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JUNE 2005Volume 24, No. 11, June 08, 2005 COMMUNITY
Speak for Yourselfby E. E. and A. R. Question: What was your most memorable experience at F.A. Day this year? J. C. - (Silver): “I think just maybe meeting my students for the first time because I knew it was going to be a great year.” M. H. - (Platinum): “The day when we reached 1, 760 new book and toy donations for Student Council.” J. O'C. - (Jade): “We went to a reconstructed Egyptian tomb called 5-WITS and that was my most memorable experience.” R. B. - (Coral): “Ms. Healy was hired as our permanent principal.” A. C. - (Green): “Thank you students and parents for contributing in so many positive ways this year.” S. F .- (Blue): “When students painted me blue at Nature’s Classroom.” Teachers: What are you planning to do for vacation this spring or summer?by N. R. - S. G. (Blue Team science) and A. G. (Blue Team English): “Our plan for vacation is that we’re going to go to Vermont and go to a spa.” - J. T. (guidance): “I plan to get my boat in the water and get out fishing.” - P. P. (Silver Team science): “My plans are to travel where I’ve never been before and take the time to spend time with people that I love.” - C. G. (librarian): “My daughter is studying abroad; she’s a junior in college, so I’m going to Milan with her.” - S. F. (Blue Team social studies): “ China! My wife and I are taking my kids for three weeks.” - E. P. (Italian): “I’m going for two months in Italy. I am going to stay 10 days in Venice, two days in Florence, and the rest of my time in the Dolomites, which are obviously the most breathtaking mountains in the world.” - E. B. (Silver Team math): “We are doing our annual camping trip with all of my siblings and their children and friends.” - J. S. (Orange Team English): “Usually I go to New Hampshire, but I don’t have anything planned yet. - N. C. (Green Team social studies): “I go to the cape for 2 weeks. It’s certainly not exciting, but I love it.” - B. W. (art): “I am going to Germany this summer. I’m going to study oil painting. Faculty spotlightS. E. is a respected artistby B. M. Known and loved by many students, and unmistakable for her blue and purple hair and unique philosophical perspective, S. E. is a familiar figure at Day. She is also a sculptor, painter, drawer, and was a videographer, working with jazz and punk rock bands, including Sun Ra. S. E. was born September 2, 1948 in Huntington, West Virginia. She decided to have a career in art, “...when I was born.” She attended Marshall University and graduated with a degree in art education, after which she moved to the Boston area and attended the Cambridge-Goddard School for Social Change. S. E. graduated from the Cambridge-Goddard School in 1976, and had a brief stint as a 4th-grade teacher before becoming an artist. During the years in which she was an artist, she had a variety of other jobs, including a computer graphics designer, editorial page designer for THE BOSTON GLOBE, a videographer, and “...a series of jobs in public health.” On her 50th birthday, she started teaching again, here at Day. When asked why she thinks that she is so popular with kids, S. E. said that, “I respect middle schoolers...I think that they have as much to offer me as I them.” Day’s school nurseSummer advice from the nurseby R. J. Bike riding this summer will be much safer if you wear a helmet and closed-toe shoes. In general, protect feet by wearing shoes or sandals, “...because you never know if there is broken glass,” advises M. L. S., RN, Day’s school nurse. M. L. S. also suggests taking care of cuts by cleaning them out with soap and water, or hydrogen peroxide. Teenagers, indeed, everyone, should refrain from activities such as jogging and cycling in the heat of the day, from 11 to 2 o’clock. Always wear sunscreen to prevent burns. Lastly, always swim with friends and not alone. Anything can happen and reasonable preparation can help. NOTES FROM THE PRINCIPALA Wonderful Year Comes to a Close! I can’t quite believe that this school year is so quickly coming to an end. Time sure flies when you’re having fun! Please know how much I appreciate all that you have done to welcome me to the Day community and to make my first year of principalship such a pleasure. Thank you to the Day staff, students, and parents for a terrific year. Day is a wonderful school, and I feel fortunate to be leading this community. In the coming weeks, we will be saying good-bye to a terrific group of eighth grade students. We are going to miss this group, and we are going to miss you; as parents, you have been a great support to this school. Thank you for entrusting us with your children’s education over these past three years. Thanking the Teachers At this time of year, parents often ask how they can show their appreciation to our teachers. One of the BEST ways you can do this is to send a note of thanks to your child's teachers. It is a simple, yet very powerful gesture that is highly appreciated. I know from personal experience that those notes are treasured and re-read often. The Newton Schools Foundation also has a wonderful fundraiser entitled, "Honor Thy Teacher". This campaign seeks donations to the Foundation in honor of a teacher who has had a profound impact on a student’s life. For more information call the Foundation at 617-559-6120. We would also appreciate donations to our library that may be made through the Josephine Komow Library Fund. Faculty Members Retiring Several members of the Day faculty will be retiring after this school year. Mark Chaffee, Instructional Technology Teacher, Annie Crosby, 8th grade English teacher, Pat Murphy, Learning Center teacher, and Blanche Wentworth, Computer Aide, will be leaving Day after many years of distinguished service. These four faculty members have made invaluable contributions to our school community, and they will be sorely missed. We wish them health and happiness in their well-deserved retirement. Thanks to Parent Volunteers On a related note, I would like to thank PTO co-presidents Margaret Hannah and Janet Porcaro. Their hard work and advocacy on behalf of Day’s students and families constantly impresses me. I look forward to Janet’s continued leadership as PTO president next year. She is working to recruit parents to fill key roles on the PTO board, and it will be great to welcome new parents on board. I want to extend special thanks to Margaret Hannah who is ending her seventh year as PTO president at Day. Her energy and commitment are just extraordinary! Margaret has been an invaluable resource to me this year, and I will always cherish her friendship .. Margaret will continue to be active in the PTO, but will leave the leadership role to Janet and others. She has been an extraordinary leader in our school and always acts for the good of the school and our children. We owe her a great deal, and I want to thank her publicly for all that she has given to this school community. In addition, many thanks go to Allison Hausman, Lisa Cohen, Marion Golin, Jeanne Scott, Margaret Hannah, and Janet Porcaro as well as faculty members, Michael Harding and Michael Pfaff who have ably served on Day’s School Council. They have spent hours in meetings, grappling with many issues central to the atmosphere and programs within our school. Allison Hausman and Marion Golin will be completing their terms Team Assignments Arrive in Late August. As a reminder, we will be sending you a mailing in August that will include the school calendar and team assignments. School will begin on Thursday, September 8. We look forward to seeing our returning families at that time, and we welcom the incoming sixth-graders and their families. In the meantime, have a relaxing, joyous summer! End of Year Calendar* Grade 8 Celebration * Wednesday Afternoon, June 22 1:00 -- 2:35 P.M. * Grade 8 Dance * Wednesday Evening, June 22 7:30 -- 10:00 P.M. * Last Day of School * Friday, June 24 Early Release Day, No Lunch Served Students Dismissed at 11:30 Day P. T. O.P. T. O.’s Book Fair is a success; Shanks will be presidentby M. D.and L. F. The P. T. O. has held their annual book fair. Students stocked up on books for the summer last week on June 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The parent meeting was held on June 1st. The P. T. O. had a great turnout at both. The P. T. O. will be adding to their staff for the new school year in September. The new slate will be published and voted in mid-June. Anyone who would like to become a member of the P. T. O. or to contribute to the P. T. O ., should contact the P. T. O. presidents. The P. T. O.’s biggest accomplishment of this year was building a stronger community through the parents and teachers. The P. T. O. president Margaret Hannah says, “We always feel a sense of accomplishment when we have built more community among parents and teachers.” The P. T. O. also feels in the past year they had a record turn out at many events. At the Auction/dinner Dance (290 people attended); the 6th grade community event had almost 100% attendance; and Faculty Foul-ups was met with rousing enthusiasm and attendance by parents, students, and staff. The P. T. O. also had two forum events for parents with “The Middle School Child.” Both had many people and the P. T. O. plans to do it again next year. The P. T. O. has some new plans for next year. It’s going to be a building year. There will be many new parents in the board and committee positions, and they will be working with principal Gina Healy as she implements her new initiatives. This last P. T. O. meeting was held on Wednesday June 1st. The meeting’s purpose was to teach parents how to keep their kids reading over the summer. There was a panel of Jamie Demarest, author Anita Diamant (whose daughter Amelia Diamant is a former Day student}, author Addie Swartz, and Randy Meyer, the librarian. After the panel spoke, people who attended had a chance to purchase books at the book fair. They also announced the new P. T. O. president to take Margaret Hannah’s place. The new president will be Kim Shanks. Day School Council School Council ends the year with a meeting about “body image”by J. C. and J. T. The Day School Council met on Wednesday, May the 25th, in the Ralph Morse Library. At this meeting N. B., Day health and dance teacher, spoke to the council about the eating disorders throughout the school, and how many children believe that this is no big deal. N. B. is also concerned about the D.A.R.E. program being taken out of the 6th and 7th grades and put in the 8th grade, to make room for the Drugs and Alcohol programs. She believes that eating disorders are as important as drugs and alcohol, but people are paying more attention to drugs and alcohol. “I think that in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades [body image and eating disorders] should be a consistent message,” N. B. said. On a positive note, N. B. likes the new Movement for Learning in the 6th grade arts rotation. This program includes Cooperative Movement Games, Keeping Fit, Yoga, Pilates, Dance and a wellness journal. Next, the school council discussed the School Improvement Plan. The School Improvement Plan is a plan to improve Day Middle School on which the school council and school committee will vote. It is organized around 4 goals in the 4 middle schools. These goals include fixing both educational and physical problems. The physical problems with Day include small issues, such as the problem of only one narrow path being shoveled in deep snow. Also, the continuing bathroom problems will be improved over the summer. The educational plans include a literacy plan, including fluency and reading assessments and teacher surveys. There is a possibility of a grade-wide writing assignment for professional development for teachers.
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