2005-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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l assistant principal to principal of the Quashnet School. Report of the Sixth grade teacher Patty DeBoer was selected as the School Committee assistant principal. The school committee experienced some changes, too, as Terrie Cook because a member ' of the board of selectmen. MaryRose Grady and To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Becky Romkey were welcomed onto the school board. Citizens of the Town of Mashpee Peter Roche joined the district in November as the business administrator. Ann Bradshaw was appointed The 2004-2005 school year saw the Mashpee superintendent of schools. Public Schools continue to provide a comprehensive education. Students had opportunities to strive for Thanks to the negotiating skills of Trish Parolski excellence in the classroom, on the playing field, and and English language arts coordinator Ann English, in the visual and performing arts. Students were able the KC Coombs and Quashnet Schools were able to to learn leadership skills through participation in clubs for students in kinder- provide anew literacy series and activities, and they learned the importance of ser- garten through grade six. Limited funding meant that vice to their community. the schools would be unable to come up with the cost By all accounts, the greatest asset of the district of replacing their fifteen-year old literacy textbooks. is the staff. Energetic and committed staff members An unusual agreement with the publisher allowed the came to work each day to provide the best possible purchase of the textbooks at a steep discount. In return, the schools agreed to serve as "pilots" for the education for the children of Mashpee. new textbooks, allowing educators from other districts The August first day back for staff featured a pre- to visit our schools to see the literacy series being sentation organized by staff member and Wampanoag implemented in the classrooms. tribal leader David Pocknett. The focus was on A tight budget meant that eleven teaching posi- Wampanoag culture, with performances by drummers in regalia. Building-based meetings, tions were eliminated,resulting in larger classes. This and dancers g g workshops, and time for setting up classrooms fol- is especially significant because of the high standards lowed as school staff prepared for the arrival of stu- for student learning required by No Child Left Behind dents. and MCAS. Mashpee's student to computer ratio was 9:1, compared to 4:1 for the state. This means that if we were to group Mashpee students around available Mashpee schools enrolled 2,109 students, with the largest classes in grades six through eleven. There computers,nine students would share a computer. The state average had four students sharing a computer. were 1,076 males and 1,033 females. Mashpee stu- dents are a diverse group, with 3.7 % of students The curriculum of the Mashpee Public Schools African American, 1.2 % Asian, 1.8 % Hispanic, 5.4 was greatly enriched by the community during the % Native American, and 87.9 % White. Ninety-six students attended our public 2004-2005 school year. Volunteers worked with stu- I_ percent of Mashpee p dents in activities ranging from reading practice to schools, compared to eighty-nine percent statewide. providing challenging small group math lessons to teaching art history. The KC Coombs and Quashnet The English language arts and technology/engi- neering curricular were reviewed and revised by com- Parent Teacher Organizations and the Mashpee High 3 mittees of teachers at all rade levels. Professional School Boosters Club worked with great energy and g determination to raise funds for playgrounds, field f development focused on assessment, including work- shops on classroom assessment and analysis and a dis- trips, equipment, and transportation to special events. trict-wide training on Teacher as Assessor. Parents and community members volunteered for Career Day, which brought speakers in to talk about The 2004-2005 school year brought many their careers. Strong collaborative relationships were I' maintained with the Boys and Girls Club and the Kids changes to the Mashpee Public Schools. after more Clubs, as these community groups worked with the Superintendent Patricia Parolski retired a than 30 years of dedicated service to Mashpee stu- Community groups and local businesses supported our schools to provide engaging activities for children. dents. Bob Tippo, the beloved principal of Quashnet School, retired as well. Jeffrey Dees moved from students with college scholarships and grants for enrichment activities. Thanks to the community and 145 f