Principal's Corner

June, 2013

Dear Sargent Families,

I hope you are all doing well this spring. It has warmed up in recent weeks. As you know we will be going until late June (June 28, 2013). This past May, our third, fourth and fifth grade students finished up the MCAS. They put in a great effort! Thanks to the teachers for their efforts over the school year to put them in a position to do well on the test. Also, a special thanks to the parent hall monitor volunteers who helped out testing days. We had a successful few days of Kindergarten screening for next year's Sargent Kindergartners. We also had some very talented Sargenters participate in North Andover's Special Olmpics which took place at the high school. Go Sargent! Additionally, many of our grade levels put on their Curriclum Nights where students can show off to parents what they learned over the school year. Some neat things going on at the Sargent in June as well. BE ADVISED, CAM STUDIOS WILL BE AIRING THE  SARGENT ART FAIR / ICE CREAM SOCIAL ON JUNE 3 @ 7:30 PM AND REPEATING IT RANDOMLY @ 7:30 PM AND OTHER VARIOUS TIMES FOR TWO WEEKS AFTERWARDS). Also, be on the look out for our last few grade level curriclum nights where students "show off" some of the wonderful skills the kids have developed this past year. Please see the calendar below for details additonal activities are occuring during the last month a school. A lot is going on at the end of the year!  

We have continued our school-wide initiatives this year to help create a warm, inviting school climate for all. This year, the Sargent School has continued its efforts to promote the values of R.A.I.S.E. In its second school year of the “Catch Me Doing Something Good” Program, the Sargent School students and staff are recognized weekly for practicing one of the R.A.I.S.E. principles in front of a staff member. A R.A.I.S.E. bulletin board located near the main office displays pictures of those who have been recognized each week for “doing something good” related to R.A.I.S.E. The Sargent School also has continued the implementation of the R.A.I.S.E. blocks. During these weekly blocks, specialists meet with a grade level to review and expand upon the principles of R.A.I.S.E.

Additionally this year we have focused on a different R.A.I.S.E. value for each month. During the year, there have been monthly assemblies with a special guest speaker. The special guest speaker discusses that month’s R.A.I.S.E principle with the students. In addition to the guest speakers, we built a R.A.I.S.E. display on a wall in the gym. The display is made up of R.A.I.S.E. reflection sheets that students and staff fill out and post to the wall. Students and staff will complete a reflection sheet when they witness or experience an example of the particular value for the month. R.A.I.S.E is certainly alive and well at the Sargent school!

Your child’s academic, social, emotional and physical well being is of utmost importance to us. It is why we are here. I believe that we (staff and parents) can work together to ensure that your child’s elementary experience is the best it can be. Please contact your child’s teacher, the school counselor, nurse or myself if you have any questions or concerns. No problem is too big or small.

Below are a few other items of note.

SCHOOL COUNCIL: This year's school council members are Ms. Chris Farr (parent), Ms. Natalie Howard (parent), Ms. Kelley Papa (parent), Ms. Karen Gildea (grade 3 teacher), Ms. Lori Stalteri (librarian) and myself. We will be meeting in the upcoming months to formulate our school improvement plan.

SECURITY PROCEDURES: As you may know, the school and district are in continuous process of revisiting, reviewing and tweaking our procedures (crisis and otherwise) to best ensure that our children are safe. Please be reminded of the following school rules for all visitors (parents):

1. The only door used for visitor entry at the Sargent School during the school day (8:10 AM - 3:30 PM) is the front door. All other doors will be locked all day and into the evening. For the Kids' Stop after school program and associated community program after school activities, visitors/parents should enter using the back "cafe" doors.
2. ALL visitors during the school day MUST report to and sign in at the office upon arrival.
3. All visitors during the school day must wear an identification badge/label issued at the office.
4. If you are dismissing your child during the school day, student dismissal can occur at the OFFICE ONLY. Students will be called in their classrooms and report to the office to meet parents. NO STUDENT WILL BE DISMISSED TO PARENTS FROM HOMEROOMS OR FROM THE LIBRARY.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation with these rules and others to ensure the Sargent School is as safe an environment as possible.

INTERNET SAFETY: Parents, we have recently had an uptick of some student-to-student conflicts (in the upper grades, 4 & 5) with on-line postings, texting, etc., etc. There has not been a lot but more than you would think with elementary-aged students. These are different times we live in from when we were growing up. Please be aware of your child's access and "doings" on line. We will be looking more into more formalized Internet safety information for students and parents next school year.  

DROP OFF/PICK UP: Everyone working together during drop off and pick up makes a big difference as we safely and efficiently welcome and dismiss over 560 students daily. Thank you all in advance for your efforts. A couple of points to remember:

• During DROP OFF please remember these three rules:
  • The drop off time is 8:10 AM. Please do not drop students off before 8:10 AM as there is no supervision at that time.
  • Pull your car all the way up as far as you can go (i.e., to the cone or directly behind cars lining up at the cone) before you drop off your child.
  • DO NOT PASS cars in line at drop off. Please wait until the car in front of you moves before you do.
• During PICK UP please remember these two rules:
  • Pull your car all the way up as far as you can go (i.e., to the last cone or directly behind cars lining up at the cone) before you pick up your child.
  • Please drive cautiously as students are entering their cars regularly.

WALKERS: If your child is a walker, please remind him/her to always stay on the sidewalks when walking to or from school. We remind them regularly at school but getting the message from you too at home will help. During both arrival and dismissal times traffic can be brisk and we want to ensure student get to and from home/school safely.

MCAS: The MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) results for last year’s grade 3, 4, and 5 students have been reported. Thank you to those parents who attended my MCAS Information Night in October. Now, grade 3, 4 and 5 teachers and students are working very hard in their classrooms as students attend their studies, learn the grade level curriculum and begin to prepare for this year’s MCAS.

The Sargent teachers and I have met throughout the year and reviewing the mountains of the results data from last year’s test, discovering strength and weakness trends as indicated by the data, and developing interventions to address weakness trends while maintaining strength trends. Additionally, all students have visited our new computer lab to utilize some of the curriculum enhancement programs related to the MCAS. Finally, a curriculum enhancement/MCAS preparation after school class was offered to grade 3, 4 and 5 students after the winter and February breaks.

If you have any questions regarding the MCAS and/or your child’s scores, please contact your child’s teacher or me at the school.

MCAS testing for 2012-2013 year has concluded. Scores will be made available in the fall.

IMPORTANT DATES:

• Calendar is as of 6-18-13 and is subject to change. Please check Sargent Website regularly for updates.

Thank you for your continued support.

Respectfully,

Ed Foster, Annie L. Sargent Principal