The Spirit of Music

I have always felt such a connection between music and my spirit.  Prior to vacation, the week was filled with music, and both my spirit and those of others were high!  Thank you to all of the students and teachers who participated in all of these musical adventures.

The Winter Concert occurred at the high scool and was filled with wonderful music by the 6th grade band, the 6th grade chorus, the select chorus, the advanced band, the advanced chorus, the acapella group, and the chime choir. 

6th grade band clip:

6th grade chorus picture:

To add to the musical fun, we had a wonderful Winter Assembly, put on by Team Pegasus, on the day prior to vacation.  The team shared many wonderful reflections about New Year's and resolutions.  During the assembly, we heard from many of our musicians.  Here are a couple of clips, the first from our student-developed acapella group (led by Ms. Prindiville):

Our lovely chime choir also shared music of the season:

In addition, I would be remiss to not mention that there was a lot of music happening around the building in less formal fashion.  Here are some 8th grade boys with their own rendition of Feliz Navidad:

And last but certainly not least, Mrs. Jacobsmeier and Mrs. Guilbert serenaded the 6th grade lunch, inspiring students to sing along:

I hope that your spirits were lifted this holiday season by whatever it is your spirit connects to, as mine was with music!

I very much look forward to seeing all students back on Thursday, January 2 for the year 2014!

ELA Visits and Technology

Greetings, Coolidge Community!

I am sure many of us have shared a similar range of emotions this weekend.  For me, I felt a great degree of reflection on Saturday, the one year anniversary of the Newtown incident.  Despite the sadness and loss that still fills the hearts of so many surrounding what happened that day, from great loss has arisen many stories of courage, perseverance, and rebuilding.  No matter how directly or indirectly impacted, the event  has changed us all.

One of the gifts of being in my new position is the ability I now have to get into all classrooms at Coolidge and to support teachers to do the best work they can do.  I had the pleasure this week of sitting in on all of the ELA classes at all three levels.  At the 6th grade level, students in one class were dissecting a poem as they applied their learning of similies and metaphors.  In another, they were being challenged to find the deeper meaning in the story Gaston.  And in a third, students were presenting new (impressive!) vocabulary words, acting as teachers, which is the ultimate evidence that material has been learned.  In 7th grade, all classes were doing class reads of the book A Christmas Carol.  The teachers at this level not only spoke with British accents as they narrated, but knew all the right places to pause in the dialogue to probe students to go deeper and to discern what the text truly means.  One class was using iPads to read, and the teacher had embedded questions within the text that students would answer on their screens; they were able to read each other's responses, as was the teacher, who could give them immediate feedback.  It was a lesson that showed technology as a useful tool.  All 7th grade students will see "A Christmas Carol" on Wednesday; thanks to their lessons, they will have a better understanding of what the strory really means.  In 8th grade, students were analyzing the difference between books vs. movies made from books.  They had to draw on evidence from real texts/movies.  In all of these situations, I saw the new ELA Common Core working well.  The new standards challenge teachers to challenge students to go deeper into material, to support their writing with evidence from various texts, and to express their knowledge both with writing and with speaking and presenting.  I truly believe these students who are experiencing these new standards will evolve to be stronger in all aspects of reading, writing, and expression than they would have otherwise.  The teachers have been putting in a great deal of time to prepare thoughtful, new lessons that maintain high standards for all.

Another neat moment this week was to be privvy to Ms. Anderson's classroom on Thursday.  One of her groups presented their use of technology in the classroom to a group of adults who were attending the Blue Ribbon Conference in Orlando, FL.  The Blue Ribbon presentation was being led by our library and technology specialists, Ms. Steinhauser and Ms. Grant, who were attending the conference.  With the use of video streaming, Ms. Anderson's class shared their experience with the group in FL, who we could also see and hear on her SMART board.  A second classroom from the high school was also part of the presentation.  It certainly left an impression on me, and I think it did even more so on the students involved.

In case I don't get the chance again this year, please know I wish you all a wonderful, happy, and restful holiday.  It will be wonderful to see your students back in 2014!

Busy Holidays

I want to apologize, as this post will be brief tonight.  I have had a busy and spirited family day, but as a result am not in work/blog mode as yet.  I have more of a Coolidge updated with a picture to include tomorrow when I reuturn to work.  Until then, I hope your and your families are having a nice weekend!

Tossing Turkeys; It All Starts With One

I enjoyed two special experiences in the days prior to our Thanksgiving vacation that I would like to share with parents.

First of all, the annual "Turkey Toss" in Wellness.  What fun!  In pairs, students throw rubber "turkeys" at increasing distances until the turkey is dropped.  Each group had a champion pair.  After school on Tuesday, the championship Turkey Toss was held.  First, all 6th grade winners competed for champion 6th grade spot, followed by 7th and 8th.  Then all three sets of champions competed to determine the final winner.  It was great fun to watch!  Congratulations to:

6th grade champions:  Ben Mason and Jeremy Rosh
7th grade champions:  Devin Forbes and Nick McFarland
8th grade and overall champions: Chris Connery and Justin Stanuil

The second special experience was the Thanksgiving assembly, created by the students of Team Explorer.  They came up with the theme, the script, and the music on their own!  The band and chorus supported them, and their teachers helped them to organize and practice (thank you to Jim Heneberry for his directing and also to Michael Bernard and Andrea Bruno for additional organization!). Their theme focused on the fact that one person can start a movement, and from that one person, great change can happen when the message spreads and when more people get involved!  This was seen visually on the board that included the photos of all of those who donated food for the food drive (starting with one, ending with hundreds), to the creative acting in the assembly, to the visuals about how the couryard was renovated, to the final rap, which got not only the entire team dancing, but also the entire school!  It was powerful and fun, and will be a memory made for all of those involved.  Thank you, Team Explorer!

 

Giving Thanks

Coolidge halls are abustle
With canned goods and cheer,
Knowing that Thanksgiving
Is soon to be here!

The "Community" assembly
Is still in the works.
Practicing during homeroom
Is one of the perks!

Team Explorer is rehearsing
The scripts that they wrote
While the musicians are practicing
So many a note!

Homerooms are organizing
Projects and donations
To benefit our community.
(While dreaming of vacation!)

Inidividuals we are,
Yet together in unity.
I wish a Happy Thanksgiving
To our wonderful Coolidge community!

Digital Media Safety; Basketball Safety

Thank you to all parents who were able to attend Tuesday night's PTO meeting.  From what I hear, it was a record turnout!  Officer Corey Santasky of the Reading Police Department gave a wonderful presentation to parents (and some staff as well!) about current internet/phone trends, safety, harrassment, and bullying.  While it instilled a great sense of fear and responsibility in the adults in the room, we all were in agreement that our students need to also know the significance of what they post online and how they treat each other using digital media.  Officer Santasky and I will be working to create the opportunity for him to speak with our students about these important issues.  A special thanks to Officer Santasky who provided excellent, informative information with good humor! 

To those parents who were unable to attend, we will try to offer the same opportunity either at Coolidge or at Parker in the near future.  In addition, I hope to create more of these learning opportunities, so if parents have any topics that they would like addressed at a PTO meeting, please feel free to let me know!  I already have one topic: our BYOD program and how technology and digital media are used in school and with what parameters.

On a totally separate topic, I was nervous to come to school this past Monday, as I had gained quite a dramatic black eye last weekend while playing basketball (forehead + eye socket = no clear winner, but the eye socket is more of a loser in that situation).  It felt like "middle school all over again", knowing that there was something that would certainly make me stand out.  But I quickly became comfortable with my new look, and learned how to react to the stares or dramatic expressions that resulted.  And I think the students were impressed by my "basketball injury", although I had to laugh when one young man asked if I got the injury PLAYING or WATCHING basketball.  I'm glad I could answer "Playing", as the "Watching" possibility seemed a bit lame (especially if it was on TV).  :)

First-Hand History

On Thursday of this week, Coolidge 8th graders had an amazing opportunity.  Dr. Anna Ornstein, an Auschwitz survivor, came to speak with the students as part of a Holocaust unit they are completing in English.  Anna, petite in frame, large in personality, and honest in nature, shared her heart-wrenching story with the 8th grade class.  It was extremely powerful for students and adults alike, as you can imagine.  While it is difficult to even find the right words to describe the experience, I hope that students were able to articulate their feelings and reactions to their parents afterwards.

As we adults know, and as the students have learned, the events in history of which Anna spoke were horrific.  While many emotions passed through me during Anna's talk, I was left with such a strong feeling of gratitude.  I was so grateful that Anna and so many others like her are brave enough to continue to share their stories, which are such difficult stories to hear, much less to tell.  Their stories remind us that bravery can come from anyone in many different forms and can help people through the most terrible of situations.  In addition, by sharing her story, Anna has given our students the chance to learn about this time in history from a first-hand source, which is a rare opportunity.  They now hold her story in their own hearts, and it will hopefully shape their own perspectives on life in a positive way.

Thank you to Linda Snow-Dockser for making this opportunity a reality for our students.  Additional thanks to Erica LeBow and Laura Warren, our 8th grade English teachers, for teaching the material and for incorporating Anna's story into their curriculum.  

If you would like to read more about Anna's story, the following article gives more detail:

http://jewishindependent.ca/Archives/Oct11/archives11Oct21-06.html

Empathy

What is empathy?

"To put yourself in someone else's shoes."

"To see and feel things from the perspective of someone else."

"To understand an opinion other than your own."

These are a few good answers that students have given when asked what empathy is.  Yet beyond just understanding the definition, it is different and more challenging to actually model empathy, for adults and children alike.  We adults think we have good perspective.  We think we understand each other and situations and approach them fairly.  But do we really?  Do we really approach every new person and situation without bias or baggage or preconceptions?  We certainly like to hope and think so.  But it's sometimes harder than it sounds, as humans are complicated.  On the flip side, it is in our nature to care what others think of us, and to want to be judged fairly, without bias and misconception, and to be understood with empathy.

As a school that embraces and celebrates the diversity and individuality of each of our students (and adults!), we still need to work at helping students of middle school age to be empathetic.  Some are born with overflowing empathy.  For others it doesn't come as naturally.  All children are "rigged" to treat each other with kindness.  This is evident in elementary schools, where students are always so helpful and caring to each other.  Yet as hormones kick in, social situations get more challenging, and boundaries are tested, empathy can sometimes take a back seat in the teenage brain.  It is therefore so critical, as our pre-teens and teens develop and move through this challenging time of their lives, that we give them many opportunities to learn about and to practice empathy and perspective taking.   The venues at Coolidge in which we address topics of empathy, bias, perspective, and diversity include: Advisory groups; 7th grade Health class; 8th grade Choices class (tied in with Wellness); Social Studies and ELA; and A World of Difference.  There are additional opportunities that come up naturally, spurred on by current events.

Parents and teachers (and students, of course) have the power to model empathy and to encourage students to remove bias and judgement when they meet new people and are in new situations.  Students hear what we say, watch how we respond, and copy what they see modeled.  Are we being our best selves to model the empathy that we expect in our own students, both with other adults and with children?

Many staff will be sharing the following (short) video clip with students and will be discussing it.  It focuses on a middle school football team modeling empathy for a fellow player.  I was quite moved, and hope you enjoy it!

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50157962n

Bonjour

First and foremost, I want to acknowledge that the events of this past week likely touched each of us in some way.  If you or someone you know was impacted directly by what happened in Danvers, know that the Coolidge community supports you and please let us know how we can help.  It was a  tragedy that has impacted us all of us for many reasons.  We feel impacted not only due to the proximity and similarity of the town of Danvers to Reading, but aslo we are impacted as teachers, students, mothers, fathers, guardians, sons, daughters, siblings, friends, and peers.  Know that at Coolidge and in all of the Reading schools, the safety of our students and staff is of paramount importance.

In times such as these, many of us feel the need to hold our own children a bit tighter, slip in an extra kiss (or for those of us who are parents of teens, then perhaps finding success by landing a kiss on them at all!), play a bit longer, and to be more present in our interactions.  Yet a true testament to the trust our Coolidge parents have in the school became evident on Thursday morning when parents of Team Gemini 8th graders brought their sons and daughters to Coolidge, their bags packed, ready for their trip to Quebec, Canada. Rather than holding them tighter during an emotional week, they had the trust and conviction to let their kids go.  Thank you, parents!  It was so nice to see the students lined up to get on the bus, the numbers of students exactly as it should have been, saying "au revoir" and "adieu" as they made their way onto the bus.

And what a success the trip was! As the students and chaperones got off of the bus on Saturday night, they were tired, happy, and safe.  The trip was filled with experiences that will become a lifetime memory for the students who could be part of this opportunity.  Special thanks to Mrs. Klein for leading and chaperoning the trip, Mrs. Cuscuna for helping to coordinate and for chaperoning, and to Mr. Smith and Mr. Bernard for chaperoning. Trips like these take full and complete attention and energy on behalf of the chaperones, with the cargo so prescious!

Enjoy the week ahead!  Happy Halloween!

Parent Open House School Dance

Well, there’s an idea!  A Parent Open House Dance!  Should we try it in the spring?  Are you breaking into a cold sweat with "Sixteen Candles"-like memories?  No worries, I won’t make you dance next time.  My rewrite of the title is: Parent Open House; School Dance.  And what I mean to speak of is in two parts:

Parent Open House

First of all, what a pleasure it was to see so many parents at Friday’s Open House!  I know work schedules keep many parents from attending, for which I am sorry and fully understanding, as I am sure you would have loved to be there!  To those who were able to attend, thank you for sharing your time with the Coolidge community.  Some children openly welcome parents; many others seem to cringe at the sight of anyone over the age of 30!  Whether they admit it or not, they feel supported to see you walking their middle school halls and sharing in their school experience.  So thank you for sharing their experience, celebrating their wonderful teachers, and for being part of our Coolidge Community in this way!  In addition, thank you to the various PTO members and parents who donated coffee, snacks, and time to make the experience flow!

I personally enjoyed experiencing the Open House from two new perspectives this year.  Firstly, as an administrator, I was able to spend more time than usual visiting with parents and sharing in the all-school excitement.  I also had the opportunity to be a part of a (faulty fire alarm-induced) fire evacuation during the Open House, timed perfectly so that parents and district administrators could participate!  How fun!  And well done, everyone!!!  Secondly, as a parent, I enjoyed attending the parent coffee hosted by Team Voyager, I sat in on a few classes, and saw my son and his teachers “in action”.  It was great!

And as if the day wasn’t long enough, we got to cap it off with the first school dance of the 2013-2014 school year!

In attendance included: a darkly-shrouded ghost-type persona; a Mario character; an Ironman figure; a riddling elf; an alien; a Monster High girl; and 125 other characters (some in costume).  I was “on the alert”, paying close attention to the distance between girls and boys.  What I didn’t expect was that I would have to instead monitor the running AWAY of girls from boys, boys from girls, and so on.  There was a lot of running!  And a lot of fun was had by all.  Thanks to the Student Council, and to this year’s Student Council advisors, Mrs. DeBenedetto and Mrs. Herlihy, for organizing/coordinating/ chaperoning!!!!  In addition, thanks to Mrs. Warren and Mr. Bernard for chaperoning, to Mrs. Pink, who kept tabs on the money and the doors, to Rafael Mercado, who helped to set up, break down, etc., and to  Mr. Martin, who tried to show up in disguise as an administrator, but we recognized him immediately as a child at heart.  :)

Coolidge's Caring Community...

Middle schools are raw with emotion.  There are the emotions of the students, both high and low, as they go through such a transitional time in their lives.  There are the emotions of the staff, who are passionate about the students and to their dedication to teaching.  And there are connections that deepen these emotions: among students, between students and teachers, and among the staff as we unite to support the educational, emotional, and behavioral well being of our students.

It is at times easy to take these connections for granted, or to not stop and pause and to appreciate the power of connections.  And yet I had one of these moments on Friday when John McCarthy told his students that he would be taking a medical leave to start chemotherapy treatments for bladder cancer (starting immediately and lasting at least until January).  John was very emotional, as were the students who expressed concern, questions, and some tears at the news.  After school, students lined up to shake his hand, take photos with him, ask more questions, and to give hugs.  It was hard to maintain composure myself, as it was so touching to watch students share their thanks, their concern, and their well wishes to such a beloved teacher.  And then once the halls had cleared of students, staff were doing the same.

John is a private person, so I will be working with others to create opportunities for staff, students, and parents to support him in ways that respects his request for privacy.  He did offer for all students to email him at any time if they want to reach out.

All of the staff, students, and parents of our Coolidge Community wish John well over the next few months and success in his battle against cancer!

Lastly, this event provides a reminder for students, staff, and parents alike to reflect on our connections: to cherish those we have and to work on those that need nurturing!  I am personally grateful for all of the wonderful connections that make Coolidge so special, for staff and students alike.

Chickens and the Arts

Did I get your attention with that post title?  :)

This post will be a bit more random than my last ones, as I have a few updates on unrelated topics.

First of all, thanks to those of you who attended our fist PTO meeting last Tuesday.  We appreciated the information presented by school counselor Marlene Lifshin and school psychologist Laura Vance about transitions.  For next month's meeting, we would love to have a presentation and discussion about internet safety, and are looking for someone who is qualified to present on this!  If you have anyone who you know of, please have them contact me!

Related to the PTO, the Magazine Drive/ Cookie Dough fundraiser is under way, with October 8 being the last day for orders.  I don't want to be a "Debbie Downer" here, but numbers are down this year.  We have seen this falling trend over the last few years as digital media options rise, which is understandable.  Yet we did hope for better results this year, given that the PTO has tried hard to narrow down their funraising efforts to only one fundraiser (this one) and have tried to balance the money they need to raise with having a greater Direct Donation amount that families can donate to the PTO.  If you haven't already turned in your Direct Donation and yet intend to do so, please know it is not too late and any donations will be appreciated.  In addition, if you or your family do enjoy receiving a magazine or two and could purchase or renew them through your child, the school benefits directly!  And what does this have to do with chickens?  For every 2 orders of cookie dough or magazines, a baby chick gets donated to a needy family in Bangladesh!  That's pretty neat!

Now to switch gears.  As most of you know, the Town of Reading and the Reading schools believe strongly in incorporating the arts in our curriculum and extracurricular opportunities.  As I have been updating the Comet and Edline calendars, it is evident that there are many exciting opportunities to take part in the arts.  After school activities include:

• Tuesdays: Chime Choir
• Tuesdays: Advanced Choir
• Thursdays: Jazz Band
• This Thursday: an informational meeting about the middle school production of "Seussical"
• Fridays: a student-developed acapella group (the "Trouble Clefs")
• Second Semester: Art Club

In school, it is a pleasure to walk around and to hear the 6th and 7/8 bands and chorus groups filling the rooms with instruments and voices, to hear songs from "the days of old" in the History of Music class, to see students composing their own music in the Music Composition class, and to see students of all grades engrossed in stimulating art activities in the art room in both art and enrichment classes.  With students feeling increased pressures in academics and sports, it is nice to see them finding an outlet, and inspiration, in the arts.  In addition, it directly benefits brain development as well.  Encourage your son/ daughter to take part in these opportunities and to stick with them, as they truly are enriching!

I have been asked to post one deadline related to the arts: Advanced Chorus students who wish to see "A Christmas Story: The Musical" in December need to hand in a permission slip by Tuesday, October 8 to Mrs. Prindiville. Feel free to email her directly for more information or for a copy of the permission slip (samantha.prindiville@reading.k12.ma.us).

Also for your calendars, I want to highlight that Friday, October 18 is our in-school Open House.  It's a great time for parents to shadow their son/daughter to see what a school day looks like at Coolidge!  You are welcome to attend for all or any part of the day!  Also, be aware that there is no school on Monday, October 14 (Columbus Day) or Tuesday, October 15 (which is a staff in-service day).

Have a great week!

Getting Busy!

I just spent time not only uploading our most recent Coolidge Comet, but also putting activities and dates on the Edline calendar.  Updating these brought to light that there are many amazing opportunities for students at Coolidge not only during school but also after school!  Thank you to all of the staff and to the PTO for making these opportunities possible!  What the calendar does not reflect is all of the other things that are going on before and after school to support students: check ins (and outs) with teachers; extra help; homework programs; high school mentors; student volunteers.... and the list goes on!  Amazing!
As I speak of "all that is going on", it seems like a good moment to thank Mrs. Pink, for her focused and heartfelt efforts to staff the buildilng and to support all that goes on in the building every day.  Also thanks to Mrs. Zanni and Mrs. Mungenast in the front office; the first month of school is an unbelievably busy time in the office, and they have been efficient, steadfast, and calm in their amazing efforts!

I would like to invite parents to our first PTO meeting this Tuesday at 7:00 in the MPR. The meeting will start with PTO updates/business, followed by a short presentation on Transitions, with a Q&A session to follow.  This will be led by two of our student support staff, Marlene Lifshin and Laura Vance.   Feel free to check out the links on my blog if you would like to read more about transitions, and feel free to bring any questions or concerns you have!

And to close, I want to acknowledge that many projects are under way to help our students be a part of their "Communities"!  I will post pictures to keep you posted on some great projects!  This week, I captured a few homerooms cleaning up the greater Coolidge/Fields areas!  Well done, everyone!

I hope you have been enjoying this amazing weather (as I write this I am sitting on my deck, enjoying the sun, the breeze, and the fall foliage)!

Community

You might have already heard me speak about how important "community" is at Coolidge.  But community is not exclusive to what is going on within the walls of Coolidge, but it is also about Coolidge's place as part of a greater Reading community.  The teachers at Coolidge will be reinforcing this idea with students this year, using the word "Community" with many things that we do.  For example, in our daily actions we think about our impact on our close community.  To a greater extent, we will be encouraging students to think beyond themselves and to contribute more actively to our greater community.  This has already begun!

For example, in Mrs. Jacobsmeier's 6th grade Social Studies classes, she challenged all students to make a 9/11 pledge of service using the phrase: "I will...".  This message then spread into different grades and settings, and these statements now hang in the hallways throughout Coolidge.  Students and teachers alike have made pledges to extend themselves by doing acts of help or kindness, and have been celebrating the fulfillment of these pledges.

Another example is how Coolidge has connected with the Reading Climate Advisory Committee to participate in the Green Apple Day of Service (thanks to president Joan Boegel!) (http://mygreenapple.org/).  The official day of this is September 28.  Many advisory groups have used this connection to brainstorm what their goals are for the fall and for the year in terms of helping their communities.  Some have already begun cleaning the grounds of the school, others are tending gardens, and others are reaching out to local senior centers and schools to plan on projects.

I encourage you to talk with your sons and daughters about their part in various communities: your families, the school, Reading, and beyond.  How do we help them to become aware citizens who contribute to the greater good?  We do this by giving opportunity and reinforcing the importance of this in various instances.

Don't forget to check out the Coolidge Comet (link above) for calendar updates, including the kick-off assemblies for the PTO's Magazine Drive.  I have changed the format of the Comet this week, removing the lunch menu items (since that is also now linked above) and including recurring events rather than typing them over and over.  I hope this works for you!  Many after school opportunities are starting, and work best with student involvement!

Open House!

When I was in middle school, I, like most middle schoolers, wanted to fit in.  The idea of public speaking was at the bottom of my list of things I wanted to do in my life, as having the undivided attention of any number of people was the most overt, standing-out type thing imaginable.  Being a teacher, politician, or motivational speaker were all off the table in any career planning I was doing at the age of 12.  So how ironic that I found myself in front of you all last night, a crowd of hundreds, without a jiggle in my knee or a drop of sweat in my palm.  Instead, I was infused by confidence, as I felt I was speaking with our community, an extended family of sorts, rather than to an audience.  Our community was all congregated in that (sweltering) space together for the same reason: because we all so deeply care for the students who come to this school every day.  Thank you to all parents who were able to attend this evening in support of the school, the staff, and your children.  And thank you to the staff who made the evening possible!  As I walked the hallways and sat in on team presentations, I was so proud of our staff, from teachers to custodians to all support staff.  We love what we do here at Coolidge, and you love the children you are sending to us, and it makes for a very positive and supportive learning environment!

It was a long, hot week this week, and I want to commend the students on "doing school" so well despite the almost oppressive heat.  We had classes seeking refuge on Thursday in the few air conditioned rooms of the school.  Water breaks were encouraged!  And we made it!  I do hope everyone has a restful weekend.

As for the week ahead, a lot of school events will be getting underway.  Please check the most recent version of the Cooldige Comet (tab above) to for times and locations for the following activities:
Monday: Student Council and Yearbook (both for any interested student)
Tuesday: A World of Difference (for those who were chosen last year)
Wednesday: Science Team (for all interested students)
Thursday: Grade 6 Math Team (for all interested 6th graders!)

Again, check out the Comet for more dates/times for upcoming events!

Science Olympiad Head Coach Needed!

The Coolidge Science Olympiad Team is searching for a new head coach!  The responsibilities of a head coach are those of organization and enjoying children.  No need to be sciency!  The head coach organizes practice schedules, helps to oversee students as they prepare to compete in 25 events in the state tournament in March, and work with the parent group, who is there to support the team.  The hours are after school (often 2:30 - 5:00), but are flexible depending on the availability of the coach.  If you, or anyone you know, is interested, please contact Mrs. Marchant at Coolidge!  This is a paid position, and would be perfect for a parent, college student, retired teacher, or teacher!

Advice on Transitions, Routines, and Independence

Greetings, Coolidge Community!

After two partial weeks of school, I feel that we have eased into school successfully.  Teachers have outlined rules and expectations, forms have been sent home and are being returned, routines have been established, and now the real work of school can begin!  The week ahead marks the first full week of our school year.  It is sure to be a bit tiring and exciting, with homework assignments being given, five days of getting up early in a row, and a Parent Open House on Thursday night!  This can be a week where kids get tired and stressed.  Creating consistent routines at home can help to alleviate stress.  Good routines include when homework is done (and where), setting a good bedtime that allows for a full night's sleep, and being sure to balance fun with work.  It's much easier to start with more structure in the beginning of the year rather than try to create it partway through!

Also, when students are in middle school, parents often have questions as to how much they should be involved in their sons/daughters lives in middle school.  These three years of middle school reflect great development, and somewhere within the three years, it is normal for the boys and girls to resist help from parents and to test out their independence.  While this is completely normal, we encourage parents to remain involved, despite pushback from students.  It is still encouraged to check student work, especially for those who might have trouble completing homework consistently and thoroughly.  That being said, please do not do a child's homework for them, or fix too many mistakes.  Letting them know generally where/what the mistakes are, or directing them to what might need to be fixed, is different than doing it yourselves.

In addition, we often find parents struggling with how many freedoms to give their children outside of school (for example, on early release days).  While these freedoms might change or become more as a child ages, one thing that should remain routine is parent contact.  Please take time to get to know each other, to reach out and to introduce yourself, and to build relationships so that you feel comfortable calling each other when plans are made between your children.  It's encouraged that parents contact each other and work togetether to know where your children are and to work as a community to keep our children safe!

Some weekly announcements:

• After school homework support begins Monday, September 9!  This includes the library (open until 4:00 except for Fridays and early release days); Homework Hangout; and also HPR for 7th and 8th graders!
• Please be aware that Wednesday September 11 is an Early Release Day.  Students will be released at 1:00.
• Slight adjustments were made to the Coolidge Dates of Interest (link above) for the Magazine Drive Kick-Off Assembly as well as for the Winter Concert Dates.
• The Coolidge Comet has been updated.  Please note the addition of a Select Chorus Audition on September 24.

I look forward to seeing parents on Thursday evening!  We will start the evening with a principal/PTO presentation in the cafeteria, followed by opportunities for parents to hear from their student's teachers.  It's a wonderful opportunity to become familiar with the teachers, their expectations, and to also come and see how the building is looking!

Library and Homework Announcements

• The library will be open after school starting Monday, September, 9th.  The hours are Monday - Thursday, 2:30 - 4:00.  The library is closed on half days and on Friday afternoons.
• Check the Library Media Center Edline Page (http://www.edline.net/pages/Arthur_W__Coolidge_Middle_Scho/Library_Media_Center) for news pertaining to the Library Media Center.  This week there is a list of the newest titles added to the collection and the introduction of the new Coolidge Library Twitter (https://twitter.com/MrsSteinhauser)
• Homework Hangout will also begin on Monday, September 9.  A signup sheet is on Edline.  It runs after school from 2:35 - 3:35, Monday - Thursday in room F-3.
• HPR will also begin on Monday, September 9.  Students in grades 7 and 8 who do not complete their homework will be expected to stay to complete the wor (1/2 hour per assignment).  This meets in room B-4.

And Here We Go!

Wow!  I can't believe what a change people make to this building!  For the last two days, the hallways and classrooms have been bustling with adult energy as we get ready for the arrival of students tomorrow.  We can't wait to see them all!

A few calendar updates:
-Homework Hangout will start the week of September 9!

A reminder to 6th graders and their parents:
-Lunch will be in the cafeteria on the first day, NOT a pizza party, as originally stated in the letter that went home!
As students transition from summer to school, there can be MANY different emotions.  The staff here at Coolidge want to make this transition as smooth as possible!  Reassure your sons and daughters we will do all we can to help make the transition smooth, and that if there are any needs along the way, we are here to help!

I hope you all get a good night's sleep and we will see the students in the morning!

Welcome to Coolidge!

Welcome to my blog, one that I will use as Principal of Cooldige Middle School to update families on events, announcements, celebrations, and the general "goings on" at Coolidge!  I will also link other Coolidge blogs to this one so that you have a place where you feel connected to our special school!

It has been a busy summer here at Coolidge.  Mrs. Pink and I, with the support of Mrs. Zanni in the office, have been working on student schedules and curriculum.  Bo and Rafael have been busy sprucing up the building (which is looking great) and getting the classrooms ready.  But it's a strange place to be without the energy of our most important people, the students!  So I can't tell you how excited I am for your return, students!  We have a fun and exciting year ahead of us!