Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Thank you!
Thank you for the many kind words and thoughts you have sent my way. I am certain things will go well and I will be back in no time. Remember to contact either Jessica or Mary in the office if you have any questions that your teacher is unable to answer. They will redirect your inquiry to the person who can best answer your question.
I will see you once those April showers have brought May flowers! (assuming we ever get out of winter!!)Thank you again, I look forward to hearing about all the wonderful things your children have accomplished over the next eight weeks!
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Can't wait to see you at Parent Teacher Conferences!
November is always such a busy, exciting month. In addition to heralding the start of a season of festivities and holidays for many families, November is also the time we pause to reflect on the progress each child here at Goodwin is making and share that good news with parents. Progress reports will be going home on Friday, November 22 and conferences begin next week.
Please review your child's progress report before conferences and jot down any questions you might have. Pay particular attention to the effort and behavior grades. These are areas that are within each child's control and can make all the difference in how well your child does academically. Talk with your child about the importance of hard work and the need to do their very best. Every child here at Goodwin should strive for checks and check plusses in all areas of behavior and effort.
Sometimes, a child is disappointed in a grade, particularly if the subject area is challenging for them. We have a saying here at Goodwin that we invite you to borrow when talking about grades. When a child says, " I'm not good at .... (fill in math, p.e., writing, art, etc...) We respond, "You're not good at that YET!" We believe that every child can succeed when their personal effort and the right interventions and instruction by our Goodwin team are coupled with a supportive home.
The vast majority of the time, progress reports are a time to CELEBRATE. Talk with your child about how proud you are of their hard work and help them see the connection between how hard they work and their actual achievement.
Goodwin teachers are excited to talk with you about your child's successes and areas for growth. We want to hear about any concerns or questions you have as well. If the conference does not give enough time for all of your questions to be answered (these tight schedules sometimes make it hard), please talk to your child's teacher about ways you can stay in touch and follow up. The Goodwin staff wants to work with you to make this a fabulous experience for your child!
Teachers and staff who are not classroom teachers are also available for conferences. If you would like to meet with me, the school nurse, the school psychologist, or any of the related arts teachers, send an email to gnoffice@mansfieldct.org and we will be sure to contact you to set up an appointment.
See you next week!
Friday, September 14, 2012
We've had a great start!
This week I asked teachers to describe their classes in one word. Here's a sampling of responses: Enthusiastic! Wow! Wonderful! Busy! Energetic! Awesome! Special! Sponges! and, in true Goodwin Faculty style,.... Short!
We have all been talking about just how quickly chidren adjusted to their new classrooms and schedules. We have a fabulous group of students here. They are ready to learn and do their very best and we are excited to help them do just that!
It was great to see so many of you at Open House. The school was packed! Open House is the first of many family events we have here at Goodwin. These events help us stay connected as a community and provide families with the opportunity to meet one another in a relaxing way. Our next big event will be the International Potluck Dinner. Bring a favorite dish from your country of origin to share and enjoy this fabulous buffet together. International Potluck Dinner is on October 4th.
Enjoy this beautiful weekend!
Monday, February 27, 2012
School Building Project
I know that the letter sent out from the Town Council has been generating a lot of discussion this weekend! As someone who has been watching the Building Committee, the Board of Education and the Town Council work on this for the past 5 years, I've forgotten how many of you are just hearing about the project. Here's a little background. Hope it helps!
Under the direction of our last Superintendent, the Board of Education asked the Town Council to explore renovating and adding updated Media centers to each elementary school. A Building Committee was formed to explore that possibility. I started dreaming of a beautiful light filled media center ... I envisioned skylights and ample storage.... (silly me!)
As the exploration continued and cost estimates were generated, the Building Committee was informed that the State of Connecticut required the town to put those estimated costs up against the cost of building a brand new school. When this was done, it quickly became apparent that building one large elementary school and closing the three existing schools would be the most cost-effective option for the town. And so another year of exploration began.
This time, teams of teachers and parents were asked to visit large elementary schools and think about the potential for Mansfield. We saw many beautiful facilities and it was clear that resource allocation and costs were more efficient when schools were consolidated. It also became clear that one large school would change the "feel" of our programming. No matter how wonderful the facilities were, it took an awful lot of effort to maintain a family feel. That small family feel is something we are all very proud of in Mansfield and no one wanted to lose that.
Another round of cost estimates began and the Building Committee eventually recommended building a new school. The Board of Education then began to hold its own forums. After listening to parent input, The Board of Education asked the Building Committee to determine how much it would cost to build two brand new schools that would be closer in size to what we currently have. Eventually, five different building options were presented. (you can see these options on the town's website)
So began another year of exploration and community conversation. The option of renovating all schools remained a viable choice throughout the process. I stopped dreaming of light filled Media centers and instead put my energy into hoping and praying that a boiler wouldn't break down or that a water line wouldn't rupture. Roof leaks took priority. You see, Goodwin may be a great place to grow and learn but it's getting older - and as we age, maintenance takes on greater meaning!
Last year, after reviewing the work of the Building Committee and the recommendations of the Board of Education, Mansfield's Town Council decided to wait another year before bringing the matter to the voters. Late this fall, the Council took up discussions about the schools again. Cost estimates, revenue options, tax impact and the pros and cons of building versus renovating were debated in open session. After considerable discussion, the Council voted last week to bring forward to referendum a proposal to close all three elementary schools and build two new ones on existing sites. On March 5, the Council will present their recommendation to community members and then will hear public comment. On March 7, the Council will vote on the two sites for the new schools.
Parents are encouraged to attend the Town Council meeting on March 5 to learn more about the process and to offer input. If parents feel strongly about which of the sites should be considered for the new schools, the Council would like to hear from you. As an administrator, I can tell you that this has been an amazingly thorough and professional process. Your elected officials and the volunteers of the Building Committee have dedicated countless hours to this and I'm proud to work in a community that is so committed to quality education.
If the community does vote to build new schools, they would open in the fall of 2015. Our current kindergarteners would enter the new schools as fourth graders.
If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call or send along an email and I will do my best answer or refer you to someone who has the answer.
Under the direction of our last Superintendent, the Board of Education asked the Town Council to explore renovating and adding updated Media centers to each elementary school. A Building Committee was formed to explore that possibility. I started dreaming of a beautiful light filled media center ... I envisioned skylights and ample storage.... (silly me!)
As the exploration continued and cost estimates were generated, the Building Committee was informed that the State of Connecticut required the town to put those estimated costs up against the cost of building a brand new school. When this was done, it quickly became apparent that building one large elementary school and closing the three existing schools would be the most cost-effective option for the town. And so another year of exploration began.
This time, teams of teachers and parents were asked to visit large elementary schools and think about the potential for Mansfield. We saw many beautiful facilities and it was clear that resource allocation and costs were more efficient when schools were consolidated. It also became clear that one large school would change the "feel" of our programming. No matter how wonderful the facilities were, it took an awful lot of effort to maintain a family feel. That small family feel is something we are all very proud of in Mansfield and no one wanted to lose that.
Another round of cost estimates began and the Building Committee eventually recommended building a new school. The Board of Education then began to hold its own forums. After listening to parent input, The Board of Education asked the Building Committee to determine how much it would cost to build two brand new schools that would be closer in size to what we currently have. Eventually, five different building options were presented. (you can see these options on the town's website)
So began another year of exploration and community conversation. The option of renovating all schools remained a viable choice throughout the process. I stopped dreaming of light filled Media centers and instead put my energy into hoping and praying that a boiler wouldn't break down or that a water line wouldn't rupture. Roof leaks took priority. You see, Goodwin may be a great place to grow and learn but it's getting older - and as we age, maintenance takes on greater meaning!
Last year, after reviewing the work of the Building Committee and the recommendations of the Board of Education, Mansfield's Town Council decided to wait another year before bringing the matter to the voters. Late this fall, the Council took up discussions about the schools again. Cost estimates, revenue options, tax impact and the pros and cons of building versus renovating were debated in open session. After considerable discussion, the Council voted last week to bring forward to referendum a proposal to close all three elementary schools and build two new ones on existing sites. On March 5, the Council will present their recommendation to community members and then will hear public comment. On March 7, the Council will vote on the two sites for the new schools.
Parents are encouraged to attend the Town Council meeting on March 5 to learn more about the process and to offer input. If parents feel strongly about which of the sites should be considered for the new schools, the Council would like to hear from you. As an administrator, I can tell you that this has been an amazingly thorough and professional process. Your elected officials and the volunteers of the Building Committee have dedicated countless hours to this and I'm proud to work in a community that is so committed to quality education.
If the community does vote to build new schools, they would open in the fall of 2015. Our current kindergarteners would enter the new schools as fourth graders.
If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call or send along an email and I will do my best answer or refer you to someone who has the answer.
Friday, December 23, 2011
There's excitement in the air!
Ah... the day before the Christmas Break and there'e enough energy in the building to light the entire town of Mansfield! Whether they are waiting for Santa, lighting the menorah, or looking forward to a week away from studies, the children are perfectly joyful and exuberant. I love the privilidge of being with them this time of year. There is nothing like the sound of their giggles and laughter to get one in the spirit of the season.
I've noticed something else this year. There's a real sense of community among the children that is refreshing. This morning alone I celebrated with a fourth grade class in which every member of the class had a score of 90% or higher on a math posttest. They were so happy for each other!
During a hallway disagreement, one of our quieter young men became quite assertive when sticking up for a friend. He was adamant that the group was going to treat one another with respect! A little while later, second graders applauded enthusiastically for an older student who read her snowman poem aloud. The young lady looked at me and said, "This has made my day! I will be smiling all day!"
Talk about the spirit of the season!
You should be proud of the way your children are growing and maturing into such caring, kind students. We certainly are! I wish everyone a peaceful and joyous holiday season and look forward to seeing all of you back on January 3, 2012!
I've noticed something else this year. There's a real sense of community among the children that is refreshing. This morning alone I celebrated with a fourth grade class in which every member of the class had a score of 90% or higher on a math posttest. They were so happy for each other!
During a hallway disagreement, one of our quieter young men became quite assertive when sticking up for a friend. He was adamant that the group was going to treat one another with respect! A little while later, second graders applauded enthusiastically for an older student who read her snowman poem aloud. The young lady looked at me and said, "This has made my day! I will be smiling all day!"
Talk about the spirit of the season!
You should be proud of the way your children are growing and maturing into such caring, kind students. We certainly are! I wish everyone a peaceful and joyous holiday season and look forward to seeing all of you back on January 3, 2012!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Thanksgiving Feast
We just finished celebrating our annual Goodwin Thanksgiving Feast. Once again I am blown away by Anne Dumont's and Becky Dogget's ability to organize a full turkey feast for 250 people. Our big brothers from Sigma Chi joined us as did a great group of parent volunteers. Jessica Neumuth coordinated this fabulous volunteer effort. Thanks to them, the meal was served in no time and we all were able to enjoy one another's company.
At the beginning of each Feast, I ask children to talk about what they are grateful for. I am always so touched to hear their responses. The children spoke of being thankful for their families, their pets, their homes, the earth and mother nature, and the great meal we were about to eat. One young man, a new student to Goodwin, used his time at the microphone to say he was thankful to be in this school.
I'm also grateful to be at this school. Goodwin is a vibrant place with a terrific staff and amazing children and families. This year I'm also very grateful for electricity! As a member of Connecticut's 1% (the power just returned in Somers last Tuesday), I can't begin to tell you how thankful I am for dishwashers, washing machines, warm showers, and flushing toilets!
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
At the beginning of each Feast, I ask children to talk about what they are grateful for. I am always so touched to hear their responses. The children spoke of being thankful for their families, their pets, their homes, the earth and mother nature, and the great meal we were about to eat. One young man, a new student to Goodwin, used his time at the microphone to say he was thankful to be in this school.
I'm also grateful to be at this school. Goodwin is a vibrant place with a terrific staff and amazing children and families. This year I'm also very grateful for electricity! As a member of Connecticut's 1% (the power just returned in Somers last Tuesday), I can't begin to tell you how thankful I am for dishwashers, washing machines, warm showers, and flushing toilets!
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Monday, October 17, 2011
It only takes a little bit of time....
Did you know that Goodwin's Parent Teacher Organization is one of the oldest official PTOs in the state? PTOs serve a critical role in an elementary school. Because of these volunteers, we are able offer many wonderful student and family oriented programs that enrich the school lives of all of our children.
Often many of the same volunteers find themselves organizing and running events. If you haven't volunteered to help with any of our events, won't you please consider helping out this year? There are all types of jobs just waiting for the right volunteer.
Do you like to cook? Volunteer to bake for our bake sale or make lunch for the Staff appreciation week.
Do you like the outdoors? Volunteer for Goodwin's Fun Fair or the new Fall Harvest.
Can't come to school during the day? Your skills might be just what we need for publicity or prepping for an event.
When your children know that you are volunteering, they really understand that you are partners with their school. You don't need to make a big commitment - just one or two small steps a year. If every parent of our 220 students were to help out, think how vibrant this year could be! If you would like to give just a little bit of your time to continue to make Goodwin a great place to be, please consider joining us at our next PTO meeting at 6:30 on Wednesday, October 19. If you can't make the meeting, send me a note or email and I will forward it to the PTO. Hope to see you this Saturday at the Harvest!
Often many of the same volunteers find themselves organizing and running events. If you haven't volunteered to help with any of our events, won't you please consider helping out this year? There are all types of jobs just waiting for the right volunteer.
Do you like to cook? Volunteer to bake for our bake sale or make lunch for the Staff appreciation week.
Do you like the outdoors? Volunteer for Goodwin's Fun Fair or the new Fall Harvest.
Can't come to school during the day? Your skills might be just what we need for publicity or prepping for an event.
When your children know that you are volunteering, they really understand that you are partners with their school. You don't need to make a big commitment - just one or two small steps a year. If every parent of our 220 students were to help out, think how vibrant this year could be! If you would like to give just a little bit of your time to continue to make Goodwin a great place to be, please consider joining us at our next PTO meeting at 6:30 on Wednesday, October 19. If you can't make the meeting, send me a note or email and I will forward it to the PTO. Hope to see you this Saturday at the Harvest!
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