Schools finalize activity fees, discuss CHS accreditation

The Canton School Committee recently reaffirmed plans to restructure the fee schedule for extracurricular activities and performing arts at Canton High School and the Galvin Middle School.

The new one-time $60 fee at CHS will cover participation in foreign exchanges, debate team and mock trial, math team, school newspaper and literary magazine (editors), chess club, and Future Problem Solvers (FPS). At the middle school the fee will cover intramural sports and after-school activities such as FPS and the computer and chess clubs.

A separate $75 fee has been established for participation in the performing arts. At CHS, the fee covers the drama club, school musicals and plays, a capella, and jazz ensemble. At the Galvin, the fee covers school musicals, jazz and wind ensembles, and chamber orchestra.

Both fees are unrelated to the athletic user fee, which remains unchanged at $195 per student per sport, with additional fees for ice hockey, gymnastics and swimming. There are no fees associated with any extracurricular activities at the elementary level.

In other news from the July 31 School Committee meeting, CHS Principal Derek Folan updated the committee on the status of the school’s re-accreditation efforts following a fairly positive report issued by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

Every 10 years, NEASC conducts a four-day visit of a school to evaluate its performance in relation to NEASC accreditation standards.

The 79-page report, which is posted on the school website, includes 51 commendations and 51 recommendations. Folan said the school and the community represented themselves very well throughout the process and NEASC officials recognized the “quality education and environment that exists at CHS.”

“The 10-year visit, however, is not the end but really the beginning,” he said. “As an accredited school, we have an obligation to strive for greatness and continually improve.”

The following recommendations have or will be completed by the end of 2013: ensuring all grading practices are consistent and standards based; enhancing the rigor across all levels with additional AP courses and additional support classes; and implementing common final exams and a Core Argumentative Writing Assessment Program for all departments.

Folan will submit two written progress reports, the first of which focuses on two recommendations and is due by February 2014.

One recommendation is to make the library available to students and teachers before, during, and after school. Folan said once school reopens, the library will be accessible until 3:30 p.m. and students who need morning access will be granted this opportunity. The second recommendation is to implement a school-wide analytic rubric that identifies targeted high levels of achievement for each of the school’s 21^st century learning expectations. The school’s assessment committee is in the process of updating the existing rubrics and the staff will develop an implementation plan.

The second report, due by October 1, 2014, focuses on 10 recommendations and one has community-wide implications.

NEASC recommended an urgent repair of the CHS tennis courts, which School Committee members consider a town-wide matter since residents also use the courts. School Committee Chairman Cindy Thomas said the committee will seek aid from the Board of Selectmen and the town and possibly seek funding from the Community Preservation Committee, of which School Committee member Robert Golledge is a member.

Folan said one of the remaining recommendations — implementation of a common curricular format — has recently been completed, and he praised the K-12 Vertical Alignment Committee for its work in this area.

Other recommendations underway include establishing a process to ensure all core values are reflected in the culture of the school; implementing a process to ensure depth of understanding and application of knowledge through inquiry, problem solving, higher-order thinking and cross-disciplinary learning; and implementing a formal process for teachers to improve their instructional practices.

The NEASC committee, already impressed with the school’s Boomerang Project that links upperclassmen to freshmen, would like to take it a step further. The next step is to institute a formal advisory program in which each student has an adult other than a guidance counselor who knows the student well and assists him or her in achieving the school’s 21^st century learning expectations.

The NEASC committee also set a goal that each CHS student, over the course of the high school experience, is enrolled in a minimum of one heterogeneous core course.

Besides the tennis courts, NEASC would like the School Department to address “insufficient technology and resources in the library” to more effectively support instruction. Folan said the school, thanks to a donation by the CHS Alumni Association, now has a projector and large screen for full-class presentations in the library and possibly a second projector and screen for another class area.

Folan also mentioned two upcoming special events at CHS. The first is a program for students and parents on October 9 called Rachel’s Challenge. Started by the parents of Columbine shooting victim Rachel Scott, the program will focus on how students can show kindness and respect to others. A presentation geared toward parents will be held later that evening. Folan said the special event was planned by K-12 Wellness Director Katey Swanson. The second event, planned for late October, will be a Canton High Showcase for middle school students and parents to inquire about any CHS class, activity, or sport.

Are you a Citizen subscriber? Click here to order or renew your subscription.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=21928

Posted by Mike Berger on Aug 15 2013. Filed under News, Schools. Both comments and pings are currently closed.