Preparations are being completed for the start of the 2014-15 school year. I would like to highlight a few new things that students and parents may notice with the start of school.
For the first time, each of our buildings will have an instructional coach assigned full time to assist teachers in meeting the needs of all students in their classrooms. This is a newly designed position, recommended by the Department of Education, to provide support to all teachers in a building with implementing instructional and curricular initiatives that are designed to help students master the state’s core standards. This summer, these coaches have received training through the Intermediate Unit and have worked together with the assistant superintendent and building principals to plan for the new school year. The district did not hire additional staff for these positions but re-assigned teachers who had been working directly with children who were experiencing academic difficulties. By increasing the skills of all teachers, the district can more efficiently address student needs.
We are expanding our school-wide positive behavior support program district-wide. This program has been very helpful in teaching students appropriate behavior and how to respond to both school and social problems and conflicts. The elementary and middle schools have had this program in effect for a few years. The high school will be launching their program with special activities on the second day of school.
The high school schedule has been adjusted to include two days of extended periods. On cycle days five and six, students will have four double (84 minutes) periods in place of the normal eight periods. This new schedule will enable teachers to provide more in-depth instruction within the scope of one class period.
In technology, the Home Access Center has been updated. You will notice additional choices on the web site including a help section that will provide tutorials that provides information about both navigating the site and the resources that are available. Please note that your login information remains the same as last year, including passwords. Parents will receive information that they will need for the start of the school year through our rapid notification system later this month. This is the second year that we are using electronic means to send all of this pertinent information to parents.
There are two changes that will help increase the safety and security of our students. The first is implementation of the evacuation drill that each building began working on at the end of the school year. Students and staff will practice evacuating their building based on the location of a ‘threat’. This drill is recommended by the Pennsylvania State Police as a way to teach everyone how to respond in the event someone attempts to harm others in the school. The second change is that the district is now permitted to record both video and audio as students are riding in a school bus/vehicle. As required by the new Pennsylvania law, parents will receive a letter in the mail concerning audio recording on school vehicles.
We also have a few administrative changes. Mr. Chris Redding is now the principal of the Andrew Maier Elementary School. The middle school is welcoming Mr. Gangi Cucciuffo as its new principal. Mr. Cucciuffo is joining us from the Ephrata Area School District where, most recently, he served as the principal of the Intermediate and Middle Schools. Mr. Rory McMullen is continuing as the administrative intern in the assistant principal’s position for this year.
We look forward to welcoming students back to school on August 25th.
Upcoming Events in the Fleetwood Area School District:
August 18 – First Day of School for Teachers
August 25 – First Day of School for Students
August 29 – Teacher In-service, No School for Students
September 1 – No School, Labor Day
The Board of Education will hold meetings on August 12th and 19th at 7:00 p.m.
