2016-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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The second grade students celebrated their annual performance at Mashpee High School singing American Folk and patriotic songs to their families, teachers and the Mashpee community. This event was organized by our music teacher, Lindsey Sherman and the Coombs specialist teachers. It was a very special occasion for our second graders as they moved on to the Quashnet School. Report of the Quashnet School Principal MaryKate O'Brien Assistant Principal Suzanne Avtges At the Quashnet School students come first! We value our community of learners, the staff, and families. We believe in a rigorous curriculum tailored to individual student needs, and we are building a framework of a Multi -Tiered System of Support (MTSS). We are guided by the philosophy of a "growth mindset" where students GET smart. At the Quashnet School we recognize that student achievement is greater with strong family relationships. We work to foster that strong partnership with our families, community, and tax payers of the Town of Mashpee. We are grateful for their continued support. Quashnet School educates Mashpee scholars in grades three through six. The average enrollment for the 2015-16 school year was 508 students. There were 27 homerooms with an average class size of 19 students. The academic year of 2015-2016 brought change to Quashnet School. There was a new administrative team of MaryKate O'Brien, Principal and Suzanne Avtges, Assistant Principal. Due to retirements and maternity leaves eight new classroom teachers joined the staff. In Grade 3, we welcomed Mrs. Andrea Fullam, Mrs. Gretchen Phillips, and Ms. Bretton Keohane. Mrs. Colleen Stroshine and Ms. Alexandra Keohane joined the fourth -grade team. Joining the fifth - grade team was Mrs. Rayna Gorman and Mr. Michael Loyko. Brenna Forsberg was hired as a sixth -grade teacher of science and social studies. After many years of service to the Mashpee community and the finest students, Mrs. Vinnie Nelson, Mrs. Carol Palmatier, and Mrs. Stephanie Lanoue retired as Mashpee teachers. Their positive influence on students and families of Mashpee will be long lasting. A sincere thank you to each of them for their dedication and years of service. The 2015-2016 Quashnet School Council members were: Principal MaryKate O'Brien, teachers Stephanie Manning and Margaret Morrison, parents Sarah Provencher, Colleen Fraser and Kathleen O'Neill, and community member Officer Will Cuozzo. This is a volunteer council who help to evaluate practices, review the school handbook policies, and discuss new initiatives. Thank you for your time and commitment. As we continue to challenge our students and work to meet the ever changing technology front, we were very fortunate to add to our Chromebook and iPad initiatives. We began the year with a 2:1 ratio with Chromebooks in Grades 3-5 and 1:1 iPads in Grade 6. During the second term, with additional funding, we were able to purchase enough Chromebooks for every student to have their own device, making our student to technology ratio 1:1. This was significant as for the first time, every student at Quashnet School was able to take their state-wide assessments simultaneously. We began a transition to the Google platform. Teachers were trained in Google docs, classroom, and calendar. With this initiative and increasing online assignments and communication, the use and expense of paper is expected to decrease. Students leaving Quashnet School will now be proficient with both Chromebooks and iPads. In an effort to be both environmental and fiscally conscience, we instituted two composting and recycling stations during student lunch blocks. Prior to this, Quashnet School produced approximately 60 bags of trash per week. Now we average approximately 10 bags of trash, 5 bags or recyclable material, and 6 trash barrels of compost weekly. Trash pick-up has been reduced from daily to once every three days. Along with obvious financial advantages, we are teaching and reinforcing in our students that they are the stewards of the environment and can make a positive impact daily. This program is successful due to the support of the Department of Public Works Director, Catherine Laurent, and Food Services Director, Gus Stickley. Their partnership is invaluable. Student success is enhanced by a strong home/school connection. Our annual Open House was in September. At Quashnet School we participate in the national program of Bring a Veteran to School Day and we honor our Mashpee veterans with a meaningful and reflective student assembly. Mrs. Richards, the art teacher, hosted two family paint nights. There was a school sponsored free skate at Gallo Ice Arena, STEAM 134