webster on the web

Full-day kindergarten may be in Webster’s near future.

For the last several months, the Webster Central School District has been looking into the possibility of replacing the elementary schools’ current half-day kindergarten programs with full-day programs.  An advisory committee consisting of 80 parents, teachers, administrators and community residents has been meeting since March to review current literature on the subject, and visit existing full-day programs in Monroe and Wayne counties.

Now they’d like to get some input from the greater Webster community.  They’re inviting all residents to complete a short survey to gauge interest.  It’s only got a handful of questions, so it doesn’t take very long. A few of the questions are kind of confusing, but I expect it should give the district a general idea of where people stand.

The district stresses that a move to full-day kindergarten will not require the addition of classrooms at any of the schools.  What other costs will be involved, I can’t tell you.

The survey will be available through October 12, and can be accessed online by clicking here.  Hard copies can also be found in the main office of each elementary school.

The Board of Education will receive a report from the Full-Day Kindergarten Advisory Committee in November, which will include the community survey results, along with research and site visit findings.

It’s hard to go anywhere these days without hearing moms and kids or moms and moms chatting about the beginning of the new school year. And several of those conversations have involved the schools’ new start times.

If you have kids in the Webster schools, you certainly already know about the new start times. In past years, school start times have been staggered — for example, Plank North and Plank South started about an hour apart. This year for the first time, all the elementary schools in the district will open their doors within minutes of each other, around 9 am.  The secondary schools will start earlier, as usual, but will also all open at about the same time, around 7:30 am. (For details, check the WCSD website.)

I’ve heard the rationale behind this explained a few times, and am still trying to get my head around it. Here’s the official explanation from Carm Gumina, Deputy Superintendent of the Webster Central School District:

The State’s move to a new Common Core Curriculum and new assessments based on this Common Core was certainly a significant driverfor the change.  The opportunity to add 40-60 hours of core instructional time for our 4th and 5th graders in a way that is tax-neutral was just as significant.

How did we “add 40-60 hours of core instructional time?”   Activity period (band/orchestra/chorus/intramurals/art club) has traditionally been during the school day, and when 4th/5th graders would leave their classrooms to attend these activities, the core instructional day would essentially stop for that 45 minute block of time. Now activity period will be before school on Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fridays (Wednesdays are meeting days for teachers).  Students signed up for their activities last May/June, but will be able to sign up when school starts as well.  Busing will be provided before school as well.

I’m told that because the activity period lands before the school day instead of middle of the day, kids will be less hesitant to leave classroom to do an activity. So the change creates opportunities for kids to try more things.

Carm’s detailed explanation doesn’t specifically address why the start times were changed for the secondary schools as well, but I know it is closely tied to the Common Core Curriculum and its recommendations.

These new start times will require some adjustment for parents. Some will appreciate the later start times that several of the elementary schools are implementing. But that will also mean later release times, which could affect after-school activities. For others, their children will have to get used to waking up an hour earlier, an idea which I’m sure does NOT sit well with the kids.  And it will be interesting to see what the traffic is like on Publisher’s Parkway in the morning with both Thomas High School and Willink Middle School starting within 15 minutes of each other.

Several elementary schools are also seeing some shifting in their populations this fall. Specifically, many Klem South Elementary students will be transferring to Schlegel and Dewitt, some Plank North students will go to Plank South, and some State Road students will go to Schlegel Road. The changes will affect somewhere between 115 and 125 students.

Director of Communications Ann Carmody explained that the changes are in response to recent growth in the Webster population, which has been steady in recent years, but favored particular neighborhoods.  Lately that growth has stabilized, so the district figured it would be a good time to reassign some of those neighborhoods and “rebalance” the schools to attain optimal class sizes.

I just found out about a neat project happening at Schlegel Road Elementary.

The school is expecting a lot of new families moving over from State Road and Klem South this year. A transition like that is always a bit difficult, so the Schlegel Road community has come up with a way to soften the blow. They call it their Adopt-a-Family Program. Basically, current Schlegel Road families are asked to “adopt” a family and make it a point to befriend them and accompany them to upcoming school events. It’s a very simple idea, but one that should go a long way to smooth the transition from old school to new. I love it, and I think every elementary school should do it.

If you’d like to find out more about this program, email lorisozio@ gmail.com by Monday August 27.

Here’s something that will almost certainly make you smile.  The students and staff at Willink Middle School have created a “Welcome to Willink” video that is just delightful.

The video begins with students stepping off a school bus in front of the school, where staff members jump out of the bushes holding signs to welcome them.  As the students enter the school, WEB ambassadors (Where Everyone Belongs) lead the camera through the hallways, lip dubbing to the song Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield.  As the camera winds through the school, we pass by hundreds of students lining the hallways, cheering and waving signs, many wearing uniforms or holding props representing school clubs and sports teams.

And the end of the video, the camera peers out a second-floor window onto the school grounds where the assembled student body erupts into cheers.

Every student got into the action, and there are cameos from Superintendent Adele Bovard and Principal Brian Neenan. My favorite part was probably the Willink chorus, but when the artwork walked off the wall — well, that was pretty cool, too.

The project took a year of planning, during which time the students met with advisers to coordinate props and costumes to represent every class, club and sport at Willink. Filming took place last spring, with the final product posted a few weeks ago.  Kudos to Thomas students (now Thomas grads) Rebecca Farsace and Katie Epner for a great job with the filming (done in one seamless shot) and editing.

And a hearty thumbs-up to the staff and students of Willink Middle School for doing such a fine job with this project.  What an incredible testament to that school’s spirit. If this video doesn’t make a new student feel welcome and excited to attend Willink, I don’t know what would. It’s just pure fun.

Until the end of this month, you can see the video by visiting the Webster School District’s webpage, where it is the spotlight story.  After that (or right now, if you want) you can go directly to the YouTube link. Or click on the photo above.

In the craziness of the last week, what with the end of school, graduation, that mess at Bay View, and the distraction of preparing for a three-child graduation party this weekend, I totally forgot to post an update on Operation School Supplies 2012.

In a word, it was awesome.

This is what school-supply central (the language lab) looked like at Thomas.

This was the fourth year in a row that students and staff members of Webster Thomas High School and Willink and Spry middle schools teamed up with the non-profit organization Greenseed Educational Supplies to collect new and gently used school supplies which might otherwise have been thrown away at the end of the school year.  And for the first time this year, the staff at Plank Road North Elementary School also joined the effort.

I’m not sure how much the middle schools were able to collect, but I do know that last week I carted 46 BOXES packed with supplies from Thomas High School to the school-supply command center (a spacious science classroom) at Eastridge High School.  They included (big breath here…) 465 three-ring binders, 230 2-pocket folders, 114 spiral notebooks, 66 composition notebooks, 17 cloth book covers, 16 packages of graph paper, 16 packages of index cards, 15 pencil cases, 13 trapper-keepers, 10 boxes of colored pencils, 3 big boxes of loose-leaf paper, plus hundreds of pens and pencils, glue sticks, locker accessories, crayons, markers, pocket dictionaries, string backpacks, sheet protectors, tab dividers, manila file folders, hanging files, and more.

Whew.

That’s definitely a lot more than we got last year, and that’s a credit to the people at Thomas High School.  Actually, the Webster school district in general has historically been one of effort’s biggest contributors.  According to Mitch Nellis, the mastermind behind this operation,

 Webster has been one of the most generous districts with regard to donating school supplies to our cause. Each year (Webster) schools continue to surprise us with how much they contribute.  We currently work with roughly 18 organizations including numerous city schools to provide supplies that students and teachers would otherwise have to go without.  With budgets being tightened everywhere, Webster Central School District is providing a very necessary charitable service.

Atta way, Webster!

Three of the young volunteers in the command center at Eastridge High. The bulk of the supplies had not yet arrived.

But the kids had everything organized and ready for action when the supplies did start rolling in.

This was the scene in the hallway literally three hours before the school representatives started arriving to choose supplies.

Just a few hours later everything was sorted into boxes and divvied up into separate rooms according to the kind of supplies.

Let the distribution begin!

A big thank you to everyone who answered my recent call for names of great Webster teachers. I heard from ten different people, parents and students alike, who told me about 13 teachers in our district who have really touched their lives.

On this last day of the 2011-12 school year, I am pleased to post their comments here, and recognize some outstanding Webster educators. I’ll start with a shout-out to several teachers from Schlegel Road Elementary School.  Janet Sander wrote,

Leslie Ambler with her family (pulled this from her classroom website)

My vote goes to Don Russo, band teacher at Schlegel Road school. (He split his time teaching at both Schlegel and DeWitt.) He impressed me by not only being a very good teacher, but he seemed to have a way of getting to know your student as if that student was the only one he taught.

And her daughter Kristen wanted to recognize Schlegel first grade teacher Greg Pittman, because “He was funny.” Lori McCoy Sozio added,

Mrs. Leslie Ambler and Mrs. Marcy Dungey are both exceptional at Schlegel Road. They go above and beyond every single day. My children have been so fortunate to be educated by two amazing teachers!!!

Klem North Elementary’s name also popped up a couple of times in my emails. The first was from The Myers family, who wrote,

Pamela Smith

I would like to submit Mrs. Pamela Smith, a third grade teacher at Klem North.  Not only has she been an excellentteacher academically, but the rapport she has developed with the students is something special.  Her interactions with our daughter have helped to make this a truly exceptional year, and she should be recognized for that excellence.

Also from Klem North, Christina Jones Dowling wrote,

Mary Vorrasi and Kathleen Lawson from Klem North go above and beyond their teacher duties to make every kid feel loved and supported.

…and Brenna McKane “voted” for Mrs. Nancy Ann  Nesbitt, her fifth grade teacher at Klem North, because she was “nice and fun.”

Kathy Lawson

Chris Beh wrote in to recognize State Road Elementary teacher Diane McCaferty (formerly Miss Horn), saying,

Our son Brendan had Miss Horn as his first grade teacher at State Road.  She was wonderful in many ways…compassionate, caring, firm and an exceptional reading teacher.  He flourished under her teaching.

Jen Sander told me about three teachers who made a difference in her life:

Stephanie Manning at Willink Middle School was the sweetest teacher I’ve ever had. I was picked on a lot in middle school and Mrs. Manning was always a friendly face. I always knew that if I needed a teacher to talk to, her door was always open.

Jen Sander with Mrs. Manning in 2002

 Steve Landgren (music teacher at Webster Thomas High School): I don’t think I ever saw Mr. Landgren without a smile on his face. He’s extremely passionate about teaching; He loves music and he makes his students love it with him. Band is one of this things I miss most from high school. I was sad to hear he was retiring this year, but if anyone deserves it, it’s him. The Thomas Music Department won’t be the same without him.

Greg Ahlquist (social studies teacher at Thomas): Not a shock, since I’ve never met any student who didn’t like Mr. Ahlquist’s class. Mr. Ahlquist is also extremely passionate about his work. His enthusiasm during his lessons captivates his students… Even if you didn’t like what he was teaching you’d still find yourself being drawn in to his lectures.

Greg Ahlquist

Jen’s brother Ryan also recognized Ahlquist, from whom he took AP World History this year, saying “Mr. Ahlquist has the ability to cover all the curriculum and then some, and still make it fun.”

Ryan also mentioned another Webster Thomas teacher, but I have left that name for last, since this particular teacher got two mentions, from two separate readers. That would Mike Mitchell, who teaches Living Environment at Webster Thomas.

Ryan described Mitchell as “just a goofball,” adding that “he makes classes fun but his students know when it’s time to get serious.”

I received this second email about Mitchell just yesterday, from Webster Thomas senior Katie Epner:

Mike Mitchell

Michael Mitchell is a sophomore year biology teacher at Webster Thomas. It’s been two years since he has taught me, but like many other of his past students, I am still in his classroom a majority of the day. He is more than a teacher. He is a true friend to so many. His room is a Mecca calling to any student, familiar to him or not, as a safe get-away from the droning halls of the school. Speaking personally, Mr. Mitchell (who I, along with everyone else, refer to as ‘Mitchell’) has been more than a teacher. Our relationship began freshman year when my sophomore friend had him as a teacher and hung around his room during our lunch blocks. Mr. Mitchell has an incredible ability of connecting with students, and in high school, a friendship that develops with him is the best thing to have.

As I graduate this weekend, I will walk across the stage and the most vivid memory I will be walking on from is my time spent during my lone blocks in room 32. Every yearbook has been inscribed with great memories and messages from each of us, but this year was different. I am very emotional to move on from this friendship, as I have befriended many upperclassmen who have moved on, Mr. Mitchell has always been there. Signing his yearbook for the last time, I was dodging the book from tears…

…he is so deserving of this recognition for being the most personable and welcoming faculty member at Webster Thomas.

Kudos to all the great Webster Central School District teachers we have mentioned here for truly making a difference in the lives of your students.  I know there are a lot more great teachers out there. In my job as a teaching assistant I see them every day, and there are too many for just one blog.

So to all of out there who have dedicated your lives to guiding our children, who open your hearts every day while you open their minds, we say

THANK YOU

Tomorrow’s the last day of school for students, so I thought it would be a good day to post my end-of-the-year shout-out to some exceptional teachers.

Several people have already responded to my call, and have provided me with more than a dozen names. I have a good representation so far from Schlegel Road, State Road, Klem North, Willink and Thomas. But that leaves a LOT of other schools out there and  LOT more exceptional teachers I haven’t heard about.

So one more time, folks, I ask you and your kids: who are the best teaches you’ve had as you’ve gone through the Webster schools, and why?  Email me (with a photo if possible) or comment below, or comment on my Facebook page and I’ll publish all the names tomorrow morning.

Yesterday, when the final bell rang at Webster Schroeder High School, it marked the last time a Rosenberry would walk the halls as a Webster school student.  It’s a history that has spanned three children and 14 years.

I’ve actually been looking forward to this day. There are a lot of things I’m not going to miss about being a parent of a high school student. I won’t feel the need to check the Parent Portal every day to see if my daughter is keeping up with her homework. I won’t have to navigate the convoluted student drop-off arrangement every morning at Schroeder. I won’t have to keep ponying up fund-raising money for trips we’re going to be paying for anyway.

But the great things about my kids’ Webster educational careers FAR outweigh the aggravations.  At the very top of the list are all the teachers who have taught, prodded, consoled, cajoled, and guided my children for more than a decade. A quick calculation tells me that perhaps 120 teachers have had the dubious honor of teaching a Rosenberry sometime in the last 14 years.  All of them have been good. Many of them have been great. But some of them have been downright inspiring.  Today, I’d like to give those inspirational teachers a shout-out.

I asked my kids to tell me who they considered their best teachers were, and why they thought so. Here’s what they said:

My daughter Sara (Schroeder ’04) didn’t have to think very much when I asked her the question. “The Hench,” she answered. “His class was super hard in the best way.”  Kevin Henchen taught AP Spanish at Thomas High School, for both Thomas and Schroeder students. He is now an assistant principal in the Fairport school district.

My son Sean (Schroeder ’08) chose Mary-Ellen Petz, one of his sixth grade teachers at Spry Middle School, because “She just friggin’ rocked.” (I tried to get more detail about what that meant, but he couldn’t explain how she “friggin’ rocked,” just that she did.) He also added Schroeder High School music teacher Laura D’Angelo, because “She got me passionate about music.”

Erin (Schroeder ’12) chose Marcia Napolitano, her fourth grade teacher at Plank North Elementary, because “She brought me out of my shell.”  (Napolitano, coincidentally, is one of this year’s Oak Tree Award winners, recognizing exceptional teachers.) Erin also added Schroeder English teacher Susan Woodward, saying “She was one of the toughest teachers I had my freshman year, but also one of the best,” and Schroeder Chemistry teacher Siobhan Julian. “She made chemistry one of my favorite subjects.”

And remember how I used the word “inspirational”? I didn’t use the word lightly. These teachers did more than just teach; they changed my children’s lives.  Case in point: Sara, who just received her Master’s degree, is planning to be a Spanish teacher; Sean just received his degree from Nazareth College to be a music teacher; and in September Erin will begin her studies at St. John Fisher College to become — you guessed it — a Chemistry teacher.