not enough. In my mind, one student who chooses to use drugs is just too many.
Friday, August 14, 2009
H1N1 Vaccine: Coordinating Efforts
Throughout the summer I have been inundated with updates from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Department of Public Health (DPH) regarding the H1N1 virus (formerly known as Swine Flu). At first I thought that this flood of information was fueled by the media frenzy on this topic. Most of us recall the media frenzy that surrounded SARS, which affected a little more than 8,000 people worldwide in 2003. Technically speaking there were more news reports about SARS than there were people affected by it.
I decided to do a little research on the Avian Flu (also known as Bird Flu) and found that around 250 people over 12 countries lost their lives as a result of this illness. Similar to the recent releases on the H1N1 Virus, experts feared a pandemic situation with the Avian Flu. As I poked around the Internet on this topic I began to uncover what a pandemic would really mean and began a proactive plan to keep our school community as insulated as possible from the threat of this illness.
When the World Health Organization issued its warnings back in March, we took immediate action. We provided our students with instruction on the importance of keeping their hands clean and away from their eyes, noses, and mouths. We taught them the importance of coughing and/or sneezing into a tissue, or into their sleeves, and our maintenance crew worked to keep our facility as clean as possible. Now experts are saying that there is a possibility of a return of H1N1 in the fall that will be more viscous that the outbreak that the world experienced in the spring.
Whether or not the H1N1 hits, we must be proactive in our actions to keep our students healthy. We have opened a dialogue with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health as well as our local Board of Health. After conversations with Orange Town Administrator, Rick Kwiatkowski and Orange Board of Health Director, Roger Maillet, we have decided to coordinate our efforts to offer vaccinations to our students and local residents when they are available this fall. It appears likely that Dr. Burnim will also have the vaccine offered to elementary students – and parents can expect a joint communication from Dr. Burnim, Mr. Maillet an me at the beginning of school.
I anticipate that there will be free vaccinations available this fall for our students who are currently living in low-income situations. Funding for these vaccinations has traditionally been offered by the State DPH, in which a small number of students have accessed the vaccine through their pediatricians. Mr. Maillet is working on another initiative to inoculate those who do not fall under the DPH program that the schools have access to. It is my hope that we will be able to offer the vaccination in school this fall – but it is even more my hope that H1N1 just goes away.
I decided to do a little research on the Avian Flu (also known as Bird Flu) and found that around 250 people over 12 countries lost their lives as a result of this illness. Similar to the recent releases on the H1N1 Virus, experts feared a pandemic situation with the Avian Flu. As I poked around the Internet on this topic I began to uncover what a pandemic would really mean and began a proactive plan to keep our school community as insulated as possible from the threat of this illness.
When the World Health Organization issued its warnings back in March, we took immediate action. We provided our students with instruction on the importance of keeping their hands clean and away from their eyes, noses, and mouths. We taught them the importance of coughing and/or sneezing into a tissue, or into their sleeves, and our maintenance crew worked to keep our facility as clean as possible. Now experts are saying that there is a possibility of a return of H1N1 in the fall that will be more viscous that the outbreak that the world experienced in the spring.
Whether or not the H1N1 hits, we must be proactive in our actions to keep our students healthy. We have opened a dialogue with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health as well as our local Board of Health. After conversations with Orange Town Administrator, Rick Kwiatkowski and Orange Board of Health Director, Roger Maillet, we have decided to coordinate our efforts to offer vaccinations to our students and local residents when they are available this fall. It appears likely that Dr. Burnim will also have the vaccine offered to elementary students – and parents can expect a joint communication from Dr. Burnim, Mr. Maillet an me at the beginning of school.
I anticipate that there will be free vaccinations available this fall for our students who are currently living in low-income situations. Funding for these vaccinations has traditionally been offered by the State DPH, in which a small number of students have accessed the vaccine through their pediatricians. Mr. Maillet is working on another initiative to inoculate those who do not fall under the DPH program that the schools have access to. It is my hope that we will be able to offer the vaccination in school this fall – but it is even more my hope that H1N1 just goes away.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Federal Stimulus Funds Going to Work at Mahar
Just this February, President Obama signed The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) into law. This economic recovery package was created with the intent of turning the crises created by our recent fiscal situation into opportunities for many American citizens. Students who are educated under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are benefactors of this legislation, and this equates to another innovative program in the Ralph C. Mahar Middle School.
Under the ARRA, the Federal Government allocated $107,600.00 for the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District. Our district was able to apply for these funds with an application that abided by the conditions set forth in a memo from Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner, Mitchell Chester. One of the main provisions of the proposal was that it must create jobs while improving educational outcomes for students who require Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
We have done much at Mahar over the last two years to create alternative learning situations for some of our high school students. The programs that we created resulted in a lower drop out rate and increased savings. High school students who were educated outside of our district in alternative learning environments now have an in-district opportunity. Building upon this model, our ARRA application provided for the creation of a Middle School Alternative Classroom here at Mahar.
This proposal was accepted by the State Department of Education in full. Our administration has worked through the summer to create an educational environment for middle school students who are challenged emotionally, or who have developed ineffective responses to stressful situations. These responses have resulted in missed learning opportunities over time, and in some cases have called upon costly private educational placements.
As for the creation of jobs and stimulating economic growth at the local level, it appears as though ARRA will live up to its expectation. This grant has resulted in the hiring of a new full-time teacher, a new full-time paraprofessional, and all of the textbooks, educational supplies, and materials for this new program to exist. Some of the funding has been set aside for these middle school students to attend field trips, and there is even funding for much needed professional development in this area. We are so grateful to be able to provide this new and innovative program for our students this year.
Thank-you ARRA!
Under the ARRA, the Federal Government allocated $107,600.00 for the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District. Our district was able to apply for these funds with an application that abided by the conditions set forth in a memo from Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner, Mitchell Chester. One of the main provisions of the proposal was that it must create jobs while improving educational outcomes for students who require Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
We have done much at Mahar over the last two years to create alternative learning situations for some of our high school students. The programs that we created resulted in a lower drop out rate and increased savings. High school students who were educated outside of our district in alternative learning environments now have an in-district opportunity. Building upon this model, our ARRA application provided for the creation of a Middle School Alternative Classroom here at Mahar.
This proposal was accepted by the State Department of Education in full. Our administration has worked through the summer to create an educational environment for middle school students who are challenged emotionally, or who have developed ineffective responses to stressful situations. These responses have resulted in missed learning opportunities over time, and in some cases have called upon costly private educational placements.
As for the creation of jobs and stimulating economic growth at the local level, it appears as though ARRA will live up to its expectation. This grant has resulted in the hiring of a new full-time teacher, a new full-time paraprofessional, and all of the textbooks, educational supplies, and materials for this new program to exist. Some of the funding has been set aside for these middle school students to attend field trips, and there is even funding for much needed professional development in this area. We are so grateful to be able to provide this new and innovative program for our students this year.
Thank-you ARRA!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Healthy $chool Lunche$
Yesterday the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) made national news by displaying posters of a child making a statement and asking a question about her school lunches. As you can see from the photo that I posted, it reads, “President Obama’s daughters get healthy school lunches. Why don’t I?” The validity of the issue presented by this poster that was strategically placed in Washington DC’s Union Station is not in question. What is in question is whether or not PCRM should be allowed to use President Obama’s daughters to make a point.
Now that the posters are up and now that they have made national news, I don’t think that there is anything that can be done. The bell has rung, and it cannot be undone. If the posters come down today, in a week or in a year, PCRM succeeded in their mission to raise the level of concern over what our students are eating in the school cafeteria each day. As a matter of fact PCRM’s public relations department can actually be applauded for their ability to raise concern about the school lunch issue. It only cost them $20,000.00 to see these posters go from the walls of Union Station to every home with a networked computer in the country, and around the world. This was actually a front page story on Yahoo.com just yesterday.
Recent changes to our school district’s wellness policy resulted in our students being provided low-fat and non-sugar packed foods. Our “Five a Day” buffet provides students with access to fresh vegetables, and carbonated soft drinks are a no-no in our vending machines. I should also note that a good portion of our students’ health curriculum is dedicated to the benefits of healthy eating, proper hydration, and exercise. We are proud of our efforts to teach our students the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, but we know that the healthy lifestyle has challenges.
First (and sadly), healthier foods are more expensive than their non-healthy counterparts. This is true in school, in the grocery store, and in restaurants. Just compare the cost of a twelve pack of cola to a gallon of milk, or the cost of a McDonald’s Extra Value Meal (Super Sized) to the cost of one single container of blackberries at Hannaford’s. Since our wellness policy has been implemented we have raised the price of our school lunches once and are doing all that we can to NOT raise the price again. While engaged in this effort, food prices continue to rise.
Second, many adolescents prefer the unhealthy, sugar packed, processed foods over the healthy choices that we offer. Last year when we changed our chocolate chip cookies to cookies that were low-fat, many students complained. With their complaints, sales fell at the same time that our costs for food shot up. This year we are anticipating challenges in our ability to provide our students with the healthiest options for breakfast and lunch and keeping these healthy choices as affordable as possible for our families. PCRM made a good point, and perhaps with the President’s attention something will be done to assist us in our endeavor to give our students high quality, low cost meals.
Now that the posters are up and now that they have made national news, I don’t think that there is anything that can be done. The bell has rung, and it cannot be undone. If the posters come down today, in a week or in a year, PCRM succeeded in their mission to raise the level of concern over what our students are eating in the school cafeteria each day. As a matter of fact PCRM’s public relations department can actually be applauded for their ability to raise concern about the school lunch issue. It only cost them $20,000.00 to see these posters go from the walls of Union Station to every home with a networked computer in the country, and around the world. This was actually a front page story on Yahoo.com just yesterday.
Recent changes to our school district’s wellness policy resulted in our students being provided low-fat and non-sugar packed foods. Our “Five a Day” buffet provides students with access to fresh vegetables, and carbonated soft drinks are a no-no in our vending machines. I should also note that a good portion of our students’ health curriculum is dedicated to the benefits of healthy eating, proper hydration, and exercise. We are proud of our efforts to teach our students the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, but we know that the healthy lifestyle has challenges.
First (and sadly), healthier foods are more expensive than their non-healthy counterparts. This is true in school, in the grocery store, and in restaurants. Just compare the cost of a twelve pack of cola to a gallon of milk, or the cost of a McDonald’s Extra Value Meal (Super Sized) to the cost of one single container of blackberries at Hannaford’s. Since our wellness policy has been implemented we have raised the price of our school lunches once and are doing all that we can to NOT raise the price again. While engaged in this effort, food prices continue to rise.
Second, many adolescents prefer the unhealthy, sugar packed, processed foods over the healthy choices that we offer. Last year when we changed our chocolate chip cookies to cookies that were low-fat, many students complained. With their complaints, sales fell at the same time that our costs for food shot up. This year we are anticipating challenges in our ability to provide our students with the healthiest options for breakfast and lunch and keeping these healthy choices as affordable as possible for our families. PCRM made a good point, and perhaps with the President’s attention something will be done to assist us in our endeavor to give our students high quality, low cost meals.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Curbing Student Discipline Problems: The Paul Simon Way
At this time each year school administrators meet with students who for one reason or another did not finish the prior school year. Reasons for students choosing not to complete a school year may vary. Teen pregnancy and other personal reasons for drop out loom and there is always the possibility of illness, but at the high school level it is most common to see students not finish a school year due to some serious disciplinary issue that has taken place. Naturally, discipline is a HUGE topic in public schools today. For today’s post, Paul Simon helped me put together a few points that can help parents and teachers set the stage for success for our students with regard to discipline. Hopefully these tactics contribute to a better school year for all of our students. Take a look:
You Don’t Have to Discuss Much
Every teacher and every parent has a different way of doing business with their students and with their children. The school has consistent rules for student behavior, and yet in this structure, every classroom is different. Parents and teachers alike must have consistent rules, approaches, and even goals and rewards each day. Students find change or unpredictability puzzling, and may test limits or boundaries to see how far they can go with different adults. (Remember the saying, "If mom says no, then just go ask dad?)
When I Was a Little Boy, and the Devil Would Call My Name
Often when students are engaging in behaviors counterproductive to learning, adults just react. Rarely does one ask him or herself why the child is acting the way that he or she is. In a nutshell, all behavior has meaning – and it is done for a reason. Teachers and parents have to operate with the understanding that adolescents don’t just “do” things (nor are they caused by some supreme spirit of evil). Rather, they act in accordance with what they believe is happening at whatever moment that they are in. Understanding why a student or child acts in a certain way can bring us closer to figuring out what problem he or she is really facing. When that problem is confronted appropriately, we are more likely to stop the negative behaviors.
Make a New Plan, Stan
Parents and teachers should stay out of power struggles with adolescents. Conflicts should be chosen very carefully, and once one of these “battles” has been appropriately chosen, the Adult must have the final say. Always! This tactic should be used in NON-NEGOTIABLE situations that deal with serious topics such as safety and healthy choices. If an issue is important, experts indicate it's vital that an adult not cave and give in to a child any passes or “just this once” opportunities. Just as I mentioned with consistency above, if you do this, then every time this issue comes up again, your child might think you will change your mind.
She Gets Down on Her Knees and Hugs Me
Negative behavior is the easiest to focus on, but don’t forget to praise the positive behavior in our students. When students are doing exactly what they are supposed to do and are living up to their expectations it is a common blunder for adults not to notice. A high five from a teacher, a hug from a parent, or a simple statement like, “ I am really impressed that you got your homework done early tonight” provides adolescents with much needed praise. It serves to raise their self-esteem, and is likely to cause that great behavior to happen again.
Be Cool Fool (not Paul Simon, but it fits)
I’ve learned that adolescents often enjoy seeing a rise out of their teachers and that some students have actually viewed their teachers losing their cool as a victory for them, even when they are in trouble. ALWAYS keep calm and in control, and if necessary, you can even tell your student or child that you will talk to them later after you have had time to digest the situation. Responding emotionally rarely, if ever creates a successful situation for a child. Some kids will even take advantage of a stressed out, mad, or emotional adult; so never give them this opportunity. If you do mess up, learn from the experience, and take another measure to keep yourself calm, cool and collected the next time.
I added to the bottom of this blog a website that provides access to dozens of other websites that provide parents and teachers with information about how to help their children and students be successful in school.
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/parents.htm
You Don’t Have to Discuss Much
Every teacher and every parent has a different way of doing business with their students and with their children. The school has consistent rules for student behavior, and yet in this structure, every classroom is different. Parents and teachers alike must have consistent rules, approaches, and even goals and rewards each day. Students find change or unpredictability puzzling, and may test limits or boundaries to see how far they can go with different adults. (Remember the saying, "If mom says no, then just go ask dad?)
When I Was a Little Boy, and the Devil Would Call My Name
Often when students are engaging in behaviors counterproductive to learning, adults just react. Rarely does one ask him or herself why the child is acting the way that he or she is. In a nutshell, all behavior has meaning – and it is done for a reason. Teachers and parents have to operate with the understanding that adolescents don’t just “do” things (nor are they caused by some supreme spirit of evil). Rather, they act in accordance with what they believe is happening at whatever moment that they are in. Understanding why a student or child acts in a certain way can bring us closer to figuring out what problem he or she is really facing. When that problem is confronted appropriately, we are more likely to stop the negative behaviors.
Make a New Plan, Stan
Parents and teachers should stay out of power struggles with adolescents. Conflicts should be chosen very carefully, and once one of these “battles” has been appropriately chosen, the Adult must have the final say. Always! This tactic should be used in NON-NEGOTIABLE situations that deal with serious topics such as safety and healthy choices. If an issue is important, experts indicate it's vital that an adult not cave and give in to a child any passes or “just this once” opportunities. Just as I mentioned with consistency above, if you do this, then every time this issue comes up again, your child might think you will change your mind.
She Gets Down on Her Knees and Hugs Me
Negative behavior is the easiest to focus on, but don’t forget to praise the positive behavior in our students. When students are doing exactly what they are supposed to do and are living up to their expectations it is a common blunder for adults not to notice. A high five from a teacher, a hug from a parent, or a simple statement like, “ I am really impressed that you got your homework done early tonight” provides adolescents with much needed praise. It serves to raise their self-esteem, and is likely to cause that great behavior to happen again.
Be Cool Fool (not Paul Simon, but it fits)
I’ve learned that adolescents often enjoy seeing a rise out of their teachers and that some students have actually viewed their teachers losing their cool as a victory for them, even when they are in trouble. ALWAYS keep calm and in control, and if necessary, you can even tell your student or child that you will talk to them later after you have had time to digest the situation. Responding emotionally rarely, if ever creates a successful situation for a child. Some kids will even take advantage of a stressed out, mad, or emotional adult; so never give them this opportunity. If you do mess up, learn from the experience, and take another measure to keep yourself calm, cool and collected the next time.
I added to the bottom of this blog a website that provides access to dozens of other websites that provide parents and teachers with information about how to help their children and students be successful in school.
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/parents.htm
Monday, August 10, 2009
Community Connections: Getting New Employees Acquainted
We are happy to have hired twelve new employees to fill instructional and support positions for the 2009 – 2010 school year. At Ralph C. Mahar, the new employees’ orientation takes place around this time each August. To begin the orientation this morning I boarded a school bus with our twelve new hires, our Curriculum Coordinator, our Principal, and State Representative Chris Donelan. Mr. Donelan took on the role of tour guide as we took an hour and a half to drive around the four towns that make up our regional school district.
The purpose of this trip was for our new employees to get a first hand look at our area, the neighborhoods that our students live in, and an understanding of the deep admiration that those who live in these parts of Massachusetts have for the outdoors. They were also surprised to learn that some of our students sit on their busses for up to an hour each way to get to and from school each day. They had the opportunity to ask questions and truly become familiar with our demographics.
During my recent studies at UMASS I learned the importance of educators’ connections with the communities in which they work to educate our youth. In the book Funds of Knowledge the author provides readers with this understanding by reporting on a project in which teachers actually interviewed parents, students, and families in their homes. This activity proved to help the teachers be better at educating their students because of their deeper understanding of their students’ backgrounds. The interviews also provided students and parents with the sense that the teachers truly cared about them, which resulted in better relationships and increased support for learning and for the schools.
Activities such as the one that we engaged in today and those that call upon educators to be connected to parents and families will pay off huge dividends in the classroom. Any one of the professionals on the bus today can now talk to students about the fishing docks at Gate 31, the Quabbin Reservoir, Lake Mattawa, or the five elementary schools that we stopped in front of. This effort for our school to build strong relationships with the community is something that you can expect from me and from our administration on a continuous basis this year, and in the years that follow.
The purpose of this trip was for our new employees to get a first hand look at our area, the neighborhoods that our students live in, and an understanding of the deep admiration that those who live in these parts of Massachusetts have for the outdoors. They were also surprised to learn that some of our students sit on their busses for up to an hour each way to get to and from school each day. They had the opportunity to ask questions and truly become familiar with our demographics.
During my recent studies at UMASS I learned the importance of educators’ connections with the communities in which they work to educate our youth. In the book Funds of Knowledge the author provides readers with this understanding by reporting on a project in which teachers actually interviewed parents, students, and families in their homes. This activity proved to help the teachers be better at educating their students because of their deeper understanding of their students’ backgrounds. The interviews also provided students and parents with the sense that the teachers truly cared about them, which resulted in better relationships and increased support for learning and for the schools.
Activities such as the one that we engaged in today and those that call upon educators to be connected to parents and families will pay off huge dividends in the classroom. Any one of the professionals on the bus today can now talk to students about the fishing docks at Gate 31, the Quabbin Reservoir, Lake Mattawa, or the five elementary schools that we stopped in front of. This effort for our school to build strong relationships with the community is something that you can expect from me and from our administration on a continuous basis this year, and in the years that follow.
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