The Reds Tale
December 6, 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
As we near the mid-point of the holiday season, know that grief can strike in unexpected ways. Consider the following from TIG, "For most children, death is a new experience. And like all new experiences, the unknown can be confusing and frightening. Most children do not know what to expect following the loss of a family member or friend. Young children may not understand what death really means and may be confused or even frightened by the reactions of other family members. In the case of traumatic death, the confusion and fear is even greater.
For adults, death is more familiar and the grieving process is something many adults know first hand. Most adults have experienced the range of feelings that often come with traumatic loss - anger, confusion and sadness, and have learned ways to cope with loss. This may not be the case for children, particularly young children.
At the same time, children will seek answers and comfort from their caregivers and other adults in their lives. Yet in the face of traumatic death, adults often feel helpless in this role. While adults can not have answers to all the questions that children may have about death, they can help children better understand the grieving process."
I know this is a heavy topic so I will add the following optimistic thought that entered my mind after hearing from a close personal friend in Marion. He shared that the thing that struck him most as he navigated the recent tragedy was the resilience of all around him. He seemed to suggest that the school he was in was similar to a damaged bee-hive. All the members of the hive were swarming to the area of most impact and were working collectively to repair/heal. I will close with this quote, "Children carry more between home & school than lunch and a backpack. Working together we can lighten their load." –National Association of School Psychologists
From the Desk of Mr. Wagner
I think that we have all been to at least one or more trainings focused on the value of using rubrics. We probably all understand the impact that quality rubrics can have on teaching and learning. We have also probably all experienced the challenge in teaching students how to read rubrics and use them thoughtfully to improve their skills. They are often busy and wordy, and somewhat confusing. I came across the article, 6 Reasons to Try a Single-Point Rubric, and found that the single-point rubric not only simplifies the rubric, but also allows for the student or teacher to give more individualized feedback. The 6 reasons identified by the writer include:
- It gives space to reflect on both strengths and weaknesses in student work.
- It doesn’t place boundaries on student performance.
- It works against students’ tendency to rank themselves and to compare themselves to or compete with one another.
- It helps take student attention off the grade.
- It creates more flexibility without sacrificing clarity
- It’s simple!
I think that this model can really benefit students by fostering a stronger understanding of what will be assessed. I could also see value in using this for peer evaluation and self-evaluation.
Mash Up
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Social Emotional Learning and the Plan for Excellence
Calendar Share
3:00-4:00 pm on January 17; February 27; March 22; April 25; and May 14. PD Hours. Contact: Robin Uveges
Tuesday, December 5 from 6:00-7:00 pm in the high school library. School Community Advisory Cabinet (SCAC). Contact: T Roote.
Tuesday, December 5 at 2:30 pm in the LGI. Staff Meeting. Contact: T Roote.
Wednesday, December 13 period 1 schedule. SELF with Jeff Yalden. Contact: T Roote.
Friday, December 22. Winter Pep Rally. Contact: B.Ross
The Instructional Corner
Alumni Spotlight: Courtney Malfatti
Class of 2014. While at NHS Courtney was a cheerleader (6 years) and won a cheerleading scholarship. Courtney is currently attending Monroe Community College studying Human Services. She is a 3rd year student and will receive her 1st degree in Liberal Arts in May 2018. She hopes to become an addiction counselor. Words of Wisdom: Push students to go to a community college even if their future is undecided, just GO!
Close up/Share a pic!
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