Can anything be done about the morning "stampede"?
Principal Kelly assured everyone that there were lots of conversations happening at the school level. Many adults present shared the same concern and there were several possible solutions proposed. Unfortunately, there were just as many reasons that those solutions were not possible.
- Could there be additional entry points into the school? This presents a security issue. In addition, Principal Kelly cherishes her interaction each morning with the students and learns a great deal in those few minutes.
- Could the doors be opened earlier? There is a risk that kids will be unsupervised as the teachers' contract states that they do not have to in their classrooms until 8:20 AM. School must begin at 8:25 AM to meet the instructional hours of the school year.
- Can we allow kids into the lobby early? All 15 elementary schools have agreed to follow the same procedure this year and for security reasons, the doors will not be unlocked until 8:20 AM at all of the elementary schools.
- The teachers contract is being negotiated this year, is there an opportunity to examine this to get teachers into the classroom at 8:15? These five minutes would add up to two extra weeks each year and increasing teachers salaries across the Newton Public Schools would be a significant amount of money. This cost for this could have undesirable consequences such as larger class sizes.
- Could students line up by class? Line up in three lines? Let in the first three steps and once they are in let in the next three? These and other ideas will be considered.
Homework:- Parents are pleased with the amount of homework that has been coming home - lesser quantity and higher quality.
- But will students be ready for middle school? Several parents chimed in with their experiences with their middle school aged children. They feel that their former Franklin students were well prepared. Fifth grade homework ramps up in preparation for middle school and students spend a lot of time in 6th and 7th grade learning time management skills. By middle school age, students can handle the additional homework. It is developmentally more appropriate.
- Talk about your approach. Is it from you or from the district? Principal Kelly's experience as a parent has been that the amount of time spent on homework takes away from creative development. As a second grader, her eldest daughter wrote a 70 page novel out of her own interest in writing. Now she doesn't write, or play piano or guitar because she has no time for it.
- Students in all Newton Public Schools are learning the same content at the same pace and are being assessed at the same time. This enables teachers to share best practices. Now that there is curriculum mapping, we can be assured that all students in Newton are learning the same thing at the same time. Teachers still have the flexibility to teach using their own styles, skills and strengths.
My child held a lemonade stand and wants to donate the proceeds, what is the most helpful?
Fulfilling teacher wish lists is the most helpful. Many teachers have their wish lists posted on their classroom websites, in their classrooms, or in emails to families. Teachers often buy supplies for their own classrooms. Other options for the money would be to give it to the room parent for the classroom fund, or to donate it to the PTO. Money cannot be donated directly to the Franklin Elementary School as an entity. The Franklin PTO is a registered nonprofit and can accept money that will be used for the Franklin.
So as you can read, a lot of topics were covered in 50 minutes! We hope that you will join us next time and share your questions, concerns and ideas. The remaining Principal coffees will be held on:
- Friday, November 7 - 8:40-9:30 AM
- Friday, December 5 - 8:40-9:30 AM
- Friday, January 9 - 8:40-9:30 AM
- Friday, February 6 - 8:40-9:30 AM
- Friday, March 6 - 8:40-9:30 AM
- Friday, April 10 - 8:40-9:30 AM
- Friday, May 1 - 8:40-9:30 AM
