Joseph E. Smith, Principal
My first year as principal of
The
accreditation process centered on how
The Mission Standard summary includes reference to the conscious effort that we have put forth in developing and utilizing our Mission Statement as part of our decision making and operation. While we have some work to do that will enable us to better measure the expectation of our mission, we are confident that we are in the right place to use the mission to help us to continue to engage all of our students in a quality education. We have been commended for the work involved in the process of developing and rewriting our current mission statement, as well as for having clear academic, civic and social expectations. We have been encouraged to find a way to have parents more involved in regular reviews of the mission statement to ensure that we reflect the values of the community in future discussions of the school’s mission. Students should be encouraged to take part in future mission review processes.
The Curriculum Standard summary indicates that we have clearly identified academic expectations, but that we also need to continue to work on the development and use of appropriate rubrics as part of a comprehensive assessment program. We have been commended for providing a variety of extended learning opportunities for students to earn credits outside of the traditional classroom. Programs such as the Law and Public Safety and Security Pathway, The Academy of Arts and Design, The Senior Project and Monadnock Community Connections School (MC2) all received positive commendations. It has been recommended that we continue to review the district wide curriculum to more clearly align the K-12 curriculum throughout the district. Our staff is encouraged to continue to develop more interdisciplinary experiences for all of our students and encouraged to continue to review the current leveling system.
The Assessment Standard summary clearly indicates that we have to continue to work on development of alternative assessment strategies. The high school staff has begun to work on collaborative and real world assessment programs that encourage students to demonstrate knowledge of particular curriculum goals. The Senior Project was highlighted as an exemplary model that integrates assessments of academic, social and civic goals. The staff has been hard at work to develop rubrics to provide a better understanding of assessment goals. Staff members are working to develop and implement more interdisciplinary offerings that are based on assessment results. Monadnock Community Connections Program (MC2) was earmarked as a quality program that provides wonderful examples of alternative assessments. We have been encouraged to review assessment strategies to improve the measurement of civic and social goals, to continue to develop school wide, department and curriculum specific rubrics and to provide professional development opportunities in the area of alternative assessment.
The Leadership Standard summary is reflective of the initiatives of the two new principals involved in the accreditation process. With Mr. Young as the middle school principal and me as the high school principal, both of us new to our current positions, I am pleased that we have been recognized for our efforts to promote school reform within our respective school grade levels. It has been noted that administrators are visible and accessible to staff, students and parents. We have been encouraged to continue to promote our individual visions for our respective schools and to continue to provide opportunities for the staff to become more aware of the potential benefits of providing more heterogeneously grouped classes as documented through current research and best practices. The committee believes that we should continue to look at alternative scheduling patterns to help provide more class size equity and to promote more interdisciplinary instructional strategies. We have been commended for the concerted effort to recognize student achievement as well as for a continual effort to provide for a safe and comfortable learning environment. We have also been encouraged to continue to encourage members of the school community to become more involved in the school’s well-being.
The School Resources for the Learning
portion of the report indicate that we are consistent with the mission of the
school. We provide a wide range of
support services such as special education, counseling services, food service,
health services, psychological services, library/research services and a full
time school resource officer. We
received commendations for the development of some alternative learning opportunities
for our students. Monadnock Community
Connections (MC2) is identified as a prime example of a program recognized by
the State of
The Community Resources for Learning Standard report includes commendations for the cleanliness and daily maintenance of the building as well as for the improvements made to the athletic fields. Our students and staff have been commended for their flexibility in crowded and inadequate facilities. It is recommended that we increase our communication with the community to promote an awareness of facility needs; that we implement a capital improvement plan for the repair and maintenance of the school’s infrastructure; that we fully comply with ADA and OSHA standards; that we develop, fund and implement a plan to address space needs and all health and safety issues; that we increase funding for repairs and maintenance of the facility; and that we ensure an adequate and dependable source of revenue to provide and maintain appropriate school programs, personnel, services, facilities, equipment, technological support, materials and supplies for student learning.
Our staff and students should be commended for the outstanding work that they each contributed to the self-study process and to the actual on-site evaluation which took place in September, 2006. I believe that this report is a fair representation of our school and strongly encourage each and every voter in the district to become familiar with the contents of this report. We will not be made aware of the NEASC Commission’s final determination of our accreditation status until late in March of this year.
I am pleased to include recognition to the following individuals:
1.
2. Angela Bartlett received recognition from the NH Art Educators as part of the Scholastic Art Awards. Angela received a Gold Award for her drawing Luminiere and a Silver Award for her drawing Mirage.
3. In recognition of his 24 years of service as coach of the Monadnock Softball Team, the school board voted to name the MRHS Softball Field the Thomas Stewart Field.
4. The Class of 2009 donated $75.00 to the Monadnock Humane Society as part of the annual Walk for Animals Campaign
5. The following girls competed in the Miss New Hampshire TEEN USA Pageant: Rachael Dille, Tabitha Ellis, Megan Mesic and Danielle Messer.
6.
7. Mr. Doug Smith has been chosen to be inducted into the Hall of Fame by the New Hampshire Coaches Association. Doug has been a Monadnock Coach for over 25 years.
8. The Monadnock Chapter of the Key Club raised $248.12 as part of the Trick or Treat for UNICEF campaign.
9. Future Business Leaders of America sponsored 12 food baskets that were donated to the Community Kitchen at Thanksgiving.
10. I am pleased to recognize the top ten students in the Class of 2006:
Channez Schmidt,
Nicole Carter,
Katelyn Giles,
Nicholas Acosta,
Elizabeth Towle, Swanzey Tyler Croteau, Swanzey
Nicole Carter and Elizabeth Towle served as co-valedictorians for the Class of 2006
11. The Following Students were recognized as Husky of The Week during the 2005/2006 school year
Elizabeth Towle Daniel Duplisse Tim Gallagher
Kristal Hale Nick Acosta Rory Burke
Kirk Mattson Kayla Leber Amanda White
Trevor Lippincott Dakota Cook Tim Richmond
Sarahanne Cavolo Alyssa Smith Charlie Castonguay
Mia Hulslander Michael Bush Alex Lippincott
Jarrod Hamlin Ben Dexter Richard Symonds
Katrina Baumgartner Collin Snide Kelli-Anne Monroe
Alex Trombly Anna Lencioni Alyshia Roche
12. The Husky Activities Committee donated 20 baskets of food for the Thanksgiving Food drive at the Community Kitchen.
13. The Monadnock Staff raised $600.00 to contribute to the National Lee Denim Day campaign to fight breast cancer.
14. The Following Students are members of the National Honor Society:
Grade
12
Hannah Arvidson Michelle Bison Zachary Blodgett
Ella Brockelman Michael Bush Rachel Butterfield
Lyndsey Carpenter Alaura Carson Charles Castonguay
Leanna Cota Rachael Dille Steven Dille
Maura Dower Sarah Durfee Jeff Evans
Clark Husted Alder
Alex Lippincott Julie Madden Allison Mangan
Elizabeth Mitchell Kevin Robbits Jesse Russell
Ashley Simpson Alyssa Smith Stephen Stark
Thomas Stark Mary Tague Stephanie Toegel
Alex Trombly Justin Ware Daniel Williimas
Laurence Wolf
Grade
11
Alex Ball Elizabeth Bush Kiersten
Amanda Devoid Benjamin Dexter Stephanie Dill
Alison Dreyfuss Michelle Drogue Hunter Durfee
Jessica Ellis Emily Hanrahan Meghan Hardy
Mia Hulslander Grace Kelly Brian Murphy
Thomas Nason Natasha Pastor Jennifer Roloff
Kathryn Swider James Toye Jessica Trombley
Cameron Welch Gail Winsor Kristen Wolf
Sara Ziman
15. The following students were elected as Student Government and Class Council Officers for 2006-2007
Current Government President – Charles Castonguay
President Elect – Vice President – Mia Hulslander
Class
of 2007
President – Alex Lippincott Vice President – Rachel Butterfield
Secretary – Liz Mitchell Treasurer – Stephanie Toegel
Class Council Representatives – Darren Morse and Alyssa Smith
Student Government Representatives - Leanna Cota, Ella Brockelman,
Liz Mitchell, Rachael Butterfield
and Tom Stark
Class
of 2008
President – Mia Hulslander Vice President – Ben Dexter
Secretary – Kate Swider Treasurer – Elizabeth Bush
Class Council Representatives - Stephanie Dill, Mimi Rhines, James Toye
Student Government Representatives - Stacey Alexander, Kiersten Clark,
Alison Drefuss, Kate Swider
and James Toye
Class of 2009
President – Trevor Lippincott Vice President – Katrina Baumgartner
Secretary - Sarah Dick Treasurer – Brittany Croteau
Class
of 2010
President – Ricky Towle Vice President – Ali Towle
Secretary – Rebecca Breen Treasurer – Sarah Husted
Class Council Representatives - Breonna Simard, Rebecca Letendre
and Melissa Pierce
Student Government Representative- Monique Giroux
16. Tom Stark was named as a National Finalist in the Wendy’s High School Heisman Competition.
17.
Rochelle Kretschmar, Tina Howe, Scott Grant, Chris
Davis, Stephanie Binkowski, Doug Sprague, Alicia Snow and Steve Lavigne all
represented
18.
Mrs. Linda Minickiello was featured in an interview for
an article included in the
19. Helene Nikiforakis was recognized as an exemplary Big Sister by Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Monadnock Region, Inc.
20.
21. Caiutlyn Brown received an American Visions Award from the National Scholastic Art Association.
22.
Angela Bartlett’s drawing was selected to be part of
the National Scholastic Arts Award Exhibition in
23.
Members of the National Junior Honor Society and the
National Honor Society participated in the Opportunities Day at
24. The Monadnock Fish and Game Club received recognition from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department for continued support by taking part in the annual Atlantic Salmon stocking in the Spring and pheasant release in the Fall.
25. The Huskies Activity Committee donated $50.00 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
26.
The Monadnock Science Club members Collin Snide, Andrew
Cox, Andy Bisson, Jesse Schmidt, August Baur and Chris Leiby, participated in
the National Rocketry event held in
27. Ashlee Patnode became the first Monadnock student to be elected to the New Hampshire Future Business Leaders State Leadership Team.
28. Courtney Favreau placed first in the State Future Business Leaders Word Processing Competition.
29. Monadnock students and staff contributed to the American Red Cross Blood drive where 54 pints of blood were collected.
30. Future Business Leaders of America organization contributed $140.00 to the Make A Wish Foundation.
31. The Key Club collected $237.13 during the Pennies for Patients campaign.
32. The National Honor Society donated $150.00 to the Toys for Tots campaign.
33. The following students received recognition for participating in the New Hampshire Technology Student Association Conference:
Rusty Blodgett Rory Burke Camilla Garcia
Samantha Gunseth Johnathan Hugel Kyle Smith
Gareth Thomas Keith Hopkins Levi Smith
34. Mr. Thomas Stewart was named the Northeast Sectional Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Softball Coaches.
35. Mrs. Heather Gigliello was named the Teacher of the Year by the local Golden Rod Grange. Mrs. Gigliello was later named the State Teacher of the Year by the New Hampshire Grange.
36.
Mrs. Mary Fay was named the English Teacher of the Year
by the New Hampshire Council of Teachers of English. Mrs. Fay represented the New Hampshire
English Teachers at the National Convention in
37. Mrs. Deborah Crowder was named the Art Teacher of the Year by the New Hampshire Art Educators Association.
38. Alder Keene was chosen to participate in the New Hampshire Allstate Art Festival in April, 2007.
39. Monadnock students served as volunteer helpers to clean up the downtown area during and after the annual Pumpkin Festival.
40. I extend my sincere thanks to the following staff members who retired at the end of the 2006 school year:
Ms. Nancy Lines Mrs. Susan Sciuto Ms. Kathleen Trubiano
Mrs. Cathy Luopa Mrs. Maureen Lastih
Joseph Smith Principal B.S.
M.Ed.
C.A.G.S.
Douglas Gagne Asst. Prin. B.S.Ed.
M.Ed.
Brian Pickering Asst. Prin. B.S.
Paula Aarons (G) Dance
Instructor B.A. Hunter College NYC
M.Ed.
Lisa Alexander English B.A.
Richard Allen Dept. Chair, B.A.
English M.A.
Joseph Amaio Mathematics B.A.
Gerald Appell Social Studies B.A.
M.A.
Gerald Babonis Science B.S.
M.S.
Dane Badders Science B.S.
M.Ed.
Judith Breckell Dept. Chair B.S.Ed.
FACS
Mary Brooks Special Services B.S.
M.Ed.
Michael Brown Business Ed. B.S.
M.Ed.
James Butterfield Dept. Chair, B.S.
Science M.A.
Judith Casey English B.S.Ed. SUNY - Brockport
Ellen Cronin Athletic B.A.
Director M.Ed.
M.A.
Philip Crotto Dept Chair, Fine
Arts B.Ed.
Band Director
Debbra Crowder Fine Arts B.F.A.
M.Ed.
Raymond Dunn Business Ed. B.S.Ed.
M.A.T.
Clara Farrar World Language B.S.
B.A.
Paul Fazio Mathematics B.S.
Robert Fleming Science B.S.Ed.
MST
L. Robert Galloway Mathematics B.Ed.
M.A.T.
Barbara Geiss Guidance B.A.
M.Ed.
MST
Jennifer Gildner-Blinn Art B.A.
Jeanette Girard FACS B.E.
M.Ed.
Bonnie Glass Special Services B.A.
Eric Gross English B.A.
M.Ed.
Robert Hale English B.A.
M.Ed.
Andrew Harrison Social Studies B.A.
M.A.
Kathleen M. Hurst Special Services B.A.
Coordinator M.Ed.
Dennis Immergut Tech Ed. BFA New York Institute of
Technology
MFA Rochester Institute of
Technology Michael Jillson Special
Ed. B.A.
Cheryl
Kahn Business
Ed. B.S.
M.A.
Elliot Kaplan, M.D. Science B.A.
M.D.
Wayne Kassotis Resource Officer B.S.
Maureen Kavanagh Physical Ed. B.S.
Thomas Kenison Driver Ed. B.S.
Gary Kornfield Dept. Chair, B.S.
Physical Ed. M.S.S.
Bernadette Kuhn Mathematics B.A.
M.Ed.
Lori LaBrie FACS/Health B.S.
M.Ed.
Gerald Kuhn Dept. Chair, B.S.
Tech. Ed. M.A.
John W. Magee, III Psychologist B.A. Pennsylvania State Univ.
M.Ed.
Ph.D. Pennsylvania
State Univ.
David Mason Phys. Ed. B.S.
M.A.
Vicki L. Mercier FACS B.S
M.Ed.
Bradley Miller World Language B.A.
Stephen Morris Social Studies B.S.
Michael Morrison Science B.S.
M.S.T
M.E.S.
Diane Nichols World Language B.S.
M.Ed.
Cathy O'Brien Dept. Chair, B.A. SUNY at
World Language
Jennifer O’Donnell Mathematics B.S.
Carolyn Olney English B.E.
Jennifer O’Neill (G) Guidance B.S.
Counselor M.A.
Dona Page Guidance B.A.
Counselor M.Ed.
Elizabeth Pamulapati Special Services B.S.
M.S.
Deborah Patria Social Studies B.A.
Mark Polifrone Fine Arts B.S.
B.M.