Hood School Showcases Multiple Talents

Ever wonder how the got its name? Just ask the fifth-grade students who researched the question for presentation at Monday night's School Committee meeting.

Sarah Bustin, Stone Robertson, Haley Spellenberg and Matt Corrieri revealed the character of the man many came to admire. They highlighted several of the details in his life and the qualities they value.

"Born in 1894, Joseph Turner Hood was many things," they explained.

He was a student of the sciences who earned an academic scholarship to college. After graduation, "as a true example of American pride, Hood enlisted in the Air Force during World War I," they said.

Following military service, he completed studies at Harvard and Boston University, earning a master's in education, and went on to work as the superintendent of North Reading Public Schools from 1948-1960.

In summary, they noted his diligence as a leader devoted to educational excellence and his civic leadership as the president of North Reading Rotary Club.

"The North Reading school district later named this elementary school after him in respect for the many things he did for the community," they concluded.    

Their teacher Marissa Kelleher coached them through the research and writing. "It took multiple sessions," she said. They took the project step by step and mastered the six traits of good writing Kelleher explained. "We are very proud of them."

The Hood chorus, fourth- and fifth-graders under the direction of music teacher Ruth Clark, sang two songs from the theme of the Civil War, which they are reading about as part of the library's program North Reading Reads.  

"Follow the Drinking Gourd" featured two soloists Sarah Bustin and Abigail Moline. Amanda Imbriano on guiro, Tony Faller on soprano xylophone, Megh Pandi on alto xylophone and Caitlyn Galvin on soprano metallophone provided accompaniment.

Galvin also played drum in their rendition of "The Yellow Rose of Texas." Student conductor Tony Faller led the chorus in the contemporary song "Make a Song for Your Heart to Sing."

Other singing members of the chorus were Cheyenne Robertson, Brian Murphy, Noel Riley, Jerlin Kaithamattan, Morgan Burke and Abigail Hadley.

The third-grade math teacher team explained "WIN Time," a program they created to give students "What I Need" in math instruction. Three days a week for 30 minutes, their teachers provide them with differentiated instruction.

As Heidi Hogan explained this, instruction serves to "enrich, reinforce and remediate." The team bases their assessment on the state's curriculum frameworks and other measurements of mastery.

The third-graders move to the classroom where either Hogan or one of her colleagues, Whitney Cleary or Christy Gorman, teaches to the students' identified needs. The students have named this movement from classroom to classroom "SWITCH" (super wicked intense teaching).

Fourth grade students explained the "Hand & Hand Together We Can" program. Molly Feffer, Matthew Pasquale and Haley Sanphy spoke about being part of the School-Wide Behavior Learning Community. 

Each month, one girl and one boy from each of the fourth grades is nominated to participate. They reported on their efforts to be good role models, to lead each morning with the pledge of allegiance and the announcements, and to "give good example in everything we do every day."

As one girl explained it,"I thought this would be about being cool. But I learned that it's about ideas, giving to the community and respecting each other."

Fifth-grade teacher Paul Larsen, advisor to the Student Council, came with eight of the council's members. They took turns informing those assembled about the leadership skills they are learning and the responsibilities they undertake to contribute to their peer community.

Brian Murphy, Matt Corriera, Cheyenne Robertson, Sarah Bustin, Hailey Spellenberg, Stone Robertson, Julia Constantino and Brett Needham served as the ambassadors or good will and student initiative. 

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