September, 2010
Dear Woodville Parents and Guardians,
I would like to welcome you all back for the 2010-2011 school year! I would also like to extend a warm welcome to those families who are new to the Woodville School. We are happy to have you here and we will be working very hard together to educate your children.
School will begin on September 8th. The school day will be Monday through Friday and will begin at 8:40am in the cafeteria with the Pledge of Allegiance. Instruction will end at 2:45pm Monday through Friday.
Students should not arrive at the school before 8:20am as there will be no adult supervision prior to this time. All teachers will be on duty for the first few days of school and children should find their teacher and line up with their class. If your child is having trouble separating from you please ask a staff member to help (we have lots of experience with this!) For the afternoon, Instruction will end at 2:45pm and students will be dismissed to the playground in the back of the school. Parents picking their children up will need to park on Farm Street, or in the High School parking lots and walk to the back of the Woodville. Parking is NOT permitted in the Woodville School parking lot.
I am extremely happy to welcome the new staff to the Woodville School.
Mrs. Lauren Gill: Mrs. Gill will be a new Paraprofessional working in Laurie Sokol’s Preschool classroom. Most recently, Mrs. Gill has been a Substitute Teacher within the Wakefield Public Schools and worked at both the Elementary and Middle School levels. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Technology from the University of Lowell. Before developing her interest in working within the schools, Lauren worked for both LL Bean and Fleet Bank. She volunteers her time by coordinating the Galvin Buddy program, and working with Elementary students in math, computer lab, and library. Lauren also volunteers with the Special Olympics of Massachusetts working on the Summer Games.
Mrs. Joyce Reilly: Mrs. Reilly will be a new Paraprofessional working in the BEST Program with Margaret. She comes to us from the Greenwood School, where she’s been working as a SPED Paraprofessional since January. Before that role, Mrs. Reilly worked as a substitute teacher in Wakefield, was a Reading Teacher and Paraprofessional in Medford, a Permanent Substitute in a second grade classroom, and a Kindergarten/Lead Preschool Teacher for Bright Horizons. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Merrimack College and has completed graduate courses at Salem State College. In addition, she has taken courses in Attention Deficit Disorder, Portfolio Assessment, the Chicago Math Series, Reading Recovery Lecture Series, and a Sign Language workshop.
Mrs. Elaine Hughes: Mrs. Huhges will be our new Technology Teacher working at both the Woodville and Greenwood Schools. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the US Coast Guard Academy and a Master’s Degree in Education from Old Dominion University in Virginia. She also holds a certification as a Project Management Professional. Mrs. Hughes taught Technology and Social Studies to students at St. Ambrose Catholic School in Annandale, VA. Before coming into Education, she worked as a Project Manager in the IT field. She also served in the United States Coast Guard as a Lieutenant and held roles in the Regional Exam Center, Marine Safety Office, and as a Desk Watch Officer. She volunteers as a Woodville School Council Parent Representative and for the Girl Scouts.
Mr. Frank Marino: Mr. Marino will be joining us at the Woodville as an Art Teacher. Mr. Marino is a long-time Wakefield teacher and has been in the district for 25 years. He was most recently at the Galvin Middle School and Greenwood Schools. He will now be teaching Art at the Dolbeare and Woodville Schools. Frank holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Art from Salem State and a Master’s Degree in Education from Lesley University. He is looking forward to teaching elementary Art.
Mrs. Lisa DiIsso: Mrs. DiIsso comes to the Woodville from the Salem, MA district where she was first a Kindergarten Teacher and then a Reading Recovery and Title 1 Tutor. At the Woodville, Mrs. DiIsso will be a Reading Specialist and she will be teaching Reading Recovery and Intervention. She will also serve as a literacy resource for our staff members. She is a highly qualified educator who holds her Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Salem State College. She has her Reading Recovery certification from Lesley University. Lisa has a proven track record in being able to raise student achievement through her interventions with students. Her experience will be a huge benefit to the students and teachers in Wakefield. In fact, in 1993, Lisa was named “Teacher of the Year” at Salem State College.
Mrs. Denise McCarthy: Mrs. McCarthy will be our new Building Substitute. Most recently, she has been a substitute teacher in Wakefield in the Elementary and Middle School levels. Before that, Mrs. McCarthy was a Special Education Paraprofessional at the Coolidge Middle School in Reading. She has volunteered in many different capacities at her children’s school in Reading and has volunteered as a Religious Education Teacher for her church. Denise holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Salem State College. She has recently enrolled in a Master’s Degree Program in Education and she will begin courses this fall.
Mr. Zachary Ahamateros: Mr. Ahamateros will be our new custodian taking Joe Long’s spot. Zach will be working ½ time at the Woodville and the other ½ time at Wakefield High School. Zach is a graduate of the Northeast Metro Tech Vocational School and the Kaplan Institute. He is coming to us after working in maintenance and housekeeping at the Life Care Center in Stoneham, MA. He is very excited to begin in the schools and use what he has learned through his schooling and previous job to keep Woodville in tip-top shape.
Ms. Susan Mason: Ms. Mason will be joining the Woodville as a 1:1 Nurse working with a student. Ms. Mason attended the Somerville School of Nursing and is a Registered Nurse. She has worked as an OR Tech at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital. In addition she was an RN in the Labor and Delivery Department. She’s worked as a school nurse, in doctor’s offices, and in home care settings. She is excited about starting with us.
Mrs. Donna Delaney: Mrs. Delaney will be joining us at the Woodville as a Paraprofessional in Mrs. Sokol's PreSchool class. Mrs. Delaney comes to our school from the Huckleberry Hill Elementary School in Lynnfield where she was a Special Education Aide for the past two years in Kindergarten and Grade 1. Prior to that, she worked as a Teacher's Aide at the Canterbury Children's Center in Wakefield, where she worked with PreSchool children. Mrs. Delaney holds a Bachelor's Degree in Administration from Merrimack College. She used to be a parent volunteer and very involved in the PTO when her children were in Elementary School in Wakefield.
We also have some internal changes within the school.
Mrs. Marie Chirichello will be a Paraprofessional in Ms. Bedrick’s second grade class.
Mrs. Lynn Goddard will now be working full-time in Miss Ellen’s preschool class.
Mrs. Megan Lucas will be the Preschool Speech Therapist.
Ms. Marina Kontos has moved from 4th grade to 1st grade.
Mrs. Judy Scacchi will be moving to a part-time schedule this year.
There were also a lot of wedding bells ringing this summer! Ms. Lauren Holmes became Mrs. Ross and Ms. Christine Purrington became Mrs. Nelson.
I am also very happy to announce the creation of The NEW Parent Resource Center in the lobby of the Woodville School. The Parent Resource Center has a lending library and lots of information on parenting, child health and safety, and education. Please stop by and check it out!!
The Woodville School and Wakefield Public Schools updated our websites over the summer. You can find many helpful resources online such as: calendars, menus, forms, online payments, etc. Check out our site at: www.wakefield.k12.ma.us. I hope you enjoyed your summer and I look forward to working with you and your families to provide the highest level of quality education for our students. Best wishes for a successful school year!
Sincerely,
Mr. Middleton-Cox
Principal
Friday, August 27, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Getting the School Ready
Woodville Custodians Brian McCall, Rob Cerulo, and Zach Ahamateros have been working very hard to make sure that our buildings are very clean when we open the school in a few weeks. Over the summer, they empty the furniture from all of the classrooms, clean the furniture strip and wax the floors, and clean the common areas. Here are some pictures of what the school looks like over the summer. (My son, Glen, got in on the act today when he came to "help out.")
Friday, August 13, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Wakefield Administrators Go Back To School This Summer
Wakefield Administrators Go Back to School
by Brian Middleton-Cox, M.M., M.Ed.
For one week this summer, Administrators from the Wakefield Public Schools traveled into Cambridge to Lesley University to participate in a graduate course entitled "What Every School Leader Needs To Know About Good Literacy Teaching and Effective Literacy Coaching." The course was led by Dr. Irene Founts, Ms. Candy Downed, and Ms. Kathy Ha. The following Wakefield Administrators were present: Brian Middleton-Cox, Principal - Woodville School, Therese Jarmusik, Asst. Principal - Galvin Middle School, Deborah Collura, Principal - Greenwood School, Beth Yando, Principal - Dolbeare School,, and Nancy Santapaola, Director of Curriculum.
The course was dense with information in which we learned many ways to support our teaching staff within Wakefield. Topics included (but were not limited to):
• authenticity in reading, writing, and use of oral language
• 8 forces for leaders of change
• collaborative cultures in schools
• systematic assessment
• the continuum of literacy learning
• using benchmark assessments to document change over time
• analysis of texts
• using interactive read aloud to build common knowledge and shared language
• using literature discussion groups
• using guided reading to improve the individual reader's competencies
• phonics, spelling, and word study
• interactive writing
• writer's workshop
We were given many materials to share with our teachers to help enhance their teaching. Of particular help will be When Readers Struggle: Teaching That Works by Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell, (Heinemann, 2009). In this resource, there are many examples of common mistakes that children make when reading and then provides interventions and strategies for teachers to use with their students. We also received Professional Development modules that we can now use with our faculty in Wakefield.
Last year, all the elementary schools in Wakefield completed the Benchmark Assessments on all of our students. In the upcoming year, the middle school will begin the process of assessing their students in this method. These benchmarks help us as educators identify a student's reading accuracy, fluency, and comprehension. Using this data, the teachers design their lessons to meet the individual needs of each child in the classroom.
During this course, we shared best practices with administrators from New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. We learned many new teaching strategies that we are eager to bring back to our Wakefield schools. We are currently doing great things in Wakefield and our colleagues benefited from what we had to share as well.
One of the articles we read was entitled "Are We On the Same Book and Page? - The Value of Shared Theory and Vision" by Julie Wollman. Through our discussions we spoke about the shared vision of literacy for the students in Wakefield. This helps us to create a similar learning experience for all of our students within our schools, no matter which school they attend.
After spending the week with Dr. Irene Fountas and her colleagues at Lesley University, our administrative team is energized and reading to engage in Professional Development with our respective staff members.
Brian Middleton-Cox, M.M., M.Ed, is the Principal of the Woodville School in Wakefield, Massachusetts
by Brian Middleton-Cox, M.M., M.Ed.
For one week this summer, Administrators from the Wakefield Public Schools traveled into Cambridge to Lesley University to participate in a graduate course entitled "What Every School Leader Needs To Know About Good Literacy Teaching and Effective Literacy Coaching." The course was led by Dr. Irene Founts, Ms. Candy Downed, and Ms. Kathy Ha. The following Wakefield Administrators were present: Brian Middleton-Cox, Principal - Woodville School, Therese Jarmusik, Asst. Principal - Galvin Middle School, Deborah Collura, Principal - Greenwood School, Beth Yando, Principal - Dolbeare School,, and Nancy Santapaola, Director of Curriculum.
The course was dense with information in which we learned many ways to support our teaching staff within Wakefield. Topics included (but were not limited to):
• authenticity in reading, writing, and use of oral language
• 8 forces for leaders of change
• collaborative cultures in schools
• systematic assessment
• the continuum of literacy learning
• using benchmark assessments to document change over time
• analysis of texts
• using interactive read aloud to build common knowledge and shared language
• using literature discussion groups
• using guided reading to improve the individual reader's competencies
• phonics, spelling, and word study
• interactive writing
• writer's workshop
We were given many materials to share with our teachers to help enhance their teaching. Of particular help will be When Readers Struggle: Teaching That Works by Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell, (Heinemann, 2009). In this resource, there are many examples of common mistakes that children make when reading and then provides interventions and strategies for teachers to use with their students. We also received Professional Development modules that we can now use with our faculty in Wakefield.
Last year, all the elementary schools in Wakefield completed the Benchmark Assessments on all of our students. In the upcoming year, the middle school will begin the process of assessing their students in this method. These benchmarks help us as educators identify a student's reading accuracy, fluency, and comprehension. Using this data, the teachers design their lessons to meet the individual needs of each child in the classroom.
During this course, we shared best practices with administrators from New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. We learned many new teaching strategies that we are eager to bring back to our Wakefield schools. We are currently doing great things in Wakefield and our colleagues benefited from what we had to share as well.
One of the articles we read was entitled "Are We On the Same Book and Page? - The Value of Shared Theory and Vision" by Julie Wollman. Through our discussions we spoke about the shared vision of literacy for the students in Wakefield. This helps us to create a similar learning experience for all of our students within our schools, no matter which school they attend.
After spending the week with Dr. Irene Fountas and her colleagues at Lesley University, our administrative team is energized and reading to engage in Professional Development with our respective staff members.
Brian Middleton-Cox, M.M., M.Ed, is the Principal of the Woodville School in Wakefield, Massachusetts
Friday, August 6, 2010
Education Board adopts Common Core standards to keep Massachusetts students national leaders in education
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Contact: JC Considine 781-338-3112
Education Board adopts Common Core standards to keep Massachusetts students national leaders in education
Massachusetts educators and staff were integral in drafting of standards to increase expectations for students in the Commonwealth and across the country
MALDEN - The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education cited the increased academic rigor and stronger expectations for student performance when it voted 8-0 to adopt the Common Core Standards in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics on Wednesday, making Massachusetts the 27th state to adopt the internationally benchmarked academic standards that promise to keep the Commonwealth's students national leaders in education. The Common Core Standards will continue to be assessed through the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS), ensuring that all Massachusetts students continue to achieve at the highest levels in the nation and preparing them to succeed in the global economy.
Launched in June 2009, the Common Core State Standards Initiative is designed to develop and implement a single set of national standards in ELA and math to define what every student should know and be able to do in order to be fully ready for post-secondary education or a successful career. Massachusetts played a leading role in the development and review of the standards over the past 13 months. Curriculum experts and educators from across the Commonwealth reviewed and submitted comments on drafts that were incorporated throughout the development process to ensure that the expectations set in the final versions met or exceeded the state's strong standards for students.
"Today's vote is a strong statement of the Board's commitment to keeping Massachusetts competitive in the global economy," said Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Chair Maura Banta. "I am very grateful to all the professionals who provided the Board with such a thorough and thoughtful analysis. We look forward to your continued contribution as we identify unique Massachusetts standards that should be added to the Common Core."
"All along, the conversation about Common Core has been about the Commonwealth seizing the opportunity to improve upon our already high standards," said Education Secretary Paul Reville. "Today's action ensures that Massachusetts will continue to be the recognized leader not only in performance but in setting the direction for nation's future education reforms."
"Adopting the Common Core standards allows us to retain our standing as a state that holds all students to high academic expectations. These standards will spur academic achievement in the classroom," said Education Commissioner Mitchell D. Chester. "This decision also puts us right where we should be – at the table with other states to collaborate on innovative curricular and instructional strategies that will benefit students and educators for years to come."
The Common Core standards were developed using the most effective academic standards from across the country and around the world. These standards are designed to provide teachers and parents with a common understanding of what all elementary and secondary school students are expected to learn. The standards are aligned with expectations that define the knowledge and skills needed for success in college and and/or workforce training programs. They are designed to drive high quality instruction in the nation's classrooms. The standards include rigorous content and build on strengths and lessons of the state's current standards.
The Board has discussed the standards at four previous meetings over the course of the past year. BESE sought public comment while engaging department staff, outside experts, district curriculum leaders and teachers in a process involving analysis and feedback.
The standards were also fully vetted, reviewed and approved by national organizations including Achieve, Inc., which called them "a significant advance over current state standards," and the Fordham Foundation. The Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education (MBAE), in a side-by-side analysis comparing the state's current standards to the Common Core, deemed that Common Core "meets the business community's objective of enhancing the college and career readiness of our students."
In addition, external review teams of Massachusetts educators and academics assembled by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education did their own analysis of both the Common Core and the state's academic standards and found them to be of equal quality and strength. Both teams recommended adoption of the Common Core standards. In their final review, the team that reviewed the ELA standards noted that the Common Core document "bespeaks an abiding belief in high academic achievement through the pursuit of the best possible educational praxis."
Among the strengths officials highlighted as distinguishing factors within the Common Core:
•The focus on reading and writing across the curriculum
•The attention to speaking, listening and vocabulary
•The consideration of emerging new literacies (such as digital and print sources) for research and communication
•The treatment of varying student needs and achievement levels in the delivery of the math curriculum
Two former commissioners of education, Robert Antonucci and David Driscoll, who were responsible for the design and implementation of the Education Reform Act of 1993 and the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) this week voiced support for Common Core based on the academic rigor set forth in the standards. Likewise, former Boston Public Schools Superintendent Thomas W. Payzant encouraged the Board to adopt the standards based on the value added to the state's current high expectations.
Business leaders also this week announced their backing of the new, higher standards. In addition to MBAE, the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, the Progressive Business Leaders Network and the Massachusetts Business Roundtable all encouraged the Board to adopt Common Core based on their review of the standards and conclusion of the strong academic foundation contained within both the math and English Common Core frameworks.
Later this summer the ELA and mathematics curriculum framework review panels will be reconvened and charged with identifying unique Massachusetts standards to augment and strengthen the Common Core. This will be brought to the Board this Fall for final approval.
Once fully adopted, the new frameworks will be posted on the ESE website, and widely publicized. Regional statewide professional development sessions on the new standards will be offered over the next year, through the District and School Assistance Centers, the Readiness Centers and other venues. All districts will be expected to align their curricula to the new standards by the start of the 2012-2013 school year.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Contact: JC Considine 781-338-3112
Education Board adopts Common Core standards to keep Massachusetts students national leaders in education
Massachusetts educators and staff were integral in drafting of standards to increase expectations for students in the Commonwealth and across the country
MALDEN - The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education cited the increased academic rigor and stronger expectations for student performance when it voted 8-0 to adopt the Common Core Standards in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics on Wednesday, making Massachusetts the 27th state to adopt the internationally benchmarked academic standards that promise to keep the Commonwealth's students national leaders in education. The Common Core Standards will continue to be assessed through the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS), ensuring that all Massachusetts students continue to achieve at the highest levels in the nation and preparing them to succeed in the global economy.
Launched in June 2009, the Common Core State Standards Initiative is designed to develop and implement a single set of national standards in ELA and math to define what every student should know and be able to do in order to be fully ready for post-secondary education or a successful career. Massachusetts played a leading role in the development and review of the standards over the past 13 months. Curriculum experts and educators from across the Commonwealth reviewed and submitted comments on drafts that were incorporated throughout the development process to ensure that the expectations set in the final versions met or exceeded the state's strong standards for students.
"Today's vote is a strong statement of the Board's commitment to keeping Massachusetts competitive in the global economy," said Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Chair Maura Banta. "I am very grateful to all the professionals who provided the Board with such a thorough and thoughtful analysis. We look forward to your continued contribution as we identify unique Massachusetts standards that should be added to the Common Core."
"All along, the conversation about Common Core has been about the Commonwealth seizing the opportunity to improve upon our already high standards," said Education Secretary Paul Reville. "Today's action ensures that Massachusetts will continue to be the recognized leader not only in performance but in setting the direction for nation's future education reforms."
"Adopting the Common Core standards allows us to retain our standing as a state that holds all students to high academic expectations. These standards will spur academic achievement in the classroom," said Education Commissioner Mitchell D. Chester. "This decision also puts us right where we should be – at the table with other states to collaborate on innovative curricular and instructional strategies that will benefit students and educators for years to come."
The Common Core standards were developed using the most effective academic standards from across the country and around the world. These standards are designed to provide teachers and parents with a common understanding of what all elementary and secondary school students are expected to learn. The standards are aligned with expectations that define the knowledge and skills needed for success in college and and/or workforce training programs. They are designed to drive high quality instruction in the nation's classrooms. The standards include rigorous content and build on strengths and lessons of the state's current standards.
The Board has discussed the standards at four previous meetings over the course of the past year. BESE sought public comment while engaging department staff, outside experts, district curriculum leaders and teachers in a process involving analysis and feedback.
The standards were also fully vetted, reviewed and approved by national organizations including Achieve, Inc., which called them "a significant advance over current state standards," and the Fordham Foundation. The Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education (MBAE), in a side-by-side analysis comparing the state's current standards to the Common Core, deemed that Common Core "meets the business community's objective of enhancing the college and career readiness of our students."
In addition, external review teams of Massachusetts educators and academics assembled by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education did their own analysis of both the Common Core and the state's academic standards and found them to be of equal quality and strength. Both teams recommended adoption of the Common Core standards. In their final review, the team that reviewed the ELA standards noted that the Common Core document "bespeaks an abiding belief in high academic achievement through the pursuit of the best possible educational praxis."
Among the strengths officials highlighted as distinguishing factors within the Common Core:
•The focus on reading and writing across the curriculum
•The attention to speaking, listening and vocabulary
•The consideration of emerging new literacies (such as digital and print sources) for research and communication
•The treatment of varying student needs and achievement levels in the delivery of the math curriculum
Two former commissioners of education, Robert Antonucci and David Driscoll, who were responsible for the design and implementation of the Education Reform Act of 1993 and the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) this week voiced support for Common Core based on the academic rigor set forth in the standards. Likewise, former Boston Public Schools Superintendent Thomas W. Payzant encouraged the Board to adopt the standards based on the value added to the state's current high expectations.
Business leaders also this week announced their backing of the new, higher standards. In addition to MBAE, the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, the Progressive Business Leaders Network and the Massachusetts Business Roundtable all encouraged the Board to adopt Common Core based on their review of the standards and conclusion of the strong academic foundation contained within both the math and English Common Core frameworks.
Later this summer the ELA and mathematics curriculum framework review panels will be reconvened and charged with identifying unique Massachusetts standards to augment and strengthen the Common Core. This will be brought to the Board this Fall for final approval.
Once fully adopted, the new frameworks will be posted on the ESE website, and widely publicized. Regional statewide professional development sessions on the new standards will be offered over the next year, through the District and School Assistance Centers, the Readiness Centers and other venues. All districts will be expected to align their curricula to the new standards by the start of the 2012-2013 school year.
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