Superintendent’s Report to the School Committee
August 28, 2019
Summer Project Updates
● Technology Summer Projects
○ SHS Technology Ninjas
○ Ms. Mackey Knowles - presentation
● Facilities Projects
○ Built a new office at Stanley School
○ Library shelving removed at Stanley
repurposed
○ Principal/Nurse/Office Suite at
Stanley - renovated
○ Rebuilt wooden trains behind Stanley
○ Painted the stage at Stanley
○ Moved computer room tables at
Stanley
○ Facilitated installation of two A/C
window units at Clarke
○ Constructed & painted a room
divider in Clarke portable
○ Electric room at Hadley cleaned out
○ 8 classrooms and exterior stairs
painted at Hadley
○ Refinished conference table in the
superintendent’s small conference room
○ Gym ductwork at middle school
complete
○ Swipe cards at all three elementary
schools
○ Phase 3 of the high school gym
sprinklers repaired
○ Install and repair of common area
speakers at the elementary schools
Opening of Schools Report:
●
Clarke School - From Principal Shea
- The opening of Clarke School went very smoothly this year.
Students in grades 1-4 were greeted on the playground by their teachers and
quickly settled into classrooms. Throughout the day students practiced routines
and spent time getting to know classmates. Kindergarten screening is wrapping
up this week with an expected 44 students. Total enrollment at Clarke is
215. As
the new principal, I am very impressed with the level of dedication and
teamwork amongst the Clarke Staff. Many of them came in over the summer to meet
me and were extremely helpful in bringing me up to speed on building norms and
procedures. I am looking forward to connecting with families at the PTO
Kindergarten Welcome Breakfast next Tuesday and Clarke Curriculum Night on
September 12th.
●
Hadley School - From Principal
Bebchick - Hadley School had a smooth start to the school year! We were excited to welcome 260 students in
grades 1-4 to school on August 27 and look forward to having our 66 kindergarten
students join us next week. Kindergarten
screenings have been taking place this week, which will allow our team to
create balanced homeroom groups. Students are settling in nicely as they learn
classroom routines and make new friends!
We are grateful to the district maintenance staff for their hard work
over the summer to clean the building, make repairs, paint, and organize
materials.
● Stanley School - From Principal Huntley - On Monday, August 26th, Stanley School students, staff, and
families readied for the school year with a New Family Meet and Greet,
classroom peeks, and a building tour, followed by a Back-to-School Picnic. Families brought their picnic dinner or
purchased treats from the food trucks on the night before the big day.
● On Tuesday morning, families and friends attended the First
Day of School Community Meeting behind the school. Children found their teachers with balloons
in hand and gathered as a new class community. After reciting the Pledge of
Allegiance and Stanley School Pledge, we discussed the importance of the
Home~School connection and then had a Happy New Year countdown just as they do
on December 31st, in Time Square. The most exciting part of this community
event was the ball-drop. Mr. Barthlomew dropped a ball from the roof of the
school just as we counted backward to one.
Teachers threw confetti over their class, parents cheered, children
smiled and we were off to our classrooms with barely a tear.
Teachers spent the day getting to
know all about our 239 students. New students have come to us from as far away
as Norway and we were delighted with the warmth our students showed
newcomers. New staff members were celebrated
and supported by an incredibly supportive veteran staff. It was a great first
day and we anticipate 179 more wonderful days.
● Swampscott Middle School - From Principal Calichman - The first day of
school at SMS was incredible! Students
and staff came in with positive attitudes and were ready to give it their
all. I asked the staff to use the first
day of school to make connections with students and to make them fall in love
with our SMS community. As I walked
around the classrooms, I noticed countless examples of these connections taking
place, setting the stage for a progressive and productive learning environment.
● Swampscott High School - From Principal Kohut - Swampscott
High School kicked off the year with a freshman assembly and homeroom followed
by a rousing entrance of our Class of 2020.
The SHS Administration introduced "The Big Blue B's" discussed
expectations for this year, and took a whole school selfie (check
Twitter). Students then attended
periods one, two and three. Feedback
from students and staff was overwhelmingly positive and SHS looks forward to
the best year yet!
