Principals Say Schools on Track for Improvement

Old Rochester Regional Junior High School Principal Kevin Brogioli and ORRHS Principal Michael Devoll gave a status update on their school improvement plans to the Old Rochester Regional School Committee on November 18, saying they are pleased overall with progress so far this school year.

Brogioli said the new student advisory program, although still a work in progress in some regards, is on track for success.

Beginning this school year, junior high students on Tuesdays and Thursdays in their homerooms “check-in” with their homeroom teacher advisors and work together towards what Brogioli said was the ultimate goal of the program: “To build teacher-to-student relationships and student-to-student relationships.”

Twice a week, students are greeted by their advisor and engaged in discussion over “the news of the day,” which Brogioli said could be a provocative statement of some sort or current event news in the community or beyond. On Thursdays, the students and their advisors engage in an activity that works within the framework of “getting to know you,” the current theme of the advisory program.

The period lasts 24 minutes, which gives the advisor time to spend two minutes with each student – the amount of time Brogioli said research has shown to be effective in building the teacher-student relationship.

“We realize it’s a work in progress and, depending on who you talk to, some students love it. Some students hate it … so we are working on getting the kinks out of it,” said Brogioli, later adding, “Some groups are coalescing very well right now, other groups because of the makeup of the kids or the comfort level of the staff member, they’re not there yet. It’s a work in progress.”

The advisory program addresses one of the school’s strategic goals, that of social/emotional development and support.

“We think it’s something that’s good for kids,” said Brogioli.

Principal Devoll said the high school’s strategies for meeting the needs of its students have been implemented, specifically, core values have been established, the two homework-free nights have been implemented, and a Gay/Straight Alliance club is now offered and has been expanded to include transgender students.

“I feel confident that we’ve done everything on this list,” Devoll said. “Done, doing, or on its way…”

As for the community relationship goal: “I cannot say the same here,” Devoll stated.

Some activities such as promoting homecoming week in the elementary schools were rather ambitious and fell by the wayside this year while focus was fixed on other priorities.

“But I think it’s a good idea,” said Devoll. He said he still hopes to start an art exhibit of elementary student work at the high school and to coordinate an inter-district K-12 science fair.

Devoll also said implementation of a new student tech help desk is imminent, with eight students already signed up to assist other students with technical problems and questions about their personal devices.

Also during the meeting, Director of Student Services Michael Nelson alerted the committee to an anticipated revision of the school district’s physical restraint policy, saying, “In a nutshell, they’re prohibiting certain types of restraints, revising and adding training requirements, and acknowledging increased reporting opportunities for the district.”

Superintendent Doug White announced the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education’s final vote to adopt a hybrid exam incorporating elements of the MCAS and the new PARCC high stakes tests in an 8-3 vote on November 17.

High school will continue to take the MCAS through 2019, and seventh and eighth grades will take the hybrid test, which will consist of MCAS-like questions chosen by the state in a PARCC testing format – via computer, and with less test-taking time. Students will take one exam only in ELA and Math, in one session.

The next meeting of the Old Rochester Regional School Committee is tentatively scheduled for December 9 at 6:00 pm in the ORR junior high media room.

By Jean Perry

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