Manchester Township School District Newsletter
 September 3, 2009  
  
In This Issue
School Starts Sept. 8
New Teacher Programs
Quick Links

Greetings!

Another summer has quickly passed and we are all preparing for another excellent school year in Manchester Township.  Although school was not in session, it was not a quiet summer.  Our administrators and teachers took time to review curriculum, create new schedules and implement professional development activities to ensure our students receive the best education possible.  Summer is also the time for our custodial and grounds personnel to make repairs to ensure all of our schools are safe and clean for the return of our students.  The Township also assisted the school district by providing paving for the Ridgeway and Middle Schools.

Although we continue to make repairs in our facilities, some areas such as our roofs, athletic facilities and high school auditorium need major attention that cannot be addressed with our regular budget.  This is the reason we are presenting another referendum to the voters on Sept. 29.  The referendum addresses needed safety repairs, maximizes state aid, and allows the addition of solar panels that will generate income for the district every year.  We are counting on the support of the community to address these critical areas to ensure that we can provide a safe and positive learning environment for all of our students.

If you would like more information on the referendum, please visit our website or contact my office.  Thank you for your continued support of the Manchester Township School District.

David Trethaway, Superintendent

School Starts Tuesday, September 8

Manchester students go back to school on Tuesday, September 8.  Bus passes, room assignments and schedules were mailed in late August.  Your child should be at the bus stop 10 minutes before the time listed on the bus pass.  Please be aware that buses may run early or late for the first week or so, until schedules are fine-tuned.
 
Many important papers are sent home during the first few days of school, so please be sure to check your child's backpack.  There will be several forms for you to fill out and sign.  It is especially important that you complete the emergency contact card and send it back to school immediately. Use the links below for more important parent information: 
New Teacher Programs Help Teachers
Promote Student Achievement 
 
Several new programs for the 2009-10 school year will help Manchester teachers improve their teaching strategies with the goal of improving student achievement, according to Dr. Judith Nappi, Director of Curriculum.
  • At Ridgeway and Manchester elementary schools, full time Literacy Coaches will be in place to assist teachers with a goal of improving students' language arts and literacy performance.  
  • This year all classes in grades 3-8 will be able to take advantage of LEARNIA, which is a free online assessment tool for teachers and administrators provided by the state to help promote student achievement.
  • Manchester Township Elementary School has been selected as one of 33 schools in the state for the Professional Learning Community Lab School grant, which focuses on student achievement and what teachers need to know to support student learning. 
  • All three elementary schools will implement RTI (Response to Intervention) this year. This program involves monitoring to follow student progress more closely and formalizes intervention strategies that teachers are already doing in regard to differentiated instruction.
"These programs will help us to continue and enhance our ongoing commitment to professional development and improving student achievement," said Nappi. [Read full article]
 
Visit our website at www.manchestertwp.org .
Questions?  Comments? E-mail schoolnews@manchestertwp.org 
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