POSITIVE POINTS – SEPT 14, 2016 BOARD MEETING
“Increase student achievement through improved instructional practices”
SEPT 14, 2016
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HIGH SCHOOL
Freshman Orientation Aug 30 was an evening event and was well attended with over 200 people in attendance.
The opening to our school year was very positive. Class meetings were conducted on Friday, September 9th to
review the Student Code of Conduct and outline student expectations.
Our concurrent enrollment program with SUNY Morrisville is offering 19 courses this year. Students have the
opportunity to take these classes at NHS or at the Morrisville campus here in Norwich.
Marching Band program is up and running with approximately 54 students participating.
Our Fall athletic program is off to a positive start we have 198 student athletes.
Our 13th year of Liberty Partnership Program is continuing with 107 students.
New staff to the High School include:
 Assist. Principal – Lori Asquith
 Secretary – Renee Branagan
 Attendance – Shannon Kim
 Business – Ben Truesdail
 English – Erika Kwasnik
 LOTE – Laura Holmes (French)
 Math – Eric Cunningham, Jeremiah Gillette, Alexis Beckman
 Music – Chelsea Miller
 Science – Erik Korver, Melanie Whyte
 Spec. Ed. – Zack Beckman
 T.A./Aides – Beate Crandall, Linda Hopson, Linda Soules
MIDDLE SCHOOL
1. Very smooth first day of school. Great job to all staff and special shout out to Transportation.
2. New Student Orientation on Aug 30 had over 30 students and their families participate.
3. Sept 3, the Norwich HS Sports Hall of Fame inducted 6 new members: Perry Browne, Coach Harold Bradley,
Roger Shonosky, Coach Don Kovalchik, Graeme Tosh, Jeff Parker
4. NMS welcomed several new members to both the teaching and support staff:
 Jessica Nipe, Robin Buchman, Carrie Galletto- SPED
 Laura Holmes- LOTE
 Jessica Hoople- Music
 Ryan Manchester- Math
 Trine Jobe- Science
 Support Staff: Lindsy Thompson, Max Pacilio, Caroline Wilson, Lauren VanBeers, Jessica
Lerner, Catherine Puffer, Nancy D’Angelo, Mary Richardson, Tracy Evans
5. Meet and Greet on Sept 7 was reported by staff to have the largest participation in the last 5-6 years.
PERRY BROWNE
1. New employees join Team Perry Browne:
 Roxanne Crumb: 5th grade ELA
 Brenda Mentz: 5th grade DCT
 Kaitlyn Olsen: 4th grade ELA
 Angelia DeVito: 4th grade ELA
 Rebecca Allen: 3rd grade ELA
 Tricia Strachman: School Psychologist joining us from the High School
 Lucinda Keyes: Teacher Aide with special programs joining us from Stanford Gibson Primary
 Tyler Brown: Teaching Assistant with special programs
 Stephanie Carinci: Teacher Aide with special programs
 Tina DuMond: Mental Health therapist
 Amber Oliver: School Social Worker
2. It was such an awesome feeling to see our students and their families at Meet and Greet on Sept 7. Family
members commented on how helpful this event is to help reduce first day student jitters.
3. We are in the scheduling phase to set a date for our annual mass evacuation drill to Morrisville campus.
4. Please send us Box Tops for Education! We will put them to good use!
5. As we get underway with our new school year and students begin to dive into accountable independent reading,
Jen Post and Hayley Crimmins will be using the Teach Like a Champion technique called “Cold Call” during
morning announcements. Three students at a time will randomly be called to come meet with the building
administrators and give a “Booktalk” about their independent reading book. The goal will be to do this each
morning with three students. Students will be given a special certificate and a Booktalk log will be kept.
6. Ruthann Lawton retires at the end of this month. We wish her the best!
7. We held our Summer Challenge for 2nd – 5th grade students. The challenge involved students logging in 1,000
minutes of reading and 30 pages of a math workbook over the summer months.
8. Jen Oliver, District Literacy Specialist has been visiting us for the first few days of school. She will be assisting
us with developing a stronger data driven culture, which aligns with one of our LINKS 18 goals.
9. Our Olweus Team spent time this summer brainstorming on how to promote student leadership and positive
behavior at Perry Browne. Our new “Safety Squad” has been formed and will be comprised of 12 selected 5th
graders each month. They will be given the opportunity to work with staff members helping to supervise their
peers at dismissal time.
10. Congratulations to the Perry Browne artists for having winning entries at Colorscape. They are: Sophia Bosworth,
Nora Thompson, Kayla Sherman, Matt Cruz, Tony DeRensis, Mya Barnes, Alexsander Smietana, Kylie Santa
Lucia, Ellie Hunter, Grayson Boyer and Tenleigh Beech.
11. Over the summer, Perry Browne artists participating in the Chenango County Fair’s Student Art Exhibit. Perry
Browne walked with many first, second and third place awards in drawing, painting, sculpture, graphics and
crafts. Dawson Robinson (K-3) and Nate Franklin (4-6) were both awarded first place ribbons and Best of Show
awards for their divisions.
12. We are off to a wonderful start this school year! Students are very eager to use the new Smart TV in the
classroom and many students have already started filling out applications for their classroom jobs this year!
13. During our first two days of school, our 5th grade students were engaged in an exploration based on our 5th grade
learning expectations, leadership, and character building. A grade level meeting for all fifth grade students was
held in our auditorium to define clear behavioral expectations, rewards, and leadership opportunities.
14. We have started to recruit students beginning with 4th grade musicians. We have met with all of the students,
demonstrated a variety of instruments, and let them play some of the instruments. We will host a parent meeting
regarding instrument rentals on Tuesday, September 27th at 6:30 PM in our auditorium. We hope to start
ensembles and lessons in early October. We have a lot of excited future Norwich musicians ready to begin!
GIBSON
1. Our new schedule is falling into place and working well for us. Teachers made the opening days of school a fun,
positive and memorable time for our students. Transportation is operating effectively and our dismissal is smooth
and efficient. Our counselors are participating in PE and Art classes to help our students learn about being
capable and community.
2. After creating our LINKS plan in August, we have already begun our work in the area of Social Studies. Pacing
guides have been developed and teachers are implementing the inquiries.
3. Many families attended Meet and Greet! We saw the best attendance ever! This is truly beneficial in helping to
make the 1st day of school an easier transition for our students.
4. We have received a $3000 donation toward our snack milk program which helps to put us more than half way
toward our year end goal already!
5. Fran Nial, Suzanne Scafidi, Elyse Rice and MaryAnn Keene will be technology leaders for our building!
6. Our Cherrydale fundraiser will kick off tomorrow. This helps PTCT fund many of our programs and support or
school community.
7. A special thank you to Ryan DeTomi for painting a compass and key directional words in out gym. This will help
or PE teachers and students and it brightens up our gym!
8. The following students had art work selected for Colorscape: 1st grade: Nevaeh Bradley, McKenzie Brunick,
Selina Lian, Marissa Miles, Rabekah Monroe, Gianna Natoli, Jillian Petrie, Bella Shepard, Kolby Veilandi, Riley
Wolford. 2nd grade: Cadreyn Aidkins, Amelia Conant, Wyatt Cutting, Danasia Edwards, Ava Flanagan, Rori Gates,
Audessa Graef, Alexander Kennedy, Vincent Lawson, Jakob Lewis, Cameron Moore, Morina Patterson, Collin Reid,
Nicolas Sutton. Winning awards at Colorscape are: In drawing, 2nd place to Vincent Lawson; in 3D sculpture,
pottery and ceramics, 4th place to Gianna Natoli and in graphics, photography and mixed media, 3rd place goes to
Audessa Graef.