I’ve been getting emails and hearing more than a few conversations about the new Nazareth Area Intermediate School and it seems things have hit a head at least as far as some parents are concerned. Tonight, a group will be attending the School Board meeting to address these concerns.
Why go to the Board? One note I received said this was because: “Parents have sent emails or placed phone calls to Mr. Yanek regarding any number of these concerns and have never received a response.”
It appears the impetus for getting people together was the Halloween/Fall Harvest/Book Character parade being cancelled and replaced with a ‘team name activity’.
On October 13, “Team Name Parade” memo came home to all parents of IS students. The lengthy explanation began, “I am compelled to write to you to rebut the misinformation some parents are spreading throughout our community concerning the cancellation of the Book Character parade.”
It went on to say the PTO asked if there would be a parade, the Principal had to see if there was interest from the teachers, the teachers were asked to survey students, results back to Principal and it was decided no. A leadership team was convened to discuss survey results and develop new ideas, which lead to the team name activity.
According to the memo, the parade was never cancelled; it was one of several options that went unselected.
I can see how the memo and its tone would have further aggravated parents who were already unhappy with the situation, and it appears they gathered up all their complaints in a list they are bringing to the Board tonight. This is not to say every person agrees with all of them, only that they support one or more of them.
- long day and late school day
- long commute-crazy bus routes, 8 1/2-9 hr door to door day
- elementary school feeling taken away
- isolation (kids only interact with the kids in their classroom)
- lunch- not sitting with friends- 6th grade
- recess- not going out regularly, limited, boring, no equipment, playground, on blacktop or one grass area (as per the last PTO meeting teachers are requesting playground equipment it but not getting it)
- some have no desks(sit at long tables with books and supplies on the floor)
- library- after thought- very limited books for older children
- limited assemblies
- no field trips (as presented/confirmed by the PTO)
- Halloween parade taken away
- parent pick up- dangerous (kids walking through the parking lot at dismissal while cars pulling out)
- not "Bushkill Intermediate School", all ideas from all 3 elementary schools should be considered
- Across the board mentality-9yr old not same as 12 yr old- different social, physical, motional needs- being under the same roof doesn't mean they are the same or should be treated the same
- Leveling of math-(kids don't change classrooms for math based on abilities)
- Parental involvement- lacking/difficult/limited
- No communication
From my observation, conversations, etc., I could add a few more:
- Shafer walkers who have siblings must wait 20-30 minutes for their bus creating one more bus stop for those vehicles coming in from Bushkill and Lower Nazareth. To date my daughter has only made it for the bell a few mornings. Shafer buses pull in, drop off the k-3 kids, wave at the walkers waiting outside and the 4-6th graders are taken to the NAIS with plenty of time to spare.
- 6th grade students switch teachers, previously the school allowed students to walk to their classes, go to their lockers and be responsible to get to places on time. Now as I understand it, teachers must escort the classes. Since the grades are on different levels of the building, it would seem 4th and 5th could be escorted as they were in the elem buildings last year, and 6th grade could have some additional responsibility and get to places on their own
- I’ve heard a lot about lunch, my daughter said she won’t buy all year because the lines are so long the kids hardly have time to eat. I also understand that each class has specific tables and limited space. Lunch should be a time for kids to see their friends and be able to talk to them while they eat. It also seems there is a heavy emphasis on discipline in the lunchroom. Kids getting yelled at on a frequent basis for a variety of things (waiting to long to eat, when in fact they just sat down because it took 20 minutes to get there food, etc) and that the Vice Principal has used the time to lecture students on behavior on several occasions.
The Board meeting is tonight, Monday, October 19th at 7:30 p.m. in the Administration offices located behind the high school.
6 comments:
Many great points!! Thought I was the only one unhappy with what I have been seeing at the NAIS. We were told by the administration that the school would be run as an "elementary school", indeed this should be the case as these are elementary school students. Recess and a shorter school day must be considered.
Removing the 6th graders from a middle school enviroment, was a good move on the part of the school board. However, as was in the elementary schools for the 5th graders, the 6th graders should be given some autonomy. I do agree hoewever, with the schools decision to have students sit with their respective class during lunch. There are MANY children who only have someone to eat lunch with because each class must sit together. If children are allowed to pick their seats, many children will feel left out and excluded. In additon, the little time the students have left to eat their lunch will be further reduced by the students trying to find a seat where they will be accepted and feel comfortable. There is plenty of time in middle/high school for these games to be played.
I was going to post something about this, but looks like you beat me to it (I only saw the letter from Mr. Yanek today).
My "problem" (if indeed it is a "problem") with the NAIS is how NASD wants it BOTH ways.
Those of us who attended the board meetings when we were discussing the new MS and realignment probably remember one of the big driving forces for the realignment was the thought that the 6th graders were too young/immature as compared to the 7/8th graders. (Of course this fit with the 7/8 school philosophy!)
So they get the 6th graders away from the 7/8th graders but in the process they take the 4/5th graders out of the elementary setting.
Yeah, they say the IS is an "elementary-level" school but look at the activities (or lack thereof planned). There is nothing that I have seen that would indicate that the district intends to operate the IS as an ES.
Even the activities seem to be geared towards the "older kids". I mean, I got a note today about the NAIS Ski Club that was being formed. Nothing against skiing, but staying out Weds nights until after 9PM? When are the kids supposed to do their HW?
Good luck to those who went to the board meeting tonight. I stopped going last year because after hitting your head against the wall over and over again - your head begins to hurt...
Ruthann, I think the problem, at least the kids from Shafer have with the lunch seating is that they were allowed to sit where they wanted last year and now a year older they can't.
Yesterday, the vice principal was again using the lunchtime as a lecture time.
And we got an announcement that kids will be able to wear their costumes to school on Wednesday as a part of Red Ribbon Week. Friday they will still have their team name activity with a parade at 2:15 p.m. Elementary bell is at 2:05 meaning those getting younger siblings can't be at both places.
The teams in 6th grade are all named after trees, and I'd imagine they are struggling to come up with costumes and inspire team spirit around them.
And not to lose site of what is genuinely important, with a week full of activities, how are they getting any school work done?
Look forward to hearing how the meeting went last night, if you attended please let us know.
Indeed, again many good points!! Just as I stated in my earlier post the older students (6th grade), should be given some autonomy - perhaps choosing where to sit at lunch would be appropriate for them, along with the responsiblilty to get to class on time on their own.
The schedule for Red Ribbon Week is surprising! The students are to wear their "Trick or Treat" costumes ALL DAY Wednesday to school, but were not given the option to have a true Halloween parade on Friday and wear their costumes for two hours?
Also good points about planned activites/clubs. My student declined both art club and chorus due to the EARLY start at 7:15AM. While it is great that we have teachers/parents willing to give of their time to run these clubs, the timing adds even more to the students very long school days, traveling time and time for homework.
Thanks for the note about early morning activities, I forgot to add that here, but yes we chose not to participate for the same reason.
The parade and costume on Friday is the team name costume. Wednesday they are to bring their halloween costume to school, change into it, wear it all day, then change out before they leave, as I understand it.
Seems like a last minute attempt to appease parents, but doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
Uh, Ruthann, wait until you get to experience the middle school. Kids get to pick their seats on the first day, and that is where you have to sit THE REST OF THE YEAR.
I am glad that parents of younger children are finally getting outraged, because you aint seen nothing yet. It only gets worse in the MS and HS.
Knowing how the MS kids are, I feel for any kid that is put at a table where they may not be wanted. There are some very mean kids in the MS, but luckily it wears off by the time they hit HS.
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