1985-Annual Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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Superintendent of Schools in the Intermediate Mathematics League of Eastern Massachusetts. In the New England Mathematics League, which consists of about 400 schools, Clarke seventh grade students finished third and Diamond eighth grade students finished second. Junior high school teachers Edith Sparre from Clarke and Evagrio Mosca from Diamond are participating in the Regional Network for Mathematics Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. This 18 -month effort is intended to update curriculum materials and im- prove teaching techniques at the middle school level. Music. The High School Concert Choir and the Madrigal Singers were chosen to represent Massa- chusetts at the Eastern Division Convention of the Music Educators National Conference in Hartford, Connecticut. Fifty -one high school and 30 junior high school students participated in the Massa- chusetts District and All -State Music festivals. The High School Band received a Silver Medal Award in the Massachusetts Instrumental Conductors Associ- ation Competition Festival; the Diamond Junior High Band received a Gold Medal Award. The high school band played weekend exchange concerts with Belmore, Long Island High School. Joseph A. DiDomenico received the 1985 Distinguished Service Award from the Massachusetts Music Educators National Conference. The Band Parents Association raised $1,000 to purchase musical instruments. Physical Education. The Physical Education Depart- ment began implementing the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Fitnessgram Program for grades 4 through 7. The program provides a comput- erized assessment of students' level of physical fitness and offers individual recommendations for each child to help improve his /her fitness. Estabrook teacher James Banks won an Exemplary Teacher Award from the Battle Green Chapter of the Order of DeMolay. Science. Projects of high school students Ted Chuang and Brian Seasholes were selected for exhibi- tion at the annual Massachusetts Science Fair. Eight students' projects were selected for the Regional Science Fair: John Adelson, Jeffrey Bussgang, Brian Cannon, Melanie Chu, Theodore Chuang, Pauline Entin, Brian Seasholes and Anita Ung. High school teacher David Olney received a 1985 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching as well as the Chemical Manufacturer's Catalyst Award. Clarke teacher Roy Doughty was named by the Massachusetts Association of Science Teachers as Middlesex County Science Educator for 1984. Clarke Junior High School's Energy Education Program, which Doughty co- developed with teacher Bonnie Brunkhorst, was recognized by the National Science Teachers Association as one of twenty -five exemplary programs nationally; in 1985 -86 the program is taught by Doughty, Don Berardi and Frank Sarno. Parents and staff of the Elementary Science Task Force continued for a third year to review the K -6 science program. Science Corner or other enrichment 30 Education Science corner in aZl: Cider making. activities run by parents now exist in all elemen- tary schools. For the first time a consultant Stephanie Bernstein was hired to direct, advise and provide a liaison between parents and staff. Activ- ities have included parent and citizen volunteer presentations, hands -on exhibit tables and plant -of- the -week. Bernstein writes and distributes "Science /Discovery Newsletter" to encourage sharing among all elementary schools. Social Studies. Two teaching units have been re- vised in the elementary curriculum: the fifth grade "Migrations" unit and the fourth grade "Cities" unit. The Harrington School, along with the Folk Arts Center of New England, was awarded a $10,000 grant by the Massachusetts Council on the Arts and Humanities for incorporating a special multidisci- plinary approach in the "Cities" unit using song - writing, dance and photography. Parents Nancy Gordon and Nora Hall co- authored the proposal for the second year of funding. High School teacher Fred Boyle was named Law Teacher of the Year by the Massachusetts Association of Law Related Education. Clarke teacher Mary Keenan re- ceived an Exemplary Teacher Award from the Battle Green Chapter of the Order of DeMolay. Now in its second year, the Public Forum Program continues to provide activities addressing current social and political issues that may not necessarily be covered in the regular social studies curriculum. During 1985, hundreds of students participated in various programs, including training sessions on a nuclear weapons freeze, Student Government Day, teach -ins on "Water Resources and Pollution Control"