News From CCS
Arts on Display
The spring is filled with opportunities to witness the talents of CCS students. Our musicians demonstrated cooperation, skill, and heart last Wednesday at the spring concert. Congratulations to Mrs. S. and the performers! Meanwhile, the CCS Young Talent Show at the Wish House in West Cornwall runs through May 31st. Personally, I will be visiting tomorrow afternoon. I’ll be sure to report back on the standouts. Preemptive congratulations to Ms. Dupuis!
Middle School Track and Field Meet
On Friday, the grade 6-8 students will travel to HVRHS for the annual Region One middle school track and field meet. Mr. Boucher’s charges will put the shot, pass the baton, and clear the bar. Faster, higher, stronger, and good luck!
Graduation Reminder
At 6:00 on June 8th, we will send off the class of 2012. At 10:00 am that same day, we will have an awards assembly, at which the graduates will be lauded and many will receive honors.
New Class Configurations Coming
As the 2011-2012 school year winds down, the teachers and I are busy planning for the 2012-2013 year. One of the changes that I’m hoping will have a positive effect is varying the grouping of students. Students in some of our smaller classes will work with students and teachers in other grades for some of their academic time. Teachers will plan lessons together and use a variety of approaches. Sometimes the students will be instructed as a whole group with, for example, all first and second graders participating in a reading lesson together. Sometimes the students will be arranged in small groups that include students from both grades. In addition to homeroom instructional time, some middle school and Unified Arts (Specials) classes will have multigrade arrangements. One purpose of this change is to give students a greater variety of peer groups, to give them more social options. In addition to this social goal, I believe that pairing students with a wider variety of peers will increase the likelihood that they will find good academic role models and partners. Ultimately, these changes should help us keep our high academic standards while providing a greater variety of social contexts for our students.
PTA Meeting Tuesday
At its meeting tomorrow, the PTA will welcome first-year Housatonic principal Matt Harnett. He will be speaking about the high school and answering questions from parents. Middle school parents, especially, should find it to be a worthwhile hour. Dinner is at 5:30 with the meeting starting at 6:00.
HYSB Presentation
In alternating years, the Housatonic Youth Services Bureau surveys all 7th, 9th, and 11th graders in Region One. The survey collects information about the students’ habits and their views on school, family, community and self. HYSB is presenting the results of the survey at a community event on May 17th at 7:00 pm at the Salisbury Congregational Church. Please see the attached flyer for more information.
Celebrating a Young Writer
Each year, the After School Arts Program, based in Washington, CT, honors student writers from our area at a fundraising event. Luminaries from the arts world read the works of selected students. This year, Arieh Saed’s rap Absorbency, which sprung from a third grade science unit, was chosen. Arieh acquitted himself well in a short interview on stage with emcee Susan St. James. Actor Paul Doherty performed the rap in full hip-hop garb. The event honors teachers, also, so each piece is formally dedicated to teachers of the student’s choosing. Arieh dedicated his rap to Mrs. Grant and Mrs. Binkowski. Congratulations all!
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