October Newsletter
Building a Better School
This week marks the beginning of our annual NECAP testing period. NECAP stands for New England Common Assessment Program. Under Federal law, each state must develop a standard way to measure the academic progress of its students. Vermont joined with other New England states to develop the NECAP.
The NECAP measures individual student achievement, but it is also used to measure the overall success of our school. The goal of the law is to have all students “proficient” in math, writing, and reading by 2014. The law sets a target, called an Annual Measurable Objective (AMO). Last year, our school met the AMO when the scores of all students were combined. However, when we separate out different groups of students, a problem becomes clear. Some groups of students in our school are not as successful as others.
Our mission as a school is to create success for each student. This fall, we are gathering information from many groups in our community that will help to guide any school improvement decisions made by our School Board. In your Wednesday Weekly, you will find a short survey. Some parents had the opportunity to discuss the two questions on the survey at First Day, but we know many parents were not able to attend. We would appreciate your input – every voice counts!
The Board and the school leadership team, known as the Design Team, will look thoughtfully at this information. It will be used to create a budget for next year that will support any suggested changes that emerge from the survey information.
Thank you for taking the time to help the Swanton School to meet our mission and vision.
Health Update
'Tis the season for colds and flu bugs, and this year we are facing the serious issue of the H1N1 virus. We receive regular updates from the Vermont Department of Health and the Vermont Department of Education. These updates allow our administration and health office to have the most current information regarding prevention and treatment of this virus. All our teachers and paraprofessionals have been kept up to date on the best strategies for prevention. Every classroom uses good hand washing practices before eating snack or lunch. We have installed dispensers with hand sanitizer in the hallways, so students may clean their hands before going between their classroom and Unified Arts classes.
We also have to keep an eye on fevers. Our direction from the state is to send home any student or staff member with a fever, and ask the individual to stay home until “fever free” without fever reducers for 24 hours. We know this will impact many of you in regard to your work schedule, but it is one of the important containment strategies recommended by the state health officials.
Please watch the Wednesday Weekly for updates on locations and timing for immunization against H1N1.
Thank You
Many thanks this month to Deb Kehoe-Yergeau of Kehoe and Kehoe Design. Deb is a professional graphic artist. This summer she worked with some Swanton School artists to create artwork portraying our 5 Core Concepts. Deb used the artwork and her graphic design skills to create 5 giant banners, which now hang in the Central Cafeteria. Thanks to the Swanton PTO for supporting the project and to David Yergeau for all his time working with Head Custodian Lanny Brow to mount the banners.
Thanks also to Ron Kilburn of the Historical Society, Richard Thompson and the Swanton Selectboard, and Don Collins (Mr. Footsteps) for their support with our very successful All School Walk! Visit our home page to see photos of the event.
