Superintendent`s Newsletter - April 2015

April 2015
Dear Parents, Guardians and Community Members,
I would like to begin by referring you to the Arlington Public Schools Report to Town Meeting and Fiscal
Year 2016 Budget Summary that has just been completed. This is a comprehensive look at our district,
and it covers topics that include enrollment, programs, MCAS results and college acceptance and
matriculation for the Class of 2014. I particularly want to call your attention to the Town Manager 12
Communities Comparison charts. The Town Manager 12 communities were selected by Town, School
and Union leadership as comparable communities to Arlington based on a variety of metrics. Arlington
spends less per pupil than both the state average and the average for the Town Manager 12. At the same
time, our district is the fourth highest in terms of the percentage of students scoring Advanced or
Proficient on the Mathematics and English Language Arts FY14 MCAS. We can be very proud of our
district and the accomplishments of our students and staff. I hope that you will take some time to review
the report and learn more.
Last month I wrote about the Art. Food. Community. project that involves all Thompson students. I want to
remind you that the community dinner and fundraiser to benefit Arlington EATS is happening at the
school on Saturday, May 16. There will be music, crafts, games, food and fun for the entire family from
4:00 to 8:00 pm. The first 400 people to purchase tickets will receive one of the beautiful, hand-made
pottery bowls that the students have been creating. We are grateful to the Arlington Cultural Council, who
funded this incredible project along with the Arlington Education Foundation.
The AHS Internship Program, going into its third year, is looking for organizations and professionals who
are interested in mentoring students beginning in September 2015. This year we had eight students who
participated in the program. They did research at Tufts and MGH, assisted with constituent relations at
the State House, worked on TV editing, production and writing at ACMi, researched and wrote articles for
the Arlington Advocate, assisted a lawyer and participated in social action at the Boston Mobilization
Center. As before, each student who participates in the program will share the results of their work with
parents, friends and mentors. If you are interested in providing one of our students with the opportunity to
explore a career, learn new skills and obtain on-the-job work experience for five hours per week, please
contact the program coordinator Cheryl Christo at [email protected].
I hope you enjoy reading the rest of the newsletter. As always, there is a lot happening in our schools.
Happy spring!
Best regards,
Kathleen Bodie, Ed.D
Headline View
District News
”ALICE" Training Being Held at Bishop, Ottoson and Arlington High Schools
Age appropriate, options-based ALICE training is being held at three schools this semester as we begin
implementation of this safety protocol throughout the district. ALICE is considered "best practice" for K-12
schools and is believed to increase the chances of survival when faced with an "active shooter" situation.
Learn more>
Technology Showcase Illustrates the Impact of Technology on Learning and Creativity
Students, teachers, parents and Arlington Education Foundation volunteers came together on April 13 to
help us experience how technology is transforming 21st century learning in our schools. Taking notes,
researching and creating multi-media projects, composing music, gathering scientific data, writing books
and printing plastic robot parts are just some of the ways our young people are using technology. Read
more>
Special Events & Enrichment
AHS Spring College Fair Provides Choices and Interactions to Help Determine "Best Fit"
Approximately 130 colleges from across the country, and two from across the Atlantic Ocean, sent
representatives to our annual College Fair this month. Arlington High School is one of the few that hold
college fairs to provide additional opportunities for students and their families to ask questions and make
comparisons. Read more>
Facing Racism Conference Promotes Inclusiveness and Sharing of Ideas
Our third session for students to come together and discuss issues of race and racism that they
encounter in their daily lives was held this month. One of the participants shared that the speakers were
inspiring and states, "The inclusive atmosphere is growing..." Learn more>
Two Elementary Clubs Lead the Way in Learning and Enjoying Chess
One meets after school and the other before the day begins, but both the Peirce Castle of Chess and the
Dallin Chess Club offer members the opportunity to learn and practice chess together. Dedicated parent
volunteers make these groups possible. Read more>
Hands-on Demonstrations and Student Projects Highlight Four Elementary Science Nights
Students and families at Stratton, Bishop, Dallin and Brackett explored science and engineering through
fun demonstrations and projects at Science Nights this month. Whether they were making a stethoscope,
watching bubbles bounce off a dry ice cloud, being chased by robots or building catapults, the
participants were engaged and excited as they discovered the fun of STEM. Learn more>
Hardy Students and Staff Take Up the "Give Me Five Challenge"
Watch how the Hardy school community is rising to Michelle Obama's challenge and getting fit in their
video Hardy Uptown Funk! Read more>
Awards & Distinctions
Service Project Earns Ottoson Student a JFK Make a Difference Award
Her work collecting school supplies for Arlington's Sister City, Teosinte, El Salvador, earned an OMS
eighth grader a JFK Make a Difference Award, presented at the JFK Library this month. Learn more>
Three Choral Groups Earn Silver Medals at MICCA Choral Festival
The Ottoson Girls Ensemble, Sixth Grade Chorus and the elementary Treble Chorus performed for
judges at the Massachusetts Instrumental & Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) festival last month.
Each group earned a Silver Medal and received feedback on ways to develop their skills. Learn more>
Three Ottoson Science Fair Club Projects Advance to State Finals
The Ottoson Science Fair Club made history this month by sending nine outstanding projects to the 2015
Northeast Massachusetts Regional Science and Engineering Fair, and having three accepted to advance
to the State Finals in June. Read more>
All Ottoson Grades Place High in New England Math League Competition
Placing first, first and third within the Middlesex Region, our sixth, seventh and eighth graders had
excellent results in the New England Math League Competition. Our young mathematicians ranked well
among the New England teams, and two students achieved perfect scores. Learn more>
Four AHS Speech and Debate Club Qualifiers Place at State Speech Finals
It was a great end to the season for the two-year old Speech and Debate Club. A team qualified for the
State Debate Finals, and all four qualifiers in the State Speech Finals came away with awards. Read
more>
All Delegate Bills Leave Committee and Three Pass in Full Session at Penn Model Congress
The 24 students who took part in Penn Model Congress came back with bills passed and 11 awards that
recognized their skill at presenting arguments and debating for bill passage. Our delegates had interests
in a wide variety of policy issues, and the bills they brought forwarded reflected this. Read more>
Poised High School Quiz Show Team Falls to Newton North in Quarterfinals
Making it to the quarterfinals was a tremendous achievement for the AHS High School Quiz Show team
who fell to Newton North on April 18. Sportsmanship, poise and enthusiasm marked their performance on
the fiercely competitive WGBH High School Quiz Show. Learn more>
Three-sport AHS Athlete Named MIAA March Athlete of the Month
Congratulations to Frank Roche, whose accomplishments on and off the field earned him recognition as
the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) March Athlete of the Month. Read more>
AHS History and Social Studies Teacher Recognized for Excellence in Teaching Economics
Ian MacKay has received the George Watson Award for Excellence in Teaching Economics, given
annually by the Massachusetts Council for the Social Studies. Mr. MacKay teaches two courses in
economics and is the liaison with the Syracuse University Project Advance for our dual enrollment
program. Learn more>
AHS Teachers Help Drive AP Success among Underserved Students
Two History and Social Studies teachers assisted with review sessions and mock Advanced Placement
exams as part of a program to increase participation and performance in AP courses among underserved
populations. Mass Insight Education oversees this initiative in our state, one of six selected to take part.
Read more>
AHS Wrestling Coach Wins Public High School Coach of the Year Award
The Massachusetts Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame has named Coach Kevin Cummings
the Public High School Coach of the Year. This award recognizes his leadership of the AHS wrestling
team, which had a remarkable season of team and individual achievement. Learn more>
Academic Highlights
Expert Visits Get Dallin and Peirce Fourth Graders Ready to Study Weather
Presenters from the Museum of Science helped Dallin students explore temperature measurement,
albedo and cloud making, and Peirce fourth graders had their forecasting questions answered by WBZ
meteorologist Eric Fisher during visits that made our science curriculum come alive. Learn more>
Healthier School Lunches is the Current Generation Citizen Project at Ottoson
A meeting with the head of Food Services, and surveys of parents, students and staff, kicked-off the
current Generation Citizen Project to improve the healthy options of school lunches. Participants in this
Ottoson afterschool club will present their results and recommendations to judges at Civics Day in May.
Read more>
Songs and Demonstrations Highlight Japanese Student Visit
Eighty young people and their teachers treated us to songs and demonstrations of Japanese activities
during their visit to AHS last month. We are fortunate to have international students visit us each year,
providing opportunities for an exchange of cultures and ideas. Read more>
Wood Technology Takes Students from Concept to Final Product, Delivering Satisfaction along
the Way
"Real world" experience combines with enjoyment and the satisfaction of project completion in Arlington
High's Wood Technology shop. Teacher Frank Tassone offers dedicated classes and works across
departments to help students understand the intersection of manufacturing and technology. Learn more>
Creative Highlights
Solid Bishop Community Effort Brings "Jungle Book Kids" to the Stage
Over one-third of the Bishop student body was supported by 120 parents in the March performances of
Jungle Book Kids, produced by the Bishop Players. Learn more>
Ottoson News Network Videos Capture Key Events and Share Important Information
Two new videos created by ONN, Ottoson Choral Program and Ottoson Cafe Creation, feature our
middle school vocalists and artists. The crew has been hard at work filming events involving Ottoson
students and creating a wonderful record for all of us to enjoy. Read more>
All Town Concerts Demonstrate Musical Progress from Beginner through High School
Since we have a record number of students taking part in our instrumental program this year, we needed
to hold two All Town string concerts, as well as the Festival of Concert Bands. Several hundred students
took part each night as we listened to our elementary, middle and high school musicians perform both
classical and traditional pieces. Learn more>
Arlington High School's "Shrek The Musical" Delights Young and Old
More than a fairy tale, Shrek The Musical uses ogres and princesses to explore the question of selfacceptance. A "meet and greet" with the costumed cast added to the fun of the AHS production. Learn
more>
Continue to read the full April 2015 newsletter
District News
”ALICE" Training Being Held at Bishop, Ottoson and Arlington High Schools
As I reported last month, Arlington Public Schools is adopting the ALICE safety protocol. This decision
was reached after reviewing the Massachusetts Task Force on School Safety and Security report. ALICE
is considered "best practice" for K-12 schools, and is being adopted throughout the United States.
I hope that many of you were able to attend the information night on April 6. Michele Gay, a Sandy Hook
mother and founder of Safe and Sound, gave a powerful presentation. She described her experiences on
the day of the shooting, and shared how she has worked on ways to make our schools safer since the
loss of her young daughter. Lieutenant Scott Sencabaugh, who implemented the protocol for the
Wilmington Public Schools, took us through the basic elements of ALICE, and explained how it differs
from the traditional lockdown protocol that most people are familiar with. Both Ms. Gay and Lt.
Sencabaugh believe that the options in ALICE increase the chances of survival when faced with an
"active shooter" situation.
Lt. Sencabaugh stressed that "Fear is conquered by preparation", and that is why we are putting plans in
place to train staff, parents and students--in that order. ALICE training is age appropriate and optionsbased. Training begins next month with the administrative staff at Ottoson, Arlington High and Bishop.
This will be followed by training and drill experience for parents and students at these schools. At all
schools, parent training will occur before student training. Student drills will be held in June. Parents who
have children at the Bishop as well as one or both of the other schools are welcome to attend all the
sessions, but those at Bishop are highly recommended. The elementary trainings and drills are quite
different from those for middle and high school students.
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Brackett, Dallin, Hardy, Peirce, Stratton, and Thompson will adopt these procedures next school year.
Training questions can be directed to Cindy Sheridan Curran at [email protected] or
781-316-3541. You will find the specific dates and times here. We are grateful for the support and active
participation of the Arlington Police Department as we move forward with this protocol.
Technology Showcase Illustrates the Impact of Technology on Learning and Creativity
Those of you who joined me at the Technology Showcase on April 13 saw the power of technology in
education. It is wonderful to speak with our teachers about the creative things they are doing in their
classrooms. It is even better to talk to the students and hear how technology is helping them take notes,
stay organized, research, create and share projects, understand software programming concepts,
compose music, gather scientific data, create multi-media projects, write books, and print parts for robots
on 3D printers. It is also fun to watch the Ottoson News Network team wander the room using their iPad
as a professional filming tool to capture the action.
The Hardy Tech Group, made up of fifth graders, has filmed school events and is working on a video for
incoming Kindergartners to teach them about the school. Explain Everything software assists
Kindergarten and first grade English Language Learners with listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Middle school students use 3D printers, iPad digital modeling and virtual and actual wind tunnels in their
award winning Technology Engineering curriculum. AHS students will be piloting a new Physical Science
online e-book that does more than present written information. It brings science to life by using
animations to demonstrate concepts.
Arlington Public Schools is grateful to the Arlington Education Foundation, (AEF) and their Technology
Initiative that has made so much of what was displayed possible. This is the third year the group has
raised funds to accelerate the use of technology in our schools and prepare students for careers in
STEAM--science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. Over $80,000 has been awarded to
APS in the last two years, and the additional funds being solicited now will provide mobile science
workstations and a digital arts studio for the high school, and outfit additional computer science and
engineering labs at Ottoson. Funds donated to the Initiative by June 30 will be invested in classroom
technology for those programs by September.
At Technology Showcase, the 30 different stations illustrated how technology impacts all grade levels
across all subjects. I want to congratulate all the teachers, parents, AEF volunteers, and students who
devoted their evening to help us experience how technology is driving 21st century learning and creativity
in our schools.
Special Events & Enrichment
AHS Spring College Fair Provides Choices and Interactions to Help Determine "Best Fit"
At Arlington Public Schools we are dedicated to preparing our young people for success once they leave
us. Helping them determine the next steps they will take after high school graduation is a key element of
this mission. Our Guidance Department provides students and their families with many opportunities to
explore the options for further education. The College Fair, held on April 6 this year, is a big part of this
effort.
You may not know that most area high schools do not hold college fairs. We believe that having the
opportunity to meet and speak with college representatives, some of whom will actually be making
admission decisions, can play an important role in helping young people and their families understand
which schools will be the "best fits" for their life goals. It is important that college applicants get their name
and face known as much as possible by the colleges that will be reviewing their applications, and a
college fair is one of the ways to make this happen.
We had approximately 130 schools from across the country and two international participants taking part
in this year's AHS Spring College Fair. We time our fair to coincide with the National Association for
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College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Fair in Boston, when representatives from many schools are
already in the area. This makes it easy for them to join us. Our fair is open to all AHS students and their
families, as well as those from the 14 high schools that belong to the Middlesex Guidance Directors
Association and the two area Catholic high schools. Students in grades nine, 10 and 11 typically come,
and there are generally around 500 attendees.
Our Guidance Department works hard to make sure that students and their families are able to get the
most out of their experience at the fair. Meetings are held with 10th and 11th grade parents to review the
college application process. A list of the schools that we expect to send representatives and a guide for
Making the Most of the College Fair are distributed before the event. The guide details things to consider
and do ahead of time and includes a list of questions for attendees to ask college representatives.
Meetings are held with each 11th grade student after the fair to help fine-tune the search.
The AHS Spring College Fair offers students and families the chance to ask questions about majors and
admissions, make comparisons and develop a list of choices to explore further. This is tremendous effort,
beginning with invitations in the fall and moving into "full swing" mode from January through April. I want
to thank the Guidance Department, the parent volunteers, and the 12th grade members of the Bridge
Builders program who welcome, guide and assist the college representatives, for coming together to
make the AHS Spring College Fair such a success.
Facing Racism Conference Promotes Inclusiveness and Sharing of Ideas
We have offered Arlington High School students the opportunity to take part in a Facing Racism
Conference for the last three years. Here our young people come together and discuss issues of race and
racism that they encounter in their daily lives. This year's topic was Promoting a Culture of Inclusiveness
at AHS, and it featured the TED talk Be Color Brave, as well as workshops including White Privilege,
Affirmative Action and Art, Identity & Activity. Interim History and Social Studies Department Head
Melanie Konstandakis-Schwartz, who organizes the event, received a reflection from one of the
participants that I want to share with you. This student had also taken part in last year's Conference, and I
think she speaks to the value of holding these events when she says:
"From last year to this year my experience changed for the better. I was so happy to see a bigger
variety of students attend the retreat. The speakers were inspiring and I got the sense that
everyone who wanted to talk was heard on Saturday. One of the women who gave a workshop
was an Arlington High graduate and she said that she left Arlington years ago feeling aggravated
that there were not more opportunities for her to speak her mind on this relevant issue. I'm proud
of my school and community because I know when I graduate I'll have had a different experience.
The inclusive atmosphere is growing and that is comforting.”
Two Elementary Clubs Lead the Way in Learning and Enjoying Chess
Chess enhances strategic thinking and focus, and is a game that can be played throughout life. I am
happy to report that thanks to dedicated parent volunteers, we have two chess clubs at our elementary
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schools this year. I am grateful to these parents for providing the leadership that enables our students to
learn and practice chess.
The Peirce Castle of Chess, currently headed by Jenny Borovac, has been going strong for five years.
The group has about 18 active members who meet after school on Mondays. Players got a taste of
competition when they participated in the Rhode Island Scholastic State Championship last month,
bringing home a third place team trophy. Parents, grandparents and siblings are invited to the final
session, where attendees play against Castle members and celebrate how their skills have grown over
the year.
The Dallin Chess Club is headed by Gil Irizarry, who proposed the group to Principal Thad Dingman after
learning about the Peirce Castle of Chess. Mr. Irizarry joins his players twice a month at 7:30 am. The
group spends the first five to ten minutes on instruction, and then the students play each other for the
remaining half hour. Four other parents typically assist, and the Club has about 20 members. Since this is
the first year of the Club, they have yet to take part in any tournaments, but this is a goal for the future.
Hands-on Demonstrations and Student Projects Highlight Four Elementary Science Nights
April was the month of science, with four elementary schools holding events that celebrated science and
engineering. Stratton held their sixth Science and Engineering Night. Hands-on interactive stations
included designing the strongest bridge made out of straws, testing for acids and bases using cabbage
juice, making a stethoscope, writing computer code, investigating shark teeth and designing a circuit to
light a light bulb. The evening included a display of posters about the solar system created by third
graders. A highlight of the night was the Mentos-Diet Coke explosion, organized by parent Sheila
Ranganath and some fifth graders.
It took about 65 volunteers to stage the Stratton Science and Engineering Night, including parents,
grandparents, family friends, alumni and their parents, and graduate students. Members of the AHS
Robotics Club, AHS Do Something Club and other high school students were also involved. Dana Buske,
one of the organizers, reports that the best part of the evening is seeing how excited the kids get. There
are always a few children who become fascinated with a single topic and spend 45 minutes or more at
one station, asking great questions and trying things out.
The Hands-On Laboratory at Bishop featured 21 stations, run by volunteers that included 15 fifth grader
students and a couple of teachers. The most popular locations were Building with Marshmallows (Tinker
Toy-type structures with mini marshmallows and toothpicks), CO2 Bubbles (blowing bubbles over dry ice
into an aquarium where they bounced off the CO2 cloud) and Projections with Kinect (a novel way to
project mountaintops or rivers or lakes). A highlight of the night was the Egg Drop competition, where two
winners out of 39 entries survived a drop of 10 feet.
Bishop students were encouraged to do at-home experiments (no class credit) that they could present at
Science Night. Thirty-five students across all grades took up the challenge, and attendees left notes for
the Student Scientists in comment envelopes next to their tri-boards. Breck Peabody, one of the
organizers of the event, reports that these projects exceeded all expectations, and covered topics ranging
from winter wildlife to city water supply and phosphorescence.
Dallin School Science Night had three distinct components: student Science Fair, adult-led specialized
presentations and adult-led hands-on activities. Like at the Bishop, participating in the Science Fair was
voluntary, and there were 68 student projects presented with 135 young people participating. A group of
sixth grade Dallin alumni came back to show a project they started in the fourth grade, which is one of the
Ottoson Science Fair Club projects moving on to the state competition this June. The Science Fair is the
component that gets parents particularly excited, and it inspires younger students to talk about the
projects and think about how they would put their own "spin" on them.
Adults with specialized knowledge or experience made the presentations, and the speakers included an
astronomer, a team from iRobot, and an air traffic control engineer. The hands-on activities included
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penny bridge, laser maze, kitchen chemistry, Moebius strips, and DNA models made from candy. The
attendees particularly enjoyed seeing themselves on Mars and being chased by robots. Overall there
were about 40 volunteers--parents, community members, high school students, middle school alumni,
and the teacher ambassador to the PTO Math and Science Committee, Jenn Smith. Committee member
Mark Edry has been involved in four Dallin Science Nights, and he believes this is the largest one yet.
It took approximately 30 volunteers to stage the Brackett Science Fair, which included student work and
hands-on events. Participation in at-home experiments by fourth graders was voluntary, while the projects
presented by fifth graders were part of class assignments. A member of the PTO STEM committee visited
the classrooms to do a short science demo, give advice on doing experiments and shared a guide to help
the student scientists with their work. Topics were approved by the teachers, who also provided advice as
needed. Student posters have always been part of the Brackett Science Fair, which has been held for at
least seven years.
The hands-on events included Fun with Magnets, CD Hovercrafts, Lasers and Mirrors, and Build a
Catapult, among others. Build a Catapult proved to be especially popular. Co-organizer Dan Sheldon
observes that the community excitement generated at these activities really transfers to the students, who
realize that STEM is not only good to learn about, but can also be fun.
Our community is full of many talented individuals, and we are very fortunate to have them willing to
devote the substantial hours it takes to hold Science Nights at our elementary schools. Anywhere from
150 to over 300 individuals attend, try things and enjoy being together to explore science and
engineering. I want to thank all the participants--parents, teachers, students, and the school principals
who support these efforts--for creating and executing these events that mean so much to our community.
Hardy Students and Staff Take Up the "Give Me Five Challenge"
This year, Michelle Obama is celebrating the fifth anniversary of her Let's Move initiative by challenging
us to do five more things toward healthy living. The students and staff at Hardy decided to take up this
challenge by learning and performing the First Lady's dance. Physical Education teacher Linda Flynn got
things going by teaching everyone to dance. Yes--she taught EVERYONE to dance. Then Instructional
Technology Specialist Susan Bisson worked with the Hardy Tech Group of fifth grade girls to tape the
final performance and edit the film. The result is Hardy Uptown Funk!
Awards & Distinctions
Service Project Earns Ottoson Student a JFK Make a Difference Award
I am proud to share the news that Ottoson eighth grader Isabella Dray has won a JFK Make a Difference
Award. Isabella and her Girl Scout Troop coordinated the collection of school supplies for Arlington's
Sister City, Teosinte, El Salvador. The result was over 500 pounds of pencils, paper, folders, note cards,
crayons, markers, tape, glue, rulers, erasers, books in Spanish and medical supplies that filled 10
suitcases. Isabella and her family were among the travelers that helped to deliver the gifts.
Each year, the JFK Make a Difference Award acknowledges the impactful service work done by up to100
middle school students from across Massachusetts. Isabella received her certificate during a JFK Library
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ceremony this month. It is always gratifying to see our students recognized in this way. Congratulations,
Isabella!
Three Choral Groups Earn Silver Medals at MICCA Choral Festival
It was Silver Medals all around for the choruses who took part in the Massachusetts Instrumental &
Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) festival last month. This is an adjudicated event. Each group
performs three selections followed by a 20-minute clinic where the groups receive feedback. Over thirty
groups took part this year, but only eight were elementary or middle school level. Our groups, the Ottoson
Girls Ensemble, Sixth Grade Chorus and the elementary Treble Chorus, were three of those.
All three groups received Silver Medals in recognition for their high level of excellence in choral singing.
The comments they received from the judges, as well as the score sheets, will be used to improve the
skill of our choral singers. Congratulations to all the vocalists who took part, and to their directors, Jenna
Havelin, Justin Moore and Cori Gaffney.
Three Ottoson Science Fair Club Projects Advance to State Finals
This month, the Ottoson Science Fair Club sent nine outstanding projects to the 2015 Northeast
Massachusetts Regional Science and Engineering Fair--a first for both Ottoson and our district. I am
pleased to report that three of these projects are advancing to the Massachusetts State Science &
Engineering Fair to be held in Worcester on June 6. We had two Region IV second place finishes:


Team entry, Nathan Skoczenski, Meghna Gite and Benafshay Merchant, What Makes
Yawning Contagious
Solo entry, Keshav Gowthaman, The Effect of Light on Peripheral Vision.
Thanks to a wild card entry the group received, OMS was allowed to choose one of the other seven
projects to also move forward. The quality of all the projects is very high, so the Club advisors asked
Principal Ruggere to participate in a random drawing. The third project to advance is:

Solo entry, Lana Popovic, The Aquacar.
I want to congratulate all the members of the Ottoson Science Fair Club for their hard work. In addition to
the five students named previously, Sasha Berryman, Matt Chen, Neelaza Dahal, Tyler DeLaBarre, Max
Hannon, Nathan Jones, Alan Lee, Varun McIntyre, David Peng, Kelsey Roy, Matthew Schmelzer, Valerie
Saykina, Chris Skambas, Ford Stark, Tyler Stewart, Jacob Woolf and Xiaozhuo Zhu participated in this
very successful Club pilot.
I am grateful to Byron DeLaBarre, Susan Stewart, Anne Skoczenski and Robin Varghese for their
leadership of the group. Thanks also to the parents who supported their children in this tremendous effort,
and to the Arlington Education Foundation for the Innovations in Education grant that funded the Club. I
am happy to share the good news that the Ottoson Science Fair Club will be running next year, so
students can start thinking about possible projects now.
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Those of you who would like to see the Middle School State Final projects are welcome to attend a public
viewing on June 6 from 1:30-3:30 pm. Good luck at the State finals!
All Ottoson Grades Place High in New England Math League Competition
Last month, I reported that Ottoson students had participated in the New England Math League
Competition, a 30-minute test designed to demonstrate that academic competition and problem solving
can be fun. The test questions emphasize "outside of the box" thinking.
I am happy to report that our young mathematicians had excellent results this year. The sixth grade tied
for second out of 99 New England teams, bested only by the Pike School in Andover. Seventh grade
placed fifth out of 88 teams and eighth grade came in seventh out of 93 teams. Our students placed first,
first and third respectively within the Middlesex Region.
In addition to these wonderful results, one student was the only sixth grader in New England to achieve a
perfect score. An eighth grader joined two others in New England who achieved perfection.
Congratulations to all of the students who participated, and to our mathematics teachers who contributed
to these excellent results.
Four Speech and Debate Club Qualifiers Place at State Speech Finals
The AHS Speech and Debate Club finished out their season by dominating the Impromptu Speech event
at the State Speech Finals. All four qualifiers came away with awards: third place, fifth place, seventh
place and Top Novice. The two-year old Club is also very proud that a team qualified and competed in the
State Debate Finals. The group participates in the Massachusetts Speech & Debate League.
Leader Jerry Pei is hoping to find individuals interested in participating in other categories such as poetry,
dramatic reading and radio broadcasts next year. With many of the founding members returning, it should
be a strong season. Congratulations to everyone for their hard work and fine performances.
All Delegate Bills Leave Committee and Three Pass in Full Session at Penn Model Congress
Congratulations to the 24 AHS students who took part in Penn Model Congress (PENNMC) at the
University of Pennsylvania last month. This year was our most successful trip to date. All of our students
had bills passed, three in full session. In addition, nine students were recognized with 11 awards. Seniors
Zach Guion and Eryk Dobrushkin came home with Best Delegate awards, with Eryk winning two--one in
Committee and one in Full Session. Full Session Honorable Mentions were awarded to Stefan
Rookwood, Jake Tamir-Pinsky, Zach Guion, Diego Opperman and Tano Mejia. Committee Honorable
mentions went to Askhat Gangurde, Catherine Jacob-Dolan and Elsa Rothenberg.
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PENNMC is the nation's most competitive model congress competition and the most difficult to gain entry
into. Approximately 800 students take part, and many are experienced debaters from elite high schools.
Each participant brings a bill forward for consideration--first to the appropriate Committee, and then if it
passes Committee, to a full session where it is debated and voted on. Our team included seniors, juniors
and sophomores with interests in a wide variety of policy issues, ranging from social justice to national
security and economics and trade. This was evident in the bills they brought forward, including An Act to
Restrict Predatory Credit Practices, An Act to Encourage the Eradication of Child Labor, An Act to
Promote the Research of Microbial Fuel Cells, and An Act to Equalize Pay Between Genders .
English teachers Robert Hale and Rebecca Walsh Bradley, who work with the group on bill writing,
parliamentary procedure and debating, accompanied our students to Philadelphia. I am grateful for their
leadership, and for making it possible for these students to enhance their skills in public speaking and
civic engagement through participation in PENNMC.
Poised High School Quiz Show Team Falls to Newton North in Quarterfinals
Although they were stopped by Newton North on April 18, the AHS High School Quiz Show team gave it
their very best effort. Making it to the quarterfinals is a tremendous achievement, especially given the
fierce competition that the teams experienced during the WGBH High School Quiz Show this year. Latin
teacher Edward Foley, who directs the team along with Assistant Coach Rahul Sompuram, reports that
Jimmy Barvick, Adam Deakin, Zach Guion and Jack Libresco showed great sportsmanship, poise and
enthusiasm. Bravo to the team and to alternates Tim Chang and Joe Hazelton who stood ready to step in
as needed.
Three-sport AHS Athlete Named MIAA March Athlete of the Month
Senior and three-sport athlete Frank Roche has received many well-deserved accolades during his time
at Arlington High School, and I am proud to share the news about yet another honor. Frank was named
the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) March Athlete of the Month. Frank is a
football, basketball and baseball captain who excels on the field, in the classroom, in school activities and
in his commitment to service. Athletic Director Melissa Dlugolecki describes him as "...a role model in the
community with his sportsmanship, academic excellence, service and unyielding leadership."
Congratulations Frank!
AHS History and Social Studies Teacher Recognized for Excellence in Teaching Economics
I am pleased to tell you that AHS History and Social Studies teacher Ian MacKay has received the
George Watson Award for Excellence in Teaching Economics. This annual award from the
Massachusetts Council for the Social Studies (MCSS) recognizes educators who have created an
exceptional economics program. The award will be presented at the MCSS Annual Meeting in May.
His background in banking and brokerage enables Mr. MacKay to bring a "real world" finance and
economics perspective to the classroom. He teaches Introduction to Economics and Economic Ideas and
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Policy. These are elective courses open to 11th and 12th graders, and we are offering two sections of
each this year. Thirty-three students are taking the first course this spring. The second course is one of
the single-semester, dual-credit courses offered through our partnership with the Syracuse University
Project Advance. Each of the 48 students who took last fall's class received 2.5 AP credits. In addition,
they may choose to pay a fee to Syracuse and receive a university transcript that documents their
completion of the course. Mr. MacKay is the liaison with Syracuse for our dual enrollment program.
AHS Teachers Help Drive AP Success among Underserved Students
Massachusetts is one of six states selected to take part in a program to increase participation and
performance in AP courses, especially among underserved populations. Science and mathematics were
the initial focus of the initiative, but this year the local organizer, Mass Insight Education, expanded to
include English Language Arts and Social Studies.
Schools involved in the program often reach out to neighboring districts for assistance, and this year two
of our AHS History and Social Studies teachers answered the call. Michael Sandler led a four-hour AP
Psychology review at Melrose High School, and then returned to proctor and grade an AP-style exam.
Amanda Camelio proctored and graded AP European History exams. Mr. Sandler found it valuable to
meet AP Psychology students from neighboring districts and share materials and knowledge he has
collected after scoring AP exams over the past three years. Hopefully, the Saturday review sessions and
mock exams sponsored by the Mass Math +Science Initiative will enable more young people to be
successful on AP exams and earn credit that can be applied in college.
AHS Wrestling Coach Named Public High School Coach of the Year Award
The Massachusetts Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame has announced their Spring Awards,
and I am happy to say that AHS Coach Kevin Cummings has been recognized as Public High School
Coach of the Year. The award will be presented at the Wrestling Springfest on May3. Mr. Cummings, who
is in his 19th season as coach, was recognized earlier as Division 2 Coach of the Year by the Boston
Globe and Boston Herald All-Scholastics.
With Coach Cummings at the helm, the AHS wrestling team had a stellar winter season, capturing the
Middlesex League title, the Division 2 title, and the second place spot in the All-State Tournament. Three
wrestlers closed the season having achieved over 100 career wins, and three qualified for the New
England Wrestling Tournament. It is gratifying for one of our dedicated coaches to be recognized for his
accomplishments leading our athletes. Congratulations Coach Cummings!
Academic Highlights
Expert Visits Get Dallin and Peirce Fourth Graders Ready to Study Weather
Two schools got their fourth graders off to a good start on their upcoming weather curriculum with some
very special guests. Thanks to visitors from the Museum of Science, Dallin students explored different
ways to measure temperature, and learned how to make a cloud. Student volunteers donning black
clothing illustrated albedo, or reflectivity. Albedo is a measure of how much light that hits a surface is
reflected without being absorbed. When the light is absorbed the temperature goes up, and that is exactly
what the volunteers experienced as lights shining on them raised their temperatures to 100 degrees.
Another demonstration explored whether water or land heats up and cools down faster.
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Students at Peirce heard from WBZ weatherman Eric Fisher, who began his humorous and relaxed
presentation by describing his background, and talking about the different jobs available to
meteorologists. Mr. Fisher helped his audience understand how weather is predicted and the tools used
to make a forecast. He was happy to take questions, and the fourth graders were especially curious about
what it is like to be on TV, what causes tornadoes, how storms are named, and why we get the types of
weather we do in Boston. At the end of the visit, Mr. Fisher filmed the students, and the clip ended the
weather forecast the following night.
Visits from experts really get our students excited about science. At Dallin, such events are funded by the
PTO STEAM subcommittee that awards mini-grants written by parents with input from the school staff.
The visit from Mr. Fisher was arranged by Peirce fourth grade teacher Nicole Hayes. Thanks to all the
parents and teachers who made these experiences possible.
Healthier School Lunches is the Current Generation Citizen Project at Ottoson
The spring semester Generation Citizen project has begun at Ottoson, with participants choosing to
investigate and improve the healthy options of school lunches. The goal is to create a student committee
that can advise the Food Services Department. A meeting has been held with the head of the
department, and OMS parents, students and staff have been asked to complete surveys to rate the
current food choices and provide input. The young people will present their results and discuss their
project with the judges at Civics Day at the State House in early May.
Generation Citizen is a nonprofit education program affiliated with local universities that gives students an
opportunity to develop leadership skills and experience social advocacy. Ottoson has been a partner in
this program for the last three years. Each semester, participants choose an issue they believe is
important to Arlington. They work with college students on a weekly basis, and do research, contact town
officials, and formulate recommendations to create systemic change. Last fall's project, investigating the
condition of Spy Pond, earned the Systemic Impact award. I look forward to keeping you up-to-date on
the progress of this semester's project.
Songs and Demonstrations Highlight Japanese Student Visit
Arlington High School students were treated to a taste of Japanese culture when 80 young people and
their teachers visited us last month. While visiting Boston, the group chose to spend a couple of days in
Arlington to experience American high school and share their culture. The young people shadowed AHS
student volunteers, and did a wonderful presentation for several hundred members of our school
community. Their performance included beautiful Japanese songs. Eleven displays representing various
aspects of Japanese life and culture were set-up so that our students could walk around and see
demonstrations of activities that included calligraphy, origami, martial arts and the tea ceremony. The visit
ended with the exchange of gifts.
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We are fortunate have the opportunity to meet and visit with students from other countries each year.
January 2015 marked the third visit of students and teachers from the High School Affiliated to Beijing
Normal University. Thirty 10th graders from the Reali School in Haifa, Israel joined us in April 2014. They
were traveling to other countries as Israeli ambassadors to satisfy the requirements of their public
diplomacy curriculum. A group of South African students spent some time with us in December 2013.
Their stopover in Arlington included presentations to our World History classes, and time for sharing and
learning. Such visits are a wonderful way for our young people to experience different cultures and we are
pleased that young international travelers choose Arlington as one of their destinations.
Wood Technology Takes Students from Concept to Final Product, Delivering Satisfaction along
the Way
A wonderful example of "hands-on" learning in a budding "maker space" that builds life-long skills,
crosses multiple disciplines and delivers tremendous satisfaction is Wood Technology at Arlington High
School. Teacher Frank Tassone offers two project-oriented woodworking classes that stress safe and
skillful operations of common woodworking tools. The classes are limited to 14 students each, making it
possible for Mr. Tassone to work individually with each student on projects appropriate to their skill level
and interest.
Teaching class, however, is only a small part of how Mr. Tassone spends his time. During most of the day
he works across departments, expanding the theory or designs that students work on in other classes. By
doing so, he helps students understand the manufacturing process as it relates to technology.
For example, the Engineering classes are in the wood shop completing a dozen 10-foot canoes that are
planned for launch on Spy Pond next month. The Environmental Science classes have built, and are
maintaining, cold beds in the courtyard garden. They are currently building a Hydroponics Lab to be
installed there soon. The Anatomy classes just finished constructing hydraulic arms that they designed in
class, and the Fine Arts, Theater Arts and Computer Aided Design classes have been in the shop
throughout the year designing and building a variety of projects.
A great deal of flexibility is available for students who have individual assignments. They meet with Mr.
Tassone to work out the best approach for constructing their projects, and then schedule time either
during the day or after school to get the work done. A volunteer group of young people uses the shop
after school and weekends to build sets for the school musicals. Some students have repaired classroom
furniture. The list of completed projects ranges from turtle habitats, frames for artwork, Robotics Club
repairs, projector stands, podiums, shelves for the clinic, bulletin boards, math machines, musical
instrument repairs, and amplifiers--just to name a few.
Mr. Tassone reports that the theory and design principles taught in the classroom take on a new meaning
when they need to be built, and the best way to understand this is to experience it first-hand. The
technology in some of the new equipment and machines that are in the wood shop make it easier to build
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designs than was previously true. Technology enables fast research, so that improved and up-to-date
information on how to build what has been designed in the classroom is readily available.
I want to thank Mr. Tassone for the work he does with our students. Under his leadership, they get "real
life" experience of what it means to take something from concept to final product. They deepen their
understanding of "how things work", while supporting and enriching the school environment with their
creations.
Creative Highlights
Solid Bishop Community Effort Brings "Jungle Book Kids" to the Stage
Last month, 153 Bishop students, from Kindergarten through fifth grade, came together to delight their
audience with Jungle Book Kids. Participation was open to all young people who wished to take part.
One-third of the student population was involved in not only acting, but providing technical help behind
the scenes.
It took a tremendous community effort to bring Jungle Book Kids to the stage. The volunteer-run theater
group Bishop Players produced the play and 120 parents were involved in everything from making
costumes, sets and props to creating programs and helping out at rehearsals. There were five
performances overall, one in-school performance for the rest of the student body, and four over the
weekend for friends and family. Bravo to the cast, crew and volunteers who made magic happen!
Ottoson News Network Videos Capture Key Events and Share Important Information
The Ottoson News Network (ONN) has been busy filming concerts and events and producing videos.
Ottoson Choral Program features footage from several performances to illustrate the dynamic vocal
program available to our middle schoolers. Ottoson Cafe Creation features OMS art teachers who
describe the origin of this wonderful evening of music and art, and share some of the beautiful artwork
that was on display. The video also includes the performances by the Ottoson Girls Ensemble and
Acapella, the two select choral groups that were featured.
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ONN was on hand to film the All Town Band Concert and both All Town Orchestra concerts. ACMi
brought the equipment and the crew filmed with three cameras, editing along the way. By the time of the
third concert, the team of Felix Moisand, Colin Gilbert, Henry Walters, Stanislaw Modrzynski, Jaymeena
Sundar Rajan and Felix Ansell amazed their ACMi assistant Jessica Barnthouse by setting-up all the
equipment and getting started on their own.
Those of you who attended the Technology Showcase this month probably saw the ONN crew filming the
action there. I want to thank OMS Librarian and Media Assistant Edith Moisand for leading this group. Not
only are they having fun and learning a lot about production, they are creating a wonderful record of the
key concerts and events that involve Ottoson students for all of us to enjoy.
All Town Concerts Demonstrate Musical Progress from Beginner through High School
The third week in March was an amazing time for music, as the town was treated to three all-town
concerts. It began with the 15th annual Festival of Concert Bands, with over 200 musicians performing
for over 600 parents, friends and family members. The wonderful program included the Beginning Band,
All-Town 5th Grade Band, Ottoson Band, Ottoson Jazz Ensemble, AHS Concert Band and the AHS
Honors Band. Admission to the last group is by audition - there are 20 members this year. I am proud to
report that we have more fourth and fifth graders taking part in our band instrumental program than ever
before.
A record number of students are also taking part in our string program. We have the largest grade-three
string class ever, and the largest elementary All-Town Orchestra. There are so many students that we
had to hold our annual All-Town Orchestra concert over two nights instead of one. On March 19th, 116
students from Dallin, Hardy, Stratton and Thompson performed, along with the Ottoson Chamber
orchestra, and the AHS Honors and Full Orchestras. The next evening elementary students from
Brackett, Bishop and Peirce were joined by the Elementary All Town Orchestra, Ottoson Middle School
Orchestra, AHS Honors Orchestra and the AHS Bass Ensemble.
Conductors Paula Dimetrio, Jing-Huey Wei and Sabato D'Agostino were assisted by Boston University
student teacher Talija Kristapsons, who is an accomplished cellist, and works with our young people from
elementary through high school. We are grateful to these talented and dedicated teachers, and to
Director of Performing Arts Pasquale Tassone, for imparting their love of music to our children. Bravo to
all our young musicians.
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Arlington High School's "Shrek The Musical" Delights Young and Old
With dazzling costumes and challenging music, last month's AHS Gilbert & Sullivan Society production of
Shrek The Musical proved to be much more than just another fairy tale. The play uses ogres, princesses,
and a host of other fantasy characters to present a story of self-acceptance--a journey that young people
often struggle with during their high school years.
The talented cast included many freshmen and sophomore students, as well as two Ottoson students and
one student from Bishop. A highlight of the Sunday performance was a "meet and greet" with almost 500
people coming forward to have their pictures taken with the costumed actors.
Local professional Mary Ann Zschau was on hand again this year to provide direction, and Jennifer
Sokolski led the dancers. It was her first time participating in an AHS production, and her first experience
as a choreographer. In the Arlington Advocate article about the play, Ms. Sokolski shared the fact that
even though many of the cast members were not dancers, they gave her, "...more than I could have
asked for." I want to thank Music Director Cheryl Christo and Conductor Pasquale Tassone, and the
entire cast and crew for such a wonderful production.
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