The Edgartown School opens its doors for the 2014-2015 school year on September 4 to 370 students. The school especially welcomes 45 kindergartners who will experience half days until September 15 when they attend school for the full day. On the first day of school, parents will be offered a light breakfast by our PTA and be greeted by a welcoming staff who have been preparing for the opening of school over the summer.
Our students continue to excel academically, socially, and athletically due to a collaborative effort on the part of teachers, students, and parents. Edgartown’s administration, elected officials, and voters provide strong financial support which ensures that the school has the resources it needs to provide the best possible educational services. Students in grades three through eight continue to make gains in reading, mathematics, and science on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) which is a reflection of the rigorous instruction delivered in the classrooms.
This year, the students in these grades will take a new standardized test called the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC). The PARCC will replace the MCAS test. This test will also measure individual students’ growth and additionally will assess how well schools are able to teach the common core curriculum standards from year to year.
There are several new faces joining the faculty this year. Debbie Grant has been chosen to teach the recently added third kindergarten class. Debbie had the honor of meeting President Obama at school one day this August, who assured her that she’ll do a great job this year!
Summer Clements was selected as a third grade teacher, making three third grade classes for the coming year. Summer has had teaching experience at the Oak Bluffs and Tisbury Schools.
Robin Moriarty joins the fourth grade team replacing Bridget Mello who moves into the primary reading specialist position. Robin brings teaching experience from Newton to her new assignment.
Kate McCormick moves from teaching first grade to fourth grade. Mary Ellen Guyther, formerly a fourth grade teacher, replaces Gary Smith who recently retired. Mary Ellen will teach math to fifth and sixth graders. Gail Lachapelle returns to teaching first grade after having taught in second grade for a year.
Liz Bradley, who taught music to kindergarten and first graders, transferred to the Tisbury School. She is replaced by Mark Ragusa, a recent graduate of the University of Massachusetts.
Education Support Professionals (ESPs) Chris Anderson, Cathy Lewis, and Trivia Emery have left the staff and are replaced by Ryan Leandro and Carolyn Pollard, with one remaining position yet to be filled. Jessalyn Laffey, Galen Brew, and Skylar Menton will join the special education Bridge Program this year as ESPs.
We are very excited about the newest members of the school’s faculty and staff and would like to welcome them to our community. I would like to thank the many parents and teachers who served on interview committees over the summer. This important work of selecting quality professionals to serve our students is much appreciated.
This year’s goals for the school center around the School Improvement Plan crafted by the School Advisory Council and approved by the School Committee and Superintendent James Weiss. These goals speak to improving the quality of instruction, making students more accessible to current technology, improving student performance in reading, writing, and mathematics, increasing parent involvement in the social curriculum, exploring new ways to strengthen the home-school connection, and ensuring that the enrichment program meets the needs of students.
Parents and community members are urged to become involved in the school by participating in any of the following school groups:
The PTA meets on September 9 at 8:20 am; The School Committee meets on September 10 at 10:30 am; The School Advisory Council meets on September 16 at 10 am.
The school website, www.edgartownschool.org, is an excellent way to keep up with what’s happening at the school. The site contains teacher web pages, information about sports events, lunch menus, and a very busy school calendar. This website also contains news from the PTA and School Advisory Council.
John Stevens, a graduate of Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, was hired as Edgartown School’s principal in 2007 after serving as a high school principal in Lantana, Fla.