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Night for families, multiple concerts to celebrate student
<br />achievement, and the annual Spelling Bee are some of
<br />the great events when we welcome our families. We
<br />appreciate the support of Quashnet School's PTO which
<br />also had a change in administration. Mrs. Deborah
<br />Flaherty, President, and Heather Lakatos, Vice President
<br />led an amazing board and team of parents that work to
<br />support students and staff. They organized a
<br />community picnic with approximately 800 attendees,
<br />hosted an ice cream social, a bingo night, sponsored a
<br />performer to support Kindness Week, planned two book
<br />fairs, organized the first annual parent and staff
<br />basketball game KCC v QS. Nice job Quashnet on the
<br />first win of hopefully a new Mashpee tradition! We are
<br />thankful for their active help and support.
<br />Academic achievement for our students is our top
<br />priority. To best meet the needs of our students,
<br />Mashpee Public School is building a framework to
<br />support a Multi -Tiered System of Support (MTSS). This
<br />means that each school within the district will develop a
<br />strategic plan that provides a continuum of tiered support
<br />for students. At Quashnet School, the School Based
<br />Leadership Team (SBLT) has been participating in
<br />monthly trainings to implement a data -based problem
<br />solving protocol. Through the use of data and clearly
<br />defined steps, our goal is to target individual student
<br />instruction and provided interventions to remediate,
<br />reinforce, or enrich each student's academic and
<br />behavioral needs. As a result of professional
<br />development and research based initiatives, plans were
<br />developed to enhance student learning for the 2016-17
<br />school year to include a schedule change and build and
<br />intervention block for all students.
<br />All Quashnet School students participated in the
<br />state-wide assessment, Partnership for Assessment of
<br />Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC).
<br />Although we maintained a Level 2 status with the
<br />Department of Elementary and Secondary Education,
<br />and had an increase in our overall school performance,
<br />we are not satisfied with student outcomes. The
<br />Quashnet School Report Card can be viewed at
<br />http://profiles.doe.mass.edu. The staff continues to
<br />examine curriculum on a routine basis, reflect on
<br />instructional practices, and use data to adjust
<br />instruction to increase impact on student outcomes.
<br />Teachers collaborate on these issues in Professional
<br />Learning Communities (PLCs), during early release
<br />days, and professional development days.
<br />To provide a well-rounded education for students,
<br />there are six special subjects to enhance learning.
<br />Students visit these electives on a six -day rotation,
<br />participating in one 45-minute special per day. All
<br />student at Quashnet School have the following specials:
<br />Physical Education, Art, and STEM Lab. All students
<br />in third grade attend a Library/Technology class. Third
<br />and fourth graders attend World of Words, to build
<br />academic vocabulary skills, and fifth and sixth grade
<br />students learn World Languages. Starting in Grade 4
<br />through Grade 6, students have a choice of
<br />participating in the band, strings, and/or chorus in place
<br />of General Music and Library. Students are exposed to
<br />multiple skills and access a variety of learning
<br />standards through these opportunities.
<br />As a way to promote a safe and positive culture,
<br />Quashnet School students have benefited from mindful
<br />education. Lessons were taught through a series of
<br />brief weekly lessons —16 in total. The program has
<br />been shown to benefit our students by helping them to
<br />pay better attention, increase focus, be kinder and more
<br />grateful, develop better impulse control, be better able
<br />to calm themselves, reduce classroom and playground
<br />conflict, and perform better academically. Mindful
<br />education helps to build inner resilience. Teachers also
<br />utilize strategies from a research -based instructional
<br />program, Responsive Classroom. It is a way of
<br />teaching that emphasizes classroom community
<br />building. The program consists of practical strategies
<br />for helping each student build academic and social
<br />competencies, including morning meeting. Quashnet
<br />School also promotes a positive, safe, and respect -filled
<br />learning environment through our PBIS program
<br />(Positive Behaviors Interventions and Supports) —a
<br />program that supports social competence and academic
<br />achievement. Our students receive explicit instruction
<br />on expectations and are encouraged to consistently
<br />follow the "Falcon Five" —Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be
<br />Responsible, Be Ready, and Be Caring. When students
<br />are observed displaying desired behaviors they are
<br />recognized with "Right Choice" tickets that can then
<br />be used as currency at our Falcon Five Store. In
<br />collaboration with the Barnstable County Sherriff's
<br />Department, fifth grade students benefit from
<br />participating in the GREAT Program (Gang Resistance,
<br />Education and Resistance Training).
<br />The staff at the Quashnet School appreciates the
<br />effort of all of our outstanding volunteers. Volunteers
<br />serve in our classrooms, school store, special events,
<br />helping teachers, supporting students, and attending
<br />field trips. This year we were pleased to recognize
<br />Mrs. Leslie Handy as Quashnet School Volunteer of the
<br />Year. She volunteered her time four days per week in
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