The Orange Board of Education presented four significant facilities issues to the Board of Finance at their January 23rd meeting. Our Facilities Director, Mike Luzzi, led the detailed presentation. The issues we face are: new roofs at both Race Brook School and Peck Place; a new boiler at Turkey Hill School; and a driveway repair, and possible redesign, at Peck Place School. In each case, a failure at the facility could cause the district hardship, and we were asking the BOF for their help in redressing these problems before those potential hardships occur. Click through the slides below to view the full presentation.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Colonial Day at Peck Place
Students in the fifth grade at Peck Place, along with their teachers and many volunteers, had the chance to experience a little bit of Colonial life on January 20th. The teachers planned eight 'stations' for them to visit throughout the day-long event, engaging students in activities which will help bring some aspects of colonial culture to life.
The students made grapevine wreaths decorated with flowers and played a colonial game they had made in which they caught a ball on a string in a cup. They seemed to enjoy finger knitting -- and were actually quite good at it, too. This was a relatively quick method for tying fishing nets. In colonial cooking, they made and had a chance to taste corn bread. They even hand-churned the butter to go on it in heavy crocks, just as Mrs. Ginny Reinhart, from the Orange Historical Society, taught them to do. This station was delicious and a favorite! The children made pomander balls with cloves and oranges and learned punch-tin patterning and stenciling.
The fifth graders and their teachers also had guests at this event, as 26 5th grade students from Hamden, CT, participating in Colonial Day with them. The collaboration is the main focus of a two-year ACES grant, in which Hamden teacher Jeff Bloomfield and our teacher Erica Campbell agree to 20 hours of webchats and two exchange activities between their classes. Hamden visited Peck Place on the 20th for Colonial Day. Mrs. Campbell’s class will go to Hamden in June for their Civil War enactment.
As it is with all of us, the units of study which come alive with hands-on activities, with socializing with our friends, with our opportunity to experiment with new textures, smells, and processes, those units are especially memorable and have lasting impact.
The students made grapevine wreaths decorated with flowers and played a colonial game they had made in which they caught a ball on a string in a cup. They seemed to enjoy finger knitting -- and were actually quite good at it, too. This was a relatively quick method for tying fishing nets. In colonial cooking, they made and had a chance to taste corn bread. They even hand-churned the butter to go on it in heavy crocks, just as Mrs. Ginny Reinhart, from the Orange Historical Society, taught them to do. This station was delicious and a favorite! The children made pomander balls with cloves and oranges and learned punch-tin patterning and stenciling.
The fifth graders and their teachers also had guests at this event, as 26 5th grade students from Hamden, CT, participating in Colonial Day with them. The collaboration is the main focus of a two-year ACES grant, in which Hamden teacher Jeff Bloomfield and our teacher Erica Campbell agree to 20 hours of webchats and two exchange activities between their classes. Hamden visited Peck Place on the 20th for Colonial Day. Mrs. Campbell’s class will go to Hamden in June for their Civil War enactment.
As it is with all of us, the units of study which come alive with hands-on activities, with socializing with our friends, with our opportunity to experiment with new textures, smells, and processes, those units are especially memorable and have lasting impact.
Did you know about the CAT?
Did you know that today's kindergarteners will never take a CMT?
The CMT, or Connecticut Mastery Test, is the standardized test currently taken by all students in Grades 3 - 8 in Reading, Writing, and Math. Students in Grades 5 and 8 also take a Science CMT. The test takes place in March in all our public schools; test results are provided to districts in July and generally made available to the public sometime during the summer. Students are sorted into five bands of achievement: Below Basic, Basic, Proficient, Goal, and Mastery. The results are used to adjust curriculum and instruction.
But, a new test is on the way. It will be a Computer Adaptive Test, or a CAT. It's being developed by a 31 state consortium called the Smarter Balance Assessment Consortium, of which Connecticut is a 'governing' partner.
An 'adaptive test' is not a new concept, as IQ testing which has been around for over a century, uses the same principles. The 'new' part of thsi test will be the computer delivery of the questions and scoring of the answers. The test begins with a 43,000 item bank, and every students will experience a different set of questions. From the first question, the test will branch itself up or down in skill level depending upon whether or not the student gets the right answer. It will continue to branch up or down based on the student's answers. In the end, the test will accurately determine each student's achievement level, but every student will have answered 1/2 of the questions right and 1/2 of the questions wrong.
The CAT will change how students are prepared for testing; but its alignment with the new Common Core State Standards will change our curriculum and instruction models. In addition, we will need to ensure that all students are thoroughly comfortable with computer-based questions. They will need to know, for example, that when a word is underlined, you can click on it to read its definition. They will need to know how to drag and drop and what to do with an item such as the one below, which requires you click on the 'sound' symbol.
The CMT, or Connecticut Mastery Test, is the standardized test currently taken by all students in Grades 3 - 8 in Reading, Writing, and Math. Students in Grades 5 and 8 also take a Science CMT. The test takes place in March in all our public schools; test results are provided to districts in July and generally made available to the public sometime during the summer. Students are sorted into five bands of achievement: Below Basic, Basic, Proficient, Goal, and Mastery. The results are used to adjust curriculum and instruction.
But, a new test is on the way. It will be a Computer Adaptive Test, or a CAT. It's being developed by a 31 state consortium called the Smarter Balance Assessment Consortium, of which Connecticut is a 'governing' partner.
The CAT will change how students are prepared for testing; but its alignment with the new Common Core State Standards will change our curriculum and instruction models. In addition, we will need to ensure that all students are thoroughly comfortable with computer-based questions. They will need to know, for example, that when a word is underlined, you can click on it to read its definition. They will need to know how to drag and drop and what to do with an item such as the one below, which requires you click on the 'sound' symbol.
I had the pleasure of presenting an overview of the SBAC and the new CAT to the Orange Board of Education this past month, so your BOE understands how our current decisions about curriculum and instruction will need to address our students future needs. The CAT will be here by 2015, which is closer than we think! If you would like to view the full presentation, see below.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Questions We Have for Ms. McMullin
My goal was to visit each of the schools and each of the classrooms, greeting the staff members and students, in my first few days in Orange. I believe I have accomplished that, and I had the most wonderful introduction to Orange imaginable as a result. One classroom wrote and sang me a song. In another classroom, the students stood up on cue with signs that spelled out their 'welcome' message. I was invited to make an African necklace in an art class. I accepted the third graders' challenge to write a story over the weekend. Each of the schools made my first visit feel special.
In Ms. Lily Fielding's Grade 3 classroom at Turkey Hill, the students had prepared a set of interview questions that will serve as a perfect means of introducing myself to the community.
Shannon and Shayne asked: What inspired you become a superintendent?
Well, Shannon and Shayne, my love for education began a very long time ago, when I was 6 or 7 and I played school with my sister and a 'classroom' of stuffed animals and dolls. My parents bought us tablets, pencils, paper, rulers, protractors, and I would pretend to be the teacher for hours. All through elementary school and high school I loved reading books, writing math problems on the chalkboard, composing 'themes' on yellow-lined paper -- all things which must seem old-fashioned to you in 2012. Later, as a real language arts teacher with my own classroom, I taught over 1,600 students, corrected at least 20,000 essays, and attended 24 high school graduations. (not counting my own).
All of these experiences inspired me to become a superintendent. I kept following the path in front of me and opening the doors of opportunity as they appeared before me. I have continued to go to school as recently as three years ago, and I have never stopped reading and learning about education. Finally, one day last year, I realized, "I'm ready to be the superintendent! And, I really want to do this!"
Nishaan wanted to know: How will you take care of all 4 schools as superintendent?
This week, Nishann, I came to your school and visited your classroom. I want to continue to do that often in all four schools. Staying in touch with the schools is how I will focus on what you and your teachers need to be successful every day. It's my job to make sure that all of the people in charge -- from the teachers and staff in your schools, to your parents and the members of our community, including, of course, the Board of Education -- always think about one important question: What's best for kids?
Olivia asked: Do you have a family? Do you have a pet?
I do have a family.. and a pet, Olivia. I have two children who are all grown up. My son is 36 and works as a digital photographer and graphic artist in Greenville, SC. My daughter is 34 and she stays at home taking care of my youngest grand-daughter, Ella, who just turned two years old. I also have a 15-year-old grand-daughter, who is a sophomore in high school and plays volleyball for her school. She loves school, especially Spanish and history, and enjoys reading, too. In the middle, I have a 10-year-old grandson, who loves soccer and plays outdoors or indoors all year long. And, he likes X-box!
My pet is a little white dog named Millie. She'll be two in February, and she weighs less than 10 pounds. I'm sharing a picture of her so you can see how cute she is, almost lost in the very tall grass.
Dana asked the question that made my day: How long have you been a superintendent?
Dana, how many days have you been back to school after your holiday break? That's how many days I've been a superintendent. And so far, I've loved every one of them.
To answer Xavier's question, what's my favorite thing about being a superintendent?
So far, meeting and working with people -- kids, teachers, volunteers, parents, community members. At the end of the day, I like to feel like I've made a difference.
Maeve, my first name is Lynn.
Adarsh, my favorite 'animal' is actually a bird -- I especially love hummingbirds, but I can watch all the birds at my bird feeder for a long time without getting bored.
Kelly, my house is beige, with white trim and black shutters. It has a red porch.
Ryan, my favorite hobby is writing. I love writing short stories, and I have even tried to write three different novels, though I don't think they are very good, yet. I need to spend more time on my drafts in the future, but right now I'm happier reading and writing about education.
Max, my car is a Prius and I love it because I get about 50 miles to a gallon of gas.
Payton, you asked how old I was, but added OPTIONAL in all capital letters! -- I'm almost 50 years older than my grandson.
In Ms. Lily Fielding's Grade 3 classroom at Turkey Hill, the students had prepared a set of interview questions that will serve as a perfect means of introducing myself to the community.
Shannon and Shayne asked: What inspired you become a superintendent?
Well, Shannon and Shayne, my love for education began a very long time ago, when I was 6 or 7 and I played school with my sister and a 'classroom' of stuffed animals and dolls. My parents bought us tablets, pencils, paper, rulers, protractors, and I would pretend to be the teacher for hours. All through elementary school and high school I loved reading books, writing math problems on the chalkboard, composing 'themes' on yellow-lined paper -- all things which must seem old-fashioned to you in 2012. Later, as a real language arts teacher with my own classroom, I taught over 1,600 students, corrected at least 20,000 essays, and attended 24 high school graduations. (not counting my own).
All of these experiences inspired me to become a superintendent. I kept following the path in front of me and opening the doors of opportunity as they appeared before me. I have continued to go to school as recently as three years ago, and I have never stopped reading and learning about education. Finally, one day last year, I realized, "I'm ready to be the superintendent! And, I really want to do this!"
Nishaan wanted to know: How will you take care of all 4 schools as superintendent?
This week, Nishann, I came to your school and visited your classroom. I want to continue to do that often in all four schools. Staying in touch with the schools is how I will focus on what you and your teachers need to be successful every day. It's my job to make sure that all of the people in charge -- from the teachers and staff in your schools, to your parents and the members of our community, including, of course, the Board of Education -- always think about one important question: What's best for kids?
Olivia asked: Do you have a family? Do you have a pet?
I do have a family.. and a pet, Olivia. I have two children who are all grown up. My son is 36 and works as a digital photographer and graphic artist in Greenville, SC. My daughter is 34 and she stays at home taking care of my youngest grand-daughter, Ella, who just turned two years old. I also have a 15-year-old grand-daughter, who is a sophomore in high school and plays volleyball for her school. She loves school, especially Spanish and history, and enjoys reading, too. In the middle, I have a 10-year-old grandson, who loves soccer and plays outdoors or indoors all year long. And, he likes X-box!
My pet is a little white dog named Millie. She'll be two in February, and she weighs less than 10 pounds. I'm sharing a picture of her so you can see how cute she is, almost lost in the very tall grass.
Dana asked the question that made my day: How long have you been a superintendent?
Dana, how many days have you been back to school after your holiday break? That's how many days I've been a superintendent. And so far, I've loved every one of them.
To answer Xavier's question, what's my favorite thing about being a superintendent?
So far, meeting and working with people -- kids, teachers, volunteers, parents, community members. At the end of the day, I like to feel like I've made a difference.
Maeve, my first name is Lynn.
Adarsh, my favorite 'animal' is actually a bird -- I especially love hummingbirds, but I can watch all the birds at my bird feeder for a long time without getting bored.
Kelly, my house is beige, with white trim and black shutters. It has a red porch.
Ryan, my favorite hobby is writing. I love writing short stories, and I have even tried to write three different novels, though I don't think they are very good, yet. I need to spend more time on my drafts in the future, but right now I'm happier reading and writing about education.
Max, my car is a Prius and I love it because I get about 50 miles to a gallon of gas.
Payton, you asked how old I was, but added OPTIONAL in all capital letters! -- I'm almost 50 years older than my grandson.
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