As Old Rochester Regional School District Superintendent Doug White and Assistant Superintendent Elsie Frangos make their rounds through the Tri-Town local school committees, their message is one of encouragement and progress as all schools embrace the newest version of standards testing: Next-Gen MCAS.

After two years of working with another testing protocol known as PARCC, the state returned to the MCAS model; that is, an updated model that emphasizes math, science and English Language Arts to a higher level.

White said that while MCAS testing is primarily performed through computer-based technologies, some students will still be using ‘paper and pencils’ pending a complete roll-out. He said that by spring 2018 all aspects of the program would be completed using computers. White touched on the test materials themselves before asking Frangos to elaborate.

Frangos said MCAS 2.0 was a “more rigorous recalibrated test” that distinguishes itself by focusing on “real world applications” in math, science, and ELA. She said the updated test and associated scoring methodology would establish students’ ultimate readiness for either college or success in the workplace.

Parents will receive letters regarding changes that may have an impact on students’ scores, reiterating several times the “rigorous” nature of the testing.

Frangos said students would either be “crossing over the river,” of that 500 point midpoint in scoring, or that students, teachers, and parents would work together to ensure students could do so.

“Parents may find that students were close but not quite there,” Frangos stated when discussing the scoring rubric of the tests. She said, “Five hundred points is the middle,” but added that a number of students will most likely score just below that mark.

“There will be help for students and teachers to help them reach the goals,” Frangos assured the committee members.

Frangos congratulated Mattapoisett local schools saying, “Mattapoisett won the Pentathlon.” She said, “The hard work of the students and teachers, as well as administrators on implementing state-of-the-art curriculums all leads to incredible success.” MCAS scores will be mailed to parents beginning November 1.

On the theme of students successfully accomplishing course work, White said that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has now adopted the Obama Administration’s tenets of the “Every Student Succeeds Act” that was rolled out in 2015 replacing No Child Left Behind that had debuted during the Bush years. He said ESSA would establish “levels of accountability,” while “supporting students where they are and building on those skills.”

Frangos shared that the five-year strategic plan that will begin in January 2018 will focus on social and emotional issues, looking at how the schools support each student’s needs and development, as well as celebrating diversity.

Mattapoisett schools’ Principal Rose Bowman said the recently held Title I Breakfast facilitated by educators Margaret DeMello and Linda Arurui had been a great success. She also discussed the “incredible” turn out and response from parents during the parent-teacher conferences that were held. She said there were discussions around the new standards-based reporting system and that report cards would be going out on December 6.

A Literacy Night with pizza and beverages is planned for November 8 that will include a book fair at the two schools, Bowman said, and on November 10 at 11:00 am in the Old Hammondtown auditorium, the Veteran’s Day Celebration will be held with music students from OHS performing.

Mattapoisett School Committee Chairman Rachel Westgate said that the Tri-Town Education Foundation would be receiving renewed focus with an unveiling of a new logo for the Lighthouse Foundation and slogan “Lighting the way for education…” She said that students would be taking home information on the grant-based program at Thanksgiving time and that she hoped community members would use this program during the holidays as a way to honor family and friends through a donation.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett School Committee is scheduled for December 11 at 6:30 pm in the Center School cafeteria.

Mattapoisett School Committee

By Marilou Newell

Current ninth and tenth graders at Old Rochester Regional High School will be the first to experience the school’s implementation of the R.A.D. program, a self defense course that will begin the week after the November Thanksgiving break.

The R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense) Systems of Self Defense offer different approaches for females and males, so both sexes at ORR will access the program through respective classes dedicated to the different forms of self-defense particular to each gender.

Quoting Susan B. Anthony, Assistant Superintendent Elise Frangos, a strong advocate of the program and the one who applied for the first grant to fund it at ORR said, “A woman must not depend on the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself.”

R.A.D. was founded by Lawrence Nadeau, said Frangos, “And he thought that if his grandma could do it, he would include it in the program.”

Frangos touted the program’s support by providing people with realistic self-defense tactics and techniques, an awareness of the body, “…as well as how to work with one’s adrenaline, employing techniques that can prevent harm and irreparable damage to one’s psychology.”

Frangos said her own son took the course before heading to college, “and he learned important de-escalation techniques, as well as physical defense,” she said.

Offering R.A.D. to the students, said Frangos, is another way the school district can prepare students along the lines of career and college readiness beyond academics.

Citing statistics from the Department of Justice and the FBI, one in three women will be sexually abused in her life; one in four will be sexually assaulted before the age of 18. A sexual assault occurs every two minutes in the United States, said Frangos.

Physical education teachers Nancy Cowen and Christopher Cabe gave the Old Rochester Regional School Committee a comprehensive overview of the new program on October 25 before Frangos asked the School Committee to adopt the curriculum.

R.A.D., said Cabe, is the largest most nationally recognized self-defense program in the country, providing instruction in prevention and risk reduction, with strategies and realistic and dynamic hands on training.

“This program will empower students and give them the skills necessary to defend themselves while at college or in situations where they may be vulnerable,” Cabe said.

The teachers both received 30-plus hours of training, along with sensitivity training when it comes to teaching the class to students who may already have been affected by violence.

“What they taught us was invaluable,” said Cabe. “It hits home when they put you through that simulation…”

The school, in addition to training, received one R.A.D. padded aggressor suit, ten student protection suits, and pads of different sizes to take the blows of the practice punches and kicks.

“Because we want to see that aggressive fostering,” said Cowen. “We want to see them punch as hard as they can.

The Mattapoisett Police Department attempted to institute the program last year, and they donated some additional items such as extra pads and four more student suits. The Rochester Police Department has also pledged volunteers they have trained in R.A.D.

Once the program is piloted, the school will attempt to expand the training to include refresher courses for juniors and seniors before the graduate, possibly even offering it as an elective.

Cowen and Cabe gave a little demonstration of some of the moves for the School Committee and described some of the scenarios for which students are prepared.

“It’s very beneficial to all the students out there,” said Cabe. “[It’s a] tremendous program.”

Student Jo Caynon told the committee that although she has extensive experience in martial arts, this program has still helped prepare her for possible future violent encounters.

“What R.A.D. does is get you the feeling of punching someone,” Caynon said. “You don’t know how hard you’re going to have to punch or kick to hurt somebody or to get away.”

School Committee member Joe Pires said, “I completely applaud it and I’m a major advocate of it.”

The School Committee approved the implementation of the program, but will review the program’s progress during its June meeting and then vote on whether to permanently adopt the curriculum.

The next meeting of the Old Rochester Regional School Committee is scheduled for December 6 at 6:30 pm in the ORRJHS media room.

Old Rochester Regional School Committee

By Jean Perry