|
MISSION
STATEMENT
The mission of Haddam-Killingworth High School is to provide a
personalized and collective experience through which students
are challenged to develop the knowledge, skills, and work
ethic to contribute to a global society.
Expectations for Student
Learning
Academic: The
Haddam-Killingworth High School graduate
will:
1. access and analyze
information
2.
problem-solve
3. communicate
effectively
4.
apply
information
5. reflect and
evaluate
Civic:
The Haddam-Killingworth graduate will individually and
collaboratively
1.
act responsibly
2. pursue
goals
Hello Everyone,
Welcome to another school year. Despite the fact
that we have only been in session for a week, there is already
a calm and smooth flow throughout the building. It has been a
wonderful start.
Allow me to take the
opportunity to share some important information with
you.
NEW
STAFF
We have several new faces at the high school
this year.
·
Ms. Lindsay
Ramm has replaced Mr. Anderson in the History and Social
Sciences Department and is teaching World History and
Geography.
·
Mr. Jason
Leavings has replaced Mr. Westbrook as a teacher of Physical
Science.
·
Ms. Sue
Rynkowski has returned to the high school as a
paraprofessional after spending one year in that capacity at
the elementary level.
·
Ms. Emily
Secchiaroli will assist the Guidance Department in her role as
an intern.
·
Mr. Matt
Talmadge will occasionally be in the building serving as an
administrative intern.
Open
House
Open House at the high schoolwill be held on
Thursday, September 23, at 6:30 p.m. Please report to the
auditorium upon your arrival.
Curriculum Council
Anyone?
If anyone is interested in serving as a parent
representative to the curriculum council please contact me at
the high school office. The council hears and makes decisions
on numerous issues, such as: approving curriculum and text
books, discussing timely and pertinent education topics
(alternative education, multi-age instruction and looping,
electronic student portfolios, etc.).
The meeting schedule for the year is as
follows;
October 19
November 16
December 14
January 11
February 8
March 8
April 12
May 10
June 14
The meetings will begin at 3:30 and usually run
until 5:00. You
may attend as many meetings as you wish.
Volunteers
If you are home and looking to become involved
with the high school as a volunteer of some sort, please let
me know. We always have a need for volunteers. Someone might wish to
volunteer to serve as a "greeter," assist with mail, or even
assist in the copy room.
You might also have your ideas on how you might want to
become involved.
Please let me know.
New
England Association of Schools and Colleges Accreditation
Visit
Haddam-Killingworth High
School was accredited in 2000 by the New England Association
of Schools and Colleges, and will host a visiting committee
this October for re-accreditation. In preparation for the
visit, our staff has been involved in an intensive self-study
process. The visiting committee with be at the high school
from Sunday, October 24, through Wednesday, October
27.
CAPT
Reports
Students and parents of
students who took the Connecticut Academic Performance Test
last spring should receive individualized score
reports
sometime next week.
Expectations for Student
Learning
The header of the parent
bulletin contains the high school's Mission Statement along
with Academic Expectations for Student Learning. By the end of
this month you should be able go onto Classroll and identify
how well your child is doing in meeting this expectations.
Teachers will align certain assessments to a particular
learning outcome.
Prep for
Success
Over the years we have
worked with students at every level on higher order thinking
skills. Many equated this practice as a "CAPT activity" that
is embedded into every curriculum. The truth, however, is
that even our upper classmen who no longer have to take the
CAPT assessment can still benefit through their practice of
and utilization of higher order thinking skills. This is
excellent preparation for life beyond high
school.
Freshmen Prep for
Success
Over the years, we have
noticed that many freshmen have struggled making the
transition to the high school. The reasons vary and run the
gamut from the increased amount
of homework, to becoming acclimated to the new structure and
environment. This year we have established a lunch activity
program to assist the freshmen with making this important
transition. For the first marking period, all freshmen will
have a structured Directed Study for the first half of lunch
activity each day. At the end of the first marking period, all
freshmen who have earned no grade lower than a "C" will have
the privilege of no longer having to attend the Directed Study
and instead, take part in club meetings and activities that
occur during that time. Those who are still somewhat
struggling with transition and expectations that come along
with that, will continue to be provided with the Directed
Study.
Our emphasis is on academic success and this is
an opportunity to provide our freshmen with time during the
school day to "slow down," get organized, ask questions,
study, or start homework.
I have been very impressed
so far with this freshmen class. They have been mannerly,
patient, and considerate. I look forward to
working with them over the next four years.
Freshmen and
Parents
A Note on
Homework
A milestone in a child's life is entering high
school. It
symbolizes the beginning of the final leg of formal public
school education as one starts to think about career choices
and opportunities that wait. A reality of high
school is the increased responsibility and commitment needed
on the part of students.
It is reasonable and accurate to assume that as one
enters high school, the amount of homework assigned will be
greater than what had previously been assigned. The amount of
homework may vary according to the number of core academic
subjects being taken along with the type and level of each
course. Generally speaking, students can expect lengthier and
more involved assignments when taking college preparatory
courses.
Teachers may assign homework for a multitude of reasons
including: review and/or reinforcement of the daily lesson;
preparation for class the following day; exploring subjects
more fully than possible during class time; or to provide
opportunities for students to identify and utilize various
resources.
In Helping Your
Students with Homework, a guide sponsored by the
Office of Educational Research and Improvement in the U.S.
Department of Education, Paulu (1998) makes the following
recommendations, to parents, designed to help children be
successful with work at home and at school:
·
Create a
place at home that is conducive to studying. Good study
environments are well-lit and quiet. (Paulu,
1998).
·
Set aside a
specific time for homework each day. (Paulu, 1998). This might
involve limiting TV or phone conversations until homework is
completed.
·
Make sure
students have all the supplies they need ahead of time.
(Paulu, 1998).
·
Support
your children. Be available to answer questions, give
suggestions or review their work. (Paulu,
1998).
·
Make an
effort to communicate regularly with
teachers.
Research has shown that when families get
involved and stay involved in their child's education, their
children:
1.
get better
grades and score higher on tests
2.
have a
higher graduation rate than children who do not have parents
involved in their school lives
3.
are more
likely to go onto to higher education
4.
have better
attitudes and are better behaved
A side value of having children complete
homework is that it can easily extend beyond the high school
walls. Diligence to the completion of homework can help
children learn important lessons about responsibility,
discipline, initiative and completing a task from start to
finish.
Our goal is to make the freshmen year a pleasant
and successful one. Understanding what will be expected,
having the proper attitude and working as a learning community
(teachers, students and parents) will assure a successful
beginning to high school.
Charlie
| 
