The Reds Tale
September 27, 2018
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 I sit typing late Sunday night, I am overwhelmed by all of the sights and sounds of Homecoming seared into my mind. While there is some senior revelry I would just as soon forget and the oppressive heat in the gym during the Pep Rally cost me a t-shirt, I need to share that all in all, Homecoming 2018 came across as one of our best ever.
Some things I noticed this year that have not always been as obvious. First, both students and staff really bought into each of the themes. In fact, I chair a weekly meeting where some very serious topics are discussed. Despite the high stakes nature of the meeting, I was able to get several giggles glancing at Ms. McGavisk, seated to my left. She was rocked out in 80's make up, right down to a Def Leppard concert shirt. The fun continued into the Friday Pep Assembly where each sports team traditionally performs a skit as their introduction to the crowd. Each skit left me wanting more! Fortunately, our very talented cheerleaders hit the floor and really hyped the crowd. It was great to see kids and teachers "playing" together as they navigated an obstacle course. No worries, Mr. Harrington's trick knee is all good and Ms. Long taught us all the lesson that there is nothing she cannot laugh about!
On Friday evening I was absolutely dumbfounded as our new Student Council advisors Ms. LaPaglia and Ms. Yuhas pulled something off that has not occurred in years at NHS. They managed to host a dance that left the DJ not feeling sorry for us. I did a quick count of our attendance sheets and my guess is we had over 300 attendees. Unbelievably, there was a great balance of students represented from each graduating class currently at NHS! A very special thanks to the chaperones that spent the evening in the gym: Ms. Pieters, Ms. McGavisk, Ms. Yuhas, Ms. Curley, Ms. Fladd and Ms. Ross.
Saturday morning I woke up excitedly to a day filled with a mix of sports and the parade. I made my way up to heaven and was treated to a "saucy" match on the pitch between Penn Yan and our varsity futbol players. Despite the scoreless tie, I was thoroughly entertained along with 100+ fans lined along the east sideline. From the game I made my way to the AECC for the start of the Homecoming Parade. At 3:40 pm the parade route was already filling with some of our most dedicated Reds. The energy in the parking lot was as high as the electrified night sky during the Homecoming dance! Officer Patton and Officer DiPolito got the parade off by 4:05 pm. Thanks to Mr. Humphrey and his marching band, all marchers stayed in step thanks to a rim-shot cadence coming from the quads...or maybe tri-toms! The floats were absolutely epic this year as they followed along with Disney themes. As is customary, my job is to support the seniors without condition. However, if someone were to pay me to be partial I would need to say the juniors rocked it pretty good.
I will close by sharing a special, heartfelt thanks to mayor Jonathan Taylor, the Newark Police Department and the slice of the Newark community that lined the parade route. Your attention was no doubt drawn to the parade participants (elementary to high school) as their smiling faces represented all that is great between a school and community. Thanks for being there for us, it meant a lot!
From the Desk of Ms. Ross
Classroom management seems to have a variety of definitions. One of the most important things that you can do to establish good classroom management is to build relationships with your students while teaching social skills along with academic skills. Students need to know you care about them. School might be the only place where they have that. You might be the only adult who provides care to them.
When students have strong, trusting relationships both with the adults in the school and with their peers, and when their lessons are interesting and relevant, it’s harder for them to misbehave. We don’t expect an effective classroom management system to eliminate all problematic behavior any more than we expect a new set of standards to raise all students’ scores by leaps and bounds on the first try. Students are going to misbehave as they learn and grow—it’s how we respond to their misbehavior that matters. Click for more!
Mash Up
From Mr. Bushart, "Our new interactive menu page has just gone live. Check it out!! Click on the menu icon on the Newark CSD website and you will taken to our new menu page, once you are there click on an item, for instance the pepperoni pizza on October 4, to see a complete nutritional pop out . There are still some tweaks to be made like adding more pictures and completing missing nutrition info on items but overall I am pleased with this initial launch. Let me know what you think.........Have good rest of the week. By the way by the end of Thursday you will also be able to download the Nutrislice app for your phone or any mobile device."
Also from Mr. Bushart, "We are excited to announce that TODAY is our first Wayne Wednesday of the 2018/2019 school year. Wayne Wednesdays is a coalition of Wayne County school food service departments, Headwater Food Hub , and Cornell Cooperative Extension to promote our Farm to School Programs. Our GROW (Gathering Regional Offerings in Wayne) Coalition is proud to announce a new partnership with MOTTS of Williamson. Each Wayne Wednesday will now proudly feature MOTTS applesauce or Juice, produced in Williamson, in addition to our regionally sourced fruit or vegetable feature. TODAY: We featured Regional Watermelon on our lunch menu from Zimmerman Family Farms. About the farm: Zimmerman Family Farm- Owned and operated by the Zimmerman Family, a Mennonite family farming just outside of Penn Yan. The Zimmerman family, like many in the Amish and Mennonite communities in upstate NY, make their living farming a diverse array of vegetables and fruit. Headwater has worked to connect with the Mennonite and Amish communities to connect these great farms to a more active marketplace in and around Rochester. Although these farms are not organic, the farming practices represent an appropriate scale and natural/organic approaches to agriculture."
All staff are asked to avoid lingering at locked doors or knocking on classroom windows for the purposes of coaxing someone in the building to give them access. This has been noticeable at the library foyer doors. In the past, we have found that students respond to this pattern of adult behavior by setting up at the doors to open them for staff...and others. Certainly if you want to schedule your arrival with a colleague in the building that is fine. Otherwise, please enter the building via an unlocked or FOB'd door.
I need to prepare you for the inevitable involving our compliance with codes (fire, safety etc.). First, I feel like the pendulum has swung pretty quickly on the movement from traditional classrooms to innovative classrooms that are more welcoming and friendly. Unfortunately, as pendulums do, they can swing too far. I have received some very strict guidance from Mr. Steve and Kelly Wasson (NY Inspector for BOCES) on what needs to occur in order for us to be compliant. In the coming days I will be meeting with some small teams to develop a correction plan that should be completed through the month of October so we are fully compliant by November 1. Here is some specific language to get familiar with, "Furniture that is not provided by the district may substantially increase the fire load and should be evaluated. These types of furniture also pose other hazards. Old furniture from homes and thrift stores often have no fire rating. The furniture can also contain other hazards such as allergens, mold and insects especially if liquids or food have been spilled on the fabric.
It is highly recommended that only new furniture be placed in classrooms. Any new furnishing should conform with the California 117-2013 Fire Resistance Standard." Furthermore, "Curtains, drapes, fabric hangings and other similar combustible decorative materials suspended from walls or ceiling shall comply with Section 807.4 and shall not exceed 10 percent of the specific wall or ceiling area to which they are attached. Artwork and teaching materials shall be limited on walls of classrooms to not more than 50 percent of the specific wall area to which they are attached."
REPRINT: Ms Hauf has volunteered to keep the web-page picture scroll up to date. If you have pictures that can add value to the page please pass them along to her!
REPRINT: The NHS track is unavailable for an indefinite period of time. It cannot handle foot traffic or otherwise. Thanks!
Instructional Corner
Using learning targets and success criteria that focus on what progress looks like for today’s lesson yields feedback that feeds learning forward. The learning target and success criteria engage students as stakeholders in their own success, preparing them for the increased level of challenge that they will meet in the next lesson. We must put students in the driver’s seat. Without a learning target, feedback is just someone telling you what to do. As always, please reach out to Will Bean or any of the instructional coaches for any resource need or questions you might have. ~ Better is a never-ending quest.
Document Sharing Space
Calendar Share
Thursday, October 4. No Reds Tale. Contact: T Roote
Tuesday's in the LGI: October 2, November 6, December 4, January 8, February 5, March 5, April 2, May 7 and June 4. Staff Meetings. Contact: T Roote.
October 17. Quarter 1 Below 65 Reports. Contact: S Mateo
October 11 and 25, November 8 and 29, December 13, January 17 and 31, February 14, March 14 and April 2. SELF Days. Contact: T Roote.
Wednesday, October 10. College Wear Wednesday. Future College Wear Wednesdays are 11/14, 12/12, 1/9, 2/13, 3/13, 4/10, 5/8, 6/12. Contact: Sue Gardner.
Thursday, October 11 at 9:00 am. Evacuation Drill. Contact: R Ross
Friday, October 12 and Saturday, October 13 at 7:00 pm in our auditorium. Fall Drama. Contact: E Howard
Tuesday, October 16 from 5:30-7:20 pm. Open House. Contact: T Roote
Monday, October 22- Friday October 26. Red Ribbon Week. Underage drinking and drug prevention. Contact: Nicole Reinholtz.
Friday, October 26 and Friday, March 15. NHS Program/No WTCC Program. Contact R Ross.
Tuesday, April 30. Capstone Day. Contact K Ganter or D Barry
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