By Melissa Fales
Reporter
School Committee approves school improvement plans for all three schools
The Ware School Committee unanimously approved school improvement plans (SIPs) from each of the district’s three schools at their June 8 meeting. The school improvement plans were created by each school’s school council; groups made up of administrators, teachers, parents, community representatives and students.
Elizabeth Nicholas, a teacher at Stanley M. Koziol Elementary School and member of the school council, said one of the areas the SMK SIP focuses on is the continued use of technology. She said the school council recommends training all SMK teachers on how to use the “Post It” program where teachers can update their homework assignments online for parents to access from home.
Nicholas said the council also recommends continuing to use positive reinforcement strategies such as the SMK School Store BINGO program, where students receive a BINGO card every month and earn BINGO stamps when teachers or staff members notice them doing something good. If they fill their BINGO card by the end of the month, they can select a prize from the school store.
Ware Middle School teacher and school council member Kim Senecal delivered a report on the WMS SIP and the school council’s activities. She said one area the WMS SIP focuses on is the school’s anti-bullying program. Senecal said the council also addressed the need for an increased use of technology, including web-based programs like Study Island which helps students hone their math and English skills by playing educational online games. She said teachers can select which skills they want their students to work on and can track their students’ progress. While the idea is for students to play the online games from home, Senecal said there is some opportunity for students who don’t have computers at home to play the games at school.
Ware Junior Senior High School Council member Kevin O’Regan said the WJSHS SIP also focused on the effective use of technology, including educating students on the different dangers relating to social media. This is O’Regan’s last year serving on the council, following his daughter Sarah’s graduation last week. He took the opportunity to tell the committee how pleased he was with the progress retiring Principal Lucille Brindisi has made with the school. “I believe quite strongly that Dr. Beach coming on board and bringing Ms. Brindisi in has turned our school system around in a dramatic and positive way,” he said. School Committee member Danielle Souza thanked O’Regan for his time and work serving on the school council for the past few years.
Last day of school
The last day of school will be Friday, June 17. It will be a half day with no lunch served.
Free summer feeding program begins June 27
Superintendent Mary-Elizabeth Beach announced that the free summer feeding program in the SMK cafeteria will begin June 27 and run on weekdays (excluding July 4) through Aug. 5. Breakfast is served from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Lunch is served from 11:30 to 12:30. All children ages 1 – 18 are eligible for these free meals. Adults accompanying the children are welcome to enjoy a meal for a small fee. There are no income limits.
Winner announced in Bob’s Discount Furniture raffle
The winning ticket in the district’s raffle for a $500 Bob’s Discount Furniture was drawn during the meeting. David Poulin of Ware was the winner. Beach announced that the raffle raised $1655 which will be used to purchase 60 cases of copy paper, one quarter of the paper the district will need.
Ware Reader Forum 