Parent Conferences and Student Placement

With an approved operating budget under our belts, we can now move forward with all the important activities that help us prepare for next year.  It is hard to believe, but as of this post we have 60 days left in this school year!  The days will be packed with new learning, practicing skills, exploring concepts, and measuring progress.  We have our Artists in Residence coming up in just a week, with culminating activities on April 8th.  Our fourth graders will take the NECAP Science test this spring, and all our students will participate in the end of year testing that helps us know how to plan for instruction next fall.  In my experience as an administrator, this is one of the busiest times of year - we're still focused on instruction for this year, while planning for next year!

At the end of the week, I will send home a "parent input form" regarding next year's class placement.  I can remember filling these out every year for my two children, Adam (now 20 and a sophomore at Middlebury College) and Megan (now 22 and a special education teacher in NYC).  How I agonized over those forms!  It didn't seem possible that "the school" could know my children as well as I did.  Indeed, the teachers and school counselors did not know the children I knew at home, but they had unique insights into how my children interacted and behaved at school.  In the spring of her fifth grade year, Megan came home in tears.  The teachers had placed in her in a teaching team that would separate her from her closest friend, Lindsay.  She was devastated!  Of course, we were outraged and promised to "take care" of the problem.

When we arrived at school at our appointed time, we found the entire fifth grade team, including the Unified Arts and the principal waiting to hear us out.  I talked about Megan's friendship with Lindsay and how important it was to her.  Gently, each teacher described how Megan relied heavily on Lindsay's approval.  They were concerned that Megan needed to branch out and have confidence in herself and her work.  After hearing them out, we agreed with their decision.  It was indeed, a humbling experience!   Megan ended up in a different team from Lindsay.  The girls' friendship remained strong, and Meg's self confidence blossomed.

I relate this story not to discourage you from writing your thoughts, hopes, and fears for your child.  Rather, I want you to know that we DO appreciate the perspective of parents AND we will exercise our own good judgment about the best learning situation for all our Ospreys.  I'm confident we can work together to make next year a wonderful year for each student.

Creating Identity and Belonging

I have a vivid recollection of my first PTO meeting as the new MBS principal.  I was impressed with the size of the group, and the passion of the parents in attendance.  At that meeting, it became very clear to me that the transition to MBS is a BIG deal for children and families in our community.  As I recall, one parent asked, "But who are we at Maletts Bay School?  We feel such a sense of belonging at Porter's and Union, and then our kids come here and it is big... but it is not the middle or high school.  Who are we?"

As I've grown to know the school, I believe we are coming closer to an answer, an identity, and a sense of belonging.  We are the elementary school.  Porter's and Union are the primary schools - these smaller, more intimate settings allow young children and families to ease into the transition to public school.  As our students come together at Malletts Bay, they face the developmental challenges of this age group.  They make the normal transition from young children who seek to please adults to young students who are intensely aware of their peers.  They develop a sense of responsibility, and the self control to show respect toward others and interact in a manner that is both physically and emotionally safe.

In selecting the Osprey as their mascot, our MBS students chose wisely.  This week, we were treated to a very informative presentation by Steve Costello from Central Vermont Public Service.  CVPS has been instrumental in helping to create osprey nesting places, bringing this magnificent native bird back from the edge of extinction.  Our students learned that young ospreys must grow very quickly  - they grow from 2 oz. at birth to nearly their adult size in only 3 months!  Their adult wingspan is close to six feet!

So, too, our MBS Ospreys grow quickly.  They acquire the skills they will need to be productive, independent, and successful learners.  Our new logo, created by Deb Kehoe of Kehoe Design, shows a strong osprey soaring to success.  As our students grow in the three years of elementary school, we hope to build their identity and sense of belonging; their passion for learning; and their ability to stand up, speak out, and become active, involved learners.

Go Ospreys!