Principal Notes
January 26, 2014
We are closing out
the second quarter, starting the third quarter/second semester, we have had our
first snow days of the year, and the Arctic temperatures have certainly tested
our school’s heating system. With all the
cold weather and the changes in the schedule, the students have been
exceptional. They have worked hard
participating in their classes, service projects, winter concerts and many are
participating in this year’s school musical.
Parker’s
Annual Production – High School Musical
This year Parker students
will be performing Disney’s High School Musical Jr., February 27th to March
1st. We are adding a show
this year performing a total of four shows.
Our productions have taken on a quality and level of participation that
seems very professional. Mrs. DiMuzio and
Stephen MacDonald are an exceptional team.
The number of students participating this year may reach 140 students,
between the cast, set and technical crews.
There is such a buzz around the preparation for this show, students are
humming the very familiar songs and talking constantly about the production. You and your families are welcome to come and
join us for this year’s production.
Parent
Visitation Day 2014
This
year we had three hundred ten parents attend Parent Visitation Day on January 9th. It is one of my very favorite days of the
year. It gives parents an opportunity to
come into the world of the middle school that their children experience every day. It is an opportunity for us (teachers and
administrators) to reconnect with returning parents and also meet and share
with new parents what the ins and outs of middle school life is like. Several parents stopped off to share that
they are most pleased with the learning experiences that their children are
having, with a few parents talking very candidly about how they wished this was
what their middle school or junior high experience was like. I would like to thank the teachers and
parents for taking time out of their day to attend. Special thanks to student leaders who helped
direct parents around the building and watched smaller children so parents
could attend classes.
The
School Reform Initiative (SRI) Winter Meeting
The week before last,
seven teachers from Parker and Coolidge Middle Schools attended the SRI Winter
Meeting in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The
SRI Winter Meeting is unique because it is a working conference where teachers,
administrators, curriculum coordinators, and university professors get together
to share their work. This involves using
protocols to candidly discuss challenges of practice whether it be challenges in
the classroom, challenges of leadership, research or even curriculum initiatives. University professors from local colleges and
from around the country presented their work and research on what they believe
really makes a difference for children in schools. Their research is connected to adult
learning, facilitative leadership, and the need for learning groups to lead and
collaborate at the school and district level to affect change. Special thanks to Assistant Superintendent, Craig
Martin and the PTO’s for supporting this learning opportunity.
Transition
Calendar for Grade 5 and 8
It seems we are
starting earlier and earlier each year, planning and thinking about students
transitioning from grades 5 and 8. In
grade 5 we have started compiling names of students coming to Parker and
Coolidge. We are talking to elementary
principals about the spring calendar, meetings with fifth grade teams as well
as potential dates for parent meetings.
As soon as we get dates and times worked out we will get a separate
e-mail and notice out letting you all know about upcoming events. In grade 8, the transition meetings start
this week with Future Freshman Night happening this Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at
the RMHS Fine and Performing Arts Center.
