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Schools

What's New at the Acton Schools for 2012-2013?

Acton's students are adjusting to changes that include a new advisory program at the high school, stricter nutritional guidelines in all the lunchrooms, and several staffing shifts.

Last week, students in all five of Acton’s elementary schools, the junior high and senior high donned backpacks and took their places in their respective classrooms.

All students were subject to a few changes that will be in effect this school year:

  • Surveillance cameras on the buses.  In sum, 30 new buses were leased for a five-year term. They are all equipped with videotaping capability.
  • The Food Services Department, in compliance with federal regulations, has made changes. Menus now include a wider variety of fruits and vegetables. Juice is no longer available every day. Students are now required to choose a fruit or vegetable as part of their lunches. Lastly, the food services staff, under Director Kirsten Nelson’s leadership, has designed meals that adhere to standards that dictate a daily minimum and weekly maximum of protein and grains.

At the high school level, the following changes have occurred:

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  • Implementation of an Advisory Program. Every student has been assigned to an advisory group led by a teacher or staff member. The groups, made up of same-grade peers, meet twice every six day cycle.  "The goal,” said Principal Alixe Callen, “is to personalize the school and provide every student with a little more support.” Dr. Callen, who meets with her own group of students, is “delighted” that the program has begun.
  • Addition of Two English Teachers. Traditionally, ABRHS English teachers have spent a great deal of time reviewing students’ work; there are typically 25+ students in a section, all being provided time-consuming, detailed feedback on their written work.  The addition of two staff members reduces the number of students assigned to each teacher. 
  • Hiring of and Additional Counselor.  After New England Association of Schools and Colleges representatives' most recent visit to ABRHS, recommendations were made that the caseloads of the school’s counselors be reduced. This year, an additional counselor was added to the staff, bringing the average total of assigned students to 219 from 247.

At RJ Grey, several adjustments have been made to meet the needs of 7th and 8th grade students:

 

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  • The half-team has been eliminated.
  • There are now two academic support centers - one for each grade. In previous years, there was one ASC that serviced both grades.  Before school began, the two ASCs held an open house for families of students who participate in the ASC to introduce them to the new structure.  
  • The library is being re-designed.  When completed, said Principal Andrew Shen, “We will have incorporated a computer lab area, new shelving and new seating.  The updated design will emphasize a more efficient use of space and create a more open-air feel to the area.”
  • Jim Marcotte has joined the RJ Grey administrative team. Prior to coming on board at RJ Grey, Jim was a four-year assistant principal and a Spanish teacher at the high school.
  • A new recycling and waste program in the cafeteria has begun. With the help of Kate Crosby and members of the high school's Green Team,  the nearly 1,000 junior high students will look to cut down on waste and promote awareness of environmentally friendly practices.

 

  • Email is being converted to the District's new platform, AB Schools. This will eventually include providing each student at RJ Grey with an AB Schools email account (restricted to sending and receiving messages from other AB Schools accounts) to facilitate more utilization of technology within classrooms.

Acton Public Schools five elementary schools have seen some changes as well:

  • The addition of a .4 FTE English Language Learners Teacher.
  • Adding  Specialists. Moving art, music, and physical education from four days per week at each school to five days per week at each school has resulted in hiring a physical education teacher at Douglas, a music teacher at McCarthy-Towne and increasing the hours of two part-time art teachers.
  • Critical Learning Communities implemented at Douglas. The staff of Douglas has embarked on a new professional practice. Each Wednesday, teams of teachers meet together to improve their practice through collaborative learning.  During these meetings teachers use protocols (strategies or formal structures) for examining student work or teacher work, brought to the group by one of its members. Group members also support each other and improve their teaching by giving and receiving feedback, by questioning each other and themselves, by reflecting on their work or their students' work, by addressing dilemmas, by collaborating across disciplines, by confronting assumptions, mindsets, and  expectations.

"The goal," said Principal Chris Whitbeck, “is to improve our teaching practice and therefore improve student learning.”

  • Construction of an Outdoor Basketball Court/Paved Play Area at Conant. “This allows us to use the old paved area for additional parking, which was in very short supply, and gives the children a much nicer area on which to play,” said Principal Damian Sugrue.

 

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