Madison Schools Chief Updates Community on Several Topics

Written by Madison Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice:

Greetings,
It is hard to believe that the holiday season is upon us. Before we enter the long weekend I would first like to wish everyone a very safe and restful Thanksgiving weekend. It has been, and continues to be, a busy school year. I would like to share some updates.

Community Conversations
There are many ways in which the district tries to engage parents and the community in conversations. One of which is a monthly Superintendent's "Brown Bag Lunch" which I have hosted at the Scranton Library. This year I expanded that effort to join our seniors for lunch at the Madison Senior Center back in October. The meeting was very well-attended and I was able to gain some very valuable feedback. Below are the dates of my "Brown Bag Lunch" events, as well as my lunches at the Madison Senior Center:

Brown Bag Lunch
Scranton Library Community Room
12:00 - 1:00 PM

December 12, 2016
March 8, 2017
May 31, 2017

Senior Center Lunch

Madison Senior Center

1:00 - 2:00 PM
January 9, 2017
March 16, 2017

Parent Teacher Organizations

Our district is fortunate to have strong Parent Teacher Organizations who not only fundraise for the schools, but sponsor social and cultural events. Volunteers are the backbone of the PTO and parent involvement is much needed and appreciated. PTO meeting schedules can be found on the district website. Please find the time to offer your services to your PTO.

Nick Kruczek Memorial Jamboree

If you have the time, I encourage you to attend the annual Nick Kruczek Memorial Jamboree that will take place November 26, 2016 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Northford Ice Pavilion, 24 Firelite Place, Northford, CT. Each year the jamboree is held with former Guilford and Daniel Hand High School players. All of the proceeds go to a senior scholarship at DHHS, in addition to contributing to the campaign to raise awareness of the devastating impact of drug use.

Technology
How does the time that children spend on technology impact their development? How can parents and adults find solutions on how to empower kids to best navigate the digital world and find balance? If you are like most parents, you struggle with these questions, among others. Another event that warrants community attention is the viewing of the documentary, "Screenagers" at Polson Middle School on January 23, 2017, which explores these topics.

Screenagers Movie Information

I'd like to share an interesting article I read this past weekend on this same topic. In response to ubiquitous technology use among kids, what are parents actually doing that works? The author of this NY Times article explores this topic

When Tech Is a Problem Child

For decades, public schools have been called upon to respond to pivotal moments in society. From work force preparation at the early part of the 20th century, to Sputnik in the 1950s, to the Civil Rights Movement and desegregation in the 1960s, to the busing and integration efforts of the 1970s, and now the challenges of the information age and global economy, public schools have been asked to prepare all children for work, citizenship, and lifelong learning in modern society. The challenge before us grows in complexity as the rate of change accelerates. The Madison Public Schools system is committed to preparing all learners for the world they will enter when they graduate.

That world, barely imagined, will undoubtedly be influenced by automation, artificial intelligence, and big data. Our students today must be prepared to take on the jobs that machines simply cannot do. Additionally, if the recent election season is any indication, it is possible that even our youngest students will face a polarized society when they graduate from our schools in the distant future. That said, our vision is very clearly captured in this statement.

We are committed to fostering the kind of critical and creative thinking that will enable our students to thrive in the global marketplace, and we are committed to cultivating the collaborative, self-directed dispositions that will prepare all students for active citizenship.

These 15 student outcomes (hyperlink) are embedded into curriculum documents as we renew curriculum to ensure equitable opportunities for all students as they travel our K-12 system. Furthermore, the district continues to make investments into developmentally appropriate approaches that nurture a sense of belonging, significance, and emotional safety so that students feel comfortable taking risks and working with a variety of peers.

This work is evident in the implementation of the Responsive Classroom model at the elementary level, the student-driven advisory "PAW" groups at our high school, the direct instruction in the use of "accountable talk" in the classroom, and the teaming model of our middle schools, among others.

If you ever feel that you are lacking information about the emotional supports our schools offer, the curriculum being taught to your child, or the type of instruction being delivered in your child's classroom, I strongly encourage you to contact your child's teacher(s), the building principal, or simply contact me directly.

Thomas Scarice
Superintendent of Schools
Madison Public Schools
Madison, CT 06443
203-245-6320