WARE SCHOOL COMMITTEE NOTEBOOK

By Melissa Fales
Reporter

School Committee approves updated electronic device policy

The Policy Subcommittee presented an updated policy regarding the use of cell phones and other electronic devices at Ware Junior Senior High School for the School Committee to review at its June 20 meeting.

The policy states that “the Ware School Committee believes that teaching the appropriate use of technology is both important and an essential component of being a part of society.” It allows “structured usage during school hours” and provides students with clear limitations on using their electronic devices. “This new policy will strictly prohibit use in the teaching environment during school hours,” said Policy Subcommittee Chair Danielle Souza.  It allows students to use their devices during lunch, during the three minutes between class periods, and while on the school bus.

Souza said the updates to the policy were initiated by the administration, including input from Assistant Principal Cory Rogers about the issues he has experienced with students using their electronic devices inappropriately. Ware Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Mary-Elizabeth Beach added that Rogers had also contacted nearby schools regarding their electronic device policies.

Policy Subcommittee member Aaron Sawabi said the enforcement of the policy will be at the discretion of the administration. He said students will be expected to follow the spirit of the policy, namely that whatever they do with their electronic devices must not be disruptive to the school environment. “Students can interpret that anyway they want, but the judgment lies with the administrators,” said Sawabi. School Committee member Brian Winslow asked who would enforce the policy on the school bus. Beach said bus drivers would report any infractions to the administration for follow-up.

School Committee member William Gunn asked if the school would be liable should a student who is distracted while texting between classes gets injured. Beach said she would raise the question with school counsel.

In order to limit the distraction to others, the policy requires students to use ear buds when listening to music. Although this is a policy for Ware Junior Senior High School, Ware Middle School Principal Robert Warren weighed in, asking if it was safe to have students listening to music with headphones on since they might not be able to hear any emergency announcements. The committee agreed to include a condition within the policy that music must be kept at a volume that will allow students to hear announcements.

Beach encouraged the committee to approve the policy and allow the school to pilot it. She said the school could hold drills during the pilot period to ensure that students who are using headphones can still hear announcements on the public address system. “We’re trying to be current and respect that our students are maturing,” said Beach. “I think the kids can handle this. I really, really do.” The Committee approved the policy unanimously.

Committee approves two additions to student dress code

The Committee also approved two additions to the existing student dress code policy as proposed by the Policy Subcommittee. The new policy will include the statement, “The wearing of hoods, hats and bandanas are not permitted in school. Head attire is permitted for religious reasons.” Also, the policy will include a ban on students wearing pajama pants “unless specifically allowed for functions/occasions.”

 

Report cards ready for pick up

Beach said report cards for students in grades seven through twelve will be mailed out to parents who have provided a self-addressed stamped envelope. Those who did not send in an envelope can pick up report cards in the office between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.

 

Free meals program to start June 25

Beach reminded all Ware residents that the summer nutrition program will begin June 25. The program is open to all children ages one through 18. There are no income restrictions. Free breakfasts are served on weekdays from 8a.m. to 9 a.m. and free lunches are served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. All meals are served in the Stanley M. Koziol Elementary School cafeteria. “We encourage families and even folks that have youngsters visiting from out of town to come and take advantage of a nutritious meal,” said Beach.

Next meting is July 18

WARE SCHOOL COMMITTEE NOTEBOOK

By Melissa Fales

Reporter

School Committee thanks retiring teachers for their service

On behalf of the entire district, School Committee Chairman Christopher Desjardins began the June 6 committee meeting by publicly thanking retiring teachers Judy Babb, Berry Brooks, and Nina Iadarola for their years of service to Ware Public Schools. Desjardins said library books will be donated to their respective school libraries in their honor.

WJSHS report cards available at the school June 21

Report cards for Ware Junior Senior High School Students will not be sent home with the students on the last day of school. Instead, they will be available for pick up in the school office after June 21. Parents may also opt to send in a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) in order to have the report card mailed to them at home. Dr. Marlene DiLeo, Principal of WJSHS, explained that this change is being made in an effort to keep the students engaged and working right up to the very end of the school year.

Dr. Mary-Elizabeth Beach, Superintendent of the Ware Public School District, said the work to replace the WJSHS gymnasium floor will begin July 23 and work on the building’s phone system will start in early August. Parents will be notified if the phone system at the school will be down for any length of time over the summer.

 

School Committee improves WJSHS School Improvement Plan

Grade Eight science teacher Camille Richards summarized the WJSHS School Improvement Plan for the 2012-2013 school year and outlined the plan’s three major goals.

One goal is to keep a safe and bully-free environment. Richards said the school will continue to track bullying activity by offering annual surveys, increasing parental education about bullying, and strengthening its ties with the Carson Center at Valley Human Services for students who are dealing with social and emotional issues.

Committee member Aaron Sawabi asked if the state monitors what the school is doing in the area of bullying prevention. Beach said the district had to turn in an anti-bullying plan for the state’s approval. She added that the state could choose to visit the district at any time to see if the plan is working effectively. Beach said state representatives could ask staff and students questions about the school’s bullying prevention methods and ask to review any incidence reports.

Richards also discussed a goal to ensure that teaching strategies are meeting the needs of all students. Richards said the school hopes to increase the number of students participating in dual enrollment, Honors, and Advanced Placement (AP) courses and said is considering adding an Honors or AP math class. Student Council representative Aaron Szczepanek shared that some students wanted to take these more challenging courses but found it difficult to fit them into their schedules. Beach said they were working on addressing those scheduling issues.

Richards said a third goal is to increase the involvement of parents, guardians and community members in school activities. She said they hope to build membership in the Parent, Teacher, Student Spirit Association (PTSSA) and Jr. PTSSA groups by heavily promoting those organizations at the beginning of the next school year. Desjardins suggested sending parents information detailing the accomplishments of the groups to give them a better sense of what the PTSSA and Jr. PTSSA do. Additionally, there will be an effort to raise the attendance at high school open houses by 20 percent. School Committee member Bill Gunn asked DiLeo if she knew the percentage of parents that do attend the high school open houses. DiLeo said the school hasn’t collected that data in the past but will be doing sign-ins in the future in order to track that information.

The committee unanimously approved the School Improvement Plan for WJSHS.

 

Summer meeting schedule set

The committee agreed to reduce their meetings over the summer from twice a month to once a month. Their next meeting is scheduled for June 20.