East Kingston Schools::

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT

Michael Morgan
August 24, 2010 2:50 PM
New teachers

Summer months bring much excitement to schools because they provide an opportunity to meet many wonderful candidates for a wide variety of professional positions. For fall 2010 the following individuals are joining the SAU 16 community in these positions:

SAU Office—Esther Asbell (Director of Curriculum and Assessment, K-8)

Brentwood—Kimberly Bell (Guidance Counselor—60%), Susan Catanese-Mayo (Kindergarten)

East Kingston—Jodi Haskell (Grade 5 one-year sabbatical), Megan Porter (Grade 1)

Kensington—Amy Steinberg (Grade 5), Linda Felch (Grade 3, one-year Leave of Absence)

Newfields—Helen Rist (Principal)

Stratham—Julie Curry (Speech Language Pathologist)

Main Street School, Exeter—Maureen Brown (Grade 2); Jessica Butler (Speech Language Pathologist), Catherine Kearns (Physical Education)

Lincoln Street School, Exeter—Erika Forbes (Grade 5, one-year sabbatical), Heather Kryskow (Speech Language Pathologist); Briana Morrill Roman (Special Education), Stephanie Reitan (Grade 5), Heather Wentworth (Grade 5)

Cooperative Middle School, Stratham—Eilleen Dent (Health), Nicole Enright (Special Education), Melissa Gagne (Special Education)

Exeter High School—Nicole Aronski (Spanish), Melissa Cooke (Music, one-year Leave of Absence), Courtney Fullerton (Math), Sybille Goldberg-Holzer (French), Jeffrey Lukach (English, one-year Leave of Absence), Christine Leach (Guidance), Andrew Wallace (Social Studies)

Seacoast School of Technology, Exeter—Christian Arseneau (Auto Technology)

Great Bay eLearning Charter School, Exeter—Simone Duven (Social Studies), Alexandra LaFay (English)

New teacher orientation

New Teacher Orientation for all teachers will be held at the Cooperative Middle School on Tuesday, August 24, 2010. All professional staff members will begin the 2010-2011 with an SAU-wide assembly on Thursday, August 26, 2010 at Exeter High School. Classes begin for all students on Monday, August 30, 2010.

Solar Panels Installed

The installation of solar panels at Exeter High School is almost completed. An easy drive into Exeter High School will reveal the largest solar PV array in northern New England. Their primary purpose is to support conservation efforts while also reducing the costs associated with the use of fossil fuels.

Champions for Children

Community members and school staff will continue to recognize and celebrate the dedication of local individuals by nominating them for a local Champion for Children award. This award is given to those individuals who have distinguished themselves

by demonstrating significant involvement in programs and/or services that directly benefit the students and families of School Administrative Unit 16. The local school board makes the final decision on each award selection.

School Board seats available in March 2011

Terms of office for some current school board members expire in March 2010. Now is the time for interested citizens to consider serving in these capacities. Board Members whose terms expire include Charlie Gargaly and Peter Reed in Brentwood; Stacy Penna and Christina Cassano Pelletier in East Kingston; Kate Miller in Exeter; Dana Donovan in Kensington; Carolyn Bellisio in Newfields; Gary Giarrusso and Wendy Poutre in Stratham; and Dave Miller (East Kingston), Jennifer Maher (Stratham), Kate Segal (Exeter), and Joni Reynolds (Kensington) for the Coop. Of the thirty-three total School Board seats in SAU 16, these thirteen positions will be available for (re)election.

Graduate school courses available in Exeter

Plymouth State University will continue to offer graduate level courses at the Seacoast Professional Development Center in Exeter this fall: Contemporary Social Trends will be available for those who are pursuing a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) degree. School Finance and Negotiations will be available for those who wish to pursue certification as either a principal, special education administrator, or superintendent. Registration may be completed directly at www.plymouth.edu.

Project Running Start

The partnership between the Exeter Region Cooperative and Great Bay Community College that allows high school students to earn college credit will continue into another school year. Project Running Start offers interested students who enroll in particular courses to earn transferable college credit for $100 per course. Over 30 courses are available to students who are enrolled at Exeter High School and the Seacoast School of Technology. Guidance counselors at the high schools and admissions counselors at Great Bay may be contacted for additional information.

New vision and mission statements

As a result of the eighteen months of work by the fifteen school board members, community members, staff members and student of the SAU 16 Strategic Planning Steering Committee, the group is recommending a new Vision Statement and Mission Statement for adoption. This will be submitted for consideration during the October 2010 regular meeting of the SAU Joint Boards.

VISION

To provide a rigorous and comprehensive education that will prepare our students for diverse post-secondary educational opportunities, a competitive workplace, and active civic participation.

MISSION

To help students gain knowledge and skills that build intellect, character, and a lifelong thirst for learning.

Food pantries continue to need help

Community service efforts for the new school year will continue to focus on food pantries around the state. Many individuals and families struggle to make ends meet and often need to avail themselves of local food banks. The schools in SAU 16 will continue to find ways to gather food and funds to assist those who are struggling to meet some of the most basic of needs. Please encourage our respective communities to join this effort as much as possible.

EHS fall athletics

Approximately 535 students are expected to participate in fall athletic programs at Exeter High School this year. This participation rate of almost 30% of our students is a wonderful tribute to the diversity of programs offered. The fall program began in mid-August. Did you know that Exeter High School has 45 coaches involved in its fall sports program and that 20 of those 45 coaches volunteer their time at no salary to the Coop? Many thanks to all of those involved and to Athletic Director Bill Ball who coordinates all of these activities!

Teacher contract negotiations

During the upcoming school year, five of the seven school districts within SAU 16 will be involved in contract negotiations with their respective teacher organizations. When a settlement is reached between the school board and the teacher association, the results are brought forward to the voters in the community. In March 2011 those registered voters who cast ballots will make the final determination about the proposed contract. Negotiations will take place in Brentwood, Kensington, Newfields, Stratham, and the Exeter Region Cooperative School Districts.

Seacoast Professional Development Center ppportunities

The SPDC will continue to offer a wide variety of courses and workshops for teachers and community members this year. This includes opportunities to learn more about technology initiatives and teaching strategies that will strengthen programs for students. Information is updated regularly at the SAU 16 website (www.sau16.org).

Exeter Adult Education programs

An extensive array of programs for high school completion and for personal enrichment is available through the Exeter Adult Education Program located at the Tuck Learning Campus. These opportunities are part of the numerous programs offered to local residents. Contact 775-8457 or www.sau16.org for more information.

Did You Know?

Exeter High School published an Alumni Directory in 2006 that included all known graduates from Robinson Female Seminary, Tuck High School, and Exeter High School

The Seacoast School of Technology in Exeter serves students from six area high schools daily: Epping, Exeter, Newmarket, Raymond, Sanborn Regional, and Winnacunnet. Students travel to the Linden Street location to participate in one of eleven career and technical educational courses that prepare them for further education and a career.

The 2010 SAU 16 Annual Report is available in every school and town office within the six communities that comprise the SAU.


Michael A. Morgan is the superintendent of schools for SAU 16, which includes Exeter, Stratham, Brentwood, Newfields, East Kingston and Kensington.

East Kingston Schools::

Students take home numerous awards

CMS chorus, band compete in Music In the Parks competition
Students take home numerous awards

June 22, 2010 9:57 AMSTRATHAM - On June 4 the Cooperative Middle School was well represented in the annual Music in the Parks competition in Western Massachusetts.

This year there were 15 middle schools from across New England represented in band and choral groups competing at three venues. More than 200 students represented CMS in this event .


A rating of “excellent,“ the highest overall award possible, was given to all three groups from CMS: the Women's Chorus, Co-ed Chorus and Concert Band. The groups were judged on presentation, professionalism, as well as the quality of the music performed.

Additionally, the CMS Women's Chorus received a first place in their division.

Members of the CMS Concert Band received first place in their division and an award for the highest overall score for instrumental groups participating this year.

East Kingston Schools::

Students celebrate last day of school

East Kingston students celebrate last day of school
Plan trips this summer with family

By Alexis Macarchuk
newsletter@seacoastonline.com
June 18, 2010 2:00 AM

EAST KINGSTON— Standing outside East Kingston Elementary School on the last day of classes, students got the chance to greet each other one last time.

In an effort to wrap up the year's theme—"Oh, The Places You'll Go" — principal Jim Eaves asked students to turn to their friends and neighbors and say hello in foreign tongues.

"Konichiwa!" said one student, bowing to the other.

"Bonjour!" shouted another, who brimmed with excitement.

Students spent the Thursday, June 17 playing games, finishing projects and cleaning out their classrooms — looking forward to summers filled with camp, games and traveling to some of the places they learned about during the school year.

Matt Szuba, a student in Judith Hayes' fourth-grade class, will go to Australia for three weeks in August, where he hopes to visit the Great Barrier Reef. Szuba's favorite project was designing his own home, complete with a football field in the backyard. As part of the project, Szuba and his classmates had their houses assessed and paid taxes on April 15 using artificial money they collected doing chores around the house.

To pay the taxes on his football field, Szuba "fed the cat a lot."

Hayes explained the assignment was part of a unit designed to teach students about town government and the expenses associated with owning a home. Students also had a voice at town meetings, and became members of mock town government.

"They were taxed just like their parents would be," she said. "If they haven't paid, their home is foreclosed on."

Owen Law, also in Hayes' class, said his favorite activity was working on the "New Hampshire notables" project. Students profiled famous people from around the Granite State, including Franklin Pierce, Robert Frost and Adam Sandler. Law profiled J.D. Salinger because reading is one of his favorite subjects.

"I had one of the only living notables and then when I was working on the project, he died," he said. Still, Law enjoyed learning about a man who "really had an interesting life."

Third-grader Molly Roth will spend the summer acting at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre in Portsmouth. She has been cast in "Robin Hood" and a musical, and will find out soon if she got a part in "Annie."

"I've been singing and acting for a long time," she said.

Roth said she learned a lot this year from teacher Deb Simmons, who has been teaching for over 20 years. Roth's favorite project was making simple machines using levers, pulleys and buckets. She made a machine based on an arcade game that fishes for Teddy bears and prizes. Instead of a toy, her machine yielded friendly notes.

"It fits into the theme of filling people's buckets up. Making them feel good," Roth said.

Simmons has enjoyed "everything" about teaching at East Kingston Elementary, where her children also went to school.

"Third graders are like sponges," she said.

Simmons expanded on the school wide theme this year by "teaching students how to work together."

"Building a community and learning how to support each other is so important," she said.

During the all-school assembly, Eaves announced that next year's theme will be "Our Big Backyard."

Addressing a whispering and animated crowd, Eaves said, "The last day of school I know is very exciting. I can just feel the energy cooing off this crowd today."

East Kingston Schools::

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT

By Michael A. Morgan
Special to the Exeter News-Letter
June 14, 2010 5:01 PM
Newfields principal finalists selected

Three finalists for the Principal's position at Newfields Elementary School remain under consideration. From an original application pool of 50 candidates, the following three veteran principals have been interviewed by the Search Committee designated by the Newfields School Board and have visited the school to meet with staff and interested community members. Superintendent Michael A. Morgan and Associate Superintendent Paul Flynn have visited the schools where these finalists have served as principals. A member of the Search Committee has accompanied them for these visits.

Mr. Chris Gosselin of Hudson, NH: Principal of Main Dunstable Elementary School in Nashua since 2003; formerly Assistant Principal at Dr. Norman W. Crisp and New Searles Elementary Schools in Nashua from 2002-2003.

Mrs. Helen Rist of Dover, NH: Teaching Principal of Newington Elementary School since 2003; formerly Assistant Principal, Reading Specialist, and Classroom Team at Garrison Elementary School in Dover from 1988-2003.

Mr. Steven Silvestri of North Reading, MA: Principal of Eastern Point Day School in Gloucester, MA since 2008; formerly Principal of Center School in Chelmsford, MA from 1999-2008.

The Newfields School Board anticipates making a decision by mid-June. The new person will begin work at Newfields Elementary School over the summer.

Current Principal, Dennis Dobe, has accepted the position of Principal at Woodland Heights Elementary School in Laconia as of July 1, 2010. He faithfully served the Newfields community for seven and a half years. His hard work and solid professional efforts on behalf of the students and families in Newfields have been well received and sincerely appreciated.

New East Kingston board member selected

Ms. Christina Cassano Pelletier has been selected as the newest member of the East Kingston School Board. She brings 13 years of educational experience as a classroom teacher, a literacy specialist, and a consultant to the position. Her areas of specialty include early childhood development, vocabulary development/instruction and reading development/instruction. She is currently a professor at Salem State College in Massachusetts. She and her husband have a first grader at East Kingston Elementary School.

Ms. Pelletier was selected from a pool of three East Kingston residents who submitted letters of interest for the position and who were interviewed by the remaining two members of the East Kingston School Board. She will serve on the Board until the regular town and school elections in March 2011 when this position will be filled by vote of the public. One year will remain in this term. Ms. Pelletier replaces Tim Law who resigned recently from the Board.

Director of Curriculum and Assessment

Ms. Esther Asbell, currently Assistant Superintendent for SAU 56 in Somersworth and Rollinsford, has been selected as the Director of Curriculum and Assessment for SAU 16. Her primary work will involve the K-8 program, but she will also work in collaboration with the EHS Curriculum Administrator, Ms. Cindy Freyberger.

In addition to her curriculum work in her current position, Ms. Asbell also did extensive curriculum work in her role as Principal of the Northwood Elementary School, a K-8 school that was selected as the Outstanding Elementary School of the Year in 2009 by the statewide EDies Excellence in Education Committee.

Ms. Asbell worked at the Cooperative Middle School in Stratham from 2004-2006 as a Guidance Counselor and as the School In Need of Improvement Coordinator. She holds a CAGS degree from Plymouth State University. She and her husband, Paul Asbell, live in Hooksett.

Ms. Asbell replaces Assistant Superintendent Tony Baldasaro who will begin work with the Virtual Learning Academy Charter School on July 1, 2010. Ms. Asbell will begin work in SAU 16 on August 1, 2010.

Champions for Children

School communities within SAU 16 continue to recognize and celebrate the dedication of some of their own by selecting them as local Champions for Children. These individuals have distinguished themselves by significant involvement in programs and/or services that help their community. Recent “champions” include: Nathan Merrill and Bruce Scamman from Stratham. Mr. Merrill was particularly recognized for his work as the representative of the Stratham School Board to the SAU 16 Strategic Planning Steering Committee and subsequently with the Curriculum and Assessment Focus Area subcommittee. Mr. Scamman was recognized for his significant service as a member of the Stratham School Board and his recent role as Chairperson of the SAU 16 Joint Boards.

These individuals truly represent the dedication and commitment to public education that is so consistently apparent in SAU 16.

Teacher retirements

Ten SAU 16 teachers are retiring at the end of the current school year. Even though some of them have been involved in education elsewhere, together they have devoted 216 years of service to the children and families of their respective schools within SAU 16. Their institutional history and their valuable experiences in professional education are difficult to replace. The Joint School Boards, the administrators, teachers, staff, and students of the SAU are most grateful to these individuals for their service:

Brentwood School District - Swasey Central School
Mary Wills, Kindergarten teacher, 21 years of service

East Kingston School District - EK Elementary school
Liliane Conlan, Kindergarten teacher, 18 years of service

Stratham School District - Stratham Memorial School
Judy Dunnan, Speech Language Pathologist, 16 years of service
Carol Tuveson, Grade Two teacher, 21 years of service

Exeter School District - Lincoln Street School
Jane Sewalk, Grade Five teacher, 23 years of service

Exeter Region Cooperative School District - Exeter High School
Deborah Girouard, Math teacher, 22 years of service
Ellen Johnson, World Language teacher, 16 years of service
Norma McGarr, Social Studies teacher, 17 years of service
Deborah Murphy. World Language teacher, 17 years of service

Exeter Region Cooperative School District - Seacoast School of Technology
Richard "Andy" Andersen, Technology Careers instructor, 29 years of service

Did You Know?

The Great Bay eLearning Charter School has awarded high school diplomas to 83 students from over 15 communities over the past three years. GBeCS opened in 2005 and began awarding diplomas in 2008. Currently it serves 150 students in Grades 8-12 and is located on the Tuck Learning Campus at 30 Linden Street in Exeter.

The Exeter High School graduating Class of 2010 is the first group of students to have spent all four years in the “new high school” located on Blue Hawk Drive, just off of Route 27 in Exeter.

All seven school districts within SAU 16 joined New Hampshire’s effort to secure Race to the Top funds from the federal government.

Michael A. Morgan is the superintendent of schools for SAU 16 which covers Exeter, Stratham, Brentwood, East Kingston, Kensington, and Newfields.

East Kingston Schools::

SAU 16 Web site back online

SAU 16 Web site back online

By Joshua Clark
jclark@seacoastonline.com
June 04, 2010 3:11 PM

EXETER — In the wake of a virus that caused the SAU 16 Web site — www.sau16.org — to go offline for almost a week, the district has given the site a face-lift.

The decision to overhaul the look of the Web site was originally planned to take effect over the summer months in anticipation for the upcoming school year.

“The fact that we had the virus sped all of that up but we were not entirely prepared to do it six weeks early,” Superintendent Michael Morgan said.

At some point early on May 20 the district’s Web site contracted a Trojan Virus making the site and its visitors susceptible to being infected or affected. On Wednesday morning, May 26, an AlertNow message was sent to parents from Exeter, Stratham, Brentwood, Newfields, East Kingston, and Kensington, to make them aware of the situation.

Although the virus infected the district’s Web site, Morgan said the district’s e-mail server and student records were not affected as they are kept on different servers.

As all of the material on the district’s Web site was a matter of public record, Morgan said there was no concern over information that may have been stolen.

Morgan said school officials believes a person legitimately utilizing a school computer was posting or linking material to the Web site and infected the site. The original source of the virus is not known.

“We’ve made it a priority as much as possible to get individual Web sites for schools up and running,” he said.

Although not all of the information has been successfully transferred over from the older Web site, Morgan said the district is taking its time to ensure the safety of the site and all of its users.

“What’s happening is that all of the material on the old Web site that we have access to is being filtered to ensure there are no remnants of the virus that transfer over,” he said. “I’d rather make sure that we do it right than do it fast.

“We have made some progress and we’d like to think that within another week or so hopefully everything will be totally back to normal,” he said.

East Kingston Schools::

virus takes down SAU 16 Web site

Computer virus takes down SAU 16 Web site
Hope to restore home page by Friday

By Joshua Clark
jclark@seacoastonline.com
May 26, 2010 1:04 PM

EXETER – Those looking to peruse the SAU 16 Web site this week were met with an unpleasant surprise.

The site, www.sau16.org, has been infected with a virus.

SAU 16 Superintendent Michael Morgan said that at some point early on May 20 the district's Web site contracted a Trojan Virus making the site and its visitors susceptible to being infected or affected.

Morgan said the decision to shut the site down and take it offline was done as a precautionary measure after receiving calls about visitors to the site experiencing possible infection issues. On Wednesday morning, May 26, an AlertNow message was sent to parents from Exeter, Stratham, Brentwood, Newfields, East Kingston, and Kensington, to make them aware of the situation.

“As soon as we had an outside source confirming that, we shut it down more as a precautionary measure and we sent out an AlertNow message to all of our parents to let them know that it would be best not to visit the site or even try to use the site,” he said.

Morgan said Wednesday the district's IT department in conjunction with outside contractors are in the process of transferring the site's data to an alternate source to restore the Web site hopefully within the next 48 hours.

“It's a major task and it will help us to increase the level of security on the site,” Morgan said.

Although the virus infected the district's Web site, Morgan said the district's e-mail server and student records were not affected in any way as they are kept on different servers.

As all of the material on the district's Web site was a matter of public record, Morgan said there was no concern over information that may have been stolen.

“There is nothing of a compromising nature at all on the site,” he said.

Morgan said the school believes a person legitimately utilizing a school computer was posting or linking material to the Web site and infected the site. The original source of the virus is not known.

The matter is being reported to the Exeter Police.

East Kingston Schools::

East Kingston Elementary Featured in Ed Tech Mag

Elementary schools have begun to introduce technology to their youngest students, who now enter school already tech-aware.
By Wylie Wong



Technology helps students think critically and become independent learners at a young age, say East Kingston’s Principal Jim Eaves and Tech Coordinator Heather Reed.

Is elementary school too early to introduce children to computers and other technology?

Not at East Kingston Elementary School in New Hampshire, where students start learning basic computer skills in kindergarten and every classroom is equipped with interactive whiteboards and digital cameras.

The school even uses technology in physical education class. During snowy winters, bundled-up students in snowshoes go geocaching, a high-tech treasure hunt game in which they tromp outdoors and use Global Positioning System de­­vices to find hidden items. The children learn mapping skills while they get their exercise.

“The goal is to help students become independent learners and have them think critically — technology is part of that,” says Heather Reed, East Kingston’s tech coordinator. “It’s doing research on their own, accessing all types of information, and knowing what is valid information.”

Early Introduction
Some school districts consider classroom technology appropriate for middle or high school students only. But a growing number of elementary schools such as East Kingston are testing that idea by introducing technology at a young age. Besides interactive whiteboards, elementary schools are taking advantage of document cameras and student response systems to liven up lectures and make learning more interactive and collaborative. Then there’s the technology that students use independently — computers, applications such as Microsoft Office, and handheld devices such as iPods and Flip Video camcorders — that teachers incorporate into lessons.

750,000
Interactive whiteboards sold worldwide in 2009

Source: Futuresource Consulting
Educators say it’s important to incorporate technology into the lower grades because most children entering school today are “Internet natives” — they have always had technology at home and have come to expect it wherever they go. Schools need to adapt and give students a multimedia experience, says East Kingston Principal Jim Eaves.

“Some teachers pooh-pooh technology and say kids are looking to be entertained,” Eaves says. “My answer to that is: So school is supposed to be painful? If kids are playing video games and are used to technology, then we better use technology tools to engage them and get them excited about learning.”

for the full artile see the link
http://www.edtechmag.com/k12/issues/april-may-2010/from-the-get-go.html

East Kingston Schools::

Liliane Conlan retires

East Kingston kindergarten teacher Liliane Conlan retires
Kindergarten teacher retires after 18 years



By Angela Diveglia
newsletter@seacoastonline.com
May 14, 2010 2:00 AM

EAST KINGSTON — East Kingston Elementary School is saying goodbye to kindergarten teacher Liliane Conlan, who is retiring after 18 years of teaching.

"It will be very difficult to leave something that I've done and loved for so many years," Conlan said. "But it's the right time."

Conlan said she has taught early childhood education, special needs students, Grade 1 and kindergarten in Connecticut, Massachusetts and at an Air Force base in Karamursel, Turkey.

"I like teaching children to read so my favorite grade is a cross between kindergarten and first grade," Conlan said.

"I've always been fascinated with the act of learning how to read, so my favorite subject is literacy."

Conlan also started the integrated preschool program during her time at East Kingston Elementary School. She worked on the preschool program her first three years of teaching at EKES.

"I started the program from the ground up, so I had a lot more responsibility then just being a teacher," Conlan said.

Conlan said she has a perfect group of students and parents for her last class in the 2009-10 school year. The hardest things for Conlan — about leaving the school behind — is missing the children and her supportive coworkers.

Conlan received her bachelor's degree in education and history at Emmanuel College in Boston and her master's degree in early childhood education at the University of New Hampshire.

She originally came to EKES for an internship. She took a leave of absence from her job in Lowell, Mass., and just never went back.

"I loved it in Lowell, it was very different very international," Conlan said. "I worked with Cambodian children, Laotian children, Vietnamese children, French-American, Spanish and the general population. I was there for about 20 years."

After she retires, she would like to take courses in literacy and sign language. She would also like to travel around the United States with her husband.

"My husband is not retiring right now, but we are hoping to downsize by selling our house at some point," Conlan said. "So if and when our house sells, we'll be making other decisions, but we would like to travel."

Kindergarten aide Kerry Whiteley worked with Conlan for a year and said she enjoyed watching Conlan with the students. She also said she is looking forward to working with the new kindergarten teacher at EKES, Marne Dohrmann, who now teaches first grade.

"I just can't get over that she has done this for so many years," Whiteley said. "She has more stamina then I do and only the kids can keep up with her."

Principal Jim Eaves said he admires Conlan the most for her undying passion to learn.

"To this day she still has a fiery passion for learning," Eaves said. "She is always taking classes and always looking to learn new stuff. That to me is the coolest thing about her."

Eaves said her expertise will be missed but he is very happy for her to take the next step in her life.

"She is one of the hardest working people that I know," Eaves said. "She has an incredible work ethic and is just one of those people that you like to have on your staff because she is so dedicated to her work, the kids and their families."

East Kingston Schools::

SCHOOL BOARD VACANCY

SCHOOL BOARD VACANCY

The East Kingston School Board has a
vacancy to fill on its Board for an unexpired term
This position must be filled by an East Kingston resident and
will be available until the regular
School District voting in March 2011.

Interested East Kingston residents are
invited to submit a “letter of interest” to
the Superintendent of Schools before 4:00 PM
on Friday, May 28, 2010.

Prospective candidates will be interviewed
by the School Board beginning at 6:00 PM on
Tuesday, June 8, 2010.
The Board will make the final decision.

Letters should be addressed to:
Mr. Michael A. Morgan, Superintendent,
SAU 16, 30 Linden Street , Exeter NH 03833

East Kingston Schools::

Children's author to visit EKES

Children's author to visit EKES

Peter H. Reynolds, renowned children's book author and illustrator will be visiting Grades K to 5 at East Kingston Elementary School on Thursday, May 6. Reynolds is the author and illustrator of many award-winning books including "Rose's Garden," "The North Star," "So Few of Me" and "My Very Big Little World." Students are excited to participate in a project that reflects each student's individuality and creativity.

East Kingston Schools::

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT


By Michael A. Morgan
Special to the Exeter News-Letter
April 17, 2010 2:42 PM
Board heads selected

Each year immediately after the March election each School Board chooses a chairperson to assist it in conducting its regular business. Chairpersons selected for the 2010-2011 term include:

Brentwood—Charlie Gargaly
East Kingston—Stacy Penna
Exeter—Patrick O'Day
Exeter Region Cooperative—Townley Chisholm
Kensington—Dana Donovan
Newfields—Carolyn Bellisio
Stratham—Travis Thompson

Outstanding awards

Associate Superintendent of Schools Paul Flynn was recently informed that he had been chosen to receive the 2010 Outstanding Community Service Award from the New Hampshire School Administrators Association. NHSAA praised him not only for “the wonderful knowledge, experience and energy that you bring to your work, but also the esteem educators in this state have for you.” The actual award will be presented to him at the annual conference of the state's superintendents in late June.

Seacoast School of Technology Animal and Plant Science teacher Anne DeMarco was selected recently as the winner of the annual Connor Award which is statewide recognition for being the 2010 Teacher and Advisor of the Year for Future Farmers of America (FFA). Ms. DeMarco has consistently distinguished herself by engaging her students in a wide variety of activities that lay the foundation for additional education and a successful career in this important aspect of hands-on education.

Cooperative Middle School Teacher Janet Prior has been selected as 2010 English Teacher of the Year. This outstanding award is a tribute to the dedication and commitment that Mrs. Prior has made to her students over the years. Her peers within the state recognized the significant accomplishments that she has made in encouraging students to read and write with skill and enthusiasm.

Cooperative Middle School Language Arts Teacher Sarah Cook has been selected as a finalist for the 2011 New Hampshire Teacher of the Year program. Over the next six months a team of educators from around the state will be doing additional research and meeting with the various finalists as the process moves toward selecting a winner early in the 2010-2011 school year.

Donna Buxton, owner of Buxton Oil Company, was selected recently as the Regional Champions for Children Award for her outstanding and unselfish work in contributing to and assisting with the Kids Who Care program at the Cooperative Middle School. Because of her efforts and the collaboration with her successful business, many area families have benefited from fuel assistance especially during the winter months. Donna's selection for this award that is sponsored by the New Hampshire School Administrators Association also recognizes her significant donations to toy drives, food drives, donations of truckloads of water to have a public outdoor skating rink, and efforts to help build a community playground.

Champions for Children

School communities within SAU 16 continue to recognize and celebrate the dedication of some of their own by selecting them as local Champions for Children. These individuals have distinguished themselves by significant involvement in programs and/or services that help their community. Recent “champions” include: Martha LaPerle and Ed Pease from the Cooperative Middle School for their outstanding work with the Builders Club and its service to the community; Susan Bessemer from Stratham Memorial School for her extraordinary work as a paraeducator who extends her influence and creative assistance to colleagues and students; Jordan Ambargis from Stratham Memorial School for his outstanding volunteer efforts including his work on the whole school field day, serving as a humorous Master of Ceremonies for various events and for his involvement in the cross country program; and Laura Gowing from Newfields Elementary School for her extensive work as a parent volunteer, co-president of the Newfields PTO, and enrichment program developer.

These individuals truly represent the dedication and commitment to public education that is so consistently apparent in SAU 16.

Trust Funds

Each of the seven School Districts within SAU 16 is an independent entity that is overseen by an elected School Board.

Each District is able to establish and maintain its own “savings accounts” that are designated either as “capital reserve accounts” or “expendable trust accounts” that may only be used for purposes designated by the voters at the annual district meeting. Following is a summary of each of these accounts by district and its approximate current balance:

Brentwood:

Special Education--$62,800
School Building--$261,000
Maintenance--$36,000

Exeter:

Sick Bank Trust--$98,400
2002 Capital Reserve--$228,000
Coop Building Renovation Fund--$300,650
CMS Bond Reserve--$2,080,000
Transportation Expendable Trust--$107,800
Exeter Building Fund--$506,000

Exeter Region Cooperative:

Special Education--$485,000 (including funds approved in March 2010)
Maintenance--$290,000 (including funds approved in March 2010)
SST Building Fund--$23,000
Capital Reserve Fund--$372,000

Kensington:

Educational Trust--$10,700
J. York Scholarship Fund--$6,500

Newfields:

Maintenance--$15,425 (including funds approved in March 2010)
School Parking Lot Engineering Fund--$7,200
Debbie Greenberg Trust--$4,800

Stratham:

Maintenance--$75,500
Special Education--$50,500

East Kingston:

Elementary Development--$1500
School Building Expansion--$590,000
Special Education--$39,500
School Maintenance--$31,000
Sargent Trust--$301,000

Upcoming contract negotiations

SAU 16 currently has 11 different collective bargaining units. Contract negotiations usually begin in the fall prior to the expiration of the contract. This process allows members of the individual association to bargaining with representatives of the respective school board. Contracts that will need to be negotiated include:

Brentwood—Teachers
Exeter Region Cooperative—Teachers
Kensington—Teachers
Newfields—Teachers
Stratham—Teachers

Dance Rules—1950s and 1960s

Still posted on the entrance door to the old Tuck Gym are the rules for Exeter High School dances that were regularly held there over a generation or two ago.

Rule # 5: Dances are considered dress up affairs, unless otherwise stated, and no boy will be admitted without a suit coat, shirt, tie, and good looking trousers. Girls should dress appropriately—afternoon dresses, jumpers, attractive skirts and blouses, suits, etc.

Rule # 6: There will be no smoking until after the box office closes.

Rule # 7: All people in attendance at a dance must behave in a ladylike and gentlemanly manner. People behaving otherwise will be required to leave.

Interesting!

Did You Know?

Mandy Akerley's fourth-grade class in East Kingston sent personal letters and cards and hundreds of pounds of candy to US troops overseas this year. Members of her class have also served as greeters at the Pease Tradeport when troops have returned to the states.

Four EHS students, Erin Benotti, Daniel Lameyer, Alex Jones, and Derek Mraz won the state-level economics competition that is part of the 2010 National Economics Challenge. Under the director of social studies teacher, Rob Newman, the team competed on the basis of their knowledge of microeconomics, macroeconomics, and international/current economic events. This team will represent New Hampshire in the national semi-finals that will be held at the end of April.

EHS senior from East Kingston, Josh Vlasich, was named as the 2009 Boys' Gatorade Soccer Player of the Year.

Newfields principal vacancy

After seven years of service to Newfields Elementary School, Principal Dennis Dobe, has resigned effective June 30, 2010 to accept the position of Principal of Woodland Heights School in Laconia. Woodland Heights is an elementary school with approximately 420 students. The search to replace Mr. Dobe is underway and will be completed by the end of June.

Adequate Yearly Progress

Approximately six months after students in Grades 3-8 and 11 are administered the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) test, state education officials release information relative to each school's and each district's Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as required by the national No Child Left Behind law. The ultimate goal is that every child in every school in the country will be "proficient" in reading and math by 2014. Every two years the expected "proficient" level rises as it works its way toward the 100% goal.

AYP in this test is determined for the entire school and for each appropriate subgroup within the school. In SAU 16, subgroups are generally "Economically Disadvantaged" students and "Educational Disability" students. Subgroups must include a minimum of 11 students.

Schools and/or Districts that do not achieve AYP for two consecutive years in a particular area are designated as a "School (or District) In Need of Improvement" (SINI or DINI).

AYP results for the October 2009 testing period were released in early April. Every school in SAU 16 achieved Adequate Yearly Progress for the entire school in both Reading and Math. Main Street School in Exeter, Stratham Memorial School, and the Cooperative Middle School also achieved AYP in each of its subgroups.

The performance of subgroups in the other schools, however, led to their designations of not meeting AYP. This is the first year that any of the elementary schools within SAU 16 were so identified.


Michael A. Morgan is the superintendent of schools for SAU 16 (Exeter, Stratham, Brentwood, Newfields, East Kingston and Kensington)

East Kingston Schools::

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT


By Michael A. Morgan
Special to the Exeter News-Letter
March 19, 2010 4:49 PM
Voting Day 2010 Results—Warrant Articles

Budgets

Brentwood—Proposed Budget ($5,192,185) APPROVED
East Kingston—Proposed Budget ($2,521,570)
Exeter—Proposed Budget ($14,496,744) APPROVED
Exeter Region Cooperative—Proposed Budget ($48,529,350) APPROVED
Kensington—Proposed Budget ($2,827,978) APPROVED
Newfields—Proposed Budget ($2,288,645) APPROVED
Stratham—Proposed Budget ($9,487,290) APPROVED

Trust Funds

Exeter Region Cooperative—Special Education—Add $100,000 APPROVED
(New Balance: $485,000)
Exeter Region Cooperative—Maintenance—Add $80,000 APPROVED
(New Balance: $300,000)
Newfields—Maintenance—Add $10,000 APPROVED (New Balance: $15,425)
Stratham—Maintenance Trust—Add $50,000 APPROVED (New Balance: $75,500)
Stratham—Special Education—Add $25,000 APPROVED (New Balance: $50,500)

Contracts

East Kingston—Teachers (2 years) APPROVED
Exeter—Paraprofessionals (3 years) APPROVED
Exeter Region Cooperative—Administrators (2 years) APPROVED
Exeter Region Cooperative—Teachers (3 years) NOT APPROVED
Kensington—Teachers (1 year) APPROVED
Newfields—Teachers (1 year) APPROVED

Other

Brentwood—Change to SB 2 Format—NOT APPROVED
Exeter—Bond Payment for its share of Coop Bond— APPROVED
Exeter Region Cooperative—Add recommendation from Budget Committee—
APPROVED
Exeter Region Cooperative—Support repeal of “Evergreen Clause”—APPROVED
Newfields—Discontinue Parking Lot Trust Fund—APPROVED
Stratham—Generator--$25,000 APPROVED


Voting Day 2010 Results—School Board Members

Brentwood—Linda Garey
East Kingston—Bob Nigrello
Exeter—Patrick O'Day and Jean Tucker
Exeter Region Cooperative—Liz Faria (Brentwood; Barbara RigordaEva (Kensington)—Write-In Candidate—Declined to serve at this time—Seat is vacant; Kate Miller (Exeter)
Kensington—Alice Mower
Newfields—Michael Price
Stratham—Luke Pickett

EHS Graduation

Graduation for the Exeter High School Class of 2010 will be held at 5:30 pm on Friday, June 11, 2010.

Did You Know?

Five members of the EHS National Honor Society joined Coach Jim Tufts for the annual Penguin Plunge at Hampton Beach recently. This event supports NH Special Olympics. Student participants this year included Ben Anderson, Alison Joy, Rebecca Kelley, Dan Lameyer, and Derek Mraz.

There are almost 24,000 registered voters in the six towns within SAU 16. In 2009 less than 4,500 individuals cast a ballot. In 2010 approximately 4,600 ballots were cast. That is approximately 19% of the electoral being directly involved in the process.

Scott Walsh, a custodian at the Cooperative Middle School, is a published author. His book, 6 Degrees of Reality, is a compilation of six adult science fiction stories. It was published in June 2008.

The Seacoast School of Technology (SST) publishes a monthly newsletter, The Beacon, which provides substantial information about its programs and activities. It is available electronically at www.SeacoastTech.com

EHS Athletic Awards

At the 2010 Parade of Champions awards ceremony held recently in Bedford varsity basketball and spring track coach, Jeff Holmes, received the Walter A Smith Coaches Award. At the same event, Bryan Kolacz, 2007 graduate of EHS, was recognized as the “May 2009” Athlete of the Month by the New Hampshire Union Leader. Brian recently won the national championship in the Hammer Toss. He is a sophomore at Keene State College.

Veteran wrestling coach and former member of the Exeter Region Cooperative School Board, Roy Morrisette, will be inducted into the NH Coaches Association Hall of Fame at the end of March.

Junior Jessica LaChance placed first in both NHIAA Class L and Meet of Champions Diving competition. Sophomore Hillary Holmes placed first in the Class L state track meet in the Long Jump.

Varsity Boys Soccer Coach, Jim Tufts, was selected as the 2009 Soccer Coach of the Year.

Energy Grant Awarded to East Kingston

The Department of Environmental Services recently awarded East Kingston Elementary School a grant of $340,000 to install a solar array and new windows to reduce traditional energy consumption. Board Member Bob Nigrello played a key role in this grant process and his efforts will make a significant impact on the East Kingston community.

Champions for Children

School communities within SAU 16 continue to recognize and celebrate the dedication of some of their own by selecting them as local Champions for Children. These individuals have distinguished themselves by significant involvement in programs and/or services that help their community. Recent “champions” include: Susan McFarland Moynahan from the Coop for her work with the Seacoast School of Technology; Sue Bendroft for her work with the Exeter School District and her role in serving as Clerk for the Exeter Region Cooperative School District; and Lili Spinosa for her dedication and service to the children and families in Kensington.

US Census

The importance of completing the 2010 Census form being mailed to homes this month cannot be stressed enough. The federal government is required to complete this process every 10 years and the data gathered impacts many of the federal and state programs that bring money to our communities. In many cases, these funds are used to offset mandated services and contribute to less local property taxes being collected. Please encourage families in our respective communities to complete and return the form as soon as possible to reduce the need to send census workers to individual homes.

Michael A. Morgan is the superintendent of schools for SAU 16 (Exeter, Stratham, Brentwood, East Kingston, Kensington and Newfields).