Johnson Elementary School
School Committee 
Special Joint Session
School Committee Meeting,
March 9th 2010 @ 7pm at Town Hall
read Notice & Invitation to Attend
A Message
from our Superintendent
Dear Parents/Guardians:
In has been an exciting and fast paced 8 months since I became Superintendent of Schools in Nahant. In addition to the normal expectations of the school year, the staff and I, often with the assistance of community volunteers, have undertaken numerous new initiatives to enhance the education of the Johnson School students.
Our first priority was to continue to emphasize the focus on academic achievement and the instructional program. This month, March, the students will again begin the cycle of state assessment tests known as MCAS. Since September we have been adding new instructional units and using newly purchased materials that are both traditional read and write activities plus technology based lessons and challenges. The teachers have been participating in a professional development program based at Tufts University that emphasizes Literacy.
A second and equally important initiative was to develop a multi-year strategic plan for the school district. A group of 16 staff and community volunteers has been meeting regularly since August and during the month of March we will be sharing our draft version of the mission, vision, values and action plan at full faculty meetings, morning coffees at the Johnson School, meetings of school groups such as the PTO and with other interested parties. By the end of the month we will have a school website link to the full draft which will be part of the School Committee agenda(s) in April.
This time of year the district also focuses on developing a budget for the 2010-2011 school year to be presented at the April annual Town Meeting. Meetings with the Town Administration and Finance Committee are productive and ongoing, but as everyone no doubt understands the fiscal climate is particularly restrictive. We have faced some dramatic and unanticipated costs in Special Education out of district tuition costs that will require particular attention during the next two months.
I have had the opportunity to meet with many of you individually and in group settings.
I hope to expand those personal contacts as the school year continues. In the meantime, please be encouraged to contact me at your convenience to discuss any school matters of particular interest to you.
Dr. Philip F. Devaux
Superintendent of Schools.
Parent Workshop
Sheri Lanzarone, Adjustment Counselor
conducted a workshop for Parents
on Tuesday, March 2, 2009
Click here to view the handout
Influenza Updates
Our website is the best way to stay informed. Please check our website frequently for the latest updates during the flu season.
click here to read more
Attention Parents!!!
Parking in the fire lane in front of the school is strictly forbidden.
Cars should not park in the drop off areas. Parents wishing to escort their child in the morning, or remain at school, should park in one of the designated parking lots. Once a student has exited the vehicle, the vehicle must pull away and leave the area to avoid traffic jams and accidents.
There will be a police presence at school to help us enforce this school policy.
Noncompliance of this school policy will not be tolerated. Your cooperation in this matter would be appreciated.
Professional Development
January 2010 Update:
Professional Development Update!
The teachers at the Johnson School will have a full day professional development day on Wednesday, January 27th. Teachers will attend at workshop conducted by Susan Yeomans from Study Island. The on-site training will be a hands- on workshop for teachers. Teachers will learn about using the Study Island program to enhance the curriculum and prepare students for MCAS. Teachers will also learn how to analyze data and use it to improve student performance.
October Update:
Professional Development Update!!
On Wednesday November 4th we will have a full day professional development day. Lynn Schade from the Center for Child Development. Teachers will attend a workshop in the morning conducted by Mrs. Schade and in the afternoon work in teams to develop curriculum to use in the classroom. This is the second session teachers will have. They are being instructed on Comprehension Strategies to increase student reading proficiency. Teachers will work on units of study using comprehension strategies.
September:
September 23rds is the first early release day of the year. This year the four early release days and the two full days will be dedicated to training for teachers in reading instruction. We are collaborating with the consultants from the Center for Applied Child Development at Tufts University. Consultants will be coaching teachers in class and conducting workshops during the early the lease time. The focus this year will be tools and techniques for improving reading instruction.
Teachers are very excited to be working with the consultant teachers from Tufts. Teachers will be working to expand their repertoire of teaching skills and raising student achievement in reading.
Teachers participated in a Responsive Classroom Sampler Workshop on Monday, August 31, 2009. This workshop was presented on the first day for teachers and was attended by the entire school staff. Responsive Classroom is a practical approach to creating safe, challenging classrooms and building social emotional competencies throughout the school day. This workshop was funded by the Nahant Educational Foundation.
Strategic Plan Advisory Committee (SPAC) Update!!
In July the Nahant School Committee appointed a 15 member Strategic Plan Advisory Committee (SPAC) for the purpose of planning the multi-year future perspective for the Nahant Public Schools and the Johnson School. In addition to two school committee members, the Johnson School Principal and myself, the SPAC includes representatives from the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, faculty, parent groups, the Nahant Education Foundation and the community at large.
The first meeting of SPAC was held on August 18 and the agenda focused on the fundamental structure of a strategic plan in our school setting and the identification of some preliminary priority issues facing the school district. The topics touched upon such areas as school finance, curriculum, instruction, and technology.
The SPAC will be meeting regularly, at least once per month, with the intent of completing a comprehensive draft of a strategic plan by April 1, 2010 to be shared broadly with a final plan to be adopted by June 2010.
The next meeting in September will focus on the statements of mission, vision and values which were introduced during the last school year and which are found on this website.
Dr. Philip F. Devaux
Superintendent of Schools.
Latest School News
Next SPAC meeting
Thursday, March 11 @ 6:00 p.m.
in the Johnson
School Library
Health Office
Growth Screening Program
Professional Development
January 2010 update
School Council
School Improvement Plan
Strategic Plan Advisory Committee Update
School Programs
Extended Day Program
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