DESE Doing Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Winchendon Public Schools.
During the week of May 23, 2021, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Winchendon Public Schools. The Office of Public School Monitoring conducts a review in each district and charter school every three years to monitor compliance with federal and state special education and civil rights regulations. Areas of review related to special education include student assessments, determination of eligibility, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team process, and IEP development and implementation. Areas of review related to civil rights include bullying, student discipline, physical restraint, and equal access to school programs for all students.
In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The review chairperson from the Office of Public School Monitoring will send all parents of students with disabilities an online survey that focuses on key areas of their child's special education program. Survey results will contribute to the development of a report. During the onsite review, the Office of Public School Monitoring will interview the chairperson(s) of the district's Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). Other onsite activities may include interviews of district staff and administrators, reviews of student records, and onsite observations.
Parents and other individuals may call Michael McDonald, Public School Monitoring Chairperson, at (781) 338-3746 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements.
Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the district with a report with information about areas in which the district meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the district requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The public will be able to access the report at www.doe.mass.edu/psm/.
Winchendon Public Schools
Suzanne Michel, Director of Pupil Services
Preschool Screening in June
Winchendon Public Schools Preschool Screening will take place on June 9 & 10, 2021. Children must be age 3 or 4 by August 31, 2021 to be eligible. Screening looks at a child's development in the areas of language, fine and gross motor skills, cognition and social emotional skills.
If you have any concerns about your child, suspect your child may have a disability, or if you did not receive an information packet by mail please call the Winchendon Pre-K Program 978-297-3436 or email kbrooks@winchendonk12.org.
Community College Student Excellence Celebrated During Virtual Phi Theta Kappa Recognition Week
Mount Wachusett Community College Honors Two Students
GARDNER, MA - April 27, 2021 - The Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges (MACC) will honor Community College scholars for their induction to the 2021 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All-Massachusetts Academic Team through a virtual "PTK Community College Excellence Week." Running on its social media pages from Monday, April 26 through Friday, April 30, MACC will highlight the student members of the All-Massachusetts Academic Team for their outstanding academic achievement and exemplary student service.
Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society of two-year colleges and has recognized and encouraged scholarship among community college students for more than 100 years while promoting the academic integrity of the associate degree program. Students with grade point averages of 3.5 or higher are invited to join Phi Theta Kappa.
Dr. James Vander Hooven, President of MWCC commented, "It's a great honor for me to recognize all of the PTK All-Massachusetts Academic Team members, but particularly our MWCC honorees. We are so proud of the academic excellence and dedication to community of our students and wish them best of luck as they graduate and move on to their bachelor degree programs."
"Every year, we look forward to this opportunity to highlight the community colleges' commitment to access, opportunity, and excellence. The outstanding achievements of our students cannot be understated, especially given the additional challenges we all have faced over the past year. We are proud of all they have accomplished and celebrate the continued pursuit of their academic and career aspirations," said Tom Sannicandro, Director of the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges (MACC).
The Mount Wachusett College 2021 Phi Theta Kappa All-Massachusetts Academic Team members are Paige Landry of Dracut and Bolton's John Maron.
Over the past year, Paige Landry has persevered through homelessness and hospitalization with COVID-19, while not only maintaining her academic standing but continuing to volunteer both on campus and off. She is the current President of Phi Theta Kappa Honors (PTK) Society, President of the Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society, a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success Honors Society, President of the MWCC Sexuality and Gender Alliance Club and a member of the Student Government Association. Off campus, Landry currently volunteers at the Lowell Alliance where she helps to supply diapers to struggling area families. Following graduation from MWCC with her Associate Degree in Human Services, Landry will be moving to the Springfield, MA area where she will continue her education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She intends to continue her focus on human services, eventually earning her Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling.
John Maron is a former bus driver who started his associate degree at the age of 54 after being inspired to do so by his daughter. He will be graduating from MWCC in May with his associates in Business Administration and plans to transfer to Fitchburg State University to pursue his bachelors and ultimately an MBA. He looks forward starting his own CPA practice in the future. John Maron was MWCC's Phi Theta Kappa, Phi Delta Chapter Treasurer in 2020, as well as a member of the ABG honor society and SAGA. During the pandemic, and while taking classes virtually and caring for his family, John was a vital part of the PTK efforts to help get safety masks made by members delivered to community members in need. He recruited volunteers, donated supplies, and managed safe distribution, of over 700 facemasks for local community members and students in need.
In addition to membership on the All-Massachusetts Academic Team, three students earned additional recognition through scholarships from the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and the All-USA Academic Team.
Traditionally, a celebratory ceremony is held at the Massachusetts State House to honor the highest academic achievers in the state's 15-member community college system. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the celebration will take place online for the second year.
About the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges
MACC works on behalf of the Community College Presidents and their local Boards of Trustees to advocate, communicate, and collaborate to strengthen community colleges for the benefit of students, communities, and the Commonwealth. The Community Colleges currently represent more than 136,000 students in every region of Massachusetts, educating nearly half of all students in the state's public higher education system and serving the largest share of first-generation students, low-income students, and students of color.
Sizer Returns to Full-Time In-Person Learning and Community Engagement
L-R, Chloe Thermitus, Leominster; Olivia Palmer, Westminister; Alissa Gray-Kotoch, Fitchburg; and Demitryus Towsley, Fitchburg
On Monday, April 26, Sizer School, A North Central Charter Essential School, welcomed back students to full-time in-person learning.
"We decided to welcome all grades to return to full-time in-person learning on April 26th because we knew this was in the best interest of our students," said Executive Director Michelle Paranto, Ed.D. "They thrive by being in the classroom and being in the school, connecting to teachers and staff as well as their peers. Even behind masks and at a distance, these connections make a big difference to student success."
In order to move to a full-time in-person model, Sizer followed the Department of Elementary and Secondary (DESE) guidelines to shift to 3 feet of distance among student desks in classrooms. Sizer also merged the hybrid cohorts so that all students learning in-person are in the school building for 5 days a week. Families still have the option to select full-time remote learning for their students for the remainder of the year, with any request to switch from remote to in-person requiring a four week lead time.
"We have spent the time needed to establish our pandemic school culture and are ready for the fulltime return of our students," said Dr. Paranto. "With our full-time return, we will be finishing the school year strong and demonstrating our commitment to teaching and learning as well as our commitment to the students and the communities that we serve."
Sizer School has also reopened the building to student clubs meeting after school with the meetings ending by 4 p.m. On Monday, Kyle Anderson of Growing Places in Leominster met in person with students from Sizer's new environmental advocacy club, Reclaiming Sunshine, to begin work on a seedling project. Sizer's Theater Arts Program is currently rehearsing during the weekends and is planning two outdoor performances and for athletics, Sizer is building an Ultimate Frisbee team, while many students will be participating in co-op spring sports with other schools.
"Sizer is deeply committed to offering our students in-person enrichment and athletics opportunities," said School Principal Frederick Randall. "It is so important for students' social and physical well being and brings much needed joy back into our school environment."
According to Sizer School 8th grade student Matthew De'voe of Fitchburg, "I'm glad to be back. It's not as distracting as my house and you learn better when it is more than just the computer.
"It's a lot easier to learn when you're in person. Even with a mask on, it's easier to explain things in person," agreed sister and fellow 8th grader Michele De'Voe, adding, "And you get to see your friends again."
Theresa Temple, 8th grade, of Fitchburg is just glad to be back.
"I like it. It's a little different now, because of COVID, but it is good to be able to see people and talk to them again," said Temple.
As administrators begin to plan Senior Spirit Week events to celebrate the Class of 2021, the Development and Communication Office has been working to create a month of fun, social activities for all grade levels to enjoy.
"The last year has not been kind to the social and emotional development of our students. Making connections – making memories – is incredibly important. Laughter, smiling, having fun, these things are important too," said Recruitment & Communication Coordinator Lindsay Sauvageau. "Our educators make sure these things are happening in the classrooms, but we want to make sure they are happening outside the classroom too."
The entire month of May will feature social events to Make May Memories.
"We have game nights, movie nights, animal encounters through the New England Aquarium and an entire health and wellness series we are running in conjunction with Bodylines Pilates," said Sauvageau. "All of these events are free for our students and they will take place remotely. Though we'd love to do them in-person, we want our remote students to have equal access. We wanted everyone to be included."
Sizer School is a free public charter school located in Fitchburg serving students in grades seven through twelve from 25 local towns and cities. For more information, visit www.sizerschool.org. Sizer is currently enrolling in the 7th and 9th grade for the 2021-2022 school year. Apply today at https://tinyurl.com/SizerSchool.