The Belchertown School Committee met on Tuesday evening, October 23rd, and interviewed two finalists for the position of Director of Student Support Services. Ms. Kristi Guzzo was the unanimous choice of the Committee. She will be filling a vacancy left by Ms. Patricia Susen, Director of Special Education, in September.
Why the title and department name change? The position and the department Ms. Guzzo will oversee do much more than just deal with special education students and programs. While these students and programs comprise most of the work, the department also oversees English Language Learner instruction as well as instructional supports for students on Section 504 plans. Therefore, this shift more accurately reflects the full scope of the work that takes place there. Final negotiations on a contract will take place next week and we will then know when Ms. Guzzo will be joining us.
In other news, we are making preparations, along with the town, for the arrival of Hurricane Sandy. Two computer models show two different tracks: one to our south and one as a more direct route. Please keep an eye to weather reports and on our town's web site, www.belchertown.org, for more information. A Twitter feed has been established for the purpose of disseminating information: @Btownofficial. If you use Twitter, you can follow this feed to be kept up on the latest. A meeting with school and town officials will take place again on Monday and more information will follow that meeting if it looks as though Sandy will be making a direct hit.
Enjoy the weekend and, as always, feel free to contact me with any questions or comments: 413.323.0423 or via email: superintendent@belchertown.org.
Best regards, Dr. Judith Houle, Superintendent of Schools
Friday, October 26, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Athletes, Musicians, and PeaceBuilders
Our fall BHS athletes are preparing to walk in the Rays of Hope walk-a-thon, this coming Sunday in Springfield, MA. Soccer matches and our Friday football game were fundraiser events, with gate receipts and concessions going for the cause. Our girls' JV and Varsity Volleyball teams will be hosting a "Spike It for the Cure" event on Monday, October 22nd. The doors will open at 4 pm. JV will play at 5 pm and Varsity at 6 pm. Donations will be accepted for cancer research and treatment and concessions' profits will also go to this worthwhile cause. Come on out and wear pink!
On Wednesday, October 16th, several BHS musicians were inducted into Tri-M (Modern Music Masters). They were selected based on their musicianship, excellence, and leadership. Congratulations go to: Sean Grady, Joseph Brozek, Julia Maloof, Helen Hale, Lynn Barszcz, Stephen Boucher, Erin Gendreau, Kyle Mercer, Grace Campbell, Adam Messier, Kara Nietupski, Alexis LaVallee, Fatina Martidis, Aaron Funk, Kathryn O'Leary, and Cienna Lyon. Following their induction, they all played or sang as soloists or in small ensembles. Everyone performed beautifully for an appreciative audience. After the event, both current and new Tri-M members posed for group photos.
This past week was Spirit Week at Jabish Brook Middle School. The week was full of fun for all as each day had a theme. The culmination of the week was a 60s Peace Day on Friday where everyone was invited to dress from that era. I was happy to join in the fun that day and was in my teenage element! However, there was a serious side through a presentation on the principles of our PeaceBuilders program, which included some videos demonstrating the effects of bullying and mean-spiritedness on victims of these harsh acts. Following the presentation, the students returned to class, where they held group discussions. This was the kick-off to the year's PeaceBuilders program for the students.
The School Committee will be meeting on Tuesday, October 22nd, in the library at Swift River Elementary School. The meeting will begin at 5:30 pm so two finalists for the position of Director of Student Support Services can be interviewed. Following the interviews and deliberation, the rest of the meeting will proceed. Check out the School Committee area of our web site, under the District tab, to see the agenda.
As always, if you have any questions about this post, feel free to call me at 323.0423.
Best, Dr. Judith Houle, Superintendent of Schools
On Wednesday, October 16th, several BHS musicians were inducted into Tri-M (Modern Music Masters). They were selected based on their musicianship, excellence, and leadership. Congratulations go to: Sean Grady, Joseph Brozek, Julia Maloof, Helen Hale, Lynn Barszcz, Stephen Boucher, Erin Gendreau, Kyle Mercer, Grace Campbell, Adam Messier, Kara Nietupski, Alexis LaVallee, Fatina Martidis, Aaron Funk, Kathryn O'Leary, and Cienna Lyon. Following their induction, they all played or sang as soloists or in small ensembles. Everyone performed beautifully for an appreciative audience. After the event, both current and new Tri-M members posed for group photos.
This past week was Spirit Week at Jabish Brook Middle School. The week was full of fun for all as each day had a theme. The culmination of the week was a 60s Peace Day on Friday where everyone was invited to dress from that era. I was happy to join in the fun that day and was in my teenage element! However, there was a serious side through a presentation on the principles of our PeaceBuilders program, which included some videos demonstrating the effects of bullying and mean-spiritedness on victims of these harsh acts. Following the presentation, the students returned to class, where they held group discussions. This was the kick-off to the year's PeaceBuilders program for the students.
The School Committee will be meeting on Tuesday, October 22nd, in the library at Swift River Elementary School. The meeting will begin at 5:30 pm so two finalists for the position of Director of Student Support Services can be interviewed. Following the interviews and deliberation, the rest of the meeting will proceed. Check out the School Committee area of our web site, under the District tab, to see the agenda.
As always, if you have any questions about this post, feel free to call me at 323.0423.
Best, Dr. Judith Houle, Superintendent of Schools
Sunday, October 14, 2012
News of the District
The School Committee met on Tuesday, October 9th and did quite a bit of business. First was a presentation of our MCAS results from the Spring 2012. If you would like to see more about that presentation, click here.
In other business, the Committee received an updated budget for FY 2013. The bottom line remains the same, but summer hiring and other adjustments were made to the lines within the budget to better reflect what the budget actually looks like for this year. They also heard reports from the Property & Transportation Subcommittee with regard to a lighting program that would change most of our parking lot lights at the schools to LED bulbs, saving money and energy, along with an engineering report on the Tadgell School, which we are looking to bring back on line for educational, administrative, and town purposes. They also approved a bid for snow removal at the schools - which we hope not to use before winter! The Personnel & Policy Subcommittee updated the School Committee regarding our search for a new Director of Student Support Services and approved a revised job description for the position.
The Search Committee for the new Director of Student Support Services met and began interviews for the position on Thursday. We have more to do on Tuesday of this week and hope to identify 2 finalists for the School Committee to consider on October 23rd.
Our Athletic Department is going to walk in the Rays of Hope Walk in Springfield on Sunday, October 28th. Teams began fundraising efforts over the weekend for this endeavor. Our boys' and girls' soccer teams hosted Westfield on Saturday, October 13th, and the gate receipts and some of the concessions will go toward the event. Rays of Hope is an annual walk, sponsored by Baystate Medical Center, to raise money for breast cancer treatment and research. Other "Think Pink" events include:
In other business, the Committee received an updated budget for FY 2013. The bottom line remains the same, but summer hiring and other adjustments were made to the lines within the budget to better reflect what the budget actually looks like for this year. They also heard reports from the Property & Transportation Subcommittee with regard to a lighting program that would change most of our parking lot lights at the schools to LED bulbs, saving money and energy, along with an engineering report on the Tadgell School, which we are looking to bring back on line for educational, administrative, and town purposes. They also approved a bid for snow removal at the schools - which we hope not to use before winter! The Personnel & Policy Subcommittee updated the School Committee regarding our search for a new Director of Student Support Services and approved a revised job description for the position.
The Search Committee for the new Director of Student Support Services met and began interviews for the position on Thursday. We have more to do on Tuesday of this week and hope to identify 2 finalists for the School Committee to consider on October 23rd.
Our Athletic Department is going to walk in the Rays of Hope Walk in Springfield on Sunday, October 28th. Teams began fundraising efforts over the weekend for this endeavor. Our boys' and girls' soccer teams hosted Westfield on Saturday, October 13th, and the gate receipts and some of the concessions will go toward the event. Rays of Hope is an annual walk, sponsored by Baystate Medical Center, to raise money for breast cancer treatment and research. Other "Think Pink" events include:
- October 15th, 2012 – Golf (3PM)
- October 16th, 2012 – Boys and Girls Cross Country (3:45PM)
- October 22nd, 2012 – Girls Volleyball (6PM)
- October 27th, 2012 - Football (2:30 PM).
I encourage you to come out and support your favorite team, wear pink to these events, and help raise money for this worthy cause! I will be walking with our athletes this year in memory of my mother, who passed away a year ago from this disease. I appreciate Mr. Marchewka's (our Athletic Director), leadership and his encouragement of our athletes to give back to the community in this way.
As always, feel free to contact me with your questions and comments at 413.323.0423.
Best regards, Dr. Judith Houle, Superintendent of Schools
Monday, October 8, 2012
Update on a search, the Class of 2013, and Walking Track to Open
Update on a Search for the Director of Student Support Services
A search is underway for a new Director of Student Support Services in the district. Patricia Susen, our former Director of Special Education, left the district in September to take a new position in another district. After a review of the responsibilities of the position, the School Committee voted to change the title to Director of Student Support Services. This position is responsible for special education, English Language Learner services, and Section 504 and related services, such as home hospital tutoring. A search committee of nine members has been formed, applications have been reviewed, and preliminary interviews will take place this week. The School Committee will conduct interviews of finalists by the end of the month in hopes that a new director can be appointed and on board by the first of the new year.As we conduct our search, we are pleased to have Pat Stevens serving as an interim director. Ms. Stevens is a former special education director and superintendent of schools and brings a wealth of knowledge to the position. Her expertise will help us keep things moving forward while we work on hiring our new director.
The Class of 2013 Makes Its Mark
Belchertown High School celebrated Spirit Week this past week with event-filled days culminating in a Spirit Day on Friday, October 5th. Everyone was decked out in their school colors of orange and black and the Class of 2013 gathered on the stadium field for their class photo in formation of their year of graduation.
Walking Track to Open
As a public service to the town while we are still on critical alert for Eastern Equine Encephalitis, we are opening the indoor walking track above the BHS gymnasium to give the community a place to walk that is protected from exposure to mosquitos. The track will open on Tuesday, October 9th. See our home page for more details.
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