magnacharter-1109

8/14/2019 magnacharter-1109

1/6

2 3 4New Faceson theField

Hitting theHigh Notes

FifteenYears...

BY NINA CULLEN-HAMZEH

MCCPS fosters a commu-nity that empowers chil-

dren. This is the open-

ing sentence of our mission statement,

and were I charged with synthesizing

who we are and what we strive to do,

those are the words I would choose.

Last year, we planted seeds of innova-

tion to empower children, and the

benefits were such that an even more

extensive program has been designed.

After a thorough review of MCAS

and NWEA scores, the CUE

Report, and teacher observations,students needing specialized assis-

tance were identified, and the fol-

lowing initiatives were implemented.

For the struggling students (math,

reading and/or writing), additional

time on learning has been created

by exempting them from foreign

language instruction. This is an

unfortunate sacrifice (because we

value foreign language for all), but

this change has resulted in two or

three (depending upon grade level)

additional 45-minute classes per

week in the area of need. Specific

enrichments have also been

assigned to some students. It is

expected that via this support, thesechildren will be better able to

achieve at grade-level.

Some mathematically talented 7t

graders have been studying Alge

I with the 8th grade. Mrs. Rebec

Perry, 8th Grade Math Teacher a

Math/Science Department Chair

excited by their progress, and sh

will consult with officials at

Marblehead High School to dete

mine the level of math that these

students will study next year.

The strong 8th graders are also

experiencing accelerated math

instruction. They are expected to

complete Algebra I by April and

then study a combined introducto Geometry and Algebra II. The

BY DR. ALBERT F. ARGENZIANO

Iwas walking through the school the other

day and it struck me: the work environ-

ment at MCCPS is somewhat like the

Peace Corps, combining professional expertisewith native ingenuity in an environment of

trust.

Some of you may remember that President

John F. Kennedy appointed Sargent Shriver as

the first executive director of the Peace Corps.

One of Shrivers first appointments was

Nicholas Hobbs as director of selection for the

Peace Corps. Hobbs created the first set of

guidelines by which Peace Corps volunteers

would be chosen.

Hobbs considered an important question:

Do you look for individuals with technical and

professional training or prioritize native intelli-

gence? He believed in finding positive solu-

tions to difficult situations and in not dwelling

on the negative, and created his recruitment

guidelines based on those beliefs. The goal of

the Peace Corps was to promote peace and

friendship and improve the quality of life of

the people with whom the volunteers lived

and worked.

Thus, the perfect Peace Corps would be

made up of people who share a vision of pro-

moting peace and friendship. They would be

secure enough in themselves to be able to go

into an environment of hardship and continue

their entire tour of service. They would need

N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 9 | Vo l u m e 2 , n u m b e r 1

Helping Students Succeed

Trust and Confi-dence Are Keysto Peaceful Corps

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE MARBLEHEAD COMMUNITY CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL

Our school is small enough that we can experiment, which has been a lot of fun. We have cooked with baby bok choy, a varietyof interesting grains, purple and pink potatoes, and even tie-dyed baby carrots! Chef Laura

SeeHELPING STUDENTS, paSee PEACEFUL CORPS, page 4

Kay ODwyer works with Sophia.Corinne listens to instructions.


2/6

The MCCPS athletics program continues to

expand under the direction of Athletic Director

Mike Ruth.This year,we have some wonderfuladditions to our coaching staff:Mr.George

Shapiro,Mr. Alexander Eaton, and Mr. Seamus

Daly.

Coach Shapiro is a graduate of the University

of Dayton. For the past six years,he has been a

volunteer coach at the elementary and middle

school levels and is a driving force behind

Marblehead Youth Softball.He has served as

assistant coach for girls soccer with the

Marblehead Youth Soccer Association and is a

Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association Level

G certified coach.

Coach Eaton has served in multiple capacities

with Nahant Youth Soccer and Swampscott

Youth Soccer.Eaton also is founder of the Impact

Soccer Club.He currently holds a

United States Soccer Federation

Level E License,is certified by the

National Soccer Coaches

Association of America (NSCAA),and obtained his State Goalkeeper

License from the NSCAA.

Coach Daly comes to us with a

wealth of running experience

from cross-country, road racing and

track in Ireland to marathon run-

ning since his move to the USA

in the 90s. Coach Daly's favorite

event is the marathon,having

completed 10 including six Boston

marathons. In 1998,he finished 313th overall at

Boston with an official time of 2:46:01.

Teams Up!With all this new help, the athletics depart-

ment is growing.New this year,we hope to offe

baseball, softball and golf,and we are even

exploring the possibility of sailing and ski teams

On the field, varsity soccer has been off and

running with a 4-2-0 record.The team has been

playing and working hard. JV soccer had their

very first win against Salem Academy!

Navigator Cross-Country has been going

strong as well.The team has had a number of

meets involving multiple schools.We participat-ed in the 1st Annual Massachusetts Middle

School Meet in Devens.

Loco for Local ProduceThe MCCPS Nutrition Department had a

busy summer that has continued into fall.

Chef Laura DeSantis has been working with

The Massachusetts Farm-to-School Project, an

initiative sponsored by the Department of

Agriculture and the Farm Bureau Agricultural

Preservation Corporation.She was put in

touch with local farms and farmers who are

now supplying fresh fruits, vegetables and

grains to our kitchen.Chef Laura appreciates the range of avail-

able items.Our school is small enough thatwe can experiment, which has been a lot fun.We have cooked with baby bok choy, a varietyof interesting grains,purple and pink potatoes,

and even tie-dyed carrots!MCCPS also recently took part in the annual

Massachusetts Harvest for Students Week,aweek-long celebration of fresh and local fruits

and vegetables on our lunch menu, from bothlocal farms and the schools own vegetablegarden, which was planted last spring. Withcontinuing studies indicating that studentsserved fresh, locally grown items tend to eatsignificantly more fruits and vegetables, theFarm-to-School connection believes it is mak-ing a positive difference at a time of concernabout childhood obesity,while simultaneouslyimproving the local economy, local food securi-ty and opportunities for Massachusetts farms.

W H A T S N E W ( S ) A T M C C P S N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 92

Nutr it ion New s

Navigator S por ts

MCCPS students bond on the x-country team.

MAGNA CH RTER

Magna Charteris the officialnewsletter of MCCPS.

Magna Charter Staff

& Contributors

Dr. Albert Argenziano

Kathleen CormierNina Cullen-Hamzeh

Michael HoulihanMary McRaeKay O'Dwyer

Mike RuthLaura Smith

Nancy Marland Wolinski

MCCPS Board of Trustees

Emil Ronchi, ChairCathy Vaucher, Vice Chair

Dr. John Sullivan, TreasurerJohn McEnaney, Clerk

Nina Cullen-HamzehCynthia CanavanMatt Cronin

Dr.Alice de KoningChris FauciBob Sousa

MCCPS School Staff

Dr. Albert ArgenzianoInterim Managing Director

Nina Cullen-HamzehAcademic Director

Eileen PerryAssistant to the Directors

Molly WrightStudent Services Coordinator

Jed O'ConnorDirector of Special Education

Jeffrey BarryBusiness Manager

M C C P S

17 Lime StreetMarblehead, MA 01945

Phone:781-631-0777Fax:781-631-0500

www.marbleheadcharter.org

Our Mission

MCCPS fosters a community that empowerschildren to become capable, self-determining, fullyengaged individuals who are critical and creative

thinkers committed to achieving their highestintellectual, artistic, social, emotional, and physicalpotential. We are dedicated to involving, learning

from, participating in, and serving our schoolcommunity and the community at large.

Volume 1,Number 3,November 2009 New Faces on the Field


3/6

BY MARY MCRAE

When Adria Smith arrived at MCCPS sevenyears ago to be the music teacher, all she hadwas a piano. There were few music supplies or

nstruments, which was lucky since there was no

music room to put them in. Undaunted, Ms. Smith

got a grant for a new drum set, and the music pro-

gram has been thriving ever since.

Thanks to her boundless energy and infectious

enthusiasm, the school now has a music room, and

Ms. Smith has a different problem: where to put all

the music supplies. Music is so enjoyable, she said.

I love sharing that with the students.

With a degree in jazz arranging and composition

from the Berklee College of Music, Ms. Smith (who

earned four music credits at the University ofMadison, Wisconsin while a student at West High

School) also performs in a band called the Jazz

Navigators, and her compositions have been played

by greats such as James Browns drummer, Clyde

Stubblefield.

Ms. Smith understands that each student connects

with music differently. Some students are more com-

fortable singing, others playing instruments, and still

others in composition. I want to be sure theres some-

thing there for everyone, she explains.

A Symphony of Choice

Music at MCCPS is fun and elaborate. Every gradehas music twice a week, for 45 minutes. Each student

learns how to sing, play keyboard, compose, analyze

and read musicand is graded in each of the cate-

gories. There is a full keyboard lab where students

may practice at their own level. During enrichment

period, there are often other courses offered such as

strings, choir, band, jazz music, MCCPS IDOL, musi-

cals and more.

At the end of grade 4, each child has the option to

learn a band instrument (flute, clarinet, oboe, saxo-

phone, trumpet, trombone or drums). The MCCPS

band is very popular, with 60 students meeting on

Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30-8:15am to prac-

tice. The band performs many times each year, at

exhibitions and a year-end band competition, and

has won awards for excellence.

The music program is integrated with other cur-

riculum areas, with fourth graders learning songs in

French and Spanish, for example, and sixth graderscreating compositions to accompany their poetry

projects. Looking forward, Ms. Smith is excited to

expand the singing program at all grades. Weve got-

ten in a lot more actual chorus material this year, new

scores that we can work on at all grades.

As if there isnt enough to do, at the top of Smiths

wish list is to take on another musical. Last year, we

got funding to put on the musical Into the Woods,

which was an incredibly involved but rewarding

experience, she says. Id love to raise enough money

to do another show perhaps Peter Pan.

W H A T S N E W ( S ) A T M C C P S N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 9 3

Adria Smith:Hitting the High Notes

Adria Smith

students will likely be placed in Geometry Honors as

freshmen.

One of my greatest joys as an instructional leader is

the opportunity to effectuate change that improves a

childs educational experience. This is not an easy task,

but is a worthy endeavor and deserving of the time and

effort it requires. Elaine McEwan, in her book, 10 Traits

of Highly Effective Principals, states that: Sometimes pro-grams must be tailored to meet the needs of small

groups of students. Highly effective principals have the

courage it often takes to step out and meet those needs.

At MCCPS, we have always chosen to do what we

believe is in the best interest of the children; addressing

the needs of the struggling and the gifted students withi

our school is certainly in their best interest. The efficacy

of this initiative will be monitored closely, and it is our

hope that these steps will result in even greater levels of

academic achievement.

HELPING STUDENTSContinued from page 1

PTO New s

The school year is off to a great start and its

been terrific to get to know all the new names

and faces here at MCCPS.

Thanks to the following folks who have

already stepped up this year:

Jim Nye, President of National Grand Bank,

Marblehead, for the donation to the gener-

al PTO fund. We greatly appreciate your

support and will use the money wisely (to

support enrichment week activities).

Susan Conlin, who has stepped forth to be

PTO secretary for the year.

Kristen Settelmeyer, who recently stepped

down as PTO secretary. Kristen,thanks for

all of your hard work!

Holly Sullivan,who has stepped forth to

assist our Treasurer, Avery Russell. Thanks

to you both for keeping the accounts!

Paula Gold, a parent new to the school

who dove head first into the waters and

organized field day during School Spirit

Week.She did fabulous job! Thanks to

everyone who helped.

Franny Poisson, who has graciously

stepped up to expand our Gift Book

Program.

The PTO will be sponsoring a Community

Service Day as part of the "Giving Thanks

Week" that will follow 1st Exhibition. This

afternoon of projects was well-received

by students, parents, teachers, and the

community last year, and we are looking

forward to positively impacting as many

people as possible this year. If you'd like

to help with this or any other PTO project,

please contact Kathy Cormier at

[email protected].

We look forward to another great year here

at MCCPS!


4/6

BY KAY ODWYER

One of the first charter schools in Massachu-setts, MCCPS opened its doors in 1995 withgrades 5, 6, and 7. The following year, grade 8

was added, and in 2004 the school expanded toinclude grade 4.

As with any road less traveled, the journey of

charter schools has had twists and turns, andMCCPS has not been exempt. However, as we

mark our fifteenth anniversary and anticipate the

renewal of our charter for the next five years, we

have much to celebrate.

Our recently revamped mission statement con-tinues to emphasize community both within our

walls and in the greater community. We actively

encourage and promote family involvement in all

areas, from participation in MAPs (My

Achievement Plans) to leading enrichments andvolunteering in the kitchen. Parents were instru-

mental in founding our school and are

an integral part of our community. Theycan log onto Parents Corner to check

their childrens grades and status of

work. At each Exhibition, parents see

their children grow as critical-thinking,self-motivated learners.

As our student body has expanded,

so too has our facility, with the additionof a gym, new classrooms, a computer

lab, and music and art rooms. Students

have myriad opportunities, including asports program with cross country, soc-cer, basketball and track; a vibrant

music program (see story, page 3); two

foreign languages; a nutrition program

that has received state-wide recognition;an organic vegetable garden; an

aquaponics component; a newly-created

outdoor experience program; and so much mor

The Department of Education charged charte

schools to be innovative leaders in the field of

education, and MCCPS exemplifies that innovation and reform.

Fifteen Years...

5 64

W H A T S N E W ( S ) A T M C C P S N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 94

Grade 4studentsembraced theoverarchingtheme ofCommuni-cation andassumedroles asimmigrants.They wrote narratives about their journey toAmerica and hopes for the future,and created col-lages.They dressed in national costume,researched and recorded recipes, prepared pass-ports and constructed family trees using Frenchand Spanish terms.They entered the bridge-building business. As Project Directors,Architects,Carpenters and Accountants, they workedtogether to build a successful structure and com-pany,reflecting on their progress in journals.Studentsalso explored communication throughthe study of American Sign Language and willperform a song on Exhibition night.

Grade 5 students are studying communicationthrough culture. Using learned math and scienceskills,students acted as architects and builders asthey created scale model representations of his-toric buildings from the cultures studied. Theyresearched and represented artifacts chosen froma culture and became curators and guides in theirmuseum.

Grade 6 students are poets and will sharetheir work at a Poetry Caf.Their poemsinclude Cinquians, Quatrains,Haikus and Cant Write a PoemPoems.They illustrattheir poems. They became transportationengineers as they designed and built woring battery-powered cars. Students will dplay their carsand share theirknowledge ofsubsystems andforces.Theyworked as pitcrews, learningand imple-menting strate-gies as a team.

Grade Grade Grade

Exhibit ion Over view Communication

PEACEFUL CORPSContinued from page 1

to be able to adapt their individual skills while work

with other volunteers and locals. They would be abl

integrate themselves into their host community and

culture of the people they are helping. The perfect P

Corps would be made up of both individuals with t

nical and professional training as well as local peopl

who show intelligence and ingenuity.

At MCCPS, the strategies and skills needed are si

lar. People need to trust and have confidence in the

working relationships of all involved. They need to

flexible and they need to be able to adapt their skillswhile blending those skills with the skills of others.

need to conduct themselves in a respectful and prof

sional manner. Finally, they need to work within the

rules and regulations of the workplace in order to

achieve common goals and outcomes.

With this in mind, its no wonder that the buildin

a vibrant, peaceful place.Founding Faculty: Nina Cullen-Hamzeh,Jeff Barry, Bob Erbetta,Katie Sullivan,Ann Chandler,Pam Miller


5/6

BY EMIL RONCHI, CHAIR OF MCCPS BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The best laid plans of mice and men mayoften go awry, but the MCCPS Board ofTrustees understands that no success is possiblewithout a plan to begin with. The overarchingvision of our strategic plan guided us in setting

goals for this year:

Secure Charter Renewal

This is a primary function of the Board. Everyfive years, the Commonwealth of Massachusettsauthorizesor notrenewal of the charter thatallows MCCPS to operate. As the first charterschool to open its doors in Massachusetts, this isthe third time that we are seeking renewal of ourcharter. We expect that we have earned the privi-lege, not without some bumps along the way, andlook forward to demonstrating and communicat-ing our success during the states official site visitscoming up.

Add Two New Members to the Board of Trustees

Along with developing an orientation programfor Trustees and a succession plan for Trustee lead-ership, we have set a goal of adding two newMembers. Our Governance Committee is taskedwith meeting these goals, but the volunteer spiritof the MCCPS community must ultimately deliver.Are YOU ready to step up? Consider participating

in one of the Board Committees or any Task Forceto make contributions and gain valuable insight.

Hire a Managing Director

Over the last three years, the Board has devel-oped an understanding of the management modelmost desirable for MCCPS. We decided on a bifur-

cated administration with one Academic Directorand one Managing Director, each reporting equallyto the Board of Trustees. We modified our bylawsto allow for the new structure. We developed jobdescriptions and contracted an Interim ManagingDirector, Dr. Argenziano, on a part-time basis. Thisyear, we are prepared to move forward with thehiring of a full-time Managing Director for thecoming school year.

Create a Detailed Project Plan Regarding theExpansion

We intend to add two third-grade classroomsand additional instructional space for existing

grades in the portion of our building that we donot yet occupy. We have launched an ExpansionTask Force to deliver on this goal, and expect toopen our doors to third-graders in the 2012-2013school year. Perhaps we will then be prepared toformulate plans for expansion into a full pre-Kthrough 12 program

Its an exciting time in the life of MCCPS!

Plotting a New Chapter CounselorsCorner

Each MCCPS studenthas unique interests,strengths and needs.The

staff and students work together to develop g

habits for a healthy body, sound mind,and saf

roundings while overcoming challenges and fo

ing opportunities.

Until good nutrition comes in a pill,a wel

anced diet is the bestfuel for energetic and fo

students.Combining a good night's sleep with

healthy breakfast ensures that students are re

to learn.Visit www.MyPyramid.gov for resourc

Without a release valve,the well-fed and rested studentcan be the hyper-energetic stud

Exercise helps students stay on task and builds

strength,coordination and stamina.Organized

sports and individual activities (biking or walk

offer young people a way to make friends, cha

lenge themselves, and become well-rounded i

viduals.Go to www.healthierUS.gov for more

ideas.

Relationships are often a challenge during

middle school,and young people reflect on qu

tions such as "Where do I fit in? What am I goo

Who shares my interests?" The answers can le

happy days and sad times as students become

more self-aware.

The creative,informational,and social pow

of the Internetis generally positive and people

now create and post content at websites like

Facebook and YouTube.However, it can also m

that the bullying behavior of the school yard n

follows young people home.When messages

intended to hurt other people are posted or te

hundreds of peers can read gossip or view pot

tially embarrassing images.What can parents

Locate a home computer in a public place (kitc

or family room).Set strict time boundaries for

schoolwork or play on the computer. Be aware

the sites your child is visiting. Change privacy s

tings as you see fit.Visit www.NetSmartz.org o

www.safekids.com.

By teaching proven habits and learning ab

modern pitfalls, the MCCPS community offers

dents a chance to be healthy,happy,and succe

individuals.Be well!

Mr. Houli

7 8

W H A T S N E W ( S ) A T M C C P S N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 9 5

Grade 7 students developed their own civi-lizations based on historical evidence,andwill attempt to sell plots of land on Exhibi-tion night. In Foreign Language,studentswrote I Am Poems in the voice of anancient citizen of Mesopotamia anddesigned travel posters. In science,theycreated a simile of a cells structure usingmixed media and studied the human body,including the nervous,digestive and excre-tory systems.Students learned about nutri-tion. In math, they surveyed

a sample popu-lation on theirnutritionalknowledgeand habits,andwill share theirconclusions in acorrespondinggraph.

Grade 8 students wrote essays on the bookAnimal Farm that presented arguments forwhich animals were most responsible forthe utopia becoming a dystopia. Studentsalso wrote essays on Chew on This.They cre-ated propaganda posters based on theiressays and Revolutionary American History.Students used their knowledge of slope todetermine if access ramps in their communi-ties meet code;they compiled data andevidence to determine such and then wroteletters to officials with their findings.Theybuilt their own ramps to code.

Grade Grade

We welcome Mr.Houlihan,our new

guidance counselor, asa regular columnist.

BY MIKE HOULIHAN


6/6

MAGNA CHARTER November 2009

Whats New(s) at MCCPS

Dear MCCPS Families and Friends,

As we celebrate our 15th anniversary, we must

remember that MCCPS exists because a group of

courageous parents and educators converted an old

Elks Lodge into a school, created an engaging, stan-

dards-driven, performance-based curriculum, and

then welcomed community members to participatein the education of the children. This was revolu-

tionary in 1995, and since then, MCCPS has

become a successful and replicable example of

innovation and educational reform.

Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education, stated that

When schools become the center of the communi-

ty, great things happen. MCCPS has always believ-

ed this. The Secretary says that schools should offer

a longer day and a longer year, enriching programs,

after school activities, and opportunities for paren

to become involved at school. We do all of these

things, and are continually looking for ways to do

them better.

President Obama encouraged students to set

goals for their education and to do everything the

can to meet those goals. He said, whatever you

resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I wantyou to really work at it. We support the Presiden

call to action; this pedagogy has always been

embraced by MCCPS. Since 1995, every student

has created, worked toward, and been supported

achieving his/her own goals.

So much has been accomplished in 15 years.

Thank you for being a part of this remarkable jou

ney.

Nina Cullen-Hamze

Academic Direc

Arne Duncan,

Secretary of Edu-

cation, stated that

When schools

become the center

of the community,great things hap-

pen. MCCPS has

always believed

this. Nina Cullen-Hamzeh

MAGNA CH RTERS O O N - T O - B E H A P P E N I N G S

Thursday, December 3 at 7:00 PMMCCPS Board Meeting

Saturday, December 5ArtisansCraft Fair

Monday, December 7 at 4:15 PMMCCPS at My Brothers Table

Wednesday, December 16 at 8:00 AMDialogue with the Directors

Documents

magnacharter-1109