East Windsor High School
October 2006 Newsletter
“A School Focused On Success”
76 South Main Street East Windsor, CT 06088
Telephone: 623-3361
www.eastwindsorschools.org
Principal: Mr. David L. Chambers - Assistant Principal: Mrs. Kathleen P. Barmak
What Does It Mean To Be A Bus Driver?
High school student provides thanks!
East Windsor High School student, Margarita Pantoja, will provide thanks to
the bus drivers who get students to and from school every day. Margarita Pantoja,
a senior student at East Windsor High School, is worthy of being mentioned for
her compassion for a profession that receives little thanks. Actually, if you
ask people, they might tell you that driving a school bus is a thankless job.
This not the case for one EWHS student, who has PRIDE in her education and school,
and in fact, wanted to do something about it.
Margarita took the initiative to organize a Bus Driver Appreciation Breakfast
for the bus drivers of East Windsor Public Schools. The breakfast was held on
September 14th, 2006 at 9:30 am. Margarita, who will be the first in her immediate
family to attend college, will be pursuing a career in Criminal Justice at one
of several universities. Her choice of universities include American University,
University of Connecticut, or the University of Hartford. For Margarita, bus
drivers have the most important job in education, to ensure that students make
it to and from school each and every day.
Hear – ye, Hear – ye…
School – Student – Parent Partnership Wanted!
The new principal of East Windsor High School, David L. Chambers, is currently
seeking parent members of the school community to come and enter into a partnership
that will focus on customer service. In an old format called “LET’S TALK”, the
principal would like to invite parents and community members to come together
informally and talk about the issues that are important to you. “LET’S TALK”
will be held at the high school in the café with light refreshments.
Those who attend are not obligated to bring a community snack, however, based
on the principal’s appetite you may want to surprise him. You should look forward
to taking PRIDE in our school. The first meeting date for “LET’S TALK” will
be September 28, 2006 at 5:30, prior to open house.
P.R.I.D.E
Perseverance
Respect
Initiate
Determination
Enthusiasm
Breaking News that has been around for quite some time!
The faculty of East Windsor High School gets their hands on PLC’s, a district
initiative to move student achievement toward scores higher than just “C’s”.
Teaching as the “Lone Ranger” no longer works in today’s world of education.
The African proverb: “It takes a village to raise a child” speaks volumes to
the meaning and emphasis that needs to be placed on how to educate our children.
In this framework, East Windsor Public Schools plan to increase students’ performances
on standardized measures such as the CMT and the CAPT. Establishing Professional
Learning Communities at the high school level fits very well with the practical
benefits of this proverb’s assertions.
Professional Learning Communities, a district professional development model,
is a curriculum- based, team approach to improve student learning. These teams
of teachers from the same school, discipline and/or department collaborate to
provide specific and immediate feedback for teachers as well as for students.
The feedback provided between and among teachers will be used to track the on-going
progress of students.
The district’s initiative to assess the effectiveness of teaching and learning
developed as a result of poor academic progress indicated by low CMT and CAPT
scores in East Windsor schools. In an effort to address performance issues,
East Windsor Public Schools began the process of establishing PLC’s during the
2005 – 2006 school year. Currently, this school year, efforts to “un-wrap” the
State Standards will more clearly identify the skills and concepts that students
are expected to know and be able to do.
The district’s next steps entailed contacting Larry Ainsworth, an expert in
the area of professional development centered on standards. Larry Ainsworth
is the Executive Director of Professional Development at the Center for Performance
Assessment in Englewood, Colorado. He travels widely throughout the United States
to assist school systems in implementing best practices related to standards,
assessment, and accountability across all grades and content areas. He is the
author and co-author of five published books: "Unwrapping” the Standards,
Power Standards, Common Formative Assessments, Student Generated Rubrics, and
Five Easy Steps to a Balanced Math Program. Larry's primary motivation is to
assist educators and leaders in helping all students succeed by "taking
the mystery" out of the instruction, learning, and assessment process.
Research indicates that teachers need time to implement new strategies to improve
teaching and learning. Teachers with less than three years of experience are
less likely to collaborate with other staff as opposed to more experienced teachers.
Therefore, the need to foster collaboration should become a priority for school
leaders. According to (Katzenmeyer & Moller, 1966, p.67) “Research and development
time is necessary if teachers are to be effective…Legitimate teacher work time
is not limited to students contact time.”
News from the Math Department
We welcome Stephen LeMay, our new math tutor, to East Windsor High School. He graduated from Central Connecticut State University in May, with a degree in Mathematics. He also is a graduate of Enfield High School.
Mr. Lemay will be working with any student who needs extra help in mathematics. This is his first full-time assignment, and he is very excited to be with us. The first week of school he introduced himself to all math students in each class, and offered his assistance with any problems. Students will be scheduled to work with him one-on-one or within small groups. He will also be available to any student who needs immediate help during a study hall.
Mr. Lemay’s other interests, (aside from the most important interest of mathematics), include soccer, chess, and reading.
Senior Class News
Welcome back, Seniors! The Class of 2007 has a busy and exciting year ahead. The Senior Executive Board has determined that class dues for seniors will be $125 for the year. Seniors can defray the cost of dues by fully participating in the Senior Magazine Drive which began on September 7 and ends on September 28. What seniors sell is directly credited towards dues.
The scale for the drive is as follows:
$ sales dues
0 - 19 $125
20 - 39 $117
40 - 59 $109
60 - 79 $101
80 - 99 $93
100 - 119 $85
120 - 139 $77
140 - 159 $69
160 - 179 $61
180 - 199 $53
200 - 219 $45
220 - 230 $37
240 - 259 $29
260 - 270 $21
280 - 299 $13
300 - 319 $5
320 + ---
Dues must be paid in order to participate in senior activities, including the
Senior Outing at High Meadow on May 30, 2007, and the Senior Banquet on Friday,
June 1, 2007.
Please submit Class Motto nominations, Class Poll, and Senior Superlatives as quickly as possible to Mrs. Chasse or Ms. Archer, class advisors.
One more reminder: If you or family members have attended or participated in any school function during the past three years and you have snapped pictures of yourself and classmates at the function, Class Historian Alicia Demers would love to borrow them in order to help compile an outstanding yearbook.
Best wishes to Seniors for the 2006-2007 academic year!
Student Council
By Michelle Vining - Recording Secretary
The East Windsor High School Student Council officers for the 2006-2007 school year are:
President - Stephanie Marek
Vice President - Erica Lachat
Recording Secretary - Michelle Vining
Corresponding Secretary - Shanice Willingham
Treasurer - Amy Destro
Historian - Alicia Demers
Board of Education Reps. - Danielle Bromely, Emily Guerrette, Emily Humphries, Nicole Kalmanidis, Karissa Parker, Shannon Shouldice, Kristen Waltiere.
Student Council is a vital part of our school and community. Committees are being formed to carry out the many activities for the year.
These committees include community service such as the Food Drive for East Windsor families in need, the Salvation Army Kettle Drive, the Heifer International Livestock Project, Dress Code committee and the Welcoming Committee for new students.
Some student activities include Spirit Week/Pep Rally, Spring Picnic, Teacher Appreciation activities, the concession stand for fall and spring sports, and penny wars.
In addition, the Executive Board meets regularly with the administration to discuss student concerns and issues.
Graduate and Celebrate News
Thanksgiving Pie Sale and Potato/Squash Sale October 16 – November 6. Purchase
from your favorite senior! Pickup November 22, from 12:00 – 3:00 P.M. at the
EWHS cafeteria. Questions? Call John at 627-8666
The Avon Sale will be from November 6 – November 20. See participating seniors
or call Judy at 872-2103
The Goods and Services Auction will be held on Saturday, November 18, 2006 at
5:00 P.M. (preview 4:00 P.M.) at East Windsor Scout Hall. To donate a service
or a new item, please call Patti at 627-7437, Judy at 872-2103, or John at 627-8666.
Blanket Sale – Beautiful black and gold fleece embroidered EWHS Blankets are
now on sale. Place orders by calling Teri at 627-8666. This is a great gift
idea!!
Graduate and Celebrate meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month
at 7:00 P.M. in the EWHS Media Center. The Next meeting is on October 11. All
parents are welcome.
To be added to our email list for updates and minutes, please email parsons_99@msn.com
Tri-Town Hockey Open House
Thursday October 5, 2006, 6:30-8:30 P.M. at South Windsor Arena
Coach Paul Dowe welcomes new and old players and their families to visit the
Tri-Town locker room. He and his staff will be available for questions in regards
to the booster club activities.