Annual Report of the Superintendent - North Branford Public Schools

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The new schedule includes a weekly advisory period, a more integrated curriculum, an upgraded technology component, and increased opportunities for teacher collaboration and fl exible scheduling. Our curriculum focuses on encouraging students’ self-awareness and self-concept, and providing exploratory programs, which capitalize on the natural curiosity of adolescents. Middle School NORTH BRANFORD INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL Alan Davis, Principal Implementation of New 8-Period Schedule A highlight of the year was the implementation of a new 8-period middle school schedule, which focused on the team concept. Features of the schedule include: • An 8-period day with common team planning time • A re-structured Unified Arts program • Programmatic improvements include “all year” physical education classes and the integration of the performing arts. • Improved World Language program • All sixth grade students study Spanish and French in a mini-course format. Seventh grade students choose either Spanish or French and study the selected language during seventh grade (every day for seven weeks) and eighth grade (every day for the full year). Additionally, all eighth grade students take a World Cultures course as part of the unified arts cycle. • Integration of Band and Chorus classes within the school day • Increased course offerings (technology, library media, theater arts, world cultures) Enrichment Activities • Five North Branford Intermediate School students participated in the 24th annual Future Problem Solving (FPS) Connecticut Conference in Storrs, March 30th-31st. Science teacher Richard Burke initiated the program at NBIS this year. FPS of Connecticut is an affiliate of the International 26 Annual Report to the Community www.northbranfordschools.org
Future Problem Solving Program that includes over 250,000 students annually from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and Russia. FPS is a non-profit educational program that prepares students for the future by teaching them the essential problem solving skills they need today. The program teaches students how to think, not what to think. Teams of Future Problem Solvers studied the topic of “Caring for our Elders” in preparation for the state conference. The student teams were presented with a future problem scenario that related to the topic of “Caring for Elders”. Then, students used the program’s six-step problem solving process to analyze the potential situation, determine the challenges, describe the underlying problem, outline solutions, evaluate solutions and detail their best solution. A panel of judges evaluated the students’ work. • Teacher David Holland presented at the Arts in the Middle conference, sponsored by the Connecticut Association of Schools, and held at the Hartford Art School. Mr. Holland provided students with opportunities to create one-ofa-kind treasures using polymer clay. A particularly challenging aspect of this work was to complete the project and “fire” the finished product in the two hour and fifteen minute work period. • Our athletic program consisted of nine teams, all coached by volunteers... parents, teachers, and other community members: Fall season: Volleyball, Field Hockey, Cross Country, Boys’ Soccer, Girls’ Soccer Winter season: Boys’ Basketball, Girls’ Basketball Spring season: Softball, Baseball • Teacher Marcella Ardine produced an outstanding yearbook with color photos of all the eighth graders. The students learned the essentials of yearbook production; including layout, copy writing, and photography. • Teacher Marcella Ardine advised an after-school Current Events Club, which met weekly throughout the school year. • Guidance Counselor Kelli Gorman advised the Human Relations Club, which sponsored a series of community service activities. • Our new theater arts teacher, Erin Merritt, directed the school’s Drama Club, which performed three, one-act plays (“A Night of Absurdity”) in the North Branford Auditorium. • Teacher David Holland sponsored an after-school Art Club for interested students. Additionally, the third annual school-wide Art Show was presented in the spring. More than 90% of our students exhibited at least one original piece of artwork. • Teacher Michael Votto served as the Newspaper Advisor. The students learned about the various facets of producing the Scarlet Banner for the school community. • Teachers Roberta Mack and Judy Ruggiero coordinated the Recycling Club. • Teacher Donald Hurley sponsored an after-school chess enrichment program. • Teachers Patricia DePalma and Roberta Mack conducted an after-school enrichment program (“Medieval Madness”) in collaboration with the Eli Whitney Museum. • Teacher Danielle Ducharme advised the Student Council, which exerted a tremendous effort in promoting school spirit and community service. • Teacher Patricia DePalma coordinated the annual Geographic Bee competition. One of our students progressed to the state level of the competition. • An a cappella musical group (“Rusty Pipes”), from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, performed at an assembly for our choral students. Student Awards • An eighth grade student won an award for patriotism and leadership, sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). • Two eighth grade students received the Scholar-Leader Award, sponsored by the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS). • The South Central Area Superintendents’ Association (SCASA) honored two eighth grade students for leadership and community service. • An eighth grade student qualified for the President’s Volunteer Service Award for accumulated hours of community service. NBIS Enrichment Activities 27
Page 1 and 2: Annual Report of the Superintendent
Page 3 and 4: The driving force for continued sch
Page 5 and 6: Buildings and Grounds Numerous outd
Page 7 and 8: Curriculum Management Cycle work ac
Page 9 and 10: Writing A Writer’s Workshop appro
Page 11 and 12: Curriculum Development Process ART
Page 13 and 14: Reading - Language Arts Reading Ins
Page 15 and 16: Grade 6 (same grade, different stud
Page 17 and 18: CMT4 Summary of Findings: Goal Leve
Page 19 and 20: Advanced Placement Assessment Resul
Page 21 and 22: Special Services Suzanne Wright, Di
Page 23 and 24: Other The Special Services Departme
Page 25 and 26: Virtual High School Nine students e
Page 27: • Mark Fabrizi has been accepted
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Page 33 and 34: Elementary TOTOKET VALLEY ELEMENTAR
Page 35 and 36: A new Social Studies Curriculum was
Page 37 and 38: • Fun Day • Kindergarten Arts F
Page 39 and 40: Reading Accomplishments Kindergarte
Page 41 and 42: JHS Accomplishments • Several tea

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