Quadrant Newsletter Nov 2015

Lorem IpsumDolorPellentesque sed sem nec dui eleifend tristique. November 2015 Issue 3, Volume 2 North QuadrantInside What Are You Thankful For? Belmont Street Community School As the Worcester Public School community embarks Computer Club upon a season of thanksgiving, we want to extend our City View Discovery gratitude to the students, teachers and parents that make School each of our schools a true team. As you will see throughout AVID this newsletter, schools, community partners, and local Grafton Street School businesses come together each day to provide our students Positive Behavior with a learning environment that is safe and encouraging Intervention and while ensuring all of our students’ needs are met so they can Supports fulfill their highest achievements. It is with this “attitude of Worcester East Middle gratitude” that we continue to evolve as a system and inspire School the hearts and minds of our children and young adults. Murals and NASA I encourage you to attend one of the many upcoming holiday programs your child’s school will be presenting and to share your culture and traditions with our classrooms. We have 25,000 students in our system. That means we have 25,000 opportunities each day to instill a promising future for our community and our world. Thank you to everyone for being part of our WPS family. Happy Thanksgiving! Marco Rodrigues Interim Superintendent Worcester Public Schools

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LBoreemlmIposunmtDSolotrreet Community School IsNsuoeve[#m]b::e[rD2a0t1e5]The Early Morning Risers Computer Club at Belmont Street Community School The Computer Club is a before school program for students who have beenidentified by teachers, specialists, or our administration, who would benefit fromindividualized instruction to help with their classroom academics and overall wellbeing. Studentsmay have difficulties keeping up due to problems with attention, processing/sequencing, havedifficulty with English (because it is their second language), or have unfortunate familycircumstances. It is for students in grades two through six (and will be open to grade one in January2016). Space is limited to twenty-six students and has a strict attendance policy. If a student hasthree unexcused absences he/she will be removed from the program and the family of the firststudents on the waiting list will be contacted. Currently, the waiting list has nine students. When students arrive for the Computer Club they are greeted by the teacher and bond togetheras a group as they wait for all students to arrive. During this time the teacher encourages leadershipqualities, excellence, and goal setting for the day. The students’ commitment to education ishighlighted. Once in the computer room, students begin their predeterminedassignment from a program called Triumph Online. Assignments take anaverage of four to five weeks to complete. If a student begins to struggleand needs intervention, the student receives one-on-one instruction alongwith note taking strategies. At the end of each week students’ blue booksare collected and reviewed by the teacher. Comments are writtenregarding the clarity of the work, note taking, penmanship, and overallunderstanding of the assignment. This type of feedback is essential to the program as it guides thestudents to take ownership of their learning. Students’ computer work also receives attention throughthe teacher’s written notes and instruction. When a student “logs-in” to their assignment, the notes orinstruction are seen right away. This ongoing attention and feedback allows the student to appreciatemistakes or excellence, and their efforts of perseverance are achieved and learned. At least three times a week the teacher of the computer club meets with the students’classroom teachers, specialists, and the administration to discuss the work being done. This ongoingrelationship helps the student and the program to thrive. It’s a school wide student focused program.To date, seven students from the Early Risers Computer Club have been selected as “Student of theMonth!” 3

CLoiretmyIVpsuiemwDolDoriscovery School N[Iossvueme]b::e[rD2a0t1e5] AVID! City View Students Go Fishing Ask us about our binders! AVID Students at City View Discovery School had a great (Advancement Via opportunity thanks to a generous donation from Cabela’s, the Individual “World Foremost Outfitter”, located in Hudson, MA. The WPS Determination) helps students plan, Physical Education teachers were trained to teach fishing and prepare, and think college success. given one hundred and twenty new fishing poles from Cabela’s City View launched a fantastic kickoff in October! For four weeks, students learned skills such as for families to ensure that the message knot tying, fish identification and casting, along with lessons in is clear: Every single student here at ecology, geography, and science. Many Physical Education City View will be college bound and goals were met in this unit of study, which featured learning and application of skills development, strategies, personal ready. Our fantastic partnership with health and fitness, appropriate personal and social behavior, Sam's Club allowed us to feed almost 300 people during this great event. sportsmanship and teamwork. The culminating lesson Additionally, throughout the school took place at Bell Pond in Worcester, where year, students will have opportunities students walked from the school during PE to visit various college campuses to class and got to fish! Students will be using this gain a deeper understanding of what it experience to write during the regular school means to be a college student. Through day in their PE and ELA classes. Patience was our great partnership with Worcester a valuable lesson learned, especially by the State College, City View sent all of our student who caught a fish! 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students (that's 180 students) to Worcester State to visit the campus, exploring the dorms, classes, and eat lunch in the cafeteria. Students were led by Worcester State students serving as tour guides. All came back extremely excited about the college experience!!4

Jennifer Roy, Communications/TV Production, [email protected] SDotlorreet School IsNsuoeve[#m]b::e[rD2a0t1e5] Giving Back Friendly House is a strong supporter of Grafton Street School. They offer the use of their gymnasium to us for our Winter and Spring concerts and family events and allow the use of classroom space for meetings.Friendly House is also an agency that provides many services to familiesattending our school. To show our appreciation and to give back, we held anon-perishable food drive to help Friendly House stock their pantry for theThanksgiving baskets that they provide. Non-perishable donations werecollected at Grafton Street School November 16th-20th. Making A Good Thing Better To prepare our students for college and/orcareer readiness, Grafton Street School iscommitted to providing a positive, safe andengaging learning environment where allmembers of the Grafton Street community willshow respect to one another, actively participatein learning, and maintain a collaborativeworking environment. One way to accomplish thisis through the implementation of Positive BehavioralInterventions and Supports (PBIS). This is a school-wide approach to teaching behavioral expectations forall areas of the school including, but not limited to,classroom, hallways, dismissal, playground, cafeteriaand restrooms. This allows us to provide a safeenvironment in which teachers can teach andstudents can learn. Throughout the year, studentshave many opportunities to earn the privilege toparticipate in school-wide celebrations. In October,students who achieved Blue and Gold status had theopportunity to participate in a costume parade, for parents, at2:00 pm. PreK-grade 3 students could dress as anything andgrade 4-6 students (and staff members) dressed as a literarycharacter.Showing Our Support One of our own was recentlydiagnosed with oral cancer.To show our support, staffdressed in red and white,the colors that representoral cancer. 5

WLoroemrcIpessutmeDrolEorast Middle School No[vIsesmueb]e::r[D20a1te5] Mural Mania Worcester East Middle students are learning about the beauty and significance ofhistoric murals originally created in their school in the 1940’s by muralist, JenneMagafan. The project began last year, when WEMArt Instructor, Kenneth Salins, contacted aconservator at the Worcester Art Museum to discussrestoring the art, which depicts Jonas Rice,Worcester’s first public school teacher. From there,the Magafan Mural Project was created.Under the guidance of Jim Welu, Director Mural depicting Jonas RiceEmeritus of WEM, the murals will be professionally WEM and HC students atrestored. Also assisting with this project are fundraisercommunity leaders including WPS Visual ArtsLiason Timmary Leary, WEM Principal Rose Jim Welu with WEMDawkins, and students at the College of the HolyCross and WEM. Gwen Mathey, conservator at the students at fundraiser forMuseum of Fine Arts Boston, will lead the project. Holy mural projectCross students and faculty have helped raise funds along with Worcester EastMiddle students. Salins says, “It has been a wonderful relationship, which will continue aswe develop the project.” Work started last week on cleaning a mural. Everyone involved is learning and sharing, andexperiencing the benefits of Worcester's educational communities working together through art. For moreinformation, please visit http://www.magafanmuralproject.com. We Have Liftoff In March, two teachers from Worcester East Middle School, Stacy Lord(Art) and Howard Fain (Science), were selected to participate in NASA’sStratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy program, or SOFIA. After anunsuccessful launch attempt in September, Lord and Fain were able to finallytake flight in a modified Boeing 747SP jet carrying a 100-inch effective Howard Fain (far left), Stacydiameter telescope with a team of professional astronomers. Lord (far right) \"It was such a great experience. We really got a sense of being part of frontier science: knowing that theinfrared data images on our screens -- of nebulae and protostars, of exoplanetary systems and nearby asteroids -have never been seen before… and that once these images and spectra are fully analyzed by the requestingscientists, our knowledge of the cosmos would be bumped up another important notch,” said Fain. Lord added, “I could never have imagined that I, as an art educator, would be reaching an altitude of 45,000 feet on a 747SP flying observatory and studying the night sky through the lens of an infrared telescope.\" First flight after landing in Fain and Lord are excited to share their newfound Cordoning off telescope early morning knowledge with students and start working on space before takeoff related Science and Art projects.6

Lorem Ipsum Dolor Perspectives Issue [#] :: [Date] Parent Grafton St School Parent is Grateful VoiceI just want to take time out to thank the teachers and faculty at Grafton Street School fortheir continuous effort in turning my son into a better reader. It is really paying off! Hereally enjoys reading at home now. Throughout the last year or so the teachers have madesure of that through their meetings and letters home. They seem genuine in their efforts andthat means a lot of my son and me. I just wanted to take this time out to say thank you.~Parent We Want To Hear From YouWe are always looking for writing samples from parents, teachers andstudents on topics that are school related and important to them. Wouldyou like to be published in an upcoming WPS newsletter? Tell us yourthoughts about how a favorite teacher has helped you, a class that you would like to see offered in the schools, or let others know about a school team or group you are part of. We want to hear from YOU! Just email Jennifer Roy at [email protected] and send your topic or your one to two paragraph “essay”. Happy writing! Student WEM Students Student WEM Students Learn About Voice: React To Stacy Lord and Howard Murals Rodolfo P: It’s amazing. Fain’s Trip to NASAMelody S: It is important to restore art like the It would be a greatmurals at WEM because art shows inspiration, pleasure to be able to fly into the stratosphere and lookcreativity and dreams. If we restore art, we willchange; we will put a smile on our faces. We will make into space and at the stars. It must have been ana difference. incredible sight.Gianh B: Art has a huge influence on people. It can Antonio V: It seems that he learned a whole lot. Hemake someone happy, angry, motivated, and more. said, “It was the coolest thing ever.” He had a lot ofMaybe some people will look at a mural and beinspired to do some art of their own. Also, the artwork fun.brightens up the school; no one would like a boring anddrab school. Rosa R: I honestly thought it was cool because he could tell us interesting stories about the trip and all about the plane and what the trip was like!Julia D: Art inspires. Restoring gorgeous artwork is Amy D: I think that it is an honor for that teacher toanother way of inspiring. Everybody should see the participate in SOFIA and how they can help in such anart; it symbolizes growth, change, and an outlet to important event.express ourselves. Anthony M: I think it’s amazing! I loved that when my teacher came back, he shared the trip with us! TheAmani A: I think it is important to restore art like the pictures were amazing and interesting.murals at WEM, because it is sad to think that 7 beautiful creations made with effort will justdisappear.

NLoreewm Ispsaumt Dootlhorer schools: N[Iossvueme]b::e[rD2a0t1e5]Worcester Police Department Addresses Gangs Gang Unit Sgt. Steve Roche visited the Chandler Magnet Sgt. Steve Roche with studentsSchool for a Gang Talks Session. Sgt. Roche was joined by City at Chandler MagnetManager Edward M. Augustus who also visited the class andspoke to the students. The Gang Talks are conducted by a gangunit officer to every 6th grade class in the Worcester PublicSchool system. Officers strive to educate students on all of thedangers of gang life and gang affiliation. Students are informedabout the consequences of dealing drugs, conflict resolution andgun violence. Other topics in the class include the importanceof staying in school, healthy living and building self-esteem. MAEA Awards The Massachusetts Arts Education Association (MAEA) awarded twoWorcester Public School faculty members for their significant contribution to thefield of Art Education in MA. Stacy Lord was named Art Educator of the Year, andTimmary Leary was recognized as Supervision/Administration Art Educator of theYear. Both women were honored at the annual MAEA Conference at the MassMuseum of Contemporary Arts in North Adams on Nov 7 and 8. Stacy Lord accepting All 2016 MOEA awardees Timmary Leary award accepting awardStacy LordCradles to Crayons On Tuesday, Nov 24th, Robert Jennings (Chandler Elementary) and others delivered winter coats, mittens, and hats to our WPS students at nine participating schools. WPS has received donations from Cradles to Crayons for the past five years. Also present in the photo is Kylee North (Cradles to Crayons), Michael Scottberg (Cradles to Crayons and Dave Colton (WPS).8