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east lyme high school east lyme, ct the vvikingiking ssagaaga september 2, 2008 volume 42 edition 1 Teachers Work, Students Play Students benefi t from upcoming collecting data and putting together accreditation process portfolios, students will be taking it easy— by Ellie Kleinhans from January to December of 2009 students will get half days one Wednesday Every ten years public high schools in every month. “These half days are in place New England go through an accreditation so that Dr. Sullivan and the staff can prepare e.kleinhans/saga process run by the New England Association for the NEASC evaluation,” said Assistant The girls’ volleyball team must of Schools and Colleges, or NEASC. Come Superintendent of Schools Paul Freeman. be in top condition to hold onto their fall of 2010, East Lyme High School will “We need that time to discuss, organize reign in the Eastern Connecticut have its turn again. and analyze,” added Ms. Maddock. “We Conference after losing six seniors, “This is a good process to improve teaching may think that we do a really great job at most of whom were starters. and learning. It helps point out what something, but through discussion we may changes need to be made,” said Principal fi nd out that we aren’t so good at it.” in Action Dr. John Sullivan, who has gone through By the end of the 2009-2010 school the NEASC accreditation process at both year the entire report will be completed and schools where he was principal prior to his sent into NEASC. Once school starts up arrival at ELHS. again in 2010 a NEASC committee, made “This is a massive two to three year self up of teachers and administrators across evaluation that the entire faculty is involved New England, will be visiting for three in,” explained math teacher Eleanor days. During their stay these people will e.kleinhans/saga Maddock who, along with Family and ask teachers, administrators, students and The boys’ soccer team is looking Consumer Science teacher Freda Gianakos, parents about the school, ensuring that the to improve last year’s record. They is a co-chairman of the committee that report is in fact correct. have 12 returning varsity players. oversees and organizes the whole process. “After the visit the committee will make “We must gather hundreds and hundreds a report with suggestions on what needs of samples of student work, our work, work, last time they addressed our small assignments, lesson plans, tests, and so custodial staff and lack of air conditioning. on,” she continued. “But to make this less Then the report will be taken to the Board daunting, we have split up all of the teachers of Education. In the following years we will into eight different teams. Seven of the make those changes and start preparing for teams will be focusing on one of the seven the next [NEASC accreditation process],” standards that NEASC is evaluating us on. said Superintendent of Schools Dr. e.newton/saga The eighth team is to collect percentages Paul Smotas. and write up an overall report.” In addition, the report says if the school The girls’ swim team is looking to To collect data, the teams will use has been reaccredited, or if it is being put repeat their trip to the ECC title. Right surveys. This fall, the committees will on probation. “Schools that are put on before school started, the team trained be posting surveys for students, parents, probation have to address that list and fi x in La Jolla, California for a week. teachers, and the Board of Education to the problems that NEASC has identifi ed,” take anonymously online. “They only said Ms. Maddock. A couple of schools in take 15 minutes. We are really hopeful Connecticut that are currently on probation Good luck to that as many people participate as possible. are Killingly High School and New Britain It is really important that everyone’s voice High School. is heard,” said Ms. Maddock. “I have no doubt that we will be all athletes! So while the teachers are hard at work, reaccredited,” said Dr. Smotas confi dently. Fall Sports Back Summer Movie New Principal on Athletic Director: Meet the Editors the Loose4 From Middle to 5High 66-9-9 Review1100 inside 2 september 2, 2008 opinion of just that, the experience. insincere? How could he get When else are you going to to know us in such little time? be able to see your friends and But a few weeks ago I had the family every single day? When chance to meet Dr. Sullivan else will you go to football and he seems to be a genuine games and cheer on the Vikings man who wants to do his best along with three-quarters of the at getting to know us all. student body? Then comes the personal When else are you going to changes. I’m a senior (now kick back and read a Saga? that’s something strange to ellie kleinhans ellie emily newton The answer is never. say)…yet again changing It is up to us to make the grades and moving on up the The fi rst two days of school changes and to make high Change is inevitable; totem pole. My brother is no are treacherous. school what we want to make and whether or not we want longer home, meaning my For the freshmen, it is it. Looking back on the past it to happen, this is the year mistakes will no longer be home to having butterfl ies and three years, I do not remember that everything will change— overshadowed by his. running around the halls to the times when I stayed home to throughout the nation, in our But then again I won’t have try to fi nd where the heck Mr. fi nish my Chemistry homework, school and in our homes. him lecturing me on what and Kydd’s room is. nor the days that I decided to eat Throughout the nation, what not to do. Although that For the sophomores, they lunch in the commons instead change will come at the end means greater consequences become overconfi dent and of going to a club meeting with of this year’s race for the for my actions, it also means egotistical now knowing that my friends. White House. Either Barack I’ll become more independent they are no longer at the bottom I remember what made high Obama or John McCain will and responsible. There is no of the food chain. school an experience – the pull out successfully and doubt that I’ll miss him, but he For the juniors, the realization sports, the activities, the clubs replace President Bush come being gone will prepare me for of the diffi culty of classes and the people. January 20th. And while many the real world. sinks in. As this year progresses, Americans are counting down Change can create And for the seniors, arguably seniors will fi nd out where until that day, others fear what problems, but most often the most important grade, the they will go to college and may is in store for us if the country is feeling of having the last fi rst realize that they will never see placed in the wrong hands. fear. Fear that Obama day of school brings forth some of their best friends ever On a less dramatic scale, will pull the troops out a smile. again. But we cannot East Lyme High School will too soon. Fear that Dr. High school is an inevitable also be going through a great part of life. It mirrors the dwell on the negatives. deal of change in leadership this Sullivan will instate real world, with the freshmen Transition is a normal year—a new athletic director, a stricter rules. Fear that being “The New Guys” and the part of life and we have new history department head my brother will never seniors being “The Veterans.” to embrace it – every and most importantly a new Oh, and the teachers being the principal. With Mr. Roberts be the same. terrible CEOs that make your single minute. Truth be gone, students and faculty will But we need to try life, well, you know. told time fl ies in high have to get used to turning to to overlook the fear and Since everyone has to go Only 180 days of our new principal, Dr. John to high school, no matter how school. see the bright side of school and that is it. Sullivan. I’m sure many have much they may hate it, it is every situation. If Obama So take each day like it is the been hesitant to accept such important to make the most of wins, he will make history for day before graduation. Then change, but they will get used the experience. Watching The being the fi rst black president. hopefully at graduation you to it. Family Feud one afternoon Dr. Sullivan will bring new will smile and not cry, realizing I myself was hesitant. As a during the summer, a question ideas to ELHS, helping our all of the great things that you senior I immediately thought asked people to rate how fun learning environment expand. have done with your about graduation. Would high school was on a scale of And personally, it wont be too four years at o u r principal’s one to ten. The top two answers hard to fi nd the bright side of ELHS. speech be were ten and nine. The reason my brother leaving, after all that people rated their high the house will be a lot cleaner school experience so high was and the car will be all mine.

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