Shout Outs:
- On top of their regular teaching duties, Anne Grant and Brian Fanning, chorus and band teachers, have been going above and beyond to cover and create lesson plans to ensure that the Band Program and other music classes keep on moving forward. Thank You!
- Courage and Confidence: Thank you Cassie Murray, Special Education Teacher, for being one of the first teachers to chair a students Team Meeting! The long term impact of our teachers taking on this role will be transformational for all students receiving special education services!
- Michelle Brock, MSHS Librarian, did a wonderful job coordinating Black History Month at GMHS. The library was transformed with student artwork and research for all to see. A very worthy Shout Out!
- I (Margo) often say that being in our classrooms and around our students grounds me and reminds me why the work I do is so important. This week I spent time in the 2nd grade classrooms and was in awe of what I experienced. The consistency of practice amongst the rooms was phenomenal. In most of them the students were writing their Wit and Wisdom end of module assessment. Your children were beautifully writing a response that resulted in them sharing their knowledge, in summary, of the module. I need to LOUDLY shout out the 2nd grade teaching staff and the Penn Brook administration for their monumental efforts and passion with implementing Wit and Wisdom and proving to themselves that our students will soar!
- Mrs. O’Leary, MS Secretary, is the glue that keeps the MS together. She is a good person and a great resource to both staff and students. If anyone needs anything, Mrs. O’Leary always has the answer. The MS is very fortunate to have Mrs. O’Leary.
- Mr. Kotb (HS Science Teacher) put on an amazing display about the history and meaning of Ramadan in the Muslim World. The presentation was created by his Arabic/Middle Eastern Cultures Club. Anyone could find him Mr. Kotb has been in the library educating students about this holy month of spiritual rejuvenation.
- Martha Dodge, MSHS Art Teacher goes above and beyond for her classes. She is constantly redesigning and improving her assignments and instructions. She stays late at work nearly every day. She also learns how to use all of the new technology and helps others with it. And she is involved in committees and attends extra meetings to be involved in the school community. She is dedicated to her work and asks for no special credit.
Budget Updates:
I have not mentioned the B-word since before vacation, but here I go again….. I have significant gratitude and relief for the work of the Finance Committee and Select Board in their deliberations, research and ultimately vote to put an override on the May 5th Town Meeting Warrant. After weeks of robust, and often spirited discussion an override number of $6,000,000 was agreed upon. This number is what it will take to fully fund all town departments and continue to move the town in the right direction. Additionally, it is predicted that if this passes it will help prevent a deficit for up to 5 years. This means, the town people will not be asked to consider an override in the coming years.
Over the next weeks and months I will be highlighting the impact this funding will have on individual departments and schools. If you would like to explore the recent budget presentation given to the School Committee you can click here. If you would like to see the line item budget you can click here. If you would like to hear from each municipal department leader you can join a community budget forum. This will take place at the Penn Brook School on March 8, 2025. The session begins at 9:00 and should conclude around 2:30.