Tis the Season...

At the end of the day yesterday, we distributed the new HP 100e mini-laptops to members of the freshman class. The purchase of these powerful little computers was financed by a grant from the federal eRATE program and is part of a four year plan to provide computing technology to all of our students. I recall when this idea first surfaced almost five years ago during the community-wide Future Search session which began the process leading to the development of our school district's Strategic Plan. Someone pledged to work to ensure that all of our students would have a laptop computer. Well, that individual did not really follow up on that pledge nor did he have anything to do with this new project, but the idea did resonate and here we are five years later a week before Christmas providing each one of our freshmen with a new mini-computer! The real credit for this project goes to our Director of Technology Deb Morgan for developing the vision, researching the available technology, and for securing the funding. Well done!

So yesterday was pretty exciting. Since we waited until after lunch to begin the distribution, all day long the freshmen were buzzing about getting new computers. Their excitement was palpable as they were brought into our computer lab to receive their machine, check that their log in would work, and sign the official paper work. The smiles on the faces of the students was truly rewarding. However, most rewarding was the discovery I made when I went into a freshman biology class twenty minutes after they had all received their laptops. The students were sitting at their desks with their new laptops open entering data into a spreadsheet in order to eventually create a graph of their data. A simple project but a great start nonetheless. All of the teachers who have freshman classes have been preparing to integrate more technology projects into their instruction. This 1:1 laptop project is based on the belief that engaging students in solving problems and expanding their learning by using technology in the classroom and at home will not only replicate life and work in the real world of the 21st century but will also improve learning and student performance. Time and a program evaluation will certainly tell, however we have clearly entered into an exciting phase in education at CHS.

Sadly, my one regret is that we only had enough funding to supply the freshmen with laptops. Always impatient, I would have loved to have been able to purchase 210 computers but we could not afford it and we did have to start somewhere. However, that will not stop us from looking for additional funding to expand the program into the sophomore class which will then encompass half of our school. If that happens, it certainly will be cause for more celebration!

So, smiling faces and new computers with three days to go until the winter break. Regionalization is moving forward, the budget process looking positive, and the holiday season is upon us. With already so much for which we should be thankful, the new year is also looking like it will be filled with exciting progress and lots of success. Let's all make a resolution to ensure that it will be a great year!

This is most likely my last post before the holidays so let me take the opportunity to express my best wishes to all for a very happy holiday season! Look for more musings in the new year.

A New Era Begins...

Well, last Monday was an historic evening resulting in a positive vote for regionalization. Over fifty years of often heated and uncivil debate ended with a very respectful exercise in direct democracy. Perhaps during the three previous efforts the time just wasn't right. However, this time voters did see the gravity of our situation and supported the effort to move forward toward regionalizing with Harwich. So the debate and the arguments are over and now the real fun begins! Over the course of the next three and a half years we will be working with one goal in mind: to create the best regional school system possible by combining the strengths of both districts to expand educational opportunities for our students. It is as simple as that.

The regionalization process begins as early as tomorrow when I will be meeting with Harwich Principal Kevin Turner and our respective superintendents to examine ways our students can begin working and learning together now, far in advance of the opening of the new high school. We will look at the performing arts, athletics, advanced classes, and perhaps student governance to find ways to bring our students together. I am sure that this will be the first of many meetings over the coming months involving administrators, teachers, students, parents and community members as the merger evolves. This is the beginning of an exciting process! I know there are many who still have doubts and fears, and that there will be lots of transition issues, however if we all continue to focus on the goal and promise to make every decision based on what is in the best interest of our students, then I am convinced that we will be successful.

Once again, in the aftermath of what can only be described as an historic vote, I would like to commend the six member Regionalization Board and Superintendents Cragin and Lanzo for the incredible effort they exerted studying and making public every conceivable aspect of regionalization and then working tirelessly to support it and bring forth a positive outcome. They put in exceedingly long hours, attended countless meetings, and endured a withering attack on their credibility by a number of vocal critics, and yet they persevered. And the students of Chatham and Harwich will be the true beneficiaries of all of their dedication and hard work. To the 592 voters who saw the ultimate benefits of regionalization and rose above the provincialism and fear to vote in the affirmative, I thank you as well. I especially appreciate the trust you have placed in us as school leaders to make the right decisions for your children and for the community. To those who were opposed to regionalization, I respectfully ask you to set aside your objections and join the process. Let's all commit to work together to create a rich, positive, and productive educational future for all of our children. What a noble endeavor for us to pursue together!

Focusing on the Positive....

It has been a while since my last post. Unfortunately, a software glitch kept me from accessing my Google account and prevented me from posting anything to my blog. I admit it was a bit frustrating to not be able to communicate when I had so much I wanted to say, however in some ways it was a blessing. There were several incidents over the last month and a half that have made me angry and I suspect that if I could have accessed my blog, I might have written something I would later regret. Most troubling was the outright slander and public character assassination of a decent man and excellent coach by a small group of individuals based on fabrications and personal disagreements with his coaching philosophy and leadership style. Added to that were the disturbing tactics of some folks who are opposed to regionalization which focused on creating a climate of fear and uncertainty based on misinformation and prejudice. Repeated efforts to debase Harwich, its schools, and its students by calling into question a seeming disparity in MCAS or SAT scores and by suggesting an examination of comparable crime statistics in both towns were not only inappropriate but deeply troubling. It was surprisingly reminiscent of a previous regionalization attempt in the 1980's which failed due to heightened tensions over race and class which drove a wedge between the two towns. Sadly, that wedge has resurfaced and has impacted not only the regionalization debate but the normally collegial relationships among staff and students. As we approach the final decision, it is safe to say that the level of incivility in the debate has been very unfortunate leaving many to comment that they cannot wait for the issue to be resolved one way the other. And, soon it will be. Regardless of the resulting vote, we will need to move forward, eliminate the divisiveness, and restore civility to our school and community.

So lately, it seems as if we are drowning in negativity. I think we need to focus on some positives. While it is true that a recent survey of our student body did reflect a general opposition to regionalization, I have seen an amazing turnaround since the survey. Two weeks ago Harwich students spent a day in our school shadowing and, just this week, we sent sixteen students to spend a day at Harwich High School. It was amazing to watch students from both schools blend together in an instant, but more importantly to listen to them talk excitedly about their experiences and hear the stereotypes and fears evaporate. In the end, many of the students discovered what a lot of us already knew; the issues that set us apart from our neighbors pale in comparison to the number of things we share in common. Of course there will be transition issues, but in the end, should we elect to merge the two schools, we will discover that we really are all the same and before long people will wonder what all of the fuss was about.

On the eve of the town meeting vote I want to restate my position on the question of regionalization with Harwich. I am wholeheartedly in favor of merging our two fine schools and creating a dynamic new school system which will be a tremendous benefit to the students of both towns well into the future. On a personal note, this is my 39th year in public education. Having spent 28 years as a teacher and administrator at Harwich High School and the last 10 as the principal of our wonderful school, I see myself as being in a unique position. Almost a year ago I reached that numerical combination of one's age and years of service which allows one to retire with maximum benefits. However, the fact that I am still working should be an indication that I am not really ready to retire. Now, I readily accept the fact that I will probably not be part of the administrative team when the new school opens, but given my experience working in both school systems and my educational philosophy and leadership skills, I can think of no better way to bring my long career to a close than spending my last two or three years in education working on the transition to the new regional school. My effort will be dedicated to ensuring that not only all of the concerns of Chatham parents and staff are addressed, but more importantly that the new school and its curriculum and culture are the successful product of a true collaborative effort on the part of teachers, administrators, and students from both districts. That's my pledge; wrap up my career as a public educator bringing people together to build an exciting new school by merging the best of what Harwich and Chatham now have to offer. I am convinced that the results will truly awesome!

So for parents, community members, teachers and students, the stakes will be high this Monday evening. And I guess I have my own personal stake as well. I am hoping for a favorable outcome and, quite frankly, I cannot wait to get started on the transition!

A slice of school culture....

Anyone who was in our building yesterday got a sense of what our school culture is truly like. In many ways it was a typical Friday and in other ways it was quite extraordinary. Driven by student initiative, especially those involved in the Young Women's Club, the day was dedicated to one of our faculty who is out of school this term valiantly and successfully battling breast cancer. Because she has devoted so much energy, passion and support to our students over the years, they wanted to dedicate the day to her and demonstrate their love and support for her, now when she needs it most. So they planned the day and put up posters exhorting the student body to emulate this somewhat eccentric, quirky teacher by dressing like her or by wearing pink in her honor. Students and faculty showed up wearing bandanas, crocs, hoop earrings, mismatched socks, and New York Yankee apparel. They wore home-made buttons proclaiming that Reading is Sexy and, during lunch, when one looked out over the assembled student body in the cafeteria one had to be impressed by the amazing sea of pink that was on display. The young women who engineered the whole day also encouraged students and faculty members to lend their faces and voices to a video card they were creating to send to their teacher. And capping off the day, the boys' soccer game that afternoon was dedicated to her and the team wore white soccer socks emblazoned with dozens of pink ribbons. The whole day was a tremendous and spontaneous expression of caring and support for a much-loved teacher and was a true testament to the wonderful adolescents who inhabit our building and enlighten and enrich our lives every single day.

Another less dramatic example of the maturity and responsibility demonstrated by our students can be seen in their involvement in and response to our annual Club Fair which was held during our advisory period yesterday. With only minimal guidance from adult advisers, students in the various clubs developed displays and manned tables in the cafeteria in an attempt to make all members of the student body, especially freshmen, aware of the large number of clubs and activities our school has to offer students who want to pursue a particular interest. More significantly, for the 30 or so minutes allotted to the fair, the students stayed in the cafeteria visiting the various club displays and some signed up to become members. Once again, this student-led activity was carried out with minimal supervision and, more amazingly, when the time arrived for the fair to end and the students needed to move on to their block 2 class, everyone did so without prompting from either the bell or any staff member. I stood and watched as the cafeteria emptied out in less than a minute and everyone got back to learning. That is maturity, responsibility, and most of all respect. Apparently that was the theme of the day and it left many of us who work here acknowledging, once again, what a truly special place is Chatham High School.

And in closing, since I am honored to know she reads this blog, I would like to add my voice to the many wishing my colleague a timely return to full health and her classroom full of eager learners who anxiously await her return. This school is way too quiet and not quite complete without your presence. We miss you and pray for your full recovery and speedy return.

Regionalization...Its Time Has Come.

OK. I am finally there! For months I have been part of the development of the emerging regionalization plan, all the while hedging my bet, knowing that ultimately it is the right thing to do for our students. I have had a difficult time reconciling the future reality with the perceived potential loss of the wonderful small school culture we have here at Chatham High School. However, the more I rationally analyzed the issue, the more I have come to the conclusion that regionalization is the way to go. The increased educational opportunities for our students that will accrue from a merger of two very good schools are amazing and, as for the positive school culture, that most certainly can and will be developed in a new state of the art facility and nurtured by a reinvigorated, combined faculty and staff. I am convinced that regionalization will not only be beneficial but, more importantly, is absolutely essential to our educational survival and that is why I am able to comfortably state that I am totally in favor of the effort to create a new regional school district by merging with Harwich.

I have spent the past year working with my counterpart, Harwich High School Principal Kevin Turner, on the development of a regional educational plan. We spent a great deal of time examining what a merger would do for our students and determined that it would be a definite win-win situation for all of our students with new opportunities opening up by bringing the best of both schools to the new regional entity. For Harwich students, there would be opportunities like We The People, the Community Internship program, Forensics, and Marine Science; for our students, Anatomy and Physiology, Engineering, and a thriving Community Service program. For all there would be a significant expansion of the Advanced Placement program and enhanced opportunities for interscholastic sports. All of which would take place in a new state of the art facility.

I have attended the presentations by the regionalization board, looked at all of the numbers, including the proposed savings to our town, and have seen the handwriting on the wall. We need to act now because we are rapidly approaching a point where we will be in danger of losing our sustainability. I think it is clear to most who have been following the process that Harwich has a very obvious and immediate need to upgrade its facilities. No one can argue that. For Chatham, the problem is far less clear or immediate, but the problem is very real. Within a short time, possibly in only a few years, faced with a predicted decline in enrollment, continued budget woes causing an elimination of programs, a resulting diminution of school choice applicants and increased out migration of students seeking greater educational opportunities elsewhere, our school system could quickly reach that tipping point between sustainability and decline. My fear is that when that point is reached the demise of the school system could follow rapidly down a very steep and slippery slope. I just returned from an NEASC school evaluation visit to a school in the western part of the state which is perhaps 20 students larger than CHS. The principal and I had a rather grim discussion one day about the constant struggle we both face trying to keep our enrollment and educational and co-curricular programs viable in order to avoid that tipping point and the inevitable consequences that would ensue. We agreed that that one issue is what gives both of us nightmares. Clearly regionalization would end that threat and give those of us who work in this system and who are so dedicated to our students an opportunity to truly be part of the solution; to have a hand in crafting a new and exciting educational environment for our students that, ultimately, would be second to none on Cape Cod and beyond. The sad alternative would be to pass up this opportunity and then five or six years hence, be forced to be absorbed by a neighboring school district or worse, tuition our students out to another district. Both are costly, educationally unsound, and unacceptable alternatives I believe.

I think that the regionalization board deserves a great deal of praise for all of their diligence and hard work. As a veteran of two previous regionalization attempts between these two towns, I can state unequivocally that this board has done it right this time. They have been both inclusive in their approach and dogged in their pursuit of information and have come to the only reasonable conclusion possible. It is now time to do the right thing by our kids and merge our two school systems to ensure a sound educational future for all students.

I hope that citizens of both towns will look long and hard at all of the data and come to the same conclusion.

Celebrating Student Success...

Principally Speaking is back! I did not intend to "take the summer off." It just happened. But now that school is back in session the motivation has returned and there is no scarcity of subjects on which I can expound. So, in the coming months I expect to have a lot to say about regionalization, bullying legislation, MCAS and national standards, school culture, reporting student progress, and a host of other topics. Be sure to check in frequently and feel free to comment on anything I write. I welcome the feedback.

I just returned from serving as the Assistant Chair of a NEASC visiting team conducting an evaluation of another school. I brought two things back with me; a really bad cold, and a new found appreciation for the benefits of being a small school. While I was at this school I witnessed many examples of how they celebrated student success and the profound impact that has on the culture of the school.

Yesterday we had the opportunity to do some celebrating of our own at CHS. Our current junior class did very well on the 2010 MCAS exam this past spring, however one set of scores stand out. We had 69% of our students score in the Advanced category on the MCAS Biology exam which puts Chatham High School in first place among 340 high schools in the state by 11 percentage points. The state average for the science test was 18%! Being one of the smallest schools in the state makes this a big deal for us so we celebrated the hard work and dedication of the students and the excellent teaching of our two science teachers, Gina Kelly and Luke Simpson, at a lunch time presentation. We also recognized three students who earned perfect scores on their MCAS tests. We were honored to have several guests join us - Representative Sarah Peake and our superintendent Dr. Mary Ann Lanzo, both of whom spoke and congratulated the students and teachers. And we had cake! Celebrations always go better with cake. Unfortunately, other than the Cape Cod Chronicle, no other media outlets seemed interested in recognizing our accomplishment, preferring to report on everything that is "wrong" with schools today which appears to be a popular theme lately. It's sad, but that will not stop us from recognizing and celebrating our successes whenever we can.

To that end, I will be looking to find a way to gather students at least once a month from now on to celebrate student success and recognize student acomplishments. Even if others do not seem interested in our good news, we certainly are and will continue to try to get it out to the public in whatever way we can.

Another Successful Graduation....

The school year is rapidly winding down and last week we had another great CHS graduation… lots of scholarships and awards, great student speeches, and an amazing senior slide show, all in just under one hour and forty-five minutes!!

Once again, in the hours and days that followed, I heard many positive comments about the graduation ceremony from parents, alumni, and students which I graciously accepted, knowing full-well that the event would not have been as successful, and in fact, might not have even occurred without a true team effort. So many people were involved in making sure that the ceremony was a success.

I would like to express my appreciation for and recognize the efforts of several individuals and a few groups who played an important role in the ceremony. First, class advisors Paula McMahon and Beth Howe deserve a tremendous amount of credit and quite possibly some sort of medal for shepherding this particular class through the minefield of four years of high school and getting them to last evening relatively intact. We know it has not been easy! Thank you for all you have done for the class and for all of the preparation for last night’ ceremony. Once again, Chris Roberts led the band in Pomp and Circumstance for the graduates’ processional (the band was great!) and handled the sound and a myriad of other small but important tasks during the ceremony. Media specialist Bob Bourke did another masterful job guiding Hannah Farris in the creation of a slightly long, but absolutely fantastic and moving senior slide show and managed the video and audio aspect of the ceremony very well. Joan Aucoin, in spite of being understandably preoccupied with a graduate of her own, did another wonderful job preparing food for the reception and was aided by junior class advisors Leslie Travis and Kerri Robinson along with their able assistants Kelly Terrenzi and Donna Bresnahan in laying out a beautiful presentation for parents, students and faculty after the ceremony. (I do not ever recall seeing as many chocolate covered strawberries in one place before!) Dee Tripp spent days working on getting all of the diplomas ready and organizing all of the Scholarship America and honor awards so that their distribution went flawlessly. Of course, she was ably assisted by the ever-present and ever-energetic Helen Duggan. (What would we do without Helen? ) Speaking of Helen, I wonder how many other schools can say that their graduation ceremonies are attended by substitute teachers who show up to support the students. Thanks again to Helen, Joe and Norma (and to any others I may have missed!) for being there last night. Kathy Curt, as always, did an excellent job keeping me from being distracted during the final days leading up to the ceremony and she also took care of a number of details (as she always does) both before and after the event, most especially, ensuring that the lobby was cleared of baggage prior to graduation! Always supportive, Pat Vreeland closely monitored my mental and emotional state, as well as my blood pressure this past week and frequently provided me with a reality check which was always helpful and very much appreciated. Rick Gifford and all of the folks who served on scholarship committees deserve a lot of credit. They did a great job and, judging from the crowd and recipient reaction I observed, they chose the recipients and distributed the available funds well. Thanks as well to all of those folks in the community who donated money to the scholarship program which helps so many of our students realize the opportunity of a college education. Again, as usual, Steve and the hard-working custodial crew took care of setting up the gym which looked fantastic with all of the new silver chairs that Steve has been able to acquire over the last two years. The crew from the town Park and Recreation department did another beautiful job of sprucing up the grounds and because the weather finally cooperated, everything looked spectacular in the early evening sunshine. To our superintendent Dr. Lanzo and my administrative colleagues, thank you for being part of the ceremony and for your support. Your presence gives credence to the belief that we really are all in this together in an effort to produce young men and women ready to move on to the next stage of their lives. And finally, over the past ten years I have always been particularly moved by the fact that at every graduation, while not a requirement, the whole faculty turns out to participate in the ceremony and support our students. I truly appreciate that but, more importantly, I know that the students certainly do.

Thanks again to everyone who helped make this year's graduation a truly memorable event!

Sometimes You Have To Do The Right Thing....

Recently, I discovered that a decision I had made way back in February had generated some criticism by some parents in a flurry of circular emails, of course none of which were cc’d to me. The fact that I was criticized does not bother me too much; it happens all the time and as Principal I expect that there will always be some who disagree with what I might say or do. What troubled me was their apparent reasoning for the criticism. Here’s what happened. At the end of the winter sports season the local basketball referee’s association selected our boys’ basketball team to be this year’s recipient of their annual sportsmanship award. At the time, I wondered about their choice given that there were at least three incidents during the season where one of our players demonstrated unsportsmanlike behavior toward a referee. However, I figured it was their choice and I was still proud of the team and our coach. My view changed after the tournament game against Cape Cod Academy. Our coach, who has been a colleague and a friend for close to forty years, criticized the officiating in the media which is a clear violation of MIAA sportsmanship rules. He knew it was wrong and, as Principal, I had to address his behavior with him. Ultimately, he was unhappy with the way I dealt with the violation and resigned as varsity coach. That was unfortunate, but I now felt very uncomfortable with our selection for the sportsmanship award especially since our coach’s actions amounted to an egregious unsportsmanlike affront to the officials. After discussing the matter with our Athletic Director, Scott Thomas, I decided to decline the award. My decision was not meant to punish the boys on the team, or anyone else for that matter. I felt that based on what had happened, we simply did not deserve that recognition. It was as much a message to the officials, players, parents and fans alike that we take sportsmanship seriously at Chatham High School. It was a tough decision to make. I upset some parents and players. I lost a valued coach and a friend. I am sorry for all of that, but sometimes you have to make the right decision no matter the cost.

The Great Weight Debate....

Despite the title, this post is not about the fact that I could afford to lose a few pounds, but rather its about that perennial issue that seems to surface around this time each year - why doesn't Chatham High School employ a weighted grading system to award a higher grade point average for honors and advanced placement classes? What follows is an abreviated version of my thoughts on the issue.

A few years prior to my assuming the principalship of our school, my predecessor, Ann Ashworth, created a fairly representative committee made up of parents, students, teachers, and the current guidance counselor at the time, Mary Beth Sacramone. This committee spent the better part of a year and a half researching, studying, and debating such thorny issues as weighted grades and class rank. At the conclusion of their study they voted on several issues and the result of their work was presented and approved by the school committee and a new graduation policy was adopted. Most significantly, they decided that our school would not weight course grades nor would they continue to rank students and provide those statistics to colleges or anyone else for that matter. Instead, the committee created our current Rigorous Course of Study which is widely recognized by college admissions as a clear indication of the academic capabilities and motivation of our graduates who pursue and achieve this honorable distinction. They also created a Grade Distribution Chart which is generated for each student and included in the student's application packet. This chart includes the student's grade point average and illustrates within certain GPA ranges, where the student stands in relation to his or her peers.

Interestingly, the rationale for not weighting grades back in 1997 is still valid today. At the time, they felt that students at CHS who take honors or A P courses are clearly recognized on our school profile and the transcript, and the Rigorous Course of Study certainly allows high achieving students to stand out among their peers. That is still true today. Furthermore, those same students always have their talents and strengths highlighted in teacher/counselor recommendations to college admissions because the size and decidedly personal nature of our school allows and, in fact, encourages that to occur. They also addressed the oft-repeated concern that a student could "coast" through college prep classes with all A's and end up with a higher standing than a peer who had taken a more challenging academic path to graduation. Their research, and my experience over the past ten years has showed that this just doesn't happen. Moreover, no student can even be considered for the two top positions in the class without having attained the Rigorous Course of Study designation.

One of the most important findings of their research was that students who graduate from a school which does not weight grades or rank its students are not at any disadvantage when they apply to college because the first thing college admissions officers do is automatically unweight transcripts and use their own simple system to level the playing field. In fact, one might even argue that CHS students have a bit of an advantage because admissions officers recognize what the attainment of a Rigorous Course of Study diploma means for those who apply and that might give our students a competitive edge in the admissions game. Based on what they heard then and what we still hear from college admissions directors today is that there is no advantage for students in schools where grades are weighted.

So if there is no real advantage to inflating GPAs with weighted grades, why would any school want to do it when it does pose some real disadvantages. The most serious consequence is that a weighted grading system puts additional pressure on high achieving students to take as many honors and A P courses as possible. That in itself is not a bad thing, however what often happens is that students do everything to avoid courses which are not weighted because they feel that even if they get a A in a CP course it will, in effect, lower their GPA. So, what occurs is a high pressured race to achieve the highest GPA rather than pursue a well-rounded academic career over four years. Examples abound of a student interested in becoming an engineer eschewing a valuable career oriented CADD class because, as a CP class, it is unweighted. Or a high achieving student interested in a career in environmental science not taking an environmental studies class because it, too, is not weighted and that would contribute to a marginally lower GPA. I am convinced that weighting grades at CHS would have a detrimental effect on our wonderfully diverse selection of elective course offerings and add undue stress on our students who, by the time they are Juniors, are already under considerable pressure to excel.

Lastly, I had a wonderful conversation with Ms. Sacramone the other day. She is now the Director of Guidance at Wayland High School where she reports they are seriously working toward eliminating weighted grades, as are many of the other schools in that highly competitive educational environment west of Boston. Less than four years ago Lexington High School scrapped its weighted grading system for all of the reasons I have mentioned above. So, it turns out that Chatham High School was significantly ahead of the curve over a decade ago in doing what was right for our students even if it wasn't popular. I have to say it feels pretty good to have a number of very respected schools now apparently following our lead. Why, with what we know and the way the trend is moving, would we now want to reverse what we have accomplished?

Well, perhaps I will skip lunch today and take a long walk in an effort to shed a pound or two. As always, I welcome your thoughts and comments.

March Madness....

For those of us who work in education, March is a cruel month. In general, most would agree that by the time March rolls around everyone is pretty sick of winter and when the month that heralds the start of spring arrives, hopes and expectations rise significantly. However, those of us who have spent enough years living on Cape Cod know all too well that expectations of spring-like weather in March are very unrealistic. So, even though the days are getting longer and we begin to feel the marginal benefits of increasing exposure to sunshine, March is still a dark month for many. This is especially felt in schools by students and staff alike. It is the only month where, save an occasional professional development day, there are no holidays or long weekends to break up the tedious wait for spring. So this is why we plan Spirit Week for March! All next week the Student Council has planned a variety of zany activities to energize the student body, encourage students to have some fun, and take everyone's mind off the agonizingly slow wait for spring. In addition to all of the normal focus on academics during the week, students will come to school in their pajamas one day, dressed as an animal on another, and culminate the week by dressing in a designated color by class on Friday. We have scheduled a rocking concert by Afterburner, an Air Force rock band from Hanscom Air Force Base on Thursday and an afternoon of competitive games on Friday to wind up the week. Hopefully, everyone will have fun and the following week we will all be back to a more serious approach to school and our usual watching and waiting for the first real signs of spring!

For most of us at Chatham High School there has been one exceptionally bright spot this particular month of March. We recently received the Commission on Public Secondary Schools' response to our NEASC Two Year report which was submitted last October. That report was a chronicle of our effort to successfully address the recommendations included in the NEASC Evaluation report which we received in the fall of 2007. In their letter, the Commission recognized the school for "the thoroughness of the report and for the exemplary number of recommendations which have been completed." Moreover, they listed a significant number of commendations which serve as a wonderful recognition of all of the hard work expended by the staff and our instructional leaders over the past two years. The letter not only validates the work we have done but the degree to which we have improved teaching, learning and the overall environment at our school. The Commission also provided us with several additional recommendations which we will need to address in our Five Year Report due in the fall of 2012 and which will guide our professional development work over the next few years.

We are so proud of our accomplishments we have posted this letter along with all of our other NEASC documents on our school web page for all to see. Please check it out at www.chatham.k12.ma.us.

And, as always, let me know what you think.

The Dark Side of Social Networking...

I am not into social networking via Facebook, My Space, or Twitter, however I am not necessarily opposed to it either. I do have a LinkedIn account and have connected with lots of friends and colleagues on that professional network, but I just can't bring myself to the more social realm of Facebook or any of the other sites like it. I fully recognize the power of such sites for reconnecting and keeping in touch but I am increasingly concerned about the abuse of this excellent tool especially by young people. Unfortunately, many teens see it as their private space, which of course, it is anything but. Moreover, many see it as a vehicle for venting or criticizing others in the relative "safety" of cyberspace. Some of this behavior has led to an apparent "piling on" mentality with dozens of individuals chiming in with often hurtful or hateful comments directed at other individuals or groups. Virulent comments and personal attacks amount to harassment and in some cases when they occur persistently and over time, bullying. Most recently, this behavior contributed to the tragic suicide of a young student in South Hadley, Massachusetts. This is clearly unacceptable.

In their defense, students who engage in this disturbing behavior argue that what they post on various social networking sites is protected speech under the First Amendment, however I do not believe that the argument is valid. Over the years the courts have demonstrated that the right to free expression is, in fact, limited and that the Constitution does not protect hateful, defamatory, libelous, or disruptive speech or actions. So what is thought to be rightful expression of one's opinion is actually criminal harassment.

My biggest problem is that what most often happens outside of school in cyberspace through the use of an individual's personal computer and Internet access frequently invades the school with more direct and, unfortunately, more physical versions of what has occurred online. When that happens, it is almost always disruptive to the learning environment and the safety of individuals in the building. More specifically, it significantly impacts and interferes with the victim's right to an education and therefore violates a variety of school harassment policies. As a Principal, I take my responsibility to intervene in such cases very seriously and am determined to take appropriate steps to stop it. Beyond that, as a school community, I believe we need to take a stand condemning such behavior not only because it is wrong and illegal, but because it has such a detrimental effect on our otherwise positive school culture.

Soon the Massachusetts General Assembly will enact new legislation outlawing cyberbullying, giving schools and the police more responsibility and more authority to stop such behavior. This legislation was in the pipeline long before the tragic events in South Hadley, which now only serve to underscore the urgent need to take action to prevent any further personal suffering and tragic loss of young lives.

In the coming months, in conjunction with the Chatham Police Department, the Barnstable County Sheriff's Department, and the District Attorney's Office, we will be providing opportunities for teachers, students and parents to learn more about this growing problem and how to prevent it.

As always, I would like to know what you think.

It's All Down Hill...

Last Monday we reached that annual milestone in the world of education - the half-way point in the school year. I am sure that many students and even some teachers start thinking of the inevitable countdown to that magical day in June when classes end for another year. Clearly, we have turned a corner, but there is so much more to learn and much to do in the weeks and months to come.

I truly love the first day of the second semester. Since we operate on a semester schedule, that day is almost as exciting and energy filled as the first day of school in September. Students are generally excited about starting fresh in four new classes and I believe the teachers feel the same way. For me, the transition means the beginning of another scheduling cycle. The new program of studies has been revised and is currently being printed. We will distribute the informative booklets and course selection sheets in our next advisory meeting and guide our advisees in making appropriate selections for the next school year. When all of the course request sheets have been turned in the scheduling process can begin in earnest. My spring will be filled with course sections, priorities, conflict matrices, and course overloads. It is challenging work but I love it. Despite the inevitable frustration, I know I will have a master schedule and every student will be fully scheduled by early summer.

Speaking of the new program of studies, I am pleased that we are planning to offer four new courses for our students next year. Introduction to Engineering will be our first offering as part of the district's new STEM initiative. In computer technology we plan to offer Advanced Web Design and Advanced Microsoft Office. All three of these courses were determined to be popular choices on a recent student survey we conducted on technology offerings at CHS. The last class is a course in Statistics which we hope will be a popular choice for seniors who are not opting for Calculus, yet still want four credits in mathematics. We are excited about all of these new opportunities for our students. I just hope I can get them all scheduled!

Lastly, a month or so ago I wrote in this blog about the many sacrifices that were made to bring forth a balanced budget to FY 11. There is an addendum to that posting. This week the administrative team unanimously and, very willingly, agreed to a salary freeze for next year saving the district close to twenty thousand dollars. I feel pretty good about that!

As always, I would like to know what you think.

Learning from Experience

The recent Senate campaign in Massachusetts reinforced a long-held belief for me in a clear and powerful way. Last weekend, two days before the election we received more than thirty automated phone calls in my home from the two major candidates. I received "personalized" messages from President Obama, Vice President Biden, one of the candidates' daughter, and the candidates themselves. It was absolutely dizzying. The phone never stopped ringing! I never knew I was so popular! I felt "so important." However, I heard the same message over and over again and before too long, I began to wish that the Do Not Call list covered political messages. I thank the technology gods for answering machines and Comcast call screening.

As I was being beseiged by the political begging all weekend, I could not help thinking about the power I have at my disposal as a high school principal. We subscribe to ConnectEd, a sophisticated automated phone system which allows us to communicate with parents by creating one message which is then delivered to selected homes in a matter of seconds. This system was purchased primarily for making an emergency call should the need ever arise. However, we also use it to notify parents about upcoming events and no school announcements. It is fast, foolproof, convenient, and unfortunately, prone to abuse.

So, after last weekend's experience I pledge to never abuse the use of our ConnectEd power. I will only use it to remind parents of open house nights, college planning and financial aid events, and, of course, emergency situations like a lock down. I will continue to send my messages around 6:30 PM and will try to keep them all under one minute. I would love to hear from parents as to how they feel about the infrequent messages I send via ConnectEd.

As always, I am interested in hearing from you.