.The Winchester School 85 Parker Street
Winchester, NH 03470
603.239.4381
Fax 603.239.4968
www.WNHSD.org
May 7, 2010
Dear Parents and Guardians,
On Wednesday the students in grades K through five participated in another safety drill. This drill was known as the “Evacuation to the Buses” drill. In the event of an emergency that would require a rapid and distant off-campus evacuation, the students practiced exiting the building and climbing aboard the several buses which were positioned in front of the school. We might use a drill such as this if we knew there was a dangerous chemical leak within the school, or dangerous gas vapors that the wind would blow in our direction. As I have said so many times, our top priority at this school is your child's safety. You should also know that I don't give a lot of notification before a drill. (Sometimes none at all.) Emergencies don't wait for us to be ready, we need to be ready for them. Although I am proud of the manner in which our students exited the building, and our bus company for coordinating the drill, I would like to improve on it even more. There's no such thing as a perfect system, but we are determined to make safety at your Winchester School the closest to perfection that it can possibly be. I hope you get the chance to speak about safety drills with your children. Please reinforce the fact that silence and cooperation is imperative for safety.
We began our MAP testing this week. As you may remember from last week's newsletter the NWEA’s MAP testing is a computerized test that “zeroes in” on a student’s performance ability. That is, the question offered is contingent on the answer from the previous question. If the student gets the answer correct, the next question is more difficult. If the student gets the answer incorrect, the next question is easier. It is an excellent process to determine levels of proficiency. After a couple of snafus with our computer server, we seem to be underway. I want to thank Mrs. Diane Steeves for her outstanding skills in administering these tests. Our initial focus is on mathematics, and we shall pursue language usage and reading in the upcoming weeks. One of the major benefits of the computerized testing, is that we get the results within a couple days. Since we took our NECAPs last October we have put a lot of supports in place. Now in the month of May, we are eager to see the level of student success. These tests will help us specify exact areas of need. Obviously, I want to make sure all students who will be taking their NECAPs in October are aptly prepared.
Related to the state-mandated NECAP testing, students in grades four and eight will take the Science NECAPs this month. However, unlike the MAP, the Science NECAPs will be scored by the state and the results will not be returned to us until probably sometime after the new school year begins.
Our talent show sign-ups have been completed. We shall offer more than 20 performances ranging from singing to dancing to comedy to magic to an animal act. Obviously this school has a lot of talent on several different levels. I hope you'll come to join the fun on Saturday the 22nd. Admission will be by donation only (I'll suggest a couple or three dollars, but no one will be refused entry due to finances) and there will be snacks and drinks available for purchase. All the funds will be earmarked for the PTA to encourage enrichment activities at your Winchester School. If nothing else this show ought to be a lot of fun. We have heard that there may be Hollywood talent scouts in the audience that night but no one can confirm that yet.
Related to talent, please join the drama guild for their presentation of Alan in Vunderlind. This is a very clever parody of the classic which is sure to entertain you. Mr. Piscitello and the members of the guild will offer the presentation next Friday evening at 7:00, right here in the school’s gymnasium. Admission is free, but donations appreciated.
As the weather grows warmer I think this is an apt time to remind parents that the Winchester School has a very consistent dress policy. I understand the weather can get a little warm, but for obvious reasons we cannot permit students (or staff) to expose too much skin or undergarments. We want to make the learning environment as conducive to learning as we possibly can, and we are currently collecting data and brainstorming contingency plans to cool the rooms or alter learning locations before the excessive heat arrives. We have had a very interesting spring: we've had unseasonably hot temperatures, we have had a bit of snow, we’ve very cold temperatures, what seemed like a mini tornado on Tuesday and warm temperatures last week. I am getting the impression June may be hot, so we shall do anything we can to prepare to provide the best possible educational environment for your child.
The Saturday Academy is still meeting and will continue to meet each week until the week and before Memorial Day. We are trying to provide every opportunity we possibly can to ensure your child succeeds academically.
Our fourth and third grade students planted the bulbs that Mr. Aivaliotis so generously donated to our school. Our school already has wonderful “curb-side appeal,” but after those flowers bloom, this school is going to look simply gorgeous. If you happen to be in the Aubuchon Hardware store in town, please let them know we said “thanks!”
Don’t forget Sunday is Mother's Day. Many of our classes have prepared a special Mother's Day treat for moms and grandmas and special ladies in the students’ lives. Regardless of how old one becomes, we always remember our moms and how they have influenced us.
Have a pleasant weekend
Jim Lewis
Principal
Puzzler: The record for the greatest number of consecutive jumping jacks is 14,500 in 5 hours and 35 minutes. If Mr. Lewis’s cat, Max, does 55 jumping jacks per minute, how long will it take him to tie the record?
Answer to last week’s puzzler: The year 2016
Upcoming birthdays: Spencer Allen, Marie Richards, Mrs. Joslyn, Fredirck Ross, Mr. Heath, Mrs. Russell. Valerie Croteau, Carlee Croteau.
Last week's newsletter...
The Winchester School
85 Parker Street
Winchester, NH 03470
603.239.4381
Fax 603.239.4968
www.WNHSD.org
April 30, 2010
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I hope you and your family had a peaceful and enjoyable vacation. By 9:15 Monday morning our school was back up to speed and diving right back into the academics. Although we are at the brink of May, we realize there is still a lot of work to do in the next month and a half. Please know that your tax dollars paid for 180 days of quality education and we are determined to use every moment of it to expand your child's knowledge.
I want to congratulate all the students in our seventh and eighth grade who achieved academic excellence in the third quarter. Following is a list of students who received a corresponding honor at the award ceremony on Friday, April 16.
Summa Cum Laude: Alex Bergmeier, Melissa Depew, Savannah Couture, Jenna Donais, Samantha Hale, Melanie Jackson, Cassidy Knox-Cook, Melissa Hie, Felicia Leblanc, Katelyn Swett, Marie Vaine.
Magna Cum Laude: Monique Landry, Andrea Pasquarelli, Ethan Bennett.
Cum Laude: Aaliyah Bell, Molly Caouette, Kaylie Champney, Cheyanne Moore, Brittany Newell, Ryan Poirier, Brianna Primus, Sierra Sanborn, Quinn Watson, Sean Collins, Eric Couture, Falisha Lambert, Jonah Merkle, Shannon Miner, Zakry Osborne, Tristan Primus, Josh Spaulding, Aislinn Thomas.
As we slide into the month of May our teachers are busily putting together classes for next year. That is, they are determining the student combinations for each class next year. Although we do not accept specific requests for specific teachers, I shall accept letters from parents describing their child's learning styles. If you would like to submit a letter to your child's present grade teacher he or she will take your commentary into consideration and make the best possible assignment for your child. The teachers are very skilled at creating classes which are balanced and in the best interest of the individual student. I am planning on including your child's teacher for next year, on the last report card of this year. This is a very delicate process and our teachers go to great lengths to make sure the classrooms are created in a manner that will be productive.
Of course as you know by now a talent show is scheduled for Saturday, May 22. We are accepting auditions for one more week. Presently we have a very entertaining show prepared, and we want to make sure all folks who would like to start their Hollywood careers now have the opportunity to do so. If you know of anyone who has talent and would like to perform, please have them contact me either by phone or e-mail no later than May 8. I want to thank Mrs. Bigelow, Mrs. Whippie and Ms. Smeltz for helping with the auditions, and I want to thank the Winchester PTA for their assistance in coordinating this entire event. If you would like to be a sponsor with your name or company name displayed in our program, please contact Mrs. Mendelson, here at the school.
Students in grades two through eight will be taking the NWEA MAP tests during the next couple of weeks. The MAP is a test that students take on the computer. This test is programmed in such a way that when a student gets an answer correct, the next question is more difficult. If the student gets the answer incorrect, the next question is easier to answer. This way the program "zeroes in" on the child's performance capability level. Because the tests are computerized we get the information back very quickly, usually within 72 hours. The MAP test is a good vehicle for us to take a "temperature check" of progress regarding your child's progress this year. We have put many support systems in place this school year and I am hoping to see the results in the testing.
And in case you thought the students weren't tested enough, the state is requiring that we administer the science NECAPs to fourth and eighth graders. As the name implies, the test will be designed specifically for the science curriculum. I’m anticipating high results on those tests as well. However unlike the MAP testing, we’ll have to wait for our NECAP testing results, which likely won't be back to us before the end of the school year.
Our Saturday Academy will be in session tomorrow, May first. The Saturday Academy is another opportunity the school offers to students in grades six through eight to improve their grades. A teacher and paraprofessional are on hand to assist with organization, catching up on work, and preparing for upcoming units. This is a tremendous way for students to achieve those high grades that we know will help them in later years.
During the April vacation I had the opportunity to delve deeply into various databases we have at the school. We base all our decisions on the data we collect. One database in which I am particularly interested is student discipline. I am proud to let you know that the number of discipline incidents has decreased significantly since the beginning of the year. Of course we still have the occasional infraction of rules, but we have narrowed down the areas on which we need to focus. One thing is for sure, the gold card and silver certificate, along with the positive behavior reinforcers (such as the extra recess) have made an impact on our school-wide culture. With the behavior matrix in place, students, parents and teachers know that there are specific consequences for specific behavior infractions. Our discipline policy is fair and firm and friendly. No emotions come into play when we assign a consequence. Students understand expectations and more importantly, they know there will be follow-through. I want to thank all the staff for being so consistent with the rules, and all the families for all their support and expectation of appropriate behavior from the child.
Have a pleasant weekend.
Jim Lewis
Principal
Puzzler: In 2009 the price of a soccer ball was $8.00. A financial analyst predicted that the price would rise $0.25/year for the next 10 years. In what year will the price be $9.75?
Answer to last week’s puzzler: Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah all meet at the four corners.
Upcoming Birthdays: Jenna Donais, Brittney Newell, Kelli Tedford, Mrs. Collette, Kyle Bobee, Matt Deraps, Angelika Halloran, Matt Lambert, Stephen Marquez, Anthony Poste, James Rounds, Mrs. Miner.
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