Raising
the Bar
Spring 2015
To celebrate the 100th day of school, CBPS recently participated in their 5th Annual Service Project to help others in need. Each classroom collected 100
of one item to donate to Gifts of Love in Avon. Some of the items collected were macaroni and cheese, spaghetti sauce, pasta, cereal, oatmeal, baby food,
beans, tuna, side dishes, condiments, paper products, shampoo, and soap. A group of selected third graders were responsible for the daily collection,
tallying of items and informing each classroom of the number of items needed to reach their goal of 100. A total of 2,886 items were collected.
Our Vision
As a leader among schools and a source of pride in our community, the Canton Public Schools
enrich the present and shape the future of its students by opening minds and transforming lives.
Our Mission
Our mission is to prepare independent, productive, respectful and responsible citizens who
contribute to an ever-changing world. We pursue continuous improvement while honoring our
strong educational legacy and traditions. We unite with families and the community to provide
challenging educational experiences that promote the intellectual, physical, social and emotional
potential of our students.
from the superintendent
As you will read in this latest edition of our Raising the Bar
District Newsletter, the Canton Public Schools continue to be a
Lighthouse District, where our students and staff shine brightly
and a district to which other school systems throughout Connecticut look to in order to replicate our success. Our district
continues to be recognized for outstanding achievements in all
areas of our academic, athletic, and arts programs. Our students
have demonstrated accomplishments in all of these areas. For
the fifth consecutive year, our district was named as a Best
Community for Music Education 2015. I am very proud of these
accomplishments and thank you, our community, for supporting our school district.
As you will read in this publication, our outstanding staff
continues to work tirelessly to create a learning environment where
Kevin D. Case
each of our students is engaged and challenged in various educaSuperintendent
tional experiences that in alignment with our mission, promote
each student’s intellectual, physical, social, and emotional potential.
As a school district, we believe that:
• All students will successfully master Canton’s Community Expectations for Learning
• All students benefit from high quality resources and experiences that foster intellectual,
physical, social, and emotional growth
• All students flourish in a safe and healthy learning environment that values
differences while respecting cultures, abilities and perspectives
• All children are entitled to a childhood
As we look ahead to the next few years and continuously improve on the educational
environment we provide for our students, we will be focusing on specific goals identified
in the Board of Education’s recently adopted 2015-2020 Strategic Coherence Plan that you
will read about further on in this newsletter.
The staff and I look forward to our continued work on these important goals which
will serve as the roadmap for our future work. Please let your child’s teacher, principal, or
me know if there is anything we can do to improve your child’s learning experience. Your
feedback is important to us.
from the board chair
The Canton Board of Education is once again partnering with
the Valley Press to bring you our Spring 2015 issue of Raising
the Bar. This year, I am excited to share with you our newly
adopted five-year Strategic Coherence Plan. The Board of
Education, working together with a committee of community
stakeholders, spend several months developing this important
document, which will guide our goal-setting and prioritization
of resources through 2020. I am also pleased to share with you
news of the many achievements of our students and staff, and
details of several new initiatives, including full day kindergarten, and an increased focus on STEM education (Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math) within our curriculum.
Leslee Hill
We also have provided details of our budget for the 2015-2016
Board Chair
school year. As always, we evaluate all spending in terms of
whether it will increase rigor and opportunity, provide equal access to quality resources,
and improve student learning. The Board and our administrators are constantly seeking
innovative ways to improve student success with minimal budget impact, and this year
we present a budget with a .82% increase over last year’s spending. We appreciate your
continued support of our students, who are developing the skills they will need to find
success and happiness in their adult lives. You can find our new Strategic Coherence Plan,
and much other information about our schools on our website, www.cantonschools.org.
As always, I welcome your questions or comments.
Spotlight on Education
Opening Minds, Transforming Lives
W
by Katie Hill, Class of 2015
hen we climbed on to the school
bus for the first time twelve years
ago, we couldn’t see much beyond
the day that was to come. All
that mattered was playground politics, learning
numbers, letters and colors, and not skinning our
knees as we tried to catch up to our new friends.
We learned how to read while sitting in beanbags,
learned how to write with orange, purple or green
Magic Markers, and sang songs about the weather.
Monday was the best day ever because of new class
jobs, second only to dressing up on Halloween and
giving out cards on Valentine’s Day. We clearly had no future plans. We weren’t
expected to know what was going to happen
in fourth grade, or seventh grade, or eleventh
grade. We had no idea what a Nature’s Classroom
was, who wore what during the Civil War Reenactment, or that A.P U.S. History was going to be
the hardest 50 minutes of every single day of junior
year. Luckily, however, we were surrounded by people who already planned all of that, and much more.
“Opening Minds, Transforming Lives.” It’s
a simple, four-word phrase, but it packs twelve
years worth of punch. One can’t walk far through
the halls without seeing the school motto plastered somewhere, like a subliminal message from
teachers and administrators, as if to say “here’s
what we can do for you.”
So in true high school student fashion,
I would like to reflect on the past twelve years,
and use the analytical skills that Canton Public
Schools has taught me, and decide for myself: have
our minds been opened? And have our lives been
transformed? Just how far have we come?
Personally, I feel that our grade’s accomplishments speak for themselves. Not just the AllConference and All-State athletes, or the nationally renowned musicians, or the future engineers
and chemists. I mean the kids who help others
before they help themselves. The kids who work
really hard at what they do, be it a job, a class, or a
sport, and stay under the radar while doing it. The
kids who have made it through high school with
smiles on their faces and kindness in their hearts.
Those kids are the champions of the Class of 2015.
You all know who you are, and we salute you.
However, our grade hasn’t developed this way
on its own. It has taken a school system to mold and
shape it into what it is today. Don’t just take it from
me, though. Take it from the Class of 2015.
“I think that just from listening to a variety
of [teachers] through the twelve years I’ve been
here, I’ve heard opinions that I would have never
heard before,” senior Maggie Bidwell said. “The
teachers and administrators all have different
perspectives and ideas.”
According to senior Riley Gaudet, “the
teachers challenge you to think about things
that you wouldn’t think
about on your own.”
The wonders of the
Canton Public School
System doesn’t end
with the bright and
open-minded team of
teachers and administrators, however.
Katie Hill
“Because our
Senior
grade isn’t so large, we
got to know each other really well,” comments
senior James Treacy. “It’s given us the opportunity to meet and become friends with everyone.”
This is a very true statement: we are a small
school. Yet, there are plenty of small schools out
there. Yes, our teachers and administrators go
above and beyond every single day, but one could
argue that other schools have really great teachers
too (even though they aren’t nearly as great as
ours). So what is it that makes Canton Public
Schools live up to its motto?
Senior Emma Frawley verbalized it the best:
“Everyone is involved in different things, but we
have a sense of community that is much stronger
than other schools.”
Community. The knowledge that if something goes wrong, there will be support, and if
something goes right, there will be praise. The
community that our teachers, administrators,
parents, and classmates have created is life altering, because it has been so constant throughout
the past twelve years. We are all smarter and
stronger because of it.
Looking forward, the Class of 2015 is ready
to take its sense of community support out into
the real world. It will be applied to everything
from college academics to internships and jobs.
Our sense of community can and will brighten
society, just like it has by way of the other graduating classes that have come before us.
In second grade, there was a song that we
all learned in music class, known famously to
any CBPS student, parent or teacher as “Inch by
Inch.” We sang its lyrics loudly and very out of
tune, but the message has been applicable ever
since the day we learned it: “Pullin’ weeds, picking stones, we are made of dreams and bones. I
feel the need to grow my own because the time is
close at hand ... Inch by inch, row by row, gonna
make this garden grow. All it takes is a rake and a
hoe and a piece of fertile land.”
As we near graduation, we can look back at our
time in Canton dearly, with excessive gratitude towards the school system that made our garden grow
so strongly. We now set out into our future with
minds wide open, and lives completely transformed.
Katie will attend Emerson College in the fall,
majoring in journalism.
WALL OF FAME
Wall of Fame 2014 Recipients Standing (left-right): Dick Barlow, Robert Degenhart, Emily Norland, Fiona Perry
(on behalf of Thomas H. Perry), Harold Freytag. Student Presenters seated (left-right): Ethan Porter, Maggie Treacy,
William Columbia, Elora Rosedale (missing: Andres Tuccillo).
CMS STUDENTS AT THE CT ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS (CAS)
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Mrs. Kelly Casorio and Mrs. Christina Starr brought a group of students to the Connecticut Association of
Schools Middle Level Student Leadership Conference at Trinity College. A number of 7th grade students
that are a part of the CMS Student Council attended and brought back ideas that can be used at our school.
Their day consisted of various workshops and team building activities with other students from around the
state. The CMS Substance Free Students group presented a workshop at the conference.
CIS STUDENTS KIDS’ LIT COMPETITION
Canton Intermediate School students recently participated in an international reading competition called
Kids’ Lit Competition.
Library Media Specialist, Kelly Conway, along with staff Elizabeth Zagata and Liz Nardi, formed four
teams of four students, a mix of 5th and 6th graders. These teams worked on team building and practiced
answering model questions from past competitions. Canton’s teams came in 15th, 18th, 20th and 22nd
places. Many parents have said that their kids already have their sights on next year, as the world competition
will be in New Zealand.
A
STEM takes center stage
ccording to Marsha Jorgensen,
science department chair for grades
7-12, it all comes down to jobs.
“There is a six-percent increase
in STEM-related jobs. It’s a great avenue for
students to be thinking of these as potential
careers,” she said, adding, “Those are where the
jobs are going to be.”
Ms. Jorgensen is referring to the emphasis
in school on science, math, engineering and
technology.
According to Ms. Jorgensen both businesses and colleges are taking note of the need for
more students to pursue these fields.
“If we can’t provide the workforce it’s going
to be other countries stepping up to the plate,”
she said.
Among the fields looking for students with
STEM backgrounds are programming, chemical engineering, teaching, research, forensics,
nursing and more.
Canton has begun to incorporate more opportunities for its students to work with these
particular areas of study.
Ms. Jorgensen explained that the district
has started a K-12 science committee to look at
the districts standards, in part, to ensure that
concepts such as design and investigation are
integrated into the science curriculum.
The development of a STEM Academy at
Canton Middle School is being investigated
with a possible implementation soon. Ms. Jorgensen said it is possible the academy will have
an environmental theme due to the proximity
of the Farmington River and Mills Pond.
In addition, there has been special attention paid to robotics. The eighth grade curriculum includes a robotics unit and students at
the elementary level have an opportunity to
participate in an after-school robotics club that
participates in a statewide competition.
This is also the first year that a robotics team
has been established at Canton High School.
Team #FTS8983, or the Warriors, is overseen by
CHS physics teacher Stephen Riley. The team
has a core group of about 20 students. It will
design and create a robot to perform specific
tasks as outlined in the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, or FIRST,
program, and compete against other area teams.
Ms. Jorgensen also said the district has
made a concerted effort to reach out to local
companies that work with STEM graduates to
create a resource list for students. For example,
Kelyniam Global Incorporated, based in Collinsville, makes cranial skull implants.
“We are really trying to get our students to
think. There are things happening right here,”
said Ms. Jorgensen.
Finally, Ms. Jorgensen is reaching out to
alumni who have pursued such fields.
“We’ve really tried to connect with them
and learn the kinds of jobs they are working in
and where they went to school,” she said.
STEM, Ms. Jorgensen said, covers a variety
of learning styles and may be beneficial to more
than those interested in science or math.
For starters, the fields often incorporate
problem solving and collaboration.
“I also think STEM fields, in general, are
hands on in nature, that can grab a student’s
attention,” she said. “As kids start to go through
the curriculum they will find things that pique
their curiosity.”
Among the offerings are biology, lab
chemistry and forensics, which are offered as
electives. In the future, Ms. Jorgensen said,
subjects such as astronomy, anatomy and
physiology will be added to the high school’s
offerings, joining such subjects as AP Biology,
AP Chemistry and AP Physics.
With STEM receiving more attention lately,
some critics fear that the attention to these
subjects will take away from other disciplines,
such as the arts. Ms. Jorgensen does not see it
that way.
“I think Canton is notorious for supporting
the arts. I would argue science is just as creative, it does not need to be separated,” she said.
“We’re looking to expand our area and how it
applies to our technology education program,”
Ms. Jorgensen said. “How can students be
prepared for the future?”
Like other districts, Canton has incorporated the arts into its approach to ensure more
inclusiveness.
“Canton refers to STEM as STEAM —
science, technology, engineering, arts and
math,” said Assistant Superintendent of Schools
Jordan Grossman.
Lisa Deltano, math and science coordinator
for grades K-6 and elementary education department chair, said the emphasis in the lower
grades is on integrating science, technology,
engineering and math, and applying the knowledge gleaned from those to the world.
In grades K-3, Ms. Deltano said the focus on
these subjects is based on student interest.
“The focus here is more on building on
what [teachers] have allowed them to explore,”
she said. In grade 3, students have access to
Chromebooks that they use as much as possible, a nod to the technology portion of STEM
education. This age group, she said, has no dif-
ficulty logging in and remembering passwords.
“We’ve moved from one classroom
computer to everyone having a device in their
hands,” Ms. Deltano said. “Kids are not afraid
to use the technology.”
Having access to programs like Google
Docs enables students and teachers to share
information easily. Teachers can actually watch
what students are typing in real time and make
comments as students do their work.
STEM is also introduced to younger
students by incorporating the topics into other
subjects, such as reading and writing. For
example, Ms. Deltano said that second graders
write lab reports for their science projects.
Students continue to have science classes
while at the same time integrating the principles of STEM into all of their subjects too.
Efforts are underway between the second
grade teachers at Cherry Brook Primary School
and science teachers at Canton High School to
bring the younger students to the high school
to do work in one of the science labs there.
“Students will see a real science lab and
apply what they see here to different technologies,” she said.
Lexi Benoff and Jacob Newberry work on a model
Classes in coding are also being taught.
robot as they begin to understand how to construct
They will be a part of this year’s Summer
a robot as part of the high school’s robotics team.
Extravaganza along with science and robotics
classes, Ms. Deltano said.
she said.
Robotics Clubs at Cherry Brook and
“Trying to find the time to do everything
Canton Intermediate School give students the
we want to do is incredibly challenging,” Ms.
opportunity to work in groups to build a robot
Deltano continued, adding that CIS offers enand program it.
richment clubs after school and there are math
“Kids become very independent learners
competitions held in grades 4-6.
and problem solvers,” Ms. Deltano said. “Being
“I’d love to see robotics in every grade level
able to work with others is very important.”
as part of the curriculum,” Ms. Deltano said.
Students at CIS can also participate in
“We are really trying to be as creative as we can
ICER, Invent, Classify, Experiment and Rewith the time, money and staff we have. We
search, in which students work independently
want to make sure it’s engaging and they get
on a research project and later present their
something out of it.”
findings to the public. Last year was the first
The Technology Planning Team, which is
time the program was offered at Cherry Brook
overseeing the development of a new threeand 60 students participated. This year as many
year plan covering 2015-2018, has incorporated
as 80 students are participating.
enhancements in STEM education in Canton.
Students can select an area of interest,
At the high school the plan calls for
whether it’s covered in the classroom or not
increasing programs including computer
to further research. In May three CIS students
programming, robotics, AP Computer Science,
and six from Cherry Brook will compete at the
contemporary media, innovation and engineerInvention Convention based on their projects.
ing design and aviation and aerospace.
“All of these incorporate student’s use of
At the middle school, the plan calls for
mathematical knowledge to a purpose. They are
implementing a STEM Academy, Google Apps
not using skills in isolation,” Ms. Deltano said.
for Education, coding and programming and
“Because our curriculum is very heavy in
digital/online gaming, which are similar goals
reading, writing and math, we don’t have time
for the Canton Intermediate School and Cherry
to spend on science — its incorporated into
Brook Elementary School.
other subjects, sometimes as an enrichment,”
A helping hand outside the classroom
S
tudents in the district dedicate themselves
to their education and their community
in many ways including participating in
activities to benefit others.
Students at Cherry Brook Primary School
are enthusiastic supporters of the annual Jack
Bannon Turkey Trot that collects frozen turkeys
and other Thanksgiving meal trimmings from
throughout the Farmington Valley for Foodshare.
This school year was the second time students at Cherry Brook participated.
“We had a pretty good turnout,” said Donna
Colavecchio, administrative assistant to the principal.
The young students also get their heart rate up
for a good cause by participating in the Jump Rope
for the Heart campaign, a fundraiser for the American Heart Association. Teachers made a donation
and students also raised money and enjoyed fun
activities in their physical education classes.
“The kids broke a record this year,” raising
$2,229, Ms. Colavecchio said.
In honor of the school’s 100th day in session,
Cherry Brook celebrated with a food collection.
Each grade level was assigned a specific food,
such as macaroni and cheese or tomato sauce,
and classes were responsible for collecting 100 of
those particular items. Each day of the drive selected third graders collected the donations and
tallied up what had been brought in. This year,
through the collection, 2,886 items were donated
to Avon based Gifts of Love.
In some cases it’s not just the students who
are giving back, the staff at Cherry Brook created a
Mitten Tree in November and collected hats and mittens, which were donated to Canton families in need.
“I think kids, by participating in these kinds
of activities, feel they are part of not only the
Cherry Brook Primary School community, but
the Canton community,” Ms. Colavecchio said.
“The kids get excited about these activities and
want to be the first to have their collections in.”
A new Circle of Friends group has started at
Canton Intermediate School. The students who
first began this group are currently at the middle
school where they are continuing what they
started. This new group at CIS is carrying on
the tradition by bringing together students and
students with special needs for friendship and
community service activities.
Occupational Therapist Helen Farmer said
that the CIS Circle of Friends and the student
council conducted Cookies in a Jar, selling cookies
to staff members. The money raised was donated
to the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.
Ms. Farmer said that the group hopes to
fundraise again this year with proceeds going to
an animal shelter.
“It’s a nice way for kids who have special
needs to be involved in the school community,”
Ms. Farmer said. Such activities also benefit those
students who may be shy, as they work in a small
group of eight students. They all learn valuable skills
as they plan and execute each activity on their own.
The good works of Circle of Friends continues at the middle school with the inaugural
group who are now in seventh grade. Recently
they raised $78 selling blue and gold bracelets for
Down Syndrome Awareness.
The 275 students at Canton Middle School
are divided into teams, who enjoy participating
in community service activities.
Principal Pamela Hamad explained that this
past fall math teacher Scott
Spencer helped an eighth-grade
team collect 1,500 items for the
Canton Food Pantry.
Although many would
not consider it a community
service project in the traditional
sense, Ms. Hamad said that her
school’s student council hosts a
Veteran’s Day program in which
local veterans are invited to the
school to talk to students and are Students recently raised $78 to be donated to the Hartford ARC.
treated to a reception. Science
the group volunteered at Neighbors Helping
teacher Cheryl Adams works with her team of
Neighbors, sponsored by Focus on Canton.
students to create wooden flags that are presented
The group picked up trash at each of the school
to the veterans.
campuses in town. During Teacher Appreciation
The Pulseras Project was a fundraiser this
Week they painted the staff bathrooms. CATA
past fall in which students in Spanish I and
has also raised funds for a number of charities
Spanish II classes sold pulsera’s, or hand-woven
and assisted with the Prisms Concert.
bracelets, to raise $1,570 for Nicaraguan youth.
Ms. Aitchison went on to say that CATA
In December students had the opportunity to
has hosted clothing drives, helped with Jump for
wear their pajamas to school as part of the Great
Canton and assisted with a holiday fundraiser for
Bedtime Story Pajama Drive. Students and staff
Gifts for Canton adopting a local family in need
organized a collection of new pajamas and Schothrough the social services department.
lastic Books agreed to match each pair of pajamas
In May, Ms. Aitchison said, students in the
with a new book. The middle school collected
110 pairs of pajamas, which, together with the books, LEO Club, a group affiliated with the Lions Club
will be assisting with Feeding Children Everywere donated to the Prudence Crandall Center, Inc.,
where, for a food-packing event. Ms. Aitchison
a shelter for victims of domestic violence.
also advises the LEO Club.
Canton High School Principal Andrew
“It is important for students to give back to
DiPippo said that the older students do their
the community and if the joy of helping others
share, too, through the Canton Adolescents
is instilled at a young age, it is something that
Taking Action, a community service group that
students will carry forward into their adulthood,”
has been in existence for about 12 years. MatheMs. Aitchison said. “It brings me such joy to work
matics Department Chair Gabrielle Aitchison is
with students who are community minded.”
the advisor and said that teams of students from
2015-2016 Board of Education Budget
Annual Budget Meeting, Monday, May 11 at 7 p.m. at Canton High School Auditorium
Executive Summary
Reflects specific areas as a % of Total Budget
New Initiatives by
Funding
Source
New
Initiatives
New Initiatives
by Funding
by Funding
Source Source
$30,000
$30,000
General Fund
General Fund
$70,872
$70,872
Open13-14
ChoiceSTEM
13-14 STEM
Open Choice
$163,992
$163,992
Open14-15
Choice 14-15
Open Choice
Open Choice 15-16
Open Choice 15-16
$56,806
Family Expenditures
Below is the 2015 – 2016 fee structure that
families contribute to curricular and extra-curricular activities. These fees offset the cost of these
courses and programs. *Financial assistance is
available for all programs for qualifying families.
Curricular Areas
Culinary Arts
Woodshop
Jewelry
Ceramics
Photography
$20
$25
$40
$20
$50
per
per
per
per
per
Canton Board of Education Budget History
semester
semester
semester
semester
semester
Athletics
Sports (excluding Football) $100
(per season, per player)
Football
$225
(per season, per player)
Extra-Curricular Music - CHS
CMEA Regional Auditions
$15 per student
CMEA Regional Festival $30 per student
CMEA All-State Auditions
$20 per student
CMEA All-State Festival
$255 per student
UMASS Jazz
(CHS Jazz Ensemble)
$75 per student
Extra-Curricular Music - CMS
CMEA Regional Auditions
$8 per student
CMEA Regional Festival $15 per student
Grade 8 Band and
Chorus Festival
$60 per student
Other
CPAT
Pre-school (3 year old child)
Pre-school (4 year old child)
$56,806
$100 per session
$960 per child
$1,200 per child
3.60%
3.02%
1.50%
2.28%
.82%
0.00%
Capital Improvement Projects
Location
Priority 2015-2016 CIP - Prioritized
Description
Amount
CIP-CHS
0
Track & Field Long Term Maintenance
$88,000
CIP-CBPS
1
Water System Maintenance
$21,904
CIP-CIS
2
Roof Repair - Slate Roof
$32,340
CIP-CIS
3
Replace Main doors to CIS
$42,314
CIP-CIS
4
Repair Chimney/Replace Liner
$13,200
CIP-CBPS
5
Insulation Third Grade Hallway Ceiling-CBPS
$25,000
CIP-CHS
6
Tractor - Snow and Other - CHS
(Old tractor to go to CBPS)$25,000
CIP-CHS
7
Replace Tile Floor Tech Ed Room, Band Room,
Custodial Room, Hallway between Gym and Locker
Rooms, 2nd floor auditorium, Coach’s Office & Storage
$16,742
Total Prioritized CIP$264,500
Student Achievement
What is AP...or “Advanced Placement”?
Canton High School Totals
Total AP Students in your school: 101
School Totals for this view:
Number of Exams
Percentage of Total Exams
Number of AP Students
Subject Totals
Music Theory
English Language
& Composition
English Literature
& Composition
Comparative Government
& Politics
United States History
Calculus AB
Statistics
Biology
Chemistry
Physics B
5
4
3
2
1
Total
70
36
46
73
38
57
33
17
31
15
8
15
3
2
3
194
100
5
4
3
2
1
Total
2
9
3
3
10
10
19
1
10
3
Spanish Language
& Culture
2
8
2
8
5
5
16
5
6
5
11
1
1
6
2
3
2
3
Regional
7
Regional
Winchester
Regional 1
1
1
1
3
14
Regional
Regional 1 6
Regional
6
Winchester
Regional
6
New
Milford
Sherman
Brookfield
Sherman
Regional 9
Danbury
Bethel
Weston
New
Ridgefield
Canaan
Greenwich
Regional 9
Wilton
Weston
New
Canaan
Stamford
Greenwich
Fairfield
Milford
Bridgeport
Cheshire
Stratford
Ansonia
Derby
Shelton
New
Haven
West
Haven
Milford
Bozrah
Wallingford
13
Guilford
Less than 1%
1%–9%
Old
Saybrook
Sterling
Griswold
Norwich Preston
Montville
Ledyard
Sprague
Franklin
North
Stonington
Bozrah
Less than 1%
No 12th–grade enrollment data
Canton’s Results vs. Global Results
1%–9%
10%–19%
20%–29%
30% or greater
Norwich Preston
Regional 18
Regional 4
Westbrook
Waterford
East
Lyme
Old
Saybrook
SAT
2012–13
NCES
12th–grade
districtdata
enrollment, 2014 College
district enrollments for
the 2013–14
school
year. AP cohort
Board
AP Cohort
Data,
and 2011–12
represent public school
students
from a given
graduating
class Proximity School District
who scored 3 or higher
on an AP Exam
Boundary
Files. during high school.
Notes:
The most recent enrollment data available were for the 2012–13
school year. A degree of caution should be exercised when
reviewing performance estimates, as data may not reflect
district enrollments for the 2013–14 school year. AP cohort data
represent public school students from a given graduating class
who scored 3 or higher on an AP Exam during high school.
CRITICAL
READING
MATH
WRITING
COMBINED
TOTAL
Canton 2014 Scores
116 Test Takers
541
566
553
1660
CT Averages 2014
507
510
508
1525
National Averages
2014
497
513
487
1497
The Scholastic Aptitude Test is a pre-admission test in math, reading and
writing and is accepted by most colleges as part of the admission process. The
2014 SAT scores demonstrated that our students continue to perform above
both the national and state averages. Notably, Canton’s combined score was
one of the highest in the Farmington Valley and the state.
CMT
Canton’s CAPT Science Results as Reported
by the State Department of Education
Advanced
2014
2013
66
83
92
98
42
43
2012
2011
70
70
94
98
41
37
2010
2009
2008
79
71
76
98
93
96
52
37
36
2007
59
91
34
Stoningto
Winchester – The Gilbert School, 100% public students
Norwich – Norwich Free Academy, 97.7% public students
SAT Scores, Class of 2014
Proficiency
New Groton
London
2012–13 NCES 12th–grade district enrollment, 2014 College
Board AP Cohort Data,
and 2011–12
Schoolstudents
District attending private high schoo
Districts
withProximity
public school
Boundary Files.
No 12th–grade enrollment data
Goal
No
Stoni
Ledyard
Sources:
2014 Scholastic Aptitude (SAT)
Scores as Reported by College Board
Year
V
Griswold
of 12th–graders who scored
orrecent enrollment data available were for the 2012–13
The 3
most
school year. A degree of caution should be exercised when
higher on an AP Exam during high school.
Sources:
20%–29%
reviewing performance
estimates, as data may not reflect
30% or greater
CAPT
Lisbon
Waterford
London
Clinton
Madison
Plainfield
Canterbury
Lebanon
Districts with public school students attending private high schools:
Winchester – The Gilbert School, 100% public students
Norwich – Norwich Free Academy, 97.7% public students
Notes:
Percentage
10%–19%
Lisbon
Brooklyn
Voluntown
Windham
East
Salem Stonington
East
Haddam
Montville
Regional 17 Lyme
New Groton
North
Branford
East Branford
Haven
Kil
Plainfield
Colchester
Regional 18
Regional 4
Regional
Stratford
Darien
Brooklyn
Sprague
Columbia
Regional 8
East
Salem
Haddam
Regional 17
Hampton
Middletown
Meriden
Guilford
Clinton Westbrook
Regional
Branford North
Madison
East
5
Haven
Haven
Haven
West
Haven
North
Branford
Hamden
Colchester
Pomfret
Regional 11
Franklin
East
Portland
Percentage
of 12th–graders who scored 3 or
Bridgeport
higher
Fairfield on an AP Exam during high school.
Norwalk Westport
Glastonbury
Killingly
Canterbury
Lebanon
Putn
Eastford
Regional 19
Regional 11
Vernon
Regional 8
Wethersfield
Regional
13
WaterburyWallingford
Seymour
Trumbull
Norwalk Westport
Darien
Regional
16
Regional
New
16
Pomfret
Tolland
Thom
Woodstock
Putnam
Coventry
West Hartford East
Avon
Manchester
Columbia
Wethersfield
Windham
Bolton
Hartford
Glastonbury Hartford
Newington
East
Portland
Britain
RockyHill
Plymouth
Hampton
Waterbury
Middletown
Cheshire Meriden
Cromwell
Watertown
Wolcott Southington Berlin
Hamden
Union
Eastford
Regional 19
East
Bloomfield
Manchester
BoltonWindsor
Hartford
Thompson
Woodstock
Stafford
Ellington
South
Coventry
Hartford
Cromwell
Berlin Plainville
Wolcott SouthingtonBristol
New
Newtown
Monroe
East
Tolland
Windsor
Thomaston
Derby
Shelton Oxford
Trumbull
Windsor
Locks
Somers
Enfield
Ellington
South
Britain Newington
Farmington
RockyHill
Regional 15
Ansonia
Monroe
East
East
Windsor
Granby
Union
Stafford
Suffield
Vernon
Simsbury WindsorWindsor
Hartford
Regional
Regional
North
5 Naugatuck
16
Seymour
Haven
Wilton
Stamford
Regional
Watertown
Newtown
Ridgefield
Canton
West
Farmington
Regional
10 New
Bristol Plainville
Regional
Naugatuck
Regional 15 14
Regional
Regional 12 Oxford
16
Brookfield
Avon
Somers
Enfield
Bloomfield
Plymouth
6
Windsor
Simsbury
Regional
7
Canton
Thomaston
Litchfield
Regional
14
New
Danbury
Fairfield
Bethel
Locks
Regional 10
Regional 12
New
Milford
New
Fairfield
East
Granby
Windsor
Granby
Regional 7
Torrington
Litchfield
Suffield
Hartland
Granby
Regional
6
Torrington
Regional
6
13
16
21
43
15
18
16
Hartland
7
8
1
1
3
4
7
2
4
AP® Success
by District:
Class of 2014
AP® Success
by District:
Class of 2014
24
2
1
Connecticut
PublicPublic
Schools
Connecticut
Schools
6
1
1
The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program (AP) is an extensive program that offers high
school students the chance to participate in college level classes, thereby broadening their intellectual horizons and preparing them for college work. It also plays a large part in the college
admissions process, showing both a student’s intellectual capacity and his or her genuine interest
in learning. The program also allows students to earn college credit for high performance; many
colleges award 3 credits for scores of 3 or above on various AP exams. Overall Canton students
perform exceptionally well and are one of the highest in the Farmington Valley and the state.
March 2014 CMT Science Scores as Reported
by the State Department of Education (SDE)
Met
Goal
Met
Proficiency
Advanced
5
75 (2014)
76 (2013)
92 (2014)
95 (2013)
25 (2014)
31 (2013)
8
89 (2014)
80 (2013)
97 (2014)
93 (2013)
44 (2014)
26 (2013)
Grade
CMT
Students in grades 3 to 8 showed incremental growth over time on their CMT scores.
Canton continues to be at the top of our District Reference Group and state averages.
Perri Murdica joins District as director of Pupil Personal Services
P
erri Murdica, Ed. D. began her role as
Director of Pupil Personnel Services
in Canton on July 1, 2014 in which she
oversees, among other things, special
education in the district.
She began her career as a special education
paraprofessional and went on to become a special
education teacher, a position she held for seven
years in Southington. She was hired by the State
Department of Education as an educational consultant before moving into the Bureau of Special
Education where she focused on such areas as
inclusive practices, early literacy, paraprofessionals
and early intervention. Dr. Murdica returned to the
Southington School District, this time as the Director of Pupil Personnel Services where she worked
for three years before being hired by Canton.
Special education is “a system of supports
that is individualized to meet the student needs,
to ensure progress in general curriculum and in
becoming a productive citizen,” Dr. Murdica said.
Her vision for the Canton School District
includes holding students to high expectations,
focus and evidence-based practices. Additionally, she views the following as equally important to the future success of special education
students in the district:
• Assessments that guide instruction
• Being responsive with parents and forming partnerships with families to support the
student and his or her needs and goals
• Equity in education, or helping to build an
understanding that some students need
more than others
• Ensuring positive social interactions
with peers
• Keeping students as close to the general
education as possible
• Educating staff in the complexities of
special education and best practices in
special education
“The vision is that education is about all
students, and the work necessary for positive
outcomes for all of our students is really important to me,” she said.
Throughout her tenure Dr. Murdica has seen
attitudes change as special education students
are increasingly working with general education
students and the two groups are getting to know
one another better.
“It benefits special education students, they
get to see role models,” she said.
The benefits extend to general education
students as they learn more about their peers
and befriend all students.
“For general education students in the 21st
century they are going to be working with all
kinds of people. It gives them such a better
understanding of learning differences, diversity,
caring and commitment as humans,” she said.
The more students interact with one another
the better they get to see first hand the strengths
each possess, she said, adding, “for society
as a whole, it’s a better place for everybody.
Differences are ok. Kids learn to understand
differences are ok.”
“A real benefit to learn early on is it’s not
about tolerance and acceptance but of them
being a part of the school — it’s about them
having the same opportunity for an appropriate
education,” Dr. Murdica said.
As Dr. Murdica has gotten to know the
Canton School District she has seen what an inclusive environment it is for all students and staff.
“The expectation is we are including
students and there is no opposition to that,”
she said. “That does not happen by accident,
but through the dedication of all the staff.”
Dr. Perri Murdica, Director of Pupil Personnel Services
Full-day Kindergarten comes to Canton
by Alison Jalbert
F
ull-day kindergarten is a popular topic
at the state level, with Gov. Dannel P.
Malloy recently proposing full-day
kindergarten for all children in the
state by 2017.
He said he is proud the state is moving
toward universal pre-kindergarten and noted
that some students who get a full-day pre-K
experience then attend a kindergarten program
that teaches them for only half the day.
“It just doesn’t make sense,” he said. “Over the
next two years, we’ll work with towns that don’t
yet offer full-day kindergarten. We’ll make sure all
our youngsters receive the time they need to learn
and reach their full potential – right from the
moment they enter elementary school.”
According to the State Department of
Education Office of Early Childhood, during
the 2013-14 school year there were 132 school
districts, 10 charter schools and 14 magnet
schools in Connecticut that offered fullday kindergarten. Seven districts offered
extended-day programs to some children,
including Canton.
Last year parents approached the Board of
Education about offering full-day kindergarten,
as some cannot afford the tuition necessary
for the extended day program. The district
approached the topic by implementing a
Kindergarten Task Force, chaired by Assistant
Superintendent Jordan Grossman, which embarked on almost a year of study and analysis.
It examined current research and data,
C
held a community forum on the topic and
studied the current kindergarten program in
Canton. Visitations were also made to West
Hartford and Avon public schools as well as
Regional School District 10 to study their
programs and their transitions to full-day
kindergarten.
“We took the process very seriously and
spent the time and energy looking at both
qualitative and quantitative information,” Dr.
Grossman said. “We knew the recommendation not only affected the children of next year
but also the children of future years and the
dynamics of what the Canton Public School
system will look like for many years to come.”
In December, the Board of Education followed the task force’s advice. It voted to implement Superintendent Kevin Case’s recommendation that full day kindergarten will start in the
2015-16 school year, with one half-day session
offered for families who do not want their child
in school all day. By the 2016-17 school year,
only full-day kindergarten will be offered.
However, since the half-day option did not
get a minimum of 15 students interested, there
will be only full-day sections next year, Mr. Case
said at a recent Board of Education meeting.
Implementing full-day kindergarten will
cost an additional $166,000 on the kindergarten line item to cover .5 full-time teacher for
four full-day sections, three paraeducators
previously funded from tuition and moved to
the operating budget, .4 of a custodian previ-
Canton plans to offer full day kindergarten starting with the 2015-2016 school year.
ously funded from tuition and an additional
teacher necessary due to increased enrollment
for five full-day sections.
As of press time, the budget is still
pending approval.
Kindergarten teachers at Cherry Brook
Primary School feel the additional teaching
hours will be beneficial to both them and
their students.
Kelly Theriault has worked in the district
for eight years and said the community has
been split over the issue, but over time,
it has come to embrace the idea of full-day
kindergarten.
Prior to working in Canton, she taught
in West Hartford, which has offered a fullday program for many years. In working on
lesson plans for a full versus half-day program,
Ms. Theriault said she has to approach things
differently.
“On a full day, I look at what I can accomplish over the course of a day. With a half day,
it’s over the course of a week. It’s a different
mindset. I’m a little more rushed in half-day
curriculum in trying to get [in] all of the things
I can teach.”
New eight period day is coming
anton High School Principal
Andrew DiPippo has proposed a
schedule change at the school to increase instructional time for students.
The proposal would divide the day into eight
periods with each class meeting daily.
A committee of teachers recommended
the changes after the New England Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation
report in 2011 recommended increasing
instructional time. The recommendation
specifically called for an eight period day with
48 minutes of instructional time, offering a
50-minute collaborative period for faculty and
maintaining the weekly Canton High School
Advisory Time. This change would start when
students return to school for the 2015-2016
school year.
“An eight period day affords us the opportunity to create more flexibility for students
to get into classes,” Mr. DiPippo said. Additionally, the new schedule would create more
opportunities for teachers to collaborate with
their colleagues.
The principal has also recommended —
and the board approved — 20 late-day openings to be scheduled throughout the school
year. This will enable students to arrive at
school at the regular time and have 50 minutes
of free time for projects and activities before
classes begin. Those who do not take advantage
of this available time would be allowed to
arrive at school at 8:20 a.m.
Students could use this time to meet with
teachers to discuss curriculum related concerns. Teachers could also use the time to meet
with one another. It would provide free time
for clubs to meet as well. Students could also
spend the time researching in the library/media
center, preparing for the SAT, or getting in a
work out in the gym.
“It opens an opportunity for students to
work outside the curriculum on important
school needs,” Mr. DiPippo said.
He added that a Capstone project will be
started with the Class of 2019 and the extra
time throughout the year would be valuable
to those working on these projects.
This new eight period schedule would
reduce the passing time between classes from
four minutes to three, eliminate lunch waves
but include a daily 48-minute lunch period for
students between the 4th and 8th periods in
which students can eat lunch and use the extra
time like a study hall.
The proposal would also cause adjustments
to be made with the number of credits students
need to fulfill graduation requirements. The
Class of 2018 is currently required to take 6.0
credits to meet the 24-credit requirement. The
Class of 2019 would need to take 6.5 credits for
two semesters to earn the 25 credits needed to
graduate.
Currently all students take six classes with
many taking seven.
The new eight period day would continue
this schedule. For the few students interested in
taking eight classes, Mr. DiPippo said parental
approval would be required. Students would fit
lunch into class time.
Mr. DiPippo said this type of schedule
would also offer time for students to take more
electives throughout their high school years.
Electives such as computer programming,
bakeshop, ethnic foods, sports and entertainment marketing and robotics are among the
elective offerings with broad appeal, however
in the past students have had a difficult time
fitting these classes into their schedules.
At the Board of Education meeting on
February 3 the high school principal reported
that the extended periods would benefit all students. A few might want to take eight classes,
others would take seven and select an elective
while students who may struggle in some
subjects would have additional time to catch up
and improve.
Board of Education student representative
Mia Tuccillo said at the meeting, “The extra
time the teachers have, and it gives them time
to plan out classes more effectively. I can see a
lot of [students] thriving in that environment
if they have more time to plan out their morning. Having that time available … might change
the way they learn and take advantage of
their time.”
I
A look ahead at technology
n the music room at Cherry Brook
Primary School administrators, teachers,
staff, parents and Board of Education
members — all members of the Canton
Public Schools Technology Planning Committee — gathered to carefully look at the
well-crafted document in their hands. Page
by page the group reviewed what is likely to
become the district’s new technology plan.
Every three years a similar group has gathered
to review and create a new plan. This latest draft
outlines goals through 2018.
Although the state no longer requires school
districts to submit a plan Canton has decided to
continue with the process because it is essential
to move the district forward.
The team began meeting in December 2014
after the district worked with BrightBytes. Last fall
the data analysis firm administered a survey to all
students starting with those in third grade, staff,
teachers, administrators and families with students
in grades K to 12. Results were used to draft the
new technology plan that includes 21st century
skills, curriculum and instruction, infrastructure
at home, infrastructure at school, professional learning, and supervisory and technological support.
When completed the plan will identify areas
of focus such as engaging and empowering learning experiences, assessment, connected teaching
T
Pelletier, a parent and technology
team member said.
Without a plan “it’s hard to
make decisions with context,”
adding that he thinks it’s good
to take a proactive approach.
Mr. Pelletier has two children, a first and third grader at
Cherry Brook Primary School,
who is proficient in technology.
Their use of devices at home
makes it easier for them to use
the iPads and Chromebooks
at school.
“The thing that is most
rewarding is the passion everyone on the committee has for
Chromebooks were introduced to students at the middle and high
making the classroom school
day responsible and successful,” school and will continue to be a part of the districts technology plan.
Mr. Pelletier said.
Jeff DelMastro has been a
confront in the ever-changing world of technology.
technology administrator in Canton for the past
Mr. DelMastro said, too, that it is important
12 years. When he began here he was confronted
to offer a variety to appeal to students’ various
with several small networks used in the school disstyles of learning.
tricts. Now there is one unified, town network and
“I think there are a lot of people like me who
students were using a standard desktop computer
are very hands on and learn by doing,” he said.
and today work with an open WiFi platform.
The newly drafted technology plan will be
The plan, he said, is important to continue the
brought before the Board of Education for their
necessary changes the district and its students will
approval at the end of May.
Choosing Canton as part of Open Choice program
his school year 88 students are
attending Canton Schools as part of
the Open Choice program.
More than 15 years ago the district
opted to join the program that enables urban
students to attend schools in suburban districts.
“It’s an opportunity for students in Hartford
to come to the suburbs, come to Canton, to a
place that has academic rigor, a nurturing school
society and to lend their diverse background to
this community,” said Floyd Campbell, Open
Choice coordinator. “In doing so they will become more respectful, responsible citizens, part
of a global community.”
The district receives $8,000 per Choice
student from the Open Choice grant program.
Additional grant funding and special education
costs are covered by Hartford Public Schools
and transportation costs by the state.
In addition to their education, Open Choice
students have a host family in Canton that helps them
attend special events and assists in an emergency.
Elizabeth Legere, Scientific Research-Based
Interventions Coordinator, is a host family. On
days where there is an evening event, two Hartford students will stay with her and her family
and she will feed them dinner and bring them to
the event to meet their parents. This prevents the
students from having to make the drive to Hartford only to return to Canton later that evening.
“The program was developed to allow students who come to Canton from Hartford to participate more in activities in the school system,”
Ms. Legere said, adding that the program is also
a way for parents to develop relationships with
other families who have children in the schools.
“I think it’s very important that all students
have the same opportunities in school,” Ms. Lege-
T
and learning, infrastructure for teaching and
learning and productivity and efficiency.
“The technology plan serves as our roadmap
and our guide for where we want to go on
fusing technology into instruction and into the
classroom,” Assistant Superintendent of Schools,
Jordan Grossman, said.
“We are trying to find the most appropriate way to use technology for instructional and
administrative purposes,” he said. “Our past threeyear plan laid a great foundation for us to form
an infrastructure aspect to where we are really
imbedding technology into our day-to-day instruction. We are hoping that the next three-year
plan, which will serve us from 2015 to 2018, will
guide us with how we are going to incorporate
technology and really set our course for the use
of technology within our schools.”
Board of Education Member Dana Kosior
said that the team is important as it offers a
number of different perspectives, including that
of teachers who understand what technology is
needed in the classrooms.
“I really admired their work and dedication,”
she said of the team. “It’s their time to help move
our district forward.”
“I think its very important having, seeing in the
last say 10 to 20 years, the changes that have taken
place in the use of technology and learning,” Michael
o get from point A to point B it
helps to have a map. In the realm of
education, that map takes the form
of a Strategic Coherence Plan, which
helps to outline goals for student achievement
in and out of the classroom.
Last fall a dedicated group of school supporters began meeting to develop a new five-year plan,
updating the one created in 2009. The Board of
Education has approved the new 2015-2020 plan.
Board of Education Chair Leslee Hill explained that the group — which consisted of the
superintendent, community members, the first
selectman, parents, the assistant superintendent,
principals, teachers and some members of the
Board of Education — were led a by an outside
facilitator. The group reviewed the previous plan
and developed a new mission statement and set
goals for the next five years.
“These are big-picture goals,” Ms. Hill said,
adding that the goals cover the entire district and
re said. “I don’t think where you live should stop
you from being able to do stuff.”
Through Open Choice, Ms. Legere said, her
two children have made friends with Hartford
students. Her high school son will often stay after
school to hang out with his friend until the late bus
takes him back to Hartford. Her younger son has
remained friends with a former classmate from
Hartford, meeting up at recess and school events.
Ms. Legere is hopeful that more Canton
families will step forward to host out-of-town students. Those interested in doing so can volunteer
by emailing her at [email protected].
Hartford parent Monica Stellmacher’s son,
Damon Kates, attends Canton High School and
began his education in town in the first grade.
Ms. Stellmacher said that Hartford parents, like
those in Canton, are a close community who help
ensure their children are getting the most out of
their Open Choice experience.
Ms. Stellmacher has the added benefit of
knowing exactly what her son may be going
through for during her school years she attended
school in Farmington, starting in the sixth grade,
as part of the program, which at that time was
referred to as Project Choice.
She recalls being “terrified” when she first
was bussed to the suburbs, but the feeling did
not last long.
“It was awesome,” she said of her experience.
“I still have friends I keep in contact with.”
She had families there who would let her stay
with them if necessary and she took advantage of
many of the opportunities available to her including joining chorus.
Her older children attended magnet schools,
and by the time Damon, her youngest was ready
to start school, the sibling program at the magnet
schools was no longer available. When she looked
for an alternative, Ms. Stellmacher opted for
Open Choice.
“I think it’s been awesome,” she said,
echoing her own experience and that of her son.
“He is well immersed into the culture there.”
“I think it’s helped him in personal growth
and development,” she said.
Her own experience would go on to have
even a greater impact beyond academics. Although she did not set out to work in the field,
Ms. Stellmacher currently works at Timothy
Edwards Middle School in South Windsor as
the family liaison coordinator for Open Choice
where she assists families and students make the
transition as they enter the program.
While Hartford families make an effort to
come out to Canton and participate in the school
community, Mr. Campbell said many Canton
students are visiting their friends in Hartford.
“It’s what we really wanted,” he said.
Students interested in participating go
through an application process and are accepted
through a lottery.
“I get a lot of satisfaction in seeing the
students grow,” Mr. Campbell said, adding that
this applies to their academics as well as their
confidence. He said, too, that increasingly more
Open Choice students are participating in school
activities, including sports.
Junior Damon Kates said overall it has been a
good experience. In fourth grade he served on his
school’s student council and last year he played
football at CHS.
Amelia Brightly is currently in seventh grade
and has also been attending Canton schools since
first grade. While she said there are some things
that she misses because of not attending Hartford
Damon Kates, Floyd Campbell and Amyah Harris
are part of Open Choice.
schools, she is happy with the way things have
worked out and is happy she has gotten involved
in the activities in Canton.
Amelia said she has had fun playing field hockey
and working on the yearbook. She also was involved
in the production of “Alice in Wonderland.”
“The friends I have in Hartford, we were further ahead than they were and they are in the same
grade as me,” she said, comparing academics.
Amyah Harris, an eighth grader, came to
Canton in the fourth grade and said she has
always been encouraged to participate in the activities that are offered here. She has played field
hockey, worked on yearbook and, like Amelia, is
part of the homework club.
“I think it’s a good opportunity,” Amyah said.
Adding that she is looking forward to being able to
select electives when she gets to Canton High School.
“The education I feel is better,” she said.
“I think it’s a great program in that we are
providing students with an opportunity to come
to a community that welcomes them with open
arms and is able to provide the academic rigor to
succeed in this world,” Mr. Campbell said.
Planning for the future
Committee creates new five-year Strategic Coherence Plan
target areas for improvement.
Ms. Hill explained that those responsible for
ensuring the goals are met range from the superintendent to each building administrator and the
Board of Education.
“When we go through our budgeting process, it’s driven by how we are
meeting those goals,” Ms. Hill said.
The plan is used regularly and
referred to throughout the years to
ensure that the district is on pace to
meet the goals and that nothing is
overlooked.
Among the goals included in this
new plan are:
• Enhance Canton’s Community
Expectations for Learning to ensure they are
reflective of our values and educational priorities
and are aligned Pre K -12.
• Implement a comprehensive plan to complete the transition to a digital learning environ-
ment that promotes a culture of proficient,
responsible and innovative utilization for students, staff and families.
• Refine the assessment system to capture and
share meaningful performance data that informs
the continuous improvement of teaching,
learning and student performance.
• Enhance the capacity of district
staff to support every child’s achievement of the Community Expectations
for Learning.
• Develop and refine strategies for
community engagement and communication to support student success.
“When you look at each goal, it has
a set of four or five indicators of success,” Ms.
Hill explained. “Each goal needs to identify what
has been done and how the goal has been met.”
The plan also outlines indicators of success,
strategies to move forward, action items and the
person responsible for maintaining the timeline.
“Now that it has been adopted, building
administrators work together to determine
what the strategies are,” Ms. Hill said. “We know
what the goal is, what it will look like and the
indications we met the goal. The next step in
the process, that will be pulled together by the
administrators in the next few months.”
“It’s interesting, in the course of five years
you can see a change. Something that seemed
to be a priority four or three years ago, these are
how things changed. So many things affect what
we do on daily basis, we spent time reconsidering these goals,” she said.
Ms. Hill is confident that the former plan
can be closed and the district is ready to move
forward with the 2015-2020 plan.
“We really felt strongly it still reflected
what we wanted to see and hear,” said Ms. Hill.
The 2015-2020 Strategic Coherence Plan can
be viewed in its entirety on the district’s website
at www.cantonschools.org.
Craig DeAngelis
Coming home
John Mastroianni
P
New faces
At the helm of athletic and music departments
Craig DeAngelis, Athletic Director
John Mastroianni, Band Director
C
I
anton’s new athletic director brings
with him an attitude that athletics
are in many ways an extension of
the classroom. The lessons being taught
on the field are often ones that have less to
do with strategy and technique and more
to do with life.
“If kids have an opportunity to grow
through sport, which they unquestionably
do, it’s our job to take it seriously and give
them the best opportunity,” he said.
Mr. DeAngelis played football in high
school and later at Central Connecticut
State University, where he earned his degree
in physical education and health. The
lessons instilled by his former coach have
stayed with him all this time.
“Plenty of times in my day I can think
of things he said in football practice,” Mr.
DeAngelis said.
“In so many ways sports are a microcosm of what these kids will see in life. If
they figure it out here, hopefully they will
get it right in life,” he said.
Mr. DeAngelis, who came to his post
last summer, said he was impressed with the
new facility at the middle and high school
and the community support it received.
“I think it’s important to maximize the
facilities, show towns we care about what
we have and value our kids’ experiences
here at Canton,” he said.
Moving forward, the new athletic director said he is gaining an understanding of
the resources available to him and his staff.
He has seen that there are some areas that
need improvement, such as the strength and
conditioning facilities, and recognizes that
there are better ways to make use of what’s
available. He would also like his coaches to
get some off-season training.
“I think the main thing here is the sense
of community in Canton is second to none.
So many people invested in the well being of
students and student athletes, it makes the
job so much easier.”
n 2014, Mr. Mastroianni was named the
Connecticut Teacher of the Year while
band director at Hall High School in
West Hartford, a position he held for
16 years.
Teaching is something he loves to do.
“I wake up every single day and say, ‘This is
cool.’ I get to do something I love. Not really a
lot of people can say that,” he said. His one wish
for his students would be that they find something that they are passionate about as well.
Mr. Mastroianni joined the staff at Canton Middle School and Canton High School
at the beginning of the school year. He was
good friends with former music director
Tom Scavone and said he anticipated a “total
mutiny” when he arrived in town.
“I’m overwhelmed by the warm welcome
and hospitality,” he said.
The music director sees his role as not
only teaching music to his students, but
learning from them as well.
“As far as I am concerned, the best thing
I can do this year is take it all in and oversee
everything that is going on and learn,” he
said, adding that he would like to put his own
imprint on the music program.
“We want to grow,” he said. “I want to
think of that personally, that I continue to
grow as a person, musician and as a teacher.”
Mr. Mastroianni has been busy the first
few months in his new job with a fall concert
at the high school; attending the Berkley Jazz
Festival in January, Prisms, and a multi-media program in February; and another music
program in February.
This spring there will be the concert in
the park and marching in the Memorial Day
Parade to prepare for.
Away from the classroom, Mr. Mastroianni has worked as a professional musician
since he was a teenager. He has recorded with
a number of artists and has three recordings as
a bandleader under his belt. He also performs
with his own quartet and arranges music for,
and performs with, a 16-piece jazz orchestra.
Pamela Hamad returns to the Farmington Valley
amela Hamad and her family lived in
Canton when she began her career in
education teaching history at Simsbury
High School. After moving here and
there, this past summer she came back to town,
not to live, but to work. Ms. Hamad is the new
principal at Canton Middle School.
Her family moved to Florida for several years
where Ms. Hamad stayed connected to her history
roots working for the U.S. Department of Education Teaching American History Program. There
she worked with history teachers to help them
develop ways to better teach history.
Upon returning to Connecticut Ms. Hamad
took a teaching position at Catherine McGee Middle School in Berlin, becoming the Middle School
Teacher of the Year in 2011-2012. She went on to
serve as the assistant principal at Catherine McGee
Middle School, a position she held for three years.
This past summer she took the helm at the
middle school, following the retirement of Joseph
Scheideler, who served as principal for 10 years.
“Coming back to the Farmington Valley was
really very meaningful to me,” she said. “I loved the
culture and the feel of the town.”
“When I started working with middle school
students, what I really loved about the age is there is
so much going on. They are developing rapidly in so
many ways. What happens in middle school directly
impacts them in high school and moving forward.”
Middle school years are critical, often setting
students in the direction they will pursue through
high school and beyond. As Ms. Hamad said, if
they love science in middle school, they will also
love it in high school.
“Middle school is all about exposing students
to a lot of different kinds of activities and experiences,” she said, adding that it is a time when students are able to test boundaries in a safe environment. It is also a time of personal growth, socially
and academically.
Ms. Hamad
said she was attracted to the district in
part because of the
long-standing advisory program that
had been put
in place at the school.
“It can be very
challenging to motivate students, get
them to understand
their education is
relevant to them,” Pamela Hamad became the
principal at Canton Middle
she said. “If they
are not checked in, School this past summer.
it’s hard to get them
to buy into their education. They are thinking
about the next minute, their brains are wired
that way.”
Ms. Hamad said that those challenges can be
overcome, in part, because of the partnerships that
have been established between the school and a
student’s parents.
“We are all rowing in the same direction,
that is a huge benefit,” Ms. Hamad said.
The middle school is located on the third floor
of the middle/high school building, but operates
separately. Despite the proximity, Ms. Hamad said,
when eighth graders move on to high school it still
is a big transition.
This year Ms. Hamad said, she is spending
time getting to know the school and her staff and is
looking to understand the strengths and the many
opportunities available to students.
“I see opportunities for the school to evolve
and move forward with opportunities for students
to understand the relevancy of their education,”
she said.
New, updated website
Canton schools will launch a new website this summer
T
he Canton schools will launch a
new website this summer to improve
communication and increase the ease
of use. After several years of research
the district settled on the program QScend, the
same program used by the Town of Canton to
create its website.
The goal is to make the website easier to
navigate. Rather than having information sent
to one person to post, each school will have a
person responsible for managing its content on
the website.
“Our website was outdated,” Assistant
Superintendent of Schools Jordan Grossman said.
“It didn’t provide clear, up-to-date communication of what was going on within the schools.”
Lynn Young, administrative assistant to the
assistant superintendent, is the point person
for the district’s website content and receives
information from the schools via email or by
phone that she then posts. In some instances
there were delays in getting information on the
site or it might not have been posted at all if she
was unavailable.
“The thing that is nice is that school offices
will have more control of what is on their page,”
Ms. Young said. “They know their staff at school
the best. Whenever there is movement in the
district, they can make those changes. They
will add photos and information themselves.”
Ms. Young, who will continue to post district
content on the website, said a district-wide
calendar will be part of the new website, which
will be linked to the individual school calendars.
“The content for the calendars will be live,”
she said.
“The goal the board has of introducing a new
website is two-fold,” Julie Auseré, board of education vice chair and communications committee
member said. “One, we want it to be easier for the
parents to find the information they need. The
new website will be consistent in how information
will be presented in all the schools.”
Ms. Auseré said the second reason was to update the program used to build the site, which will
help those responsible for updating information.
The new website will have what she referred
to as “mega menus,” or larger menus with more
information for users to find the information
they are looking for more quickly. The individual
teacher pages will be updated by the teachers
themselves and will now be linked to Google.
“That’s going to be awesome,” Lorie Carlson,
administrative assistant at Canton Middle School,
said of being able to post information herself.
Like other school staff, she has been going
through special training to learn the program.
“It’s going to be more streamlined,” Ms.
Carlson said. “It will be easier, we won’t have
to call someone to do it for us.”
For current information on the district’s
website visit www.cantonschools.org.
Stories by Alicia B. Smith, Valley Press Staff Writer
Summer Extravaganza
A summer program offering fun and educational enrichment
courses for students. There will be favorite courses from last year
as well as new offerings for this year. The Summer Extravaganza is
open to both Canton school children and those from other districts
as well. To read more about courses offered and to register your
child, please visit www.cantonschools.org
Board of Education
Members
Leslee Hill, Board Chair
Julie Auseré, Vice Chair
Peg Berry, Secretary
David Briggs, Ana Cavanaugh,
Dana Kosior, Laurie McKenna,
Jack Powell, Helen Treacy
www.cantonschools.org
is our district website with links
at the top of the page to each of
our schools - there is school contact
info (phone numbers, etc.) on each
of those pages.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Board of Education
Meeting Dates
May 5, 2015
May 12, 2015
May 26, 2015
June 9, 2015