Raising Spring 2016 the Bar State champions! Photo by David Heuschkel Players on the Canton High School girls basketball team celebrate after winning the first state championship in program history. The Warriors defeated two-year reigning champion Thomaston 64-51 Saturday, March 19, in the Class S final at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville. Our Vision As a leader among schools and a source of pride in our community, the Canton Public Schools enrich the present and shape the future of its students by opening minds and transforming lives. Our Mission Our mission is to prepare independent, productive, respectful and responsible citizens who contribute to an ever-changing world. We pursue continuous improvement while honoring our strong educational legacy and traditions. We unite with families and the community to provide challenging educational experiences that promote the intellectual, physical, social and emotional potential of our students. from the superintendent from the board chair As you will read in this latest edition of our Raising The Canton Board of Education is once again partnering the Bar District Newsletter, the Canton Public Schools with the Valley Press to bring you our Spring 2016 newsletter, continue to be a Lighthouse District, where our students Raising the Bar. The Board has been busy this year with the and staff shine brightly and a District to which other first year of implementation of the new strategic coherence School Systems throughout Connecticut look to in order plan, adopted last year. Specifically, one area of focus by to replicate our success. Our District continues to be our communications committee has been to develop a new recognized for outstanding achievements in all areas of our district- wide communication plan. We have held many focus academic, athletic, and arts programs. Our students have groups to hear your thoughts and concerns around commu- demonstrated accomplishments in all of these areas. For nication. Once the Board of Education adopts this new plan, the sixth consecutive year, our District was named as a Best we look forward to bringing ideas and actions to enhance and Community for Music Education 2016. For the second improve our communication with the community as a whole. time in two years, both Cherry Brook Primary School and I am pleased to share with you many of the achievements of Kevin D. Case Julie Auseré Canton High School were named Schools of Distinction by the our students as well as initiatives of the district such as STEM, Superintendent Board Chair Connecticut State Department of Education. I am very proud of literacy curriculum at Canton Middle School and athletic and these accomplishments and thank you, our community, for supporting our School District. musical accomplishments. The proposed Board of Education budget of $25,166,699 As you will read in this publication, our outstanding staff continues to work representing a 1.1% increase will allow our district to continue the high standards tirelessly to create a learning environment where each of our students is engaged and of learning as well as provide support for the social and emotional well- being of our challenged in various educational experiences that in alignment with our mission, students and families. We appreciate your continued support of the Canton Public promoting each student’s intellectual, physical, social, and emotional potential. Schools and encourage you to attend the Town Hall meeting at Canton High School on As a School District, we believe that: May 2 to vote on the proposed budget. As always, I welcome any questions or comments. • All students will successfully master Canton’s Community Expectations for Learning • All students benefit from high quality resources and experiences that foster intellectual, physical, social, and emotional growth • All students flourish in a safe and healthy learning environment that values differences while respecting cultures, abilities and perspectives • All children are entitled to a childhood As we look ahead to the next few years and continuously improve on the educational environment we provide for our students, we will be focusing on the following goals identified in the Board of Education’s adopted 2015-2020 Strategic Coherence Plan: • Enhance Canton’s Community Expectations for Learning to ensure they are reflective of our values and educational priorities and are aligned, Pre-K – Grade 12. • Implement a comprehensive plan to complete the transition to a digital Photo Credit Gerry DeSimas learning environment that promotes a culture of proficient, responsible, and innovative utilization for students, staff, and families. Wall of Fame inductees from the • Refine the assessment system to capture and share meaningful performance data that informs the continuous improvement of teaching, learning, October 2015 Alumni Weekend and student performance. Noah O’Leary - CHS Junior who inducted (posthumously) Michael • Enhance the capacity of District Staff to support every child’s achievement Dickert, class of 1962 of the Community Expectations for Learning. James Martin, class of 1981, (standing in back) inducted by Noelia • Develop and refine strategies for community engagement and communication to support student success. Powell - CHS Sophomore The staff and I look forward to our continued work on these important goals Angel Prince, class of 1995, inducted by Maggie Treacy - CHS Senior which will serve as the roadmap for our future work. Please let your child’s teacher, Ronald Morris, class of 1950, inducted by Jacob principal, or me know if there is anything we can do to improve your child’s learning experience. Your feedback is important to us. Benedetti - CHS Sophomore Daniel LeGeyt, class of 1970, inducted by Jaela Davidson - CHS Junior Canton High School’s Take on Change by Jessica Lyons, Canton High School Class of 2016 or the Class of 2016, it was just great to grow up in. You get the chance matter what experience a student has and impressive. four years ago that we entered to make great friends and get to know at Canton High School, whether it be athlet- These are just Canton High School, but the everyone in your class… It’s like a family ic-based or scholar-based, students feel con- a few examples of past four years have ushered in [here in] Canton. Personally, after living fident that they are prepared for the future. the school’s nu- major changes. Of course, there [here] for 8 years, it makes me extremely Playwright and critic George Bernard merous curricular were the changes to the school’s excited to embark on new adventures. In Shaw once said, “Progress is impossible changes that have parking lot, the redesign of the school’s web- that sense, Canton has definitely prepared without change, and those who cannot been put into play Fpage, and the addition of the track and field. me and has made me confident to tackle change their minds cannot change any- in order to help However, the most important changes were something so daunting, like college,” shared thing.” I feel as though this quote applies the students de- those that involved the school’s internal, senior Maren Parchen. to the transformation of the Class of 2016 velop and learn. curricular revisions. No matter what path students take at very well. Without a doubt, we were all In middle school Students that wandered through the Canton High School, whether it is the path different in middle school and have become we were without middle school five years ago as novices now of an artist, musician, athlete, or scientist, more progressive and more open-minded plans for the fu- are preparing to leave the high school as the school has taken an initiative to assist since then. ture. Fortunately, Jessica Lyons artists, musicians, athletes, scientists, and them on their way to success. The flexibil- Also within the last four years, Canton a school that was Senior, Canton High more. How did this impressive change occur ity demonstrated by the school is a good High has made some impressive changes willing to change with us and for us in order in such a seemingly short amount of time? reflection of students’ own perspectives for to the school’s curriculum, including the to get us where we want to go supported us. While we certainly can, and should, their lives after graduation. Senior student introduction of the “Warrior Way” policy, As a grade full of innovative, opened thank the faculty that have supported us Samantha Anderson shared her excitement which prompts students to “be respectful, minds, we recognize the changes made by along the way, this change also had a lot to to go explore the world and tackle college by be responsible, and be role models” through the school with appreciation and gratitude do with Canton High School’s willingness saying, “Canton High School has prepared a system that hopes to acknowledge and as we say goodbye. to adapt and follow through with fulfilling me for what is to come in life, while also recognize positive behaviors regularly As it comes time to graduate, Canton the needs of its students. As a small class of providing me with this community of people among students. There was also the school’s seniors will be looking back on their time roughly 100 students, in a small community, that I’ve formed awesome relationships inclination to allow new student clubs, such spent here in the high school and certainly Canton High School has been able to move with that I can always fall back on. ” as the Social Justice League and the Inter- reflecting on the many wonderful changes all of us along on our journey from children While the school has undergone many national Club. Another new addition is the that have occurred during their time here.