ALICE Drill

Talk about a community effort!  This week's ALICE training and drill was a complete success in regards to training and implementation.  A huge thanks to our School Resource Officer Corey Santasky, Superintendent John Doherty and Assistant Superintendent Mary DeLai, the district Safety Committee, and school committee representatives James Henerberry and Christian Huizenga, who all worked closely with us to put this new safety plan in place.

While it is not a topic that we like to think about much less practice for, the process itself resulted in a greater sense of control and empowerment among students and staff.

I have been asked whether we would do a drill like this unannounced.  The answer is no.  I would never want students and staff to be put in a position where they feel out of control or frightened just for practice.

Thank you for working with us to communicate with our students about safety!

Digital Media Safety: A Community Approach

This week included the second of what will hopefully be many presentations about digital media safety.  The first, for parents, was held in the fall at a PTO evening meeting.  At that presentation, our School Resource Officer, Corey Santasky, presented to parents about popular apps and digital media, including those that he and his colleagues seem as currently most problematic with teens.  He also spoke of both face to face as well as internet bullying and harassment.  With all of these, he also spoke to the legal implications of inappropriate use.  I know that I, along with many parents, found it very informative, and there was a resounding feeling that parents wanted students to hear the same messages.

To that end, Officer Santasky has been preparing to speak with our students about these topics.  This week, he began the first of what will be three grade-level presentations on the topics of online bullying and harassment and their legal consequences as well as what is safe vs. not safe to share online.  The topic of the taking, sharing, and distribution of inappropriate photographs (and videos) and their implications was one important topic that was addressed, as this issue is on the rise in all communities, including Reading.  Current research states that this rising trend of sharing inappropriate photographs ("sexting") is a trend for adolescents as they explore adolescence and sexuality.  Yet these explorations can have serious consequences that are not always clear to teens.  We therefore want to make sure that our Coolidge students are making informed decisions as they use their devices, and are clear about the consequences.

While we believe that this assembly made an impression on our 8th graders, and will hopefully make a similar impression in the versions we share with the other grades (keeping the material grade-appropriate), we feel strongly that the messages need to be repeated, reinforced, and part of the online culture that our students are building together.  If we can empower them to be their own best judges and jury, to set high standards for communication online, and to focus on safe communication, then we help students reduce the risk of creating a damaging digital footprint that could impact their future.  We hope that parents will join us in supporting our students to make good choices and to monitor their appropriate internet use.

We will continue to keep parents informed of assemblies and discussions about this topic, and encourage you to take part in future presentations as well.  We also encourage you to speak with your teens about this important issue, to monitor their internet and cell phone use, communicate with other parents, and to let us know if there are concerns that you think we should address at school

It DOES take a village, doesn't it?

An Ode to Seussical

To Seussical the Musical, from Mrs. Marchant:

The stage lights dimmed

Jojo ran from stage right

To discover the striped hat focused in the center light.

Soon to follow came

The Cat in the Hat, don’t you know!
Who put that hat right on the head of his bro.

So Coolidge play began

Otherwise known as “Seussical”

What I learned tonight… It is one special musical!

Let’s give some credit,

Where credit is due,

Such as hats off to that Elephant, (You know: Horton the Who!)

He was not the lone singer

There were many, at that!
Such as Gretrude McFuzz, And the Cat in the Hat!

More beautiful singers included

The jazzy Mayzie Labird.

While the Sour Kangaroo was one of the sweetest voices I heard!

The Wickersham Brothers

Danced in intimidating fits,

While a strong voice emerged from General Gengus Khan Schmitz.

The Bird Girls swayed their hips,

The Dancers jumped and flipped,

The Jungle Creatures sang, and danced, and dipped.

The Grinch, with a heart

Growing sizes throughout

Sang with Cindy Lou Who (Their problems sorted out.)

The Whos down in Whoville

Were as sweet as could be

From their speck they did call: “Horton: Do you hear me?”

The cadets marched so neatly

In such great contrast

To the Circus Performers who flipped and twisted by fast!

The entire production

Was a marvelous feat

I was so lucky to have such a special front seat!

To the actors and actresses,

To the technical crew,

To Ms. Loussedes, Ms. Prindiville, and the orchestra, too!

The singing, the dancing,

The costumes, the set.

This was one of the best Coolidge musicals I have seen yet! 

Congratulations to you all

For a production that was just beautiful!
Thanks for all your hard work in Seussical the Musical!

A Personal Message

Dear Coolidge Community,

I decided to write this week's blog post in letter format to you, as it seems more personal, and my message this week is very personal.

As you have likely heard, I have been officialy appointed as the Principal of Coolidge.  This means I will officially stay on in the role of principal moving forward.  I am extremely honored to have been offered this opportunity as well as extremely excited to be able continue to have an impact from this vantage point.  While my learning curve has been steep, I feel that I am coming into my own as an administrator, and I am very much enjoying the new challenges and opportunities this new opportunity affords.

The decision to stay on in this role is not a decision I took lightly.  As is the case with all parents, we try to find a balance among all of the aspects of life, including family, work, and selves.  No matter what job I take on in life, be it parenting, teaching, being a principal,  etc., I want to do that job well and to give it my absolute best.  These past six months have allowed me time to see if I could balance the aspects of life and to also feel that I was giving both my family and Coolidge the quality involvement that both deserve.  It was important for me to weigh all aspects of this decision, as I care so greatly for both my family as well as the Coolidge community.

Now that the position has been offered and accepted, I feel completely invested in the role and decision.  I feel more energized than ever to continue to be the best principal I can be for Coolidge for the sake of the students, staff, and parents.  And so it is with a full heart, and full committment to do my absolute best, that I move forward in this position.  I appreciate the support of so many of you, and very much look forward to all we will share moving forward as we work together to make Coolidge the best it can be!

With warm regards,
Sarah Marchant