Lynn Educator WINTER 2015 a Great Deal to Celebrate in 2014-15 CITY of LYNN Judith Flanagan Kennedy, Mayor
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VOL. 10, NO. 1 WINTER 2015 AT THE TOP Principal Ellen Fritz works with student Joshua Doney at Lynn Woods, which was named a Commendation School for the second year. Celebrating Commendation Schools BY MEAGHAN CASEY It was another banner year for Lynn Woods Elementary School, which celebrated its second designation as a Commendation School in as many as two years. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) commended 48 schools statewide last year for their high achievement, high progress, and/or narrowing proficiency gaps. This year, 42 schools—roughly 2 percent of all public schools—were honored. Lynn Woods was recognized for progressing from a Level 3 school in 2012 to a Level 1 school last year, and for continuing to narrow proficiency gaps this year. When the 2014 MCAS results were announced in September, the percentage of Lynn Woods students scoring proficient or higher in English See COMMENDATION page 11 Michael Escobar jumps rope during recess. INSIDE PHOTO: PAULA MULLER Marshall on the rise Play Works! Children at Cobbet Elementary School enjoy new structured recess. Page 11 2 — The Lynn Educator WINTER 2015 A great deal to celebrate in 2014-15 CITY OF LYNN Judith Flanagan Kennedy, Mayor LYNN SCHOOL COMMITTEE Welcome to the winter work in this district. Sometimes known as the “City of Firsts,” Lynn Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy Chair edition of The Lynn During my tenure as mayor, I have had the celebrated another first this winter when First Patricia Capano Educator . There are so pleasure of reading to students, sitting in on Book delivered 43,000 books to students just in Vice Chair many exciting things classes and enjoying plays and other time for the holidays. What a remarkable gift. I Maria O. Carrasco taking place throughout performances. I am continuously impressed by the am so pleased the city, the district and the Lynn Donna M. Coppola our city’s schools, and I teaching and learning taking place in every Teachers Union could launch a successful John E. Ford Jr. would like to take a classroom. It is no surprise that more and more of partnership with First Book to make an event like Charlie Gallo Richard B. Starbard moment to applaud the our schools were able to attain Level I status this that possible. JUDITH FLANAGAN efforts of all our hard- year, and I am confident that number will continue I wish you continued success in 2015 and I look PUBLISHED BY : working educators and to climb. A special congratulations is due to our forward to another year of inspiring stories LYNN PUBLIC SCHOOLS KENNEDY www.lynnschools.org students. two Commendation Schools—Lynn Woods and coming out of our schools. From bringing parents and teachers together to Sewell-Anderson—which were among 2 percent Catherine C. Latham, Ed.D. encouraging healthier eating and more productive of schools honored statewide for their progress Superintendent play, there is no shortage of creative initiatives at and achievement. Judith Flanagan Kennedy is mayor of Lynn . Jaye E. Warry, Ed.D. Deputy Superintendent Susan M. Rowe Proud of our schools, students Deputy Superintendent SUBMIT STORY IDEAS TO : Thomas P. Iarrobino As we reach the halfway teachers and families supporting the students in time for the holidays. It is never too early to Secretary to the point in the 2014-15 school those schools, and throughout the district. encourage a love of reading, and I hope each and Lynn School Committee year, it is a perfect time to In November, we celebrated a beam-raising every book found a special home. 100 Bennett Street Lynn, MA 01905 reflect on all of the wonderful ceremony at the new Marshall Middle School and I Finally, I would like to officially welcome and Tel: 781-477-7220 x3157 things happening in our look forward to the day in 2016 when those doors introduce the newest principals to our district. district. officially open. Patricia Hebert assumed leadership of Drewicz [email protected] We are so proud of our Also in this edition, you will read about the Elementary earlier this year, while on Jan. 5, PRODUCED BY : Level 1 schools—particularly brand new STEM lab at Washington Elementary, Joanne LaRivee started at Ford Elementary School GRANT COMMUNICATIONS Lynn Woods and Sewell- which just opened in December. We are quite and Molly Cohen started at Marshall Middle CONSULTING GROUP DR. CATHERINE Anderson elementary schools, excited about it and hope to show off the new space School. We wish them all the best. C. LATHAM which were recognized by the during an open house this winter. I am especially As always, thank you for your invested interest state as Commendation grateful to the GE Lynn Volunteers and the Lynn in our city’s schools, and I look forward to Schools. As a district, we must also commend Business Education Foundation for getting this continuing our work to secure a bright future for Harrington Elementary School, which has jumped project off and running. our students. 781-598-8200 from Level 4 to Level 1 in four years. Making such Shifting focus to literacy, we were thrilled to www.grantgroup.com rapid progress is no easy task. It is the direct result welcome the Book Truck filled with 43,000 new Dr. Catherine C. Latham is superintendent of [email protected] of the hard work of the dedicated principals, books for our students and their families, right in schools. BBeeaammiinngg wwiitthh pprriiddee aatt nneeww MMaarrsshhaallll It was a moment of celebration as mechanical, electrical and plumbing. the last beam—decorated with the The new building, which will house signatures of Lynn officials, 1,100 students, is expected to open at ironworkers and construction the start of the 2016-2017 school year. workers—was placed atop the State Treasurer Steven Grossman, framing of the new Marshall Middle MSBA Chair, visited the site for a School in November. groundbreaking ceremony in June. Construction of the 181,847- “Thanks to the MSBA’s successful square-foot school on Brookline partnership with Lynn, students and Street was authorized by Lynn voters staff of Thurgood Marshall Middle in September 2013 by an 81 to 18 School will benefit from a state-of- percent margin. The Massachusetts the-art learning and teaching Superintendent of Schools Dr. Catherine Latham addressed the crowd as School Building Authority (MSBA) is environment for many years to the last beam was placed on the framing of Marshall. contributing a maximum total come,” Grossman said. facilities grant of up to $49 million of Of the building’s two wings, one eligible expenses for the project, will include a gym and a “cafetorium” which is estimated at $92 million. The that can be converted into an project includes land acquisition costs auditorium. Using a model of smaller and the abatement and demolition of learning communities, the school will the existing school and associated site be organized around 10 classroom restoration. clusters of about 110 students. Built in 1923, the current Marshall School suffers from deficiencies in major building systems including The Lynn Educator WINTER 2015 — 3 The right stuff E-Team continues training students for jobs in the manufacturing industry BY MEAGHAN CASEY Massachusetts is home to more than 7,000 manufacturers with 250,000 employees, and state officials hope that by preparing the next generation of vocational students, those numbers will continue to grow. Congressman Seth Moulton joined Housing and Economic Development Secretary Greg Bialecki and Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rachel Kaprielian at Lynn Tech to tour the school’s machine and metals shops and learn more about the E-Team Machinist Job Training Program. “I’m a big believer in education and I talked a lot about vocational education throughout my campaign,” said Moulton. “To attract businesses to a community you have to have a well-trained workforce.” Now in its 16th year, E-Team has trained more than 350 workers for careers in the manufacturing industry. Founded by the Essex County Community Organization in collaboration with the Boston Tooling and Machining Association and IUE/CWA Local 201, the E-Team program provides free training for adults interested in careers in manufacturing. “Massachusetts is on the cutting-edge in supporting the growth of 21st century manufacturing, thanks to training programs such as E-Team,” said Bialecki. “Together with our regional partners, we are ensuring the next generation is equipped with the skills and knowledge needed for careers in advanced manufacturing.” In December 2013, Bialecki visited Lynn Tech to present the E-Team with a $46,000 grant, Newly elected Congressman Seth Moulton, right, visited teacher Mike Pickering’s machine adding to the $90,000 that was already included in the state’s Fiscal Year 2014 budget. shop at Lynn Tech with Economic Development Secretary Greg Bialecki. This year, Bialecki, Moulton and Kaprielian met with Superintendent Catherine Latham, students, educators, alumni and employers on Nov. 21 to discuss the growing needs and industry is helping to fill that gap.” challenges of the manufacturing industry in Essex County. Lynn Tech’s lead machine shop teacher Mike Pickering also outlined the school’s need for The tour included a firsthand view of the training facility, where students learn basic equipment upgrades. machinist, welding and metal fabrication hands-on technical training, academics, “Our goal is to make these students employable,” said Pickering. “Right now we have the communications, job readiness and teaming skills. Over the course of the 35-week training most updated software, but not the most updated machines.” program, students complete 690 hours of academic and skills training, preparing them for But that isn’t stopping his current machine shop students from pursuing their goals.