Superintendent's Weekly News

NEW FEATURE:  General Announcements
This page is intended to separate general announcements from the Superintendent's comments for each week.
Click here for Legal Notice on the Coordinated Program Review

UPDATE: MAY 11, 2012
2012/2013 Transportation Registration
At the School Committee meeting on May 10, the
Committee approved one additional bus for the
2012/2013 school year.
If your child is currently on the wait list, you are on
the additional bus.
Seats are available on a first come,first serve, space
available basis.
Please fill out the application under "Forms to Download"
Thank you for your patience.

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Writer’s Workshop for Grades K-8
Writer’s Workshop is an instructional model that views writing as an ongoing process in which students follow a given set of procedures for planning, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing their writing.  It allows students to be at various stages of the writing process at one time.  Collaboration with peers and teachers is inherent in this model.  Process writing focuses primarily on what children want   to communicate. Student choice is important.

“It is terribly important for kids to read and write for the reasons that people the world over read and write, which is to communicate, to be delighted, to laugh.”-  Lucy Calkins

What does a Writing Workshop look like?
Small groups of students are busy throughout the room.  In a corner Carl and Steven are conferencing about Steven’s dinosaur story.  Kathy is at the publishing center designing a cover for her personal narrative about the day she broke her arm.  Mrs. Jones, the teacher, is conferencing with Carlos about his mystery story, Gregory is intensively working on his informational article on whales.  An author’s chair is positioned at the front of the room.  Posters explaining the steps of the writing process are posted on the walls, Student writing is very visible.  Children have access to the tools they need such as pencils, paper, thesauruses, and technology.  There is energy in the room as children purposefully converse with each other about their writing. 

 To learn more about the Writer’s Workshop Program, feel free to talk with your child’s literacy teacher.

 Ree Kessler     Literacy Coach                  Fowler School

Massachusetts Anti-Bullying Law
In May of 2010, an anti bullying law was signed by the Governor of Massachusetts.  Click HERE to learn more about what Maynard Public Schools are doing to address the requirements of this law.