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April
2005
COMMUNITY
- Notes
from the Principal
- To save a newspaper...
- Youth
Build of Boston celebrates their graduates
- Faculty Spotlight:M. L.: Baltimore
Bayhawks player is valued sub. at F. A. Day
- S. F. takes home Faculty Foul-Ups
Crown
- P.T.O.: New database will speed
flow of information
- The Ralph Morse Memorial Library
at F.A. Day: P.T.O. book fair will build into Library
June 1st - 3rd
- Day Student Council: This year's
council has set fund-raising records
- Principal shares budget cuts with
School Council
If the headline of a story isn't a hyperlink, then the text of the story has not been posted yet. Please check back soon!
In 24 years we never failed to publish...on time.
And, for most of that time we were guided by our advisor,
Robert Provencher (“Prov”).
When he told us on March the 7th that, due to his
reassignment next year, the paper would fold, and that,
for professional reasons, he could not be involved
in any efforts to save the paper, our world collapsed.
Over a 3-week period, under the student leadership
of the paper, a group of supportive parents, and an
understanding new principal, we got a crash course
in democratic action, the First Amendment at work,
and, incidentally, we saved THE DAYTIME.
After the initial shock we organized ourselves. We
knew we had very little time. We decided the following:
• We prepared and passed out a fact sheet detailing
the paper’s accomplishments and its value to
the community [mention publication
of this fact sheet on page B1 of the March the 16th
edition];
• We prepared a mailing to all DAYTIME parents
explaining the situation [quote from Prov’s letter]
and asking for help in the form of letters, phone calls,
and e-mails to the City’s decision-makers;
• We started attending any, and all, budget
hearings to get our message out [give details of who
spoke and what they said];
• We planned, and carried out, a peaceful march
to City Hall on our own time to plead our case to the
mayor [describe march];
• We tapped professional journalists who had
a vested interest in our
future [ cite examples]; and,
• We crossed our fingers.
In the end, it was our new principal, Gina Healy,
who came up with a plan to save the paper.
Ironically, in a month when we received our 5th consecutive
GOLD CROWN from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association,
it was the threatened loss of the paper which made
us appreciate the real value of the First Amendment.
...I vividly recall
the tireless dedication demonstrated by THE
DAYTIME staff and yourself to producing
a quality student newspaper each month - Jeffrey
Goldings, Day parent |
I have always felt
that THE DAYTIME and the work
done by the staff members of THE DAYTIME was
the pillar of the Day community - Jack O’Connor,
Day teacher |
...(this is) a chance
to voice my opinions through a paper that is read
and respected not only by Newton kids and adults
alike, but also by even the highest and most recognized
world wide news publication, TIME magazine. If
that’s not making a difference, nothing short
of being a political figure is - C. H., DAYTIME editor |
Here is a challenge
for you. Name a school course that meets the following
criteria:
- teaches integrity, honesty, and accuracy
as the foundation of the course
- teaches critical thinking, reading and
writing skills
- focuses extensively on revising and
editing
- teaches kids that they can achieve high
standards, and nothing less than their best
is acceptable
- Jay Harney, Newton Alderman |
I think that especially
today, in this world that is so image oriented,
giving to more than 100 students a different view
and formation deserves pause for consideration
- E. P., Day teacher |
Although short lived,
my contribution to THE DAYTIME remains
one of the most valuable experiences of my life
at any school. I now am a staff writer for The
Dartmouth, the college newspaper, and
I have been quite successful, especially for a
freshman. I look back and am pretty sure that if THE
DAYTIME did not install this passion in
me at an early age, journalism would not be part
of my life today - Philip L. Salinger, Day alumnus |
Our son has learned
more about writing, interviewing, deadlines, group
work, editing and independent thinking from his
efforts at THE DAYTIME than in
his core language classes - Shawna Giggey, Day
parent/P. T. O. |
This operation, from
the reporting to the editing to the financing,
brings together students from all backgrounds in
all three grades in a united effort which is unique
in this age group (and also involves any parent
willing to help out - a treat in middle school)
- Pippi Ellison, Newton taxpayer |
THE DAYTIME is
not merely an inconsequential extracurricular program.
It is one of the finest scholastic publications
in the country, as verified by its numerous awards
and commendations. It has been ranked as superior
to most high school newspapers by some of the most
respected institutions in the country. To discontinue
the publication of THE DAYTIME is
to terminate one of Day Middle School’s most
successful programs, one that has been crucial
to the identity of the school for years - Silas
Ellison, DAYTIME co-editor-in-chief,
emeritus |
Mr. Provencher is
one of the finest mentors for adolescents that
we have seen in the fifteen (15) years of our association
with the Newton School system. We would suggest
that your elimination of his ability to continue
as advisor to the newspaper would be the metaphorical
equivalent of throwing the baby out with the bath
water - Joan Rosser, Newton taxpayer |
Successful programs,
like THE DAYTIME, must be jealously
protected and celebrated. The sense of responsibility
that is instilled into every student who goes through
Prov’s regimen is something that stays with
the kids for a lifetime - Josh Conescu |
The students lucky
enough to secure a spot in this demanding, yet
exceedingly popular, program are on the receiving
end of an education that fosters initiative, diligence,
teamwork, creative writing and thinking, plus a
sense of community. In other words, what every
parent dreams of - Kristen Grannan, Newton taxpayer |
by M. W.
To show people how important THE DAYTIME was to us
and the Newton community, we prepared and passed out
a fact sheet. The fact sheet included explanations
of how THE DAYTIME is necessary for helping students
mature and for spreading information about the school
and the community. The contents of the fact sheet were
included on page B1 of the March the 16th edition.
The main points of the sheet included:
THE DAYTIME involves 110 students running a business.
The money needed to print the paper, acquire software,
hardware, and supplies is raised entirely by them by
selling ads.
The reputation the paper had built over the years
is a source of school and community pride. THE DAYTIME
serves as a national example of what kids, who are
enabled and trusted, can accomplish by means of reasoned
and responsible actions on their part. They discipline
themselves.
The only cost to the city is that of 1⁄2 of
the advisor’s salary, and the cost of the space
it occupies.
THE DAYTIME has established itself as an effective,
accurate, and dependable communications vehicle within
it’s community. Among other features, the paper
carries the P.T.O’s and the principal’s
monthly newsletters more efficiently and effectively
that they would be distributed on their own. Indeed,
in a large survey conducted by the P.T.O. last year,
parents/guardians indicated overwhelmingly that they
looked to THE DAYTIME for their news of the school
as opposed to any other communication vehicle, e. g.
e-mail.
by R. P.
A major factor of THE DAYTIME’s preservation
was the letters mailed home to multitudes of families.
Parents Shawna Giggey and Carol Hiller were the main
advocates who compiled the addresses of all members
of THE DAYTIME staff. They then organized each grade
to write addresses of the parents which were eventually
sent out. Letters were sent to not only to current
DAYTIME families, but alumnae of the newspaper as well.
Several sheets of paper were compactly packed into
each envelope, entailing the crisis, a copy of a personal
letter from DAYTIME advisor Robert Provencher, a DAYTIME
fact sheet, and a schedule of the School Committee
FY ‘06 Budget Discussion Calendar. Notes from
Hiller and Giggey, a list of the addresses of the aldermen
and school committee members, and a petition sheet
were included as well.
“Photocopying, envelopes, and postage were
donated,” says Giggey. Two volunteers took two
days to complete the mailing.
As for the effect of the mailing handouts, Hiller
believes “...they were very important.” Many
aldermen and school committee members had not realized
that the proposed cut of the literacy specialists would
also be severing Provencher’s position and the
paper.
The letters made the community “aware” of
what could have been “the demise of THE DAYTIME,” according
to Hiller. Giggey also strongly believes that the sending
of the letters affected the outcome. “I do believe
the student, parent, alumnae and public shows of support
in the form of calls, letters, the student march, and
petition-signing made a difference,” Giggey states.
The letters proved to have been crucial for “...the
school committee was very receptive to concerns voiced
by the students. The mayor was also interested in the
signed petition forms,” says Giggey.
The mailing lists also helped spread the word for
media coverage which “...helped educate a broad
audience about this valuable middle school learning
experience,” exclaims Giggey.
by S. S.
By attending School Committee meetings en masse,
DAYTIME staffers made an impression of what the paper
meant to them. Furthermore, certain reporters gave
speeches to the meetings, including 7th grader B. M..
On Monday, March the 14th, Miller delivered a speech
in which he said, in defense of the paper, “It
would not only be a very cruel decision to those on
the paper, but it would be a very bad decision education-wise,” said
Miller. “I learn more about writing in THE DAYTIME
than I do in my core English classes, and I learn more
about group work in THE DAYTIME than I do anywhere
else.”
Furthermore, several staffers attended a meeting
on Thursday, March the 24th. Several had come prepared
with speeches protesting the folding of THE DAYTIME.
Ironically, at the very beginning of the meeting,
Superintendent Jeff Young gave a short speech in which
he said that THE DAYTIME would survive, to great applause
from the staffers present.
So, instead of going up and protesting to the School
Committee, Co-Editor in Chief D. W. went to the microphone
and expressed the gratitude of the whole news organization.
by E. K.
The position of literacy specialist was going to
be terminated. In a few weeks the budget was going
to be voted on and this cut would become final. THE
DAYTIME was going to be destroyed forever. Period.
Something had to be done... and fast.
This is pretty much all I knew when the idea of the
march to City Hall was decided. The planning that was
ahead was going to be a big deal and time consuming.
I had to notify the press, arrange a meeting, get 110
kids to co-operate, and deal with the petitions which
was a whole other issue, not to mention time devoted
to school committee meetings and other obligations.
So, first every DAYTIME member was informed about
the plan and briefed and re-briefed and re-re-briefed
on new, ever growing pieces of information.
Then a meeting with the mayor was arranged. That’s
harder than it sounds because, as you know, the mayor
is a busy man. After all, the press were notified two
days before the march.
After approximately 130- 145 people (much larger
outcome than we expected) gathered at Day’s famous
flagpole. The masses of maroon, DAYTIME shirt-wearing
staff set off.
I had a nice view from the front of the line, accompanied
by D. W., S. S., C. A.-L., and others. It was a pleasant
walk, just a smidgen on the disorganized side, but
who cares?
As we arrived at City Hall, B. M. had snapped anywhere
between 1 million and 4 million photographs. An hour
later we were on our way home after a quiet little
chat with Mayor Cohen and, of course, we had power
in numbers.
A few days later I got a nice message on my answering
machine from Cohen telling me that the newspaper was
saved. Everything we had worked for turned out and
did not turn out to be a waste of time. I felt good,
to say the least.
by N. G.
Before the march we contacted the professional press.
Channels 5 and 7, THE BOSTON GLOBE,
and THE NEWTON TAB were notified of
the impending march. THE TAB, Channel
5, NEWTONITE, and THE NEWS-TRIBUNE covered
the event.
After the march, a letter appeared in the TAB ,
written by two GLOBE writers, Alex
Beam and Charles P. Pierce. In the letter they announced
their support for the paper and lauded the efforts
of the staff.
The GLOBE had previously published
several articles by Matt Viser on Newton’s budget
woes in the GLOBE WEST section of
the paper that used THE DAYTIME as
their focus.
by A. H.-B.
It was up to principal Gina Healy to make the difficult
decisions on the specific budget cuts for F. A. Day.
"My goal was to make cuts that had the least
impact on the quality of program, student life, and
learning as possible," said Healy. Healy, however,
recognized THE DAYTIME's importance to Day, and from
the beginning, wanted to maintain the momentum of the
program as best she could.
Advisor Robert Provencher's position of literary
specialist had been eliminated, and he was reassigned
as an English teacher. This would have meant that he
would have no time to run the Write Way periods which
are essential to the production of THE DAYTIME.
But Healy managed to come up with a compromise that
would meet the requirements of the budget cut while
allowing THE DAYTIME to continue publishing monthly,
at its previous standard. This was managed by cutting
the media position and replacing it with Provencher's
literacy position.
by B. H.-M.
Youth Build of Boston celebrated the success of their
graduates on Tuesday, March 15th, 2005. Gathering their
heads, they celebrated with food and speeches by the
graduates.
Youth Build started in 1978 in Harlem. Dorothy Stoneman,
founder and president, and some local kids starting
rebuilding some old buildings in East Harlem. These
teens had made some “bad” choices in the
past.
Ever since then, teens, aged 14 to 24 years, have
come to Youth Build to finish high school or get a
GED, getting into college or finding them suitable
jobs. Their building in Harlem is the oldest non profit
youth group organization in the United States.
Darnell Leacock, a student in Youth Build, has a “...very
busy” day at Youth Build. He says that there
many activities each day, like community work, elderly
help, cleaning houses, construction projects, etc.
Older students gather their friends and other teens
and help to teach them stuff at the organization. “One
day you’re at a construction site, another day
at class,” says Leacock. Each person at Youth
Build has collage teachers that voluntarily teach and
have students participate in events, such as block
parties.
Michael Parker is graduate of this organization and
now a student developer. What he does is find the “blueprint” for
kids who haven’t been in school so they can get
into college and find a good job. Parker came to Youth
Build three years ago when his friend Trevor Daniels,
who was a graduate, saw him on the streets and told
him of the organization. Parker was a high school dropout
and didn’t have his diploma, so he joined.
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