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Dr. David Hopson |
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March 31, 2008 There are many positive activities happening throughout the district so I thought I’d update everyone on a potpourri of subjects this week. In terms of future planning, the school committee and teachers’ association has just adopted a 2008-2009 school calendar. This calendar can be found on the district’s website (www.grsd.org) and is a traditional calendar that includes both the February and April school vacations. The major change in this calendar is that teachers begin the year on the Thursday and Friday before Labor Day, which means that the students’ first day of school will be the Tuesday immediately following Labor Day. Given the weather this year and our continuing hope that we won’t miss another day of school, starting just two days earlier should ensure that we will not have to shorten the April vacation next year. The middle school had a very successful “Hoops for Hearts” event in their ongoing efforts to help the greater community. In addition, the 6th grade Playwright Program will be performing the spring one-act plays this Friday and Saturday (April 4th and 5th) beginning each evening at 7 PM. The theme this spring is “On the Other Hand . . . The Dilemma Plays.” These one act plays have been outstanding during past presentations and I expect no less this spring. The 8th grade is also preparing for their annual trek to Washington, D.C., an excellent field trip combining all of the positive aspects involved in experiential education. I’ve also had the opportunity over the past few weeks to attend some of the elementary awards assemblies. I have been impressed with the wide array of talent displayed by the various classes as well as the number of students qualifying for recognition. From enactments of fairytales, to square dancing and careers in the neighborhood, these class presentations have displayed cooperation, hard work, great abilities and a truly great dynamic between staff, students and the community. From kindergarten to 4th grade the level of poise, and the joy of performing, have been outstanding. As always, the high school has many activities both planned and ongoing. These include attending a professional presentation of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, made possible in part by the local arts councils, the beginning of the spring athletic season, and the culminating activities of the Class of 2008, including a senior class trip to Walt Disney World. While it’s hard to believe, the Class of 2008 graduates on June 6th, just two short months from now. I’ve also had the opportunity to attend a luncheon at Holyoke Community College where many of our graduates continue to enroll and succeed. As in past years, the statistics put together by HCC continue to show that our graduates require less remedial coursework than the average graduate and complete courses and stay in school at rates equal to all high school graduates. The luncheon is put on by the culinary arts department of HCC and was again outstanding. I was pleased to have had a brief opportunity to speak to one of our graduates, who was one of the students putting on this luncheon, and to find that she is doing very well and enjoying her HCC education. As we continue to move forward toward the end of this school year, I again urge parents and community members to be involved in the district. Whether you volunteer in the classroom, school or district by chaperoning field trips, helping teachers prepare materials, lending assistance in the classroom, attending functions such as the plays or awards assemblies, participating in school councils or parent organizations, or just becoming knowledgeable about the district so that you can make an informed choice when voting for the budget at annual town meetings—your participation can make a positive difference in the success of our children.
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