Supt Report
for Union #73 and Ralph C. Mahar Regional
September 2018
Tari
Welcome Back to School Breakfast
Convocation 2018
Mahar Football Team
New Personnel & Transfers
Please click on the link below to see Supt Thomas' Welcome Back Letter that includes personnel shifts and transfers:
Craig Reid, Kristin Bein and Amy St. Cyr
Our Apple Awardees
Dexter Park's Team Building Activity
Union #73 and Ralph C. Mahar Opening Convocation for 2018-2019
It's All About PEAK for 2018-2019 ~ An Excerpt from Supt Thomas' Convocation Speech
This is our strategic plan for 2018-2019.
We are climbing the PEAK over the next 180 day journey with our kids. These are the four elements that will make a difference in carrying out the strategic plan focused on curriculum, instruction, supports and interventions. This is the plan for school and classroom innovation and redesign.
Purpose is all about students working on problems that are important to them and their community. They complete projects with real-world impact that can be displayed publicly. Over time, students gain convictions they they can make a difference in their world. Purposeful work builds purposeful students. In other words #readyfortomorrow
Then there are essentials. Teachers of today need to develop new competencies and dispositions needed for a new century….a new world. Those essentials would be creative problem solving, communication, collaboration, critical analysis, citizenship, and aspects of character. This profile serves as a North Star guiding classroom learning and innovation.
And then there is agency. Students have voice in their work. Starting at young ages, they learn to set their goals, manage their efforts, assess their progress and persevere to completion. As they learn how to learn, they free themselves of the need for formal instruction. Personal agency can mean working at their own pace on a laptop but it extends to their community as they teach, inspire, motivate and really learn from each other.
And finally, knowledge is critical. Students master deep knowledge. They teach others. Their knowledge is reflected in the quality of what they create, build, make and design. Guided by teachers, they acquire expertise on adjacent topics. While their growing body of knowledge is organic and unpredictable, their understanding is deep, retained, and held to a high standard.
And this is all accomplished via personalized learning experiences.
We are at a crossroads, one that challenges us at a fundamental level, inviting us to make…... a transformation. This is the time to boldly redesign our schools. It is my expectation that we take a turn at the cross road and climb this PEAK…...keeping our purpose in mind at every step of the journey. Think about essential skills, student agency and knowledge.
The role of teachers changes in PEAK environments. They don’t try to outdo the Internet in delivering content. They empower students to find, critique, and leverage available resources. They don’t lecture. These teachers advise, mentor and coach. They care. They change lives.
A Great Video Example of our PEAK Principles
The Innovator's Award
The K-2 Team at the Petersham Center School for their innovative work around literacy AND Lauren Cerillo and John Speek for their Senior Project class.
The Risk Taker's Award
The Mahar X Team of Keith Bevan, Helen Miller and James Mercier along with Erica Talbot of Orange Elementary with her Orange Food Pantry project. Both were totally PEAK!
Don Wettrick of Pure Genius: Building a Culture of Innovation
The First Three Days of School at Dexter Park
Memories of 2017-2018 by Director Marie Cole
The PCS Community Newsletter
A Glimpse Into What We've Been Up To Via Social Media
Jamboard at Dexter Park
Dance Party at Dexter Park
Hard Work & Focus at R.C. Mahar High
First Day of K Excitement at Fisher Hill
Room Nine at Dexter Park
Pen Pals with South Dakota at Petersham Center
Butterflies Flying at R.C. Mahar Middle
Journalism Class at R.C. Mahar High
Preschool at Fisher Hill
Educators As Change Agents at Mahar Regional
Peek at this article featured in Education Week over the summer!
One District, One Book
Join the #readyfortomorrow event staff, parents and community members in the Orange Elementary, Petersham Center and Ralph C. Mahar communities.
Monday, Sep 24, 2018, 07:00 PM
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Tele-medicine Program at Ralph C. Mahar Regional
Heywood Hospital has moved some funding around to support instituting the program for another year. The only difference is that the service will no longer be grant funded. All hours for clinical services will be billed to either Mass Heath or the student's private insurance. The clinician with whom students will work will be based out of the Quabbin Retreat and Heywood Hospital, with our input, will be hiring a school-based coordinator who will oversee all referrals and the scheduling of counseling sessions. The Coordinator will also be responsible for all paperwork. Student insurance/Mass Health will be billed directly by Heywood Hospital. Their goal is to set up a minimum of 22 counseling sessions per week to make this a sustainable program for the future. The district is most appreciative of their partnership with Heywood Health and the creativity by which we can continue to offer this vital service to our students!
News Flash! This has now changed!
Heywood Health just received word that we were awarded one of 15 grants nationwide to conduct Telemedicine for three years!
Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District Earns Insurance Premium Credits through MIIA Rewards Program
August 28, 2018 News Release from MIIA
Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District has received $5241 back on itsworkers compensation and property casualty insurance costs – applicable toward premiums forthe next fiscal year—thanks to an incentive program offered by the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association (MIIA), its insurance provider. Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District earned the credits through proactive and voluntary participation in loss prevention and risk management activities throughout the year, conducted in partnership with MIIA. In fiscal year 2018, which concluded on June 30, MIIA awarded over $3.5 million of premium credits collectively to its membership of the Rewards program – resulting in a 16-year total of $32.7 million since the program’s inception.
Committed to keeping the community safer and fiscally stronger, Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District implemented loss control and safety measures as well as administrative procedures that reduce the risk of accidents and property damage. In addition, local employees participated in training programs that promote effective management and safe operations. MIIA offers these no-cost programs as a benefit to help member communities reduce their risks as well as insurance premiums.
Stanley Corcoran, Executive Vice President of MIIA said, “Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District has worked very hard over the past year to promote safety in the workplace and mitigate risk. As a result, they have helped lower their own insurance costs and earn these Rewards funds. We commend Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District for its efforts. We also look forward to continuing to work in partnership with local leaders to ensure employees are well trained and prepared, to help avoid unnecessary risks and losses, and to help save local taxpayer dollars.”
The Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association (MIIA) is the non-profit insurance arm of the Massachusetts Municipal Association. As a member-based organization, MIIA’s only focus is to provide excellent service and quality risk management solutions to Massachusetts municipalities and related public entities. Municipal insurance its only business, MIIA insures nearly 400 cities, towns, and other public entities in Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.emiia.org and www.mma.org.
About Us - Union #73 and Ralph C. Mahar Regional
Feedback regarding all of the schools, programs and services is highly valued and welcome. Students are encouraged to contact Supt Thomas to ask questions, seek information and share/discuss ideas and concerns as we redesign our schools for a new era.
Please see contact information below.
Email: tthomas@rcmahar.org
Website: www.rcmahar.org
Location: 507 South Main Street, Orange, MA, USA
Phone: 978-544-2920
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orangepetershammaharregional/
Twitter: @suptthomas