SPOTLIGHT ON SHERMAN A Publication of the Sherman School District
SHERMAN SCHOOL DISTRICT
Strategic Plan We enable all Sherman Students to become the best possible version of themselves. We provide an environment where our children develop into empathetic, self-directed, critical thinkers who don’t give up when faced with challenges. ELEMENT:
Instructional Core The instructional core is central to everything we do. Our entire district is designed to support the meaningful interaction between teacher, student, and content to develop critical thinkers who don’t give up when faced with challenges. Goal #1 We will create and maintain curriculum that is responsive, relevant, and rigorous Goal #2 We will develop and implement a sustainable model of differentiation at all levels
ELEMENT:
Student Enrichment
Parent Engagement
Enrichment allows students to become the best possible version of themselves by discovering and pursuing their strengths and interests both within and outside the classroom. Goal #5 We will provide academic and non-academic enrichment opportunities Goal #6 We will broaden the extracurricular programming that is offered beyond the classroom
L
SHE
Culture
Connection and collaboration between home and school are critical to achieving the district’s vision.
Our shared beliefs, values, and expectations drive the behaviors that will allow us to realize our vision and achieve our goals.
Goal #7 We will create an infrastructure that invites families to be involved in school life
Goal #10 We will embrace innovative ideas and solutions
Goal #8 We will provide learning opportunities for families to support their children in school Goal #9 We will build effective partnerships and lasting relationships with families upon their enrollment in our district RMAN
SC
HO
Goal #11 We will build relationships based on mutual trust among all members of our community Goal #12 We will individually and collectively contribute to a positive climate Goal #13 We will engage members of the Sherman community to contribute to our school district and its future
O IS
C
D
P
A
N
.
ELEMENT:
L
Goal #3 We will foster interactions between staff and students that promote engagement, nurture curiosity, and make learning fun
E
Parent Engagement
P
.
SHE
RMAN S C
|
N
HO
O
L
The Sherman School 2 Route 37 East, Sherman, CT 06784
L
Culture
A
D
T IS
GI C
RIC
S T R AT
Student Enrichment
ICT
T S T R AT E
GI
Instructional Core
TR
Goal #4 We will develop a growth mindset among staff, and students
ELEMENT:
P 860.355.3793 |
F 860.355.9023 |
W shermanschool.com
Connecting through Partnerships
W
elcome to the first issue of Spotlight on Sherman, a publication designed to reflect the amazing work that is happening in and through The Sherman School. Opening in 1937, and originally housing only three classrooms, The Sherman School has grown and now faithfully serves 274 pre-K through 8th-grade students, while our district provides programming through partnerships with other local school districts for 125 students in Grades 9-12.
In 2017, the Board of Education adopted a vision statement that communicates the aspirations of our students, faculty, administration, parents, and community. Our vision builds upon the longstanding core values nurtured in each of our students: Respect, Courage, Honesty, and Responsibility. These values are not only found in every Sherman student, but also in every faculty member, staff member, and throughout members of our community. By supporting and funding our school, the Sherman community has ensured small class sizes, enhanced instructional learning through new technology, and enriched student experiences through the development of our arts and athletic programs. In this way, and many others, the heart of The Sherman School is sustained by our community. As shown in the pages that follow, The Sherman School is a unique learning environment where each student is taught how to access their full potential. One of The Sherman School’s gateways to student success is our faculty and staff. This year we recognize a teacher who encourages students as individual learners on a daily basis. We honor Mrs. Jill Vermilyea as our 2019 Teacher of the Year. She exemplifies the core values of The Sherman School and was chosen by her peers for this honor. Mrs. Vermilyea is just one of our talented faculty and staff members committed to helping our students become empathetic, self-directed, critical thinkers who don’t give up when faced with challenges. Parent engagement is another gateway to Sherman student success. This year’s Friend of Education recipient is Mrs. Amy Bocompani. Bocompani selflessly gives her time and her talents to The Sherman School and we enthusiastically support her recognition, grateful for her many contributions to our school. As one of the core principles in our Strategic Plan, we believe that increasing parent engagement will deepen the collaboration between home and school life for each of our students. Strengthening these connections will better support our students inside and outside our school. We are off to a great start this year. Our vision and Strategic Plan provide us with a clear path as we enable all Sherman students to become the best possible version of themselves. We are grateful to the Sherman community for their ubiquitous support and appreciate all of the hard work that makes Sherman such a special place. Sincerely,
Dr. Jeff Melendez Superintendent-Principal
TEACHER OF THE YEAR Do you remember a favorite teacher from your childhood? Many of us do. Teachers can inspire us, encourage us, and challenge us in ways that change who we are and who we will become. Each year, The Sherman School nominates a Teacher of the Year to showcase our school’s talented, dedicated faculty and highlight one person who has made extraordinary contributions to our school and to our students. The Sherman School’s 2019 Teacher of the Year is Mrs. Jill Vermilyea. She is recognized by her peers as an educator who exemplifies the qualities of a master teacher, serves as a role model to her peers,
advocates for each child, and strives for excellence every day. Jill Vermilyea has dedicated over fifteen years to The Sherman School as a certified speech and language pathologist, serving preschoolers through eighth graders. After earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Miami University, Jill worked in the New Milford and Brookfield school districts before joining The Sherman School in 2003. She is an essential component to Sherman student success and we thank her for exemplary service to our school.
“Our goal as parents is to support our children academically, emotionally, socially, and physically. Partnering with The Sherman School, using your time and talents, and getting involved, benefits everyone.”
PARENTS AS PARTNERS The Sherman School’s Strategic Plan outlines a vision for the future of our school by addressing four main elements. One of these elements is parent engagement. Parents who collaborate as school partners, drive student success and the success of our school. One of these parents, Mrs. Amy Bocompani, was named this year’s Friend of Education. Amy moved to Sherman in 1999 from San Francisco, and has been married to her husband, Rob, for 12 years. Her two children Ella (fifth grade) and Charlie (fourth grade) attend the Sherman School. Prior to being a stay-at-home mom, Amy worked at GE for 16 years. She went back to work recently in Trinity-Pawling School’s business office. Throughout her many years in Sherman, Amy has worked part-time and volunteered at the Sherman Historical Society. She has served on several boards, volunteered as a classroom parent, volunteered for the SPTO, and served as a parent liaison on the district’s Health & Safety and Communication Committees. Even while working full time, Amy continues to partner with The Sherman School, our teachers, and SPTO to help support their various projects and activities. Parents like Mrs. Bocompani, who partner with The Sherman School, make our community stronger. Their actions, volunteering or serving on boards or committees, affect the daily lives of Sherman students. Amy Bocompani leads by example. She is teaching her children a sense of service and responsibility—the fourth core value of The Sherman School. For this reason and many more, we recognize her as this year’s Friend of Education.
Instead of following a traditional elementary science curriculum, The Sherman School provides all preschool through fifth graders with up to three periods per week of dedicated STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) instruction which align with the Next Generation Science Standards. Our elementary and middle school science teachers have been specifically trained in inquiry-based learning strategies that teach and engage students in hands-on experiments. Continuity in our teaching methods allows students to transition more effectively from elementary school STEAM classes into higher level-science classes as they move up into middle school.
Our unique Exploration (XP) and Enrichment programs were designed for The Sherman School to serve all students in Grades 4-8 with 45 minutes of instruction each day, meeting on alternate weekdays. This system provides consistency within the programs and increased student engagement. Students are given the opportunity to select one XP and one Enrichment course each trimester from a catalog of 29 different offerings.
XP courses allow students to explore their interests in areas like photography, baking, 3D design, and bottle rocketry—some students will even build and race self-propelled gravity cars this year. As you will see highlighted in one of our future Spotlight on Sherman publications, each trimester concludes with an XP Expo where students showcase their learning by displaying their creations to the Sherman community. All members of our community are invited to recognize their achievements.
Our Enrichment program gives students the opportunities to select from Band, Chorus, Advanced Art and Extended Learning Time (ELT) offerings. These programs have inspired many students’ passions for the arts and have prepared them to excel in both regional and state competitions.
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID EDDM RETAIL
Postal Patron Sherman, CT 06784
The heart of The Sherman School is our community. Together, we can enrich the lives of all students.