Thanks to MS Principal Kern who replied this morning in regard to the questions I asked last week and posted on Friday.
Below is his response regarding the 9/11 assembly and the change in the activities period:
I appreciate the opportunity to give you information you requested. The assembly we had about a certain student (I will not use student's name) was the idea of our Assistant Principal, with parent consent, after observing student reaction and comments students were making about the student you asked about. The assembly was an information giving time as to the condition of the child and the exact nature of the handicap. Students were allowed to ask questions (of which there were many) and the parent and administrators responded to. The assembly was conducted during the activity period in which no formal classroom instruction time was taken from the students and the assembly was very productive. Our 6th grade students now have a better understanding of this child's situation as many students from the other elementary schools were not exposed to before. The only mention of the book you refer to was to inform students it was available in our library to read if they wanted to. At no time was there a mention or thought about a book sale.
The second request for information is the structure and time change of our middle school activity period. The middle school's mission is to be developmentally responsive to the needs of our students. In other words, to allow students time to be involved in many learning opportunities our clubs and activities. The research shows that engaging students in school activities creates a positive school culture. The more learning opportunities we offer and allow students to explore the more likely students will succeed in their academics. The accountability of PSSA Scores have played a major role in the instruction and curriculum process of schools nationwide and we are utilizing our activity period to support all students to become proficient. We have developed a time for remediation in Math, Science, and English. We have started a sustained silent reading program incorporating book talk and journal writing. We have created a number of computer tutorial programs which are individualized based on current PSSA scores or our 4sight testing data. The fact remains that the activity period is finally an activity period, which is designed to enhance our curriculum and extra-curricular programs. The past practice has been to utilize the time as a study hall, which was never the intention of the period, although that is what it became. In fact it was more like a social hall, as students felt it was non structured time and most chose to do nothing but socialize. The staff and administration realize that less than 10% of our student body leaves early for athletics, and having the activity period early in the day impacts those individuals for a small portion of classes. But our impact is way less severe than the high school and has a minimal effect on instruction. Students can still utilize the activity period for homework at least 3 days in the 6 day cycle, and already the focus students have during that time has changed. We are also incorporating a modified mosaic schedule. This means our academic classes will rotate each marking period. The rotation will allow for a change in the order of academic classes, so a student will not have the same class last period for the whole year. This will help students when leaving early, or having the same class after lunch. We believe that it will improve student focus. I hope this helps explain our goals and mission of the
middle school and realize that there was a lot of input taken from staff when we made the deciaion to change the time and structure of the activity period.
Mr. Kern
Robert Kern
Principal
Nazareth Area Middle School
355 Tatamy Road
Nazareth, PA 18064
610-759-3350
rkern@nazarethasd.org
3 comments:
Some thoughts
Who is the assistant principal at Nazareth Middle school whose idea it was to have the assembly?
I do not believe the student the principal will not name is the only student with a disability in the Nazareth School District. Will additional assemblies be held in the future to focus on students with other disabilities?
Is the book available for sale in any Nazareth School District buildings?
Robyn has it correct.
But, let's take it a step further. Will there be an assembly for every other child that is different? Not just those with disabilities? There are a lot of kids that have struggled over the years to gain acceptance due to their differences, and I am sure that this was a blow to them and their parents to see the district bend over backwards for this one student yet neglect the others.
While not an overt book sale per Mr. Kern, the title of the assemble and the large banner hung in the school were the same as the title of the book.
To say it was done during activity period so as not to take away from class time is also a bit hard to take. Many of these kids use that period to either complete homework or to study for tests they may have that day, or to get extra help in a particular class. So, in a sense, they did take away from education time for some of these kids.
Mr. Kern you and you administrative staff are really going out on a limb. I cannot believe NAMS called this diversity training and yet by Mr. Kern’s own comments he admits this assembly was held to discuss ONE student. A true contradiction to diversity training, where students should have learned to accept and discuss the differences in all students no matter what their disability, race or creed. Shame on NAMS! I am sure you have heard the end of this; I am sure there are plenty of parents who have students with disabilities who will cry foul!! I would hope that Administration and the School Board looks very closely at this. I do not think the district can afford another lawsuit!
As for the change in activity period, I also beg to differ. My middle school students have told me nothing more that socializing and note passing is happening in activity period. As far a using this time for PSSA preparation, you must be kidding. In the past, the schools have done so much preparation for the PSSA and yet the scores are not improving by leaps and bounds. Now looking at this year, NAMS has 10 scheduled 4-sight tests along with the other PSSA preparation. Do you really think the scores are going to improve and the children are getting a better education? I do not think so. PLEASE JUST FOCUS ON EDUCATING OUR KIDS! You are wasting so much instruction time on PSSA preparation that I do not see how teachers are able to cover their curriculum.
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