One of the things Raymond teachers are very grateful about (besides all the fabulous students and wonderful families!) is the amount of technology in our schools. Nearly all of our classrooms have a Smartboard (more about that later); all schools have a computer lab; and we have portable carts of ipads and laptops that teachers may sign out for classroom use.
First a little bit about technology in schools. We are way past the point where anyone can say "this is just a fad". Technology is around us wherever we go: everything from our cars to televisions to scoring at the bowling alley! (I remember when the bowling alley opened in Raymond and one of my former students was hired there. I asked him how he was able to get this job that all the high school kids wanted. He said it was because he was "good with computers".) So, it is important that we help our students with those things they might not learn on their own: responsible use of computers and the internet, internet safety, legitimate research sites, and creating word documents with correct grammar and spelling. As for the classroom, using technology often enhances a lesson and engages our students.
If you don't know about Smartboards, these are not the old blackboards with chalk dust flying everywhere (or even the newer whiteboards with markers). These boards are interactive and can be used for any subject matter. If it is on the internet (and what isn't?) or is a particular lesson made by a teacher, it can be projected on the Smartboard. I have seen students doing math lessons, manipulating letters to make words, watching history in action (both recreations and actual), and visiting a foreign country on a "field trip". I have also witnessed a tornado, seen microscopic organisms, and watched a youtube video made by one of our own teachers! I have also seen students do their own presentations on a Smartboard. The possibilities are only limited by one's imagination. We are grateful to the citizens of Raymond for their continued support of technology in our schools- the students of Raymond are certainly the better for this initiative.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Jump Start
This week we have 49 freshman attending Jump Start- a wonderful opportunity for these students to meet some staff members, learn how to navigate the high school and connect with friends. The staff has put together a exciting agenda for the three says that these students are with us. I greeted the students when they arrived on Tuesday (and recognized most of the them from the middle school) and heard some of the reasons they are attending this week: "To find my way around the school"; To get some ideas about my future" and, of course, "Because my mother made me!"
The students are learning about high school in a fun way that should take some of the anxiety out of their first days. They are finding out where everything is located at the school by taking part in a scavenger hunt; are exploring how to set goals; will be taking a field trip to "College Camp"; and are even getting lessons in such things as note-taking. Probably one of the most important and invaluable activities the students will take part in is meeting with upperclassmen. The sophomores, juniors and seniors will answer questions for the students that will, hopefully, help them adjust to life at high school and provide them with some insights.
This is just one of the transition plans in place at our schools to help with the change from one building to another. We have move-up day for the 4th grade to the middle school; parent night at the middle and high schools; have our 4th grade teachers meet with students at the elementary school; and, at all levels, guidance counselors meet with teachers, parents and students. It is so important that our students are ready for new challenges and are prepared for the changes from one school to another.
If you have a student in the 8th grade this year, keep in mind our Jump Start program. Students who have attended in the past all tell me this was a smart choice and made the opening days of school so much easier.
A big "thank-you" to the staff members who planned the activities and set up this terrific opportunity for our students: Bill Hayes, Randy Lacasse, Kim Moyer, Liz Koch, Tom Koch, Clare Pare, and Ann Roman.
The students are learning about high school in a fun way that should take some of the anxiety out of their first days. They are finding out where everything is located at the school by taking part in a scavenger hunt; are exploring how to set goals; will be taking a field trip to "College Camp"; and are even getting lessons in such things as note-taking. Probably one of the most important and invaluable activities the students will take part in is meeting with upperclassmen. The sophomores, juniors and seniors will answer questions for the students that will, hopefully, help them adjust to life at high school and provide them with some insights.
This is just one of the transition plans in place at our schools to help with the change from one building to another. We have move-up day for the 4th grade to the middle school; parent night at the middle and high schools; have our 4th grade teachers meet with students at the elementary school; and, at all levels, guidance counselors meet with teachers, parents and students. It is so important that our students are ready for new challenges and are prepared for the changes from one school to another.
If you have a student in the 8th grade this year, keep in mind our Jump Start program. Students who have attended in the past all tell me this was a smart choice and made the opening days of school so much easier.
A big "thank-you" to the staff members who planned the activities and set up this terrific opportunity for our students: Bill Hayes, Randy Lacasse, Kim Moyer, Liz Koch, Tom Koch, Clare Pare, and Ann Roman.
Monday, July 27, 2015
Summer Letter to Raymond Families
July, 2015
Dear Raymond Families,
We have been busy preparing for the 2015-2016 school year and are eager to see all of our students back at school! The buildings are clean and polished thanks to our custodial staff, and our teachers are excited to meet their new students.
One important back-to-school ritual has always been filling out piles of paper- and if you have more than one child in the District, it took considerable time to do this. We have made this process so much easier for you because it is all on-line! Please watch for a letter that includes a brochure on how to fill out this important information for each of your children. Your information should already be filled in, but it must be updated every year.
In addition, by being part of the Parent Portal Information System, you have access to your child’s grades, homework assignments and test scores for each subject. Teachers update this academic information a minimum of every two weeks. You will find another brochure in the mailing with information on the Parent Portal along with the access codes for your students. You must have these access codes to proceed with Parent Portal and each one is individualized. It is also possible to contact teachers with your concerns using the Parent Portal. If you have any questions, there is a PowerSchool help page on the district website www.sau33.com in addition to the brochure.
We are also concerned that the economy has not recovered for everyone. This is to remind eligible families to fill out the application forms for free and reduced lunches that are included in the letter you will receive. This should be done as soon as possible. Please do not hesitate to call our Food Service Director, Judy DiNatale, at 895-6616 ext. 2345 with any questions you might have. We want every one of our eligible families to take part in this important program. All information is kept confidential and goes only to our food service director. It is important for you to know how the lunch system works: every student is assigned a lunch number and these numbers do not indicate which students are receiving a free or reduced lunch. This program is a small way in which your schools can help.
The elementary school welcomes two new administrators: Bryan Belanger, Principal comes to us from Seabrook where he was an Assistant Principal for 5 years and Laura Yacek, our new Assistant Principal, was the Curriculum Coordinator in Brentwood. At Raymond High School we welcome Benjamin Morse as our new Assistant Principal. Mr. Morse was a science teacher at Timberlane High School.
We are excited about the new school year and expect every student to have a rewarding and worthwhile experience. If you have any questions, you are invited to call your child’s school at (603) 895-3117 (elementary school); (603) 895-3394 (middle school) and (603) 895-6616 (high school). We believe that communication between school and home is essential to student success and welcome all of your questions, concerns and comments.
For Your Students,
Mrs. Ellen Small
Superintendent
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Elementary School Plans
The Raymond School Board at their July 8th Board meeting voted to continue with a Lamprey River Elementary School Building Committee to determine the best means of solving some of the space issues at the elementary school. This is wonderful news for our elementary school students! A preliminary plan, as determined by the Lamprey River Elementary School Building Committee who completed their work in June, calls for a 12 class room addition and a gymnasium addition that will allow us to remove all the portables currently at the elementary school- both detached and attached.
The attached portables are ones that are owned by the District and are in poor shape. In spite of all the improvements and upkeep done over the years, they still need such things as new windows and doors. The detached portables are the ones that can be seen from the front parking lot. These six classrooms are rented by the District at a cost of $36,000 per year. Besides needing constant work, being in these portables also require students to go outside whenever they need to use the restrooms, see the nurse, attend a unified arts class, are called to the office, go to lunch, see a counselor, use the library, etc. etc. This is not a good situation for our students! All of these trips are necessary no matter what the weather is outside.
Here's where we are in the process. The Lamprey River Elementary School Building Committee was established in May and held regular meetings with the purpose of presenting their findings to the School Board at a meeting in July. The Committee was chaired by Tina Thomas with Erin Brewitt as Vice-Chair and Sandy Ellis as Secretary. Committee members included Todd Ledoux, Facilities Director; Ron Brickett, Business Administrator; Ellen Small, Superintendent; John Harmon, School Board member; and members of the community and parents: Amy Faust, Dean Plender, and Sean Ahearn. Meetings were held throughout May and June while the committee examined past information about the current buildings, recommendations from previous Building Committees, as well as, a needs assessment.
This committee came to a consensus that an addition to replace the portables and the addition of a gym would be the best plan for the elementary school while keeping in mind the taxpayers ability to pay. (Students currently have physical education classes in their classrooms when other students are having lunch in the cafeteria.) Part of this plan will include flood proofing the current elementary building. We have estimated the cost of the additions and improvements to be $7,169,983- remember this is only an estimate. This amount is about what we would have been required to pay if we had built a new building and had received building aide from the state of NH. It appears that school districts will no longer be able to count on building aide from the state.
We are putting together a new Building Committee to continue this work and have some openings. The committee will determine a meeting schedule that will begin in August as we go forward with next steps, provide citizens with information, and, hopefully, present a proposal to the voters in March 2016. If you are interested in joining this committee, please send a letter of intent by 3:00 PM July 29 to Jennifer Gillespie at the SAU office or email your request to her at: j.gillespie@sau33.com
The School Board will choose new members of the Lamprey River Elementary School Building Committee and approve the Charge for their work at the July 29 meeting. I look forward to working with the citizens of Raymond on this important work.
The attached portables are ones that are owned by the District and are in poor shape. In spite of all the improvements and upkeep done over the years, they still need such things as new windows and doors. The detached portables are the ones that can be seen from the front parking lot. These six classrooms are rented by the District at a cost of $36,000 per year. Besides needing constant work, being in these portables also require students to go outside whenever they need to use the restrooms, see the nurse, attend a unified arts class, are called to the office, go to lunch, see a counselor, use the library, etc. etc. This is not a good situation for our students! All of these trips are necessary no matter what the weather is outside.
Here's where we are in the process. The Lamprey River Elementary School Building Committee was established in May and held regular meetings with the purpose of presenting their findings to the School Board at a meeting in July. The Committee was chaired by Tina Thomas with Erin Brewitt as Vice-Chair and Sandy Ellis as Secretary. Committee members included Todd Ledoux, Facilities Director; Ron Brickett, Business Administrator; Ellen Small, Superintendent; John Harmon, School Board member; and members of the community and parents: Amy Faust, Dean Plender, and Sean Ahearn. Meetings were held throughout May and June while the committee examined past information about the current buildings, recommendations from previous Building Committees, as well as, a needs assessment.
This committee came to a consensus that an addition to replace the portables and the addition of a gym would be the best plan for the elementary school while keeping in mind the taxpayers ability to pay. (Students currently have physical education classes in their classrooms when other students are having lunch in the cafeteria.) Part of this plan will include flood proofing the current elementary building. We have estimated the cost of the additions and improvements to be $7,169,983- remember this is only an estimate. This amount is about what we would have been required to pay if we had built a new building and had received building aide from the state of NH. It appears that school districts will no longer be able to count on building aide from the state.
We are putting together a new Building Committee to continue this work and have some openings. The committee will determine a meeting schedule that will begin in August as we go forward with next steps, provide citizens with information, and, hopefully, present a proposal to the voters in March 2016. If you are interested in joining this committee, please send a letter of intent by 3:00 PM July 29 to Jennifer Gillespie at the SAU office or email your request to her at: j.gillespie@sau33.com
The School Board will choose new members of the Lamprey River Elementary School Building Committee and approve the Charge for their work at the July 29 meeting. I look forward to working with the citizens of Raymond on this important work.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
What's Happening at School These Days
I'd like to keep everyone updated on our summer projects and the happenings at each of the schools. So far, cleaning is progressing as usual with lockers and desks scrubbed; walls being washed; stairways cleaned; painting; and the washing and waxing of floors. Our computers (over 1,000 of them!) are all being re-imaged. Of course, this is just a small portion of what is being done to make our buildings shine and to prepare for the opening of school.
At the same time, our summer programs are up and running. I toured the middle school that has three
Extended School Year programs, a preschool program, summer school, the 21st Century LEAP program, and both the elementary and middle
recreation programs-these are all underway. I visited with the students in
several of these programs and was very pleased with what I saw. The preschool students are very eager to
please and were working on their names- coloring them and identifying the
letters. They were adorable as they kept asking me- do you like this one? Do you like this one? I was exhausted when I left their room! This week the Raymond Roundtables program begins and
we have a total of 37 students
signed up for the Roundtables: there will be three sections of English and one
math class. This wonderful enrichment program is run in partnership with Phillips Exeter Academy.
At the elementary school, our new Principal, Bryan Belanger is settling in with the help of our new Assistant Principal, Laura Yacek. This week a new cafeteria floor is being installed and it looks fabulous. If you had seen the previous floor, it was long overdue for repairs with broken, taped together tiles. With our space limitations at the elementary school, this year we are making some changes to create a conference room and a slightly larger nurse's office. We also needed another 3rd grade classroom this year and had to move all the special education case managers together in one room to make room for this additional class. There will be one 3rd grade housed in the portables.
All in all, everything is going well within our schools as we prepare for another school year. Todd Ledoux and his crew are doing a wonderful job to keep our schools clean and safe, as well as, to protect and ensure the longevity of these resources. Again, if you have any questions or concerns, I can be reached at the SAU offices at 895-4299.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Summer Time
One would think that things slow down here in the summer- this could not be further from the truth! Everything from new hires, to last year's business to planning for the new school year are being worked on throughout the District. We are currently finishing up plans for summer school and our Raymond Roundtables programs; ready to open for Extended School Year students; coordinating plans with the Recreation Department, as well as, the 21st Century Program; and beginning the intensive cleaning and maintenance routines. In addition, we have audits that need to be completed and end of the year budgeting reports. Whew!
One thing that is very different this year is the location of our summer activities for students. All of the programs for middle and elementary students (including recreation) are taking place at the middle school. We have maintenance work (new heat exchangers and new cafeteria flooring, as examples) that would have made it unwise to have students and adults in the building. Of course, this also means that the middle school is truly "hopping" this summer but, thanks to cooperation from all involved, we anticipate successful programs throughout.
Another change that parents will notice is that all doors to the schools are locked. We have been aware that we needed to extend our safety initiatives to the summer programming. In the past, visitors and parents alike could easily access the doors to the schools during the summer months. This year, they are all locked to ensure the safety of our students and staff. Todd Ledoux, our Facilities Director and Chair of the Safety Committee, has successfully put this plan in place.
The SAU offices are open throughout the summer and our summer hours are 7:00 AM-3:00PM if you have any questions or concerns. You may also call us at 895-4299. Enjoy this time as a family, I will continue to update everyone as work progresses and as our plans are completed. I look forward to working with our families, students and staff for the 2015-2016 school year.
One thing that is very different this year is the location of our summer activities for students. All of the programs for middle and elementary students (including recreation) are taking place at the middle school. We have maintenance work (new heat exchangers and new cafeteria flooring, as examples) that would have made it unwise to have students and adults in the building. Of course, this also means that the middle school is truly "hopping" this summer but, thanks to cooperation from all involved, we anticipate successful programs throughout.
Another change that parents will notice is that all doors to the schools are locked. We have been aware that we needed to extend our safety initiatives to the summer programming. In the past, visitors and parents alike could easily access the doors to the schools during the summer months. This year, they are all locked to ensure the safety of our students and staff. Todd Ledoux, our Facilities Director and Chair of the Safety Committee, has successfully put this plan in place.
The SAU offices are open throughout the summer and our summer hours are 7:00 AM-3:00PM if you have any questions or concerns. You may also call us at 895-4299. Enjoy this time as a family, I will continue to update everyone as work progresses and as our plans are completed. I look forward to working with our families, students and staff for the 2015-2016 school year.
Friday, June 19, 2015
End of the Year Reflections
As this is the last week of school, I want everyone to know how much I enjoyed working with the staff and students of the Raymond School District again this year. What fun it is to go into a class where students are engaged, collaborating, and finding out new things! I saw students:
- learning to write
- "publishing" a book of information on animals
- creating vehicles to drop eggs from the balcony
- doing hands- on math to learn about algebra topics
- writing stories in Spanish
- creating beautiful pictures using dots
- building a gorgeous Ram statue
- dissecting squid
- creating geography powerpoints
- making sugar cube houses to learn math concepts
- taking part in career fairs
- using Smartboards
- playing in wonderful, uplifting concerts
- drawing cartoons in art class
- studying, really studying, poetry
- becoming Scholar Athletes
- fundraising for excellent causes
- taking part in a "Poetry Out-loud Competition"
- using algebra tiles
- attending Project Safeguard
- taking part in "Operation Clean-Up"
- learning to sew
- cooking
- making robots
- winning Scholastic Art competitions
- collaborating
- earning awards for academic excellence
- singing
- creating fabulous projects based on stories about war
- building birdhouses
- playing badminton
- winning races
- learning to speak French
- taking on-line courses