Principal’s Notes
April 24
This week in leadership we discussed:
As we head into a well deserved break we discussed the many remarkable experiences teachers provide for students at SHS. From the Model UN to the now infamous “Dodgeball” competition teachers provide our students with outstanding learning opportunities. In appreciation for all that they do we have organized the following recognition.
May 4-10 Teacher Appreciation Week:
May 5 – Bagels and Coffee served in the Teachers room
May 7- Cheese, fruit and crackers block 3 served in the Teachers room
May 9- Desserts served in the Teachers room
The month of May is an extremely busy and exciting time at SHS. I have included some of the highlights at SHS for the month in this week’s notes.
May 5-14- A.P. Exams
May 7 – Grades close, May 12- grades are due, May 15 Progress Reports go home
May 8- Pre-prom assembly juniors and seniors block 4
May 10- Junior Prom at SHS
May 12- National Honor Society induction- auditorium
May 14- Science NECAP exams all juniors
May 16, 22, 23- Eighth grade tours
May 21- Class elections.
May 21- 5:00pm Scholarship reception in the café
6:00pm Academic awards in the auditorium.
Exhibition of student work in the Davis 5pm-8pm
Note: Please think about the type of student work you would like to display. This is an outstanding opportunity to demonstrate to the community what our students do at SHS. Your participation is appreciated and important. INDEPENDENT STUDY students are required to have a presentation at the exhibition.
May 22- JROTC banquet
May 23- Half-day for seniors - Senior Prom
May 28-31 Phantom Tollbooth Children’ Play
Please check the link for a complete calendar of events.
http://www.salemschooldistrictnh.com/schools/shs/
Friday, April 25, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Principal’s Notes April 10:
In leadership this past week we discussed the following topics:
Summer Academies: Decisions on summer academies are in process and will soon be made public. We re-examined the direction for the academies resulting in consideration of curriculum enhancement and professional training opportunities. Information about academies will be forth coming from the SAU shortly.
Incident Command: The District leadership will be participating in an emergency management training session on June 24th. This will be an opportunity to familiarize all administrators will the incident command model and to revisit our building emergency plan.
Teacher Contracts: Contracts will be heading our way on Friday, April 11 and are to be returned by Friday, April 25th. We will be hand delivering contracts to you on Friday.
Science NECAP: Science NECAP testing will happen on May 14th. We will be testing during a regular school day and will not have the benefit of a half-day as with the fall testing. This has presented some challenges in terms of the administration of the test and our commitment to remain consistent with our belief about testing in a learning environment with familiar teachers is best. Different than the pilot last year, this years’ test must be administered at the same time for all students. Not wanting to disrupt the entire building and to keep kids in school to test, we have scheduled the NECAP to be administered in the big gym on the 14th of May. Teacher schedules and test administration information will be forth coming.
Staff Meeting: April 17th, is our next scheduled staff meeting and as such we are trying to determine how best to use this time. I realize that it seems like a while since we met as a staff due largely to the required competency work. I also realize that it is important for us to routinely get together for numerous reasons (sometimes just because it’s nice to see everyone). I have asked the directors to review the competency work made by department to gain a sense of progress made and time needed. We will reconvene on Tuesday morning to determine how to utilize our staff meeting time on Thursday.
Interviews: Directors will be developing interview schedules for vacancies. As has been our practice, your participation on interview teams is highly valued. A schedule of positions and dates will be forth coming.
Faculty Play: This years’ play promises to be entertaining. The play is being presented next week on April 16th and 17th and your support of these promising actors would be greatly appreciated!
Below you will find a calendar of the upcoming events here at SHS!
www.salemschooldistrictnh.com/schools/shs/shs_staffcalendar.htm
In leadership this past week we discussed the following topics:
Summer Academies: Decisions on summer academies are in process and will soon be made public. We re-examined the direction for the academies resulting in consideration of curriculum enhancement and professional training opportunities. Information about academies will be forth coming from the SAU shortly.
Incident Command: The District leadership will be participating in an emergency management training session on June 24th. This will be an opportunity to familiarize all administrators will the incident command model and to revisit our building emergency plan.
Teacher Contracts: Contracts will be heading our way on Friday, April 11 and are to be returned by Friday, April 25th. We will be hand delivering contracts to you on Friday.
Science NECAP: Science NECAP testing will happen on May 14th. We will be testing during a regular school day and will not have the benefit of a half-day as with the fall testing. This has presented some challenges in terms of the administration of the test and our commitment to remain consistent with our belief about testing in a learning environment with familiar teachers is best. Different than the pilot last year, this years’ test must be administered at the same time for all students. Not wanting to disrupt the entire building and to keep kids in school to test, we have scheduled the NECAP to be administered in the big gym on the 14th of May. Teacher schedules and test administration information will be forth coming.
Staff Meeting: April 17th, is our next scheduled staff meeting and as such we are trying to determine how best to use this time. I realize that it seems like a while since we met as a staff due largely to the required competency work. I also realize that it is important for us to routinely get together for numerous reasons (sometimes just because it’s nice to see everyone). I have asked the directors to review the competency work made by department to gain a sense of progress made and time needed. We will reconvene on Tuesday morning to determine how to utilize our staff meeting time on Thursday.
Interviews: Directors will be developing interview schedules for vacancies. As has been our practice, your participation on interview teams is highly valued. A schedule of positions and dates will be forth coming.
Faculty Play: This years’ play promises to be entertaining. The play is being presented next week on April 16th and 17th and your support of these promising actors would be greatly appreciated!
Below you will find a calendar of the upcoming events here at SHS!
www.salemschooldistrictnh.com/schools/shs/shs_staffcalendar.htm
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Principal’s Notes April 1:
In leadership this past week we discussed the following topics:
College Ready Standards- This week we read and discussed an article entitled High School Teaching for the Twenty-first Century: Preparing Students for College. According to the article “most students need at least some post-secondary education to earn a decent wage. An estimated 85% of current jobs and almost 90% of the fastest-growing and best paying jobs require some post-secondary education.” The article goes on to report that 80% of high school age students nationally are aware of the need to continue with some level of post-secondary education. However, nationally a mere 34% graduate ready for the post-secondary experience. The article cites as a cause for the low readiness percentage a misalignment with what high schools teach and what colleges expect. It claims that today’s high schools do not focus on “college readiness standards” to guide curriculum and instruction but rather, continue to emphasize lots of content.
It was a relevant and timely topic given our work on course competencies and assessments and our pending response to the NEASC five year report due next year. While the article offers a compelling case for advancing rigor and aligning with college expectations, it did not seem to address other essential components of an effective school, i.e. environment and personalization.
If you would like to read the article, I have attached the link below. It is about 12 pages in length and goes into some detail about college readiness standards.
www.all4ed.org-files-archive-publications-HSTeach21st.pdf
In leadership this past week we discussed the following topics:
College Ready Standards- This week we read and discussed an article entitled High School Teaching for the Twenty-first Century: Preparing Students for College. According to the article “most students need at least some post-secondary education to earn a decent wage. An estimated 85% of current jobs and almost 90% of the fastest-growing and best paying jobs require some post-secondary education.” The article goes on to report that 80% of high school age students nationally are aware of the need to continue with some level of post-secondary education. However, nationally a mere 34% graduate ready for the post-secondary experience. The article cites as a cause for the low readiness percentage a misalignment with what high schools teach and what colleges expect. It claims that today’s high schools do not focus on “college readiness standards” to guide curriculum and instruction but rather, continue to emphasize lots of content.
It was a relevant and timely topic given our work on course competencies and assessments and our pending response to the NEASC five year report due next year. While the article offers a compelling case for advancing rigor and aligning with college expectations, it did not seem to address other essential components of an effective school, i.e. environment and personalization.
If you would like to read the article, I have attached the link below. It is about 12 pages in length and goes into some detail about college readiness standards.
www.all4ed.org-files-archive-publications-HSTeach21st.pdf
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