Westerly Public Schools
December 2016 Volume 5, Issue 3
From the Desk of the Assistant Superintendent THE CULTURE THAT BINDS US TOGETHER “Culture makes people understand each other better. And if they understand each other better in their soul, it is easier to overcome the economic and political barriers. But first they have to understand that their neighbour [sic] is, in the end, just like them, with the same problems, the same questions.” - Paulo Coelho Culture can be characterized by five variables: symbols, language, values, beliefs, and norms. Winter is a time filled with cultural variables. People all over the world partake in cultural traditions and celebrations. Culture is the manifestation of the human condition, namely the need to be part of a community. For me the celebrations that take place during the month of December signify the similarities all humans share. It is also an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the similarities. Whether we are celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, St. Lucia Day, Kwanzaa, Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Three Kings Day, Boxing Day, Omisoka, Yule, or the Winter Solstice we are all acknowledging the gratitude for all the blessings we have been given, the gift of generosity, and the celebration of hope. Symbols and language of any culture are most easily identified and in large part so are many cultural norms. The values and beliefs of a culture can be a bit more elusive. If you seek the definition for the word culture Merriam-Webster has multiple definitions including the referencing of agriculture, science, and the arts. However the main definition focuses on the human behaviors, traditions, and transference of knowledge from one generation to the next to set the parameters of meaning. This is especially poignant in relation to learning organizations such as schools. The Association of School Curriculum Developers (ASCD) defines school culture as “... the way teachers and other staff members work together and the set of beliefs, values, and assumptions they share.” Westerly Public Schools believes all of our students are capable of thinking critically, creatively, and constructively, learning to work together successfully and will become aware of their obligations and duties in a democracy. We see the behaviors associated with these beliefs in the work of our educators and students in the classroom, on competitive and performance stages, through community service activities K-12, and in the daily interactions within our learning environments. We value every member of our learning community. These beliefs bond us together. (Continued on page 3)
INSIDE THIS ISSUE What’s New in Preschool ........2 Fuse Fellows Support Digital Learning for Students ............. 2 Kindergarten Registration Begins in January .................... 3 Joy Maker Challenge ............... 4 Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity ...................... 5 Meet Susan Michel .................. 6 Westerly Parent Academy Events ...................................6-7 History Lesson from WHS ...... 7 From the ELL Office................ 8 The Beat Goes On .................... 9 Eye of the Beholder ............... 10 Look Who’s Reading .............. 11 Superintendent’s Office ........ 12
WHAT’S NEW IN PRE-SCHOOL? The new outside learning play space has been completed! The “Grand Opening” was Tuesday December 6th. A huge thank you goes out to LISC for approving the $61,000 grant that helped make this dream become a reality! Thank you to all the administrators and special guests who joined in with our opening day excitement! “The best classroom and richest cupboard is roofed only by the sky.” Margret McMillan Chris Allen, Early Childhood Coordinator
FUSE FELLOWS SUPPORT DIGITAL LEARNING FOR STUDENTS Today’s generation of learners are often characterized as “Digital Natives” because they are the first generation to grow up having been exposed to technology and the interconnectedness of the internet from birth. Unfortunately, prevalent in society is the misconception that as “digital natives” students should be automatically proficient in their use of technology, have an instinctual understanding of the power of these tools, and be responsible with their actions. Throughout the district, teachers are becoming increasingly aware and knowledgeable of the importance of blending traditional instruction with digital technology to improve student interaction with the digital world to learn and create positively and responsibly.
As part of a two year Fuse RI fellowship with the Highlander Institute, Westerly Public Schools teachers Erica DeVoe, Amanda Murphy, and Kristen Federico work with teachers throughout the state to implement blended and personalized learning. Likewise, Westerly Public Schools teachers have the opportunity as a two year commitment to work collaboratively with two Fuse RI fellows from other districts. Teachers at the elementary, middle, and high schools have been identified for this work and will be supported by Fuse fellows to bring blended and personalized learning practices into their classrooms. As Erica, Amanda, and Kristen finish their fellowships throughout the state, they bring their knowledge and experience back to WPS to advance the implementation of purposeful and meaningful digital experiences for students and teachers. Challenges with technology will always exist, whether they are challenges of access, quality of the device, or infrastructure updates. However, WPS teachers are being proactive by strategically integrating it into classrooms for increased personalization, engagement, and mastery of essential skills. Erica DeVoe & Amanda Murphy, Fuse RI Fellows
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THE CULTURE THAT BINDS US TOGETHER (Continued from page 1)
In this season of cultural traditions and celebrations it is important to reflect on our shared values and the gifts around us everyday. Acknowledging our similar needs, and recognizing that each individual brings something special to offer everyday, there is much to be grateful for as a member of the Westerly community. Wishing all a happy and hopeful holiday. Alicia J. Storey, Assistant Superintendent
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION BEGINS IN JANUARY 2017-2018 Kindergarten Registration - Registration by Appointment Only Your child must be five years of age prior to September 1, 2017. Registrations will begin on Monday, January 9, 2017. Please call 401-348-2792 to schedule your appointment. Walk-ins will not be seen and a future appointment will need to be scheduled. You may download a packet from the WPS website: www.westerly.k12.ri.us. Go to “Parent” tab and click on “School Information/Student Registration”. You can also pick up a registration packet at the Tower Street Community Center or any of your neighborhood schools. At the time of your scheduled appointment you must have all of the following information: 1. 2. 3. 4.
A completed registration packet Your child’s Birth Certificate Your child’s most recent immunization record Proof of residency (ex: current lease or current utility bill)
Incomplete registrations will not be accepted. A new appointment will need to be scheduled. If you have any questions regarding the registration process or what information you’ll need to bring, please feel free to contact Christine Miller at 401-348-2792. Per Kindergarten Policy (No. 2512): Kindergarten students will be enrolled in their neighborhood school for the upcoming school year beginning May 1st.
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JOY MAKER CHALLENGE This season, our community builders are participating in the GenerationOn Joy Maker Challenge. For every child who participates throughout the Joy Maker Challenge from November 21st—December 23rd, Hasbro will donate a toy or game to Toys for Tots, up to 1 million dollars’ worth. Our students at Tower Street Community Center have pledged to reach 1,000 acts of kindness! Every week, the students share what they have done at home and at school, afterwards, the whole group does an act of kindness project. Examples include writing letters to those who inspire us, cards for veterans, and thank you letters for our custodial staff. Below is the link if you would like to donate your time and participate in the Joy Maker Challenge. http://joymaker.generationon.org/
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RANGE OF READING AND LEVEL OF TEXT COMPLEXITY
Standard 10 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts appears at each grade level K - 12 in both Literature and Informational Text. Standard 10 emphasizes the sophistication of what is read (range) and the skill with which it is read (complexity). Teachers are tasked with choosing appropriate texts for students to read, purposefully exposing all students to texts that are appropriate for them to read, as well as gradually exposing them to increasing text complexity. Tapping into students’ interests and integrating grade-level science and social studies topics enable teachers to select appropriate grade-level materials with growing text complexity. The following considerations should be kept in mind when selecting texts:
Individual students’ knowledge and experience The purpose for reading, both for the class and for individual students The complexity of task and the text assigned
Standard 10 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts: Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.
The complexity of questions to be asked regarding the text.
Three factors in measuring text complexity: Qualitative evaluation of the text: Levels of meaning, structure, language conventionality and clarity, and knowledge demands Quantitative evaluation of the text: Readability measures and other scores of text complexity Matching reader to text and task: Reader variables (such as motivation, knowledge, and experiences) and task variables (such as purpose and the complexity generated by the task assigned and the questions posed). Appendix A of the Common Core ELA explains how text complexity is measured across the grade bands. Appendix B includes exemplar texts that illustrate appropriate level of complexity by grade. Teachers can check Lexile Levels for most books by doing an Internet search of Lexile Text Measures and/or using the Accelerated Reader’s advanced search by Lexile Number at arbookfind.com Lisa Connelly, ELA Coordinator
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NEW TEACHER: MEET SUSAN MICHEL What is your educational background? My name is Susan Michel and I received my special education degree from UCONN. I then moved to Utah and received my general education degree and proceeded to teach both special education and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade over the course of 31 years. I miss Utah's beauty at times, but am thrilled to have the mountains be replaced by the ocean! List 5 adjectives that describe yourself. Five adjectives to describe me are: dedicated, organized, friendly, patient, and thoughtful. What are you currently reading for enjoyment? I am currently reading John Grisham. What interests do you pursue outside of the classroom? I love to exercise, walk and spend time with my grandson. When did you decide to become a teacher, and why did you choose this field? Once I found out I couldn't be a ballerina, (mom said no), I chose teaching. I used to pretend to be a teacher all the time while growing up.
Susan Michel teaches special education at Springbrook Elementary School.
What do you think is the greatest challenge facing students today?
What is your philosophy of education? My teaching philosophy is that, "children may not always remember what they were taught, but they will always remember how they were treated."
The greatest challenge for today's students is to learn manners and social graces in a world of technology and "me first." Yes, I want world peace.
WESTERLY PARENT ACADEMY: EVENTS & OPPORTUNITES Open Women’s Circle –Second Wednesday of month beginning Wednesday January 11th 6-7:30 pm. Join other women in the community and exchange, value and experience sisterhood in our own small hometown. Register at www.93tower.org Community Education & Enrichment: Learn the Language of Ireland- Thursdays January 5th & 19th 6-7:30 pm. Cost is FREE!
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Dog Obedience Class- Saturdays beginning January 7th thru February 18th. 10-11 am. Hosted by the Westerly Animal Shelter and Stand Up For Animals. This class is open to dogs of all ages who could use improved listening skills at home or in public. Taught by trainer Matt Zarella.
HISTORY LESSON FROM WHS “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” -Marcus Garvey
Ever since the United States was founded, we have been embroiled in one conflict or another for most of our existence. Some of those conflicts were obviously beneficial, as one created our country, another preserved the Union, and yet another saved the world from the cancer of fascism. However, what is forgotten, and what I learned through my studies at Westerly High School, is that all wars are not necessary, and that peace is an option that can be always put forth, if one learns from history. George Santayana once said, “Those who do not learn history are condemned to repeat it”. In war, this is often the case. In 1861, the American South chose to continue the evil practice of slavery instead of understanding that all people want to be free, as their forefathers demonstrated in the American Revolution. This led to the Civil War. In 1919, France and her allies chose to punish Germany for causing World War One, instead of granting clemency. Germany was forced to pay $33 billion in reparations, which caused an economic crisis and created a desire on the part of Germany to seek revenge. Hitler capitalized on this desire and drove the world to 7 more years of bloody conflict. In the Vietnam War, the United States underestimated the resolve of their enemies, just as their own resolve was underestimated by England during the Revolution. History is a continuous cycle, with events repeating themselves over and over again, just in a different form with different parties involved. As a country and as individual citizens, we need to make the right decisions, in war and in peace, and learn from our predecessors. Marcus Garvey has said that “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots”. If we do not educate ourselves on the lessons from history, then we lose our roots as a people and a nation. That is the true moral here. Charlie Vakassian, WHS Senior
WESTERLY PARENT ACADEMY: EVENTS & OPPORTUNITES Toddler Art Time- Mondays 9:30-10:30 am beginning January 9th. Bring your toddler ages 2-4 and get creative! Six week session January 9th-February 6th. $10 per child- Space is limited. Must register on www.93tower.org Little Sports- Tuesdays beginning January 10th 9:3010:30 am. Introduce your beginner athletes to different sports activities.! Program is for toddlers age 2-4. Six week session January 10th-February 14th. $10 per childSpace is limited. Must register on www.93tower.org
Tinker Tots & Gym- Fridays 9:30-10:30 am beginning January 13th. Toddlers ages 2-4 are invited to use their imagination and explore simple science and test out cool STEM toys followed by gym time! Six week session Jan 13th-Feb 10th. $10 per child- Space is limited. Must register on www.93tower.org Community Tai Chi- Tuesday mornings 8-9:30. Come learn the ancient system of exercise, meditation and martial arts that unites, mind, body and spirit. Must register on www.93tower.org
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FROM THE ELL OFFICE In education today, students, parents, administrators, and faculty members embrace changes and challenges on a regular basis. Whether it is a learning strategy, a new technology to learn and implement, or a new policy, we all accept the changes in education and welcome challenges put before us. Recently, I have made a change that I find both exciting and challenging. After spending sixteen years as a seventh grade English Language Arts teacher at Westerly Middle School and one year there as a Developmental Reading teacher, I have become a member of the Springbrook Elementary School staff as the ELL Coordinator. In my new role as ELL Coordinator, I have had the opportunity to meet and work with many wonderful students and faculty members at Springbrook Elementary. Since this article is from the ELL Office, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce the members of the ELL staff who, along with their regular and special education teachers, support our English Language Learners in their pursuit of academic excellence as well as support the children, and families in our program. Our dedicated staff includes: Mrs. Christine Byrne, grades K&1; Ms. Moira McCool, grades 2-4; Mrs. Robin Cardinal, grades 5-8; Mr. Robert Guglielmo, grades 9-12; and Mrs. Graciela Fontana, Mrs. Jie Wong, and Mrs. Anne Young, and Mrs. Deb Martin. These teachers and teacher assistants demonstrate their commitment to ELL students every day through meetings, communications, testing, advocacy for services, and professional development. As a result of the dedication of the ELL staff and all teachers, the ELL students successfully completed Model testing during the week of October 24-October 28. This test will be given again in May. ELL students will also take the ACCESS test in January.
Beth Melillo
Christine Byrne
Moira McCool
Robin Cardinal
Rob Guglielmo
Graciela Fontana
Recently, both Mrs. Byrne and I were able to attend the WIDA 2016 National Conference. This three day conference provided many workshops to better the understanding and instruction of English Language Learners. The conference provided us with the opportunity to work with other ELL teachers and have valuable conversations which have broadened our knowledge of ELL students. It was a great professional development opportunity. Currently, Mrs. Byrne is facilitating a series of professional development sessions called ESL Collaboration Goes Next Generation. The text, Science for English Language Learners, was written “to help novice and veterans teachers alike better understand how to model, activate prior knowledge, question, and explicitly develop students’ language abilities” (Beltran, Sarmiento, et. al, 2013). In addition, this study group has also explored technology and applications which work well with ELL students’ learning with the instruction from both Mrs. Byrne and Mrs. Rebecca Jones. At WMS, Mrs. Robin Cardinal is also facilitating a series of professional development sessions called “Research-Based Strategies and Technology for Diverse Learners Continued.” This group has been studying research-based strategies to use in classroom instruction to support English Language Learners. In addition, Mr. Robert Gouvin and Mrs. Stephanie Lenihan have assisted the group with technology to enhance instruction. It has been an exciting and informative year so far. It is obvious that all of our students are achieving due to the commitment of all of faculty members in the district. Beth Melillo, ELL Coordinator
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Jie Wong
Deb Martin
Anne Young
THE BEAT GOES ON
“It was fun to try and sing along with dad and Hank as we bounced down the roads on Saturday mornings headed to the dump in his blue step-side GMC.”
My taste in music is actually fairly eclectic; however, I probably listen to country music and classic rock more than any other genres. Country music is appealing to me for several reasons. To begin with, it was the music most often played by my dad when I was little. As for classic rock, I suppose my siblings, all five of whom are older than I, influenced me. Anytime I rode in my dad’s pickup truck with him, I was sure to hear some old-time country music. Some of his favorite artists, which I have come to appreciate now that I am older, were Johnny Cash, Ernest Tubbs, and Hank Williams Sr. It was fun to try and sing along with dad and Hank as we bounced down the roads on Saturday mornings headed to the dump in his blue step-side GMC. The experience was similar when I rode in my brother Bob’s teal colored Camaro. Even today, when I hear the Eagles or the The Doors, I can imagine his eight track stereo playing as I sat in those white, leather bucket seats, barely tall enough to see over the dash board! That’s the way it was when riding in my brother John’s Chevy Chevette too, as we listened to some Beatles, or when I was with Sis and her husband Mark in his new Vega listening to some Chicago. Perhaps it is as much the fond memories of another era that I enjoy just as much as the music itself. Currently, my wife and I enjoy listening to the group Shiny Lapel Trio. They are a small band from Connecticut that can be seen in nearby eastern Connecticut venues and occasionally right here in Westerly. In fact, Shiny Lapel played in Misquamicut as part of the Blues on the Beach series this past summer. Their music is a unique mix of blues, swing, country, and rock. They, “keep it simple with just three rockin’ instruments and a big ‘ol slice of velvety smooth vocals…” The best way to describe this little band and their one of kind style is...a blast! The music makes you want to sing and dance to every tune. I am brought back to the days when anyone in my household who was caught walking through the kitchen as mom was cleaning, was fair game for some impromptu dancing to a group like the The Stray Cats! If you like to have a good time with friends while singing and dancing along to a unique sound, then you will enjoy Shiny Lapel Trio. Trying to describe their sound is like trying to describe what a Reese’s Cup tastes like to someone who has never had the sense of taste. You will just have to go listen and enjoy for yourself! Tim Ward, Bradford Elementary Curriculum Leader
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EYE OF THE BEHOLDER “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” -Thomas Merton
There is buzz around town of a very significant project/event that will take place in September of 2017. Bricks and Murals is coming to Westerly and Pawcatuck, to celebrate our two towns, two states and one community. Over the course of a single weekend, fifteen artists and a host of volunteers from around the world will paint murals in downtown Westerly locations that honor our unique history, traditions and events. I am extremely honored to have been chosen as one of the fifteen artists. Westerly High School students will work with me to design, research, and paint the mural, which will depict our area’s Italian heritage. The Dante Society has committed to raise funds to support our mural. This will be an amazing opportunity for our students to work sideby-side with professional artists on a project that will leave a lasting mark on our towns. Over 200 volunteers locally and from around the country will assist in painting murals illustrating the cultural history of the two towns. The effort to bring this vision to fruition has truly been a community effort. There are many stakeholders involved in organizing and developing the logistics which will
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change the landscape of our hometown for many years to come. In addition to a plethora of local restaurants and businesses, our own Chef Jamie Finkelstein and his crew have offered their services to feed some of the out-oftown guests and welcome them to the area. So, mark your calendar for the weekend of September 15, 2017 when a festival of art and music will memorialize our local history with images of the granite industry, turkey day game, textile industry, railroad, local heritage and many more themes get painted throughout downtown. Be on the lookout for the many events and promotional activities leading up to September and be sure to “Like” our Facebook page “Bricks and Murals Westerly-Pawcatuck” for the latest updates! John Tedeschi, Fine Arts District Department Head & WHS Art Teacher
Mark your calendar! The weekend of September 15, 2017 a festival of art and music will celebrate our local history with murals painted throughout downtown [Westerly].
LOOK WHO’S READING
Reviewer Name: Shana Wilson, WHS AP Literature and Composition student Title: Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus Author: Mary Shelley Hollywood has a tendency of ruining classical literature, twisting and turning the story until it’s beyond recognition. But one of the greatest misleads the movie industry has created is in its portrayal of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus. Society’s collective head is filled with images of a hulking body rising off a table with bolts in his neck and arms in front of him, while a hunched over man cackles to his master. But the actual famous Gothic novel is far from it.
“Beware, for I am fearless and therefore powerful.” -Chapter 20
Mary Shelley wrote her dark tale as a daring challenge with some writer friends. They all decided to write the most terrifying story they could think of. Shelley found the concept of a man creating life to be the scariest possibility of all. Her tale depicts a young man named Victor Frankenstein. An ambitious man, he longs to discover the secrets and limits of life. He moves away to college and begins to grave rob for the name of science. Blinded by science and ambition, as well as sewing different body parts together, he creates an ugly monster who haunts his very existence. Time has done nothing to take away from the luster of this novel. Shelley weaves the perfect balance of horror and science fiction in her book. Those who read it will find themselves sucked into the chaos of Frankenstein’s life, and the consequences of his creation, as well as how humanity continues to explore the wonders and possibility of science and the human condition. If you’re a fan of ghost stories and spine-tinglers with deeper purpose than to simply scare, you’ll find yourself in love with this classic Shelley novel and the real story of Frankenstein and his monster.
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SUPERINTENDENT’S CORNER Have you ever been in the situation where you’re running late and running out of gas in your car at the same time? What do you do? If you stop to fill up, minutes tick by in which you are not getting closer to your destination. However, failing to spend those minutes refueling could mean you run out of gas on the way and don’t make your appointment at all. I first encountered the idea of slowing down to speed up in Stephen Covey’s book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Covey explained that laying a strong foundation– which can be a slow process– will ultimately yield speed for achieving your goal. Slowing down can come in the form of building relationships, rebuilding a spreadsheet, asking questions, or collecting information. In education, we can often see the end goal we want to achieve– closing the gap, becoming highly effective, producing clear reports. In our personal lives, this is also true. We want to connect with our partner or children, be compassionate to our aging parents, give more to organizations we love, complete a home improvement project or craft. We can become frustrated with ourselves and others when we cannot travel from point A to point B as quickly as we think we should be able. Sometimes the answer is to put gas in the car. Take the time to listen, research or meditate. Take time to plan, prepare your work environment, or make changes to our schedules so there is room for the most important things. During this season of celebrations, it can be easy to be overwhelmed. During seasons of change, as we have encountered in education, it can be easy to become dispirited. We lose the joy. We run out of gas. As we begin the new year, I encourage you to find ways in which you can slow down to speed up. I’ll see you at the pump. Roy M. Seitsinger, Jr., Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools
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