Annual report 2018–2019 | 1
Acton-Boxborough Regional School District 2018–2019 Annual Report
2 | Acton-Boxborough regional school district
Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee
Diane Baum (Acton)—Vice Chair Michael Bo (Boxborough) Adam Klein (Boxborough)— Vice Chair Ginny Kremer (Acton) Amy Krishnamurthy (Acton) Tessa McKinley (Boxborough)—Chair
Maya Minkin (Acton) Paul Murphy (Acton) John Petersen (Acton) Nora Shine (Boxborough) Angie Tso (Acton)
Contact Us: abrsc@abschools.org
Central Administration
Top row (left to right): Adam Klein, Maya Minkin, John Petersen, Ginny Kremer, Paul Murphy, Angie Tso. Bottom row (left to right): Nora Shine, Amy Krishnamurthy, Michael Bo, Tessa McKinley, Diane Baum.
Peter Light, Superintendent of Schools Marie Altieri, Deputy Superintendent
Dawn Bentley, Assistant Superintendent for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Deborah Bookis, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning
David Verdolino, Director of Finance JD Head, Director of school Operations
Amy Bisiewicz, Director of educational Technology Deborah Dixson, Interim Director of Special Education Erin Bettez, Director of Community Education
To sign up for future electronic newsletters: https://tinyurl.com/ABRSDNews
Website: abschools.org
All photos provided by A-B schools unless otherwise indicated.
On the Cover Kindergarten students at the Blanchard Memorial School with their teacher Kristen Kilcommins joyfully celebrate their accomplishments at their end-of-year “Celebration of Learning.” Don’t worry! The color is safe, non-toxic, and approved for ages 3+.
Wellness Equity Engagement
15 Charter Road Acton, MA 01720 978-264-4700
Design : David Gerratt/NonprofitDesign.com
Annual report 2018–2019 | 3
Acton and Boxborough Residents,
I am pleased to provide you with this annual report of the activities of the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District. As I complete my first year as your Super- intendent of Schools, I look back fondly and with a great sense of pride at the accomplishments of our students, faculty and staff. I hope this annual report provides you with a look at the work of our school district over the last year, as well as a glimpse into the exciting work we have ahead.
• Passage of an FY20 budget that – Increased mental health supports for students – Included elementary school supplies for all students – Established a field trip assistance fund at each school
As we look into the next year, we are excited by the many opportunities ahead including: • An increased focus district-wide on efforts around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in our schools • A partnership with the Anti-Defamation League to bring the A World of Difference Program® to our high school • Enhancements to our Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) programs • Completion of the Schematic Design for the new school building as well as corresponding Special Town Meetings to approve funding for the school building project I hope you find the information in this report helpful to staying apprised of the various happenings in our schools. If you would like to continue to stay abreast of activities across the district, you can sign up for our quarterly newsletter and future annual reports by visiting https://tinyurl.com/ABRSDNews.
Some highlights from the last year included: • Implementation of later school start times for Junior High and High School students as well as a transition to a single tier of elementary bus service • Continued training for educators through the Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity (S.E.E.D.) Program • Development of a 10+ year, $20M capital plan in order to ensure that we have safe, modern facilities for our students, and the development of a Capital Stabilization Fund to ensure future funding of the district’s capital needs
Peter Light Superintendent of Schools July 2019
4 | Acton-Boxborough regional school district
District Finance at a Glance
FY 19 District Revenue
FY 19 District Expenditures
Moderating Budget Impact
4.5% 4.0% 3.5% 3.0% 2.5% 2.0% 1.5% 1.0% 0.5% 0.0%
Assessments
Other
Capital Outlay
Facilities & Maintenance Debt Service Transportation
Use of E&D Reserve
Acton (Assessment)
Regional Aid— Transportation
Personnel
Boxborough Assessment
Special Education
Instruction & Administration Costs
State Aid (Chapter 70)
Employee Benefits
FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 Appropriated Budget Increase from Prior Year
Capital Planning Highlights 2020 Throughout the 2018–19 School Year, ABRSD collaborated with school and town representatives to develop a 12-plus year capital plan that was designed to address the medium-term needs of the district in order to ensure safe and effective learning environments for our students. Financial highlights of the plan include: • $1.25M was allocated toward Capital Improvements in the district’s FY20 Budget. • Both communities voted to support a bond for $7.5M that will allow the district to accelerate needed caital improvements. The bond will be repaid through the district operating budget. • Both communities voted to support the establishment of a Capital Stablization Fund to support the long-term capital needs of the district. The school committee passed a budget amendment in May 2019 to initially fund the Capital Stablization Fund at $1M.
Increasing Commitment to Capital Needs
1,600 1,400 1,200 1,000
800 600 400 200 0
155 170 243
FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21
(Proj.)
Capital Outlay (in $ thousands)
Annual report 2018–2019 | 5
Wellness and Equity
The District continues to partner with Stanford University’s Challenge Success team around three high-leverage areas: • Homework/Workload: In 2018, the District approved a new homework policy that identified developmentally-appropriate amounts of homework per grade, as well as homework-free weekends, holidays, and breaks. • Family engagement: Over the last several years, the District has co-sponsored a variety of family learning events, along with Acton-Boxborough United Way, Acton-Boxborough Special Education Parent Advisory Council, A-B PTSO/PTO/PTF, and Danny’s Place Youth Services. • Schedule: This year marked the first year that we began junior high and high school a half hour later than ever before. Starting in 2019, the high school will implement a new bell schedule that has a rotating schedule with fewer courses meeting per day. In spring 2019, 79% of high school students and 71% of 6th–8th graders report having a trusted adult in school. In 2017, the AB Cares coalition was formed as a community-based collaborative effort that seeks to prevent suicide across the life span and support all who are impacted by suicide. In 2018, ten individuals from various community agencies, including three from ABRSD and two school resource officers, became trainers for QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) and provide training to community members.
In 2018–19, the School Wellness Advisory Committee (SWAC) studied healthy device usage/screentime, and sleep and start time , and presented its findings to the School Committee. Seeking Educational Equity & Diversity (SEED) is peer-led professional learning for staff that focuses on change through individual self-reflection and dialogue to build capacity for more equitable schools. As of June 2019, 36% of certified staff, including administrators and School Committee members, were trained. We continue to ensure that our hiring practices result in increased educator diversity . During the 2018 and 2019 hiring seasons, we have been successful in adding several teachers of color to our schools. Through our FY20 budgeting process, the District earmarked funds for each building to offset the cost of parental contributions such as field trips. Starting in September 2019, the District will also provide school supplies for all elementary students . Through generous donations by a few anonymous members of our community, ABRSD has established a fund to provide resources to assist students who are homeless or disadvantaged living in the district. If you are interested in contributing or finding out more, please contact Dawn Bentley, Assistant Super- intendent for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at dbentley@abschools.org.
6 | Acton-Boxborough regional school district
Staff Update We thank our retiring staff for their many years of dedication to the district: Sandra Baron McT Reading Teacher Noreen Cohen McT 4th Grade Teacher James Colleton Conant Custodian Andrew Crick ABRHS English Teacher Gail Dow Douglas Classroom Assistant Irene Eaton Preschool Special Ed. Assistant Helen Epstein Douglas Special Ed. Teacher Richard Gangne District Bus Driver Sharon Groose District Personnel Manager Myrna Gutfreund Merriam 3rd Grade Teacher Bernice Higdon RJ Grey Special Ed. Assistant Patricia Irwin Conant Cafe Cook Patricia Johnston District Payroll Supervisor Joyce Kelly RJ Grey Math Teacher Robert Laffin RJ Grey Custodian Lead Linda Langdon ABRHS Math Teacher Lynne Laramie District Special Educ. Coord. Linda McMullon Merriam 1st Grade Teacher Nancy Melbourne Gates 5th Grade Teacher Gary O’Clair ABRHS Custodian Thomas Sidley Merriam 6th Grade Teacher Elise Simeone Douglas 3rd Grade Teacher Maureen Smith Blanchard Special Ed. Assistant Linda Subsick Gates Kindergarten Teacher Mary Tsacoyeanes Conant 2nd Grade Teacher Nancy Warner ABRHS Library Assistant Congratulations to our staff who have achieved 20 years of service to the district: Deborah Ahl RJ Grey English Teacher Debra Alesbury ABRHS Early Childhood Teacher
We’re excited to welcome the following educators to the district this fall:
Alison Tippett
McT McT
5th Grade Teacher Special Educator
Deborah Dixson Valery Gransewicz
District District District
Interim Dir. of Spec. Ed. IEP Team Chairperson IEP Team Chairperson Elem. STEM Coach Elem. STEM Coach 1st Grade Teacher 6th Grade Teacher Kindergarten Teacher
Julie Zide
Amanda Bock
Merriam Merriam Merriam Merriam Merriam RJ Grey RJ Grey RJ Grey RJ Grey RJ Grey RJ Grey RJ Grey RJ Grey RJ Grey ABRHS ABRHS ABRHS ABRHS
Library Media Specialist 3rd/4th Grade Teacher 3rd/4th Grade Teacher
Renee Limauro
Kristie Guevremont
Elizabeth Butler-Everitt District
Lauren Shron Amy Smider
Courtney Philbin
District
Speech Language 5th Grade Teacher Special Educator
Regina Fitek
Blanchard Blanchard
Alexa Snay
W. Scott Macomber
Jennifer Baldassarie
Meghan Ashley Emily Donahue
Conant Conant Conant Douglas Douglas
Amy Bell
Psychologist
2nd Grade Teacher 3rd Grade Teacher Special Educator Special Educator 1st Grade Teacher
Carrie Brown Kristen Dye Jessica Eagle Monica Jagoda Meghan Maloney
Special Educator Instrumental Music School Counselor Physical Education Special Educator
Katelyn Norsworthy Bailey Ditcham Janice Martineau Kathryn Cushing Ranjini Reddy
Gates Gates Gates Gates
English Language Teacher
Emily Roberts
Math Teacher
Niladri Sinha Vida Ziaugra
4th Grade Teacher
Kristin Wachtelhausen
Social Studies Teacher English Teacher English Teacher Math/Java Teacher English Teacher
Speech Language Path.
Mee Byun
Jacqueline Armata
McT McT McT McT
5th Grade Teacher
Michael Creedon Marie Shkolnik Zachary Ziemba
Tara Carnright
Psychologist
Amanda Montero
Reading Specialist
Laura Taylor
Library Media Specialist
Our new educators take a yellow school bus tour of Acton and Boxborough as part of the new teacher orientation program each August.
Elizabeth Broadwater
RJ Grey ABRHS ABRHS
Science Teacher History Teacher History Teacher
Abigail Buffum
Maura Champigny
Susan DiTavi
Admin. Bldg. Certified O.T. Asst.
Gail Dow
Douglas
Classroom Assistant Program Administrator
Richard Dushanek
Comm. Ed.
Amy French
ABRHS
Cafe Manager
Elizabeth Foster
McT
Nurse
Marc Lewis
RJ Grey Merriam Merriam Douglas
Social Studies Teacher Special Education Asst. Special Education Asst.
Cynthia Mitton Marie Nitzke Deborah Pelley Linda Schymik Lisa Strobel Linda Subsick
2nd Grade Teacher
McT
Special Education Asst.
Operations
Crossing Guard
Gates Gates
Kindergarten Teacher
Kim Ward
Music Teacher
Annual report 2018–2019 | 7
This year, RJ Grey Junior High School inaugurated a new rotation of electives, offering students a choice of 12 different electives for their “Grey block” schedule. We also began our transition to having 1:1 Chromebooks by the fall of 2019. Our focus on the district goals of wellness, equity and engagement included classroom discussions about racism, discrimination and substance use and abuse. Speakers addressed our students on issues such as the Holocaust and anti-semitism, Islam, and the difficult topic of suicide awareness and prevention. Professional learning for staff focused on teaching with a growth mindset. Some of the highlights and achievements of the year included: • This year’s annual Junior High school musical , Annie , included over 75 students on the cast and crew. • 8th grade student Daniel Mai was named the 2019 Raytheon National MathCounts Champion in May. • Students in our STEP program participated in the MetroWest Unified Games on May 3 at Bowditch Field in Framingham. Hundreds of participants arrived at the field, representing schools from all over the MetroWest area of Massachusetts. • 8th grade students Biz Brooks and Marion Stuntz served as our Ambassadors for the statewide Project 351 service program . • Students in our English Language Education program went to the State House where they saw an informal voting session on the floor of the House of Representatives. • Three RJ Grey students were part of the team that won this year’s Hurvitz Cup Chess Championship . Congratulations to Raaga Pulva, Prachi Dayal, and Curtis Ying. • This past winter 12 members of our of our RJ Grey Cooking Club hosted an Italian Family Dinner event for friends and family in the RJ Grey cafeteria. The club and its members were profiled in a nice story written by the Acton Beacon . • Student community service activities ranged from Acton Pantry food drives and the Cradles to Crayons program to increasing recycling and composting practices.
Andrew Shen Principal Allison Warren Assistant Principal James Marcotte Assistant Principal David Lawrence Assistant Principal
At RJ Grey Junior High School, our vision is to create a community of thinkers, learners, and responsible citizens.
8 | Acton-Boxborough regional school district
In addition to the strong academic programs and many extracurricular opportunities at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School, much of this year’s work focused on student wellness, equity and diversity. Staff examined student workloads and assessment and many of the student advisory topics revolved around wellness strategies and resiliency. A new bell schedule will begin next year, supporting the goal of student wellness. New programs were initiated to increase equity, diversity and inclusion, including a partnership with the ADL World of Difference Program that trains students to lead group discussions on identity-based bias, staff professional training using the Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity (SEED) program, and bringing in Holocaust survivor Rena Finder to speak to students and community members. A few of the year’s achievements and highlights included: • World Language Week offered students and others a variety of opportunities to celebrate different cultures and languages. • The “Artification” of A-B , an effort led by the Fine Arts Department, displayed our artists’ talents in common areas throughout the high school. • In need of a kidney , a young teacher’s best match turned out to be another A-B teacher. The surgeries took place in October and both are doing fine! • The Academic Decathlon team won their 19th consecutive state championship and represented Massachusetts at the national competition in Bloomfield, MN. • The Speech & Debate group garnered individual and group awards and sent 15 students to the Catholic Forensic League’s Grand National Champion- ships in Milwaukee, WI in May. Three seniors received the National Speech & Debate Association’s Academic All American Award for their competition and service in Speech and Debate events. • The A-B Science Team again won the Massachusetts Science Olympiad and participated in the national competition in Ithaca, NY. • The Quiz Bowl Team placed second in the WGBH High School Quiz Show. • New student groups this year included HOSA—Future Health Professionals, whose members have already earned awards at the state level—as well as groups to support interests from gardening to cooking to fashion to podcasting.
Larry Dorey Principal Beth Baker Associate Principal Maurin O’Grady Associate Principal Michael Csorba Dean Fred Hohn Dean
Annual report 2018–2019 | 9
• Under the direction of the new dis- trict Performing Arts Department Chairperson, George Arsenault , the band, chorus, and orchestra at ABRHS performed dozens of live performances in and around our community. The chorus performed in Austin, TX. The band performed at parades, civic events, and as special guests of the MIT wind ensemble in Cambridge. The jazz band performed as the opening act at the Middlesex County Jazz Festival in Concord, and the orchestra program continued to grow in number and strength. • Proscenium Circus put on its usual impressive array of theatrical perfor- mances this year: The Hunchback of Notre Dame , The Book of Everything (took first place in the Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild one-act festival), Rosie the Riveter (best show at the Massachusetts Thespian competition), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream . • At the 19th annual Community Service Awards Night in January, 760 students were recognized for completing 25 or more hours of vol- unteering—over 76,000 hours in all. • In May, a record 144 seniors spent three weeks at internships as part of their Senior Seminar. Many of these students will continue at their sites in summer jobs or internships.
• The Rotary Club-sponsored inter- active Reality Fair introduced the whole sophomore class to some basics of income and expenses they will face as they approach adulthood. • The PACE Special Education Program ran a weekly coffee shop for faculty in which students gained hands-on experience in food service, money-handling and customer relations. • The high school’s DAR Citizenship Award winner this year went on to win the Massachusetts DAR Citizenship Scholarship. The same student also placed as writer of one of the ten best high school essays in the Gilder Lehrman Civil War Essay Contest. • Two students from the Science Team were named to the list of top 300 young scientists in the 78th Regeneron Science Talent Search. • At the Massachusetts Science and Engineering Fair in May, two A-B students placed first and second. • Over 800 student-athletes par- ticipated this year on 59 teams in 31 sports. Nine teams won league championships, with several teams and individuals advancing to state and national championships. • The girls tennis team won the state championship.
10 | Acton-Boxborough regional school district
ActoN-Boxborough SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECT For the C.T. Douglas, Paul P. Gates and the C. Huebner Early Childhood Program
A School Building Committee was established in June 2017 to continue the process of planning for a new twin elementary school, in partnership with the Massachusetts School Building Authority, to replace some of our aging buildings. At Special Town Meetings on December 4, 2017, residents of both Acton and Boxborough voted to approve funding for a feasibility study and preliminary design for this project. Through the feasibility study, which included significant community input, the School Building Committee opted to build a “twin school,” similar to the Parker-Damon Building, that would house the Douglas and Gates Elementary Schools, as well as the Carol Huebner Early Childhood Program. Acton-Boxborough’s financial partner is the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), and the District is following MSBA’s precise process in order to reduce tax- payer impact and take advantage of state funding. Pending a successful submission, on October 30, the MSBA will vote to approve the total project budget and their maximum share for reimbursement. As dictated by the state’s process, Acton-Boxborough’s reimbursement from the MSBA cannot be increased and the total cost of the project cannot exceed the total overall budget without local approval. The total project budget contains several contingencies to mitigate various risks as the project moves forward. The project will also use the Construction Manager at Risk delivery method which will further reduce Acton-Boxborough’s overall risk.
More information is available on our website at https://www.abschools.org/district/ superintendent_s_office/school_capital_space_planning.
Annual report 2018–2019 | 11
A Net Zero Building The district is pursuing a sustainability goal of “Triple Net Zero” meaning that the building will strive to meet the highest sustainability targets for energy, water and waste. The building committee is reviewing the design features of the school in this regard to make sure that they are not only environmentally sustainable, but fiscally responsible. Project Costs High-level estimated project costs are projected to be between $120M–$130M with an MSBA reimbursement rate between 35%–45% of the total project costs. Thus, the estimated Acton share of the costs will be between $60M–$68M, and the estimated Boxborough share of the costs will be between $10M–$12M. The estimated tax impact for the average single family home in Acton is between $650–$850 and in Boxborough is between $450–$600. MSBA reimbursement 35%-45%: $40M–$60M. We are currently working with our cost estimators on a revised cost estimate based on our most recent plans and anticipate that cost estimates will become more refined in early fall 2019. Please check back for more information and updates.
Path to Net Zero Energy
BASELINE BUILDING Typical school energy usage in MA
REDUCED LOADS • LED Lighting • Smart Outlets • Occupancy sensors
OCCUPANT ENGAGEMENT • Sub-metering and friendly competition • Wider set points • Shared equipment
Energy Use Intensity kBtu/sf/yr 58 48 42 32 28 Goal
ON- SITE PVs
ENVELOPE • Limited amount of glass • High insulation levels • High performance windows • Envelope commissioning
HVAC • Ground source heat pump • De-couple ventilation from conditioning • Energy recovery • Performance monitoring
Upcoming Dates MSBA Project Scope and Budget Approval Meeting Special Town Meetings (Acton & Boxborough)
• Airtight building • Exterior shading
October 30, 2019 December 10, 2019
Anticipated construction start date
May 2020
Anticipated new building completion date
August 2022
All images provided on this spread courtesy of Arrowstreet Architects.
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@_ABSBP
@abschoolbuildingproject
Acton-Boxborough School Building Project
12 | Acton-Boxborough regional school district
The families, staff, and students at Blanchard Memorial School feel our STARR values help to create a nurturing, inclusive environment in which everyone feels welcome. We reinforce these values through our school events, monthly community meetings, and cross-grade buddy partnerships. They are also reflected in our school wide and classroom expectations for behavior. Some of the highlights from the year at Blanchard have been: • Learning experiences rooted in real-world contexts emphasized academic discourse and allowed students to take an active role in leading their own learning. • Literacy week events and activities included a hygge (coziness) day and class book-themed door decorating. • Building-based professional learning focused on social emotional learning, equity, literacy instruction, math instruction, academic discourse, and technology integration. • Two school-wide outdoor days , one outdoor professional learning day, and increased use of campus learning spaces helped staff build their knowledge about outdoor teaching. • Families participated in a book group focused on race, culture, and equity. • Blanchard’s Grade 5 Destination Imagination Team won the State Championships and 3rd place at Globals in Kansas City, MO. • The Blanchard Band won its 13th MICCA Gold Medal in a row. • Over 70 children participated in a before-school running club . • Seven students placed in the Mathematical Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools.
Dana Labb Principal
Blanchard’s STARR values • Support • Teamwork • Attitude • Responsibility • Respect
Leigh Whiting-Jones Assistant Principal
Annual report 2018–2019 | 13
The Conant School learning community values effort and respect, creating an environment where students are able to learn from mistakes and move on with a deep understanding of our rich curriculum and the ability to persevere. As a staff, we worked together to plan monthly activities around the themes of growth mindset and resilience. Students are becoming more focused on their learning journey than the end products they create. Our students and staff continue to shine. Highlights of the year included: • Students and staff worked to give back to the community through service learning activities like supporting the Acton Food Pantry, Toys for Tots and sending Valentines to Senior Citizens. • Our Conant Green Team led the way with presentations at All School Meetings to educate everyone about conserving energy, recycling and supporting the environment. • Special visitors like author Nora Dooley and the Tanglewood Marionettes came in to enrich our students’ experiences here at school. • Our Student Council worked hard to bring an exciting All School Meeting to us all every month showcasing a different grade each time and mixing in solo performances with informative videos and messages. • The Conant PTO continues to support our community and student learning by offering activities and bringing in enrichment programs . They sponsored many events like our Movie Nights, Breakfast with Families, The Ice Cream Social, and our new Conant Celebrates evening. Conant believes • each person should feel valued and respected as an individual in order for learning, teaching, and risk-taking to take place. • because every individual is part of a community, each person should take responsibility for himself/herself and the group in order to contribute to its success. • lifelong learning is essential. A stimulating and nurturing environment should be provided so that students experience success and feel the challenges and joy associated with learning.
Damian Sugrue Principal Abigail Dressler Assistant Principal
14 | Acton-Boxborough regional school district
The Douglas School is a project based school organized around two fundamental principles: • Studying real-world problems that require the flexible application of knowledge and skills • Identifying and developing kids’ passions, academic abilities, growth mindset and creativity Douglas students learn to ask big questions, collaborate and create, and work to change the world. Douglas teachers seek out student passions in order to design rich learning experiences, combining structure and discovery. Student learning is in service to solving complex problems and sharing solutions with a global audience. This year Douglas students produced two very exciting exhibitions of learning. In addition we celebrated our diverse population with a festival of cultures featuring booths from many different countries, food, music and dancing. Some examples of the exhibitions and other interactive community events at Douglas this year include: • First graders displayed the Emotions of Music, Colors, and Shapes. • Second graders asked “What did Children Do For Fun in 1919?” • Third graders demonstrated Perseverance Through Self-Talk. • Fourth graders learned about Community, and showed how to “Leave Your Neighborhood School a Little Better Than You Found It.” • Fifth graders shared their answers to the questions: “Why do People Go West?” and “What is The Power of Food?” • Sixth graders performed several plays including Aladdin, Aesop’s Fables, Peter Pan, A Year with Frog and Toad.
Chris Whitbeck Principal Jenna Larrenaga Assistant Principal
Douglas School believes every student should • experience joy and wonder. • have the opportunity to be brave. • feel valued. • be proud of the work they do.
Annual report 2018–2019 | 15
This year the Gates School celebrated its 50th anniversary!
• At the annual Celebrate the Arts Night there were over 2,000 pieces of student artwork on display and a performance of the Gates School chorus. • Kindergarten students performed Stone Soup at the Kindergarten Medieval Feast , which also included performances from the High School Madrigal Singers. • Storyteller Valerie Tutson shared tales from African traditions with students in grades K–2. • Students in grades 3–6 had the special oppor- tunity to meet civil rights icon Ruby Bridges . • Students in grades 4–6 performed in the annual Gates Talent Show . • Two students were selected to participate in the All-State Treble Chorus . • The Student Council sponsored a variety of community service projects this year, collecting donations in support of the Household Goods Recycling Ministry, the Acton Food Pantry,
We are a community of learners that value high expectations for all, respect individual differ- ences, and celebrate the diversity of our school population. At the Gates School we believe that it is important to grow a caring community through civility, respect and kindness. We gather together at monthly All School Meetings, sharing songs, performances, stories and plays. We also take pride in giving back to the larger community through our Student Council sponsored community service projects. Highlights of the year included: • For our 50th Anniversary, every class placed special items into the Gates 50th time capsule , which will be opened in 2068! • The Gates Green Team won a National Award from the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project for their Gates School composting initiative. • Visiting author Andrea Davis Pinkney spoke with students in all grades about writing, illustration, research, family, and storytelling.
and the Sterling Animal Shelter, as well as books for the Acton Memorial Library used book sale.
Lynne Newman Principal Priscilla Kotyk Assistant Principal
Gates Core Values • Generosity • Acceptance • Trust & Respect
• Enthusiasm • Scholarship
16 | Acton-Boxborough regional school district
Everyone at McCarthy-Towne is considered both a student and a teacher. Integrated curricula and thematic approaches stress cooperation, active parti- cipation, and experimentation. Asking questions is considered as important as giving answers; teachers and students value the process of learning. Children are given the responsibility for learning independently, solving problems and making decisions. They are encouraged to take risks and are acknowledged for their unique talents, skills and ideas. Students’ individual needs, personal strengths and learning styles are always supported. Maintaining a learning community which is mindful of the needs of families, students, and staff requires the participation of all; teachers and families are expected to be part of the decision-making process for running the school and exploring new possibilities. Here are some highlights of our past year: • Fifth grade went to Merrowvista for a three-day, two-night adventure in teamwork, leadership, and risk-taking. • Almost three hundred of our family members attended an experiential Family Forum Evening where they participated in the inner workings of the Workshop model in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics, Art Integration, and the application of the philosophy and working structure of the Responsive Classroom. • The second grade team worked with state naturalists to raise an endangered species of turtles in the classroom with the intent of releasing them into the wild in the spring. The kids had the opportunity to observe the growing process of the turtles before the release. • The entire school community comes together at monthly Community Assemblies to share achievements and learning, and to join in song together.
David Krane Principal Matt McDowell Assistant Principal
McCarthy-Towne Core Values • Risk taking • Collaboration • Persistence • Flexibility • Trust
Annual report 2018–2019 | 17
At Merriam School, experiential, hands-on project-based learning provides opportunities for students to develop skills, self-confidence, a sense of responsibility, and enthusiasm for learning. Math, science, language arts, social studies and the arts are integrated into interesting, challenging projects. Merriam emphasizes community building, supported by activities like our weekly All School Meetings as well as special activities with our multi-age “family groups” like Community Day, Theme Day and Field Day. Students stay with the same family groups throughout their time at Merriam, gradually assuming leadership roles as they progress through the grades. Highlights of the year included: • This was Merriam School’s first year with new principal, Juliana Schneider . • Our theme for the year was water , which was incorporated into projects and activities, including a “Family Theme Night” in February where families explored water through engineering, poetry, painting, math games and storytelling. • Second graders completed projects about islands. • Fifth and sixth graders worked on a Green City Design project. • We added a new technology lab/maker space to support our student learning. • Professional Learning emphasized four social competencies : social self-awareness, perspective taking, self-regulation and social-emotional understanding. • At a parent workshop, parents learned about the social competencies and how they apply to the home setting, allowing families to bridge the language and approach between home and school.
Juliana Schneider Principal Bryant Amitrano Assistant Principal
Merriam Core Values • Risk taking • Persistence in One’s Own Learning • Respect
18 | Acton-Boxborough regional school district
Carol Huebner Early Childhood Program
The Carol Huebner Early Childhood Program (CHECP) provides an integrated learning environment for preschool-aged children. Students with identified special education needs and those who are developing typically learn and play together. One hundred eleven students were enrolled in the program and 19 additional preschoolers were supported with drive-in services that included speech-language therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy. CHECP staff work in collaboration with parents and area preschool/ daycare teachers and directors to provide evaluations, observations, screenings, consultation, visitations and support to students in the community. Some of the highlights of the year have been: • Little Free Libraries were established this year at both of the CHECP sites, with the goal of building community, sparking creativity, and inspiring the love of literacy through increased access to high-quality, developmentally-appropriate books. • CHECP continued a collaboration with Dr. Joan Kelley , Educational Researcher and Developer of the Parent Uptake Project (PUP), to support our students’ early literacy skills. We invited all families to participate in the PUP program, which provides families with age-appropriate ideas to help their child’s early literacy skills and social emotional learning skills. • CHECP celebrated its diversity by inviting parents to come into the classroom to read a story or share a hobby or family tradition. Some classes also scheduled family potlucks to build community and share a wide variety of favorite meals/foods.
The philosophy of the Carol Huebner Early Childhood Program is that • All children can be successful. • All children can learn and develop. • All children learn and develop at their own pace given their unique learning styles. • All children learn through active exploration of their environments. • All children learn through inter- action with peers and adults. • All children need a nurturing, predictable environment in which to grow and learn. • Play is the foundation of a child’s learning and development. • All children learn best in an “inclusive,” child-centered, develop- mentally appropriate environment. • The role of adults is to support and facilitate each child’s learning.
Joseph Gibowicz Coordinator, Carol Huebner Early Childhood Program
Dawn Bentley Assistant Superintendent for diversity, equity, and inclusion
Annual report 2018–2019 | 19
PTO Highlights The efforts of our Parent-Teacher Organizations play a crucial role in supporting expanded educational opportunities for our students. We would like to thank our volunteers for their hard work. Some of the selected results of these efforts include:
Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee
Two new members joined the School Committee this year.
ABRHS/RJ Grey PTSO • Funded extended hours at the high school library • Special project grants supported – At RJ Grey: a new student lounge – At ABRHS: Student Leadership work- shops, Window Seat Art and Literacy magazine, World Language week • Hosted guest speakers, forums, dances for 6th, 7th and 8th graders • Sponsored the INTERFACE Mental Health & Wellness Referral Service at both schools • Provided student directories at both schools • Provided senior scholarships Blanchard PTF • Sponsored Drums Alive aerobic drumming classes • Co-sponsored, with the Gates PTO, speaker Ruby Bridges to share her experience as the first African-American student to integrate an elementary school in the South • Organized the Fall Festival back to school event and the Spring Field Day with enter- tainer Rob Surette and his Amazing Hero Art Conant PTO • Held the annual Conant Artisan & Crafts Fair, with over 100 vendors • Hosted the traditional Festival of Cultures • Partnered with the Silver Unicorn bookstore for both the school-wide book fair and Book Night Douglas PTO • Sponsored the Boosterthon Fun Run • Hosted the Festival of Cultures • Held the 20th Spring Social and Auction for parents and guardians at the Thoreau Club
Gates PTO • Held the Back-to-School Fun Run
• Sponsored events including a Culture Showcase, a visit from Civil Rights icon Ruby Bridges (with the Blanchard PTF), and African story teller Valarie Tutson • Hosted a performance by a capella group Ball in the House McCarthy-Towne PTSO • Participated in a Parents’ Forum to let families experience the Art Integration program firsthand • Held the annual Spring Auction • Hosted the annual book fair (with the Silver Unicorn bookstore) and Family Field Day in June Merriam PTO • Hosted community events including summer playdates for incoming kindergartners, a welcome back picnic for the entire commu- nity, and a staff versus parents basketball game in December • Sponsored events throughout the year including the Fall Fair, a Fun Run/Walk, and three themed community days for all students (this year’s theme was water) • Held the annual camp fair and camp fair auction Carol Huebner Preschool PTO • Sponsored in-school events including: – Michelle’s Menagerie Bird Show – Terry the Inventor’s interactive show
John Petersen, PhD , and his wife, Cheryl, have lived in Acton for more than 30 years. Erika AB ’15 and Jack AB ‘18, their children, have lived in Acton their whole lives and were educated in the Acton-Boxborough schools. John is a chemist by training and has worked in leadership roles spanning pharmaceutical research and operations. John majored in chemistry as an undergraduate at MIT and earned his PhD in chemistry from the University of California Berkeley. John served as a volunteer and co-chair for A-B Parent Involvement Project (ABPIP) STEM, an organization encouraging com- munity involvement in STEM Education K-12. John continues to serve as part of the adult committee for Acton Scout Troops 12 and 32. John previously served on the A-B School Committee (2009–2012) prior to full (K-6) regionalization of ABRSD. During this service, he was the SC representative to the health insurance trust. John believes that school committee policies should recognize the differences between students and the diversity of their families. SC policies should provide teachers and administrators with the flexibility to create unique educa - tional experiences responsive to individual student needs.
Nora Shine, PhD , and her family recently moved to Boxborough, and she has found that this community shares many of her personal values, including love of learning, connection to nature, and building community. Nora is a parent of two children at Blanchard Elementary, and is a licensed psychologist working with children and teens. While earning an MSEd from UPenn, a PhD from Boston College, and completing doctoral clinical training through Harvard Medical School, she became skilled in both producing and consuming research in the fields of education and the social sciences. Nora hopes to bring her knowledge and experience to bear as she joins this leader- ship team and begins working together with the members of the Acton-Boxborough community toward the goals of academic achievement, equity, and healthy success for all of our students.
Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
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Acton-Boxborough Regional School District 2018–2019 Annual Report
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