CENTRAL OFFICE
NEWSLETTER
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
Central Office News
S U M M E R
Upcoming Events
2 0 1 6
Professional
Development
Important Upcoming Events
WFEE Update
ELL at Town Day!
Upcoming Religious Holidays
WINCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
2016 SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
New Admin at WHS
Summer Literacy
R.A.D

July 1st: Lailat al Kadr—Islam
New Classes recently added:

6th Grade Summer Reading

Learning to Sign
RADkids Self Defense new LOWER price!
July 7-9th: Eid al Ftr—Islam
July 9th: Martyrdom of the Bab—Baha’I
Classes available for EVERY grade level PreK-High School
Taught by Winchester Public Schools’ staff
Something for everyone; math, writing, reading, art, cooking and
sports!
To review the complete brochure with course descriptions
Visit the new WPS Summer Enrichment Website
July 13-15th: Obon—Buddhist-Shinto
July 19th: Asalha Puja Day—Buddhist
August 25th: Krishna Janmashtam—Hindu
Sign Language Self Defense Mystery Train Rides
Movie Making Percy Jackson & Greek Mythology
Around the World Cooking Camp ArtJet
Project Funway Wood and Paper Sculptures
Shakespeare is Everywhere Little Lego Builders
Math Madness Full STEAM Ahead
Comics and Cartoons YogArt Start Spreading the News
Lego Robotics & Sports and More
Metal Working Book Trailers with iMovie
Summer Olympics
August 5-21, 2016
https://sites.google.com/a/winchesterps.org/wps-summerenrichment/
Summer Camp 2016
Dates: and Times
Session 1: July 5-8, 8:30—11:30 am
Session 2: July 12-15 8:30—11:30 am
Session 3: August 15-18 8:30—11:30 am
Session 4: August 22-25 8:30—11:30 am
Extended Year Program
Special Education
July 11—August 11, 2016
9:00 am—12:00 pm
Reading Discovery Summer
Program
July 18-August 11
First Day of School for Teachers: September 1, 2016
First Day of School for Students: September 6, 2016
Professional Development
Ever wonder what teachers do during the summer? Winchester's Teachers see themselves as continual
learners! They will be working on some exciting summer projects to learn more in their on-going quest to
best service the students of Winchester. Here are just some of the topics they will be working on:
Igniting Inclusion
Studying Skillful Teaching
Your Mental Health: Recognizing Signs & Symptoms
Co-Teaching
Google Classroom and Apps for Education
Google Sites
Dancing the Dance: Presentation with Lisa Dieker
Integrating Technology with GAFE
Sheltered English Instruction
Setting Up Your Google Classroom
Google Drive—Next Steps
Bookshare In-Depth
Differentiated Instruction
Topics in Special Education
SEI Confianza Workshop
Learn to Navigate the Creation of an IEP in Aspen
Speech Recognition as Assistive Technology for Writing
Aspen: Elementary and Secondary Directed Instruction
Aspen: Reserve Your Time to Play in the Sandbox
Aspen for Elementary Teachers
Aspen for Secondary Teachers
Advanced Aspen for Secondary Teachers
“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who
keeps learning stays young.” ― Henry Ford
Technology
A special “thank you” to WFEE and all who donate to their fundraising efforts! As the next phase of our PowerED
UP initiative, WFEE gave a gift to Winchester Public Schools of $128,000 in May. This funding will be used for some
exciting projects as part of our comprehensive technology plan including: in-depth professional development and
creation of units that embed technology in them in order to facilitate collaboration, inquiry, research, and higherorder thinking; professional development on our new student information system; more devices in our classrooms;
new and emerging technologies; and the continuation of our district roll-out of BYOD. Be sure to check-out great
information at wfee.org and our upcoming newsletters!
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3
Winchester Public School’s English Language Learner students and staff teamed up with the
Winchester Multicultural Network to do student presentations during Town Day. We were
thrilled for the first time ever to have students share their poetry during this wonderful
community event.
Below are just a sample of two poems that were read that day!
Birds
Birds migrate so far
They migrate in early fall
They come back in spring.
By Kenny
The Gym Shaker
By Rickey
3rd grade
When I see water
I become a disaster.
I feel itchy.
My arms grow out.
My arms swim, swim, swim.
I start to shake the gym.
The gym stops shaking.
The arms stop swimming.
“
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4
Please Join Us In Welcoming
New Administration to
Winchester High School!
Principal
Dennis Mahoney
Mr. Mahoney obtained his Bachelors of Science degree from UMass Amherst and Masters
in Business Administration from Suffolk University in 2004. Mr. Mahoney began his career
teaching Physical Science with Arlington Public Schools and Anatomy and Physiology with
Concord Public Schools. His career continued to grow as he accepted a Science Department Head position with Littleton Public Schools where he remained in that role for 5
years. He knew his next calling was in administration where he move into the position of
Assistant Principal for the Wilmington Public Schools in 2010. Mr. Mahoney is described
as a person of character, integrity and a dedicated leader who realizes the importance to
connect with all stakeholders.
Paula Conis
Assistant Principal
Ms. Conis obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Brandeis University and Master in Education from BU. She also completed a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Educational
Leadership from Salem State in 2012. Ms. Conis began her career with the Melrose Public
Schools as Special Needs teacher and moved on as an English teacher for 7 years. Ms. Conis
was ready to pursue an administrative opportunity when she accepted an Assistant High School
Principal position with Norfolk County Agricultural High School in 2012. Ms. Conis has been
described as a gifted teacher, genuine leader and dedicated to both students and staff.
Dr. Lisa Berard
Special Education Supervisor
Dr. Berard obtained her Bachelors of Science from Bridgewater State; Masters of Arts
from the School of Medicine and Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Leadership from
UMass Boston. Dr. Berard’s career began as a clinician with Riverside Community Care in
Newton. Her passion was always in education where she later explored the opportunity to
join the Weymouth Public Schools as the Team Chair/School Psychologist in 2009. Dr.
Berard is described as a natural leader and someone who is thoughtful, professional and
dedicated to her work.
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5
Fun in the
with Literacy!
Have some Literacy Fun this summer!

Find a series: One of the greatest motivators for young readers is find characters or a genre that they can really get into.
Try out some different series to see what your child may get
wrapped up in. Scholastic.com is a good resource for recommendations at your child’s age, grade level, or expressed interest.

Hit the beach: Bring a book everywhere you go. Tuck them
into the beach bag and after everyone has had a good dip in
the ocean and built the tallest sandcastle that you’ve ever
seen, pull out a good read and relax.

Make it a family event - read chapter books together or take
turns reading from a favorite picture book; each child could
select a favorite or two and share it as a family.

Be a role model: Go ahead, take some time for yourself and
pick up a good book. There’s no better excuse than to be a
good role model! Kids are far more likely to read if it is seen
as a valued pastime by their parents.

Read it, Make it!: There are all kinds of great activities your
little one can do after reading a good book - make puppets of
the characters, create masks, design a game/gameboard to
play, fashion a diorama, develop an ad for the book, etc.

Be Dramatic: Do you have a future screenwriter in your
midst? Choose a favorite book or story and turn it into a
play or movie - set the stage, write the scripts, audition the
roles, and put on the show!

Write about it: Give your child a notebook, a pencil or pen,
and some coloring tools. Encourage her or him to write
about their favorite part of the book or to write their own
version of the story.

Winchester Reading Rocks: Has your 4th or 5th grader seen
the list yet? He or she can set their own personal challenge
to read all 25 of the selected books on this list.

Go to the library: Our own Winchester Public Library has so
many great book choices - and kids (ages 4-11) can participate in the summer reading program.

Talk about it: Read a book with your child(ren) and
ask questions to get them more interested: “Why
do you think the author wrote the ending like this?”
“What do you think the character is thinking when
this is happening?” “If this were a series, what could
happen in the next book?” “Why is the setting important in this story?”

Find the movie on a rainy day: Is there a movie version of a book that you are reading? Or is there a
book version of a favorite movie? Make the connection and encourage your child to read the book and
then watch the movie together to compare.

Put it on the agenda: Make a dedicated time each
day for reading time. Some teachers have a D.E.A.R.
time in the classroom (Drop Everything And Read)
that you could put into place at home. Just 20
minutes a day will keep a good habit going.

Bookworm Wednesday: Did you know that Showcase Cinema in Woburn has a program on Wednesdays through the summer to promote summer reading? Each child receives free admission to the selected movie when they bring a book report (they have
a one-page template on their website). There’s
some incentive!

For the littles that are working on their letters:
Point out letters when you see them, Play I-Spy with
sounds (I spy with my little eye, something that
starts with “T” or /t/); draw letters in the sand - you
start and let your child finish the letter; get out the
modeling dough and play Make-this-Letter - “This
letter has a big line down and then three little
lines.”; relive your childhood with the “A My Name
is…” song - “A, my name is Alice and my friend’s
name is Abby. We come from Alabama and we sell
Aluminum.”; play the “I’m Going on a Picnic” game “I’m going on a picnic and I am bringing Apples… I
am going on a picnic and I am bringing Apples and
Bananas… I am going on a picnic and I am bringing
Apples, Bananas, and Crackers…” and so on.
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R. A.D.
(Rape, Aggressive, Defense)
What is the R.A.D. System?
The R.A.D. System of defense provides students with the knowledge to make an educated decision
about resistance, on the premise that a spontaneous violent attack will stimulate a natural desire to
resist on the part of the victim.
The program is taught by Police Officers, Physical Education Teachers who are trained and certified
R.A.D. instructors. They will educate women about the “Fight or Flight” response.
Additionally, as part of the comprehensive program the students are provided with a copy of the
R.A.D. reference manual. This manual outlines the entire physical defense program for review and
continuous personal growth.
R. A. D (rape, aggressive defense) was offered to graduating senior girls last week to prepare our
students. We will continue to share updates on the program as we move forward.
“It takes courage to
grow up and become who
ADDICTION WITH DR. RUTH POTEE
you really are”.

E. E. Cummings, Poet
Addiction expert Dr. Ruth Potee says that just like diabetes,
addiction is a disease, plain and simple, and should be treated as
such.
Please join us on September 15th
Dr. Ruth Potee presentation, WHS Auditorium
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Central Office Newsletter
Winchester Public Schools
Phone: 781-721-7000
Central Office
Fax: 781-721-0016
40 Samoset Road
www.winchesterps.org
Winchester, MA 01890
Keep in touch!
Central Office Directory
Superintendent’s Office
781-721-7004
Follow us on Twitter!
Assistant Superintendent's
Office
781-721-7006
Business Office
781-721-7001 (Payroll)
781-721-7002 (AP)
Human Resources
781-721-7003
Special Education
781-721-7005
Technology
781-721-7007
Superintendent:
@JudithEvans1
Human Resources:
@winpubHR
Assistant Superintendent
@Asstsuptwin
Technology
@WPSTechDept
“Watermelon is summer’s most popular vegetable. It is part of the
cucumber, pumpkin, and squash family. The average American eats
15 pounds of watermelon a year and these juicy favorites are 92
percent water.”