Dear Everyone Learning @ Amherst, Region, and Pelham Schools:
Ok - here's your task!
Flip over two playing cards from the stack, each with a single digit number on it. Add the two numbers in your head. Then, on a prepared grid, write the sum of the two number cards in the appropriately labeled column. You will notice that the labels on the columns are not the same as the cards'two-digit sum. The column headings are indicated as: < 10, 10+0, 10+1, 10+2, and so on.
If you were in one of our classrooms performing these tasks, in a short time you would have done quick addition math, another quick math fact, analyzed a comparison, followed a multi-step task, and discovered the concept of base 10 or "tens" citing the sum of the cards in terms of 10 + X.
And, in what grade would you be? First grade! Yesterday as I was observing a few classrooms, I had the pleasure ofseeingthese young minds at work and treasured every moment of the student energy and the teacher's awareness of the thinking that was occurring. Yes, a first grade class of curious, energized, quick-thinking first graders excited by mathematics.
In front of the scenes, lessons like this are our destination. Children engaged, thinking, curious, and figuring things out.
Behind the scenes, supporting lessons like this --and much more--is the role of our overall organization. Here's a sampling fromthe past few weeks:
* Elementary school teachers have been involved with in-depth professional development focused on our mathematics curriculum.
* Three union contracts have been settled and ratified.
* Three budgets have been reviewed and approved by their respective School Committees.
* School Committees have reviewed several policies, including the policies on Goals of the Instructional Program and a policy on Enrichment.
* School Committees have reviewed the new Professional Evaluation and Professional Development plan.
* Three new principals and a new information systems director have been hired.
* Our website has been upgraded and review of proposals for a comprehensive overhaul has begun.
* First steps have been taken in developing our District Improvement Plan and next year's goals.
The "to do" list goes on and on.
Among the many questions that come up routinely, one has been about the National Honor Society at the High School. There is not a chapter of the National Honor Society at the high school this year. NHS will return next year with a revised format and set of expectations. We look forward to this effort and all of the others that recognize the efforts and accomplishments of our students at all grade levels, some of which you will note below (and hopefully have noticed weekly)!
For our folks in facilities and some district offices, next week is a very busy week to handle maintenance and other tasks. For most, the next week is a break.
Enjoy the break, and thank you, everyone, for your energy, your volunteer efforts, your committee work, and your support.
Jere Hochman
Superintendent
Fort River Wins Big in Math Contest
Congratulations are in order for Fort River School for their first-place finish in the Hampshire and Hampden County Region in the 6th grade New England Math Contest. Fort River was also in the top 20 of all 174 competing schools in all of New England. Sixth grader Amari Heywood Gonzalez finished second among all students competing in the region and Franklin Kostas placed second. Other members of the Fort River team included Ciaran Dillon-Davidson, Vallerie Willocq, and Jacob Livingston.
Wildwood Student Places in Massachusetts State Science Poetry Contest
Maury Bohan is proud to report that Wildwood student, Daniel Kamlarz, earned Honorable Mention (sixth grade category) in this year's Massachusetts Science Poetry Contest! His poem was in the category of "Best Foreign Language Poem" because he submitted it in both English and Hebrew. Another Wildwood student, Megan Tassy, also submitted her poem in a foreign language--French. Congratulations to both of these remarkable students and to Ms. Bohan!
Opportunity to Review Textbooks
The administrators and science teachers of Amherst Regional High School are in the process of choosing textbooks for the new 9th grade course, Ecology/Environmental Science. Parents and community members are invited to review potential text selections which will be placed on reserve in the Jones Library from Thursday, April 24th until Friday, May 9th. Feedback sheets will be provided.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE NOTE: There is no school committee next week due to spring break. The next meeting is on Tuesday, April 29 and the agenda is below.
AGENDA for REGULAR Meeting of REGIONAL School Committee
7:00 PM, TUESDAY, April 29, 2008
High School Library
Call for Executive Session--Collective Bargaining
1. Welcome
A. Call to Order
B. Agenda Review
C. Minutes of April 8, 2008
2. Announcements and Public Comment
3. Superintendents Update
4. Unfinished/Continuing Business
A. Policies
5. New Business
A. Establish Tailings Fund
B. Hampshire Educational Collaborative Membership
C. School Committee Planning
6. Reports
A. District Goals and District Improvement Plan
7. Sub-Committee Reports
8. School Committee Planning
A. Calendar review
B. Items for upcoming meetings
C. Sub-committee reports
9. Adjourn