Quadrant Newsletter Nov 2015

Lorem Ipsum Issue 3, Volume 2Dolor Pellentesque sed sem nec dui eleifend tristique.November 2015Inside What are you thankful for? Belmont Street As the Worcester Public School community embarks upon a Community School season of thanksgiving, we want to extend our gratitude to the Computer Club students, teachers and parents that make each of our schools a true team. As you will see throughout this newsletter, City View Discovery schools, community partners, and local businesses come School together each day to provide our students with a learning AVID environment that is safe and encouraging while ensuring all of our students’ needs are met so they can fulfill their highest Grafton Street School achievements. It is with this “attitude of gratitude” that we Positive Behavior continue to evolve as a system and inspire the hearts and Intervention and minds of our children and young adults. I encourage you to Supports 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!Worcester East Middle Marco RodriguesSchool Interim SuperintendentMurals and NASA Worcester Public SchoolsJennifer Roy, Communications/TV Production, [email protected]

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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 been identified byteachers, specialists, or our administration, who would benefit from individualized instructionto help with their classroom academics and overall wellbeing. Students may have difficultieskeeping up due to problems with attention, processing/sequencing, have difficulty withEnglish (because it is their second language), are on an IEP (or are on the cusp of beingconsidered for an SSP), or have unfortunate family circumstances. It is for students in grades2-6 (and will be open to grade 1 in January 2016). Space is limited to 26 students and has astrict attendance policy. If a student has three unexcused absences he/she will be removedfrom the program and the family of the first students on the waiting list will be contacted.Currently, the waiting list has 9 students. When students arrive for the Computer Club they are greetedby the teacher and bond together as a group as they wait for allstudents to arrive. During this time the teacher encouragesleadership qualities, excellence, and goal setting for the day. Thestudents’ commitment to education is highlighted. Once in thecomputer room, students receive their blue book (which they use daily for note taking) andbegin their predetermined assignment from a program called Triumph Online. Assignmentsare based on local and state test scores (summative) and teacher recommendations(formative). Assignments take an average of 4-5 weeks to complete. If a student begins tostruggle and needs intervention, the student receives one on one instruction along with notetaking strategies. At the end of each week students’ blue books are collected and reviewed bythe teacher. Comments are written regarding the clarity of the work, note taking,penmanship, and overall understanding of the assignment. This type of feedback is essentialto the program as it guides the students to take ownership of their learning. Students’computer work also receives attention through the teacher’s written notes and instruction.When a student “logs-in” to their assignment the notes or instruction are seen right away.This ongoing attention and feedback allows the student to appreciate mistakes (or excellence)and their efforts of perseverance is 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 (about 14 professionals) to discuss the work being done. This ongoing relationship helps the student and the program to thrive. It’s a school wide student focused program. To date, 7 students from the Early Risers Computer Club have been selected as “Student of the Month!” 3

LCoiretmyIVpsuiemwDolDoriscovery 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 opportunity (Advancement Via thanks to a generous donation from Cabela’s, the “World Individual 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, campus, classes, and even ate 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

LGorreamfItposunm SDotlorreet School IsNsuoeve[#m]b::e[rD2a0t1e5] Giving BackFriendly House is a strong supporter of Grafton Street School. They offer the use of theirgymnasium to us for our Winter and Spring concerts, family events and allow the use ofclassroom space for meetings. Friendly House is also an agency that provides many servicesto families attending our school. To show our appreciation and to give back,we will be holding a non-perishable food drive to help Friendly House stocktheir pantry for the Thanksgiving baskets that they provide. Non-perishabledonations will be collected at Grafton Street School November 16th-20th. Making A Good Thing BetterTo prepare our students for college and/or careerreadiness, Grafton Street School is committed toproviding a positive, safe and engaging learningenvironment where all members of the GraftonStreet community will show respect to oneanother, actively participate in learning, andmaintain a collaborative working environment.One way to accomplish this is through theimplementation of Positive Behavioral Interventionsand Supports (PBIS). This is a school-wide approachto teaching behavioral expectations for all areas of theschool including, but not limited to, classroom,hallways, dismissal, playground, cafeteria andrestrooms. 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 SupportOne 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 of historic murals originally created in their school in the 1940’s by muralist, Jenne Magafan. The project began last year, when WEM Art Instructor, Kenneth Salins, contacted a conservator at the Worcester Art Museum to discuss restoring 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 Emeritus Jim Welu with WEM Mural depicting Jonas Rice of WEM, the murals will be professionally restored. students at fundraiser for Also assisting with this project are community mural project WEM and HC students at leaders WPS Visual Arts Liason, Timmary Leary, fundraiser WEM Principal, Rose Dawkins, and students at HC and WEM. Gwen Mathey, conservator at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, will lead the project. Holy Cross students and faculty have helped raise funds along with Worcester East Middle students. I Salins says, “It has been a wonderful relationship, which will continue as we develop the project.” Work started last week on cleaning a mural. Everyone involved is learning and sharing, and experiencing the benefits of Worcester's educational communities working together through art. For more information, 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’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy program, or SOFIA. After an unsuccessful launch attempt in September, Lord and Fain were able to finally take flight in a modified Boeing 747SP jet carrying a 100-inch effective diameter telescope with a team of professional astronomers. \"It was such a great experience. We really got a sense of being part of frontier Howard Fain (far left), Stacy science: knowing that the infrared data images on our screens -- of nebulae Lord (far right) 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 requesting scientists, 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.\" Fain and Lord are excited to share their newfound Cordoning off telescope knowledge with students and start working on space before takeoff First flight after landing in related Science and Art projects. early morning6

Lorem Ipsum Dolor Issue [#] :: [Date]Parent Grafton St School parentVoiceStudent WEM Students Student WEM Students Voice: Learn About Voice: React To Teachers Murals of SOFIAMelody S: It is important to restore art like the Rodolfo P: It’s amazing.murals at WEM because art shows inspiration, It would be a great pleasure to be able to fly into the stratosphere and look into space and at the stars. Itcreativity and dreams. If we restore art, we...will must have been an incredible sight.change; we will put a smile on our faces. We will makea difference. Antonio V: It seems that he learned a whole lot. He said, “It was the coolest thing ever.” He had a lot ofGianh B: Art has a huge influence on people. It can fun.make someone happy, angry, motivated, and more.Maybe some people will look at a mural and be Cassidy A: Personally, I think that rocks! I saw someinspired to do some art of their own. Also, the artwork pictures and it looked like super 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 allJulia D: Art inspires. Restoring gorgeous artwork is about the plane and what the trip was like!another way of inspiring. Everybody should see theart; it symbolizes growth, change, and an outlet to Amy D: I think that it is an honor for that teacher toexpress [ourselves]. participate in SOFIA and how they can help in such an important event. Anthony M: I think it’s amazing! I loved that when 7Amani A: I think it is important to restore art like the my teacher came back, he shared the trip with us! Themurals at WEM, because it is sad to think that pictures were amazing and interesting. beautiful creations made with effort will justdisappear.

NLoreewm Ispsaumt Dootlhorer schools: N[Iossvueme]b::e[rD2a0t1e5]Worcester Police Department Addresses GangsGang Unit Sgt. Steve Roche at the Chandler Magnet School Sgt. Steve Roche with studentstoday 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. The talks strive to educate students on all of thedangers of gang life and gang affiliation. Gang unit officersinform students about the consequences of dealing drugs,conflict resolution and gun violence. Other topics in the classinclude the importance of staying in school, healthy living andbuilding self-esteem. MAEA AwardsThe Massachusetts Arts Education Association (MAEA) awarded two WorcesterPublic School faculty members for their significant contribution to the field of ArtEducation in MA. Stacy Lord was named Art Educator of the Year, and TimmaryLeary was recognized as Supervision/Administration Art Educator of the Year. Bothwomen were honored at the annual MAEA Conference at the Mass Museum of Contemporary Arts in North Adams on Nov 7 and 8. All 2016 MOEA awardees Timmary Leary accepting awardStacy Lord Stacy Lord accepting awardCradles 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 ? years. Also present in the photo is Kylee North (Cradles to Crayons), Michael (Cradles to Crayons and Dave (WPS).8

Flu Shots: [Issue] :: [Date]Results of flu shots LoremIpsumDolorIf you have a story orinformation you would like toshare, please email JenniferRoy at [email protected] use pictures as well!

Lorem Ipsum Dolor Worcester Public Schools in[Isstuhe]e:: [Date] Community! Chandler Polar 5k Express Magnet Run/Walk Growing Our VisionMark Berthiaume (WPS) and Al Ganem (WPS) Brittany Gabrielian, Register online at Michelle Gabrielian, (Burncoat Prep) Tom polar5kexpressnhs.racewire.com Lindgren (WPS STEP Runners ~ $25 / Walkers ~ $20 District-Wide) SAME DAY Registration 9:00 AMJessica Boss (Prinipcal), MarkBerthiaume (WPS) and friends Runners ~ $30 / Walkers ~ $25 Karaoke for a Help support North High and claw your way Cureto the finish line! The John Adams Chapter of the National Honor Society is organizing this event to support all after school activities and increase school spirit! Chandler Elementary Thanksgiving Feast Maureen Binienda (South High ) Burncoat Middle Teachers10