Friday Afternoon Post

Friday Post from 10/30

Last Friday's post was accidentally missed and sent on Monday, November 2. In case you missed it, you can find it here: https://app.smore.com/n/vb5h3.

Gratitude

A huge thank you to the Leverett PTO for such a fun Halloween party! I especially want to recognize Brian Boyles for taking the lead in organizing this event; Jai Fuller and Siri Om Fuller for planning the (fully supervised!) haunted woods walk; Andrew Parker-Renga, Becky Tew, and Eliza Strickland for taking on other leadership roles; and all the other volunteers who supported the event in various ways.

Many thanks as well to our Librarian and Technology Coordinator, Ms. Rivers, for organizing Book Character Day!

Staff Update

I am excited to share that we have a new interim School Adjustment Counselor! Her name is Dov Plotkin, and she previously worked at ARMS. Our interview committee was very impressed with Dov, and we look forward to welcoming her to LES during the week of November 16. She will be joining us in a part-time role.

LEF Community Meeting

Almost two-thirds of the town's budget goes toward public education. If you would like to learn more about the challenges facing our schools and what we are doing to address rising costs, please join us for a community meeting on Saturday, November 14, at 1:00 p.m. at the Leverett Public Library.

Superintendent Cleveland, myself, the Union 28 Director of Finance and Operations, and Tim Shores, LES School Committee member and ARPS School Committee regional representative, will participate in a panel hosted by the Leverett Education Foundation.

Instrument Program Update

At the last School Committee meeting, I shared several updates from the School Improvement Plan, including an update on the exploration of a potential instrumental music program, which I had been involved in over the past two years. You can read my full update about that here:

LES will not be moving forward with the development of an after-school instrumental music program. Approximately two years ago, I began exploring the feasibility of such a program in response to parent concerns that students entering ARMS who wished to participate in band or orchestra needed prior instrumental experience. At the time, the absence of an instrument program at LES was viewed as a potential barrier to participation. To explore possible options, I held conversations with the Town Manager, local musicians, and the Leverett Education Foundation as a potential scholarship resource. Prindle School was also considered as a possible partner because of its insurance coverage and capacity to provide staffing and programming. Families of students in grades 3–5 were surveyed last year to assess interest, and several proposals from Prindle School were reviewed with consideration given to both their interest and school needs. Ultimately, interest in band- and orchestra-related instruments was not sufficient to support a viable program. In addition, ARPS has since made adjustments to allow exceptions for LES students seeking to participate in band or orchestra at ARMS, reducing the barrier that initially prompted this exploration. Although LES will not pursue an after-school instrumental music program, we will share information about local musicians who offer private lessons with families interested in individual instruction for their children.

At the meeting, there was also a question about how students develop some of the foundational skills and prerequisites for future instrumental music lessons through our general music classes. Our music teacher, Ms. Renauld, has put together some additional information to explain this. Please see her explanation here: Instrumental Music Unit Descriptions.

I hope you are able to enjoy the lovely weather we've had recently!

A reminder that school will be closed on Thursday, November 12, in observance of Veterans Day. We are grateful to all the veterans in our community and beyond for their service, sacrifice, and commitment. Thank you to those who have served and to the families who have supported them.

Siby Adina

Principal

adina@leverettschool.org