Connections Holyoke Public Schools A Community Working Together Volume 3, Issue 4 Summer 2005 Change characterizes 2004-2005 school year By September of 2005 Holy- oke will have four K-8 Inside this issue: Dr. Eduardo B. Carballo schools, two middle Superintendent of Schools schools and three K-5 schools. These school New Curriculum Direc- 2 configurations afford We, the citizens, parents, teach- parents and their children tor ers and leaders of the Holyoke the opportunity to community have done much to choose two pathways to improve our schools over the high school. Preventing Summer 3 past three years. The 2004-2005 Learning Loss school year is coming to an end Holyoke, with the assis- and I want to share with you tance of the Parent Advi- some of our accomplishments. sory Council, has jointly School Briefs 4 petitioned a judge to We have successfully completed a Sullivan School’s Giranni Peguero (left) and remove forced busing in total alignment of our curriculum Kelsey Brunell (right) read to Dr. Eduardo the Holyoke Public to ensure that every school is Carballo. Schools. This action teaching to the Massachusetts Education Commis- 5 makes more sense for Standards. Our math curriculum schools who need additional help sioner visits Holyoke our children and families. It has program is excellent and we are before they can become true lead to the re-zoning of our very excited about the recent ninth graders. These transitional schools which allows families to improvements that we have seen academies are very important as Talking Points 4 attend the same schools and si- in our students’ performance. All many students in the Holyoke multaneously save the city thou- of our schools have recognized schools prior to this past year sands of dollars on busing. the need to improve mathematics. were going into the ninth grade Therefore schools have increased Our district’s transient rate is unprepared to deal with the rigor- Sports Corner 8 the amount of minutes every child among the highest in the state of ous curriculum of the high spends developing and improving Massachusetts. In order to fight schools. their mathematical knowledge and this problem we have designed a We began to improve our sum- Spanish Highlights 9-12 ability. To accomplish this, teach- pilot program called the Tran- mer school program three years ers are provided with appropriate siency Opportunity Program ago by implementing a scientifi- and targeted professional devel- (TOP) which the State Depart- cally based high interest curricu- opment, coaching, and expanded ment of Education approved. This lum called Voyager. This program course work in mathematics. program allows students in the has provided high quality instruc- Additionally, we brought into the sixth, seventh and eighth grades, tion for about 1200 students district Measures of Academic who come into the city after during the summer months. We Progress, an assessment piece October 1st, to stabilize in TOP encourage parents to sign their which informs classroom teachers by assessing their academic and children up for our summer about specific skills and standards social service needs and then school so they continue to engage that students still need to master appropriately placing them in a in educational activities during the in math. Assessment information school at the beginning of a new summer months. allows teachers to provide imme- quarter. This allows teachers and diate and appropriate interven- students to continue to stay en- Although we are still under the tions for individual students. gage and maintain the pace neces- watchful eye of the State Depart- Special points of inter- sary to make progress in the ment of Education we continue to We have adopted the Read First classroom with fewer disruptions. improve in our MCAS scores and est: Program Model for early literacy Brown University’s Alliance Cen- we see that our city schools are in three of our schools. This new • Find out how to have fun ter is in the process of evaluating turning around. I want to ex- model, funded by the Department this program for the Department tend my sincere thanks to all our this summer and prevent of Education, has strong assess- of Education, if proven successful, parents, teachers, paraprofession- summer learning loss ment and teacher professional we will continue it with assistance als, counselors, and administra- development at its core. It is a key from our state partner. tors. Everyone has played a role in • Learn how to break the element in improving our school making the Holyoke Public barriers that keep you system and our students’ ability to In continuing to serve our stu- Schools better. Best regards for from being artistic read and write well. dents in need we have developed an enjoyable and safe summer and two Transitional Academies, The three year process of creat- stayed tuned to TV Channel 12 ing four K-8 schools is at its end. which serve students leaving the for important school information. When the school doors open in eighth grades and going into high and updates. Page 2 Connections Mission Statement Edited by The mission of the Laura DuPont Holyoke Public Schools [email protected] is to provide educational Special Thanks to: opportunities for all Elaine Lathrop, Clara Elliott, Luz Aguilar Joe Kingsley, Judy Williams, Dora Lopez students to reach their full potential in a safe, secure, healthy learning Contributing to this issue: environment while valuing diversity and Chris Van Leeuwen Ray Mitchell Marie Silver promoting responsible Sharon Sampson Ellen Stein Ray Mitchell citizenship. Dr. Lora Barrett Pauline Carriere Liz Zielinski Lee McGarrigle Paul Hyry Andrew Baker Josef Cressotti Winnie Moynihan Rachel Jones Susan Carey Meet Kimberly Wells, New Curriculum Director sites her analytical sense and Holyoke School the ability to see the big pic- Committee ture. “I have a passion for what I do and a ‘kids first’ Mayor Michael Sullivan attitude”, says Wells. Michael Moriarty As the new curriculum direc- Mary Signet tor, Ms Wells will focus on moving schools and students Yvonne Garcia forward with education re- Barry Conway form. Mollie Plant Susan Carey noted that com- ing from outside the district William A. Collamore will be an advantage for Kim- Margaret Boulais berly Wells. In her opinion, Ms Wells will be better able Gladys Lebron-Martinez Kimberly Wells (left) transitions into her new position with to focus on the key things Susan Carey, outgoing Curriculum Director. Jonathan Allyn with a fresh set of eyes. She understands the connection As Susan Carey prepares to “Kimberly Wells will be ex- between teacher training and step down as Curriculum cellent in the position. She is student achievement and Director for the Holyoke a people person and a good how both are related to as- Public Schools, she has mixed communicator”, said Ms sessment. feelings about leaving her Carey of her successor. post. Although she is senti- Ms Wells is married and has mental about ending her 35 Kimberly Wells, formerly the three year old twins. Upon year career with the district, Academic Quality Controller her retirement, Ms Carey Susan Carey is optimistic for the Sabis School in plans to spend more time about the person who is tak- Springfield, says she brings with her family. ing her place. passion to her new job. Among her strengths, she Volume 3, Issue 4 Page 3 Families and community play role in preventing The Title 1 Summer summer learning loss Learning At Home By nity. I cannot say enough how College, Holyoke Public Program will assist parents in providing Mayor Michael Sullivan impressed I am every time I Schools, and Wistariahurst visit our schools. I find truly Museum. These programs and materials to keep caring educators throughout others would help students by their children learn- our district. I am inspired catapulting them into the next when I see so many high academic year. Teachers will ing all summer long. school students that have been be suggesting that young stu- The program is of- moved to pursue a teaching dents stay focused and engaged fered in Kindergar- career as they leave for higher in learning during July and Au- ten, First and Sec- education. These young citi- gust by sheer instinct and re- zens have been inspired by solve. Parents, friends and ond grades. The summer days of decom- their teachers who have be- caregivers can make a huge pressing are coming upon us. come their heroes and hero- difference by strongly promot- Those days which are greatly ines through their power of ing more reading and less tele- needed but unfortunately are caring and promoting academ- vision. This is easier said than of less educational value. ics. I am particularly happy to done but getting a child to Summer Maybe everyone’s energy is see such “progress” because read even 15 minutes a day, Learning Loss: sapped from being involved so often I hear from the more less than 2 hours a week, will impressionable middle school produce significant results in Prevention Tips with a season of testing. Stu- for Parents and dents, faculty and staff have left students that they either want the following year on test it all on paper, literally and to play in the NBA or be a scores. I know that for some Students figuratively. There may have crime scene investigator. I students this is not going to In addition to the been a time in the past when hope all of Holyoke recognizes happen even if the mayor learning opportunities students and faculty could use that teachers are much more hopes. Yet if a few students offered in the summer the sultry days of June and July important to the future of our are inspired to hone their skills program, here are a to kick back and relax; we are community than any member during the summer break the few ideas to keep now living in different times.