Titan Times Magazine

40 EUSSI | 7102 TSUGUA

TITAN TIMES

A PUBLICATION OF THE PEMBROKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

THE BACK TO SCHOOL EDITION

Welcome Back Welcome back to the 2017-2018 school year. I hope that you and your families had an enjoyable summer. It is hard to believe that August is upon us and the new school year is beginning. Each school year brings anticipation, excitement and a little anxiety about the unknown. As we begin this school year, I wish the greatest success for all of our students and staff.

IN THIS ISSUE

While students were not in school, administration, faculty and staff were hard at work to ensure a successful year ahead. Throughout the summer, administration was engaged in reviewing curriculum materials, achievement data and other materials in order to set clear goals for the year. Teachers participated in curriculum workshops and our facilities team was hard at work preparing the buildings and grounds throughout the District.

As you know, some of our talented staff members have retired and others transitioned to new roles so we have been busy with the hiring process. We are looking forward to welcoming all of the new staff members to the team. We welcome the fresh energy and perspective that these talented individuals will bring to our district.

I would also like to recognize all of our returning employees who continue to demonstrate unwavering support, enthusiasm and dedication to our students; day-after-day, year-after-year. All of

03 Back To School 04 Welcome New Hires 08 School Committe Update 09 Get To Know The PTO

their hard work and the hard work of parents, community members and volunteers are what make our district such a special place to work and to learn. The passion our students have for learning which is evident as you walk through our schools is cultivated by the work being done by each of you- on the front lines, as well as behind the scenes- throughout the District.

I hope that each of you enjoys the remaining days of summer. I look forward to a year filled with stories of great success and great learning.

Sincerely,

Erin Obey Superintendent of Schools

We want to hear from you! Send us your comments,questions, suggestions and compliments via Let's Talk!

10 Art & Music Update 12 Athletics Update 14 Get Moving With Transportation

15

Healthy Habits With Food Services

16

Communications Update

18

Nurses' Corner

20

Curriculum & Instruction News

AUGUST 2017

PAGE 03

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL Orientations and open houses are a great way to become familiar with your child's school, teachers and principals. Each year we welcome parents of our students to attend these events and tour the schools and classrooms that their children will be learning in each day. For more information about back to school related information such as school supply lists, student handbooks and more, check the back to school quick link on our website. We look forward to seeing new and familiar faces this fall!

PEMBROKE PRESCHOOL Orientation is Thursday, August 31st at 10:00 AM for Murphy/Fultz and AM classes and 11:00 AM for Struk and PM classes.

NORTH PEMBROKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Kindergarten orientation is Wednesday, August 30th at 10:30 AM (Mylett and Lang AM classes) and 12:30 PM (Cook) New student orientation is Thursday, August 24th at 10:00 AM Open house is Tuesday, September 12th from 6:30 PM to 8:15 PM.

BRYANTVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Kindergarten orientation is Wednesday, August 30th from 9:30 – 10:30 AM and 12:30- 1:30 PM. New student orientation is Thursday, August 24th at 10:00 AM Open house is Thursday, September 14th at 6:30 PM.

HOBOMOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Kindergarten orientation is Wednesday, August 30th at 9:30 AM and 12:30 PM. New student orientation is Wednesday, August 23rd from 9:00 to 9:30 AM. Open House is Thursday, September 7th from 6:30-8:00 PM.

PEMBROKE COMMUNITY MIDDLE SCHOOL Open House is Thursday, September 28th from 6:30 to 8:00 PM.

PEMBROKE HIGH SCHOOL Freshman Orientation is Wednesday, August 23rd from 7:30-10:30 AM. Open House is Wednesday, September 27th from 6:30 – 8:30 PM.

Please note: dates are subject to change.

Please check the calendar for the most up to date information.

TITAN TIMES MAGAZINE

PAGE 04

Say hello to our new hires!

Best wishes for a great 2017-2018 school year!

Pembroke Public Schools are thrilled to welcome some new staff members to the team this year. In addition to our new hires we have also had some of our current members change positions within the district.

At Pembroke High School please say hello to our new Physics teacher Jesse McKinnon, our new Visual Art teacher Jessica Lazarus, our new Science teacher Tara Cartee, our new History teacher Caitlin Walsh, our new SPED teacher Lindsay Ladd, our new Transition Program Paraprofessional Rebecca Rondeau, our new Chemistry teacher Shari Laprise, our new History teacher Erin Kennedy, our new Paraprofessional Bethany Vanderkeyl, our new Spanish teacher Kenneth Sabella, our new Transition Program Coordinator Kathryn Jesson, our long term substitute Guidance Counselor Erika Stone and our new Foreign Language Department Head Saviz Safizadeh.

Pembroke Community Middle School welcomes two new staff members to the team this year. Please say hello to Spanish teacher Christine Noguer who is filling in a position for the year and previously taught at PHS. We are also excited to welcome our new English Language Arts teacher Maria Julian.

Hobomock Elementary School welcomes four new staff members in addition to the new Assistant Principal Valerie Kelly.

Please give a Hobomock welcome to the new Kindergarten teacher Nicole Klemonsky, new Second Grade teacher Samantha Barr, new Fourth Grade long term substitute Erin O’Brien and new Special Education teacher Allison Lydon.

Bryantville Elementary School welcomes three new staff members in addition to new Assistant Principal Michelle Arons. Former Assistant Principal Michelle Matheson has decided to return to her passion, teaching fourth grade.

Please say hello to new Special Education Teacher Mary McNamara and our new Sixth Grade teacher Jocelyn Bettencourt.

North Pembroke Elementary School is excited to share that Christina Mylett has returned to teaching full day kindergarten, Nicole Fabricius has taken a First Grade teacher position and Lauren Sokolowski has joined as a Paraprofessional.

We are also thrilled to welcome our new Elementary Social Worker Caitlin Martin, our new Elementary Strings teacher Nancy Kidd, our new Physical Therapist Bethany Atkins and our new Technology Integrator Brandon Hall to the their new positions.

Thank you to our 2017-2018 Retirees!

Wishing you a happy retirement!

Pembroke Public Schools would like to express their sincere thanks to the amazing staff members who retired in 2017. We wish them the best as they embark on this next chapter of their lives.

Maryanne Knoll of Bryantville Elementary School Carol Price of Bryantville Elementary School Diane McBride of Hobmock Elementary School Cheryl Porter of Pembroke High School

Get to know our Technology Integrator Brandon Hall Brandon Hall always knew he wanted to teach and he PAGE 05

Pembroke High School History teacher takes on a new role

was encouraged by his high school English teacher George Coombs to pursue his dream. Mr. Coombs taught with a passion and humor that engaged and inspired his students. Brandon hoped to teach with that same passion and studied at his teacher’s alma mater, Stonehill College. Brandon studied history in college and really enjoyed his undergraduate studies.

He was also always interested in technology and how to utilize it best in the classroom. Educational technology was in its infancy 15 years ago; technology integrator type positions didn’t exist so it was hard to imagine that he would one day get to combine his three passions, history, technology and teaching into a single role. Brandon is excited to begin this next chapter with Pembroke Public Schools and continue to explore his passion for teaching and learning from a technology perspective.

Q&A with Brandon Hall What do you love about using technology in the classroom?

I love the look on students' faces when we tell them what we're going to accomplish with the powerful device they carry around all day. Students come into class texting, Snapchatting, and using social media.

After class, they've created something amazing like a green screen video about the American Revolution, or a mock social media account for people in the women's reform movement. They leave having learned valuable teamwork skills, technological practices, and of course, the content in a deeper manner.

What are some of your favorite resources/programs for someone who is new to using technolgy for teaching?

I love Twitter. There was really nothing like that at all when it first came to popularity in 2010. It's truly amazing to watch regular people interact with politicians, celebrities, and other professionals in such a forum. Connecting with other teachers through Twitter has led to excellent professional development opportunities, great contacts, and cool lesson plans. Twitter can also be an awful place, where bullying and the worst human behaviors can take place. Again, teaching digital citizenship can cure these ills in our community. I'm definitely an Apple junkie, too. I love how seamlessly their products work together and I enjoy being a beta tester of their iOS. And from a software standpoint, I love Google Tools. I was an early adopter of GMail, and I've been using their various tools for years. They have such a great schoolbased program, I think it can streamline some of what we do with other programs using a single sign on, which should make most people happy.

What are some of the things you hope to achieve this year?

My position is brand new and there's a ton of room to grow an amazing program. I hope to help teachers understand the power of the devices students bring to class every day, and teach students how to use these devices appropriately. Digital citizenship is so important; everyone can do a better job being more aware of their online footprint. I hope to help students develop a more appropriate and professional online presence. We also hope to create a database of lesson plans accessible to every teacher, applicable to every content area, so they can apply some of the great tools they have available.

PAGE 06

Meet the new Assistant Principal at Bryantville Bryantville welcomes Michelle Arons to the team!

Michelle Arons is committed to equity for all students. She believes that all students should be engaged in powerful learning experiences and supported to develop an academic mindset. She comes from a broad background with experience in a variety of educational settings, from public to private and urban to suburban. Each experience has been unique and amazing in their own way and gave Michelle the opportunity to continue to grow as both an educator and as a leader. In her free time, Michelle loves to laugh, eat good food and hike with her family and dogs.

She looks forward to the start of the new school year and getting to know the members of the Pembroke community in the coming years.

Q&A with Mrs. Arons What made you choose Pembroke?

I did my research when considering my job transition, and I found clear evidence that the community of Pembroke places high value on education. I was impressed with the open, encouraging, and innovative vibe of everyone I have encountered.

My observations thus far indicate to me that Pembroke has what I consider to be the key ingredients of a progressive and high performing district.

Pembroke Public Schools are student-centered in their decisions, and the teachers are empowered while simultaneously being supported.

What do you love most about your job?

I love it all- connections with students, collaboration with teachers and staff, partnering with parents and families, adjusting curriculum to remain current with recent theories and practice, etc. Educational leadership allows me to stay connected to all aspects of the educational process while being tasked with the execution of it all. I love the challenge of the execution along with the incredible level of multitasking that it entails to ensure that we are giving children precisely what they need every minute.

What is something you hope to accomplish this year?

I am so fortunate to work at Bryantville Elementary School where they have a positive, hard-working team committed to continuing to push themselves and students to the next level. I hope to quickly synchronize with the team in order to further enhance the great work already started to support students’ social and emotional learning.

Meet the New Assistant Principal at Hobomock

PAGE 07

Hobomock welcomes Valerie Kelly to the team!

Valerie Kelly grew up in Holliston and went through the French Immersion Program. From there she went on to major in French and Psychology. When she completed her undergraduate degree she went back to where her love of learning began and took a position as a full time paraprofessional in the Holliston Placetino Elementary Kindergarten French Class. She completed her Masters in Elementary Education at Boston College and taught first and second grade in both Newton and Sudbury before taking a position in Milton teaching for the French Immersion program at Tucker Elementary School. More recently she taught fifth grade in Newton while completing her second Masters in Educator Leadership before making the leap to Pembroke Public Schools. Her love of language and learning compliments her love of travel. Valerie has been to over 32 countries across 6 continents. She looks forward to hearing about all of the different places Hobomock families have traveled and sharing her love of the world with her Hobomock community.

Q&A with Mrs. Kelly What made you choose Pembroke?

I chose Pembroke because of it’s commitment to education and spirited school system. It is clear Pembroke Public Schools go the extra length to make sure every child gets what they need. I grew up in a similar town of Holliston, MA and love working in such tight knit communities.

What do you love most abour your job?

I love being an educator and working to optimize learning for every student.

I find it so rewarding to work as a team, collaborating with teachers and families to best support all learners. I also love the many hats Assistant Principals and Team Chairs wear. I have really enjoyed working with Principal Kay this summer to prepare for Hobomock’s 2017-2018 school year!

What is something you hope to accomplish this year?

Something I hope to accomplish this year is developing strong working relationships with the Hobomock students, families, and staff. I look forward to connecting with kids and working as a team. I am also excited for Titan Time and observing student growth through targeted instruction.

PAGE 08

"YOU CAN EITHER SIT ON THE

WELCOME

SIDELINES OR YOU CAN GET IN

DAVID BOYLE

THE GAME. I

PEMBROKE PUBLIC SCHOOL COMMITTEE STARTS THE YEAR WITH A NEW BOARD MEMBER

CHOSE TO GET IN!"

Pembroke Public Schools are excited to welcome David Boyle to the School Committee. David is a longtime Pembroke resident and the proud father of two Pembroke Public School children. His daughter Emily will be starting at Pembroke Community Middle School this year and his son Liam is going into fifth grade. David had always dreamt of becoming an educator. Although his career led him to a different path, he is a strong believer in educating the whole student and hopes to support that philosophy while serving as a school committee member. He believes we have a very important job as parents and residents of Pembroke with respect to educating our children. He hopes to develop a culture where we provide the best opportunities for our children to grow and thrive, and he says that we need parents' help and support, whether it is volunteering, coaching, chaperoning, mentoring or getting involved in some way in order to nurture this culture. He knows that we are all busy and that there are many distractions out there for our children; however, they are only young for so long and it goes by quickly so David encourages everyone to get involved and not to miss out on these critical years.

What makes our mission "To ensure student achievement through excellence in teaching

Q&A WE ASKED MR. BOYLE A FEW QUESTIONS AND HERE IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY. What motivated you to run for school committee?

My motivation for running for school committee was quite simple . My daughter Emily , who is 12 , and going into 7th Grade and my son Liam , who is 10 , is going into 5th Grade. I hope to make a difference for them and for all the students in the Pembroke system . You can sit on the sidelines or you can get in the game . I chose to get in !

What is one thing you hope to accomplish this year?

I am not sure about what you can accomplish in one year , but I am a bit philosophical . I graduated from Springfield College and dreamed of becoming an educator . Due to circumstances it did not come to fruition . At Springfield , we had a philosophy about educating the mind , body and spirit . A bit of a perfect triangle , if you will . If we could teach that type of system , we would develop the whole student . I also look at in a more grown up way . If we can develop an educational system and philosophy where our students win , parents win and our school personnel such as teachers , administrators and support staff wins , I think we will be doing a great service. I want to help develop a culture where students can reach for the stars , our parents know their children are safe , but being academically challenged and I want our school staff to feel valued and appreciated .

I am a very approachable person who believes in the first rule of

life and business is "Be Nice". Everyone likes nice people ! I would

encourage parents , students and support staff to reach out to me .

I am here to help . I can be reached at dboyle@martignetti.com .

and learning" meaningful to you?

Our Mission is to educate our students . I have a theory that the school years from K-12 should be an experience . Education is part of that experience . So aren't things like socialization , communication , life skills , etc . I encourage kids to try different activities , whether it is music , drama , arts , sports or anything else they may want to try . I would ask our teachers to help our kids dream !! We all have a job to do and if we do it the best of our abilities , then we are successful . I think one thing we miss is defining the expectation for our students , parents and staff. My goals are simple . I want our students to develop life skills that will help them function to the best of their ability and be productive members of society .

What are some of your professional achievements that make you proud?

I have a very unique background and although I am a social person , the hardest part of running for school committee was that I could no longer be in the background . You have to put yourself out there for the kids , the parents and the school personnel . So far , I am truly enjoying it. I have been blessed to do some public speaking in the past and I always tell the same story. My high school Guidance Counselor did not think I was college material and basically told my parents that . My Dad , who is truly one of my role models ,was also my high school principal and would not tolerate such an idea. My mother , who was a Marine in WW2 , was my biggest cheerleader .

They pushed me hard and had great faith in me . For a young man , who wasn't supposed to go to college , I think I did quite well . I am married for 17 years to the love of life , Karen . I have two beautiful children , that I previously mentioned , and I went on to become the Vice President of the 7th largest wine and spirits wholesaler in the country . I have been awarded The Tarbell Medallion back in 2008 from Springfield College , which is the highest honor you can achieve from the college . Along the way , I have worked as a security supervisor at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta , World Cup Soccer and the New England Patriots . A little known fact about me is that I am a Martial Arts Expert .

PAGE 09

GET TO KNOW THE PTO! THE PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION IS COMPRISED OF PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND STAFF DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE OF ALL STUDENTS AT PEMBROKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE PTO WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION TO MEET THIS GOAL.

WHO WE ARE Each school has their own PTO. The PTO webpage can be found on each school website under the Parents and Students drop down link in the menu bar.

The PTO page on our website includes upcoming meeting dates, contact information and meeting minutes.

FUN FACT! The PTO raises funds for enrichment programs such as guest speakers, artist Bren Bataclan's visits, school dances, Monster Mash, holiday fairs and of course Field Day, just to name a few!

HOW YOU CAN HELP! To make our children's schools the best they can be,the PTO needs your help.

Even if you only have an hour a month to volunteer, or feel you can only help from home, we have great ways to help you get involved. We're always looking for that next great idea and the PTO is a great way to make new friends!

FUN FACT! The PTO has helped to increase the amount of technology in our schools. With their efforts, additional white boards, laptop carts and Ipads have been purchased throughout the district.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK! Want to know the latests news from your schools PTO, follow them on Facebook.

Hobomock PTO @hobomock North PTO @northpembrokepto PCMS PTO @pcmspto Bryantville PTO @bryantvillepto

FUN FACT! The Bryantville PTO board has a combined 19 children between them!

PAGE 10

Music & Fine Arts Update The Pembroke Public Schools Fine Arts and Music Department is excited to begin another school year. We have such talented students in our district and we look forward to all of the events and activities this fall. Here are some highlights to note: Instrument Rental Night for 5th grade students electing to start playing an instrument in the PPS instrumental program, and their caregiver, will take place on Wednesday, August 30, at 7:00 PM in the PHS Cafeteria. Any family needing to rent a band or string instrument for their child should plan on attending the meeting. In addition, string students and their caregiver(s) should plan on meeting with Mrs. Nancy Kidd, the elementary string specialist for a meet and greet at 7:30 PM. Grade 6 lesson books will also be available to purchase this night for continuing 6th grade band and string students. The rental company accepts cash or personal check.

The PHS Thespian Troupe #7127 will hold its orientation meeting on Tuesday, September 5th from 6:00 – 8:00 PM in the PHS Auditorium.

Students in grades 9-12 who would like to get involved in the drama program (actors and crew) should plan on attending the orientation to learn about the three main stage productions and how they can get involved. The Thespian Society advisor is Ms. Andrea Canevazzi.

Auditions for the PHS Fall Musical production of Chicago will be held on Wednesday, September 6th and Thursday, September 7th from 5:00 – 8:00 pm. Students interested in being cast in the ensemble, dance troupe, or a main or supporting role need to plan on attending both audition days. The required audition music for main and supporting roles is posted on the performing arts bulletin board outside the choir room. Please email Mrs. Chapman for the audition tracks at Gwynne.chapman@pembrokek12.org.

Registrations for the 2017 fall private music lesson program are now being accepted by the Pembroke Music Department. The fall semester will run for 14-weeks (a lesson once a week) and the cost is $350 for a half-hour private lesson. Further information and the registration form can be found on the Visual and Performing Arts homepage at : http://www.pembrokek12.org/pages/PembrokePS/Departments/Visual_and _Performing_Arts

SAVE THE DATE 5

6

SEPTEMBER 5 PHS THESPIAN TROUPE ORIENTATION

SEPTEMBER 6-7 PHS MUSICAL AUDITIONS FOR CHICAGO

28

9

7

OCTOBER 28 UMASS BAND DAY AMHERST CAMPUS

NOVEMBER 9-11 PHS MUSICAL PERFORMANCE CHICAGO

DECEMBER 7 PCMS WINTER CONCERT

14

21

12

DECEMBER 14 PHS WINTER CONCERT II

DECEMBER 12 PHS WINTER CONCERT I

DECEMBER 21 BRYANTVILLE WINTER CONCERT

9

11

JANUARY 9 HOBOMOCK WINTER CONCERT

JANUARY 11 NORTH WINTER CONCERT

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

FALL ATHLETICS UPDATE A look at fall athletics with Athletic Director, Justin Domingos Welcome back to another exciting season of Titan Athletics. Prior to the start of each season, every athlete must complete our Online Sports Registration.

Without completing the online registration for each season and sport along with having a current physical, you will not be cleared to participate.

Please make sure that all students and parents review the code of conduct policies and the implications of infractions.

Our athletic calendar can be found on our website. You can also download the MIAA App for the most up to date athletic information.

Always contact your coach for specific questions and information about your sport, but we are always here to help with the success of all our student athletes.

Have a great season.

Go Titans!

Follow me @PHS_TITANS

Download the App

PAGE 13

Head Injury Recommendations The school nurse should be notified by the athletic director, trainer and/or coach if an athlete sustains a head injury during any school related activity. If an injury occurs outside of a school related sport and/or activity, parents should notify the school nurse of the incident. Medical evaluation and diagnosis should be made by the student's family practitioner and a student should be monitored every two weeks following the incident. The student will be required to submit a letter of diagnosis so that out of sports/p.e. and/or academic accommodations can be made. Look on our website under athletics for the Head Smart Academic Expectations Checklist for more information. The nurse will follow up with the student and see them on a regular basis until a note from the student's medical provider is supplied to the school stating that the student may return to normal activity.

New Track & Turf Field Update Pembroke Public Schools are pleased to announce that construction is beginning on the much anticipated track and athletic turf field project at Pembroke High School. The thirteen-year-old track and turf field will be replaced in a two-phase process in order to minimize disruption to the fall athletic programs. R.A.D. Sports out of Rockland, MA will be managing the construction for the project.

The first phase of the project began in July and included replacing the synthetic turf with Legion HP turf, laying of the new concussion pad, infill, inlaid game field markings, as well as replacing the football goal posts. With synthetic turf, Pembroke High School will be able to constantly utilize the field with minimal maintenance, allowing for twice as many sporting events and activities per day than a natural turf counterpart field could hold. Phase one will be completed prior to the start of the 2017-2018 school year and the field will be ready to go for all fall practices and games.

The second phase which entails replacing the existing track will take place in October.

This will allow our fall teams to continue to utilize the current track and avoid interference with the sports schedule while phase one is being completed. We anticipate that the second phase of the project will be finished by October 31, 2017.

Funding for this $890,000 project was made possible by our partnership with Pembroke Youth Sports, athletic user fees and operational efficiencies within the school’s operating budget. Approval to bond the project over 10 years was passed at the May 9, 2017 Annual Town Meeting thanks to the support of the Pembroke community.

Pembroke Public Schools look forward to unveiling the completed project with a Grand Opening Ceremony later this fall to commemorate with students, staff and community members. We are grateful to the community as we celebrate this enhancement to the PPS student experience.

PAGE 14

TRANSPORTATION Frequently Asked Questions Who is eligible to ride the bus without paying a bus fee?

All students K-6 who reside two miles or more from their assigned school are eligible for free transportation. This determination is mandated by the State of Massachusetts (Massachusetts General Law Chapter 71 Section 68). All other students in Grades K-12 will have the option to participate in the fee-base transportation program.

What if you do not qualify to ride without paying a bus fee?

All Pembroke students grades K-6 that reside less than two miles from their designated school and all students grades 7-12, regardless of the distance, are required to pay for transportation.

How do I know if my home is less than two miles from the designated school?

An updated address list can be viewed on the website www.pembrokepublicschools.org designating those elementary school addresses that are beyond 2 miles. Those lists are also available at each of the elementary schools. We ask that you contact the Transportation Office if you believe your address should be on the list and it is not.

How is the mileage determination made?

In accordance with the Department of Education policy, the distance is measured from the property line in front of the student’s residence, along sidewalks or commonly traveled public ways ordinarily accessible to the public, to the student entrance in front of their designated school.

What if I disagree with the school department’s mileage measurement?

You may contact the Transportation Office in writing to request a confirmation of distance. You will be notified of the results of the re-measurement and a refund will be issued if appropriate.

ALL BUS ROUTES ARE POSTED TO THE WEBSITE UNDER TRANSPORTATION

Students are only allowed to ride their designated home bus unless a Request to Ride an Alternate Bus Form has been completed. We encourage Elementary on the cultures and sociology of travel School parents that require alternate has noted. Reasons for traveling include day care for their student to print and recreation, tourism or vacationing. complete the form as soon as possible.

The form is downloadable on our website under transportation and is not available in School Office Pro. Completed forms should be forwarded to the Transportation office as soon as possible to ensure proper assignment.

Please review the Transportation Manual on our website for all policies and procedures.

PAGE 15

FORMING HEALTHY HABITS WITH

FOOD SERVICES

Pembroke Public Schools' Food Services Department is committed to providing healthy meals to our students on a daily basis. This year we are excited to announce the addition of “Titan Takeaways” to our daily menu at the elementary and middle school levels. This alternate lunch will be available daily in addition to the regular lunch menu items. The daily Titan Takeaway option will include a veggie, fruit and milk in addition to the items offered in each takeaway box. As with all our menu offerings, all items are whole grain, low sodium and low fat. The Titan Takeaways will include the following:

The Snacker Stacker

The Nacho Nibbler

Cheese Whole Grain Crackers Pepperoni Goldfish Grahams

Tortilla Chips Cheese Dip Sauce Salsa

Titan Tid Bits

Pizza Power Packs

Turkey or Ham Cheese Stick Soft Pretzel Goldfish Grahams

Round Flatbread Mozzarella Cheese Pizza Sauce Pepperoni- Optional

*Photos are for display purposes only. Food will not be served open.

The MySchoolBucks online prepayment service is an easy and secure option for families. Additionally, for every $25 deposited into your son or daughter’s account, we provide one meal FREE to offset the convenience fee charged for using this service. Parents placing money into multiple meal accounts will only be assessed the fee once per deposit transaction.

Please note the updated lunch menu prices for the 2017-2018 school year. These can be located on our website under Food Services.

PAGE 16

COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE

How to Stay Informed!

Follow Us! Follow @PemSch_News for updates from the district.

Share Stories Each school has a school specefic Facebook page. Follow your school today! Have some news you want to share, message us with the details.

Check the Calendar Check your school calendar for the most up to date listing of events and activities. You can even synch directly to your smartphone or personal calendar!

Download Our App

Weekly Updates

Our mobile app has everything you need all in one place.

Every Friday you will receive a weekly update from your child's school through the broadcast email system. The principal from each school sends this weekly newsletter to share upcoming dates, activities and events from the school.

Check the Backpack Every school has a Virtual Backpack on their homepage.

Check the backpack for community events and school related messages.

Let's Talk!

PAGE 17

We want to hear from you

"WE'RE CONSTANTLY STRIVING TO IMPROVE OUR SCHOOLS, BUT THE TRUE STRENGTH OF OUR DISTRICT IS MEASURED BY THE RELATIONSHIPS WE BUILD. THOSE RELATIONSHIPS BEGIN WITH LISTENING."

Want to easily ask a question about your child's education? Need information about our programs? Have good news to share? Welcome to Let's Talk! This innovative communication solution lets you reach out to Pembroke Public Schools 24 hours a day, 7 days a week- a response is guaranteed. Go to our website and start the conversation today!

Submit Stories to Titan Times!

The Titan Times Magazine is produced quarterly and distributed by the Communications Department for the Pembroke Public Schools (PPS). In general, the Titan Times covers programs, happenings and issues affecting our schools, the district and education. The purpose of the Titan Times Magazine is to provide information to parents and Pembroke residents on what is happening in our schools. We believe positive home/school relations are critical to the support and success of our schools. It is our hope that improved communications with the community will further strengthen that relationship.

We encourage school staff, teachers, PTO members and the community to submit stories and articles to the Titan Times editors.

How to submit: Send information to Sharon.Monteforte@pembrokeK12.org

What to submit: Programs at your school that will make good story ideas. These can be anything that is unique to your particular school such as teacher led activities or new and innovative ways of teaching students.

Stories about students helping others or the community, new and creative ways of using technology in the classroom or spotlights on professional development and learning.

Include a history and background of the program or story that you submit. When and how the program started, who runs the program, number of students and how it benefits the school or students involved.

Try to add testimonial if you can, quotes from those involved give the story more depth.

Formatting: We recommend putting key information in the first paragraph.

Keep the same tense throughout.

Send in a single attached word document.

Include high resolution images if possible.

PAGE 18

NURSES'CORNER

Get to know the Pembroke Public School Nurses Pembroke High School Nurse Cathy Cameron catherine.cameron@pembrokek12.org Phone 781-293-9281 ext 2108 Pembroke Community Middle School Nurse Joanne Earner joanne.earner@pembrokek12.org Phone: 781-293-8627 ext 5111 Fax: 781-294-2208 Hobomock Elementary School Nurse Paula Connolly paula.connolly@pembrokek12.org Phone: 781-294-0911 ext 325 Fax: 781-293-1281 Bryantville Elementary School Nurse Catherine Haley catherine.haley@pembrokek12.org Phone: 781-293-5411 ext 215 Fax: 781-294-4662

P

North Pembroke Elementary School Nurse Judi McAuliffe judi.mcauliffe@pembrokek12.org Phone: 781-826-5115 ext 407 Fax: 781-826-3029

embroke Public School Nursing is a specialized nursing profession that protects and promotes student health, facilitates normal development and advances academic success. School nurses are the link between healthcare and education, focusing on the health and safety of students, staff, families and community. Pembroke Public Schools employ full-time registered nurses in all 5 schools and are overseen by Dr.Gina Boutwell of South Shore Medical Center. (www.ssmedcenter.com). All 5 nurses are CPR/AED certified instructors and have trained over 80 staff members in the district to date.

Health services provided within the Comprehensive School Health Program include: Monitoring compliance with state immunization guidelines Identification and prevention of the spread of disease Administration of medication Annual vision screening in grades PreK-5; once in grades 7-8; once in grades 9-12 Annual hearing screening grades PreK-3; once in grades 7-8; once in grades 9-12 Annual postural screening in grades 5-9 Height, weight, and BMI measurements in grades 1, 4, 7, 10 Case management services, i.e., implementation of individual health care plans for students with health concerns First aid assessment and treatment Injury and Illness assessment and treatment Referral / counseling / guidance Promotion of healthy lifestyle choices Staff training and healthcare

Physicals are required for all students entering Preschool, Kindergarten, Grades 4, 7 and 10. Note: It is good practice to submit physical forms to the school nurse on an annual basis, if possible, so that the nurse has the most current health information on your child. All students new to the school district or student athletes must submit a signed physical examination performed by a health care practitioner, conducted within the past 13 months.

Q&A: WITH OUR SCHOOL NURSES

PAGE 19

Our school nurses respond to some of their most frequently asked questions.

For a complete list of FAQ, please check the Health Services section on the website.

WHAT IF MY CHILD NEEDS MEDICATION IN SCHOOL? Medication may not be given in school until the school nurse receives written orders from the student's medical provider /dentist.

A parent or guardian signature is also required. This applies to both prescription and over the counter medications including inhalers, epinephrine auto injectors, ear/eye drops, antibiotics, etc.

All medications must be delivered by an adult and in the original prescription labeled bottle. For more information please read the guidelines on the medication administration page located on our website and contact the school nurse.

“

Healthy children learn better.

School nurses make it happen!

”

WHAT IMMUNIZATIONS WILL MY CHILD NEED FOR SCHOOL? According to Massachusetts law, all students in grades Pre-K-12 attending the schools within the state must be properly immunized. This law also indicates that a student without such proof of immunizations may be excluded from attending school.

There are two situations in which children who are not appropriately immunized may be admitted to school: 1) a medical exemption is allowed if a physician submits documentation attesting that an immunization is medically contraindicated; and 2) a religious exemption is allowed if a parent or guardian submits a written statement that immunizations conflict with their sincere religious beliefs.

Philosophical exemptions are not allowed by law in Massachusetts. Only medical and religious exemptions are acceptable. These exemptions must be kept in the students’ files at school (105 CMR 220.000 and M.G.L. c.76, ss. 15, 15C and 15D).

Documentation must be submitted on a yearly basis.

WHEN SHOULD I KEEP MY CHILD HOME BECAUSE OF ILLNESS? There are times when a student should remain at home for his/her own welfare and for the protection of other students and staff. The following criteria may be used to determine when a child should remain at home: Sore throat and swollen neck glands A fever over 100.4 Undiagnosed rash or skin eruptions Earache, red eyes or drainage from the eyes.

Any communicable disease A child should not return to school until they are fever free for 24 hours without medication. (Tylenol/ Ibuprofen.)

If vomiting/diarrhea occurs, the child should not return to school until symptom free for 24 hours and able to eat a normal meal.

If your son/daughter develops a communicable disease or condition, (e.g. strep throat, scarlet fever, lyme disease, fifth’s disease or head lice) please notify your child’s school nurse.

Fun Fact

OUR SCHOOL NURSES HAVE OVER 180 YEARS OF COMBINED NURSING EXPERIENCE BETWEEN THEM!

SOME HELPFUL HINTS FROM THE PEMBROKE PUBLIC SCHOOL NURSES After a busy summer with many late nights, establish a bedtime and wake up time. A week before school starts begin the routine, starting 10-15 min earlier each night until the desired school bedtime is reached.

Breakfast is very important and helps to provide energy for the day. It helps to have some healthy grab and go snacks such as fruit or granola bars for busy mornings. Students can also purchase a healthy breakfast at school too!

Buy school supplies with your child, check that their backpack has comfortable wide shoulder straps, fits properly and isn’t too heavy to carry.

Speak with the school nurse about any changes to health over the summer and share any concerns at the beginning of the school year.

Update all of your child’s health records and complete all the forms in School Office Pro with any changes to medications and notify the nurse of any illnesses or injuries that happened over the summer. Be sure to list medications taken at home in addition to those that will be administered at school so the nurse has a full picture of the child’s health and wellness.

Stay in touch with your school nurse. If your child says they don’t feel well but they seem like they are okay with no fever, let the school nurse know that morning versus telling the child to go see the nurse when they arrive. This way the nurse knows what to expect if they are actually sick, versus having the child come straight to the office from the bus.

Talk to students about schedules, before/after school care, changes to start and end times and school expectations prior to the start of the school year. This helps children prepare to do their best and know what to expect as they begin the new school year.

The nurses are looking forward to helping all students be healthy in school and ready to learn this year!

PAGE 20

CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION Advanced Placement at PHS works to provide students access to college-level work In Pembroke our goal is to provide our students with academic opportunities that challenge them to think deeply and to acquire skills for college and career success.

One program that students can access to meet that goal is our Advanced Placement Program at Pembroke High School. We support any student who wishes to take on the commitment of an Advanced Placement class recognizing that each AP course demands between 8-10 hours per week of independent, academic work outside of the classroom.

In 2017 PHS proudly offered 17 Advanced Placement courses to 258 students. Those 258 students sat for a total of 471 exams. Advanced Placement courses as defined by the College Board, “give students access to rigorous collegelevel work. AP students build confidence and learn the essential time management and study skills needed for college and career success.” Students who enroll in Advanced Placement courses have the opportunity to pursue an area of interest in greater depth than is offered in a traditional high school curriculum, and to refine their writing, problem solving, analysis, and communication skills.

Teachers who provide instruction in Advanced Placement courses also participate in extensive training provided through the College Board.

Many of our AP teachers spend a week during the summer at AP Summer Institutes working with college professors and experts in their fields to develop instructional skills suited to the demanding curriculum.

"IN 2017 PHS PROUDLY OFFERED 17 ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES TO 258 STUDENTS. THOSE 258 STUDENTS SAT FOR A TOTAL OF 471 EXAMS"

PAGE 21

All students in Pembroke who enroll in an Advanced Placement course are required to complete the AP Exam for that subject in May. The AP exams assess student work on a fivepoint scale: 5 – Extremely well qualified 4 – Well qualified 3 – Qualified 2 – Possibly qualified 1 – No recommendation “Qualified” means that your work on the exam indicates you are capable of doing the work of an introductory course at the college level. Some colleges and universities give students credit for scores at the 3, 4 or 5 level. We are extremely proud to report that this year 40.6% of the Class of 2017 scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam at any point during his/her high school career.

Advanced Placement offerings at PHS: Biology

Calculus AB

Calculus BC

Chemistry

Computer Science A

Computer Science Principles

French Language and Culture

English Language and Composition

English Literature and Composition

U.S. Government & Politics

European History

Studio Art *New this year!

Latin Physics C: Mechanics Psychology Spanish Statistics

U.S. History

PAGE 22

CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION THE LEARNING NEVER STOPS FOR OUR TEACHERS

By Dr. Catherine Glaude, Bryantville Elementary School Principal During the summer teachers in Grade K-6 have been busy working on curriculum that students will benefit from this school year. The work started the day after school ended in June with a representative group of K-6 teachers across the district working with Joan LaCroix the K-12 Science Supervisor. Using the new state science standards, the teachers identified the most important concepts and skills to be learned in each grade level. Teachers then spent the next two days using the new science resources that were purchased this year to develop units and assessments to be used at each grade level.

The following week, another representative group of K-6 teachers worked with K-12 ELA Supervisor Diane Harley and Grade 4 Teacher Michelle Matheson to learn about a new resource for supporting the development of writing. The resource called Empowering Writers offers teachers a wealth of tools to guide students in Grades K-6 in writing of narrative, expository and opinion pieces.

There was much excitement about these new tools that prompted students to use published texts as models for their own writing. The teacher group that worked this summer volunteered to use the resource next year with students and to share the results of student writing with their colleagues in their grade level.

Later that same week in July, another group of K-6 teachers worked together to revise the math units and assessments they created last summer. K-12 Math Supervisor Mark Duffy led the two days of work on these revisions. He also started a dialogue with teachers to broaden the definition of math fluency. Thinking beyond math fact tests that focus on speed, teachers talked about ways to gain a deeper understanding of students’ flexibility and efficiency when they are working with basic math facts. Participants in the math work this summer received the book Math Running Records in Action by Nikki Newton who explores ways to better assess math fluency. Ways to better measure fluency will be a conversation that our district will continue to have.

At the end of July, K-12 Social Studies Supervisor Mark Galligan and K-12 ELA Supervisor Diane Hartley worked with another group of K-6 teachers to revise and refine the humanities (social studies and writing) units and assessments that were created last summer. Each grade level team had collected feedback from their colleagues who used the units this past school year. This feedback was used as they revised the work. A few teachers who had attended the summer work on Empowering Writers helped connect what they learned about that writing resource to the revision of the humanities units.

During the September 1 district staff day, the teachers who worked on the summer curriculum will share these developments with all of their K-6 colleagues.

New Additions To Our Math Programs Pembroke Public Schools set to pilot three new math programs at the elementary level.

This year teachers at Bryantville, Hobomock and North Pembroke elementary schools will have the opportunity to integrate an online, adaptive math program with the enVision2.0 resources. Front Row, IXL Math and Study Island are three math practice programs which will be piloted during the 2017-2018 year to determine which one best suits the needs of our students and teachers. Each of the programs is aligned to the Massachusetts Standards for Mathematics and can be utilized both in the classroom or at home. Much like Lexia Core 5, the math programs adjust to a student’s progress adding more difficult questions when students are ready, or reviewing previously learned concepts when a student is struggling. Each of the programs also has excellent reporting capabilities so that teachers can track usage time and observe student progress in relation to the standards. As many of our teachers are using a “guided math workshop model” in their classrooms, teachers will be able to utilize these products for station work and to integrate game like learning. Teachers will be provided with training for the programs during professional development time in October and students and families will be seeing the programs following that training.

These programs help to reach all students at their individual levels.

PAGE 23

Calling all parents, staff members and students!

#PPSFirstDay17 SHARE YOUR PHOTOS WITH US!

BACK TO SCHOOL 2017 Whether you are a brand-new kindergartner or headed back to high school, the first day of school can be exciting, nerve-wracking and fun!

Share your experience with us by posting your photos with the hashtag: #PPSFirstDay17.

Or email your photo, along with student name and school, to sharon.monteforte@pembrokek12.org.

We will share your first day of school photos on the district website and social media!

TITAN TIMES MAGAZINE IS A PUBLICATION OF THE PEMBROKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS