Post date: Aug 20, 2014 7:25:26 PM
Superintendent’s Update August 20, 2014
Welcome Back to the new school year! Faculty and staff return on Monday, August 25 for two days of professional development and students begin on Wednesday, August 27. There is no school on Friday, August 29 and Labor Day, Monday, September 1. We look forward to a great year ahead. The upcoming town-wide edition of Lunenburg Ledger contains articles from each of the building principals, the Director of Special Services, Ms. Hanscom, and me. I have attached those with this update for anyone who might not receive the paper.
MS/HS BUILDING PROJECT: I want to call to your attention significant changes in parking and traffic flow on the central campus. Effective August 27, 2014, traffic on the campus roadway in front of Lunenburg High School will be one way only (see attached image). This new vehicular circulation and parking plan was developed in collaboration with police, fire, DPW, and construction officials for everyone’s safety and we appreciate your assistance in its implementation. School and police personnel will be present during the initial days of school to assist everyone in adjusting to the new pattern. Signage and pavement markings will be in place as soon as possible. Please note the following:
· Between the hours of 7:00-7:30 a.m. and 1:30-2:15 p.m. travel on the roadway in front of the high school will be for buses only.
· Student drop off between 7:00-7:30 a.m. and 1:30-2:15 p.m. is at the front of the Thomas C. Passios Building.
· Walkway boundaries will be painted on the pavement between Thomas C. Passios and the high school. For their safety, we ask students to use this crosswalk when moving between the buildings.
· Both roadways entrance/exits off Massachusetts Avenue/Route 2A are two way. The entrance by the Brooks House provides access to the staff and visitor parking lot between the two schools. The east entrance provides access to student/faculty parking.
· Please remember there is no parking in the fire lanes at any time.
· The parking lot on the east side of the high school is reserved for student and faculty parking only. Spaces are numbered and assigned to specific users. There is no visitor parking during school hours in this lot.
· Handicap parking will be available on the east side of the high school roadway near the school’s main entrance.
· The parking lot between the two schools is designated staff and visitor parking for both the high school and Thomas C. Passios buildings. Visitors are welcome to park in any unnumbered space. The numbered spaces have been assigned to staff.
· Parents/guardians dropping/picking up students at the Extended Day program or attending Community Linked Services at TCP should park forward of the building’s main entry or in the spaces marked “reserved” on the south side of the loop.
· THMS parent/guardians please note that the project construction entrance is off Oak Avenue. Please do not block this entrance with your vehicle while waiting in the pick-up/drop-off cue. Turkey Hill Middle School students walking on Oak Avenue are reminded to use the sidewalks and crosswalks provided. Daily transportation from THMS is also provided to the Teen Center after school.
NEW PERSONNEL SINCE JULY UPDATE: I am pleased to welcome three new faculty members to the District.
Mr. Michael Buswell will be the teacher in the ACHIEVE classroom at Lunenburg High School. Mr. Buswell has worked in the program since last year and was the lead teacher for this year’s summer program. During that time he has distinguished himself with his compassion, patience, and communication skills. Mr. Buswell is a graduate of Franklin Pierce College.
Mr. Harold R Ogilvie, LHS Transitions classroom Teacher. Mr. Ogilvie received his degree from Fitchburg State University. A primary focus of the Transitions classroom is the establishment of a positive learning environment that promotes a high level of achievement for students while considering the background and developmental level of the individual student, and helping to transition them from a smaller group environment back into the mainstreamed school setting. Mr. Ogilvie has experience in similar programs in Maynard and Lawrence. Mr. Ogilvie also has credentials in instructional technology.
Jamie Millett, LHS Transition Classroom Social Worker/Adjustment Counselor. Ms. Millett recently completed her master of social work degree from Simmons College. She received her undergraduate education at Merrimack College. Ms. Millett is an experienced mental health clinician and in her role at the high school she will provide small group, therapeutic services and supports for identified high school students and their families.
PTO: We appreciate the many ways the PTO supports our schools through community building events, scholarships, volunteering and donating supplies/equipment. Information to join the PTO can be found at http://www.lunenburgpto.org/Membership_Form.html . Many thanks to them for providing faculty and staff in each building lunch on Tuesday during the professional development day.
PTO evening meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. in the Thomas C. Passios meeting room #13. Please note the addition of some daytime meetings to the schedule.
September 22, 2014 Superintendent Calmes –Back to School & Building Project Update
October 20, 2014 PTO Work Meeting
October 27, 2014 11:30 a.m. Lunenburg Public Library
November 17, 2014 Building Principals, Special Services, Extended Day, & School Linked services & Community Engagement Program
December 8, 2014 Work Meeting
January 12, 2015 Superintendent Calmes – Building Project Update & Working Meeting
February 9, 2015 School Highlights & Wellness Update
March 9, 2015 Fundraising – Work Meeting
March 16, 2015 11:30 a.m. Lunenburg Public Library
April 13, 2015 Superintendent Calmes - FY16 Budget Update
May 11, 2015 PTO Budget – Work Meeting
June 8, 2015 Final Celebration Dinner - Location TBD
SEEKING PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD ON DRAFT POLICIES: The School Committee is seeking public input on four policies. The policies include: Service Animals in the Schools, School Lunch Accounts, Employee Criminal Offender Record Information, and Fingerprint-Based Criminal History Record Information. These policies were posted in draft form last spring and had the first reading in public session on August 7, 2014. The policies will receive two additional readings prior to the School Committee taking action to adopt. To be considered feedback must be received by four o’clock p.m. on Monday, September 29, 2014. Comments and questions on the polices should be sent via electronic mail to lpetersen@lunenburgonline.com, mailed to School Committee C/O Liz Petersen, 1025 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, MA 01462 or hand delivered to Ms. Petersen at the Superintendent’s Office at that same address. The draft policies can be found on the main page of our website at www.lunenburgschools.net .
COMING SOON ON-LINE ENROLLMENT and REGISTRATION: I am excited to announce a new online student registration and enrollment system for the upcoming school year (2014-2015), powered by School Office Pro. The system is a secure and paperless process which allows the district to verify all student demographic, emergency and medical information for your child(ren). School Office Pro will also allow you to electronically sign any permission, policy and acknowledgment forms necessary for the school district. In summary, this online process replaces the hard copy student registration and permission forms that you and your child(ren) complete each year. Registration can be completed from home, office, or any location where you have access to an internet enabled device. Our goal is to make registration convenient and user-friendly for you and your family. If you do not have access to the internet, you may use a school computer to complete registration. Additional information will be provided at a later date. In this our transition year from paper to the on-line process we are asking parents and guardians to complete the Student Emergency form (attached) and return a hard copy to the school. This form is attached and will also be sent home with students on the first day of school. We considered this an important safety measure until the on-line program is fully operational and appreciate your cooperation during the transition.
BUS ROUTES: 2014-2015 routes are posted on the main page of the website www.lunenburgschools.net