Outstanding Attendance at Preschool Network Conference on October 3!

On October 3, 2012 the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School hosted an event in partnership with the Regional Preschool Network, Thom WRCP, and the Orange Elementary Public Schools to provide a day of workshops for parents and area child care providers. Professional presentations by Certified Human Behavior Specialists provided attendees with opportunities to understand new and effective practices and philosophies for working with children and students.

In all, the three workshops offered had a total of attendance of 250! From local schools the event was attended by, Narragansett; Gardner; Petersham Center School, Ralph C. Mahar; UMASS; Deerfield Academy, Quabbin; Ashburnham- Westminster; The Perkins School for the Blind; CAPS Collaborative; and the Orange Elementary Public Schools. Other organizations represented were, THOM WRCP (Thom Western Regional Consultation Program); PCDC (Parent Child Development Center- Head Start)- Greenfield; Greenfield STARR Program; Hampshire Franklin Daycare; Bethany Christian Nursery School- Gardner; REACH Early Intervention; ABC Easthampton; Criterion Heritage EI Program- Hadley and Holyoke; Totspot Child care- Pittsfield (at least 5 staff); Little Bears Learn & Care; Valley Opportunity Council- Holyoke; Southern Berkshire Child Care Program- Sheffield MA; and Educare.

Participants were asked to complete Evaluation Forms after each session. Below, please find some highlights from the comments sections of these forms:

Session I: BRAIN GYM

“Loved practicality of it, it is easy to do and takes minimal time but there is a large benefit.”

“I am a parent that has 2 young girls. Transition is hard and I think this will help!”

“I now have the knowledge & information to put some of the activities to use at home!”

Session II: BEYOND BOSSING, BEGGING AND BRIBING

“Another great workshop- the humor- the suggestions- the life experiences shared were wonderful to listen to even at the late hour. So many great tips, thoughts and advice!!!”

“ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!”

“I gained a lot of strategies to try and share with my co-workers.”

“I will put the 3 steps (rules, consequences, consistent follow through) into my newsletter for parents because it is clear & easy to understand- Thank you”

Session III: EMOTIONS COACHING

“Jeanine[the presenter] is a marvel at what she does. Every bit is useful and her stories make it enjoyable. Her LOVE of children is strong and pleasant to see.”

“Triggers, humor, informative, as parent found information very valuable.”

“Connection from child to adult concepts back to child behavior, the way the presenter did her presentation, that there is work that I need to do to better my relationship with my children! To give them and myself an emotional language.”

Thank you to CAPS Executive Director, Dr. Edward McCaul for taking the lead on this outstanding program. Thank you to the Regional Preschool Network and Thank You to all who were able to attend. I hope that the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School can serve as the site for future workshops with the same level of success as we saw on October 3!!!!

Mahar Grade 10 ELA Growth Percentile: 9th Highest in State

The release of 2012 MCAS data last week brought about what has become a usual stir of activity in the media.  Whether we like it or not, our system for accountability pits neighboring districts against one another.  I think it is human nature.  People just want to know who the best is, who the worst is, and where they stand in this continuum.  In recent years, test results for individual students tell parents how their children performed in relation to their same aged classmates who scored similarly on previous MCAS administrations state-wide.

For many people who do not work in schools or take a seriously active role in understanding all of the information, it can be very confusing.  The casual visit to the assessment portion of our Department of Education’s website presents acronyms, and statistical analyses that require a careful eye.  In 2012, more than 395,000 Massachusetts students took the MCAS and there is plenty that can be said about their performance locally as well as across the Commonwealth.

For many districts in Central and Western Massachusetts it is business as usual when it comes to reporting our scores.  With great certainty our districts are improving as the Department of Education encourages central office administrators, who support principals.  The principals provide direction and guidance to teachers and staff who have the most monumental task of all; teaching, motivating, and assisting their students.  But as always when it comes to comparing district to district, the playing field is not level.

The original examination on this topic was published in 1966 by a researcher named Coleman.  He showed that children from high socioeconomic backgrounds consistently outperformed children from low socioeconomic backgrounds when it came to school based outcomes.  This fact has been researched and reported on again and again and again over the 66 years that followed his study.  Last year a book called “Unequal Childhoods” was published and it was more of the same.  Rich kids outperforming poor kids nationwide. 

The system of accountability has put extreme focus on individual teachers, administrators, schools, and districts – indicating that the axis for real transformation in student performance rests on local school committees.  Yet many argue that with per pupil expenditures so out of whack, the low socioeconomic districts will really never be able to compete with the high socioeconomic districts.  For example, the per-pupil expenditure in 2011 for Orange, MA was roughly $5,000.00 less per student that it was in Newton, MA.   If the Orange Elementary Public Schools were funded at the same level as the Newton Public Schools it would have an operating budget of $11 million rather than the $6.9 million that it is provided to do business with.

For those who are waiting for the Federal or State Government to do something drastic to bring about some fairness to education funding, my recommendation is for you is to be optimistic, but don’t hold your breath.  In our region we have been taking steps locally to provide our children and young adults with as many opportunities to compete with their classmates around the state – and not just on our athletic fields. 

Specialized programming along with focused day-to-day instruction has brought Ralph C. Mahar Regional High School to a high point with regard to our Grade 10 English and Language Arts performance.  In 2012 our district is reported by the Department of Education to have just fewer than 50% of our student body classified as low income.  This is more than 15% higher than the average of all districts in the state.  And you know what?  In 2012, 10^th graders at Ralph C. Mahar Regional High School outperformed the state average on their English and Language Arts Assessments.   It appears as though we can compete. 

            

Episode #8: All About Pre-School

In this episode, Jackie and I talk with CAPS Educational Collaborative Executive Director, Dr. Edward McCaul, Assistant Superintendent Tari Thomas, and Naragansett Director of Early Education, Ms. Terry LaBonte.  Since pre-school is not compulsory for all students, many parents and community members are unaware of the benefits of early educational opportunities for children between the ages of 3 and 5. Click Here to View Episode #8: All About Pre-School

Episode #7: Canines for Disabled Kids

Jackie and I had the opportunity to sit in the studio with Canines for Kids Executive Director, Kristen Hartness and her trainee, Asha.  Prior to our interview, I like many assumed that service animals were limited to Seeing Eye Dogs and Police work.  Kristen provided me with a new understanding of how would be pets can trained to do so much more to improve life's quality.  http://www.schooltube.com/video/47d97b230fa64c058883/Education Connection - Service Dogs

Kindergarten - Grade 6 After School Program: ASPIRE Approved by Mahar Regional School Committee

On August 13, 2012 the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School Committee held a special meeting in which I presented plans to open a Kindergarten – Grade 6 after school program that was given the name, “ASPIRE.” The acronym stands for:


A = After
S = School
P = Program
I = Incorporationg
R = Recreation &
E = Education

In prior years approximately 75 children in the Orange Elementary Public Schools attended an after school program that was grant funded. The five year grant known as the “21st Century Learning Grant” expired at the end of the 2011 – 2012 school year, leaving area parents and students with no after school programming. Many families in the Orange-Athol region also utilize pricey private after school programs to which transportation must be arranged and in which there is little connection between classroom instruction and after school academic programming.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education posted grant applications for another 21st Century Additional Learning Time Grant for this academic year. We will be filing an application for funding, and it is due on September 20, 2012. Competitive priority in this grant fund is given to applications that are jointly developed between school districts and/or other partnering entities. Mahar and Orange Elementary will partner on this grant application, and invite some other after school programs to participate with us in the grant application process.

I informed the school committee that the ASPIRE program would be available for families in Orange and surrounding towns. The program will be housed at the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School because the nearly 200,000 square foot facility offers more opportunities for children to engage in sports, arts and crafts, cooking, and networked computer use. The Mahar facility also sits on more than 100 acres of land, offering students opportunities for outside play, nature walks, and even a low level ROPES course that is used for Mahar’s physical education program.

It is also our intention to work with area farmers and our partners at the Seeds of Solidarity to have a small farm on campus. The children will have the opportunity to have real hands on experiential learning with regard to agriculture. The opportunity to grow food that we can distribute on our campus is also very exciting!

Children who attend the ASPIRE program every day during the school year will be provided with an additional 290 hours of instruction in mathematics and language arts. I presented data from the Massachusetts Extended Learning Initiative that showed how the additional hours of instruction have paid huge academic dividends for children across the state.

The cost of the program is $10.50 per 3-hour day. Children will be provided with snacks, 90 minutes of instruction in mathematics and language arts, and 60 – 90 minutes of recreation daily. The adult to student ratio was set at 8.5 students per adult. This is because each group of 17 students is scheduled to be supervised by two adults at all times. At no point will a child be unaccompanied by an adult in this program. We have a huge facility and the safety of the children is our first priority.

Services will be available on the first day of school which is August 29, 2012. Applications are available for parents at the Ralph C. Mahar Regional Website (www.rcmahar.org) and in the Superintendent’s Office at the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School. Applications are also be available at the Fisher Hill, Dexter Park, Butterfield, and Petersham Center Schools.

Questions about the program can be directed to me at 978-544-2920 or via e-mail (mbaldassarre@rcmahar.org).

Education Connection Episode #6: A Conversation with School Resource Officer Softic

On June 7, 2012 Mrs. Samalis and I had the opportunity to sit down with Orange Elementary / Ralph C. Mahar School Resource Officer, Chad Softic.  Officer Softic provides us with insights related to his work in the area of juvenile justice and some interesting observations of student life in 2012.  I recommend that all parents view this episode. 

Click Here to Watch the Video:

http://www.schooltube.com/video/8ee2cbfe32e44d56ab28/Education%20Connection%20-%20School%20Resource%20Officer

Education Connection, Episode #5: Autism Awareness Center in Sterling, MA

On April 6, 2012, Jacki Samalis and I had the opportunity to visit the Autism Resource Center in Sterling, MA.  There we met with Executive Director, Sue Loring.  Please remember that April is Autism Awareness Month!

Questions and/or suggestions for future broadcasts can be E maild to:  edconnect@rcmahar.org

Click here to view Episode #5:

http://www.schooltube.com/video/5fa908b70f864045915b/Education%20Connection%20-%20Autism%20Awareness