April 2013 Update

• Gratitude

  We are grateful for students, parents, staff, and faculty who provided extra support and comfort to the school community following the horrific tragedy of the Marathon.

  We also appreciate Mesdames Smith and Penaud for chaperoning CCHS students on their trip to France during spring break and all CMS teachers, administrators, and staff who chaperoned eighth grade students on their annual trip to Washington DC.

• K5 Spring Conferences

  On April 2, K5 teachers met with parents to discuss student learning and performance. Parent conferences and regular, proactive communication with parents promote strong home-school collaboration. Family and Community Engagement is one of the professional standards in the new educator evaluation system and the criteria for proficient performance is “regularly uses two-way communication with families about student learning, behavior, and wellness; responds promptly and carefully to communications from families”.

• School Committee Recognitions

  Retiring school committee members, Fabian Fondriest (6 years) and Maureen Spada (3 years) were recognized at the April 9 school committee meeting for their outstanding contributions to CPS and CCRSD. Fabian will continue on the TELL Mass committee for the remainder of this school year.

  Johanna Boynton and Kathi Snook were elected to the school committees, and they will begin their service at the May 14 school committee meeting. Welcome Johanna and Kathi!

• Town Meetings- April 22, 23, Concord and April 29, Carlisle

  Concord Town Meeting voted affirmative for Article 7, CPS Budget, $31,140,538; affirmative for Article 8, Concord Public Schools Renovations, $795, 000; reduced Article 10, CCRSD budget by $35,000 to $26,318,647; and did not support Article 13, CPS, Use of CPS Capital Needs Stabilization Fund for Transportation Infrastructure. Carlisle Town Meeting matched Concord’s reduction after the SC recommended a revised CCHS budget of $26,305,603. For seven consecutive years, the proposed budgets are within the levy limit and did not require overrides. The FY14 Budget book is posted on the district website for more information.

• Dignity

  On April 2, the Center for Parents and Teachers sponsored a presentation by Dr. Donna Hicks, conflict resolution specialist, associate at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University, and author, “Dignity: The Essential Role it Plays in Resolving Conflict in Our Lives and Relationships”. Hicks explained what the elements of dignity are, how to recognize dignity violations, how to respond when we are not treated with dignity, how dignity can restore a broken relationship, and why leaders must understand the concept of dignity. A district core value is respectful and empathic community, and I encourage all of us to include the ten essential elements of dignity in our daily interactions.

• Appreciation

  Secretaries’ week was celebrated at the end of April and we appreciate all the support staff for their contributions to our schools.

• CCHS Rivers and Revolutions Interdisciplinary Program

  Kudos to the CCHS students and teachers Michael Goodwin, Mary McCabe, Tracie Dunn, Matt Goldberg, and Jeff Fuller in the R and R program for their featured segment on “Chronicle”, Channel 5 on April 11.
  http://www.wcvb.com/chronicle/Concord-Segment-Three/-/12523032/19727086/...

• Rose Bush Ceremony – May 29

  Please join us to honor our 2012-2013 retirees, Linda Levin, Martha Regan, and Jane Albert, Alcott teachers, Arlene Gluck, Willard teacher, and Maryann Moran, CMS teacher. We will celebrate them on Wednesday, May 29, 4:00 pm in the Alcott cafeteria.

• RETELL – Overview of the SEI Endorsement

  • The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has established the SEI (Sheltered English Immersion) Teacher Endorsement in an effort to improve the academic achievement of English Language Learners (ELLs).
  • Under newly revised regulations, all core academic teachers responsible for the education of ELL students, and the administrators who supervise and evaluate them, must earn an SEI Endorsement no later than July 1, 2016.
  • Core academic teachers are defined by DESE as early childhood and elementary teachers, teachers of students with moderate and severe disabilities, and teachers of the following academic subjects: English, reading or language arts, math, science, civics and government, economics, history, and geography (603 CMR 7.02).
  • DESE has assigned school districts to one of three cohorts which establish a time frame for core academic teachers and administrators to earn the SEI endorsement. Concord Public Schools is in cohort two (2013-2016)
  • There will be approximately 40 CPS teachers over a three-year period that will have to take the course or qualify under another route. (i.e. 14 in year one/14 in year two/12 in year three).We are in the process of identifying teachers of ELL students.
  • There are different routes to obtaining the SEI endorsement. Core academic teachers that currently teach ELL students may have to take a DESE no cost course. More specific information will be available on this soon.
  • After 2016 all educators will have to obtain the SEI endorsement to advance, extend, or renew a license. More specific information will be provided at a later time.
  • More detailed and specific information will be shared at faculty meetings.
  • Important links: http://www.doe.mass.edu/retell/ and http://massteacher.org/advocating/toolkits/RETELL.aspx