The Reds Tale
September 14, 2017
Newark High School
Email: thomas.roote@newarkcsd.org
Website: http://newarkcsd.org/Domain/84
Location: 625 Peirson Avenue, Newark, NY, United States
Phone: 315-332-3240
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nhsreds
Twitter: @Newark_HS
From the Desk of Mr. Roote
After an opportunity to teach a group of adult learners the ways to model kindness and empathy, I did a lot thinking back to the parts of my career in education when I was in a classroom. For the most part, celebratory experiences come to mind. However, I do have some small twinges of regret. Here is how it might look if I was granted a few do-overs, where the answer would be, "Use a coach!":
- While at Penfield High School as an Earth Science, AIS and Living Environment teacher I was relegated to a cart. I frequently grumbled at how difficult and annoying it was to set up a lab from my mobile cart. I wonder how the students would have benefited if I had grumbled less and instead asked a coach for advice on how to manage my materials?
- I remember having the coolest co-teacher. She was funny, easygoing and never got in my way. However, I always felt like I should leverage her to carry a bigger part of the load I was shouldering to ensure the success of my IEP students. I wonder how students would have benefited if I had asked for help forging a more efficient working relationship with Claudia?
- I remember spending hours creating bulletin boards in my first classroom in A.D. Oliver Middle School in Brockport. I was so Type A about their set up that frequently I could keep them up for two years straight. I wonder how students would have benefited if I had used a coach to help me make the display interactive; a teaching and learning tool for kids?
- I was always pretty good at looking at my Living Environment and Earth Science Regents scores. In an hour, I could easily track the deficits of below 65 kids. I wonder how kids would benefit if I put the same amount of energy into kids near the mastery mark?
So that you are better than I was, below is a table of support options recently shared with me for you to use when deciding what you might want to access a coach for. The items on this list are not exhaustive, so if you have another idea, please don’t hesitate to suggest it!
From the Desk of Mr. Wagner
"We need to make the positive so loud that the negative becomes almost impossible to hear."
At our annual grade level presentations, Mr. Roote and I had the opportunity to introduce the work inspired by The Leader in Me training, which is based on work of Stephen Covey. A major focus of the training was on shifting your paradigm, so we presented that concept at the student presentations. Further, we shared a comparison of positive versus negative thinking in relation to one’s mindset. I wanted to share this with you because there is a lot of power in positive thinking. Positive emotions broaden your sense of possibility and open your mind up to more options. Additionally, positive thinking builds your physical, social and creative skills. As I walked around the building the first couple days, I saw positive messages in display cases, bulletin boards, and posted throughout classrooms. I observed students and teachers enjoying pleasant interactions with one another. It appears we are taking on Mr. Cook's message of choosing joy. Great start to the school year and let’s continue to be positive and choose joy!
Mash Up
If your room is a designated Safe Reds Zone, please see Kyra for your signage.
Community happenings shared by Mr. Hamelinck: (1) The Stop Hunger Now campaign September 15 & 16. Volunteer registration is required. (2) The Village and Rotary Community Pride Day, where many staff and students planted flowers in the spring. This fall, they need some grown-ups to help supervise/dig up and split some flowers that are overgrown. We’ve been told by Gail Chambers, who’s organizing the event, that gardeners who know what they are doing will be there to help. This will take place on Saturday, September 23 at 10:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. If you are interested in participating in any of these events and need help connecting with the organizers contact J. Hamelinck.
REPRINT: If you are interested in updating your door signage that includes your picture and a short "blurb" please send the new picture with a caption and/or the new blurb to Ms. Robyn Ross by the end of August. For those new to the building, please provide Ms. Ross a picture, caption and a quick thought about you/your family ASAP.
REPRINT: From a disciplinary referral perspective Mr. Corey and I plan to work with seniors, Mr. Wagner will cover freshman and Ms. Ross will handle sophomores and juniors.
Your SchoolTool building reps are Will Bean, Rob Castor, Aaron Harrington, and Amanda Kessler. I would suggest following this progression if you have any questions with Schooltool. (1) Click on the question mark button at the top right of any SchoolTool page. Ensure you are on the page that you have a question when clicking this button. (2) Reach out to one of your building reps. (3) Email Mr. Sweet and if he can't answer the question he will reach out to Stacy Warren and SchoolTool.
New Field Trip Form Procedure: As a reminder, all field trip requests need to go through field trip request form link. Once a teacher/adviser fills out the form, it will be e-mailed to clerical/admin, just like the building request process. After principal review, approval will be in the form of a checklist given to the adviser with the admin’s signature. Also, there is a new district field trip permission slip. This form should be distributed to all students and returned to a central location in each building.
Social Emotional Learning and the Plan for Excellence
Calendar Share
Wednesday, September 27 from 9:18-10:42 am. Forum (new name TBD). Contact: T Roote
Wednesday, September 27 by 12:42 pm. Forum Name Contest Submissions. Contact: T Roote
Wednesday, September 27 from 11:00-12:00 pm in the LGI. SAC (Student Advisory Council) Meeting. Contact: T Roote
September 29. Homecoming.
Tuesday, October 3 from 2:30-3:00 pm (and all first Tuesday's of each month) in the LGI or cafeteria. Staff Meeting. Contact: T Roote.
Tuesday, October 10 from 6:00-7:00 pm in the NHS Library. School Community Advisement Committee (SCAC). Contact: T Roote.
Wednesday, October 11, from 7:30-11:15 am. PSAT's for Juniors. Contact: D McGavisk.
Thursday, October 12 from 5:30-7:20 pm. Open House: A Celebration of Teaching and Learning. Contact: T Roote.
Thursday, October 12-Saturday, October 14. Young Americans. Contact: K Flock.
Tuesday,October 24; Thursday, November 30; Thursday, January 4; Thursday, February 8, Tuesday, March 20; and Thursday, May 3. Below 65 Progress. Contact: T Roote.
Tuesday, November 7 at 7:30 pm in the high school auditorium. Band/Chorus Concert. Contact: C Briggs.
3:00-4:00 pm on September 20, October 24, November 30, January 17, February 27, March 22, April 25 and May 14. PD Hours. Contact: Robin Uveges
The Instructional Corner
From Will, Robin and Aaron: "We will be working as Instructional Coaches in our building this year. In this role, we will be available to support teachers in reaching their goals for student learning. This support can take many forms throughout the school year depending on the teacher’s needs at a given time. We are looking forward to working and learning with you!"
Did you know (1) It takes almost 3 years for a single pineapple to reach maturation. (2) Pineapple plants look like giant, buried pineapples. Please sign up on the Pineapple chart outside room 259. Click here to learn what a pineapple chart is.
Alumni Spotlight
Robert (Bobby) Hauf a 2009 graduate of NHS, received his Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering in 2013 from Clarkson University and his Masters in Engineering Management via Clarkson's Beacon Institute in August of 2016. During his years at NHS, Bob was a three sport athlete (earning many accolades), played saxophone in the wind ensemble and jazz band, was a member of the Honor Society, Varsity Club, and a host of other clubs. After working for Moog in Buffalo for 2 years, Bob accepted a position as a Process Engineer with Hunter Douglas in December 2014. Upon receiving his Masters, Bob was promoted to Division Manager of Technical Services. He resided in Cumberland, Maryland until this summer when he transferred and relocated to Denver, Colorado. Bob is the son of HS TA Becky Hauf.
Close Up (Send me a Pic.)
Sherri Lentilucci
Michelle Street
The Newark High School Mission, Vision and Values
The Newark High School Mission: We are a school community with deeply held hometown pride, committed to readying young people to be life-long learners with experiences aimed at continuously motivating us to hone our skills in the complex tasks of teaching and learning. Our community is devoted to providing supports for the aspirations of our adolescents as they mature into adults with ambitious plans for college and careers.
The Newark High School Vision: Staff embody the school values and impart confidence while providing an inviting classroom environment with clear expectations and specific academic and behavioral goals. Students embody the school values through intellectual and emotional perseverance. Families embody the school values while remaining actively involved as advocates for their children and supporters of the school programs and staff.
The Newark High School Values: Safe, Responsible, Trustworthy, and Respectful.
Email: thomas.roote@newarkcsd.org
Website: http://newarkcsd.org/Domain/84
Location: 625 Peirson Avenue, Newark, NY, United States
Phone: 315-332-3240
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nhsreds
Twitter: @Newark_HS