Week of May 19, 2008
Dear Parents and Concerned Citizens:
As we are
sure you are aware, the recent robbery in Haddam, which impacted
Haddam Elementary School this week is of great concern to the school
district as well as all of you. As a planned activity
following our involvement in this incident, we have reviewed our
response for the purpose of revising our emergency response
protocols as needed.
As a result of this review,
we have initiated the immediate installation of locking devices and
communication systems at the main entrances to all schools in the
district. Our maintenance department has reported that every
effort will be made to complete the installation of the needed
equipment during the week of May 26,
2008.
Unfortunately, it has become necessary for us to
implement such measures not in response to any single event, but
rather as a prudent decision based upon what is happening in our
communities, state and nation. This decision has been made
within the context of our understanding that among our many
responsibilities to you and your children, safety is
paramount. Our goal is to ensure that all schools in the
district are proactive and provide for safe, secure and positive
learning environments for all.
I continue
to appreciate your support for your schools and wish to assure you
that we will take all the necessary steps to ensure that our
children are able to continue to pursue their dreams in safe school
environments.
Should you have any questions, please do
not hesitate to contact me at (86) 345-4534.
I
remain.
Very truly yours,
Gary S.
Mala
Superintendent of Schools
Regional School District
17
(860) 345-4534
http://www.rsd17.org
"Committed to Making
Dreams Come True"
-The bus routes for the 2008-2009
school year have been published under the Transportation link on the
district website at www.rsd17.org. The routes for next year reflect
an approximate student ride time of 25 to 35 minutes. Students
being transported to and from Haddam Neck should expect
approximately a 45 minute ride time. In order to achieve the
40 routes (which are the result of the district's implementation of
a new routing software named Versatrans, and work with the company's
consultant) needed for next school year, we need a total of 29 CDL
drivers and 11 van drivers. At the present time, the district
employs 32 CDL drivers and 15 van drivers.
-The
district extends its congratulations to the members of the Boy's
Tennis Team on achieving the Shoreline Championship title again this
year.
-A recent incident at Haddam Elementary School
has prompted the district to remind parents to be sure that the
personal information you have established in the Honeywell
Communication System is updated as needed if/when the information
changes. This will ensure uninterrupted access to messages
sent through this system. Thank you for your
cooperation.
-As announced a number of
weeks ago, district technology personnel have completed preparing
the necessary technological systems to allow for parent access to
the district's secure, electronic grade book system which is a part
of our student management software (MMS). In light of this, we
are prepared to engage an incremental "phase-in" approach to ensure
that the newly established system and equipment operate properly. We
will provide access to parents of students at HKMS beginning on
Monday, May 5th with access being provided to parents of students at
HKHS beginning on Monday, May 19th. Due to the complexity of
the newly designed grade reporting system (standards based report
cards) used at each elementary school, additional work needs to be
completed to allow for parents of elementary students to gain the
same level of access. We anticipate full implementation of
parent access to "real time" grades as maintained by our teachers at
the commencement of the 2008-2009 school year. Bear in mind
that this is a new system with the goal of keeping parents more
informed about how their children are performing in our
schools. Please be patient as we work through the initial
stages of this implementation, ensure that the needed technology
operates efficiently and properly and that all of the training needs
on the district side are provided as needed. Parent accounts
are secured by username and password. Parents are required by the
application to reset the initial username and password given to them
by the school. No one other than Classroll support staff has access
to this account information (identical to what happens with the
Honeywell Instant Alert calling system). The parent access rights
are 'view only' so as not to corrupt, change or delete information.
Access information is being sent to parents directly by the
administration at both HKMS and HKHS.
-Graduation for
the HKHS Class of 2008 (and the last day of the 2007-2008 school
year) has been set for June 18, 2008. Details will be made
available shortly from the high school
administration.
-Superintendent of Schools, Gary Mala
will be meeting with parents of students who reside in Haddam Neck
on May 27, 2008 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Haddam Neck Fire
House. The purpose of this meeting will be to update parents
of Haddam Neck regarding the programs and services being offered at
the schools which comprise the district. Commencing with the
2008-2009 school year, the Superintendent will arrange for four (4)
meetings per year with Haddam Neck parents and interested citizens.
-The District is in the process of establishing a "Speakers'
Bureau" comprised of names and contact information of local
residents who have expertise in an area which could be integrated
into the curriculum of the various content areas. Our hope is to
have a resource list of people who may be called upon periodically
to present to different classes as students explore topics included
in the district's curriculum. If you are interested in being
placed on such a list, please forward your name, contact information
and an explanation of your particular area of expertise to Cindy
Fetteroll, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools
at fetteroll44@rsd17.org.
- Project Graduation continues to need
your help! The decoration committee is busily preparing a
wonderful array of decorations for the Haddam-Killingworth High
School's Project Graduation party in June. BUT they need your
help! This committee meets every Wednesday night from
6:00-9:00pm at the Haddam Killingworth High School Photo Room
B116. If you can volunteer or have any questions please
call Sue Rynkowski at 663-1808. The next Project Graduation
planning meetings are May 13 and June 10. We hope you can
attend and help in this worthwhile event. Let's make this a
memorable evening for our graduating seniors! General
Comments/Questions: Please call Trish Hatin at 663-3451
(trishhatin@sbcglobal.net) or Sue Craffey at 345-3908
(jcraffey@snet.net).
-The first seven sessions of the
district television program "Spotlight on Seventeen" are available
for viewing on Channel 18 or at www.rsd17.org. The most recent
session features an interview with Mrs. Fran Octavic, Director of
the Haddam Senior Citizens' Center, where she discusses
Intergenerational Programs.
-"Spotlight on Seventeen"
is generally broadcast on cable Channel 18 according to the
following schedule:
Sunday @ 7:00 a.m., Tuesday @ 8:00 a.m. &
7:53 p.m., Wednesday @ 8:41 a.m. & 7:00 p.m., Saturday 8:53
a.m.
- An area where you may view past Weekly Messages has been
established on the district website at www.rsd17.org.
-Please
frequent the district website at www.rsd17.org to obtain the most
current information regarding district initiatives and progress made
on them.
- If you wish to have something included in any future
Weekly Message, please forward the text to be included to Cindy
Fetteroll, Administrative Assistant the Superintendent of Schools,
at fetteroll44@rsd17.org.
- If you have any comments or
suggestions about the Weekly Message initiative, please do not
hesitate to contact Gary S. Mala, Superintendent of Schools, at
gsmala@rsd17.org or (860) 345-4534
Thank you for your
continued support of your school district and we wish you a restful
holiday weekend.
Gary S. Mala
Superintendent of Schools
Regional
School District 17
(860)
345-4534
http://www.rsd17.org
"Committed to Making Dreams Come
True"
