Nov 08 2008
An Open Letter to Dru Cole - New Teacher, Finally!
Dear Dru,
The paper work is signed and you are officially starting on Wed., Nov. 12. Take care of yourself. Dress warm. Try to avoid catching a cold. Do not get sick. The entire Hewes educational team, in particular the students of your new classroom, Mrs. Hiller the paraprofessional assigned to the classroom and myself are so relieved that you have been selected to steer our high school classroom. I do believe that we had to wait so long for you to join us because you are truly the best candidate……………. Thank you for agreeing to upset your calm world at Panama Central School. Thank you for allowing me and the leaders you and I both respect at Panama CSD, to convince you to interview at this BOCES even when you “were so happy at my school, I love it there. I do not want to leave. What will happen to my students?”
It was good to have you come to the Hewes Center yesterday afternoon and be able to introduce you to our high school team.
Jamie Swanson, the lady who joined us last is our new Phys Ed. teacher. She started with us this year in September. Jamie, has a web page on our BOCES Web site which you should explore.
Wendy Darling, is also a new hire this year. She comes to us as a Guidance Counselor from Gowanda Central School. Our High School program at Hewes Center consists of 36 student slots. Hence the need for a dedicated Guidance Counselor.
Kim Minnier - Highly Qualified Math Teacher grades 9-12. Kim won a NEA foundation grant couple of years ago for his Marine Science Unit and thus became our inspiration. Go to him and Laurie Wilcox if you have math questions. Our gen. ed teacher Mike McIntyre is also helpful - his classroom in the first one off the lobby when you enter the school building.
Cindy Jackson - Highly Qualified Social Studies Teacher grades 9-12. Cindy was the first teacher I worked with to be exposed to Reactive Attachment Disorder. She is up for any challenge and most of all goes out of her way for students. She ran a very successful summer school program this year and her ideas will be invaluable to the furtherance of your classroom themes/exploratories. The gen. ed teacher in this subject is Greg Guichard.
Sarah Parmarter - Highly qualified Science grades 9-12. Sarah is a southern girl whom we can always count on for Gumbo and all things different and ecclectic. She has been instrumental in advocating for the students in your classroom. She sat in on most of the student in-takes and has shared our program highlights with parents and CSE chairs. You might want to ask her how to transform your classroom from its traditional setting. I know that the long room is challenging but the creativity of teachers is boundless. The gen. ed teacher in the high school sciences is Nicole Terry.
Jim Hedlund - certified high school English teacher. Jim spoke to you before we left our team meeting. He will help ensure that you have the support you need to be successful. He is also quite tech. savy so go to him if you have questions about downloading to an IPod or using interactive technology to turn students on. The gen. ed. teacher in English is Phyllis Caloren.
I have arranged for a third computer to be placed in your classroom area. I am pleased that you have brand new computers for this classroom. Mrs. Hiller will add your name to sign on the door on Monday morning and I will inform the students of your joining us on Wednesday. Please think of writing parents/guardians a letter of introduction which we can place in the report cards that will go out after the 12th.
As you are aware, the class is self-contained and they eat their breakfast and lunch with their teacher and staff. This has helped bond the class quickly. Whereas you are entitled to a duty free lunch you might to think about how you want to do this after talking to Mrs. Hiller.
The classroom is your open canvas. Re-arrange it if you see fit. All supplies are available in the office - ie. paper, folders etc. Mrs. Hiller can arrange for this. We will open up requisitions for new supplies in Jan. 09. In the meantime, collaborate with our high school teachers to ensure that the classroom has what it needs. Mrs. Hiller has made a list.
Tuesdays and Thursdays you can plan for class outings. I will need advance notice and a field trip request form if you plan on going farther afield. You will be accessing the work experience bus and some of your studnets are in this program, so you may be able to work out details with Amy Montgomery, work exp. teacher and her assitant Martha Potter, that will allow you to get out with your class sooner than 30 days, (which is the standard field trip requisiton time line for Director approval).
The classroom lauchned a high school newspaper directed at and for students. The readership includes teachers, aides and related services. The first copy has been published. I have arranged for our PR officer, Jared Lindall to come over and teach the class 2 appropriate publishing tools that they can use with ease. I would also like Jared to teach the students how this will be posted to a web page on our web site. You Dru, can then man this web page under your name and title. It is currently being published monthly but if you want to do it bi-monthly this would be great. I believe 8 copies were run last month. I would like to see students print one and sell it for $.10 cents. I think this would help generate entreprenuership. The papers can then be recycled, thereby teaching as well.
Nov 22 - all classroom teachers in your wing are undertaking a Harvest Festival which will include lunch. Your students will be matched up as big brothers to our middle schoolers grades 6-8, this will be the beginning of our in-house buddy program, where our older students can assist our younger ones eg. reading buddies, math tutors etc. See Amy Stormer/Jamie Monaco teachers, about this. In Dec. our 2 elementary classes grades K-2, Christine Barber and 3-5, Alicia Calimeri will be undertaking a live show. This will be a very modified production for parents. Your class will assist with set production and refreshments. Amy Stormer is a font of ideas.
Laurie Wilcox is a high school math teacher whose class adjoins yours. She has a smartboard, as does Jamie Monaco, Sam Curto (in your wing) and Jim Hedlund. Your class should be exposed to this technology and instructional practice. So talk to Jim and Laurie about this.
We have a monthly faculty meeting - first Monday of each month. And weekly team meetings. High School meets every Tueday in Greg Guichard’s room. They are currently working on School Culture - chairs are Wendy Darling, Cindy Jackson and Thea Kester.
Your contacts at Panama will be invaluable. If you need resources that they use that we do not have, you can arrange to borrow from them. Our relations with our component schools is excellent.
We have a night cleaning crew. I know you said you will be coming in to get IEPs to read up on Monday evening. If you need to access the building after 5 pm please let me know and I will make arrangements for you.
I encourage you to scour this blog to learn more about our interesting history and celebrations of learning. I look forward to reading your impressions and answering your questions via this blog. Please reply via this blog indicating that you have received this open letter.
Once again hearty congratulations and welcome to our educational team!
2 responses so far
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I am realy excited to be part of this team. It is so wonderful to be able to make a difference in the life a child, especially the more challenging students that have the most trouble with school. I am very excited to meet my students and if possible I was wondering if I could talk to Mrs. Hiller since she is the one who has spent the most time with them. If you want to give her my number and if she has time on Monday evening she could give me a call and we could chat. Is it possible to get into the building on Tuesday even though it is a holiday? I would like to be able to start sorting out some of books and see which I can use. I would like the students to help me organize the room and have as much input in the program as possible. If they help set it up then it will be theirs too and it is more likely to be successful. I don’t want to change too much too soon as these types of students have difficulty with changes. I want them to have a say in things whenever possible. Wednesday I want to keep things somewhat normal so we can all get to know each other. I am looking forward to speaking to all the teachers and finding out whatever I can and get suggestions on how to help. I will also pick up the Chalkboard on Monday and look to see what we can take advantage of. There is so much to think about I am excited to get into the swing of things. Thank you so much for givivg me this opportunity.
Got your comment on Twitter, but I can’t write you back. I think we both have to be following each other. I don’t know exactly the % of our parents who have internet access at home, but I am guessing it is over 50%, if not higher. I really need to do some kind of survey to get a better idea on that. Thanks for checking out my Principal’s Blog!