2009 Annual Report.pdf - Town of Milton

Tucker Elementary School:
The year always begins at Tucker with home visits to the new Kindergarten
families and a Back-to-School Block Party in the Tucker Playground. Under
the leadership of Principal Drew Echelson, the Tucker School, with an enrollment
of 320 students, had a very successful academic year in 2008 and 2009.
In the springtime, Mr. Echelson announced his departure from the Tucker, in
order to pursue an advanced degree. A principal search committee was formed
to begin the task of hiring a new principal to lead the school in Fall of 2009.
Other developments at Tucker for the 2008-9 year include:
Saturday School One part of the instructional improvement plan for Tucker
School is to provide students with additional time for focused, intense instruction.
Therefore, we will be implementing a Saturday program entitled
P.A.L.S.—Playing and Learning on Saturday. Each session will run from 9-
11 and will include one hour of mathematics instruction and one hour of English
Language Arts instruction. An optional third hour running from
11:00-12:00, in which students may play basketball in the gym was made available.
Summer Scholars Title One summer program staffed by Tucker staff for
children at risk to encourage a longer school year.
After School Program: Based on perceived need the after school program
instituted a homework club mentored by High School students. Pam Dorsey, Director
of Milton Community Schools, also helped to expand scholarships for
Tucker students.
Family Book Club: Title One funds supported Family Book Club. Every
Tucker student received a grade specific title to read with their family. Families
met in the evening to discuss the books and participate in related activities.
Diversity Event: The annual Tucker Diversity Event was a huge success.
Tucker PTO sponsored the Capoeira Brazilian Dancers who provided dance instruction
from around the globe. All Tucker students performed for the parents
by grade level. The night ended with a Diversity Dessert supplied by Tucker
Families.
Parent Information Session: Sarah Ward, Speech and Language pathologist,
spoke with parents about executive functioning disorders which affect critical
organizational abilities needed for learning.
Teacher Initiatives: Tucker Teachers continued professional development
with Tufts University to develop Units of Study in Readers’ Workshop. Tucker
also continued an on-going relationship with the Murphy School in Boston by
visiting the school to see Readers’ Workshop in action. Two teachers, Sarah
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