1996 Annual Report for The Peaslee School

Northborough, MAssachusetts
Peaslee School
December, 1996

Donald Holm Principal

Constructed in 1962, the Marguerite E. Peaslee School I continues to excel in teaching and learning. For over V three hundred and fifty children in grades K-4, the instructional staff provides challenging and enticing opportunities for learning. Students are encouraged to interact socially, and building activities are often planned for peer exchange. The gracious support of parents continues to provide the added dimension of curricula and extracurricular programs for the children and community. Our belief in high standards and expectations for students and programs provides a benchmark for the successful activation of plans which benefit student learning. One of the cornerstones for activities is the School Improvement Plan. Authored by teachers, parents and members of the Peaslee School Council, the School Improvement Plan is a road map for educational sustenance and growth. The plan recognizes our guiding principles:

All students are held to high expectations and standards
Students learn using a variety of strategies and approaches
Students explore how knowledge has purpose and meaning in their lives
Purposeful interaction is a vital ingredient to student learning
Curriculum is based on inquiry, problem solving, discovery and application of key issues and concepts
Assessment is both a process and a tool to improve instruction and enhance student learning
Curriculum points to the connections within and across disciplines
Technology provides important tools for enriching the learning process. The school community, of parents and educators, attempts to achieve the guiding principles in various ways. For example:

The school staff was instrumental in incorporating peer interactions into their teaching. Peer interactions enable students from different classes to interact together. Their interactions, often between unlike grade levels, afford opportunities for, student dialogue and application of skills and concepts.
Teachers interacted and planned collaboratively to integrate the tenets of our Guiding Principles. Certainly, the elements of educational reform were evident as staff facilitated learning which validated inquiry, problem solving, discovery and applications. The units of African American History; the Westward Movement; the Massachusetts Unit; and a plethora of classroom programs for parents signified our desire to provide a rich curriculum for the children. In addition, the school's enrichment committee, lead by parents, increased awareness through the use of some exemplary programs. The PTO and enrichment committee are to be commended for their continued support for these programs designed to enhance learning.
The school made great strides in the areas of technology during the past year. The school was a successful recipient of a grant in technology from the Northborough/Southborough Educational Foundation. The grant enabled the school to hire a 'Technologist in Residence', who devoted countless hours to technical operations, training and curriculum integration. Peaslee 'Technologist in Residence' kept the school on the leading edge by implementing the Technology Plan for the school district. As the technologist, parent and educator Eileen Martin, worked well beyond the expectations of the grant; Eileen deserves a special commendation for her work with staff, students and parents.
Peaslee School provided numerous creative outreach programs to the community during the past year. During holidays, the school initiated a program entitled the "Giving Tree" which benefited many needy families in the community. Some of the assistance programs enabled successful support during the holidays to needy families. The children and parents provided the assistance for this successful program. In addition, the children, teachers and parents regularly provided programs for community groups. Many residents and town officials participated in our annual book week program. We will continue to uphold our goal of nurturing community connections as they enrich and support our values.

The Peaslee Press will continue to provide meaningful connections to the parents and community.

In the fall of 1996, the PTO initiated an Academic Grants program. New to the school, the program earmarked dollars to a competitive grants program for the teaching staff. Twelve staff members participated in the initial grant program. Funds were expended for the purpose of supporting, a guest author; problem solving in grade one; the Westward Movement fourth grade thematic unit; and a variety of kindergarten through fourth grade projects. The school staff was and is grateful to the PTO for this program.

In the fall of 1996, the school received the results from the final administration of the Massachusetts Educational Assessment Program or MEAP. Although the results were above the state averages, the school will use the results to support continuing dialogues on curriculum renewal and alternative assessments. The school believes that alternative assessments are a hallmark of successful educational programs, and although the test will pass into history we will use the results to support current and future plans.

Successful schools require the support of parents who assist with programs and projects. The school owes much gratitude to our volunteer parents whose leadership and assistance supported learning for the children. Without parent volunteers, the library and computer lab program would have closed. The involvement of parent volunteers will continue to be an important element of Peaslee curriculum and instruction. Our volunteers deserve special recognition. In particular, we need to acknowledge the many successes of our PTO during the past year. Judy Rapa and Paula Small, co-chairs; Betsy Grams, secretary and Anna Eberlin, treasurer, provided the leadership for programs which directly benefited children. The PTO membership needs to be commended for their special efforts, commitment and talents. The special efforts of Debbie Young and Linda Mann enabled the school to forward a vision of building new play structures; the play structures will support the need for increased social, decision and play opportunities during recess time.

We will continue to work with a growing student population. During the summer of 1996 for example, a first grade teacher was added to the school faculty in anticipation of a population explosion of first grade children. The school will anticipate, plan and request additional staff for the purpose of maintaining low student to teacher ratios. This may not be possible in the future given the finite size of the school plant.

In the space of this report, it would be impossible to define the many successful programs at the Marguerite E. Peaslee School. As noted, without the dedication of staff and many parents, the school would be a different place. We view ourselves as responding to the needs of a growing student population. To that end, the school will continue to provide a challenging instructional program for its students.